Don't Obsess Over A Married Woman (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
But once again, I cut him off mid-sentence. Smiling with my lips stretched deliberately wide, I continued.
“I believe it would be proper for me to introduce Sir Joseph here first.”
“Introduce Count Alphon? What on earth do you mean?”
Exactly.
“Count Alphon here has expressed his wish to guide the children of Dieren in their studies from now on.”
Everyone gathered in the study instantly widened their eyes in shock.
“W-wait a moment! Duchess, what is all this about? Wasn’t it agreed that I would find a tutor?”
Viscount Baden was the first to regain his composure.
Naturally—he couldn’t afford to remain stunned forever, especially now that his plans had been disrupted.
“That’s right. But upon reflecting carefully, I couldn’t stop worrying about how heavily burdened you seemed at the time, Viscount Baden.”
“Well, that’s—!”
I know—it was a slip of the tongue.
“So I, too, was pondering how to ease your burden. And just earlier, Sir Joseph here happened to visit regarding business matters…”
At that precise moment, I guided everyone’s attention toward Count Alphon with my eyes and a subtle gesture.
My calculation was that Viscount Baden wouldn’t dare protest strongly in front of someone he clearly wanted to impress.
“…And I realized he is perfectly qualified as the ideal tutor for our young viscount.”
“I was, in fact, already considering shifting my next venture toward education.”
“To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical at first, but hearing from those present just now that Sir Joseph currently enjoys high standing in the imperial capital’s social circles put my mind at ease.”
“……”
Just as expected, Viscount Baden held his tongue before Count Alphon.
Yet, judging by his ashen complexion and tightly pursed lips, I could guess his feelings without him saying a word.
Well then—shall I make him even more uncomfortable?
“Viscount Baden? Are you all right? You look rather unwell.”
“A-ah… um… I’m fine, quite fine.”
“If perhaps Sir Joseph isn’t to your liking…”
“Oh! Was that it? My apologies—I truly lacked perception. I assumed we’d built quite a rapport at social gatherings, so the thought that you might find me disagreeable never crossed my mind…”
“No, no! That’s not it at all!”
Sir Joseph’s perfectly timed interjection was flawless. Viscount Baden now waved his hands frantically in denial.
“I was merely concerned because the count has never taught before! It certainly wasn’t that I found Count Alphon disagreeable!”
“If that’s the issue…”
A deep, resonant male voice flowed gently. Sir Joseph fixed Viscount Baden with that effortlessly charming, captivating smile of his.
“Then perhaps I could even learn from the skilled tutors you’ve arranged.”
“Ah… uh…?”
To be perfectly honest—
I never imagined Sir Joseph’s beauty would work even on Viscount Baden.
“My dear, since Count Alphon has gone so far as to say that, I think we should offer him all the help we can.”
“Oh? You truly feel that way?”
“Of course! Besides, meeting Count Alphon here, away from society’s gatherings—surely that’s fate, isn’t it? Hohoho, wouldn’t you agree, Count Alphon?”
“It would be a great honor indeed, Viscountess, if you see it that way. And what about the rest of you?”
“Oh! It’s simply an honor just to meet Count Alphon…!”
“Then I’ll leave it in your hands.”
But now I realized my judgment had been terribly, terribly wrong.
Not only Viscount Baden—but Viscountess Baden and the two other tutors had all fallen for Sir Joseph’s charms as well.
But before that—
“Then, assuming Viscount Baden agrees, let us begin the tutor interviews right away.”
“Hm?”
“What did you say?”
“…Huh?”
“…?”
What on earth?
I couldn’t understand why everyone was staring at me with such bewildered expressions.
I’d only asked them to find a tutor—not promised to hire one outright.
[This is the timeline separator]Meanwhile.
The three Dieren siblings had gathered in their study room for a strategic meeting.
Euphemia’s mud-stained dress and gloves had already been replaced with spotless new garments.
Until just yesterday, barred from outside visitors, the children had been required to wear mourning attire. But starting today, they could wear whatever clothes they pleased.
Of course, even so, wearing dark colors would still be the proper thing to do.
But Euphemia didn’t care about such things.
“White still seems a bit excessive, Euphemia.”
“It’s fine. This time, I’ll be extra careful not to get it dirty.”
…That wasn’t what I meant.
Yet again, Cardiel chose not to press his younger sister further about her antics.
After all, he’d spent over a decade learning the hard way that she simply wouldn’t listen.
It was far more efficient to avoid pointless, exhausting conversations from the start.
“I heard our stepmother just went into the study with a guest.”
“A suitor?”
“No—Sir Joseph.”
“Who’s that? Someone proposing to Mama?”
“…Euphemia, our stepmother said she wouldn’t meet any suitors today. The butler mentioned she’s interviewing Sir Joseph for the tutor position. Though I suspect they’re probably discussing business instead.”
“But what if they start talking business and then he proposes?”
“…”
“What if he pretends to be a tutor and then proposes?”
“…I just told you, no.”
“Then should we kill Sir Joseph?”
“Enough. I was a fool to even try reasoning with you.”
As expected, communication was impossible.
Exhausted, Cardiel decided to blame himself for the foolishness of even attempting to converse with Euphemia.
“I just went to the tutor and asked, ‘Could you let us study on our own today?’ and he agreed.”
“Well done, Celsion.”
“Hehe.”
Celsion, unable to hide his delight at his older brother’s praise, wriggled excitedly in his seat.
Normally, this hour was dedicated to the children’s studies—the quiet time to steadily build their academic foundations under their tutor’s guidance.
In most noble households, children would be scattered across separate study rooms, each receiving instruction from their assigned tutor.
Or they might attend an academy.
But the Dieren ducal household was different—all because of their late father, the former duke.
The duke had opposed sending his children to an academy.
Yet he hadn’t hired skilled tutors either.
Thus, the Dieren children currently had only one tutor—
an elderly man who had long since passed seventy.
Even he had been introduced by their stepmother, Liselotte.
Given this educational situation, the siblings always studied together in the same room at the same time.
Though inconvenient, there were benefits—as now, when they occasionally received permission for self-study, the siblings could enjoy some free time together.
“Alright, everyone, come a little closer.”
Cardiel, the eldest, took charge of the strategy meeting.
Celsion immediately sat in the chair nearest to Cardiel, while Euphemia…
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
Holding onto her chair, she dragged herself across the carpeted floor. Truly an extraordinary way to move.
“…”
“Big sister, you’re making the floor shake.”
“But this way, my dress won’t touch the floor and get dirty.”
Fine, you chair-monster. Do as you please.
Since no one was downstairs anyway, Cardiel swallowed his complaint and brought up the main topic.
“We’ve already discussed our stepmother’s potential suitors, but I think it’s wise to confirm once more that we’re all of the same mind.”
Cardiel’s gaze first settled on Euphemia.
“Euphemia, what’s your opinion?”
“Absolutely no to Mama remarrying! Mama belongs to us—no one else gets her!”
Though lacking in logic and reasoning, Euphemia’s conclusion was firmer than anyone else’s.
Even her usually vacant, slack expression now bore actual frown lines—a rare sight.
That was good enough. Cardiel then turned to Celsion, his angelic youngest brother.
“And Celsion, what do you think?”
“I… um…”
The hesitant youngest finally answered.
“If Mother is happy, then that’s all that really matters…”
“…”
As if startled by something, Celsion gave a sudden little shiver.
“I think Mother could never truly be happy through remarriage!”
“And so?”
“I’ll tell her that we can make her happier than any husband ever could…”
Celsion’s amber eyes flickered toward Cardiel’s face, checking his reaction.
Of course, Cardiel’s expression remained completely unchanged.
“…She probably won’t, though?”
“Good.”
Cardiel gave a slight nod.
Celsion’s brief sigh of relief wasn’t particularly significant.
What mattered was that the siblings were united in purpose.
Especially Cardiel—he was deeply pleased by Celsion’s initiative in even suggesting a way to prevent Liselotte’s remarriage.
Truly, a model younger brother worth admiring.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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Chapter Comments (4)
Inline Comments (60)
She was someone he now had to protect. Someone he must be able to protect.
Awww sooo cutee, the lot of them. I am worried his mentality may be his magnum opus
〈Oh? Even so, your training seems far too intense. Should I speak with your swor
Aww she cared about them from the beginning. She was so innocent and hopeful back then too :((, she didnt know the violence was deliberate. He said plesdon’t interfere cause he was resigned oml no….
Not so much out of guilt for failing to protect his brother, but because he fear
Oh nooo 😭😭 explains why they are so bonded now. That’s alot to deal with
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Soo all this talk about the dungeons being a maze and very dangerous was for what???
Aww this is such a tesrjerker of a chapter 🥲🥺 . Now she knows they love her ( they made it obvious though)
This is crazy omgosh what is going onn this amount of darkness and trauma gave me whiplash. I can also see where this is going amnesia arc incoming isn’t it.