I Killed My Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
It had been about a month and a half since Mercedes had fainted at the banquet.
It was late at night when Richard, Mercedes’s husband, finally summoned her.
‘…Is he finally wanting to consummate the marriage now?’
Mercedes felt a flicker of unease.
Richard’s torment had not only consisted of humiliation—he had also refused to consummate the marriage for two years. As a result, Mercedes had become the laughingstock of every noble, from counts to the highest aristocrats.
‘What could this possibly be about?’
Since there had been no mention of consummation, Mercedes put on a formal dress and headed to Richard’s chamber. The maids, uninterested in her, did not rush her with any preparations.
Standing before Richard’s door, Mercedes took a deep breath, then stepped through the open doorway.
“…You summoned me, Your Highness?”
Inside Richard’s chamber, numerous women sat scattered about—playing instruments, dancing, and fluttering around him with artificial charm.
They were lowborn courtesans. Mercedes gazed at the scene with an impassive expression.
Richard slumped on a long sofa, idly flicking his fingers.
“Come here.”
Mercedes walked forward, parting through the center. The heavy perfume and reek of wine stung the air, yet her face remained as blank and pale as ever.
No change in expression. Like a doll.
Richard clicked his tongue.
“I’ve been enjoying myself so thoroughly—how disappointing it would be to leave you out.”
“…Yes.”
“It’s a delightful night. Why don’t you circulate the wine? Start from the very last courtesan, and serve each one carefully. Ah, these here beside me are my favorite favorites—treat them with even greater caution.”
A sour smile curled at Richard’s lips.
He, the noble Crown Prince, offered the wine bottle to the Crown Princess—clearly delighted.
Mercedes took the bottle without so much as a glance at him.
“Yes.”
Mercedes rose calmly at Richard’s command and walked deliberately toward the courtesan at the far end.
“…You, really…?”
“Is it… okay…?”
The courtesans, startled, fell silent mid-melody and whispered among themselves.
The Crown Princess serving wine to common courtesans? It was unthinkable.
Yet Mercedes continued pouring wine for each courtesan in the long line before her. Her movements were precise, graceful.
Richard could not take his eyes off Mercedes. What on earth was she?
In a situation that demanded outrage, she calmly served wine to these lowborn women.
“…Hmm. You seem to be enjoying this time as well. Then perhaps you might dance a solo to heighten the merriment? Didn’t your noble family teach you such dances?”
Richard asked, feigning cheerfulness, lips pressed together in anxious tension—intent on inflicting even greater humiliation upon Mercedes.
“I regret to say, but it is forbidden for noble ladies to learn dances for mere amusement. If Your Highness would grace me with a dance, I am capable of performing a court dance.”
Mercedes replied calmly.
“How predictable.”
“I apologize.”
It was true. Richard knew it well. He had only asked, hoping for even the slightest change in her expression—any sign at all. But it was the same.
“You’re as lifeless as a corpse today. I wonder if you can even breathe.”
“I am sorry.”
Mercedes offered repeated apologies, then poured wine for Richard’s favorites with even greater care.
Then she stood motionless, as if waiting for his next command.
Suddenly, tension prickled through the chamber. Richard’s face twisted.
“Hah… How will you ever make amends? You have neither the wit nor the talent to understand your husband’s heart. How utterly foolish you are—my evening has been ruined.”
“I am sorry, Your Highness.”
Mercedes bowed her head in perfect, measured deference.
“Hah. Isn’t it? You’d rather have my brother, isn’t that it?”
“…Your Highness. That is not the case.”
“No, no. Mercedes. I know very well. How beautifully you two looked together. Is that it?”
“That could never—”
“I saved you from a lonely, bitter old age—and yet you treat me not as a benefactor, but as a complete fool. Isn’t that right? That’s why you’re so stiff, isn’t it?”
Richard laughed like a madman, pressing her relentlessly.
That was true. Richard had never been Mercedes’s original betrothed.
When she was fourteen, the former Crown Prince, Elmond, had chosen her as his bride.
Two years ago, Elmond had died in an accident—slipping from a cliff while hunting.
With her betrothal broken by his death, Mercedes was expected to endure further brutal humiliation at the hands of another noble family.
Even Elmond’s accidental death was blamed on her.
She had been eighteen then.
But then, inexplicably—
Richard, Elmond’s younger brother, ascended to the Crown Prince’s seat—and declared his desire to marry her.
“Do you think I’m just a poor substitute for my brother? Is that what you think?”
Richard had always been compared to his brother—a prince far inferior in ability.
Since childhood, he had lived under constant comparison.
And now, this inferior prince had taken the throne—and coveted his dead brother’s fiancée?
Public opinion turned against him.
Yet Richard had feigned righteousness: a betrothed woman struggled to find another match, so he, the noble soul, would take responsibility for Mercedes.
His reputation soared overnight—the compassionate new Crown Prince, caring for a helpless woman.
At eighteen—the perfect age for royal marriage—they wed immediately.
But from their wedding night, Richard had loathed her.
“She’s like a corpse. Did she look like this to my brother? Ah, they say she remained pure. Thank heavens she wasn’t tainted.”
“She’s a barren stone.”
“Her eyes! Those arrogant eyes! You… hah, is this because you’re not with my brother? Is that it? Do you find me so detestable?”
In Richard’s mind, an image was forever etched: Elmond and Mercedes, beautiful as a painted scroll.
Whenever they appeared in society, Elmond was warm and gentle, while Mercedes blushed shyly.
But now, Mercedes showed no shyness at all—only indifference.
In truth, Mercedes had treated both brothers identically. Yet both Richard and Elmond had stared at her as if possessed, consumed by rage. They were so alike, it was as if blood had drawn them into the same pattern.
Was it a family tradition to summon a spouse to serve wine to courtesans?
“I beg your pardon, I—”
“Enough. Recently, you’ve caused quite a stir.”
“…”
Richard voiced the rumors—rumors he himself had fabricated and fueled—yet boldly blamed Mercedes once more.
“With all the effort to quiet the gossip and pretend we’re harmonious, why spoil the mood?”
“I am sorry.”
In truth, Mercedes had no idea why Richard had married her—why he had chosen the woman once betrothed to his brother.
So she gave him the most rational answer she knew.
Richard’s brow furrowed deeper.
Each time he provoked her, he felt absurdly foolish. Why was it that he, the one hurling insults, was the one who felt humiliated?
“Damn.”
Richard was always struggling alone.
“Leave. Get out of my sight immediately. I cannot bear the sight of a woman like you.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At last, Richard could no longer contain his rage. Mercedes stepped back without surprise and left the chamber.
Crash!
The moment she exited, the sound of shattering glass echoed—Richard’s furious release.
At first, he had thought her the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen in court society. He had coveted her. He had dreamed of seating her beside him as his princess.
But his brother had claimed her first.
Already living a life of comparisons, now even the woman he desired had been taken by his brother.
Richard’s heart boiled over.
Then fortune struck: his brother died in an accident, and Richard ascended to the throne he had longed for.
Four years of unrequited longing had not faded.
He had claimed Mercedes, of course. But what lay in his hands was a defective thing.
Always the same blank expression. Always those lifeless, haughty eyes.
Had she looked like that beside my brother? No—no, she hadn’t.
“Damned bitch.”
Mercedes did not cling to him. She left, her face as it always was.
“Again… that look—as if nothing matters at all…”
She was to be his, soon to sit upon the throne—and yet she acted as if she didn’t even know it. Again and again!
It was all her fault that he was forced to endure such tedious, humiliating acts.
The courtesans watched him cautiously. His favorites clung to him, fluttering with false charm.
“Oh, Your Highness, please enjoy our company tonight. It’s such a lovely evening.”
“Get rid of them!”
The more the favorites clung, the louder Richard roared. They could not satisfy him. He was parched.
She should be like this. Why does she ignore me? Why is she like this…?
Anger swelled higher. When she collapsed at the wedding ceremony, he had thought it fitting—this made pressuring her easy.
He had expected her to come to him first, flatter him, weep, beg forgiveness.
But a month and a half passed. She never came. She looked utterly calm.
‘Still not enough, is it?’
His fury deepened, consumed by thought, and the chamber grew icy. The courtesans ceased playing, fell silent, and watched him in wary stillness.
In that silence, attendants entered swiftly to clear the broken glass, and Richard drank again.
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
MANGA DISCUSSION
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Chapter Comments (24)
Fuck u!!! Let her go! My girl is so pitiful! Someone needs to save her 😢
He knew her. The way he delayed his response to her.
Fuck you ugly and ungrateful rat of man! Kill him, kill him!!!
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Blairwoods
“In truth, Mercedes had treated both brothers identically. Yet both Richard and Elmond had stared at her as if possessed, consumed by rage. They were so alike, it was as if blood had drawn them into the same pattern.“
Did elmond do the same???