I Killed My Husband (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 3
Mercedes, returning from Richard’s room, collapsed onto the floor before even reaching the bed.
Her legs gave way, and a relentless headache surged forward. She could suppress her emotions to the point of appearing emotionless, but she could not fail to feel.
Just because abuse had become familiar did not mean it was no longer terrifying. Richard’s cruelty had become familiar too, yet it was never without humiliation. Every day, she was filled with fear and dread.
Mercedes swallowed a sigh and struggled to rise.
“Your Majesty! Are you well? What has happened?”
At that moment, the governess, Gertrude, entered the room—she who had been the only constant presence by Mercedes’s side since childhood, when she first came to the count’s household.
She had stood before Mercedes more than once, shielding her from blows.
Mercedes trusted no one but her.
“Governess, just a moment… stay like this…”
“You seem to be in great pain. Shall I summon the court physician?”
“No, I’m fine. I’ve just lost some strength.”
“But… very well. Remain like this for a moment, then rise slowly. Sudden movement is harmful to the body.”
“Very well.”
Mercedes rested for a moment, leaning against the governess’s arm. Soon, her strength returned, and she was able to stand.
Having prepared herself and lain back upon the bed, she recalled the words Richard had repeated again and again.
Like a corpse. Stiff.
Mercedes smiled bitterly. It might well be true. To be treated as invisible was merely the baseline—everyone hated her.
If no one in life wanted her, was she not little better than a corpse? Indeed, worse than a corpse—when she died, not a single soul would mourn or remember her.
“Why am I still alive?”
It was a question that arose each dawn. Mercedes swallowed the question as she always did, burying it deep within her chest, and sank further into the bed. Yet sleep did not come.
[This is the timeline separator]Rumors concerning Mercedes temporarily subsided.
The news that the Emperor of Room Empire would visit the kingdom had sent the entire realm into a frenzy.
“Hurry, hurry!”
“This decoration is insufficient!”
The entire palace was in chaos, preparing the welcome ceremony to match the imperial edict.
Unlike the small island kingdom of Shaym, the Room Empire was a mighty nation that ruled over the entire continent beyond the sea.
Moreover, this emperor, ever since his princely days, had been a warlike man who roamed battlefields, and had easily absorbed the small nations left untouched by previous emperors.
Having thus consolidated all the remaining minor states upon the continent, he now traveled among nearby island nations, forging agreements—though what he demanded was not agreement, but: “Do not invade me, and instead pay tribute.”
These were the achievements he had amassed in but two years since ascending the throne.
Thus, it was no surprise that the Kingdom of Shaym, so near to the empire, must make every effort to impress the Room Emperor.
“Tch. How noisy.”
Richard, of course, found the commotion distasteful.
Many rumors surrounded the emperor of the empire: a genius of swordsmanship, a war-monger, yet also the most virtuous sovereign to his people.
And, they said, the most handsome man in the world.
Upon hearing these rumors, Richard sneered.
It was natural for those who rose to high positions to be surrounded by dazzling tales.
Especially with such lavish praise of appearance—it was certain the emperor of Room was a short, unimpressive dwarf.
What a fool, born into noble blood to become master of the continent. The empire’s subjects were pitiful.
In truth, Richard himself belonged far more naturally upon that throne.
“‘Warlike’ and absorbing small nations? A mere act of desperation from a man with deep insecurities, desperate to leave some mark.”
With the empire’s military might, even a fool upon the throne could swallow several nations. Thus, expanding imperial territory was no true achievement.
Richard, without ever having met him, inwardly crushed and crushed again the image of the emperor of Room.
It was a habit born of growing up compared to his dead brother. A twisted self-esteem, an unnaturally inflated confidence.
Thus, the day of the welcome ceremony arrived.
“The Emperor of the Room Empire, His Imperial Majesty Carlos Rivera, enters.”
The door opened to the herald’s announcement, and the emperor appeared.
Clad entirely in jet-black armor, draped in a thick, fur-lined crimson cloak, he strode forward with commanding steps—truly overwhelming.
Black hair, black eyes. Sun-bronzed skin and towering height radiated the aura of a wild beast. Broad shoulders, a stature so imposing, a gait both dignified and heavy—his presence alone drew every gaze.
And above all else—
“Beautiful…”
A beauty unlike anything of this world.
As Richard gazed upon the emperor, he thought of his dead brother, Elmond. Elmond, too, had been an extraordinary man who radiated such presence. Yet this emperor… surpassed him.
Richard clenched his fist. Merely having the emperor before him was unbearable—so maddening.
The banquet hall filled with hushed murmurs.
The emperor walked steadily forward and stood before the king.
“Welcome. May blessings come to the Kingdom of Shaym.”
His low voice carried a charisma that dared no defiance.
The king, shorter than the emperor, appeared flustered beneath the weight of the imperial presence, yet managed to speak with composure.
“Welcome. May glory attend the Room Empire.”
The two men shook hands, and the emperor swept his gaze across the banquet hall.
“The banquet is modest and exquisite. You have clearly worked hard—I offer my thanks.”
“Not at all. May the sovereign of the continent enjoy this feast.”
Modest?
Richard ground his teeth. He had never in his life seen a banquet so magnificent. Yet this man was dismissing the kingdom.
Whether he noticed Richard’s expression or not, the emperor’s gaze, having scanned every corner of the hall, finally settled upon one point.
There stood Richard and Mercedes. And the emperor’s gaze lingered—unabashedly.
“…Welcome. Crown Prince, Crown Princess.”
His eyes turned toward Mercedes.
Mercedes’s green eyes trembled violently as she met the emperor’s gaze.
It was true—his aura had drawn her attention. He was a type of man she had never encountered before.
Yet, even so, he was no one who concerned her. So, as always, she maintained her emotionless expression, watching the emperor and king exchange greetings.
There was no reason for her to be startled when he offered his greeting.
Still, her eyes trembled—for his face felt strangely familiar.
There was no way she had seen him before. Though she had lived in the capital of the Room Empire as a child with her mother, it had been a life on the streets—she could never have encountered nobility. Afterward, she had been confined within Count Cromwell’s estate.
She could never have had any opportunity to meet the emperor. Thus, she was bewildered.
“Why… does he feel familiar?”
And Richard, of course, did not miss the fleeting tremor in Mercedes’s eyes.
The flicker of emotion upon her face was an instant—truly, an infinitesimally brief moment.
Richard’s eyes grew sharp.
The emperor stared at the Crown Princess. The Crown Princess bowed her head with her usual blank expression. The Crown Prince stared at the Crown Princess with a look of incredulity.
The misaligned glances lasted only a moment—the emperor turned his head toward the Crown Prince. Richard, sensing his gaze, immediately smiled.
“Thank you for your long journey, Your Majesty. May you find your time in the Kingdom of Shaym delightful.”
Though inwardly arrogant, a noble was still a noble.
Having been educated, Richard naturally donned his mask and displayed proper manners.
“I am pleased you greeted me. Thank you.”
The emperor’s deep voice carried no discernible emotion.
That was all.
The welcome ceremony proceeded neither too long nor too short, appropriately. After the grand feast concluded, the emperor proceeded to the grand council chamber for his meeting with the king.
“The schedule is finished.”
After seeing the emperor off, Mercedes spoke in her usual flat tone. Richard gave a hollow laugh as he watched his wife return to her usual self.
He wished to fly into rage at once, but there were too many watching eyes.
“…Yes. The schedule is done. Let us return.”
Richard forced a smile, exchanged courteous farewells with those around him, and exited the banquet hall. The moment he stepped into the area reserved exclusively for royalty, he seized Mercedes’s arm and slammed her against the corridor wall.
“Hnh!”
Mercedes gasped at the sudden pain—but her expression remained utterly vacant.
“I had thought my lady was excessively proper, but it seems your rear is quite light.”
“…”
“I thought you had no desire at all.”
“…If there is any fault, please rebuke me. I shall correct it.”
With her calm reply, Richard ground his teeth.
“Very well. Then, tonight. I wonder if you can remain so composed even during our wedding night.”
Mercedes was slightly startled.
Night… Richard had often burst in drunkenly, hurling humiliating words and drunken rages. But for him to speak of “wedding night” was unprecedented—two years had passed since the last.
“…Understood.”
The reason Richard avoided wedding nights was simple.
He did not wish to grant Mercedes the honor of bearing his child.
For two years now, he had delighted in her punishments concerning heirs.
In any case, Mercedes did not know this reason.
Suddenly, a wedding night…
Mercedes stared at Richard in silence, then lowered her eyes.
“…Understood.”
Disturbing as it was, duty was duty.
As was her habit, she resigned herself and bowed her head.
“Oh, perhaps I shall make tonight special. I wonder if you can maintain that corpse-like blankness even when disgraced before others.”
“Before… others?”
“How about we consummate our marriage in the audience chamber? What do you say?”
Richard smirked. At last, Mercedes’s eyes trembled violently.
“…What?”
Male lead says he’s pregnant — and it’s female lead’s child
Something seems a bit off about this world.
Wang Zhao thought as she watched a pregnant man walking towards her…
Intro
Female lead finds herself in a world where the men who possess the ability to bear children.
As she navigates this unfamiliar reality, she is caught off guard by the sudden appearance of her boyfriend, who reveals that he is pregnant.
Is this truly her boyfriend?
Why can’t she recall any details about their time together?
She begins to doubt whether the child her boyfriend is carrying is even hers.
Is there a hidden reason behind her amnesia, or could it be a side effect of her sudden arrival in this strange new world?
Just when it seems the protagonist’s life couldn’t become any more entangled, her ex-boyfriend makes an unexpected appearance, raising questions about the protagonist’s past.
__________
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MANGA DISCUSSION
1 Comment
Chapter Comments (23)
He knew her. The way he delayed his response to her.
Fuck you ugly and ungrateful rat of man! Kill him, kill him!!!
She’s strong. How many people can endure everything that happened to her. Girl 😢
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Blairwoods
Fuck u!!! Let her go! My girl is so pitiful! Someone needs to save her 😢