I Decline the Ex-Boyfriend of the Regretful Male Lead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
I briefly reflected on what had just happened to me over the past ten minutes.
I went in to receive the wedding date, only to be met with sudden opposition.
“What on earth…?”
There was no way Father had changed his mind so quickly.
He must have heard something from someone else.
“I need to find out.”
I couldn’t afford to wait for Mother to explain.
I immediately went to look for the Butler.
“Butler. Aside from His Grace the Duke, was there anyone else who visited the mansion today?”
The Butler nodded.
“As always, quite a few. Shall I show you the guestbook?”
“Yes, please.”
The Butler readily showed me the guestbook.
-Blanchiche Hertian
-Milino Trading Company
-Haul Baior
-Melson Bormann
.
.
.
Excluding the Duke, there were merchants, sponsored artists—easily twenty people.
“Why didn’t Master Melson come see me before leaving?”
Among them, Master Melson’s name stood out—it had been a while.
“The Baron said he had to visit an herbalist in the capital and asked me to pass along some medicine before he left.”
The Butler handed me a medicine bottle he’d kept aside, saying it was convenient. I took the bottle filled with new pills and asked again.
“Then, who among them met with Father or Mother?”
“Nearly all of them. Most needed the Count’s approval for their matters.”
Over ten people.
The only plausible suspect seemed to be Milino Trading Company.
They traveled across many kingdoms and had excellent information networks—passing along a rumor wouldn’t be unusual. Perhaps they’d told Father something about Hertian. For Father to change his mind so abruptly, it must have been significant information.
“I see.”
“Yes, Miss. You look quite unwell—has something happened?”
I shook my head at his worried question.
“It’s nothing. Sleep well, Butler.”
“May you have sweet dreams, Miss Anette.”
The Butler looked utterly exhausted, likely from handling unexpected guests. I had no time to confide in him. I’d have to investigate myself.
[This is the timeline separator]Deep in the night.
It was late—Mother had just left after sighing at the sight of me sleeping soundly.
Click. I opened the bottom drawer of Father’s study.
‘This is all for Father.’
I wasn’t the type to back down just because he opposed me. Now that things had come to this, I needed to see the so-called evidence myself.
Father had one habit.
He always kept his most important documents in the very bottom drawer.
“Just as I thought.”
As soon as I opened it, a crumpled envelope appeared—so crushed it was clear how furious Father had been.
I crouched under the desk, pulled out the envelope, and opened it. I was even curious about its contents. But as soon as I read it, my face burned hot.
“He actually believed this nonsense?”
It was a medical record filled with unbelievable diseases—ones even hard to believe upon reading.
Something about the Duke this and that?
Now I understood why Father couldn’t bring himself to tell me. He couldn’t possibly share such embarrassing details with his daughter.
I skimmed the rest of the document and sighed briefly.
“I knew Father was gullible, but this gullible?”
I was too stunned to even laugh. To misunderstand Hertian based on such absurd records—and the name didn’t even match! Then again, knowing Father, it made sense. Whenever something happened, he never saw the full picture.
“But a medical record…”
Even if it were real, it’d still be a problem—meaning the Duke’s health status was being carelessly circulated.
No mere merchant or noble should know such details. That meant the only person who could’ve known the medical contents was…
‘Master Melson.’
With Master Melson’s word and this record, Father’s belief was understandable. But why would the Master claim this record belonged to the Duke? That intention was hard to grasp.
“If Father’s ears are that soft, then I’ll use the same method right back at him.”
[This is the timeline separator]The next morning dawned.
As Father and I finished our silent breakfast in the dining room, I spoke first.
“Father. I’ve waited long enough. Please tell me now.”
I pressed him for an answer, pretending I hadn’t seen the medical record in his study.
“You’re so impatient.”
Father scolded me while wiping his mouth. He looked pale—likely from a sleepless night.
“Did you hear anything while I was with His Grace the Duke yesterday?”
“Yes. I did.”
His emerald eyes—identical to mine—stared straight at me.
“What did you hear?”
Father took a sip of coffee brought by a servant and spoke.
“I heard His Grace the Duke has complicated relationships with women. How can I give my only daughter to such a Casanova?”
Ah, I see.
So that’s why those diseases were listed in the medical record—they’d tied it to rumors about his love life.
“Who spread such a baseless rumor?”
“It’s not baseless. I’ve seen the proof myself.”
“What proof?”
“I can’t tell you that much. It’s not just women—there are other serious issues as well. Just give up.”
Hearing Father say that confirmed it—the rumor was maliciously fabricated.
If it were just concern over heirs after seeing the medical record, I might understand. But dragging women into it?
That proved they knew nothing about the Duke and were spreading lies.
“Father, you’re misunderstanding something. His Grace is innocent.”
“And you doubt your own father’s words while defending a Duke you barely know?”
Well, of course—I’d read the original story!
In it, Hertian was practically devoid of any lust!
The words circled in my mouth but never came out.
Seeing my hesitation, Father shook his head, convinced I was infatuated.
“The rumor will likely spread soon. Better not marry at all than regret it later.”
Clearly, reasoning with Father was futile.
I stood up from my seat.
“Then I’ll uncover the truth myself—whether His Grace truly has another woman besides me. If his relationships are so messy, he might even have a venereal disease. I’ll ask him to get tested.”
“Anette! Even if that’s false, marrying a Duke won’t bring you any good—he’s a Duke! He can keep mistresses without consequence.”
Father fixed me with a stern look—his expression left no room for further discussion.
“That applies to anyone. Even commoners can’t guarantee fidelity. If I give up out of fear, I’ll never marry anyone in my life!”
“You can just leave those men. But he’s a Duke—you can’t walk away freely. Just thinking about the pain your frail body would suffer gives me chills.”
A soft sigh escaped me.
‘I knew Father would react like this.’
I understood his deep concern for me, but this wasn’t something I could compromise on.
Silently, I pulled out what I’d prepared—something I’d worked on all night after leaving Father’s study at dawn.
“What’s this?”
“Articles related to His Grace the Duke.”
“Why collect such things?”
Father’s reaction was lukewarm.
“Even ordinary nobles have scandals erupt once or twice, yet His Grace the Duke has never had a single one.”
“He’s a Duke—he likely suppressed them.”
“Can His Grace the Duke really suppress scandals that even His Imperial Majesty can’t avoid?”
I calmly laid out the newspapers, but it was clear Father wasn’t interested. Not that it mattered—my real goal wasn’t to convince him here anyway.
“I don’t want to discuss this anymore.”
Father slammed the matter shut and showed me an engagement letter beside the table.
It wasn’t from Hertian—it was from someone else.
“I’ve arranged a meeting for you with the young master of House Bayern at noon today. Don’t be late. Love that comes easily fades just as fast.”
“Father!”
His unexpected decisiveness made me shout.
“I’ve already sent a letter to the Duke canceling the marriage. He’s probably read it and agreed by now.”
“What? You sent something to His Grace?”
Why so suddenly proactive?
It hadn’t even been a few hours since the proposal arrived.
I was left dumbfounded.
“And if you don’t attend the meeting today, I’ll confine you to the house. Consider that settled.”
His words struck like a hammer. I barely held back my rising anger.
Arguing with Father here would mean losing. House arrest would end everything.
I took several deep breaths to regain composure, then slumped my shoulders and spoke weakly.
“If Father insists… I suppose I have no choice. Fine. I’ll go.”
Might as well comply—since I couldn’t avoid it anyway.
Only then would Father listen to me a little.
Look—just saying I’d go instantly brightened his mood.
“Really?”
“I’ll only meet him, that’s all.”
“Of course! Just meet him, just meet him.”
I nodded helplessly, gathered the newspapers I’d brought—leaving just one behind.
“I’ll be off, then.”
“Yes. Be careful. And remember to dress prettily.”
The remaining newspaper was for Father. Whether he’d still oppose the marriage after reading it—that was something I’d learn after the date.
[This is the timeline separator]Adorned by Betty’s exquisite handiwork, I boarded the carriage late in the morning.
Once we left the long path of the earldom, the vibrant capital came into view.
At the center of the grand plaza, Court Sculptor Fabian’s statue sparkled under the broken sunlight, proudly displaying its brilliance.
The lively scenery seen through the carriage window made my previously stifled chest feel wide open.
Soon, the carriage stopped on Olivia Street—the noble district.
“We’ve arrived, Miss.”
As I stepped down, the coachman asked when I’d return. I handed him the letter I’d been holding.
“What’s this?”
“Coachman, deliver this letter urgently to Duke Blanchiche before returning to the mansion.”
The reason I agreed to Father’s arbitrarily arranged date was to meet Hertian. There was a chance he’d changed his mind after receiving my letter. I added two gold coins I’d prepared beforehand and urged him.
“Deliver it as quickly as possible. Please.”
His eyes widened at the gold. He tucked the letter deep into his coat and hurried off. I watched the carriage fade into the distance, then caught my hat brim before the wind blew it away.
“Lady Leangberia.”
Turning around, I was met with a bouquet bursting with fully bloomed flowers.
“A pleasure to meet you, my lady.”
Behind the bouquet stood a man whose smile was brighter than the flowers themselves.
“Young Master Edward?”
“Yes. I am Edward Bayern, my lady.”
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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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (3)
She always lost consciousness with him. I wonder why???
“You’ve only loved her for three years. I’ve loved her for five.”
Now why would they were competing in who had long loved her 😂
Wow, are prophetesses so common in this world that there are multiple renowned ones?
Inline Comments (5)
“As I said before, I can only cast a forbidden ritual to remove divine abilities
Casting a ‘forbidden ritual’ to remove divine abilities sounds like practicing black magic. So Violet practices black magic? What is her true goal?
He collapsed to the floor, unconscious. Only the ring on his finger glimmered fa
I have quite a few things to say about the function of this enchantment. Right now though the main thing is that if the enchantment functions in this way…what happens if Anette dies while he has the ring turned on?
Under the name ‘Tiamo.’
‘Ti amo’, Spanish for ‘I love you’
Is this the Annette fan club? Lol.
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Blairwoods
I can understand parents won’t send their precious child to bad man but they are noble. Their society are political. They were too for a noble.