9 PM.
Normally, I would have washed up and prepared for bed, but today was different.
It was a special day to welcome Yomi as my familiar.
Jessie said I could come in comfortable clothes, but since this was a ceremony to contract with Yomi for life, I wanted to dress up a bit more formally and changed my outfit.
Sitting at the dressing table, having my disheveled hair and makeup fixed, Irene suddenly wondered about the brooch and asked Jessie, looking at her reflection in the mirror.
“What happened to the brooch I asked you about before? Is it being repaired at the workshop now?”
“Ah.”
With a short exclamation, Jessie’s hand stopped combing through the long silver hair.
Then she smiled a bit awkwardly.
“What’s wrong? Did the workshop say it’s impossible to fix?”
“No. Um, well… don’t get too angry when you hear this.”
“Of course not.”
Even though Irene said she absolutely wouldn’t get angry, Jessie hesitated before carefully saying:
“That brooch is in Lord Abel’s hands right now.”
“What?”
Caught off guard by the completely unexpected answer, Irene stared blankly at Jessie.
Knowing full well that Irene didn’t particularly like Abel, Jessie mumbled an explanation:
“Well, as you know, most workshops aren’t operating because the territory was damaged during the Powder Festival. I was wondering what to do, when Lord Abel appeared and said he would fix it himself.”
“He… knows how to do that?”
Workshop work was not only physically demanding but also rough on the hands and skin, so nobles absolutely never did it.
When Irene asked again in disbelief that Abel would personally fix the brooch, Jessie nodded.
“I didn’t believe it at first either, but it seems to be true. No, he’ll definitely fix it. Lord Abel may be playful and often say nonsense, but he doesn’t lie.”
“I see.”
Come to think of it, Kalos had said something similar.
That meant Abel could be trusted, but still.
“…”
Irene still felt uneasy and suspicious about Abel.
His offer to fix her brooch didn’t feel like simple goodwill.
Jessie resumed her work and said:
“It hasn’t been long since I entrusted the brooch to Lord Abel, but I’ll ask how far he’s progressed and how long it will take.”
“Yes, please do.”
However, Irene didn’t show her feelings, knowing it would put Jessie in an awkward position if she said she didn’t trust Abel and asked for the brooch back immediately.
“There, all done.”
Finally finished with the preparations, Irene stood up.
Jessie draped a thick shawl over her shoulders and asked:
“Have you decided what name to give Yomi?”
“Yes, I have.”
“Oh, what is it?”
“It’s a secret.”
Irene said with a faint smile.
“I’ll tell you when the Powder Ceremony begins.”
*
Kalos hadn’t fully accepted Abel’s proposal, but said he would think about it.
However, Abel was making a fuss as if it had already been decided, pestering Kalos.
“The most classic way to become a prince on a white horse is to appear gallantly when thugs are causing trouble and defeat them all. That’s usually how protagonists meet in novels, right?”
“…?”
A question mark floated above Dewey’s head, who had no idea what conversation had taken place between Kalos and Abel.
I really shouldn’t have said I’d think about it.
Kalos warned Abel in a fierce voice, regretting his delayed response.
“I told you to stop.”
“Come on, I’m just trying to help.”
Abel pouted as if feeling disappointed, then put his hand on Dewey’s shoulder.
“What do you think, Dewey?”
Surprised by the sudden shift of attention, Dewey just blinked. He unconsciously tensed the shoulder where Abel’s hand rested.
Abel spoke in a secretive and sweet voice, like an evil demon tempting an innocent lamb.
“I heard that flowers bloomed when you saved that girl from danger? We could use that part to…”
As Dewey’s eyes sparkled after hearing Abel’s detailed explanation, Kalos clicked his tongue in annoyance.
“I haven’t decided to do it yet, so don’t think unnecessary thoughts.”
“But it seems like a good idea.”
The usual Dewey wouldn’t have spoken up before asking Kalos what he thought, no matter how good an idea he thought it was.
He didn’t want to end up like a shrimp getting its back burst by getting caught between whales fighting.
But he tentatively expressed his opinion because he thought it would be better for Kalos to make the flowers bloom as soon as possible.
It would be a big problem if Kalos realized his feelings for Irene while wasting time.
Jessie had said not to bring it up and provoke Kalos, but Dewey thought differently.
We need to keep reminding him that Irene is the sacrifice for the curse so that Kalos doesn’t develop other feelings.
“I think we should try if there’s even a small chance of making the flowers bloom. Especially if we have nothing to lose, there’s no reason to hesitate.”
“That’s right. Is this the time to be picky about cold water or hot water? What if you disappear while hesitating? In my opinion, making the flowers bloom seems more realistic than catching Derek.”
With Abel making a fuss and now Dewey joining in, Kalos sighed deeply and held his head.
Even sparrows chirping on both sides would probably be quieter than this.
But their efforts weren’t entirely ineffective.
Kalos’s wavering heart was slowly tilting towards ‘I should do it’.
I guess I should try after all.
As they said, making the flowers bloom takes priority over anything else.
Just as Kalos was about to express his decision, Irene appeared from the opposite corridor.
Wearing a light pink robe à l’anglaise with an appropriate amount of lace, Irene looked lovely enough to flutter the hearts of many men.
Perhaps that’s why.
The moment he saw Irene, the scales in Kalos’s heart slowly tilted to the opposite side.
“Am I late?”
As her face filled with worry overlapped with the image of her trembling in fear after being attacked by a demon, Kalos’s face hardened.
Taking this as affirmation, Irene apologized.
“I’m sorry I’m late. I finished preparing quickly, but I walk slowly…”
“You’re not late.”
Abel spoke up in place of the silent Kalos.
“You arrived on time, so don’t worry.”
“…”
Irene glanced at Kalos nervously, as his expression seemed too serious for that to be true.
“…You’re not late.”
Kalos finally spoke, but his expression was still so fierce that it wasn’t at all convincing.
Kalos seemed to realize his expression wasn’t good, as he turned around with a short sigh.
“Go in first.”
“Ah, yes!”
Already uncomfortable facing Kalos as if sitting on pins and needles, Irene quickly went down to the basement.
Jessie also bowed slightly before following Irene.
“…”
Kalos watched Irene’s retreating figure and recalled when she was attacked by the demon beast.
After remembering everything, including how she trembled unable to escape the nightmare of her dead father, he finally made a decision.
“Abel, I’m rejecting your proposal.”
“What? Why?”
Because I don’t want to give Irene nightmares.
That was all.
…For now.
*
Usually basements are used as storage and have a dark, damp atmosphere, but this place was spacious and pleasant like any other room.
The only peculiar thing was the huge magic circle on the floor.
I never thought I’d see a magic circle in real life that I’d only seen in books.
Brimming with curiosity, Irene crouched down to examine the magic circle closely.
The magic circle was even more intricate and complex than what she had seen in books.
Between two circles of different sizes were what looked like characters, but no matter how much she looked, she couldn’t tell what kind of characters they were.
They definitely weren’t in the Imperial language.
Divine language? Or ancient language?
Or maybe they’re just pictures, and I’m thinking they’re letters?
Clop clop—
As Irene was pondering deeply, she turned her head at the sudden sound of a horse running.
Soon, a lovely black-furred creature leaped into Irene’s arms.
“Yomi!”
A smile as bright as the full moon appeared on Irene’s face as she hugged Yomi.
“Did you do well while we were apart?”
Yomi rubbed its face against her vigorously as if to answer yes.
Although this made the pretty dress a mess with fur all over it, Irene didn’t mind.
“We’ll have to throw that dress away too.”
Only Jessie sighed secretly.
The guide who came with Yomi greeted with a kind face.
“It’s been a while, miss. Have you been well?”
“Ah, hello.”
Finally noticing the guide, Irene also greeted with a smile.
She had been wanting to ask the guide various things, and now was her chance.
“By the way, what does Yomi like? Is there anything I should be careful about when raising it?”
“As for what it likes…”
Although the flood of questions could have been annoying, the guide answered kindly without showing any sign of irritation.
That was only for a moment, as Kalos and Abel appeared, and the guide quietly retreated with Yomi.
Irene also felt nervous for no reason, swallowing dryly and straightening her back.
A strange tension flowed through the basement.
Kalos asked Irene while unbuttoning his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves:
“Are you mentally prepared?”
Irene nodded, clasping her trembling hands tightly together.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
“Good.”
After rolling up both sleeves, Kalos gestured and the guide handed Yomi back to Irene before retreating again.
Yomi, seemingly scared of Kalos, made a whining sound and burrowed into Irene’s arms.
“We’ll start now, so everyone step back.”
At Kalos’s instruction, Jessie, Dewey, and the guide moved as far away from the magic circle as possible, while Abel leaned against the basement door.
And Irene stood in the center of the magic circle with Yomi.
Kalos, standing in front of her, turned to look at Abel.
“I’m counting on you.”
Abel winked.
“Don’t worry. I’ll subdue that guy as soon as he shows up.”
That guy? Who are they talking about?
Irene was curious, but her curiosity didn’t last long.
Whoosh—!
The magic circle drawn on the floor began to glow with a brilliant purple light.
The characters Irene had been curious about also rose up with a three-dimensional feel.
Irene’s eyes widened at the strange and wondrous sight she was seeing for the first time.
“Close your eyes.”
Irene closed her eyes as Kalos instructed.
“Have you decided on Yomi’s name?”
“Yes.”
“What is it?”
“It’s Kara.”
Kara. It meant ‘joy’ in the ancient language.
Kalos looked down at Irene, slightly taken aback by the ancient language name when he had naturally expected an Imperial language name.
Just as Irene was about to ask why he was staring, even though she could feel his gaze with her eyes closed.
Kaaak!
Yomi, who had been quietly nestled in Irene’s arms, suddenly started thrashing about with a terrible scream.
__________
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation (Female-dominant)
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.
Synopsis:
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.
He even had his eyes on another woman.
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.
Su Mu expressed her disdain.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
She also wanted to embrace Xie Yi, who had silently stayed by her side in her previous life and committed suicide by taking poison after her death.
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.”
[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.