This Marriage Must End in Tragedy (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 16
“I came because you called me, but you don’t seem particularly glad to see me.”
“Shut that mouth of yours.”
From Duke Orphe, a low voice emerged toward Basiloff, brimming with menacing intent. He was clearly furious.
“Is what’s printed in the paper true? About the Lady of Rubelsa.”
His violet eyes gleamed fiercely. Duke Orphe, with golden hair slightly darker than Damion’s and the same violet eyes, bore a striking resemblance to his son—as if deliberately proving their father-son bond.
His elder brother, Cardian, had inherited their mother’s soft chestnut hair and golden eyes, making it seem as though the brothers had each kindly taken after one of their parents.
Facing his father, who clearly had many questions, Damion replied with a faint, teasing smile.
“Wow, I had no idea Your Grace subscribed to Morning Noblesse.”
“Answer the question I asked.”
“It’s exactly as the gossip column described.”
“You!”
The Duke slammed his seat back and rose abruptly, striding toward Damion with visible anger.
“Rubelsa? You’d dare attach that family’s name to the House of Orphe?”
“If you’re already this concerned about my love life, I’m worried you might faint at the wedding.”
To the Duke’s furrowed face, Damion gave a carefree answer, as if it had nothing to do with him.
“So you’re already thinking about marriage?”
“Does it displease you? I chose this match carefully, knowing how much you dislike a spouse’s lineage affecting my standing.”
Damion’s sarcastic remark made Basiloff’s blood boil.
Finally unable to contain himself, Basiloff raised his hand high.
“Father, stop.”
A quiet voice then restrained Basiloff. Damion’s dry gaze shifted to Cardian’s back.
Without even turning toward them, Cardian continued calmly cutting his food and spoke gently.
“It’s not just our family keeping an eye on Damion right now. If he were to leave the Duke’s estate with a mark on his face, what would people think? You agree, don’t you, Beki?”
At those words, his wife, Bekisi, nodded. She rose and approached the Duke.
“Please don’t get so angry, Father.”
At his daughter-in-law’s gentle intervention, the Duke finally turned and sat back at the dining table.
Cardian glanced sideways at Damion and asked,
“Is it cheap pity? Or do you plan to toy with her?”
“Neither. Unlike you, I don’t still have the hobby of playing with toys.”
Cardian’s lips curled into a bitter smile at the barbed remark.
“Toys? You sound like a child.”
“Does the new Emperor suit your tastes?”
“He is the one I faithfully serve. I’d appreciate it if you refrained from speaking disrespectfully.”
“I hear the rebels grow stronger by the day. Even you, as His Majesty’s confidant, should be careful.”
“Thanks for your concern.”
Cardian gave a faint smile. In response, Damion grinned back and bowed his head toward the Duke and Duchess.
“I hope you enjoy the rest of your lunch.”
As Damion’s footsteps faded away, Cardian returned his attention to his meal. The meat had grown cold during their conversation.
“Bring a fresh plate.”
At the gentle request, the chef hurried to prepare newly grilled meat.
After finishing his meal, Cardian quietly headed to his room. The newspaper he’d read that morning lay on the table.
Sinking into the sofa, Cardian lowered his eyes and stared at the paper.
The headline on the open page declared that the revolutionary forces who had destroyed the Emperor’s statue in the square had been swiftly captured and now awaited execution.
“Even if insects crawl about, why bother exerting yourself…?”
A voice tinged with regret slipped out. His indifferent gaze, tapping rhythmically on the armrest of the sofa, drifted into empty space.
Ansi de Rubelsa.
Was that woman clinging to Damion truly just an insect—or not?
Curiosity stirred, along with a flicker of interest.
Cardian decided he would stand by his beloved younger brother and support this marriage.
[This is the timeline separator]
The art exhibition held at Spring Hall in the capital was one of the most longstanding springtime events. Countless people gathered at Spring Hall, eager to purchase artworks and weave new social connections.
Yet Henet couldn’t focus fully on the art—he was still reeling from the shocking news he’d heard recently.
“What are you thinking? Rubelsa? What could you possibly gain from that woman?”
“Yeah.”
Damion’s answer was simple. But no matter how Henet thought about it, he couldn’t understand. What exactly about her was advantageous? To anyone’s eyes, Damion seemed to be the one at a disadvantage.
“You’re not seriously considering joining her on the Venu River outing too, are you?”
“Maybe.”
Wait—“maybe” instead of “no”?
Henet’s mouth fell open in disbelief.
At the end of April, a boat excursion on the Venu River in the capital was an event where a pair of young men and women enjoyed a small boat ride together.
Though some attended with parents or siblings, it was generally regarded as an activity for lovers. For a young man and woman to go together was an unspoken declaration that they viewed each other as romantic partners, not merely boatmates.
Even if their partnership at the Baylis ball could be seen as temporary, going on the boat outing together would surely signal serious intentions.
“Henet… what about you?”
Without taking his eyes off the still-life painting featuring a clock, Damion asked. Henet pouted his lips.
“I broke up with Renie just recently—someone’s been going around falsely claiming to be my lover.”
“Then why not go with Miss Helsia?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m already furious enough hearing Helsia’s going with some useless fellow. Do you understand how it feels not being able to keep watch over her?”
“There’s a ball tonight at Grand Light Hall. Find a partner there.”
“All the women there are looking for marriage prospects. I don’t want to give false hope to someone when I have no interest.”
Damion casually softened those blunt words.
“Well, how about this—if she’s someone you’re willing to hurt anyway, why not go with the woman who’s pretending to be your lover?”
Henet’s eyes widened at the offhand suggestion.
“Would you really do that?”
“Just be prepared—she might not even be a woman.”
“You should be careful not to get rejected by the Lady of Rubelsa yourself. Weren’t you supposed to come here with her today?”
“Why?”
“An exhibition is a good place for a date.”
“It’s also a good place for investment.”
“You’re something else.”
But he couldn’t argue—after all, several paintings Damion bought at last winter’s exhibition had already multiplied in value twentyfold.
“Wouldn’t it be even better to combine a date with an investment?”
“She doesn’t enjoy crowded places.”
So she probably hadn’t come.
Yet as he walked slowly through the hall, Damion scanned the space with his eyes.
Ansi wasn’t there.
Instead, a painting caught his eye.
A large canvas covered in black, dotted with white specks.
It resembled a night sky, yet held nothing particularly remarkable—hence the lack of attention from visitors. Its placement deep inside, away from the main hall, further proved its obscurity.
Damion stepped in front of it. Up close, the sheer size of the painting momentarily overwhelmed him. A lazy satisfaction flickered across his face.
He lightly raised his hand and called over a staff member.
“I’ll buy it.”
A “Sold” tag was promptly placed beside the painting. Henet shrugged, still puzzled.
“Is this really worth investing in?”
“I’m not buying it to sell.”
“Really? What do you like about it?”
“Personal reasons.”
Henet narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the painting, then finally shook his head.
“I prefer brighter paintings. If you’re staying here, I’m leaving.”
Without waiting for an answer, Henet walked away. Damion remained, examining the black sky a little longer.
How gloomy it would look hanging in the mansion.
Yet he felt certain that she would like this painting.
“Damion?”
A quiet, clear voice called out. Damion’s gaze slid to the side.
There stood the woman—Ansi de Rubelsa.
“You should’ve come together with me, Ansi.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Ansi turned to look at the painting.
Her blue eyes rolled like beads, tracing from one edge of the sky to the other before settling in the center. Her crimson yet translucent lips parted slightly.
And then, an involuntary sigh escaped her.
Damion felt as if he were a child who’d just guessed the right answer.
“I like it. What about you, Ansi?”
“I do too… perhaps more than anything else here. It looks carelessly painted, yet it’s clearly made with great attention.”
“How so?”
The brushstrokes weren’t particularly fine, nor was the color blending especially delicate.
Given the canvas’s size, it must have required considerable materials and time—was that what she meant by “attention”? Wondering how this woman defined care, Damion awaited her reply.
“The star positions are accurate.”
It was an answer he hadn’t considered at all. Damion examined the painting again—the unusually large and bright star, followed by trailing stars.
“…Boötes.”
“You remember?”
Ansi’s face brightened with a delighted expression. A liveliness he’d never seen before sparkled in her blue eyes.
Was this woman capable of such an expression?
“It’s a painting of spring. See how Arcturus in Boötes, Spica in Virgo, and Denebola in Leo connect to form a triangle? And right in front of Boötes, there’s also…”
She continued in a calm voice, though her slightly flushed cheeks betrayed her excitement.
For a moment, Damion felt his heart drop.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
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