Esika, her name in her previous life was Cheon Young Ryeong.

Young Ryeong, as the daughter of the leader of the Cheonma sect, had heard and learned about many of the sect’s businesses from a young age.

Assassination services, poison sales, black markets, shadow bureau operations.

When assigning these businesses, her father, the sect leader, always shared some of the profits with those in charge.

This was because there were those who would run off with everything if they had no sense of responsibility. Blinded by immediate gains even knowing they would lose their lives.

So Esika had business operating principles based on experience.

She would own 40% of the business shares, and distribute the remaining shares to those playing major roles in the business.

Hans, who would handle various contracts and bookkeeping, Hemos, who would develop recipes and oversee cake production, and Cella, who would be in charge of product packaging and organization.

She gave each of them a 10% share.

The three’s reactions were intense or unique.

Hans opened his eyes wide and couldn’t come to his senses for a while, Hemos asked what shares meant and if he could use them to pay for drinks at a bar. And Cella…

“My lady… I cannot accept this.”

“What do you mean?”

“You have already fulfilled my wish and shown me a new world. I could die for you, my lady.”

To think this child before me now was once the one who put poison in my food… People’s changes are interesting.

Cella continued, looking at Esika.

“I just want to live as your maid by your side for life. I mean I don’t want to leave you to do other work. Give that share to Hans. I’m not interested.”

She really seemed to cherish Esika.

She was a child who, though not clever or quick, had strong loyalty.

Esika smiled and said,

“I understand your feelings, but keep the shares. Your family can live comfortably in Atchembel. And I’ll respect your wish not to do new work. I… think I’d be a bit uncomfortable without you too.”

Having been by Esika’s side since the days of suffering under the Grand Duchess, she knew all of Esika’s preferences.

“My lady…! Can I really stay by your side from now on?”

Seeing Cella exclaim joyfully, Esika continued.

“And I’m the type to keep my promises. I said I’d teach you martial arts, so we should start with that first. Let’s begin today.”

“Martial arts… Ah, you mean that method to become beautiful!”

“Sit in the lotus position.”

“Lotus position?”

Esika had Cella sit in the lotus position and corrected her posture.

Even when she was Young Ryeong, she had never taught martial arts to anyone.

So Cella was likely to become Young Ryeong’s first disciple across her past and present lives.

“I’ll teach you dantian breathing.”

She taught the excited Cella the breathing method.

Of course, it was difficult for Cella to grasp it, and she just blinked her eyes and moved her mouth… but that’s how it always is at first.

‘She doesn’t seem to have talent, but at least she’ll learn how to protect herself, so it won’t be a loss for you.’

Esika told Cella to breathe as instructed and looked out the window.

A moment later, Esika’s eyebrows twitched.

She saw someone stumbling towards the mansion from outside.

Even seeing just the face from afar, it seemed to reek of alcohol.

Esika slightly hardened her previously relaxed and peaceful expression.

It was time to settle a long, ill-fated relationship.

**

Callian Klaus, he was the fourth son in line to inherit the title.

Fourth in name only, how could the son of a mistress aspire to become duke when there were three sons from the legal wife?

But Riona had told young Callian:

“I will definitely make you the Duke of Klaus.”

Surprisingly, Riona’s words came true.

When the legal wife and sons left, and they entered the mansion, the atmosphere was chaotic.

And all the employees feared and avoided Riona and Callian.

Saying they had driven them out through unimaginably vicious methods.

Not long after, they died, went missing, or left the duke’s household.

At that time, Callian was young, Duke Klaus was ill… and shortly after Callian came of age, he was able to inherit the title of duke.

She was the mother who made him duke when he shouldn’t have been able to become one.

He had no choice but to trust, rely on, and follow her.

But looking back, perhaps that unlimited trust ultimately brought about ruin.

“……”

Callian staggered drunkenly on the way to the duke’s residence.

It had been long since he’d sold his horse to get money for drinking at taverns.

A lawsuit verdict from the sons of the legal wife was stuck in the new residence.

Callian had anticipated that his mother had used underhanded methods to drive them out.

But well… he didn’t expect the methods to be that low quality.

He was wearing a uniform, but it was closer to rags than a uniform.

Every time he walked down the street, people pointed fingers at him.

“Embezzling the nation’s military funds, no different from a thief.”

“I heard his mother tried to kill his wife. And in the midst of that, she made his wife’s friend pregnant with his child… Nobles only sound refined, but look at that.”

“And what about the lawsuit his brothers filed in court. They say the legal wife hanged herself in grief.”

“Riona Klaus and Callian Klaus stole from the Klaus family too.”

In fact, Callian still couldn’t understand.

No one told him why he had ended up in this situation.

Everyone just blamed him.

Saying he had done things he shouldn’t have, and failed to fulfill his duties.

Callian had only done what his mother wanted.

He had always been educated to act that way, and that was the only right path for Callian.

But now… everything had become useless.

“You came earlier than the appointed time.”

Esika’s figure appeared as he arrived at the mansion.

“Well, it’s good to finish early too.”

Her dress was not flashy but neat and tidy, contrasting with his beggar-like appearance.

Esika’s eyebrows were well-groomed and her blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

A beautiful and fresh appearance.

Why hadn’t he realized in the past that Esika was such a valuable woman?

“I’ve prepared the quill. Now here…”

Esika handed Callian the divorce papers she had shown him before.

Behind that were also contracts for the transfer of property, including debts.

There was a blank space next to the words ‘Agree to divorce’.

The fact that she wanted him to fill in his name there made his chest tight.

Though he came to sign the divorce papers to avoid becoming a debtor on the run for life, persuaded by Hans, Callian couldn’t pick up the quill.

Feelings of upset, resentment, and desperation boiled in his chest.

“…Esika.”

He moved his dry lips with a flushed face.

At that plaintive gaze, Esika’s eyebrows twitched.

Damn it, it was clear this would drag on.

He approached Esika, reeking of alcohol.

And stood in front of Esika.

“…I can’t live without you.”

“……”

Esika looked up at Callian standing before her.

His appearance was truly wretched.

His once handsome face had lost its luster and was rough, with dark circles under his eyes.

The stench of alcohol was foul, showing how much he had drunk, and his patchy beard was also displeasing.

Until now, the only thing that had packaged him was the Klaus name.

Having lost that, he looked even more unsightly than vagrants on the street.

“It’s too late, but I’ve only just realized. That I… love you. Just thinking about living alone without you is painful.”

Callian tried to convey his sincere feelings.

“Please… can’t you reconsider just once more?”

Aside from wanting her beautiful self, right now Callian had no one else to rely on but Esika.

Riona was in prison, and the mansion would go to the creditors.

But Esika would at least have a place to lay her head.

Her family, the Brigitte, was still intact after all.

“…I want to start over with you.”

Callian’s tightly clenched fist was trembling.

Even if all his assets flew away without the Brigitte’s help, if he could just live as Esika’s husband, he wouldn’t have to worry about doing dirty and filthy work like commoners.

He had wandered the streets for the past week.

And realized that he simply could not live there.

Not knowing how to do laundry or even trim nails… how could he live alone?

Callian had lived receiving help from employees for everything from bathing assistance to tying shoelaces.

Riona hadn’t taught him such things since childhood, saying he was meant to be a noble person.

“From now on, I’ll be a husband only for you.”

“……”

“I’ll cut ties with Mother. Yuri, that woman means nothing to me either. You’re the only one for me, Esika.”

If they divorced here, it would be difficult to even walk in her shadow for the rest of his life.

Callian himself had nothing now.

Esika was his only hope, support, and person who could help him.

“I’ll abandon Mother, Esika.”

Finally, Callian knelt and begged Esika.

Esika just looked down at Callian with cold eyes.

After a moment, her lips opened.

“I don’t need it.”

“It’s all because of Mother. Mother… Yes, the reason we ended up like this is all because of Mother. I was just controlled by Mother and couldn’t see the truth. I’ve only now realized that Mother was wrong. Mother ruined my life!”

Callian wouldn’t know what Esika was thinking right now.

The coldly sunken look in her eyes was even more frigidly freezing over any universal human compassion.

“Please, without you I…”

Esika cut off Callian’s words.

“If you can’t live without me…”

The cold voice continued, stabbing like a dagger.

“Then just die.”

“…How… How can you say that to me, Esika.”

To Callian’s words that sounded like an accusation, Esika only gave a bitter smile.

“Put your hand on your heart and think about it. You…”

Callian was reflected in Esika’s cold eyes.

“Have you never once thought that you wished I would just die?”

“…!”

Those words from Esika made Callian recall the distant past.

When he pushed and injured Esika as she confronted him about Yuri, and when she disappeared from sight, he had thought:

‘If only she would just die.’

Callian’s clenched fist tightened.

Yes, it was certainly so.

If Esika had really died then, would he have felt regret or sadness?

Callian knew that probably wouldn’t have been the case.

Because to Callian at that time, Esika was just cumbersome trash.

And now, Esika was looking at Callian with those same eyes.

“Esika…”

“Sign.”

Esika tapped the paper and said in a cold voice.

“Do it.”

“……”

It was over. Now, there was no way to turn back even a little.

Esika’s gaze and attitude, this situation, everything was telling Callian.

Callian finally picked up the quill.

And pressing down firmly, he gave her the only thing she wanted from him.

It was the first gift Callian gave to Esika as her husband.

His name was written in the empty signature space that had been waiting to be filled.

It was the end of a long, ill-fated relationship.