The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel. Meriel.
I can’t recall a single thought I had while running.
Like a broken machine, I kept repeating my daughter’s name over and over again as I ran.
Until I saw with my own eyes that my daughter was safe, I couldn’t suppress this anxiety.
But the flowing dress and high-heeled shoes were hardly suitable for running. If I let my impatience lead, I’d barely make it a few steps before falling.
“Ugh!”
I tried to stand again, but a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I must have twisted it when I fell. Yet panic overwhelmed any sense of pain—I just needed to get up quickly.
Gritting my teeth, I stubbornly rose to my feet.
My twisted ankle couldn’t hold my balance properly, making me stagger with every step, but I didn’t care. My discarded shoe lying on the ground, my soiled dress—none of it mattered.
Meriel, my little daughter, smiled often but cried just as much.
When frightened, she’d burst into tears and immediately look for her mother, so I had to be by her side.
“Sister, please calm down. Meriel will be safe. I’ll go check on her—.”
“I have to go myself.”
Cheshire, who’d finally caught up to me, stepped in front of me.
His pale face clearly showed his alarm, but I had no energy left to receive even a word of comfort.
I was terrified—terrified that I’d lose her uselessly again, just like before.
Just like my father and my hyung had been taken from me.
I absentmindedly touched my throat. Strangely, my father’s and hyung’s faces were fading from memory, yet the sensation of that choking grip remained as vivid as yesterday.
“Lend me a horse.”
“Sister.”
“It’ll be too late by carriage.”
It sounded more like a command than a request.
I pushed away Cheshire’s hand as he tried to support me and started walking again. My limping gait couldn’t gain much speed, but I had to keep going.
Yet again, I managed only a few steps before stopping.
Taking advantage of Cheshire’s momentary hold, Duke Pierne now stood before me.
“In your condition, you won’t be able to ride a horse.”
“This isn’t your concern, your grace.”
“Take my horse.”
“…….”
“I’ll escort you myself. Clearly, it’s impossible for you to reach the academy alone in that state.”
It seemed the man before me mistakenly believed I’d forgotten everything just because I’d stayed silent.
But I still had many sleepless nights haunted by that nightmare.
I gave a short, mocking laugh as I looked into his unusually pitch-black eyes.
Then, locking eyes with him, I spoke.
“Cheshire.”
“Yes, sister.”
“Come with me.”
His calm eyes reflected me like a mirror.
Seeing the woman whose face was flushed red, on the verge of tears, I reached out my hand toward Cheshire.
“You rushed off like a foal with its tail on fire, only to return like a drenched puppy, Calix.”
“…….”
“What’s so precious about another man’s bloodline that you’d run like that? Especially when it’s the child of a woman who betrayed you.”
“…….”
“Could it really be… love?”
With a crisp snip, the rose stem was severed, and the fully bloomed flower trembled from the recoil, scattering petals.
The unusually crimson petals looked almost like bloodstains.
Luzean deliberately inhaled the scent of the cut rose, his eyes narrowing into a smirk.
Calix silently watched Luzean for a moment, then slowly closed and reopened his eyes.
He couldn’t forget the face of the woman who’d looked up at him with such desperate hope.
“Truly, Marchioness Crayton never fails to surprise. Demure as she appears, yet she commands a mad cat. Perhaps people really can’t be judged by appearances alone.”
“…….”
“Ah, you might not know—after all, you’ve been away from the capital for so long. That ‘Cheshire Cat’ has been the talk of the capital for the past two years—a certain mercenary—.”
“I know.”
“Oh? Really? How? Has the mad cat’s fame spread even to the frontier?”
Instead of answering, Calix firmly closed his mouth.
There was no need to mention that he’d once seen the boy who used to be with Liviana.
Ten years—enough time for a boy to become a man while Calix was away from the capital.
It was also enough time that he couldn’t be sure whether that boy, who once couldn’t even hand over a single flower and would return home defeated only after it had wilted, had grown into the same person.
Just as he himself had become someone entirely different from who he’d been back then.
“Then again, with that mad bastard, it’s certainly possible… No, never mind. Let’s drop that topic. That’s not what matters right now.”
Luzean grinned and raised his hand.
Pinched between his index and middle fingers was an opened letter.
“I’ve received another message from the academy. The fire’s been extinguished, and they’re currently tallying the damages….”
Luzean deliberately dragged out the end of his sentence, narrowing his eyes as he studied Calix.
The ever-indifferent man showed no expression as usual—but Luzean wasn’t fooled anymore.
Normally, if Luzean spoke in circles, Calix would’ve already turned to leave.
Yet now, his quiet waiting for Luzean to finish his sentence was painfully obvious.
Of course, that wasn’t the only thing giving him away.
Luzean crossed his long legs and leaned back against the sofa.
“Just be honest. You can’t forget her, can you?”
“…….”
“Not only did you betray your lover to save your own skin, but you also married another man the very day she was dragged away like a dog.”
“My lady—.”
“See? Even now, you still call her ‘my lady,’ not ‘wife.’”
“…….”
“Like someone unwilling to acknowledge that she belongs to another.”
No matter how few words he used or how expressionless he remained, the truth still showed in the smallest details.
Luzean chuckled and fluttered the letter playfully.
It was amusing how, despite pretending not to care, Calix’s eyes followed the letter’s every motion.
“I’m genuinely curious—what emotion could possibly drive you to claim another man’s child as your own, knowing you’d be branded with infamy?”
“…….”
“Was it passionate love worthy of a legendary romance? Regret over something unattainable? Or perhaps… a thirst for revenge, intending to end it all yourself?”
Well, whichever it was, it had nothing to do with him.
Luzean locked eyes with Calix and deliberately tore the letter apart.
Tear… rip… The mercilessly shredded paper fluttered into the air, yet Calix’s gaze remained steady.
But that was only how it appeared.
Luzean knew exactly how Calix fought.
That’s why he was curious—what lay beneath that indifferent mask.
“I’d prefer it to be love, if I had to choose. After all, I’ve just received some good news.”
“…….”
“They found the body.”
Meriel Crayton’s body.
A deep smile spread across Luzean’s lips.
“What in the world happened? Isn’t the Crayton marquess’s daughter only eight years old? Such a pity for a child to pass away so young.”
“What can you do? It was an accident. Still, it’s truly tragic. Honestly, who could’ve predicted something like this happening at the academy?”
“Especially since the Crayton marquess’s daughter enrolled late, right? From what Marchioness Crayton once said, she’d planned to send her years later.”
“That’s what makes it even more heartbreaking. If only they hadn’t sent her to the academy just yet—.”
“Hush! Hush! Watch your words. Do you want the Craytons to hold a grudge against you for no reason?”
Viscountess Sebat hurriedly scanned the surroundings.
The area near the temple where the funeral would be held was already crowded with people dressed in black, yet none of them appeared genuinely sorrowful.
Everyone was simply eager to offer a few comforting words to the Marquess and Marchioness Crayton—just enough to leave their mark.
It wasn’t uncommon to overhear gossip about the deceased at funerals like this.
“But it’s true, isn’t it? If they’d waited just one more month, the Crayton marquess’s daughter wouldn’t have been caught in this accident.”
“That would be true… if it really were just an accident.”
Viscountess Cetil lowered her voice, prompting the other ladies to huddle closer together.
Though the noblewomen’s eyes darted around with feigned concern, their ears perked up eagerly for what came next.
“What do you mean? Not an accident?”
“There’s a rumor going around—that this wasn’t a simple accident, but that Duke Pierne deliberately harmed the Crayton marquess’s daughter.”
“Oh, come on. Surely not.”
“But isn’t it suspicious enough to make you wonder? If those two were to remarry, the biggest obstacle would be the Crayton marquess’s daughter, wouldn’t it?”
Meriel Crayton—the only child of the Crayton marquess and his wife.
Born with everything yet standing in an ambiguous position, the girl had already become a frequent topic in society despite her young age.
The Crayton marquess and marchioness had never adopted an heir, and Meriel Crayton was a girl.
Thus, once again, the Craytons would have no choice but to take in a son-in-law to continue the family line.
That was precisely why everyone eagerly anticipated who would eventually carry the Crayton marquess title after her father—and why they wished for her to reach adulthood as soon as possible.
Though recently, her name had been mentioned far more often for reasons other than such expectations.
“Doesn’t the Crayton marquess’s daughter look nothing like Marquess Crayton? What if something happened between Duke Pierne and Marchioness Crayton…?”
“Wouldn’t that make Marquess Crayton even more suspicious than Duke Pierne?”
“But isn’t that also a bit odd? Everyone knows how well the Crayton marquess and marchioness get along.”
“Who’s to say they aren’t just pretending? Don’t you remember what happened with Count Piran—that devoted husband?”
“True. If they really wanted to, who could tell they’re just acting?”
“Either way, Marchioness Crayton really is unfortunate. First her father, then her brother, and now her daughter. If I were her, I’d have died long ago—.”
Ding— ding—
The chatter of the noblewomen instantly fell silent at the sudden tolling of a bell.
The bell rang for the departed soul—and also signaled the arrival of the person they’d all been waiting for.
“There they are—the Marquess and Marchioness Crayton.”
Without anyone prompting them, every gaze turned in unison.
Though all who walked down the pre-laid black carpet wore black, eyes naturally drifted to the small coffin at the center, its pristine whiteness standing out starkly.
“Typical of the Craytons—look at that coffin. Everything’s top quality.”
“Well, when your beloved daughter dies, what’s there to spare?”
“Still, Marchioness Crayton seems awfully composed.”
At Viscountess Cetil’s remark, everyone’s eyes turned to Liviana.
Her bare face looked paler than usual, but that was all.
Unlike Marquess Crayton, whose composure was visibly shaken, his wife remained perfectly poised.
Had she not worn a black veil, she wouldn’t have looked like a mother burying her child at all.
Viscountess Cetil finally clicked her tongue and watched Liviana walk away, unable to hold back the thought on everyone’s mind.
“That woman truly is ruthless. Utterly ruthless.”
One flower, another, and yet another.
White chrysanthemums fluttered gently into the coffin.
I stared blankly at the coffin slowly being covered in flowers.
The body, tightly wrapped in white cloth, resembled a silkworm cocoon.
Just by looking at it, I couldn’t guess at all what lay inside.
And that’s why I simply couldn’t understand.
Was Meriel really inside there?
Was my daughter’s funeral really happening right now?
No—it couldn’t be.
Meriel wasn’t dead.
I’d never seen my child’s body.
Meriel was only eight years old—her whole life still stretched ahead of her.
There was no way such a child could be trapped inside that tiny coffin.
“Now, the Marquess and Marchioness Crayton will offer flowers for the departed. Afterward, we shall close the coffin and offer our final prayers.”
“…….”
At the high priest’s gesture, Bake stepped forward.
Another flower landed in the coffin, and all eyes turned to me.
“Liviana.”
“…….”
“Marchioness Crayton?”
“…….”
Like a broken machine, I jerked my head stiffly downward.
A single chrysanthemum had been placed in my hand.
It was an offering.
For the dead Meriel.
“Ah….”
In that instant, my mind snapped back to awareness.
I looked at the coffin, now brimming with white chrysanthemums.
Then I looked at the people surrounding it.
Everyone wore black—and so did I.
Suddenly startled by the soft touch of the black veil against my hand, I collapsed onto the ground.
“Liviana!”
“Aa… aaah….”
Though my legs had gone limp, I crawled forward frantically with my arms.
I pushed past the stares fixed on me and shoved away Bake’s hand trying to hold me back.
Only now did my ankle ache—or perhaps, it wasn’t my ankle hurting at all.
“Meriel, Meriel….”
“Marchioness Crayton, you mustn’t do this!”
“Liviana, calm down! Please, calm down and look at me!”
“Let’s move the lady to a place where she can rest—.”
The cacophony of voices stung my ears.
But not a single word reached me.
There was only one thing in my sight.
Gritting my teeth, I gripped the coffin and pulled myself up.
With trembling hands so weak they could barely hold on, I finally tore away the cloth.
“Haa….”
Through the ripped fabric, a pitch-black object came into view.
Staring at the charred lump—unrecognizable as anything human—I broke down once more.
Her soft, feathery hair, eyes that sparkled brighter than stars, plump cheeks always sticky with candy—none of it remained.
No matter how many times I looked, there was nothing left that I could recognize as my child.
Yet, despite everything, it was still my daughter.
“Aaaahh—!!”
Only now did my tears finally fall.
Meriel was dead.
My daughter was dead.
My daughter died… because of me.
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.
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