Her excessive caution was laughable to Oscar. Everything Adel did was amusing and endearing to him. Her naivety, thinking mere guards could make a difference, was almost adorable.
As he approached, the woman’s delicate face froze in apprehension. His smile deepened.
“…….”
Despite her stiff attitude, Adel was quite beautiful. At seventeen, when she first came to Bichlerleben, she was unremarkable, but as years passed, she blossomed like water rising to a flower.
Was it the cold northern air that suited her, or something else…
Now, her dewy eyes alone directed at him made his chest tighten.
“You cannot go to the monastery.”
“I don’t understand what you mean. It’s already decided. The steward said it’s according to the law and procedure…”
“Being born and raised in the prosperous south, it’s understandable you’re unaware of northern culture. Do you know why the Bayerns call us barbarians?”
Adel’s eyes widened in confusion. Why? The frozen barren land, the constant attacks by beasts on the walls, the land cultivated by blood by settled barbarians…
Without wealth, clinging onto anything they can, even in death…
Suddenly, Adel guessed and her face turned pale.
“Don’t tell me…”
“In the north, it’s still legally permissible to take the wife of a deceased brother. It’s an archaic practice, but I find it quite to my liking.”
Oscar’s snake-like eyes leisurely surveyed Adel, from head to toe, swallowing her presence with his vile, cunning, despicable gaze.
“I’ll give you enough time to mourn until the funeral ends.”
“…….”
“After that, Adelheit, you should consider what is best for your survival.”
‘She’s gone mad.’
Adel couldn’t contain her restlessness and abruptly rose from her seat. She paced the reception hall, unable to keep still.
What Oscar wanted was clear, and it was outrageously impudent.
‘He intends to propose to me. He’s going to corner me into accepting.’
She had once vowed to be married to Valentin. For Morrig, divorce was considered one of the most heinous sins, and therefore, whether alive or dead, her husband was only Valentin.
Even if it meant being buried alive in Ansgar’s underground crypt.
But now, to suddenly accept another man, her deceased husband’s brother…
‘She’s lost her mind. What is he thinking…!’
Such customs might have been necessary in the past, when beasts frequently invaded, but Adelheit grew up under the southern sun. She wasn’t raised gently, but she couldn’t understand the harshness of the north.
Her lips trembled with the immorality of it all.
‘She will fall into hell. Morrig will never forgive this.’
Fear engulfed her entire being. Adel bit her fingertips until they bled. Usually timid in the face of others’ criticism, she had always strictly adhered to etiquette, but now she couldn’t maintain her composure.
“Duchess.”
Startled, she reflexively hid her hands. Engrossed in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed the door opening.
“Wh-What is it?”
Had he seen her biting her nails? She cautiously gauged the old steward Herman’s expression, but as always, he faced her with a firm, expressionless face.
“It’s time for the final prayer. Tonight, the Duke will be entombed in the underground crypt.”
“Have all the priests arrived?”
“Yes. I just received word that the last carriage has passed through the main gate. As the Duchess, you must maintain dignity and presence until the end.”
“Understood. But…”
Herman, having delivered his message, turned to leave the reception hall, then stopped.
“Speak your mind.”
Tomorrow morning, when the funeral process officially concludes, Oscar would ascend as the Duke.
‘And then he’ll make that outrageous claim.’
If that happened, there would be no turning back. She had to find a way out of Ansgar before then.
Adel bit her lip. Inquiring Herman about an escape route would be the easiest way, but could she trust him?
“…”
Herman had served the Ansgar family for generations. Between a duchess perceived as a fraud and the Duke’s blood relative, his loyalty was clear. What if sharing her plans resulted in Oscar finding out, ruining her last chance of escape?
She swallowed the lump in her throat.
“…No, it’s nothing. Just nervous, I guess.”
At her response, Herman raised an eyebrow indifferently.
“Then prepare yourself.”
After Herman left, the horn from the bell tower sounded long. Soon after, priests entered the reception hall for the all-night prayer to honor the deceased.
Adel knelt at the prepared altar, her long veil trailing behind her.
‘I’ll escape at dawn when everyone is preoccupied. I can make it to Regenbach forest… I can find my way from there.’
But the problem arose in the middle of the night.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
