This Marriage Must End in Tragedy (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 13
A snort, followed by laughter, echoed through the air.
Trishi turned her dazed face to the side. Damion was laughing as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. After finally regaining his composure, he spoke calmly.
“I’m sorry. It just struck me that maybe I came to a theater today instead of a party.”
The surrounding crowd burst into laughter. Flustered, Trishi gaped and then grabbed someone nearby, seeking agreement.
“It’s true! The maid who used to work at our house—”
“Lady Ansi resided in one of my estates in the East—not at Viscount Jiden’s manor in the South.”
A firm voice cut her off. The man’s face, which had been smiling moments ago, now turned cold.
The person Trishi had grabbed pulled their hand away, clearly unwilling to get involved. Trishi, left with nowhere to turn, reached toward Ansi’s head.
“This hair is all fake too! Your real hair color is brown, isn’t it!”
But before her hand could reach Ansi, onlookers stopped her. Those surrounding them frowned.
“Even if you want to belittle Lady Rubelsa, this is going too far.”
“Seriously…!”
“Why don’t you just stop now?”
The amusement had faded from the observers’ eyes—discomfort now lingered there instead. Clicking tongues turned toward her.
Suddenly, Trishi realized the arrows of contempt that had been aimed at Ansi had changed direction.
Now, she was the target.
“Why does everyone hate me?”
How terrifying the capital truly was. Trishi burst into tears.
At the nod of several attendees, servants approached and guided her outside—ostensibly to let her get some fresh air until she calmed down, though everyone knew it was effectively an expulsion.
At the same moment, the opening melody of the first dance suddenly began. It seemed a deliberate attempt to shift the hall’s mood.
People hurriedly found partners and stood facing each other. Ansi and Damion did the same. After bowing to one another, they joined hands and began to move.
“I didn’t expect Lady Jiden to attend.”
Moving gently to the music, Ansi spoke quietly. Damion replied lightly.
“Neither did I.”
“For someone who claims that, you’re awfully skilled at lying. I’ve never heard about an estate in the East before. Is it really acceptable to deceive everyone like this?”
“You know better than I do how much weight one’s past occupation or status carries in Belgarder high society. Even newly minted nobles are scorned if they weren’t noble before, and even those of high birth are looked down upon if their work isn’t considered noble.”
Ansi turned in a full circle following Damion’s lead, then looked back at him. He continued without pause.
“Adjusting one’s past slightly to reenter this society isn’t deception—it’s simply standard procedure. Didn’t you also pretend not to recognize Lady Jiden for that very reason?”
It was a fair point.
Yet it still left a bitter aftertaste.
She understood exactly how it felt to stand at the center of sharp, judgmental gazes. She knew the weight of being labeled a liar by everyone.
For a fleeting moment, the thought even crossed her mind that perhaps Damion had invited Trishi to this party just to humiliate her. But she decided not to voice it.
“Thank you for helping me.”
At this formal expression of gratitude, Damion’s eyebrows dipped slightly. After a brief hesitation, he confessed.
“To be honest… I’m not really accustomed to these kinds of lies either. I’m trying my best to appear composed in front of you, but I’m not sure if I’m succeeding.”
The cold tone from earlier had vanished completely. Had that disdainful remark merely been an act to seem at ease?
“…You’re doing well enough. Convincingly so.”
“Really?”
Damion’s eyes softened into a lazy curve. Smiling as if finally reassured, he tightened his grip around Ansi’s hand.
Ansi pushed her thoughts aside and focused on the dance.
Meanwhile, Damion’s lips curled slightly in satisfaction as he noticed her expression relaxing.
Everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned.
Back when he stayed at the Jiden manor in the South, Trishi mentioned she intended to move to the capital soon.
Thus, it was only a matter of time before Ansi and Trishi crossed paths.
The idea of that encounter happening somewhere beyond his control—outside his presence—had made him uneasy.
So he’d invited Trishi to this party himself.
And she had played her part even better than he’d anticipated.
He had already planted enough evidence to support the claim that mother and daughter had lived in his eastern estate. No further trouble should arise from this matter.
“I’ve heard the House of Orphe enjoys close familial bonds. Do you often dine together?”
Ansi seemed ready to move past the earlier incident and asked an ordinary, everyday question.
It wasn’t a particularly welcome topic, but—
“Hmm. I’ve spent so long on the battlefield that it’s been quite a while since we’ve done that.”
“Then, what do the Duke and the Viscount enjoy? Any particular interests…?”
“Aren’t you curious about my interests?”
“…What are you interested in?”
“You.”
“…”
“Ugh.”
Moving like a broken machine, Ansi stepped on Damion’s foot. He frowned briefly in pain, then burst out laughing the next moment.
“I’m sorry. I’m not used to dancing.”
“Was that on purpose?”
“…No.”
“Your answer was slow.”
“It was your imagination.”
“The Orphe family all enjoy polo. Does that answer your question?”
Damion spoke gently, amusement lacing his voice. Ansi nodded. Following the dance sequence, they briefly parted, moved their feet, then clasped hands once more.
“What’s your relationship like with your older brother?”
“You’re really conducting a thorough background check, aren’t you?”
“I just want to know more about you, my lord.”
“We’re just ordinary brothers—nothing special. May I ask you about yours? What was it like with your older brother?”
“My older brother…”
Ansi fell silent.
She never indulged in memories. Recalling the past made her feel weak—as though she might crumble.
“You don’t have to answer if it’s uncomfortable.”
“I’m sorry.”
In the end, Ansi couldn’t bring herself to ask further about the Orphes. When the dance ended a few minutes later, Damion skillfully placed her hand on his arm and guided her away from the center of the hall.
A few young women glanced briefly at Ansi. Their hesitant steps—advancing, then retreating—suggested they wanted to speak to her.
Noticing this, Damion whispered to Ansi.
“Though I’d like to keep you to myself tonight, I know you need some proper socializing. Go ahead.”
“What about you?”
“Are you worried? Afraid I might get lonely and play by myself?”
Smiling as if pleased, Damion nodded toward a group of young men nearby. They, too, were watching this way.
“I’ll see you later.”
Damion gently brushed Ansi’s hair back before leaving. At this tender gesture, the watching women let out a collective sound—somewhere between a sigh and a gasp.
And then, as if they’d been waiting for it, they approached Ansi.
“Lady Rubelsa, it’s been so long.”
“Yes.”
What on earth were these people going to say? Would they ask about her father? Or question how she’d even thought to attend this party?
Ansi tensed, bracing herself defensively.
But the words they spoke were of an entirely different sort.
“We’ve missed you so much, Lady Ansi.”
“Yes! We often wondered what you’ve been up to. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you again.”
One girl linked arms with Ansi in a friendly manner. Another offered her a glass of champagne, while a third held out a dessert plate.
“You must have been quite startled earlier by that lady from the South, weren’t you?”
“…Not really.”
Ansi answered quietly.
Their warm, welcoming attitude unconsciously lowered her guard. Perhaps they hadn’t disliked her as much as she’d feared after all.
In the relaxed atmosphere, one girl opened her mouth again.
“Hey, ahem, Or—”
“Lady Naize.”
A voice interjected at that moment. Elise de Baylis, the party’s hostess, was watching them. She smiled brightly and called out names one by one.
“Lady Henji, Lady Manoron—I’d like you to meet some friends of mine over there. Would you come with me?”
“Of course!”
“Let’s go.”
Elise turned with a smile, walking away and leaving Ansi behind. The girls followed Elise and soon disappeared from view.
“…”
Alone once more in the vast hall, Ansi stood silent amidst the cheerful chatter and laughter—quiet as though she alone had nothing to say.
It wasn’t a major issue.
She’d come expecting this, after all; she wasn’t the type to particularly enjoy mingling with crowds anyway.
It was just… for a moment, she truly felt alone. And if she stayed like this, her unhappiness might become all too obvious.
She stared at the untouched champagne in her hand, then quietly took a sip. When the glass was empty, she set it down and stepped outside.
She needed some fresh air.
[This is the timeline separator]“Be honest with me, Damion. You’re not seriously involved with her, are you?”
The hushed question was aimed at Damion. The group of men exhaled as if relieved of a long-held breath—a welcome interruption after circling the topic due to propriety.
But Damion merely savored his wine leisurely. Growing impatient, the others finally spoke up.
“Come on, she’s a Rubelsa! Even if she tried to seduce you, you can’t just let it slide.”
“Tell us—how exactly did she reel you in? Is she secretly wild at night despite looking so cold…?”
“Hofri.”
Damion finally broke his silence. Smirking slightly, he replied.
“Mind your words a little.”
The boisterous group fell quiet as if doused with cold water. Oblivious to the tension, a crisp piano melody continued playing overhead.
“S-sorry.”
“I was the one who begged her to date me. Lady Ansi reluctantly agreed after initially refusing.”
“You…?”
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”
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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