At Esika’s gesture, Cera left the room, leaving only the two of them.
Standing before Esika, Callian gazed at her as if bewitched.
Her grace, growing more beautiful by the day, was incomparable to the faminas decorating the room.
“I wanted to have dinner with you… I regret it.”
Esika did not respond to Callian’s words, only staring at him coldly.
“If you happen to have time in the morning, perhaps we could take a walk and have tea…”
“Your Grace.”
Esika’s voice rang out frostily.
Callian opened his mouth with an awkward expression.
“I think ‘Your Grace’ is too formal between spouses. How about just calling me Callian? Like how I call you Esika.”
“It was you who ordered me not to call you by name.”
At Esika’s words, calm but sharp as a knife, Callian’s hand twitched.
How could he convey to her his sincere regret for that incident?
“Esika.”
A low voice flowed from between Callian’s lips.
The room was filled with the sweet scent of faminas.
“I know you think I’m a bastard. I’ve committed a sin that can’t be repaid even in a lifetime.”
Callian’s eyes wavered.
“I doubted you and betrayed you. But… it was a mistake. I only spent one night with Yuri.”
A shadow fell between his brows.
As if pondering something very troublesome.
“In fact, I still don’t understand. How could my child be conceived in Yuri’s womb in just one night? But what’s certain is…”
Callian spoke to Esika with sincerity.
“Now, and in the future, you alone, Esika, are my wife and the Duchess of Klaus.”
In fact, it’s not uncommon, though not frequent, for nobles to impregnate other women and bring them into their estates.
According to imperial law, a wife could demand divorce on grounds of adultery, but it was rare for a wife to demand divorce just because her husband took a mistress.
Having a child with Yuri, who happened to be Esika’s friend, would cause gossip, but it was not unheard of.
Just as his father had Callian with Riona.
“How amusing.”
A bitter smile crept onto Esika’s lips.
Callian couldn’t understand the meaning behind Esika’s smile.
It was considered a virtue of a mature woman to chide her husband like a child and accept his infidelity, thinking ‘Men are…’
However, there was something peculiar about Esika’s tone.
“To call adultery and pregnancy a mistake.”
Esika’s voice left no room for argument.
Originally, a wife scolding her husband would maintain a certain line even when angry.
Because she hopes the relationship won’t reach an extreme.
It’s natural for her tone to have some leeway, as he is the man she’ll live with for life, even if he did wrong.
But Esika spoke without restraint, as if she would never see him again.
“A person who dismisses even adultery as a mere mistake, why did you do that to me?”
Callian’s eyebrows twitched.
Esika continued, looking at Callian with cold eyes.
“If you had been half as generous to me as you are to yourself.”
“…Esika…”
“If you hadn’t pushed me away then, I wouldn’t have been able to change. I would have remained that foolish Esika.”
Esika had never spoken so directly before.
The woman before him seemed far removed from love.
It was devastating for Callian that even this appearance was beautiful.
“I’m very grateful for Your Grace’s duplicity and selfishness that allowed me to live as myself. And my answer to this heartfelt feeling is…”
Esika’s expression was calm.
“…I’ll decline. Forever.”
“Esika. I, Callian Klaus, said I was wrong!”
Callian’s cry, unable to accept the continued rejection, burst out like a sneeze.
Callian reached out and grabbed Esika’s hand.
The cold sensation from her thin hand made his chest ache.
“I love you, and… I sincerely regret making such an absurd mistake to a virtuous woman like you before. And about Yuri.”
Callian had quite a long conversation with Riona.
Riona had told Callian what cheated noble ladies would find acceptable.
“I don’t love her. But Yuri is carrying my child… and I must take responsibility at least until the child is born.”
Callian’s gaze was heavy.
He continued slowly.
“But after the child is born, if you wish, I intend to send her away from the Klaus ducal family.”
Esika’s eyebrow twitched. Send Yuri away?
Callian took this as a positive sign and words flowed out smoothly.
“As you know, Yuri is not a woman of good character. She tried to steal Brigitte’s jewels, and she framed you, her friend, with a stolen ring, tarnishing the honor of Klaus. She will never be a good mother to a Klaus child.”
“…”
“So… I want you to be the mother to the child.”
Callian parted his lips as if he had made a difficult decision for Esika’s sake.
“Of course, the child will still be illegitimate. If you bear my child, that child will be the heir to Klaus.”
Callian’s hand, tightly gripping Esika’s, tensed.
Riona knew better than anyone about the nature of noble ladies.
The things that women who had their husbands stolen by concubines or mistresses wanted to receive from their husbands.
Even the previous Duchess of Klaus, whom she had driven out, was like that.
Gifting only the right to raise the husband’s child to the wife was not a bad choice for noble ladies.
The child would be raised by hired wet nurses and maids anyway, and the authority of the wife who had the right to the child’s upbringing would grow stronger.
She could use this as an excuse to control her husband and live.
So Riona thought that unless Esika really intended to divorce, she would accept this.
Callian, who had listened to Riona’s persuasion, thought so too.
“…”
But Esika just stared at Callian silently.
Callian thought that perhaps Esika might be moved by how much he had repented, but when Esika opened her mouth, that thought shattered.
“I will neither raise Yuri’s child, nor bear a child.”
Callian’s eyes shook violently.
He could not understand the meaning of Esika’s words.
“You…”
Callian opened his lips but couldn’t continue.
‘Does she really mean she won’t live with me?’
If the past Esika had been before him, she might have spoken with a welcoming air.
But at this moment, his chest hurt as if cut by a knife, and he couldn’t speak.
“Just remember this, Your Grace.”
Esika’s cold voice, as if coming from a snow field, was heard.
“Every moment you approach me, my resentment grows thicker.”
Callian did not understand.
Despite Shpert’s visit, she didn’t mention divorce, surely because she wanted to live well with him, so why reject him with such harsh words?
And he did not know.
That the reason was simply because the compensation he could give her now, and the punishment he would receive, were not enough.
Also, that the wheel approaching destruction had already begun to turn.
“…Esika.”
Callian slowly withdrew his hand from Esika.
His mind was complicated. How should he persuade Esika and soothe her wounded heart to recover their relationship?
And at some point, his gaze suddenly turned to the ring on Esika’s finger.
“…”
Callian’s brow furrowed.
“…That looks like His Highness the Crown Prince’s ring.”
It was said to have belonged to the late Princess Astia. But why was Esika wearing this ring when she said she would return it?
Esika slowly pulled her hand away from Callian’s hand that was trying to grasp her fingertips.
Esika had the ring resized to fit her finger. The one Resban had worn would now fit Astia’s hand that she had glimpsed.
“He didn’t accept it.”
At those words, Callian’s eyes wavered.
Certainly, the Crown Prince is somewhat fastidious. There’s a possibility he gave her the ring that had been embroiled in the ducal house’s adultery affair.
But was that really his intention?
The emerald set in the ring glowed brilliantly.
The one who protected Esika was not her husband.
The Iron-Blooded Crown Prince, Resban Deon Lucein. The blade of his sword is still vivid in his mind.
“…It would be better not to wear it.”
“…?”
“Wearing an unrelated ring could lead to unsavory rumors.”
His hardened gaze honestly revealed his emotional state.
Jealousy? Not surprising.
“So it would be better to dispose of it. I’ll have a new ring made for you.”
A low voice followed.
Esika found his transparent words merely amusing.
“Like the one for Yuri?”
And so she inwardly delighted in seeing his expression crumble miserably.
“…”
“I’ll decline. I quite like this one.”
Esika smiled at Callian.
Cracks appeared in Callian’s tightly set expression.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
