How To Escape From A Devilish Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
“Yes. Lord Pride came by this morning and paid in advance. Even with just one dress, the gold thread and expensive imported lace he provided would still be more than enough.”
Only then did Delphine realize what had made that prideful woman so utterly deferential.
It was nothing but a staggering sum of gold.
Dresses were inherently expensive, and Madam Isabella’s gowns were especially so.
Even for nobles, it wasn’t something one could casually purchase several of at once.
Delphine herself had barely managed to buy just a few gowns—from her debutante season and the imperial ball—from that very atelier.
A question burned at the tip of her tongue: exactly how much had that man paid upfront?
Yet, as a noblewoman, propriety forbade her from asking about money outright.
“Then… roughly how many gowns must I order?”
When Delphine deflected the question, the quick-witted madam immediately replied,
“At least three gowns, I’d say.”
Three whole gowns.
For Delphine, it was the first time she’d ever purchased such extravagantly expensive items all at once.
While she stood momentarily speechless at this unexpected luxury, the madam—who had diligently been taking measurements—seized the chance to flatter her.
“To be allowed to adorn such a beautiful lady to my heart’s content is truly the greatest honor and opportunity for me.”
Hearing this, Delphine’s maids in the reception room nodded proudly.
Delphine could only respond with an awkward smile.
The dress fittings and the flattery exchanged between them continued for quite a while.
She picked one design from the catalog, held various fabrics against her face, and even selected matching hat and glove styles for the gown.
Anna and the other maids enthusiastically added their own opinions as well.
Following the madam’s suggestion of a minimum of three gowns, Delphine had no choice but to choose the most lavish and luxurious materials available.
Yet even then, it seemed the advance payment couldn’t possibly cover everything—the madam bowed deeply as they left the mansion.
“I’ll postpone all other orders and deliver this one to you as quickly as possible, my lady.”
Only after elegantly nodding and seeing the madam off could Delphine finally relax—and frown slightly.
Just who on earth was that man?
How much had he spent on her in just a single day?
Gowns this opulent were the kind one would only see at an imperial wedding.
Delphine clutched her throbbing head and headed back up to the study.
Getting measured for clothes proved far more exhausting than she’d anticipated.
It almost felt as if this were the man’s clever scheme to keep her from thinking about anything else.
But his extravagance didn’t end there.
“Oh, you must be Lady Pride! As the rumors say, you truly are stunning!”
Less than two hours after Madam Isabella had departed, another visitor arrived.
He was a middle-aged man dressed impeccably in a purple velvet suit, his mustache styled with obvious pride.
His plump, affable face radiated the air of a shrewd merchant.
With a wave of his hand, several servants began carrying boxes of varying sizes into the mansion.
“I’ve come to deliver the items Lord Pride ordered.”
Among the group he’d brought were four armored guards, each with a sword at his waist.
Given the imperial crest emblazoned on their chests, they appeared to be members of the royal guard.
‘Why would the imperial guard accompany a common merchant…?’
Delphine’s confusion was quickly resolved.
“Here is the list of your ordered items.”
After the boxes were moved into her private chamber, the merchant beamed as he handed Delphine a long parchment.
“Could you please verify it?”
“Oh, I can take that.”
Hearing the commotion, Wilson quickly came up to the chamber and took the paper.
As the servants opened each box to cross-check against the list, everyone in the room gaped in astonishment.
“Oh my, what on earth…?”
Piled high were fine furs and leathers, seemingly prepared for the coming cold snap.
And spilling out of every box were exquisite accessories adorned with large pearls and precious gems.
“Lord Pride’s devotion to his lady is truly unmatched.”
The merchant, whose face had been beaming since the moment he entered, quickly added a flourish of flattery.
“A client this generous—this is the first I’ve seen since opening my boutique in District Two! Haha!”
Like Madam Isabella, the middle-aged merchant was clearly elated.
Delphine finally understood why he’d needed four armored guards.
It was to prevent theft of these extremely valuable goods.
“How on earth…? Even His Majesty the Emperor couldn’t purchase all these treasures in a single day.”
Anna, utterly stunned, murmured unconsciously.
Delphine flinched and quickly glanced at the knights, silently reprimanding her maid.
Fortunately, the guards stood expressionless and impassive.
“Verification complete, my lady. Everything matches the list.”
“See? Haha! A merchant’s life is built on trust! Now, my lady, if you could just sign here…”
With an ecstatic grin, the merchant accepted her signature and promptly left the mansion.
Delphine stood dazed, staring at the chamber now overflowing with lavish gifts.
Unlike the dress fittings, there was nothing here she needed to choose or try on herself—but she was just as speechless as before.
“Oh, look at this! It matches our young lady’s eyes perfectly!”
Just then, Anna—while sorting through the items—held out a jewelry box with an enchanted look.
Resting on a velvet cushion was a necklace set with a massive emerald.
Nearly the size of a child’s fist, its quality was evident at a glance.
Even Delphine, who had been born a viscountess, had never owned anything of this caliber.
A gemstone of such size should rightly have been presented to the imperial court to prove one’s loyalty.
Anna, who had always loved dressing up her young mistress since childhood, couldn’t hide her excitement.
“This ermine fur would suit you wonderfully too! What should I put on you first…? You said you’ll be going out soon, right?”
“…Yes.”
Unlike the beaming Anna, Delphine felt only confusion and unease.
Why had that man suddenly given her all these things?
Was it because of what happened last night?
If it truly took nothing more than a single smile from her to provoke this, then he was absurdly simple—and easy to understand.
“Didn’t I tell you, my young lady?”
Anna suddenly placed her hands proudly on her plump waist, her expression triumphant.
“You’re meant only to be loved, nothing more.”
Surely the master’s late returns home were only because he was busy working—such diligence must be how he became so wealthy…
Anna’s cheerful muttering grew distant in Delphine’s ears.
Over it, the man’s low voice echoed again, as if whispering directly to her:
“Anything you desire, I shall place within your hands.”
…So was it for that reason you personally beheaded my father?
Utterly unable to fathom his intentions or why he was doing this to her, Delphine’s mind was in utter chaos.
The man who had turned the mansion into a sea of blood that day, ruthless as a demon.
And the husband who showered the world’s treasures upon his wife for the sake of a single smile.
Which one was his true self?
“Only love, only love…”
Unconsciously, Delphine clenched both hands tightly against her chest.
Through her palms, she felt her heart beating faster than usual.
Surely it was just from the shock and exhaustion of this sudden turn of events.
“Where should we store these jewels, my young—no, my lady?”
“…Just keep them all somewhere out of sight in the wardrobe.”
“Yes?”
So I won’t have to see them.
Murmuring this under her breath, Delphine swiftly turned and left the room overflowing with his gifts.
[This is the timeline separator]
Three days passed swiftly.
The emerald necklace he’d gifted still sat quietly tucked away in a corner of her wardrobe.
While Delphine stayed cooped up inside the mansion, the man hadn’t taken a single day off.
Though instead of leaving at dawn as before, he now departed only after sharing breakfast with her again.
Yet he still returned late at night, always reeking of an unshakable scent of blood, no matter how hard she tried to stay awake waiting for him.
‘What exactly does managing District Three entail?’
Lying in bed, Delphine held her breath as she listened to the water sounds from the bathroom.
Since she now knew how to move him, perhaps trying just once more could yield more information.
If she looked up at him and earnestly asked for the truth, he might easily offer up more of what he possessed.
But strangely enough, she always fell asleep before he even lay down beside her.
Startled awake, she’d find it was already morning—and he’d already be dressed flawlessly in his uniform.
This was the morning of the third day.
“It’s been resolved.”
After taking a delicate sip of fragrant morning tea, the man spoke with elegant composure.
His tone was utterly matter-of-fact, as if reporting on routine business.
“Then…”
Delphine’s face brightened, and the man’s previously stiff demeanor softened slightly, as if in response to her expression.
“Yes. You may go out now without issue… However, there are a few precautions you must observe.”
“Precautions…?”
“When going out, you must always be accompanied by at least two knights, and you must use a carriage for travel. Also.”
The man, who had been speaking boldly, paused briefly before smoothly continuing.
“Also, wear a robe outdoors and keep at least half your face covered, my lady.”
At this, Delphine stared wordlessly into his face.
Cover your face, travel by carriage, and always be accompanied by knights.
…Those were the conditions imposed when escorting a criminal.
Delphine gave a bitter smile.
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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