Life After Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
It was a warning that I could only ever be a lifelong concubine—nothing more, nothing less. Berita, her face drained of all color, immediately buried her face in her hands and burst into sobs.
I observed Berita with a dry, detached gaze before turning away.
Just as I opened the door and raised my eyes, I unexpectedly came face to face with someone.
“Lady Lirien?”
“Countess…”
Lirien wore an ambiguous expression—somewhere between laughter and tears—as cold sweat dripped down her brow, which meant, in short—
“T-the weather is really nice today, isn’t it…?”
She looked thoroughly embarrassed, clearly having overheard something she hadn’t meant to.
[This is the timeline separator]We sat side by side on the terrace, as quiet as the pre-dawn streets, maintaining silence.
Between us sat two cups of lemon tea and a fresh cream cake Lirien had brought back from her baking lesson.
I stared beyond the arched white railing. A servant hurriedly watered the plants, while another polished the fountain with a cloth until it sparkled brightly.
It was because Edmund had returned not long ago.
After watching with interest the gardener who was beautifying the landscape, I turned my gaze back—and met Lirien’s eyes.
Lirien, who had been visibly gauging my mood, widened her eyes like a puppy the moment our eyes locked.
It was terribly endearing.
Enough so to calm the turbulent feelings that had stirred within me until now.
“You heard our conversation.”
“I-I’m so sorry… When I heard from the butler that your sister-in-law had come to visit, I thought I should pay my respects, and so I—”
“I’m not scolding you. I came to tell you it’s all right.”
Devon’s infidelity, the argument with Antra, the divorce preparations—
After already seeing everything there was to see, it felt wrong not to show her even this much.
“Thank you for understanding, Countess.”
“Don’t mention it.”
Lirien gave an awkward little smile and pulled her half-updo forward to fiddle with it nervously.
She looked as though she had something she wanted to ask but was hesitant, afraid of upsetting my mood.
Eventually, after a long pause, her eyes reddened, and in a trembling voice, she asked,
“Am I… the same to you as that person is, Countess?”
“No, you were deceived.”
“B-but I contributed to Countess Bueil’s pain. I only wanted to help…”
Ah. Now I finally understand why Edmund insists on keeping me at the estate.
Letting out a soft sigh at the sudden realization that pierced my mind—
It seemed Lirien viewed me not merely with goodwill, but as a true friend.
No wonder Edmund watched me even more warily—he’d seen how every friend she’d ever made had ended up with deeply flawed characters.
Though frustrated by this tangled situation, I couldn’t possibly blame Lirien for complicating things—she had no way of knowing that her fondness for me was precisely what made matters awkward.
I recalled my university roommate once telling me it was my bad habit to treat those weaker than me even more gently—but what could I do? That’s just my nature.
When I sighed softly again, Lirien startled as if struck by lightning.
“I-I’m so sorry! Are you tired? Of course you are—you’ve just endured something emotionally exhausting, and here I am keeping you…”
Her exaggerated reaction to my sigh left me momentarily dazed. Could it be… that Lirien was still watching my every move, anxious about that incident?
‘Come to think of it, I only spoke vaguely about Devon—I never stated anything outright.’
I disliked that Lirien, innocent as she was, should feel the need to tread carefully around me because of Devon’s misdeeds.
“Lady Lirien, let me be clear once and for all: I don’t blame you or hold anything against you. We’re both victims here.”
Lirien’s eyes went wide like a startled rabbit, her mouth slightly agape. Then, as if remembering something, she broke into a small, flower-bud-like smile and lowered her gaze.
“You were like this even the first time we met—you couldn’t possibly have had any good feelings toward me, yet you comforted me.”
I gave an uneasy smile. She seemed to have built up some idealized image of me.
It wasn’t driven by any great sense of justice. My actions stemmed merely from a faint guilt toward someone I’d nearly killed—and the sheer coincidence of being present at that moment. Of course she’d react this way, unaware I’d once tried to assassinate her.
While I blinked blankly, Lirien smiled knowingly, as if she’d read my thoughts.
“I know—it wasn’t anything deeply meaningful on your part. But sometimes, even a tiny spark can grow into a great flame. For me, it did.”
She calmly confided in me—how her uncle had tried to sell her off to an old noble, how for nearly nine years she’d endured crushing loneliness while avoiding his disapproving glares after Edmund left to protect her.
“No matter how hard I tried to make friends, it never worked out, and I kept blaming myself… But after hearing what you said, Lady Etricia, it was like a light suddenly went on.”
Meeting my eyes again, Lirien smiled softly and adjusted her half-updo.
Instinctively, I looked away—touched yet shy that my words had brought her comfort.
“Yes—that’s exactly why I like this hairstyle so much. Because you complimented it, Countess. And I want to get closer to people who accept me just as I am.”
She twirled a lock of her silver hair around her finger and gazed at me with warm intensity.
“F-for example… you, Countess.”
Then, seemingly embarrassed by her own boldness, she let out a muffled groan, tugged her hair over her face, and hid behind it.
‘So cute…’
My lips kept twitching upward. Was it because she was so refreshingly honest about her feelings—or simply because Lirien herself was so lovely?
In my barren life, consumed by vengeance and bitterness, her presence felt like warm spring sunshine.
Suddenly, I found myself hoping that, when I left the estate after the divorce, many people would be by Lirien’s side—so she’d never be lonely again.
“Lady Lirien, why don’t you call me something more comfortable? I’d rather not be known anymore as ‘that man’s wife.'”
Honestly, I’m utterly sick of being called “Countess Bueil.”
At my informal request, Lirien’s face instantly brightened as if someone had flipped a light switch.
“Yes! Th-then…”
Lirien rolled her eyes upward, then cast them down again. Blushing deeply, she fiddled with her hair for a long moment—then spoke as if confessing her first love.
“L-Lady Etricia…”
She looked just like a puppy watching its master’s every move, and I couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh.
“That sounds nice. Call me however feels comfortable.”
Lirien beamed and cupped both cheeks in her hands. Faintly, I could hear her softly repeating my name to herself.
Could calling someone by name really bring her that much joy?
Compared to others, she truly asked for so little.
Suddenly, Lirien clenched both fists tightly.
“Lady Etricia—if you ever need my help, please tell me anytime!”
She sounded as resolute as a knight swearing undying loyalty.
I couldn’t help but burst out laughing at the sight. Covering my mouth with my hand, I giggled—prompting Lirien to give an awkward, puzzled laugh in return.
Strangely enough, Lirien’s image, once hazy in my mind, now appeared vividly clear—as if I were seeing her for the first time, though she’d always been right there.
‘I’m glad… I didn’t end up killing her.’
In that moment, I felt pure relief—not because I myself had survived, but simply because Lirien was still alive.
[This is the timeline separator]“Runox…! Runox, where are you?”
Berita entered the sturdy-looking two-story mansion, clutching her dress hem as she hurried up the stairs.
Frantically, she climbed to a corner of the second floor and flung open the attic door.
On the bright terrace outside, someone sat reading with one leg dangling over the edge.
He was a strikingly handsome man with jet-black hair cascading like a waterfall down to his waist and crimson eyes.
Dust motes shimmered in the sunlight like diamond particles, lending him an ethereal aura.
Without lifting his eyes from his book, the man let out a quiet chuckle.
“What now, Berita?”
His voice, floating and languid, sounded almost otherworldly.
“Runox!”
Berita, tears streaming down her face, threw herself into Runox’s arms.
Kneeling, she buried her face in his thigh and sobbed, her delicate shoulders trembling.
Runox—that was but one of the man’s countless names.
No one knew where he came from or how he’d arrived; nothing about his origins or background was properly known.
All that was clear was that he currently lived as a gentleman’s concubine.
Those around him accepted his existence almost hypnotically, bewitched solely by his exceptional charm and captivating beauty.
Berita was one of them. They’d met recently in a hazy, scandalous card game steeped in intrigue.
Bonding over their shared status as concubines, their kinship deepened until she began freely wandering in and out of his mansion without permission, as close as old friends.
The man closed his book with an audible snap, narrowed his crimson eyes mischievously, and gently stroked Berita’s hair.
“So, Berita—has your lover gone away on another unannounced business trip? Or perhaps—”
“They found out…”
“What?”
“My sister-in-law knows everything…!”
At those words, Runox doubled over, clutching his stomach as he burst into hearty laughter. Wiping tears from his eyes as he laughed, Berita glared up at him, her own eyes still glistening with moisture.
“What’s so funny? I’m being serious!”
“It *is* funny.”
Did she really think it would never be discovered? Runox muttered mockingly, then leaned in with a playful whisper.
“So, what did your sister-in-law say?”
“She says she’ll confiscate my financial support and this mansion both! This really isn’t the time to laugh, Runox!”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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Fragile child? Edmund’s thick eyebrow twitched.
Haha! Edmund says to himself, Where is the fragile child! She is evil, not fragile.
"Don’t grow too attached. She’s someone who will leave."
Remember what you said, Edmund. In the future you will crawl after Etricia.
He grabbed the stunned princess by the back of her neck, dragged her out, and to
I don’t know whether to be surprised by the princess’s boldness, or by Edmund’s coldness. (⁄ ⁄>⁄ ▽ ⁄<⁄ ⁄)
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oh man girl, using your self as bait never goes well! just kiss the man instead