“If there’s nothing more to discuss, it might be best to take your leave now.”
As Harlan spoke and looked toward Karan, they left their seats without a word. Soon after, it was just the two of them, and Evenel was the first to speak.
“You saw everything that just happened.”
“And if I did, what would change? Creating unnecessary drama would only make things difficult for Her Grace.”
Even though his tone suggested he had done her a favor, she wasn’t the least bit pleased. No, her guard was up even more now.
Because there was no reason for him to show such favor unconditionally.
“I heard about your affairs in the Ferthi domain.”
“It seems you have something to say to me.”
Harlan simply nodded his head. From his standpoint, getting straight to the point was more comfortable than beating around the bush with various conversations.
“I’ve heard you’ve faced many hardships since arriving here.”
“I won’t deny it.”
“Let me be of assistance to Her Grace.”
Evenel couldn’t easily grasp his intentions. Even though he belonged to Aodin, whom she could not easily forgive, he was offering to help.
Harlan saw the question in her eyes, but because the situation was somewhat expected, he was not thrown off.
“It seems you don’t understand.”
“Shouldn’t I? You suddenly offer to assist me. What’s your reason for saying that?”
“Let’s say it’s for the future of Karies. Logically, your abilities are needed by us. It’s not a bad offer for you. Situations like what just happened won’t arise.”
Seeing them bow their heads so readily, it was evident that his influence was sufficient to make this possible.
Though it seemed like a harmless proposition from Evenel’s standpoint, she couldn’t easily give her reply.
Because she had come to realize since her arrival here: there’s no such thing as favor without a price.
“So, what do you gain, Duke?”
“Didn’t I just say? It’s for Karies.”
Harlan spoke with a voice like he was coaxing a child, seeing that Evenel didn’t readily give her response.
“You have no allies here. The empowered families will surely try to use your abilities in the future, especially since word of your actions in the Ferthi domain has likely spread.”
She just listened to his words. From her expression alone, one couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“And if Her Grace doesn’t act according to their wishes, they won’t simply stand by.”
“Are you saying if I don’t act according to their wishes, some kind of attack will come my way?”
“Right. They’re just cowardly folk, blessed with power by mere luck.”
Evenel’s eyes were as calm as before, but he noticed the undulating emotions behind them.
‘Understood.’
The hidden sincerity behind that kind voice.
“May I ask you something, Duke?”
Harlan waited leisurely for her to speak, as if giving her permission. Things would go his way anyway.
“If I hadn’t been of help in this expedition, would you have… appeared before me?”
For the first time, all traces of leisure vanished from his eyes at Evenel’s question. Despite knowing this, she wore a smile on her lips as she continued.
“You had to consider whether I might be an asset to those families, didn’t you? Strictly speaking, isn’t this for you rather than for Karies?”
Harlan’s face showed not an ounce of sincerity when he mentioned Karies as evidence.
“I think it’s time to hear your true feelings, Duke.”
Perhaps thinking he’d been found out, Harlan’s genteel expression changed instantly. Evenel sensed it.
That he didn’t care he’d been caught attempting deceit told her he was no easy opponent.
“Is that what’s important to you? You should be thinking about what you’ll gain.”
“Your words are correct, Duke. But I must decline your offer.”
Despite Harlan’s lengthy persuasion, a firm refusal came from Evenel’s lips. Her answer had been decided from the moment he first brought it up.
The realization that his plan had failed led Harlan to touch his throat. It seemed to express his twisted emotions.
Evenel felt reassured that declining his offer had been the right decision.
“I thought you were wise, but you’re quite foolish. Not realizing who I am, the situation is…”
“Even if you were the emperor of a whole empire, my answer wouldn’t change.”
His every movement halted at her unexpected reply. He’d thought he could manipulate her easily in this isolated situation.
“Why are you refusing?”
“Because it seems you’re no different from those young masters I just met.”
No, he emanated a far more dangerous aura. Though he might be smiling outwardly, he was the kind of person who’d stab you without hesitation if he didn’t like what he saw.
“And I have absolutely no intention of becoming anyone’s pawn.”
In Evenel’s eyes, it was clear. Harlan was not concerned about Karies’ safety. His only worry was the position he’d lose due to her arrival.
He had said he would be her strength, but it was clear he intended to use her for his own whims. Maybe it wouldn’t stop there.
“Isn’t it actually the Duke who would do something to me if the numbers are wrong?”
As there was no immediate reply, Evenel simply bowed her head and left the place first. Harlan kept his eyes on her until the end.
‘I’ll have to change the plan, I guess.’
The look in his eyes as he watched Evenel was utterly ferocious, as if he had an enemy before him.
“It’s already this late.”
Seated at her desk, Evenel stretched as she looked at the darkening sky. In front of her were numerous books and papers filled with notes.
She had not stopped studying even after returning from the subjugation. There was still much she didn’t know, and she knew from past experience that this study was greatly beneficial, so she couldn’t quit.
It was also interesting enough that it wasn’t entirely hard on her.
“I’m thirsty.”
Evenel put on a shawl to go outside for water. The palace was quiet as it was time to wind down for the day.
Just as she was catching her breath and about to sit at the table with a bottle of cool water and a glass, a figure was already standing by the dining entrance.
“You scared me!”
She barely managed to not drop what she was holding. Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Shuher.
“Why are you standing there without making a sound? You startled me.”
“That’s what I should be saying.”
“I’m just here to drink some water. Are you just arriving?”
“Something like that.”
From his attire alone, it was obvious he had just returned from his office. Come to think of it, it had been a long time since they had seen each other since the subjugation.
Even though they lived in the same palace, they hadn’t run into each other, even by chance.
‘He must be very busy.’
As Evenel was pouring water into her glass, Shuher, whom she thought would go straight to his room, sat down across from her.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
