The Credentials of a Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 6
“…Did His Grace Duke Pierne really just say he’d think about it? Is that truly all?”
“Yes. That’s what we agreed on.”
“…….”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. It’s nothing.”
Margaret hastily shook her head, then gave an awkward smile.
“Since he promised to get back to us, we’ll hear his answer soon.”
“…….”
“Don’t worry. Even if he refuses, my willingness to help won’t change.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“You have every right to resent me, yet you’re helping me this much.”
Her glistening eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
I searched for the right words for a long moment, then finally interlaced my fingers.
Beneath the table, my concealed hands revealed tense, protruding veins.
Honestly, I didn’t know whom to blame.
Was it my former lover, now my enemy? My friend who knowingly sheltered him? Or perhaps the tiny life growing inside my friend’s womb?
But I refused to dwell on it deeply.
“Mommy!”
The suddenly offered bouquet was far too lovely to cling to old, bitter regrets.
“Look! Isn’t it pretty?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Right? It’s so pretty! I picked lots just for you!”
The heavy, lush blooms caused the stems to bend easily, swaying with the child’s eager gestures.
From the bouquet Meriel held out, I picked the loveliest flower and tucked it behind her ear.
Meriel giggled at the tickling petals against her skin and obediently leaned her face into my hand.
“Whom on earth did our daughter take after to be so beautiful?”
“Mommy! I look just like you!”
Though she grew noticeably bigger each day, her little hands still clung stubbornly, demanding to be held.
I lifted Meriel onto my lap and gently met her gaze.
Perhaps blood truly couldn’t be denied—her eyes were strikingly straight, just like her maternal grandfather’s.
Studying her delicate, perfectly formed features that still left me marveling, I couldn’t help but smile as my little daughter pressed close, planting soft kisses on my cheek.
I wanted nothing more.
If I could just protect the small warmth in my arms, I’d do anything.
“They’re waiting inside.”
“Thank you for arranging the room.”
“No trouble at all. It was your request—you’re my sister, after all. It’s only right. It’s just….”
Cheshire couldn’t finish his sentence, his face twisting in distress.
Though I clearly understood what he wanted to say, I pretended otherwise and patted his shoulder.
“It’ll be over quickly. Just hold the position for a bit.”
“…….”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Yes, understood.”
I turned my back on Cheshire as he gave a weak nod and stepped inside.
True to the nature of a clandestine meeting, the room had been prepared deep within.
“You’ve arrived.”
As soon as I entered, a familiar face appeared.
It was Duke Pierne.
I steadied my heart and slowly nodded.
Apparently, he’d waited quite a while—steam no longer rose from the teacup before him.
“You came early.”
“It seemed best to handle troublesome matters swiftly.”
“Then our discussion should conclude quickly as well.”
After all, we weren’t the sort who could comfortably exchange pleasantries at length.
I curled my lips and stared at the completely cooled tea.
Throughout the time it took for the tea to cool, Duke Pierne hadn’t touched his cup once.
He clearly wasn’t so lacking in caution as to drink tea offered by a stranger in an unfamiliar place.
“Since you likely won’t drink fresh tea either, let’s get straight to the point.”
“You seem very eager to know my decision.”
“I’d prefer not to sound bitter, but given the circumstances, I have no choice. So—what answer will you give me?”
I posed the question, but no immediate reply came.
Only his sharp eyes relentlessly scrutinized me.
I furrowed my brow.
“If you need more time to think—”
“Liviana.”
“…….”
For a moment, my breath caught.
I bit down hard on my lower lip.
Though I knew I ought to reprimand his rudeness, my mouth refused to move.
His unusually dark eyes, mirror-like, reflected my flustered expression perfectly.
“Marchioness Crayton.”
I involuntarily frowned at the belatedly added title, but Duke Pierne showed no concern whatsoever and simply continued what he’d been saying.
“What will you do if I refuse?”
“I’ll find another option.”
Gripping my hidden fists tightly under the table, I struggled to regain composure.
Getting emotional wouldn’t help at all.
“Another option?”
“The Craytons are wealthy.”
“Do you intend to buy a husband with money?”
“Money accomplishes much—it shouldn’t be difficult.”
“…Must you really remarry, going that far?”
“My child needs a father.”
“Is that truly your only reason? Just because your child needs a father, you’re asking me this?”
Duke Pierne raised an eyebrow as if incredulous.
I met his icy gaze squarely and straightened my back.
Though I considered myself well-seasoned in society’s formalities, his raw, unfiltered eyes sent chills down my spine, making it harder than ever to stay calm.
His eyes weren’t like those of the usual society men I knew.
They resembled a beast’s—relentlessly, maddeningly persistent—and that’s exactly what unnerved me.
Yet even so, I played my part flawlessly, feigning composure.
“It may seem trivial to Your Grace, but not to me.”
“…….”
“But don’t misunderstand. I came to you first precisely because you’re the best choice—not because there’s no alternative.”
“Ha.”
Duke Pierne openly clicked his tongue, but I pretended not to notice and set my jaw.
I had no intention of acting submissive.
After all, beasts always hunted the weakest first—there was nothing to gain from appearing weak.
“Given that you’ve always been the sort to devise a way out in any situation, it’s certainly possible.”
“Are you mocking me?”
“I’m admiring you.”
“…….”
“You haven’t changed a bit since before.”
Despite claiming it wasn’t mockery, Duke Pierne’s lips twisted bitterly.
He was clearly deeply offended.
But I had no room left to consider his feelings.
Ignoring his displeased glare, I neatly placed both hands on my thighs.
“So—what will you do?”
“…….”
“Will you refuse?”
“…No.”
Duke Pierne roughly ran his fingers through his hair.
After a long, deep breath, he slowly continued.
“I’ll do it. As you wish.”
It was an affirmative answer.
Yet the voice grinding out from his tightly clenched teeth was harsh—no, worse than that.
Each word sounded as though crushed and chewed like brittle autumn leaves, making me feel as if something else entirely were being ground to dust.
I clenched both fists tightly.
“Since you’ve heard the answer you wanted, I’ll take my leave now.”
“But we haven’t—”
“You clearly lack the energy to continue speaking. I’ll send someone later—we can talk then.”
Before he could stop me, Duke Pierne rose abruptly from his seat.
To be honest, I doubt he had the strength left to hold me back.
Only when his eyes met mine did I realize my body was trembling slightly.
“Fine. Then I’ll wait, as agreed.”
“…….”
Without once glancing back, Duke Pierne strode away decisively—yet suddenly halted mid-step.
I slowly swallowed.
In the heavy silence, my heartbeat pounded deafeningly in my ears until Duke Pierne broke it first.
“About eight years ago, I secretly returned to the capital.”
“…….”
“That should give you ample time to prepare while you wait for my reply.”
I wanted to ask more, but Duke Pierne left immediately after those words, leaving me no chance.
All I could do was ponder his words, searching for his true intent.
Eight years ago—what could Duke Pierne’s secret return to the capital possibly have to do with this matter?
I mulled over his words, then froze.
A rumor I’d once dismissed as utterly worthless suddenly came to mind.
“…What exactly am I thinking right now?”
Pressing a hand to my forehead, I lightly shook my head to dispel the troubling thought.
There was no room for misunderstanding.
It wasn’t just anyone—it was the child’s biological father.
There was no possibility of confusion, and the two involved knew better than anyone what had truly happened that night.
No excuse—calling it a single night’s mistake or whatever else—could change the fact that they’d spent the night together.
Especially now, with a child involved.
I lowered my head wearily.
At the edge of my vision lay my flat stomach.
“Decide, Lady Crayton. Your choice will alter many things.”
Gripped by a memory that resurfaced whenever I least expected it, I wrapped both arms around my stomach.
Though I could neither conceive again nor ever would, I still vividly remembered the fluttering movements I’d felt back then.
My lovely daughter, Meriel—and all the children I’d lost before I could even name them.
Suppressing emotions I’d never dared voice to anyone, I stepped down from the carriage.
My brooding would last only a moment; the instant I returned to the mansion, I had to become the perfect Marchioness Crayton once more.
“My lady! You’re back earlier than scheduled!”
“The meeting ended sooner than expected. Where’s Margaret?”
“She didn’t go out today—she should be in the annex.”
“Oh? Good.”
Better to share news quickly.
As I gave a light nod and turned toward the annex, a maid hurriedly stepped in front of me.
“What is it?”
In the past, I wouldn’t have bothered asking—but things were different now.
When hiring new staff, I’d deliberately mixed in some of Cheshire’s people, so now I had eyes and ears throughout the mansion.
The maid quickly scanned the surroundings, then lowered her voice so only I could hear.
“His Lordship is also in the annex.”
“Bake?”
I frowned without realizing it.
As far as I knew, Bake still had engagements left.
“When did he arrive?”
“Not long ago—about ten to twenty minutes.”
This was strange.
Though the annex was often used for guests, currently only Margaret stayed there.
Unless he specifically wanted to see Margaret, he had no reason to visit.
Especially since Bake and Margaret had no connection beyond me.
I’d never seen them together or heard them speaking warmly.
Then again—perhaps I simply hadn’t seen it.
The sudden thought made me reflexively shake my head sharply.
Impossible.
It was absurd.
Something that could never happen—and shouldn’t happen.
Merely entertaining such a thought was a grave mistake.
Yet recently, too many similar incidents surrounded me to dismiss this suspicion so easily.
I slowly turned my head.
My feet, as if bewitched, had already begun moving on their own.
Step by step, my pace quickened—my mouth drying out—until a rustling sound broke the silence.
Instinctively, I turned toward the noise and narrowed my eyes at the wide, round eyes staring back.
Meriel, hidden in the bushes, looked up at me.
“Meriel—what on earth are you doing?”
“I was playing hide-and-seek—but oops! If I’m found, I can’t! Shh! Shh!”
Meriel urgently pressed a finger to her lips and whispered.
Seeing her tousled hair—so different from the neat style I’d fixed that morning—I sighed and crouched down.
“Who are you playing hide-and-seek with?”
“Well… um…”
Meriel panicked and clamped both hands over her mouth.
But words once spoken couldn’t be taken back.
“Ugh… I promised Daddy… what do I do now…?”
“Promised? What do you mean?”
“Mommy doesn’t like it when Meriel plays hide-and-seek.”
“…….”
“Are you going to scold me?”
Meriel cautiously gripped the hem of my skirt.
Seeing her large, frightened eyes, I immediately shook my head.
“If you tell me the truth honestly, I won’t scold you.”
“Really?”
“So tell me honestly—what did you promise Daddy?”
“Daddy promised to be Meriel’s secret friend!”
“Secret friend?”
“A friend who plays hide-and-seek with me without Mommy knowing! Daddy, me, and Auntie—just the three of us!”
Meriel beamed, holding up three fingers.
I pressed my lips together tightly, then forced a smile.
“…Meriel, Mommy bought a strawberry cream cake. Will you go to the dining room first?”
“For real?”
“It’s a reward for being honest with me.”
“Then let’s go together! I want to eat with Mommy!”
“Mommy will find Auntie and Daddy first and bring them along. It’d be awkward if they didn’t even notice you disappeared.”
“You’ll come right away?”
“Of course.”
The moment Meriel turned away, my smile vanished.
Without hesitation, I strode forward.
Human instinct was truly remarkable.
The instant I realized an innocent child had been used in a lie, I understood everything.
That a situation I’d already believed couldn’t get worse could, in fact, deteriorate further.
Clenching my teeth, I flung open Margaret’s door.
Whether fortunate or unfortunate, the door wasn’t locked—no, that was fortunate.
The true misfortune was seeing with my own eyes the disgraceful sight of two naked figures tangled shamelessly on the bed—and recognizing both as people I knew.
I covered my mouth to suppress the nausea rising in my throat.
So engrossed were they that they failed to notice my entrance, their grotesque eagerness in devouring each other utterly revolting.
Amidst their entwined nakedness, four eyes met mine—just as thoughtlessly as the tangled limbs themselves.
I didn’t need to search far.
My husband’s mistress was my own friend.
When yandere male lead believes she loves him — but she never did
“How dare you!”
“How dare you make me love you, only to cast me aside as nothing more than a friend?!?
“I will never accept that.”
“I will never let you return to him.”
“Even if I have to burn myself to ashes.”
“Even if I must shatter my purity, my dignity, my very soul.”
“I will never let you escape me!”
This was the first novel that introduced me to the matriarchal genre. I’ve read it three times already!
At first, the male lead despised the female lead. Later, he misunderstood that she liked him, so he condescendingly and reluctantly reciprocated her feelings.
Then, he suddenly discovered that she was kind to everyone in the same way, and there was already someone she cherished in her heart, and that person was not him.
The male lead couldn’t believe it, he became angry and crazy. He was determined to capture her body and heart by any means necessary.
Synopsis:
Want to see how a green tea bitch male lead falls in love with the female lead?
Want to see how he flirtatiously pursues the female lead?
Want to see how he gets slapped in the face repeatedly?
The male lead is a green tea bitch, a poisonous lotus, jealous, ruthless, unscrupulous, with a venomous heart, and he’s also a delusional maniac.
The female lead is righteous, positive energy-filled, kind, a holy mother.
Let’s see how two people with extreme personalities come together~
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)