Yuri had always coveted Esika’s position.
Esika was foolish and always got the short end of the stick despite being the duchess, but Yuri was confident that she, being clever, would not suffer the same fate.
The grand duchess must have been weakened by now, and once Yuri became the duchess, the duchy would be her world.
When feeling tired, Yuri closed her eyes and imagined her future self.
Choosing dresses from catalogs sent by dress shops in a spacious and luxurious room.
Sending out invitations for tea parties to noble ladies when bored.
Maids rushing to wash her feet with warm water at the mere mention of fatigue.
The most invigorating fantasy was visiting the imperial palace as the duchess.
Callian would shine brilliantly like her accessory, and she would make a grand entrance, arm in arm with him, drawing all attention.
Nobles from good families and imperial officials of much higher rank than the Anesis family would bow their heads to Yuri.
Looking at people trying to curry favor with her, she would think:
I’ve reached one of the highest positions in this country.
“…”
A faint smile appeared on Yuri’s lips.
The count investigator had said she would never return to Klaus, but that must have been just a threat.
What reason could there be to prevent her return when she carried the child of House Klaus?
Someday, she would teach that count who dared to threaten her a lesson.
How dare he be so rude to the future duchess.
“Yuri Anesis, it’s time for interrogation.”
A soldier came and unlocked the cell.
Yuri raised her chin like a noble lady and walked to the interrogation room with a dignified gait.
In the interrogation room, an elderly man other than the count was sitting today.
A baron, if she remembered correctly from seeing him once before. She couldn’t recall his name.
Yuri twitched her eyebrow and sat across from him.
“Count Riheim is busy with House Klaus matters, so I will be conducting your interrogation today on his behalf.”
“House Klaus matters?”
Yuri’s eyebrows rose.
“Being in solitary confinement, it seems the news hasn’t reached you.”
“…”
A strange uneasiness arose at the ominous atmosphere.
“Of course, this is separate from your case, Yuri Anesis. It’s just…”
Deep wrinkles formed between the baron’s eyebrows.
After seeming to contemplate whether to tell her or not, the baron continued.
“House Klaus is under investigation for the grave offense of embezzling imperial military funds.”
“…”
Yuri’s eyebrows contorted sharply.
“Military funds?”
“It appears they embezzled the country’s military funds and invested that money in Cheuhen. When Cheuhen was not selected as the western base, they suffered enormous losses. It’s said that even selling the mansion won’t be enough to cover the military funds.”
“…”
Yuri stared blankly at the baron.
She couldn’t comprehend what she had just heard.
Embezzlement of imperial military funds? And that money in Cheuhen…
“…”
Cheuhen, it was definitely a place name she had heard before.
It was when Riona and the butler Hans were talking.
They had said buying land there would multiply one’s money several times over.
Riona’s eyes had sparkled with greed, but Yuri hadn’t paid much attention since it wasn’t the first time she had seen Riona’s covetous face.
Well, the growth of Klaus’s assets would also benefit her as the future duchess.
But… what did he say?
“…That can’t be.”
“We’ll have to investigate further to see if there are any hidden assets besides the known assets and the mansion. Count Riheim is a capable man with expertise in uncovering hidden wealth.”
Yuri shook her head.
She simply could not accept the facts the baron was stating.
After a moment, a distorted smile appeared on Yuri’s lips.
“Ah, this is… You’re lying to me on purpose to make me confess, right?”
“…”
“Klaus is already ruined, so there’s no use denying that I tried to kill Esika. So speak honestly, you say. Yes, the truth doesn’t matter, right? But what can I do?”
Yuri shrugged and said:
“I never tried to kill Esika. How about that? Not the answer you wanted, right?”
A brief silence fell between them.
The baron cleared his throat a couple of times before speaking.
“…It seems hard for you to accept.”
It didn’t seem like he expected an answer.
His eyes held a mixture of contempt and pity as he looked at Yuri.
Yuri silently gazed back at the baron with a confident look.
Soon he would speak.
You’re really smart, how did you figure out my plan? Yes, it’s a lie that Klaus is ruined.
What a sloppy lie, even I think so, to say such a powerful ducal house has fallen.
But the words Yuri wanted didn’t come from his mouth.
“…There’s no way Klaus could be ruined.”
It was Yuri who broke the long silence first.
She could feel the baby moving in her womb.
The baby who would become the owner of the beautiful Klaus mansion, who would succeed his father as Duke Klaus.
Yuri believed that she, as this child’s mother, should enjoy even more splendid glory than Callian’s mother Riona.
“…There’s no way that could happen.”
“Unfortunately.”
The baron cut off Yuri’s words.
Then he slowly rose from his seat.
Today’s interrogation seemed to have lost its meaning.
“Everything I just said is true, Yuri Anesis.”
Yuri still wore a twisted smile as she watched the baron stand up.
She stared intently at him until he turned and disappeared.
Yes, there’s no way. Klaus falling… that’s impossible.
This is just a wicked plan to extract a false confession from Yuri.
But why does her heart feel so uneasy?
Yuri’s fists were trembling.
**
The garden of Klaus.
With the tables, vases, and even fences all torn away, the once beautiful garden was now desolate.
Esika stood there, admiring the yellow flowers.
Their scent wasn’t strong, and their color wasn’t particularly pretty.
These flowers alone survived because they were the least valuable among the garden’s flowers.
Originally, human greed ignites for the most precious and impressive things.
No one tries to see the essence of the world.
She sensed someone approaching from behind.
And footsteps that hesitated for a moment. But he soon spoke.
“My lady.”
Esika slowly turned around.
Callian Klaus stood before her.
He looked quite disheveled.
His usually neat face showed unshaven stubble, and he wore wrinkled clothes instead of his crisp, ironed uniform.
With most of the servants and maids gone, there was no way the mansion could function properly.
Esika smiled brightly and reached out her hand.
She adjusted Callian’s clothes with a rather affectionate touch.
“We’ll need to sew on new buttons.”
Esika felt Callian flinch at her touch.
“They’re so loose.”
Esika met Callian’s eyes with a cold gaze.
The fate of Klaus was equally precarious.
There was only one reason Callian would seek her out now.
“I know… this is very shameless.”
Riona had been taken away by the imperial investigation team for the embezzlement inquiry.
She might even meet Yuri there.
“…But, you’re the only one I can turn to now.”
Callian’s eyes were wavering.
His eyebrows were furrowed. As if uttering words he absolutely didn’t want to say.
Yes, now was the time to throw away pride.
He must have realized such things were useless in saving oneself.
“Please… help me.”
He needed Brigitte’s funds.
At least five million ling was necessary to plug the urgent holes.
Even selling the entire mansion wouldn’t be enough to repay the embezzled funds and debts.
In this situation, Callian had no choice but to say this to Esika.
“I need money. If you could ask your brother now…”
“I knew the duke would make such a request.”
Esika cut off Callian’s words.
A smile played on Esika’s lips, causing Callian’s eyes to waver.
Just as he was about to be swept up in a wave of emotion, interpreting it as a sign of acceptance,
“So I prepared an answer.”
As if she had known Callian would come to her today, Esika handed him an envelope she had been holding.
“…?”
Callian took the envelope.
And looked at Esika with puzzled eyes.
Esika nodded with a cold smile.
After staring into her eyes for a moment, Callian opened the envelope.
And slowly unfolded the folded paper.
“…”
Callian’s eyes scanned the words on the paper.
His expression gradually hardened.
A breeze blew through the garden. Autumn would soon arrive, and when the cold winter came, the untended plants would all die.
“What is this…?”
In response to Callian’s words, Esika shrugged.
“It’s exactly as written. A contract transferring all assets of Klaus, including the mansion and debts.”
“…”
“And the paper below is a divorce request.”
Male lead is reincarnated to save his wife
I’ve also read this one twice already. The female lead is kinda soft and gets embarrassed easily—not really my type, but the plot is definitely worth reading. Hurry up and read it, y’all!
Intro
When Shen Yuan encountered Su Jin again in his previous life, she had already become the Prime Minister of the current dynasty. As for him, the former top young master of the capital, he had long since fallen into the abyss, becoming a singer on a pleasure boat.
After a song ended, he was redeemed and sent to the Su Residence.
Su Jin respected and cherished him, gave him a roof over his head, and bestowed him with warmth. Shen Yuan fell deeper and deeper, but before he could express his feelings, Su Jin passed away.
Shen Yuan died to follow her in death, but instead, he returned to when he was fifteen years old.
At that time, he was not yet engaged, and Su Jin was just a poor scholar.
Shen Yuan gritted his teeth, casting aside all his pride, and thought of ways to coax and entice her every day.
The colder and more indifferent Su Jin was towards him, the more proactive Shen Yuan became.
He was not afraid of being mocked by the world, only wanting to marry his Wife-master early, to hold her hand and never let go for a lifetime.
[Note: This story will not specifically point out the male lead’s reincarnation time point; it’s all in the details. Whenever you feel that the male lead is acting strangely, he has most likely been reincarnated.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
