My Contract Marriage Got Interrupted (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
Not the famous Third Imperial Princess, but the Fourth—whose social activities were nonexistent—being his wife?
“This is way too absurd, even for a delusion.”
Odette was, after all, an imperial princess—even if she was a bastard-born one.
And from Louis’s brief glance, she seemed like a woman assembled from every single type he’d normally avoid.
“Quiet, seemingly rigid.”
She didn’t even mingle socially, let alone engage in romance—she must be unbearably stifling.
Would there even be anything they could talk about?
She was exactly the kind of person Louis would rarely, if ever, feel compelled to strike up a conversation with.
The problem was that her hallucination kept tormenting him relentlessly.
“Even now, after the pain has faded.”
Odette’s hallucination would occasionally pop up out of nowhere.
Most of the time, she was bickering with Louis, and sometimes she even cried.
—”I regret marrying you. It was the worst decision of my life…”
Because of this, even while bedridden, Louis couldn’t shake off his bewilderment.
“We’ve barely exchanged glances.”
Why was she suddenly like this?
Moreover, as if his emotions had somehow merged with Odette’s hallucination, he’d felt strangely uneasy ever since.
His chest ached with a hollow sensation, as though he’d lost something profoundly important—this emptiness relentlessly surged through his core.
It was a feeling entirely different from physical pain.
Not only was he experiencing pain from the hallucination, but now this strange emotion as well.
“I must be cursed.”
Concluding this at last, Louis came straight to the academy as soon as he regained consciousness.
He’d considered seeking out the Fourth Imperial Princess, but since it wasn’t even certain she’d cast the curse, approaching Odette would’ve been nothing short of a gamble.
“But in the end, I gained nothing.”
Should he really go see the Fourth Imperial Princess after all?
Sighing, Louis stepped out of the room after finishing his meeting with Zantipe.
Just as he turned the corner of the corridor—
“…Your Highness, the Fourth Princess?”
Louis’s eyes widened at the unexpected sight.
Not far away stood a woman with silver hair.
It wasn’t hard to recognize her.
She was precisely the person who’d occupied his thoughts constantly—no, for days on end.
The problem was that she wasn’t alone.
“Is that… Regis Xavier?”
The flamboyantly dressed man beside him was unmistakably someone Louis knew.
They’d been fairly close back when they attended the academy together, but he’d abruptly left for overseas studies one day and vanished from sight ever since.
Why was he with the Fourth Imperial Princess?
[This is the timeline separator]Truly, when luck runs out, nothing goes right.
And right now, Odette was freshly realizing that harsh truth of life.
The reason was simple.
On her way from Anne Sophie’s laboratory to Epona Hall, she’d unexpectedly run into a familiar face.
“I never expected to see Your Highness here. If this isn’t fate, what is?”
Regis Xavier—of all the worst faces to encounter.
“Why the hell is he here?”
She could’ve just ignored him and walked past smoothly, but the sheer unexpectedness made even Odette hesitate for a moment.
Seizing that opening, Regis brightened and approached her immediately.
Though years had passed since they’d last met, he still carried that same polished, flashy appearance.
His hair was neatly combed back, his face quite handsome, and his whole demeanor seemed intelligent—provided he kept his mouth shut.
It was exactly the same look that once left Odette flustered.
No—perhaps it had even matured a little.
“I heard he returned recently after studying abroad.”
To think she’d run into him here.
Odette barely managed to suppress the frown tugging at her brow and offered a light nod of acknowledgment.
Since it had come to this, outright ignoring him wasn’t an option—best to exchange brief greetings and move on.
“Even ill-fated encounters are fate, I suppose. I’m in a hurry, so if you’ll excuse me.”
“Isn’t it a shame to pass by so quickly after meeting again after so long? If you’d tell me where you’re headed, I’d be honored to escort you.”
Escort?
Did he really think they were on terms for him to say something like that?
“Has he only grown bolder during his time abroad?”
Odette and Regis had never shared even a superficially pleasant relationship.
Naturally, their last encounter had ended in disaster.
—”Don’t ever show your face before me again.”
—”Odette!”
—”Don’t say my name. You have no right to.”
That had been their final exchange, and shortly afterward, she’d only heard he’d left for overseas studies.
And now, after all this time, he was acting as though nothing had happened, trying to feign familiarity?
Suppressing the scoff bubbling up, Odette replied.
“No need. We’re hardly on those kinds of terms. The Count should be busy with his own affairs—please go on ahead.”
With that, she tried to walk away swiftly.
Yet just as she moved—
“Odette. Are you still angry about that?”
“…!”
Her arm was caught in Regis’s grip, and Odette’s expression instantly darkened.
“Let go.”
“I was wrong. Okay? It’s all in the past. Ever since I returned, I haven’t stopped thinking about—”
“I said let go!”
Odette finally snapped, wrenching her arm free from his grasp.
His touch felt repulsive—the casual way he spoke to her, that shameless expression, everything about him.
It wasn’t just annoyance toward Regis; his brazen attitude forcibly dredged up painful memories.
—”You’re always here. It’s nice—you’re easy to find.”
Back during their days at Belvoir Academy,
Odette had always read alone.
Since revealing her status would bring no good, she kept her distance from other students, and over time, solitude simply became habit.
The corner of Epona Hall, shaded just right by tree shadows, was Odette’s favorite spot.
And Regis had naturally approached her there.
—”I couldn’t help noticing you—you’re a new face. I wanted to talk.”
—”I’m not good with words… You’d have more fun talking with others.”
—”They’re too noisy. You’re quiet—it’s pleasant being with you.”
—”…!”
—”You smell nice. Do you wear perfume?”
He knew perfectly well she never wore perfume, yet he’d leaned in and asked on purpose.
Every time she looked up at him like that, Odette’s face would flush crimson—and he’d thoroughly enjoyed it.
A shy, pretty girl.
Entertaining her must’ve been fun—watching her unable to hide how flustered she was.
How much enjoyment had he gotten out of her, completely unaware as she was?
Just thinking about it still made Odette’s chest burn with anger.
Swallowing the surge of emotion, she coldly warned him.
“I don’t wish to exchange a single word with you. And don’t you dare speak so presumptuously again. I overlooked it back then because I didn’t know better—but I won’t tolerate it now.”
“…Tolerate? Are you really still that angry?”
“I told you not to speak so familiarly.”
“You seem truly furious. Well, I suppose you have every right. I understand—if I’d been in your place, I’d be angry too.”
Regis smoothly shifted his tone, which only deepened the frown on Odette’s brow.
Though he’d switched to formal speech as she’d demanded, his shameless attitude remained unchanged.
“I sincerely apologize for deceiving Your Highness back then. But I want you to know my feelings were genuine.”
“…You’re not even worth listening to anymore. Don’t speak to me again.”
“Odette!”
Yet again, his hand seized her arm.
Unlike before, his grip was now firm—impossible to shake off easily.
And, as luck would have it, no one else was around.
“You have no idea how much I’ve regretted letting you go. I went abroad trying to forget you, only to realize it was pointless—and so I returned.”
“That’s none of my concern. Let go!”
“Just give me a moment! Let me explain what happened back then!”
As Odette, her face pale, struggled to break free from Regis’s grasp—
“I never knew Count Xavier was such a rogue—assaulting women in broad daylight.”
A sharp voice cut in, and the pressure on her arm vanished.
Looking up, she saw a face that, though somewhat gaunt, remained strikingly handsome.
“I’d like to hear what exactly you think you’re doing. Is that too much to ask?”
Louis Clovis.
He offered a faint, knowing smile.
[This is the timeline separator]At Louis’s appearance, Regis seemed momentarily taken aback.
“Lu—Louis?”
“Yes, it’s been a while.”
“A—ah, yes. Indeed, it has. I returned just recently. But your complexion—”
“I’ve been unwell lately. I’m fine now, though. More importantly—what exactly do you think you’re doing?”
Louis instantly shut down Regis’s attempt to deflect by commenting on his appearance.
“As far as I know, the person standing here is Her Highness the Fourth Imperial Princess. You’re not trying to intimidate an imperial princess, are you?”
“Intimidate? What nonsense! Even the boldest fool wouldn’t dare do such a thing.”
“Of course not. It’s just a word of caution—after all, I know you well enough. Weren’t you famously bold back at the academy?”
The thinly veiled jab at his past flamboyant conduct twisted Regis’s expression.
“Damn it…”
He’d thought that, with no one around, he could finally speak with Odette—but of all people, to run straight into Louis here?
“I came only because I heard Odette would be at the academy today.”
After the tea party, Odette had completely withdrawn from social activities.
Walter’s scandal had been so overwhelming that it buried the previous rumors, so Odette hadn’t needed to clarify anything herself.
Thus, Regis had no choice but to follow her, using information Regina had obtained by bribing a maid from the Fourth Princess’s palace.
—”That girl went to Belvoir Academy. Go stage a ‘chance’ reunion. Who knows? There’s no such thing as first love triumphing in this world.”
Exactly—first love never wins.
And Regis firmly believed he’d been Odette’s first love.
So he was certain that, if he met her again and coaxed her gently, she’d fall back into his arms in no time.
“After all, she was a foolish girl who’d believe any sweet words I fed her.”
In Regis’s memory, Odette had been both young and naive.
And that’s precisely what had amused him.
Though it had started as a favor to the Third Imperial Princess, he’d soon found himself genuinely enjoying it.
He’d relished her innocence, the way her golden eyes—sweet as honey—would sometimes soften with what seemed like affection just for him.
It was only after everything unraveled in ruin that he’d first felt true regret.
“If only the truth hadn’t come out—I could’ve kept playing with her longer…”
Of course, his regret was of that shallow sort—but still.
Regis, by nature a womanizer, had never held onto any woman.
Except for one—Odette.
“It’s strange. No matter whom I meet, I can’t get her out of my mind.”
That was precisely why he’d returned from abroad despite having just left.
And this time, he was determined to make her his—but then Louis had to show up and ruin everything.
“Surely… Your Highness, you aren’t involved with Count Clovis, are you?”
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
But wouldn’t it be the perfect time to speak with Xavier in a safe manner? There are plenty of people around and she needs information from him.
He isn’t suspicious of Duke Ertman? Considering the rumors the Duke amplified, he has motive to drive a wedge between Louis and Odette. Yet Louie doesn’t question Walter’s words? I’d think he’d be suspicious of Walter casting the curse. Walter’s motive for doing so might be unknown but his words, seemingly knowledgeable about the curse itself and blaming it upon Odette, whom the Duke has insinuated a relationship with while Odette says otherwise, gives plenty to be wary about.
Is this woman serious saying ‘I lied to them, why won’t they believe me?’ Wow she seems a bit delusional.