At Bellia’s words, Derek’s expression was as if to say “So what?”. But that wasn’t all.
“He won’t live long. In his current state, probably about 1 year?”
“Does the princess have a basis for thinking that?”
In fact, this was something no one knew until Count Sellon died. But Bellia had traced her previous memories and even confirmed it. Fortunately, Count Sellon had come directly to the kingdom.
“There’s a small black spot on his fingernail. I confirmed it once more at the banquet a few days ago. It would be fatal to Count Sellon, who has a chronic illness.”
Though the spot was still faint and not very noticeable, she clearly saw traces of it appearing.
At Bellia’s words, Derek stroked his chin.
There was only one reason for black spots to appear on fingernails.
“…Poisoning.”
Bellia nodded.
It may be obvious, but the culprit was the Countess Sellon.
The cause was Derek’s existence. Shortly after her son died, the Countess learned about her husband’s illegitimate child and poisoned the Count’s food.
It was such a small amount that even others who ate the same food didn’t show any major problems.
‘But symptoms will soon appear for Count Sellon, who originally had a chronic illness.’
Moreover, the Countess would poison him several more times after this.
Bellia briefly considered telling Derek this fact, but judged it would be better not to act in a way that would arouse more suspicion, so she held her tongue.
“Derek. Enter the Count’s family.”
“Princess.”
“I’m not forcing you to inherit the title of Count. Go there and ruin the family or wield power as you like, I don’t care. Just lend Callid a hand later for the imperial succession.”
Bellia truly didn’t care if he squandered the Count’s family fortune or craved power.
But now was the time when Callid needed the name of the Sellon Count family, and there was someone right in front of her who could easily hand it over.
Of course, she should persuade him.
“I will take your words into consideration.”
He suddenly appeared as the heir to the Sellon Count family just before the Count died.
Bellia got to know Derek after that. So she couldn’t know exactly why he, who had been so averse to the Count’s family, willingly entered and became the heir.
But there were suspicious circumstances. Bellia remembered events that happened much further in the future.
“Derek. I know the medicine to cure your mother’s illness.”
She knew he had tried to cure his birth mother’s illness while squandering all the Count family’s fortune. And after his mother died, the medicine to cure that illness was created.
It was that medicine that achieved great results in the pharmaceutical business Bellia led as Empress. Derek’s expression of bitter laughter and regret when the medicine was developed was vivid.
Bellia smiled.
“In exchange for telling you that, I request you enter the Count’s family. And become my ally.”
Derek Sellon will never be able to refuse this offer.
Looking at Bellia smiling victoriously, Derek let out a chuckle.
“How did you know my mother was ill?”
“It’s a secret.”
Bellia had a confident attitude.
“Do you have evidence that the medicine is effective?”
“No.”
This time she was even more confident than before.
Derek sighed with an incredulous expression.
“And you’re saying you’ll give me that as payment?”
“Yes. Because it will definitely be effective.”
“Do you think I’ll believe that?”
“You’ve already searched the entire continent, right? But you couldn’t find it. Now the only person who said they can make medicine to cure that illness has appeared, and you who want to grasp at straws can’t just ignore my words, can you?”
Bellia had nothing to show. She also knew he would be suspicious. But conversely, someone as suspicious as him would be confused by her brazen attitude in demanding a deal like this.
After all, to deceive someone, one usually makes meticulous plans and prepares evidence. So she thought that going about it this simply would work on him.
Bellia could hear her heart pounding. What if he refused? A tiny anxiety arose.
“…Trust is needed for this.”
Bellia realized from his words that he had fallen for her. So with an easy mind, she smiled gently at him and said,
“Then decide after I treat your mother first.”
“What if I don’t keep my promise?”
“The master of an information guild that lives off trust wouldn’t betray it.”
Derek thought that while running the information guild he had met many unreasonable people, but none quite like Bellia.
“Ha. Is this your usual style of working, blocking all escape routes?”
Derek sighed, realizing he couldn’t escape from Bellia’s grasp.
“…Then tell me the medicine to cure my mother’s illness. If it really cures her completely, I will enter the Count’s family.”
“Good.”
Bellia handed over a paper she had written in advance.
“Dry the ingredients listed here, grind them, and mix with water to drink. One spoon once a day. It’s dangerous if you take more, so be sure to keep to the amount.”
“…Understood.”
Derek preciously tucked the paper with the medicinal ingredients into his breast. Watching him, Bellia added a comment.
“Oh, and I’m going to sell that later, so don’t spread rumors about it anywhere.”
At that, Derek burst out laughing without realizing.
“Hahaha. Of course. If it’s definitely effective, I’ll become the princess’s ally.”
“Then you’ll soon be on my side.”
“Hahaha.”
As they were looking at each other and laughing pleasantly, a chilling aura suddenly struck from somewhere.
“You seem to be having a lot of fun?”
At the cold voice that sent chills down their shoulders, they slowly turned their heads to see Callid quietly looking at them with eyes like settled snow.
“…Callid?”
Bellia called his name in shock at Callid’s sudden appearance. However, Callid didn’t give any reply and naturally walked over to sit next to Bellia.
“What conversation were you having so pleasantly? I’m curious too.”
His attitude was very hostile.
Bellia seemed to know why he was acting this way and sighed as she asked,
“Why are you here so suddenly?”
“I heard you were dining alone with another man, so I rushed over.”
But actually hearing those words spoken so publicly like this was different from what she had expected.
Bellia was very flustered and tried to stop Callid, but he didn’t budge.
“Haha. You two really do get along well.”
Derek said in an amused voice. Callid made a sullen expression.
“I heard you two looked very affectionate at the engagement ceremony.”
Callid scrutinized Derek’s expression with displeased eyes.
“I thought this before, but seeing you together, you match even better.”
“Ahem!”
Though it wasn’t much of a compliment, Callid’s expression softened as if he was quite pleased.
Derek indeed had an innate talent for dealing with people. Bellia smiled with satisfaction at the sight. He would surely adapt quickly and establish himself once he entered high society if given some support.
So she had to make him her person. In that sense, this proposal was absolutely necessary.
“I promised to introduce Closet to Derek. He agreed to help the Ronica Kingdom while I’m gone.”
“Hmm. I see.”
Callid stroked his chin, recalling how his eyes were always very sharp whenever he encountered Closet.
Derek confirmed that the conversation was roughly finished and stood up.
“Then, I’ll be going now.”
“Alright. I hope there will be good news next time we meet.”
Derek bowed and left the restaurant.
Then he placed his hand on his chest where the paper was and took a deep breath.
‘First I should analyze the medicine’s ingredients.’
Derek didn’t fully believe Bellia’s words, but he began to consider the possibility.
If this really cures his mother, then he would side with her. Thinking that.
Entering the Count’s family is not a difficult thing if only his mother can be cured. Besides, Princess Bellia said she wouldn’t care even if he ruined the Count’s family.
This was an offer with nothing for him to lose.
[This is the timeline separator]After Derek left, Callid and Bellia were spending the late afternoon together.
The weather was nice today. No, not just today, but it had been continuously nice recently. The flower scent carried on the wind was fragrant.
“Bellia.”
Bellia turned her head at the voice calling her as she was absentmindedly looking out the window. Callid gazed blankly at Bellia.
Her silver hair fluttering in the wind was mystical. How could someone who looked so frail and delicate move with such determination?
The burning sunset dyed her red, but Bellia still looked precarious as if she might disappear.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?”
Because it seems like you’ll disappear.
Because it seems like you’ll leave me.
Because it seems like you’ll easily let go of someone like me.
“Callid?”
How can I make this anxiety disappear?
Callid chuckled.
“Just. Because you’re pretty.”
“You always say I’m pretty when you have nothing to say, don’t you?”
“It’s true.”
Bellia puffed out her lips.
Callid thought as he looked at Bellia like that.
What should I do to keep her by my side for a lifetime? What should I do to make her truly love me?
He had nothing to say even if it was called obsession. But this was Callid’s way of loving.
‘I’ll let you think you’re holding and shaking my leash.’
I have to make sure you never realize that a tangled skein of thread is also tied to the delicate wrist holding that leash.
While diligently fulfilling my duty as an obedient hunting dog for a long time so that she doesn’t notice.
Then when she completely stops paying attention to the leash she’s holding, I can take that hand for myself.
“Where does all the food you eat go?”
For you to be this thin.
When I grab your wrist, it fits in one hand with room to spare.
“Tsk. I’ll have to make sure you eat more. No wonder you’re always lacking in stamina.”
Bellia blushed at Callid’s words.
“Hmm. Come to think of it, the Empire’s food is a bit salty. Will you be able to adapt alright?”
“Of course.”
She had lived as Empress for quite a long time after all. That was enough time for Bellia to get fully accustomed to the Empire’s food.
Just then, Callid took a sip of tea and changed the subject.
“…I’m starting to prepare to return soon. I plan to stay briefly in Duke Tessa’s domain before going to the Imperial Palace.”
Duke Tessa’s domain was in the western part of the Empire. It was right next to the Ronica Kingdom, so it was the optimal location to plan something.
Bellia also knew that Duke Tessa was the leader of the west. But when she became Empress, the power of the Tessa ducal family had weakened considerably.
‘A family’s influence wouldn’t suddenly decrease, so they probably don’t have much power now either…’
All the ducal family had was an old knightly order and honor. However, Callid’s words about planning to stay in such a ducal family were meaningful.
Suddenly curious, Bellia asked Callid a question.
“What kind of person is Duke Tessa?”
__________
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation (Female-dominant)
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.
Synopsis:
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.
He even had his eyes on another woman.
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.
Su Mu expressed her disdain.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
She also wanted to embrace Xie Yi, who had silently stayed by her side in her previous life and committed suicide by taking poison after her death.
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.”
[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.