Edmund, unable to suppress a sneer, tucked the eavesdropping magical device into his pocket.
The woman who had been putting on a forlorn face about her husband’s infidelity was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a woman who was not just spirited but appeared cunning and calculating.
‘Revenge.’
Lady Diane, the mother-in-law, had a decent reputation in social circles. Despite being full of vanity, she was known to praise her daughter-in-law to the skies. Revenge against Lady Diane? Was there discord in the family?
Lost in thought and furrowing his brows, Edmund quickly composed himself when he saw Ettrisha emerge from the door.
“Is it over?”
“Did you get bored waiting?”
Edmund shook his head and followed her down the alley.
Glancing at her, he noticed the corners of her mouth still turned up in a smirk.
‘She seems thrilled at the thought of getting back at her in-laws.’
Of course, revenge wasn’t inherently wrong. Anyone manipulated into losing their inheritance through a forged will wouldn’t just quietly divorce.
However, based on what he had gathered so far, Ettrisha Buel was impulsive to the point of commissioning murders when drunk.
It was dizzying to think of what she might have done over the past few years while living in seclusion.
The fact that his sister was enamored with this woman without knowing her true identity was troubling enough, let alone her overly flattering and deceitful nature.
This made the nickname ‘Reclusive Countess’ seem laughable. ‘Cunning Countess’ might be more appropriate.
‘There might be other ulterior motives for keeping my sister alive.’
Narrowing his eyes, Edmund watched Ettrisha’s retreating figure.
“Count?”
Ettrisha turned around, looking puzzled.
‘I need to observe her more closely.’
Convinced of his decision, Edmund extended his hand to help her into the carriage and then boarded himself.
The Mipidian Count’s carriage, adorned with gold-leafed emblems, smoothly crossed the paved road.
Watching the carriage was a policeman who had been in service for nearly ten years.
“That person is…”
He recalled a noble who had joined the royal knights at the same age as him and had later gained fame for monster hunting. His solo foray into a cave infested with monsters had become a legendary tale, widely known and admired.
The next day, a special edition announced the return of Count Mipidian to the capital after nine years.
With Rail’s help, I summoned a merchant to the mansion and sold off the newly arrived household items of the Buel Count’s estate.
These merchants distributed noble artifacts to the rich who yearned for noble culture but were ineligible to purchase them directly.
Hence, he tried to bargain in the dusty warehouse, irritatingly dragging out the time.
When I was about to send him away, he mentioned a painting in the corner.
“You want it as a bonus?”
It was the burned portrait the steward had brought to gain my favor, adding fuel to my anger.
I had delayed disposing of it, deeming it beyond repair… The merchant seemed interested in the jewels attached to the frame.
I sighed and said,
“Take it.”
“Lady, the portrait is beyond repair.”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
As I glared at him, the smirking merchant grumbled and moved away.
Eventually, he paid the price and left with the cart of goods.
I gazed one last time at the lonely portrait left in the corner of the empty warehouse.
“Lady…?”
The maid, hesitant to close the warehouse door, caught my nod and quickly shut it.
As the old hinges creaked, I locked eyes with Count Buel in the portrait that was being swallowed by the darkness.
In the frame, my father continued to smile at me unchangingly.
During the four years I was cooped up in the mansion, I was so burdened by the harsh life that I never properly looked at the portrait.
It felt like he was reproaching me for not looking at it, for not heeding his words.
‘Only now, after deciding to end this grueling marriage, do I face him.’
I lamented forgetting my real family while desperately seeking affection from Devon.
Creak, bang. As I gazed at the portrait for a long time, I only turned away after the door completely closed.
The image of me frolicking in the meadow, falling over, and being warmly picked up by him with his comforting smile, lingered like an afterimage. It made my nose tingle slightly… just a little.
Late in the afternoon, while Lirien was attending a pastry class, I sat leaning on the armrest of the couch, reading a letter from Rainburton.
Edmund had gone to the capital the previous day after hearing of his return, to receive an imperial edict and enter the palace, so there were no watchers at the mansion.
Ah, but there was Rail, his right-hand man.
But then, Rail came with astonishing news.
“Someone is looking for me?”
With one hand on his chest and a bow, Rail answered.
“Miss Verita requests to see you urgently.”
Huh, no response from the emperor yet…
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
