Life After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 14
Ha, Edmund let out a scoff and tucked the eavesdropping magic device into his chest.
The woman who had worn a sorrowful expression, claiming to be wounded by her husband’s infidelity—where had she gone? She was now so spirited as to seem almost cunning.
‘Revenge.’
Viscountess Dian’s reputation in high society wasn’t bad. Though brimming with vanity, it was said she tirelessly praised her daughter-in-law to everyone around her. Revenge from such a Viscountess Dian? Had there been discord with her in-laws?
Frowning as he sank into thought, Edmund quickly composed himself upon seeing Etricia emerge through the door.
“Finished?”
“You must have been bored waiting.”
Edmund shook his head and followed her down the alleyway.
Glancing sideways at her, he noticed the corners of her mouth, tilted upward in a smirk, refused to fall.
‘She’s thrilled at the prospect of revenge against her in-laws.’
Of course, revenge itself wasn’t wrong. Anyone whose will had been forged and whose inheritance stolen wouldn’t simply accept divorce quietly.
Yet, from what Edmund had gathered so far, Etricia Bueil was impulsive to a reckless degree—so much so that when drunk, she’d abruptly commission assassinations.
It made his blood run cold to imagine what she might have done during those years of seclusion.
Not only was his sister infatuated with this woman without knowing her true nature, but this woman, with a tongue as elastic as rubber, ceaselessly flattered him too, trying to bewitch him as well.
At this point, the nickname “the Reclusive Countess” was laughable—perhaps “the Fox Countess” would be more fitting.
‘There might be another motive behind leaving my sister alive.’
Narrowing his eyes, Edmund stared at Etricia’s receding figure as she headed toward the carriage.
“Count?”
Etricia turned back toward him, tilting her head with a puzzled expression.
‘I’ll need to observe her more closely and meticulously.’
Having reached this conclusion, Edmund extended his hand to help her into the carriage, then climbed in after her.
The carriage, adorned with the gilded crest of the Mipidian earldom, smoothly crossed the paved road.
Someone was watching that carriage—a constable nearing ten years of service.
“That person…”
Back when he’d just failed the knight examination and entered training, a noble of the same age had joined the Imperial Palace Knights—and later gained fame through monster hunts.
Moreover, the tale of that noble charging alone into a cave teeming with monsters and wiping them out had spread like legend. He’d read about and admired that figure in newspapers countless times—he couldn’t possibly fail to recognize him now.
The constable urgently grabbed his colleague and recounted what he’d just witnessed.
And the next day, an extra circulated announcing that Count Mipidian, commander of the extermination squad, had finally returned to the capital after nine years.
[This is the timeline separator]With Rail’s help, I summoned a merchant to the mansion and sold off the belongings that had arrived the previous day from the Bueil estate.
They catered to nouveau riche merchants who admired noble culture but lacked the status to purchase noble goods legitimately.
Thus, the merchant pretended to haggle, dragging out time in the dusty warehouse until my nerves frayed.
Just as I’d reached my limit and was about to send him away, he mentioned a portrait frame tucked in the corner.
“You’ll throw that in for free?”
It was the very portrait the butler had brought to win my favor—the same one that had fueled my rage and burned beyond recognition.
I’d postponed disposing of it, judging it irreparable—but apparently, the merchant coveted the jewels decorating its frame.
I sighed and said,
“Take it.”
“My lady, the portrait itself is beyond restoration—”
“I don’t like repeating myself.”
My sharp glance made the smarmy merchant sulk and retreat with a grumble.
Soon after, he paid and departed with his cart.
I cast one last look at the portrait, sitting alone in the empty corner of the warehouse.
“My lady…?”
I nodded to the maid hovering by the open warehouse door, and she quickly shut it.
With the creak of old hinges, I met the gaze of Count Bueil within the portrait, now swallowed by darkness.
Inside the frame, Father smiled at me just as he always had.
For four years holed up in the mansion, worn down by hardship, I’d never properly looked at the portrait.
Because I couldn’t bear facing those eyes—eyes that seemed to scold me, as if saying, “See? Didn’t I tell you not to?”
‘Only after resolving to end this grueling marriage can I finally face you.’
I’d spent my days craving affection from Devon, forgetting my true family entirely.
Creeeak—thud. Only after the door closed completely did I finally turn away.
The warm embrace that had lifted me when I fell playing in the meadow, and Father’s fond smile, lingered like an afterimage—just enough to make my nose sting slightly… ever so slightly.
[This is the timeline separator]Late afternoon. While Lirien attended her pastry class, I sat slumped on the couch armrest, reading a letter from Rainbutton.
Edmund had returned to the capital the previous day, news had spread, and he’d already entered the palace upon receiving the Emperor’s summons—so there were no watchers left at the mansion.
Ah—no, that wasn’t quite right. His trusted aide, Rail, was still here.
And now, that very Rail had come bearing thunderous news.
“Someone’s come to see me?”
Rail placed a hand over his heart, bowed his head, and replied,
“Miss Berita insists on meeting you.”
Hah. No reply yet from the Emperor I’d summoned… but this?
I let out a quiet laugh and straightened myself on the couch.
Berita.
In the original story, she’d been my sworn sister—the only person who’d maintained contact with me throughout my reclusive marriage.
She’d been the one to recommend the Shadow Guild and the one who’d gossiped at banquets as a minor character.
While I hesitated, Rail, sensing my thoughts, spoke first.
“Shall I tell her to come back another day?”
“…No. Please show her to the reception room.”
I folded the letter with an audible crispness and set it on the table.
Since she’d come of her own accord, I couldn’t send her away. Soon informed she was waiting, I rose calmly.
‘Then let’s go.’
It was time to give a gift to Berita, who undoubtedly waited with that innocent, clueless face.
Rail led Berita into the reception room, then guided me there.
The reception room faced south on the first floor, bathed in sunlight—this was also where I’d spoken with Edmund early that morning.
As Rail slowly opened the door, details I’d missed in my earlier nervousness now came into view:
gold-threaded door trim, expensive wallpaper embedded with silver laurel wreaths, and such.
After taking in those details, I finally faced the woman staring at me in surprise.
She had rose-pink bobbed hair and violet eyes, beneath which nestled a tear-shaped mole—a sorrowful beauty.
“It’s been so long, Berita.”
“Sister!”
Berita overturned her chair and ran to embrace me.
The scent of lavender wafted gently from her face, buried against my neck.
Her soft, fragile breaths melted against my skin so pitifully that I stood motionless, listening far longer than I should have.
“Sister, what on earth happened? Do you have any idea how worried I was? I returned from my trip and went to the mansion, but it was on fire—”
“Calm down and sit.”
But my composed tone startled Berita, who’d been speaking hastily in excitement.
“Oh…”
Still trembling from her surge of emotion, Berita awkwardly wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and returned to her seat, clearly sensing the tension.
After ordering tea from a maid and sitting down, Berita reached across the table and took my hand.
A commoner touching a noble so boldly was highly improper—but as always, she didn’t seem to care.
“As soon as I heard from Viscountess Dian that your mansion had burned, I rushed over. Are you all right?”
I stared at Berita, her brows furrowed with concern, then spoke.
“You seem to visit the Viscountess often—perhaps even more than you do me.”
Her eyelashes fluttered guiltily; after all, she’d been very close to Antra.
“Th-that’s impossible! You know I have no family but you, sister.”
Family. Family, indeed.
Ha—I gave a bitter smirk, and Berita, looking embarrassed, fiddled with my hand before speaking again.
“Sister… I heard from the Viscountess that you’re… getting a divorce?”
Berita gazed at me with wide, clear eyes—innocent and brimming with faint hope.
“Did you come running like a dog at the sound of its master, just for that rumor?”
“What are you saying…? I told you I came because I was worried about you! Are you angry with me about something?”
When neither coaxing nor pleading drew a response, Berita withdrew her hand and fell silent.
For the record, though I tended to be cold toward others, I wasn’t heartless.
She was my sworn sister—and even if she’d unintentionally caused the assassination attempt, I’d have at least acknowledged her presence. But Berita…
Click. Setting down my teacup, I asked with feigned gentleness,
“How have you been?”
Berita’s eyes widened, then softened with relief—as if confirming I was still the kind Etricia she knew.
“I’ve been well. Though I’ve felt a little lonely since your marriage—”
“No, not you.”
I slowly lifted my eyelids to meet Berita’s gaze. Like ripples disturbing still water, quiet anger stirred within me.
“My husband.”
That was, of course, unless Berita had never committed adultery with Devon.
“…!”
Male lead is a Love-Obsessed Merman
When he discovers she has gone, he risks everything to pursue her on land, enduring agonizing pain to transform his tail into human legs…
One-line summary: Male lead chases female lead. The male lead’s love is a bit sick, an invincible love brain.
Synopsis
During a voyage at sea, Jiang Yang accidentally captures a merman.
Servant: I heard that mermen are fierce and brutal.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman obediently rubbing her palm like a puppy: “You call this fierce and brutal?”
Servant: I heard that mermen have no human nature.
Jiang Yang looks at the merman with wet puppy eyes, obsessively calling her ‘A Yang’ like a childish infant: “You call this having no human nature?”
With great difficulty, she releases the merman back into the sea and returns to shore.
Who would have thought that in less than half a month, the merman, who should have been freely wandering in the South China Sea, would shed his scales, endure the pain of losing his tail, transform into human legs, and come ashore to find her?
He kneels at her feet, rubbing her palm, with merman tears rolling down: “A Yang, don’t abandon me.”
_____
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Chapter Comments (1)
Inline Comments (42)
“You enjoyed your romance behind my back in the mansion—kicking each other playf
The number of people on Etricia’s revenge list has increased. Berita seems to have the same rudeness as Devon.
No one knew where he came from or how he’d arrived; nothing about his origins or
My feeling is that he is the second laed. Exaggeration in its description and ambiguity in who it is. He is definitely the second laed.
Fragile child? Edmund’s thick eyebrow twitched.
Haha! Edmund says to himself, Where is the fragile child! She is evil, not fragile.
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oh man girl, using your self as bait never goes well! just kiss the man instead