Strategic Marriage with the Mad Villain (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
At first glance, it appeared to be an envelope bearing the seal of the Grand Ducal House.
I quietly pulled the envelope, which lay a little farther away, toward myself.
‘Did he come just to deliver this? Then does he really know nothing about what happened that day?’
A familiar name was written on the envelope.
It wasn’t Reus’s name.
It read:
-Shanet Rayvian-
Shanet was currently a marchioness and also Reus’s aunt.
We had grown close after I happened to help her once, and we occasionally kept in touch.
‘Right. That’s that, but….’
It wasn’t unusual for Shanet to send letters, so I still didn’t find it strange.
‘But why did Reus himself bring this and come looking for Count Yveler?’
Deciding it was better to simply open the letter than dwell on questions, I started to open the envelope when Reus spoke.
“Her Ladyship mentioned she formally invited Lady Yveler—was that correct?”
“Ah… Yes.”
Now that he mentioned it, Shanet had indeed said that recently—she wanted to invite me to her mansion and asked if I’d accept an invitation letter.
‘So this is that invitation?’
Just as I reached to open the envelope again to confirm, Reus spoke once more, making me pause my hand again.
“It seems the letter wasn’t properly delivered.”
“That must be it. I haven’t received any letters from Lady Shanet lately.”
“Her Ladyship was worried, so she asked me to deliver the letter…”
Reus paused mid-sentence, narrowing his eyes slightly as he hesitated briefly.
“…and to personally confirm Lady Yveler’s willingness.”
It was widely known that Reus doted on his aunt Shanet. I’d heard those rumors myself, but I hadn’t expected him to carry out such a personal request for her.
‘A bit unexpected….’
“You may refuse if you’d rather not go.”
“Huh? No…! I—I’d love to. I already told her I’d be honored to accept the invitation.”
I’d been terrified the original story might veer slightly off course, but this change actually worked in my favor.
Peria, who adored Shanet deeply, wouldn’t lock me in the cellar upon hearing I’d been invited!
‘And to avoid raising suspicion when meeting Shanet, she probably won’t even hit me?’
For the moment, I wouldn’t get beaten, and I’d have more time to plan my escape.
Feeling uncharacteristically buoyant, I was abruptly sobered by Reus’s crisp, measured voice.
“Then you should go.”
Go? Go where?
“You’ll need to pack your things. I’ll wait as long as necessary.”
“Pack? What do you mean all of a sudden…?”
I stared openly at Reus, forgetting even basic courtesy. Uncharacteristically, he kindly elaborated.
“It’ll take more than a day to return, so it’s best to pack at least a few essentials.”
So, if I interpreted Reus correctly—
Today. Right now. He planned to depart immediately for Viscount Rayvian’s estate and wanted me to pack my bags.
‘Did I understand that right…?’
No matter how I thought about it, it didn’t make sense, so this time I asked clearly.
“Um, Your Grace… So you mean we’re leaving today—no, right now? I feel like I might be misunderstanding.”
“You understood correctly, Lady Yveler.”
“…….”
“Please go with peace of mind.”
Was I really going?
‘So abruptly? Shanet isn’t the type to be so impolite….’
Just who was Shanet?
She was renowned for her exceptionally gentle and kind nature—famous in a completely different way than Reus.
Even in high society, where people were desperate to claw their way into favor, she was regarded as a wingless angel. Her integrity was so evident that praising it further would be pointless.
Yet Shanet made such a request!
‘Besides, wouldn’t it take more than a day to reach the viscount’s domain?’
Traveling from Count Yveler’s estate to Viscount Rayvian’s territory took a full two days. Even with the shortest possible stay, it would be at least a week before I returned to Yveler.
That’s why Reus didn’t tell me to “prepare for an outing” but specifically to “pack my things.”
Yet for Shanet to extend such a sudden invitation…
‘Could there be some urgent reason…?’
So flustered was I that I began rationalizing on my own, though no one had prompted me.
Perhaps she only just realized the letter hadn’t arrived, and her schedule was already fully set, forcing this hasty invitation…?
Just then, Reus spoke again.
“Do you have other engagements?”
“Ah, engagements…?”
I didn’t have any, though an unwelcome guest was indeed waiting for me…
‘That’s right. What’ll happen to Cassien if I just leave like this?’
No, why should I worry about him?
Cassien was the one who’d shown up unannounced without any notice.
And even if it was sudden, this was a chance to escape this precarious situation—overthinking would be a luxury.
“I don’t have plans, but I should inform Mother first…”
Though I spoke, Reus clearly believed Peria would never refuse, listening silently but with unwavering certainty.
“If Mother permits, I suppose I’ll just need to grab a few clothes…”
“I’d prefer you bring everything necessary. Though I suppose you could go with nothing at all… I just wouldn’t want Lady Yveler to be uncomfortable.”
Anyone might mistake his words for concern, but his real meaning was clear: don’t burden Shanet.
“Then I’ll pack as much as I can.”
“Yes. That would be best.”
“Okay….”
“You wouldn’t want to do anything you’d later regret.”
At Reus’s murmur, my brow instinctively furrowed.
From the way he spoke almost like a veiled threat, it was obvious he strongly disliked the idea of me going to Shanet’s mansion.
Honestly, this man never had a kind word to say.
[This is the timeline separator]“Of course you’ll go. Why even ask?”
Peria showed no sign of being offended by the abrupt invitation. If anything, she seemed to have completely forgotten about the broken engagement thanks to Shanet’s summons.
Her reaction caught me off guard.
“Oh, yes… I’ll go. I was just reporting to Mother…”
“Quickly go upstairs and pack. Actually—since you’ve been invited, you can’t go empty-handed. I’ll prepare a gift for you; don’t forget to take it.”
“Yes, Mother. But what about Cassien…?”
Only then did Peria seem to recall Cassien’s presence, clicking her tongue lightly.
Countless people sought favor with the Grand Duke, who held real power in the empire, and Shanet, who could easily sway him.
Yet here fortune had rolled straight to her doorstep without any effort…
“Sigh… I’ll handle the engagement matter for now. You just focus on pleasing the marchioness and returning safely.”
For Peria, this was an opportunity she absolutely couldn’t afford to miss.
Silently thanking Lady Shanet over and over in my heart, I hurried upstairs to my room.
But as soon as I opened the door, an unwelcome figure occupied my space.
“…You still haven’t left?”
“Our conversation isn’t over.”
“I have nothing more to say to you.”
The maids would handle the basic packing, so I headed straight for the dressing room to gather clothes I could wear.
It was my first time using the dressing room attached to this room—previously, I’d always worn Briella’s discarded clothes since I wasn’t allowed to choose even a single outfit freely.
‘There are more dresses hanging here than I expected.’
With so many dresses available, couldn’t they have spared just one for me? Though inwardly disgruntled, I picked the longest one that offered minimal exposure.
Suddenly, Cassien snatched my wrist and spun me around roughly.
“Why are you changing clothes all of a sudden?”
“Why? Because I’m going out, so I need to change and pack.”
“…Pack?”
“Yes. So please, just leave already, Cassien.”
But Cassien stood rooted in place, showing no intention of leaving. This time, instead of trying to move him, I simply walked to another spot.
“Where are you going that you need to pack?”
“Viscount Rayvian’s estate.”
“Out of nowhere… What’s this about, Roel?”
Cassien turned me around so abruptly that I dropped my clothes. Suppressing my irritation, I slowly pried his hand off mine.
“It’s laughable that you expect me to explain everything to you, isn’t it? We’re strangers now.”
“You’d go even though I’m right here?”
“…Have you ever considered that I’m going precisely because you’re here?”
At my words, Cassien’s expression darkened instantly.
He was so infuriatingly irritable all the time—I couldn’t fathom how he’d managed to keep smiling politely in the past.
“Roel, let me explain properly…”
Knock knock—
Just then, Peria conveniently arrived at my room.
“Roel, hurry out. Don’t keep His Grace waiting.”
“Yes, Mother.”
I hastily stuffed some clothes in and quickly zipped the bag. But as I moved to leave, Cassien grabbed me and wouldn’t let go.
“A grand duke? Don’t tell me that rumored man is that bastard?”
“Watch your language, Cassien.”
“Roel!”
His loud shout spared me from replying—Peria had already entered the room upon hearing the commotion.
“Cassien, the appointment with Lady Shanet was already scheduled. I’m sorry, but could you visit another time? I’ll explain the broken engagement matter well to the marchioness, so please don’t worry.”
“…….”
“If you’re truly concerned… it’d be best to talk again after Roel returns. We’ll set a proper date then.”
In plain terms: since you came unannounced without any prior arrangement, don’t hold her back just because of the broken engagement.
Inwardly, I cheered.
Cassien’s pushy attitude had been annoying me, and now Peria stepped in to handle things—this worked out perfectly for a clean break.
Soon, Cassien forced a smile onto his face.
“Roel. I’ll be waiting… Just don’t take too long to come back.”
I gave Cassien a bright smile in return.
The kind that clearly said I’d never do as he wished.
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
_____
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