The Plan of the Terminally-Ill Wife's Divorce - Chapter 13
The maids came to assist with the bath, and as evening fell, I headed to the bridal chamber. Lady Egritte, who had arrived first and was waiting, bowed her head upon seeing me.
“This is not an apology for earlier, but I’ve been meticulously preparing this room since before your arrival. I believe it’s sufficient to commemorate your first night in the Inkhart family.”
Despite the cold northern climate, the room was so warm that one couldn’t feel the weather, and it was adorned with fresh flowers from an unknown source.
The curtains and tapestries were decorated in the two colors symbolizing the Porche Viscounty. The bedding also had large embroideries of both the Porche and Inkhart emblems.
‘Indeed, they’ve prepared extensively.’
Where could they have found these flowers in this winter? In this northern region with almost no greenhouses. Were those hangings and bedding hastily taken from my dowry?
The moment I crossed the threshold, I could feel the vibrant south.
“Lady Egritte.”
I smiled.
“I cannot sleep in this room.”
A bright and beautiful bridal chamber like a scene from a fairy tale.
In other words, this was a meticulously prepared trap.
“My lady, is there something not to your liking?”
Lady Egritte asked worriedly.
“As we learned of your arrival in haste, the preparations might be somewhat inadequate. If you let me know, I will immediately bring any lacking items.”
“No, no. The preparation is perfect. If the theme of this room is ‘South’ and ‘Porche Viscounty,’ that is.”
It’s problematic because it’s so perfect that it etches into my mind that I’m a woman who came from the Porche Viscounty.
“Changing the room’s decor in a hurry would be difficult. Let’s do this. I won’t sleep in this room tonight. How about I stay in His Grace the Grand Duke’s room for now? There shouldn’t be such decorations there.”
“But Lady Anette, it’s unprecedented for the Grand Duchess to leave her own room and stay in the Grand Duke’s room right after marriage…”
“I’ve left the Porche family and married into the Inkhart family. The Porche family is no longer important to me. In all matters, Inkhart comes first.”
If Rose Temery wishes to maintain her villainous position, she should sincerely learn from her mentor.
While preparing this room, the people in the castle would have firmly imprinted in their minds that the new Grand Duchess is a ‘southerner’ and ‘a person from the Porche family’.
If I were to stay in this room, the rumors circulating in the castle the next morning would be predictable.
Everyone dislikes outsiders. Even more so when that outsider shows it.
It was a room arrangement perfect for losing people’s favor.
“Your Grace’s roots are in the Porche family.”
“A newly wedded bride should be adorned with her husband’s family’s decorations.”
Not to follow patriarchy, but as a signal of integration going forward.
So if they truly cared for me, this room should have been decorated with northern and Inkhart symbols.
“It seems you couldn’t think that far due to the rushed preparations. Since you said it was done with care, I won’t blame you.”
Rose Temery, who doesn’t even reach my chest in height, is merely amusing.
The truly frightening person is someone like this. Someone who can publicly ostracize the newly arrived Grand Duchess without uttering a single curse.
“Please clear this away.”
I coldly turned my back and left the room.
* * *
Crash.
Unable to contain her anger, Egritte threw a vase far away. The fully bloomed flowers were crushed on the floor.
“That southern wench is not as easy as I thought.”
I had been afraid all along about who Darius’s new bride would be. So when it was decided that the eldest daughter of the southern Porche Viscounty, which had bad relations with the north, would be the marriage partner, I was delighted.
Upon investigation, it was said she was an unloved daughter even in her own family.
A girl without power, seemingly easy to manipulate.
I thought if such a woman became Darius’s wife, I could continue to manage the household affairs as I had been doing all along.
“It was wrong for Darius to bring that wench to this castle in the first place. Hmph, she may be full of herself now, but soon…”
Soon, well, it’s just about to happen.
As Egritte was muttering, biting her lips…
“Oh my! Lady Egritte, what happened to the room? No, more importantly, you might hurt your feet. Let me clean up the vase…”
A maid stood behind Egritte. Not knowing what truly stood before her.
Gape.
When too shocked, even a scream doesn’t come out.
“Ah, it’s you.”
Egritte smiled faintly and covered the mouth of the maid who was blankly staring at her. Then, the shadow of her round fingertips on the wall elongated and sharpened.
“Shh.”
Click. The room door locked.
One more eerie darkness added to the cold and dark northern night hardly made a difference.
* * *
Thump thump. Good cushioning.
Plop plop. The floor is soft too.
“Did you hunt the bear skin laid on the floor yourself?”
“…It’s an heirloom from previous generations.”
After rejecting the Grand Duchess’s room decorated in full southern style, where I headed was Darius’s room.
A plush carpet that sinks to the ankles. Hunting decorations hanging on the walls, though a bit gloomy. Still, a warmly burning fireplace.
“My Lord, My Lady. We hope you both have a good time. We shall take our leave now.”
“Have a good time.”
The maids smiled excessively. Ahem, ahem, the faces of the maids clearing their throats were flushed red.
“We won’t disturb you until morning, so don’t worry.”
“My Lady, there’s no need to be afraid. If you’re unsure, just leave everything to the Lord.”
Contrary to these suggestive expectations, the faces of Darius and I, who were the recipients, were pale.
‘Disturb us! Barge in! Ignite hostility towards the foreign woman from an enemy family! If either of us moves even a little on the bed from now on, make a fuss as if something has happened!’
Darius and I were silently standing back to back in a gloomy atmosphere. It felt like if either of us made a mistake and moved, I might scream at the top of my lungs in panic.
First night. What’s a first night? Can’t we just play dice or something?
“……”
“……”
My fist hidden behind my back was getting drenched in sweat.
Alright, if Darius makes even a slight move towards me, I’ll punch him in the face with this clenched fist.
Then maybe he’ll faint and think we’ve somehow consummated the first night?
Kyaaak. This cursed possessed fate! I’ll curse it thrice a day whenever I think of it!
Actually, it wasn’t the first time Darius and I were sleeping in the same space.
The journey from the Porche Viscounty to the Inkhart territory was long, and we camped out on the road for several days.
We had been in the same carriage from the start, but I didn’t know we’d have to stay together in the same carriage at night too, so I blushed.
In the dark night. The sound of an owl could be heard outside the carriage window, and when I opened my eyes, I could see the face of the other person lying straight.
During the day, the carriage seemed spacious, but why did it suddenly feel so cramped when darkness fell, as if even the sound of breathing could be heard?
I was alone with a man in a confined space.
‘If, if… that kind of thing happens… could I refuse? He’s the male lead? He’s incredibly handsome?’
If someone could have seen me then, my face would have been as red as a ripe tomato.
That’s because in a pleasant romance web novel that the whole family could read, such scenes aren’t described in detail! Th-they were always subtle and vague, so how could I handle the actual situation well?
My heart would race along with his slightest movement, and when Darius finally lifted his blanket and got up, I was so nervous I felt like I might scream.
‘No, no! He might just want to drink some water or something while sleeping!’
Despite my strong denial, he leaned towards me.
I silently screamed, unable to open my eyes that were pretending to be asleep.
‘Not in the carriage!’
Not in the carriage!
Rustle.
At that moment, what covered me was not his scorching lips. It was something lukewarm, milder than hot lips – the blanket he had just been using was now placed over my body.
Despite my best effort to squint, I couldn’t read Darius’s expression.
Eventually, he pinched my nose between his fingers and even twisted it.
‘Is this an insult? Is he insulting me, saying I look like a cicada hanging on a old tree compared to his tall stature?’
Tap.
Before I could pretend to wake up and retort, Darius lightly tapped the tip of my nose and returned to his place.
Then he started to sleep again without covering himself with any blanket.
Much later, when I thought Darius had fallen asleep again, I groggily got up and could only be bewildered at the sight of two blankets covering my body.
My own silly antics and two blankets. That was actually the memory of my real first night.
‘No, nothing happened in the carriage either! So today too!’
…But come to think of it, we were moving in the carriage, and today is the official first night. If something is going to happen, it would be today, right?
Two personas within me fought.
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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