The Plan of the Terminally-Ill Wife's Divorce (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
“Since you claim you’re not that young, I suppose I don’t need to let it slide. Darius oppa? You should start by correcting Lady Temari’s manner of speech first. Just what exactly is the relationship between Lady Temari and His Grace the Grand Duke?”
“You!”
I snatched Rose Temari’s fan and snapped it open.
Oh, it’s a feathered fan. Of course it’s genuine—how fitting!
Tilting my head languidly upward and hiding my face behind the fan, I now possessed the very picture of a beautifully drawn villainess.
“Again, again with that impertinent talk! I am Her Grace the Grand Duchess, you know? Don’t look down on me just because I’m new here today. If you keep speaking so rudely, I’ll ban you from entering the Grand Ducal Palace.”
“Who do you think you are!”
“Sigh… For your offensive language, I hereby ban Lady Temari from entering the palace for one week. Go home and reflect on your behavior. Next time we meet, I hope you’ll have adopted the proper speech of a well-bred young lady.”
I reached to pull the cord summoning a maid. Just then—
“Lady Anette, please forgive Lady Rose for her impropriety.”
The door burst open, and a lady entered the room with a concerned expression.
“Lady Ygritte!”
“I apologize for intruding so abruptly. My name is Ygritte. I assist His Grace the Grand Duke, who is often occupied, by managing affairs within this palace. Please feel free to call me Lady Ygritte, Lady Anette.”
‘Oh ho, what perfect timing.’
Rose, who had been on the verge of tears, instantly perked up as if she’d just gained an ally, thanks to Ygritte’s entrance—timed as though she’d been waiting for just the right moment.
“Yes, I’ve also heard about you, madam.”
Lady Ygritte appeared to be in her thirties or forties, yet her face was so exquisitely refined that her exact age was hard to guess at a glance.
When Darius first became Grand Duke, his Inkheart relatives deemed him too young and appointed a guardian for him. Ygritte was the woman chosen at that family council, and she had since overseen the household affairs in Darius’s stead.
In stories, when a lonely Northern Grand Duke brings home a sunshine-like heroine, characters like her are supposed to encourage and support the heroine with lines like, “I always believed His Grace had a warm place in his heart. You’ll be the one to discover it. Please bring springtime to this cold palace!”
‘But just by looking at her, she clearly isn’t that kind of person.’
Look how she suddenly appeared the moment Rose was cornered.
She must’ve been the type to egg Rose on to come to my room, then watch from the shadows.
‘Actually, regarding her looks or anything else—this woman in the original story…’
Ah, that’d be a spoiler.
“Lady Temari has long been cherished as the beloved young lady in this palace, which has had no daughters for years. She’s still too young to know better. I’ll teach her properly, so I beg Your Grace to show some leniency.”
“Even if Lady Rose is young, madam, you’re older than I am—yet you’ve forced me to say something unpleasant to my elder.”
She probably expected the newlywed bride to meekly reply, “Yes, I shall do as you say,” after just one word from her.
Lady Ygritte’s expression hardened.
“The servants are watching. This is a crucial moment—your very first appearance as the new mistress of this house—when you must demonstrate your authority above all else. Lady Rose openly undermined my authority. My first command as the new Grand Duchess was for Lady Rose to reflect on her actions, yet now you ask me to rescind that order.”
I lowered my eyes, feigning disappointment.
“His Grace told me Lady Ygritte would assist me, but clearly that’s not the case.”
“Lady Anette, that’s quite unfair.”
“What do you mean, ‘unfair’? You didn’t give a thought to my authority lying trampled on the ground—you immediately pleaded for Lady Rose’s forgiveness instead.”
“I first apologize for causing you distress. And now I request punishment for both myself and Lady Rose.”
“L-Lady Ygritte?”
So this is what a smarter villainess looks like compared to Rose. I was slightly impressed. Indeed, empty apologies aren’t true apologies.
“As someone who works within the palace, I can’t be punished by being barred from entering like Lady Rose. Since I seem to have forgotten proper etiquette, I’ll copy the entire book of manners by hand as an act of penance and submit it to you, my lady.”
Then Lady Ygritte turned to Rose with a gentle, affectionate expression.
“Lady Rose, I’m not forcing you, but if you follow my example and copy the book of manners as well, it would greatly aid your mental and spiritual cultivation.”
“But—but…!”
Rose, at the age when sitting at a desk feels like torture, made a pained face—now stuck with an even worse predicament.
Was this a tactic—volunteering a harsher punishment than the one given—to burden the other party with guilt?
“You’re making me seem like an overly strict mistress right from my first day here. If word spreads that I ordered Lady Ygritte, who’s managed this household until now, to copy the book of manners, what will people say about me?”
“No matter one’s status, when one is in the wrong, one must reflect accordingly.”
“Is that so?”
If she insisted that much, I couldn’t very well refuse… I truly hadn’t intended to punish her at all…
“Because of my own dignity, I can’t ignore your sincerity. Though I may earn some criticism, I’ll gladly accept your copied book of manners.”
I tapped Rose’s villainess fan lightly with my hand as I spoke.
“For your spiritual cultivation, I’ll select the thickest book of manners available. Sigh… Looks like I’ll be buried in books right after my wedding.”
You thought I wouldn’t actually punish you? Well, think again.
“Lady Rose?”
Rose Temari, who’d been tiptoeing toward the door to escape, stiffly turned her neck at my call—her face clearly screaming, ‘If Lady Ygritte gets a thick book, what about me? Banned from the palace AND forced to copy it at home?!’
Oh dear, did she really think running away would make it all disappear?
She was still just a child who didn’t realize her teacher’s scolding awaited her at home—and that was far scarier.
“Lady Rose, at first I was truly angry with you. But now Lady Ygritte here pleads for your forgiveness, and I can see you’re still young and deserve a chance to reflect—so I might just cancel your punishment.”
Rose’s eyes instantly lit up with hope.
“But you must apologize first.”
In the next instant, that hope turned to despair.
“Thank you so much, Lady Anette! Lady Rose, what are you waiting for? Hurry and offer your apology and gratitude for Lady Anette’s mercy.”
“A lady must never speak unpleasantly. Apologize for your disrespectful words—for speaking to me, the Grand Duke’s wife, in such a manner. If you show deep remorse, I’ll cancel both the ban and the copying punishment.”
“I’m… s—”
Rose Temari bowed her head deeply, her face flushed crimson as she squeezed out the words in a strained voice. Just from her tone and the back of her head, I could clearly read her thoughts.
She absolutely hated me—but she hated being banned from the palace and forced to copy books even more!
She couldn’t bear the thought of being barred from seeing Darius oppa.
But apologizing to me was unbearable too.
What if, once I was out of sight, I’d completely monopolize Darius oppa?
But apologizing would mean acknowledging me!
“I’m… I’m s—s—”
“Oh dear, Lady Rose—I can’t quite hear you.”
“…Sorry!”
Rose gritted her teeth and shouted.
“I don’t care about sorry or anything—I really hate you!”
Lady Ygritte’s face froze, and I beamed brightly. Yes, lying is bad, after all.
“Oh my, how refreshingly honest.”
Thus, honest little Rose’s punishment was set: copy one entire book of manners each day for a full week—seven books in total.
[This is the timeline separator]“M-M-M-Milady! Meeting you is—truly an honor! I-I mean, it’s an honor for my whole family! I’ll serve you with all my heart, Milady!”
Freckles. A low nose. Hair pinned up neatly. This maid before me looked like she’d win first place in a romance-novel maid contest.
In other words, her plain, endearing appearance was perfectly suited for a maid’s role.
“There’s no need to tremble so much. Are you alone? Where are the others?”
“My older sisters are busy preparing the bridal chamber for you and His Grace, so I came by myself.”
“How long have you worked here?”
“Not very long! One of the maids suddenly quit, and I was lucky enough to get the opening!”
‘Not very long, huh.’
Given the hostile Northern environment toward me, I’d assumed any servant sent to assist me would be a spy.
‘So they sent a brand-new hire who dislikes me.’
Even if the Grand Ducal household was poor, it was absurd that the Grand Duchess would have only one maid.
The seniors must’ve sent her to avoid the duty themselves—but look at her, blissfully unaware and overjoyed. She’s clueless, but at least she’s kind-hearted.
“Alright then, what’s your name?”
“Milady asked for my name…! Ah, no—I mean, Apple Green, Milady.”
“Apple? Like the fruit?”
“Yes! I think it’s nice because it’s easy to remember.”
Her voice trembled slightly, but she was a spirited child.
Then again, it’d be rude to comment on a stranger’s parents’ naming choices upon first meeting.
“…Anyway, Apple, I brought no maids from the South with me.”
“Yes, I see!”
“Don’t just say ‘I see’—think! Who’ll help me wash and dry my hair right now? My morning toilette? Receiving guests?”
“My sisters and I will do our very best so you never feel any lack!”
“Yes, yes—I’m sure you can manage most things adequately. But I worry about finding someone I can truly trust with my most private matters. For instance, a maid to manage my jewel case? I can’t just entrust that to anyone, can I?”
Attention all maids within the palace: The position of Chief Handmaiden to Her Grace the Grand Duchess is currently vacant. Additional maid positions also available.
Competent and reliable palace staff are encouraged to apply promptly.
Recruitment will close once positions are filled.
“Please be sure—absolutely sure—to inform your senior maids about this.”
I patted Apple’s shoulder gently, smiling sweetly.
After all, a romance-novel heroine—or rather, a Grand Duchess of her standing—ought to have at least one fiercely loyal chief handmaiden who moves like an extension of her own limbs.
But judging by appearances alone, maybe I won’t need to hire anyone else—Apple seems perfectly cast as the heroine’s devoted aide.
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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MANGA DISCUSSION
4 Comments
Chapter Comments (102)
Hahaha, they’re so funny! They’re really nice. Don’t worry, Annette, nothing will happen.
Hahaha, how embarrassing, Annette! You should reject him and correct the misunderstanding.
What is this? I feel uneasy about Ygritte; she’s hiding something.
Inline Comments (2)
‘Remember the original story. Darius belongs to Evangeline Stockwork.’
Why does she insist that Darius would never like her? Isn’t she already defying the original work by changing the events?
‘In the original story, Anette was assassinated in the annex by Darius’s unknown
Who really could that be? If she was just the arranged wife and an enemy daughter at that, who could possibly plan on killing her?
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Miioo
What is this? A common cliché in novels. Rose and Ygritte should be expelled. Even the servants here don’t respect their mistress.
agustus_orchid
how refreshing.
little bad guy, you should be a little smarter.
anette, let’s walk along flowery paths.
💐💮🏵️🌻
agustus_orchid
little bad guy, you couldn’t read the room. you got the punishment you deserved.
agustus_orchid
i like the new maid.
i hope she will be a loyal servant.