It was a familiar situation for Marie-Anne. Mrs. Dietrich was born into nobility, a typical aristocrat who had been born as the beloved daughter of a count and married the heir to the count.
She couldn’t comprehend Marie-Anne. At the same time, she couldn’t accept the fact that Marie-Anne Schneider held an equal or perhaps even higher status than her, a commoner who had climbed the social ladder, and had luckily reached the very top. The assessment of Marie-Anne was minimal at best.
Mrs. Dietrich, with gloved hands, lifted the flowing veil. Her condescending voice seeped out.
“So, the rumors were true. When I saw the article in the newspaper, I didn’t believe it at first, thinking it was just extravagant gossip, but it seems it was true.”
“…….”
Mrs. Dietrich’s facial expression dramatically contorted, and her voice took on a pitiful tone.
“Oh, my goodness, Mrs. Schneider. What were you thinking? A woman from the Schneider family engaging in commoner’s work? Regardless of your background, how could you engage in such absurd actions? The social circles are still buzzing about it.”
Background. It was a label that followed her like a tail.
Marie-Anne stared at her with a dry gaze.
“Is that so?”
Although she replied calmly on the surface, her hand under the table was tightly gripping her dress. Mrs. Dietrich furrowed her brow excessively.
“Moreover, there are rumors circulating that Christoph Schneider’s relationship with the police department is in jeopardy. Oh my, I hope I’m not being impolite by saying such things.”
“…….”
Marie-Anne remained silent, and she had no intention of stopping. Mrs. Dietrich expressed her concern while trying to criticize Marie-Anne.
“Well, it’s no wonder. Mrs. Schneider working at the Blauberg Police Department must be unbearable for Mr. Schneider. It’s a disgrace to the family’s reputation, isn’t it? Even if he were to file for divorce, there would be nothing to say about it, you know? Besides, I’m sure the Viscount is also deeply concerned. That’s why it’s imperative to have women in the household.”
It was a mocking statement. No matter how much she pretended to be concerned, she couldn’t hide the truth.
Marie-Anne quietly endured the moment, as she always did. It’s not that she didn’t expect this to happen. So, this was something she had brought upon herself.
There was no need for excuses. Speaking up would only prolong this time. Silence was the most effective response in situations like this. Until Mrs. Dietrich grew tired and left.
The problem was that Mrs. Dietrich was persistent. Curious glances were flying around from all directions. Even without turning her head, Marie-Anne could tell that people were eavesdropping on their conversation.
I won’t be able to have a meal here.
“So, that’s why marriages should be between people from similar backgrounds…”
“Have you been waiting long?”
Mrs. Dietrich stopped speaking abruptly and closed her mouth. It was because of Christoph, who had interrupted her. His appearance had taken Mrs. Dietrich by surprise, and she widened her eyes.
Christoph, without hesitation, offered a bouquet of flowers to Marie-Anne.
“I saw a child selling flowers in front of the shop. I thought they might suit you, and I hope you like them.”
“Ah…”
Marie-Anne sighed softly as she looked at the pure white lilies that filled her field of vision. Only then did the rich fragrance waft into her nostrils.
In the next moment, Christoph whispered in a lower, more intimate tone.
“Do you know the meaning of lilies in the language of flowers?”
“…Pure love.”
“Yes, pure love. However, I wish you would acknowledge the fact that my love is not entirely pure,” Christoph said with a narrowed gaze. His deep, dark eyes stared at her persistently, so blatantly that even an onlooker would blush.
Sure enough, Marie-Anne’s ears turned beet red as she accepted the bouquet of flowers. Christoph casually tugged at the corner of his lips.
Leaning back in his chair slowly, he finally seemed to notice the presence of the woman standing beside him. He raised an eyebrow as if he had just caught on.
“Who is this lady?”
“Allow me to introduce you, she is Lady Dietrich, Baron Dietrich’s wife.”
“I see.”
Christoph nodded with a somewhat sullen expression. Lady Dietrich appeared somewhat wounded when he didn’t recognize her, which was quite a blow to her self-esteem, considering her influence in high society.
She extended her hand for a greeting, still holding her chin up despite the initial lack of recognition.
“It’s been a while since we last met, Mr. Schneider.”
“It’s Lady Dietrich,” Christoph replied, tilting his head slightly instead of returning the greeting. He stared intently at her face and suddenly tugged at the corner of his lips. Lady Dietrich furrowed her brow faintly.
“I’m glad you find Lady Dietrich agreeable. It seems she’s at least fit for a social outing.”
“Is there any reason she wouldn’t be?”
With a puzzled expression, Marianne scrutinized Lady Dietrich, who appeared to be clueless. Christoph furrowed his brow slightly.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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