The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
“It’s already been over a month.”
“…….”
“You don’t have to pretend you’re fine. I’m on your side, remember?”
Luzean set down the calendar he’d been holding and turned his head.
From where he stood, he couldn’t see Calix’s expression as the latter gazed out the window, though he could roughly guess what it looked like.
After all, the man who’d only shown his face when summoned by an imperial decree was now visiting the palace almost daily—there had to be a very good reason for that.
“How about pretending you don’t know anything and just going to see her?”
“…….”
“Don’t scowl like that—just hear me out first. Honestly, it’s a great opportunity. Comforting a grieving mother who’s lost her child… affection would naturally blossom between you.”
“…….”
“Try to think positively. It’s tragic the child ended up like that, but if you look at it another way, you’ve gotten rid of an unwanted bloodline without lifting a finger.”
The man only showed his face when spoken to in a deliberately provoking tone—he truly was expensive.
Muttering under his breath that he couldn’t even tell who was the master anymore, Luzean pulled an already-prepared sealed letter from inside his desk.
“Drop by the Crayton manor on your way and deliver this.”
“Has the investigation finally concluded?”
“Yes. It’s done—and with a rather interesting result, I might add.”
The Academy belonged to the Empire and was directly overseen by the imperial court. Given that it housed noble children, it received exceptional supervision.
Therefore, a fire breaking out at the Academy was practically unthinkable.
Knowing this, both the imperial court and the Crayton family had joined forces to thoroughly investigate the cause of the incident.
Especially since the victim of this fire was none other than the only daughter of Marquess Crayton, one of the Empire’s wealthiest nobles. If things went poorly, rumors about the Academy’s very existence being in jeopardy were inevitable.
The noble students residing at the Academy were not only the Empire’s future talent but also served effectively as high-value hostages. Thus, the imperial court absolutely needed to properly clarify this incident and evade responsibility somehow.
Consequently, the investigation was conducted meticulously, and the case that had once thrown the capital into chaos now seemed to be swiftly resolving itself.
At least, that’s how it appeared on the surface.
“In that sense, I’ll ask you just one thing.”
“…….”
“Just so you know, if you don’t answer, I won’t tell you what’s written in this letter. You do understand you’re not supposed to open imperial correspondence without permission, right?”
“……What do you want to ask?”
“Meriel Crayton—that girl. Are you truly completely unrelated to her?”
Luzean lazily traced his jawline with the tip of the letter.
The young emperor’s eyes curved slightly into a gentle arc, but his pupils beneath appeared deeply sunken, as if layered with sediment.
“……Who killed Meriel?”
“Rose Hamilton.”
“Rose would never do something like that.”
He instantly shot back without even pausing to think.
To me, Rose was no different from my own younger sister, and Rose had adored Meriel as if she were her own niece.
It simply wasn’t possible for Rose—of all people—to harm Meriel.
She was one of the very few people I trusted, which was precisely why I’d felt comfortable entrusting my young daughter to her.
“I understand it’s hard to accept, but it’s the truth.”
Bake handed over documents with a grim expression.
There, alongside the face of an unfamiliar woman, was the name Rose Hamilton.
“That’s not Rose.”
“Actually, she’s the real Rose Hamilton.”
“What?”
“The Rose Hamilton you knew was a fake.”
Bake passed me another document in place of the first.
This one bore the face of the Rose I knew, along with an unfamiliar name: Roze Seyder.
“The Seyder family was clearly…….”
I covered my mouth with my hand.
It was a distant memory, yet undeniably vivid.
A branch family of the Pierne line, loyal retainers who’d served the Dukes Pierne for generations—and a family eradicated a decade ago during that incident.
“It seems they harbored a grudge against the Craytons for a very long time.”
“…….”
“But the Rose I knew was…….”
I squeezed my eyes shut as I looked at the imperial seal stamped on each document.
I wanted to say more, but no words would come.
I no longer knew whom I could trust.
Not my husband, nor my friends—none of the people around me.
Overwhelmed by confusion, I sank helplessly to the floor, gasping for breath.
I needed to verify the truth, yet I didn’t even have the strength to move a finger.
If—just if—Rose truly was the culprit, then I…….
I clenched my eyes shut again. My blurred vision spun dizzily, and I felt as though losing consciousness now would mean never waking again.
Yet I somehow forced myself back onto my feet. I couldn’t simply accept this absurd conclusion—not when nothing made sense to me yet.
“I need to meet Cheshire.”
“Liviana.”
“Let go.”
“This won’t solve anything, no matter how much you act like this.”
“I told you to let go!”
Unable to suppress my fury any longer, I shoved Bake away roughly.
I hadn’t endured all this just to listen to such nonsense.
What I wanted was a proper answer.
Why did an accident that had never happened in the Academy’s history occur only after Meriel enrolled?
Why was no one by her side when the fire broke out?
Why did my daughter—such a small, young child—have to die like that?
Too many suspicious circumstances and unanswered questions remained.
“Liviana, please calm down!”
“Calm down? Do I look calm to you?”
“I know it’s hard for you to accept, but it’s the truth.”
Bake gripped my shoulders tightly.
Unable to bear looking into his flushed, strained eyes any longer, I bit my lip.
“……No matter what you say, I can’t accept it.”
I looked straight into Bake’s eyes and coldly knocked away his hands from my shoulders.
If he couldn’t do it, I would find the truth myself.
“Where are you going!”
“I can’t believe anything until I see it with my own eyes. I’ll find out for myself who killed my daughter.”
“How could you possibly—”
“At least it’s better than just sitting here doing nothing.”
“Liviana!”
A strong force spun me around forcibly.
My husband’s face, thrust before me against my will, was deeply creased and worn.
“This isn’t like you.”
“What’s ‘like me’ supposed to mean? I don’t even know.”
“Liviana… please. Look at yourself right now.”
Bake gritted his teeth and glanced downward.
Following his gaze, I met the eyes of a stranger reflected in the marble floor and swallowed a hollow laugh.
The disheveled hair, the shadowed, bluish hollows under her eyes, the gaunt and sallow face, even the dress—so worn I couldn’t recall when I’d last changed—made her utterly alien.
And yet, I was the one wearing that wretched, pitiful appearance I’d always loathed.
Still, all I could do was laugh.
What did it matter? My daughter lay trapped on the cold temple floor, charred beyond recognition.
“Move aside.”
“Liviana, please. Enough with this stubbornness.”
“What? Stubbornness?”
“How long will you keep this up? Just how long must you torment me over this before you’re satisfied?”
“……Are you saying I’m tormenting you?”
“Yes. You are. You’re not the only one who lost a daughter. If you only knew how hard I’ve been trying not to blame you, you’d stop this right now.”
“…….”
My words caught in my throat.
Only now did I realize Meriel’s parents weren’t just me.
Not knowing what to say, I stared blankly at Bake, swallowing the tears welling up in my eyes.
But Bake misinterpreted my gaze; his grip tightened as he scowled at me.
“I know how hard this is for you. I understand it’s easier to blame someone else than to blame yourself. But you can’t go on like this forever.”
“……Are you saying it’s my fault?”
Facing my husband’s haggard face, I wrapped my arms around myself as if hugging my own body and stepped back.
Everyone always said Meriel didn’t resemble Bake, but that was impossible.
No child ever failed to bear some resemblance to their father.
Though others might not see it, I could clearly spot traces of Meriel in Bake’s features.
The more I dwelled on it, the more my stomach churned.
It felt as if my daughter were staring at me with an expression of reproach.
“No, that’s not what I meant. I just meant that no matter what you do, Meriel won’t come back……”
“Yes. It is my fault. If I hadn’t sent Meriel to the Academy, my daughter never would’ve died that wretched death.”
“…….”
“Moreover, I’m the one who personally hired the murderer of my own daughter.”
Though I’d always known this, my throat suddenly tightened anew.
The guilt I’d been suppressing burst forth like a broken dam, and I could no longer hold it back.
I didn’t need words to understand the passage of time—or the change in my husband’s eyes.
He resented me.
I could no longer hold myself upright and sank limply to the floor.
Tears I’d thought long dried up now dripped steadily down my cheeks.
Seeking someone to blame and pouring my emotions elsewhere was utterly futile.
No matter how hard I tried to endure, I’d inevitably come to realize the horrifying truth:
I had killed my own daughter.
Marchioness Crayton had gone mad.
What everyone had only whispered about secretly had now become common knowledge.
Of course, not everyone had believed the rumors at first.
After her daughter’s funeral, Liviana vanished from society—but she was, after all, Marchioness Crayton.
The woman once praised as the blossom of high society, likened to butterflies and all things delicate, had remained exquisitely composed even on the day she buried her own kin. The idea that such a woman would wander about unkept, dressed poorly like a madwoman, was nearly unbelievable.
“Where is Liviana?”
“She’s in the young lady’s room again today.”
“What about meals? Surely she hasn’t skipped eating again?”
“I’m sorry. We tried to persuade her, but she simply—”
Thwack!
The servant stumbled backward, struck by Bake’s cane as he lost control of his temper.
Glaring at the servant who retreated, clutching his reddened cheek, Bake exhaled roughly.
“You should’ve persuaded her no matter what! Do you think I pay you to do nothing like that?!”
“I’m sorry!”
“Prepare a fresh meal immediately. If I hear she’s skipped eating again when I return, I’ll have your head.”
“Yes, sir!”
Bake watched the servant scurry away like a fugitive and stomped off harshly.
He’d always insisted the rumors were nonsense, yet he knew better than anyone that they were true.
After their daughter’s death, his wife had repeatedly collapsed and revived, burning with determination to find the culprit—but only briefly.
As the investigation revealed more truth, Liviana gradually lost all vitality.
Now that Cheshire’s whereabouts had mysteriously vanished, everyone began murmuring that Rose, acting under Cheshire’s orders, was the one who killed Meriel.
No matter how much Liviana refused to believe it, she would eventually have to accept the truth.
Of course, provided no meddlesome obstacles interfered.
Bake’s eyes hardened as he spotted the man seated in the drawing room.
He was furious at the man for coming here despite clearly knowing the rumors circulating.
“I never imagined His Grace the Duke would stoop to running errands.”
“Relaying His Majesty’s words is hardly mere errand-running.”
“Your Grace is surprisingly good at humor.”
“I’m glad it sounded like humor to you.”
For a brief instant, their gazes clashed swiftly.
Bake forced himself not to look away from Calix’s intense stare and sat down on the sofa opposite him.
Though Calix exuded an aura of intimidation merely by sitting—thanks to his long years on the battlefield—Bake refused to acknowledge it, even in death.
“As you likely already know, His Majesty deeply feels responsible for this matter and has promised appropriate compensation, formal apologies, and a thorough investigation.”
“If His Majesty wishes the Academy to continue operating, he certainly ought to.”
Bake quickly scanned the documents Calix handed him.
At a glance, the papers listed generous terms—tax matters that had long plagued him, the transfer of coveted territories, and more. The compensation was substantial enough to prove the imperial court treated this incident with utmost seriousness.
Inwardly satisfied, Bake reached for the documents to examine the details carefully.
Blind to the documents, he remained utterly unaware of how Calix was watching him.
After observing Bake silently for a while, Calix finally spoke as Bake turned to the next page.
“We recently captured the fugitive Cheshire Cat in secret and interrogated him. He made a rather strange claim.”
“…….”
“He insisted the incident involving the Crayton heiress was fabricated.”
“Fabricated? Surely you don’t believe everything that mercenary spouts?”
“Of course not everything. But if there are suspicious elements, it’s only right to investigate them properly.”
That’s what a parent would do.
Calix’s dark, sunken gaze fixed steadily on Bake.
Bake clenched his teeth as he met Calix’s eyes—so black and unreadable they seemed to swallow light itself.
It was just like before—no different even now.
Those condescending, downward-looking black eyes were thoroughly infuriating.
“It’s laughable for a man with no children to speak of a parent’s heart.”
“I never thought I’d be like this either, but lately I’ve found myself reconsidering—about a parent’s heart, that is.”
“…….”
“At the very least, if it were me, compensation wouldn’t be the first thing I’d notice.”
Calix’s gaze fell pointedly onto the documents in Bake’s hands.
Bake’s face flushed red, and he hastily moved to slam the papers onto the table—but paused.
Outside, commotion erupted.
“What’s going on? I clearly instructed that I had a guest.”
“I’m sorry! But my lady—!”
The servant, pale as a ghost, stammered, unable to finish his sentence.
But that alone was enough—the two men’s expressions instantly twisted in unison.
Male lead is a clingy little husband
One-line summary: The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
Introduction:
One day, Lu Yuner’s soul transmigrates into a female-dominant world. She enters the Imperial Academy and takes up the position of a doctoral instructor, teaching classes and grading schoolwork.
One day, she encounters the young prince Su Qingwan secretly skipping class from the male academy.
As a result, Su Qingwan is punished.
From then on, Su Qingwan sees Lu Yuner as a “thorn in his side”.
But before long, this “thorn” becomes the person he cherishes most, and he goes to great lengths to win Lu Yuner’s affection.
Mini scene 1:
One day, the sun is high in the sky but Su Qingwan still hasn’t gotten up for class.
Servant Xiaoyuan: “Young prince, it’s time for class. You’ll be late otherwise.”
Su Qingwan says arrogantly: “I’m not going. I am the esteemed prince, my status is so noble, why should I suffer this hardship? Besides, isn’t learning all this just to please women? Hmph, they’re not worthy!”
Mini scene 2:
After Su Qingwan falls for someone, he completely changes. He no longer skips class and diligently learns how to be a good husband and father. But he discovers that Sister Yuner is always surrounded by admirers.
Drunk and overcome with jealousy one day, he clings to Lu Yuner, crying beautifully like a pear blossom in the rain.
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan likes Sister Yuner.”
Lu Yuner: “Young prince, you’re drunk.”
Su Qingwan: “Qingwan isn’t drunk. Qingwan likes Sister Yuner, likes you so much, likes you to bits…” Before he can finish, Lu Yuner’s eyes flash with emotion and she leans in closer.
[Reading Guide]
1. The female lead is gentle, gracious, humble and polite but not weak. The male lead is initially an arrogant, noble, love-deprived brat, later a cute, clingy, scheming little jealous one.
2. 1v1, a bit torturous in the beginning but definitely sweet later on.
_____
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