The Dark Lord Obsesses Over His Fake Wife (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 10
Tension clouded Erich’s pale face.
“Are you really reacting like this just because I said a few words?”
“No. It’s not that.”
“Then what is it, if not that!”
Erich snapped in anger. Realizing his outburst, he reluctantly added one more sentence.
“I suppose I spoke wrongly. Please come down quickly.”
His reaction seemed odd, no matter how I looked at it. Had something happened outside?
‘Or… could he possibly think I’m in danger?’
But that didn’t make much sense.
This window wasn’t the kind where you’d fall just from a slight slip.
Just in case I’d misunderstood the windowsill, I glanced down once more.
The moment I thought the ground below looked a bit distant, Erich shouted again, “Now!” His voice startled me so much I nearly lost my balance.
‘But why is Erich worrying about my safety?’
From his perspective, shouldn’t he want me to fall and die here? It would be an easy way to eliminate his enemy.
‘Could it be… that he wants me to die in even more agony?’
That reason certainly seemed plausible.
Since things had come to this, I wiped away my remaining tears and asked him.
“…Why?”
“Why? What do you mean?”
“Wasn’t this what you wanted?”
At that, Erich’s steel-gray eyes grew uncharacteristically hollow.
“…That’s…”
After a brief silence, Erich spoke with a strained voice.
“It’s because I can’t just let you die so easily.”
I knew it! My suspicions were right!
Erich’s steel-gray eyes, fixed on me still standing on the windowsill, kept trembling. Looking closer, even his clenched fists were shaking.
Apparently, he was furious at having to go through all this just to save someone like me.
“So don’t try to run away like this again.”
His final words were sharp and impatient. Now that I’d confirmed my purpose, there was no reason to linger by the window any longer.
Slowly, I stepped down from the ledge. Watching me descend, Erich sank to the floor as though his legs had given out.
‘Why on earth is he acting like this?’
While Erich was distracted, I quietly took the magic book I’d hidden and started to leave. Just then, without even turning his head, he called out to me.
“You.”
He doesn’t even call me “Madam” anymore. Worried he might snatch the magic book I was holding, my body tensed up.
“If I hadn’t stopped you, would you really have jumped?”
“No.”
“…Do you expect me to believe that?”
Trust really is this important between people. Even if I spoke honestly, it seemed it wouldn’t convince him at all.
“Then do you have any reason not to believe me?”
As I tried to walk past him, I caught a glimpse of Erich’s hand. He was gripping it so tightly it looked like it might bleed.
‘Sigh.’
Leaving someone shocked and shaken like that didn’t seem very human of me. Calmly, I told Erich,
“There’s no point worrying about something that never happened.”
“…”
“The reality remains unchanged.”
After telling him I was perfectly fine—unlike his mistaken assumption—I hugged the book close and hurried away.
Fortunately, Erich didn’t catch me stealing the magic book.
Erich recognized her at first glance.
‘Estelle Libertan.’
It wasn’t just because of her sweet, blossom-like hues.
Estelle radiated an aura of nobility and charm, like a young lady raised with utmost care.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Baron Blonieu.”
The detestable Libertan.
Erich sought revenge against the Libertans—who had discarded even their loyal vassals, killed his parents, and left him with indelible burns.
After all, the Blonieu baronial house had been the very vassal entrusted with the Libertans’ dirty work, so they deserved to pay the price for losing their servant.
Erich believed that price would be fitting if it were the death of his cherished adopted daughter.
“Oh, I just came to find a book to pass the time.”
As Johan’s aide, Erich was supposed to carry out his master’s orders flawlessly. Yet, seeing Estelle’s innocent face, he couldn’t control the rage welling up inside him.
‘No matter how much this is for revenge…’
The mere idea of letting her live comfortably like this was deeply displeasing.
“Yes. I haven’t been here long, but everyone’s been so kind and welcoming.”
So he glared at her with open hostility and sneered.
“This isn’t Libertan. This isn’t a place where you, Madam, can wander about freely with a smile. I hope you understand that.”
Hearing those words, her already pale face turned even whiter—so fragile she seemed about to crumble. For some reason, it left a sour feeling in his gut.
“…I understand.”
Remarkably, despite her near-collapse, Estelle managed not to cry.
“I’m sorry for barging into the study like this. Maybe I got carried away and forgot my place.”
No matter how much he insulted or belittled her, Estelle never lashed out at Erich. If anything, she seemed accustomed to such humiliation.
“It’s because I’m not the mistress you expected from a baroness, isn’t it? Then it must be my fault.”
The more Erich spoke with Estelle, standing there so pitifully, the more he felt like the aggressor.
Why was that?
Her unusually deep blue eyes shimmered with a strange sorrow.
“But there’s nothing I can do except apologize.”
In the end, Erich couldn’t bear it and fled. Yet even after running away, he couldn’t regain his composure easily.
It wasn’t escape.
He should have remained unmoved by her apology, doubled down on his scorn, and treated her harshly. Had he done so, he wouldn’t be foolishly fixated on Estelle now.
Now, an odd sense of unease began to creep in.
That girl, who once wore such a pure smile—she might actually succeed in dismantling his grand revenge against the Libertans.
Thus, Erich sharpened his gaze and began watching Estelle’s every move, convinced she must be colluding with the Libertans.
But then another unexpected incident occurred.
“Oh, I must have been mistaken.”
It was clearly no simple mistake anyone could make.
After all, Baron Gaspeer looked nothing like Lexius Polman, nor were they even relatives.
“That amethyst brooch is very lovely. It suits your outfit perfectly.”
Estelle complimented an amethyst brooch that Marquis Gaspeer wasn’t even wearing. And in the Blanchet ducal household, there was only one famous incident involving an amethyst brooch—
the one Estelle herself had mentioned, tied to Lexius Polman.
At first, Erich was utterly baffled by Estelle’s remark. Though the incident was well-known within Blanchet, he never imagined it would come from Estelle’s lips.
“…The amethyst brooch was found in Marquis Gaspeer’s bedroom.”
In fact, Marquis Gaspeer had even been revealed as the true culprit.
‘What on earth is she thinking?’
If she wanted to earn the Blanchets’ trust, it would’ve been better to honestly say she knew who the real culprit was. Yet Estelle’s actions were far too ambiguous to be an attempt at exposing the truth.
‘Seriously…’
Moreover, after calmly saying everything, Estelle turned around and let out a sigh of relief—as if she’d made a great decision before acting.
‘What is her real goal?’
Thinking about Estelle alone made his mind tangled.
Just then, upon entering the study, Erich witnessed another shocking sight—he saw the title of the book Estelle was holding.
Though it was too far to read clearly, the beginning stood out distinctly.
Erich approached Estelle, who had wandered into the forbidden library and somehow pulled out such a book.
“[I want to die. In an inescapable situation, it seemed like the only way-]”
Could she really be staging a protest just because of a few harsh words? His complex thoughts vanished, replaced by rising anger. He felt pathetic for ever trying to decipher the intentions of such a woman.
‘Shameless woman.’
Indeed, the Libertans’ vulgar nature couldn’t be hidden. From then on, Erich refused to be swayed by Estelle’s apologies.
‘It’s fortunate I’ve finally seen her true, horrifying nature.’
Yet, seized by a bad premonition, he returned to the study he’d just left.
‘What is this…’
Somehow, Estelle was already standing by the window.
Her shimmering platinum hair swayed precariously by the ledge. The wind blew fiercely, as if ready to push her off at any moment.
“Is this my fault…?”
There, Estelle was crying.
“So it’s come to this.”
In that instant, Erich’s mind went blank. He suddenly recalled his own words.
‘Why ask me that? Atonement is something you must decide for yourself, isn’t it?’
Could she really believe that dying like this was the only way to atone?
‘Or… was exposing Marquis Gaspeer her own form of action?’
Once that thought crossed his mind, her behavior—though strange—began to make sense. And the more he understood, the greater his fear grew.
‘Is she really going to die like this?’
Guilt surged through him, as if he’d tormented a helpless young creature. Estelle didn’t move a muscle as she looked at him. Her calm face appeared hazy, like a mirage.
“Wait!”
Unable to endure the moment any longer, Erich grabbed Estelle.
“…Why?”
“Why… what do you mean?”
“Wasn’t this what you wanted?”
It was, more than anyone else’s.
Just a short while ago, he’d even claimed there was no reason to go to such lengths to keep a woman like her alive.
If not for his master Johan, he would have already sent Estelle to the executioner, plunging her parents into despair—he believed the pain of losing a beloved child was the surest vengeance.
“If I hadn’t stopped you, would you really have jumped?”
He grabbed Estelle as she walked away with a desolate expression, unable to turn and look at her face.
“No.”
“…Do you expect me to believe that?”
“There’s no point worrying about something that never happened.”
Erich felt he could almost see her expression, even without looking.
Hearing the moisture in her voice, he couldn’t help but imagine her tears flowing silently.
“The reality remains unchanged.”
He heard Estelle’s footsteps fading from the study. Only then did Erich turn his head—and found himself unable to look away from the empty space she’d left behind.
The place I decided to escape to was the garden.
I’d already received Johan’s permission to go there, and from the window, it seemed few people passed through.
It looked perfect for secretly hiding away to read a book.
But someone had already arrived in the garden before me.
“Your Grace?”
Under the enormous tree I’d picked out for reading, Johan was already lounging comfortably in casual attire.
Shaded beneath the massive tree, Johan resembled a well-fed predator resting after a hunt. He was so strikingly handsome that even stillness became a portrait.
“I was waiting for you.”
Johan waved and patted the spot beside him.
“Come quickly. Isn’t the weather perfect right now?”
I flipped my book cover as naturally as possible and sat beside him. Johan gently guided me with his right hand to lean against his shoulder. Perhaps due to our height difference, I didn’t even quite reach it.
But leaning on Johan’s shoulder was far more comfortable than against the tree.
Glancing sideways, I saw Johan’s profile—his forehead leading down to a strong jaw—highlighted in breathtaking clarity.
He truly was handsome from every angle.
“Did you know I’d come here?”
I hadn’t met anyone on my way. He answered with a lazy smile.
“There are ways to know everything.”
“Such a method exists?”
“This entire estate is under my influence. If I set my mind to it, I can know anything.”
That method was apparently dark magic.
‘That’s really unfair.’
Even if he’s the mastermind, isn’t it too much to wield such overwhelming power?
“So you’ve been watching me this whole time?”
“Not exactly. Even a wife deserves some privacy.”
He smirked, playfully narrowing his eyes.
“Though I’d love to know everything about my wife, from start to finish.”
His tone felt as if he’d do just that—if I gave him permission.
‘That’s strange.’
Though it should’ve felt like surveillance to keep his toy from running away, I sensed something different.
‘When did Johan’s gaze start feeling… different?’
Absurd as it was, I even had the illusion that Johan was now looking at me—not the role I played. I puffed my cheeks and forced an awkward smile.
“That’s a bit unfair.”
“In what way?”
“I’m not sure, but only you get to keep knowing everything about me.”
“That does sound unfair.”
Johan readily nodded and gave a small chuckle.
“So if you feel wronged, my dear, you’ll just have to figure out your own way.”
“There’s no such thing.”
“Isn’t it natural that if you want something, you must work for it?”
Watching Johan shrug so casually only deepened my sense of injustice. How miserable it must be to be powerless.
Just then, Johan’s large hand suddenly gripped my wrist.
“But, my dear.”
His gaze remained fixed on my face. Unable to look away, I met his eyes.
“Did you just come from meeting another man?”
His low voice carried a strange note of irritation.
‘Irritation?’
That was truly an emotion unfitting for a mastermind. Flustered, I blinked and blurted back,
“Another man?”
“Yes. Because on my wife…”
Johan brought my wrist to his lips and bit it lightly.
“I smell another man’s scent.”
On my sensitive skin, Johan’s bite left a red mark. He twisted his lips into a satisfied smirk.
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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MANGA DISCUSSION
4 Comments
Chapter Comments (29)
Good job, Johan.
Return the cookies you bought from Estelle.
Estelle couldn’t eat her cookies because of you.Johan, you have already failed.
You have failed since Johan decided to take revenge on Estelle.Johan, why did you put cookies in your office?
Because they remind you of Estelle?
Inline Comments (21)
Estelle was a greater villainess than even the Libertan ducal couple. Leandro al
Leandro sees himself as a chivalrous knight who will save even the wicked and bring them back to their senses. Arrogant.
‘She doesn’t understand what’s truly precious.’
What is valuable? An arrogant fiancé abandoned her.
All the composure he’d so skillfully maintained was utterly useless before such
Love works wonders. Johan is still unaware of his true feelings.
YOUR COMMENT
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agustus_orchid
Can’t you bear the thought of Erich Estelle dying because of you?
Erich, play the villain role properly.
agustus_orchid
Did Johan find Estelle by smelling her?
Johan, keep away from my demon summer fairy.
agustus_orchid
You’re a weird, obsessive guy.
You bit the girl’s wrist like a vampire.
agustus_orchid
Erich, you’re a lost cause.
Don’t believe blindly. Observe.