This Marriage Must End in Tragedy (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 2
Spring in the south arrived with the gentle scent of the sea. A warmer breeze than in the capital brushed against Damion’s cheek. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation.
Viscount Jiden’s estate, where the party was being held, was situated in a spot with a rather fine view. The mansion’s facade, bathed in sunset hues peeking through the clouds, wasn’t bad either.
So it would have been better not to decorate it at all.
Seeing the ostentatiously adorned entrance, overflowing with colorful flowers, dampened his spirits instantly.
Maybe he shouldn’t go in. Just as that thought crossed his mind—
“Might you be Lieutenant Orphe?”
Damion turned around. Dark eyebrows, chestnut hair, and a stature slightly shorter than his own. The young Count Versel, heir to a venerable southern noble house and a landowning magnate.
“A pleasure to meet you, Count Versel.”
Damion offered a wry smile and extended his hand. Count Versel’s face brightened.
“You’ve heard of me, Lieutenant?”
“I’ve long known the name Versel and wished to meet you. Though I’m no longer a lieutenant—I’ve been discharged.”
“Yes, I heard you’ve been residing in the capital these past few months. May I address you as Lord Damion, then?”
“As you please.”
The two entered the banquet hall. Inside, the space was already crowded with guests—and also overflowing with flowers. It was clear the mansion’s owner had dreadful taste.
At least the crisp violin melody wasn’t unpleasant. Damion decided to take comfort in that, though the natural flow of conversation prevented him from truly enjoying the music.
“By the way, is your elder brother attending as well? I mean Viscount Cardian de Orphe.”
“No, my brother is too busy with work.”
“Oh! Coming all the way here in his stead—your fraternal bond is admirable.”
Damion gave a wry smile at that. He chose not to mention he’d merely stopped by during a business trip to the south.
“Oh, Damion. Fancy meeting you here.”
Some men who’d spotted them approached. One was the director of a hotel funded by Orphe elders; the other was the son of the man who controlled southern railways.
Damion raised his wine glass—a sign he’d engage in conversation with them. A servant came over and poured white wine into their glasses.
Soon, they exchanged measured, dignified conversation, keeping a proper distance.
Damion wasn’t unaware that their solemn, relaxed demeanor was meant to impress the women standing nearby. Their furtive glances felt so blatant now that it bordered on comical.
He noticed her just as this farce began to bore him.
Damion’s eyes narrowed.
A brown-haired servant quietly clearing plates in a corner of the hall.
It was an utterly ordinary sight—yet Damion couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Perhaps it was because, even while clearing dishes, her gaze kept scanning the hall as if searching for someone. Or maybe it was her tightly pressed lips, betraying some unspoken tension.
Or perhaps it was simply her strangely familiar appearance.
“Investing now seems rather risky, don’t you think, Damion?”
His gaze, previously fixed on the woman, shifted naturally to his companions. He swallowed the wine lingering on his lips and smiled leisurely.
“I’m not so sure. Now that the bubble has burst, might this not be the perfect opportunity?”
“Hmm… I thought as much.”
The conversation flowed on.
And by the time Damion’s violet eyes turned back to where she’d stood, the woman was already gone.
And yet—
He never expected to see her again here, with a gun barrel pressed to her temple.
“I’d appreciate it if you’d spare me today.”
In the deserted garden late at night, the woman’s startled eyes met his.
Her skin was pale to the point of translucence, and her sea-blue eyes, though brimming with wariness, shone with a familiar glint.
Could it really be her?
Well, regardless—
“I loathe nightmares.”
For that reason, at least for now, he stopped her from dying.
[This is the timeline separator]An angel-like man.
Seeing him bathed in moonlight, Ansi thought just that.
His neatly combed platinum hair and well-groomed brows exuded nobility. His smooth skin and crimson lips lent him a refined beauty, yet the sharp contours of his nose and jawline undermined it, giving him a decadent air.
Just as his voice suggested, the man wore a faint smile—but beneath it, his deep-set eyes held a chilling coolness.
The moment she thought his face seemed oddly familiar—
“Have you ever tried apricot tart?”
“…….”
An inexplicable question was tossed her way. Ansi frowned and stared intently at the man. He calmly continued.
“Try it before you die.”
“I’ve already had it.”
“…I see.”
The man tilted his brows, looking slightly perplexed, then pulled something from his pocket. The corners of his red lips curled up in satisfaction.
He stepped toward Ansi. She rose abruptly and took a step back—but his leisurely stride was quicker.
Before she knew it, he stood before her, holding out the object in his hand.
It was a fountain pen.
Ansi took it almost reflexively. When their fingertips brushed, she flinched without meaning to.
“It’s quite valuable. Sell it when dawn breaks.”
“Why… are you giving this to me?”
“Consider it the price of one day’s life. Payment for sparing me a nightmare.”
The man let out a soft chuckle. Only then did Ansi realize his misunderstanding.
He must have assumed she intended to kill herself—and that selling the pen would fund her survival.
It was unbearably arrogant—but preferable to being exposed as someone who’d tried to kill another.
Ansi closed her fingers tightly around the pen. Seeing this, the man turned away without hesitation. The spring breeze trailing behind him carried a faint, clean musk.
Amid that lingering scent, Ansi lowered her gaze.
Henet de Maron.
The pen bore a name. House Maron—a noble family she’d heard of before.
“He wasn’t even from House Orphe.”
Ansi let out a hollow laugh. She quickly turned and walked in the opposite direction.
[This is the timeline separator]“Miss Rain, I’m sorry, but I can’t extend you credit beyond this.”
The apothecary’s owner hesitated, then lowered his brows and spoke. His voice carried apology, but Ansi knew how much he’d already done for her. She nodded.
“…Yes, I’m grateful you’ve helped me this far. I’ll pay for the medicine by next week, for sure.”
“Alright, take care. Are you finishing your shift early again today?”
“Yes.”
“Your mother must be waiting. Hurry home.”
At Viscount Jiden’s estate, resident and commuting servants worked side by side—and Ansi belonged to the latter. After her shift ended, she returned to a small house on Wort Street, not far from the estate.
It was a tiny place—just one room attached to a narrow living area, and she had to climb all the way to the third floor—but she knew she should be thankful simply to have a place to sleep.
But as she reached for her keys, Ansi noticed something was wrong.
The doorknob was broken.
A bad premonition washed over her.
Ansi shoved the door open.
“…!”
The house was in complete disarray. Furniture and household items lay overturned and scattered everywhere; spilled ingredients seeped haphazardly across the floor.
“What on earth…?”
“You should’ve come home earlier, Rain.”
The reply came from inside the room. Ansi glared into the doorway. A young man stepped out, wearing a look of mock concern.
“I came by, but no one was here. Sneaking out like a stray cat at night is why your house ended up like this.”
“Garris.”
“Don’t look at me like that. I’m only here to warn you—there’s still a lot left to pay.”
“Don’t make me laugh. I’ve already paid back the principal plus interest.”
“A new interest clause was added before you finished repaying. You’re bound by it.”
“That clause was never part of our original agreement!”
“Stop acting like some virtuous little miss.”
In an instant, Garris grabbed a fistful of Ansi’s hair and yanked hard.
“Ah!”
The sudden pain made Ansi cry out. Garris whispered into her ear.
“Rain. If you wanted to find the contract, you should’ve gone to the bank. No one else would lend money to someone like you—that’s why you came to us.”
Ansi’s eyes, glaring at Garris, turned bloodshot. He laughed as if amused. Biting the inside of her lip, she fumbled under her skirt.
“Planning to pull out your gun?”
“…!”
“Know why I haven’t taken it yet? Because I’ve got one too. I could put a hole in your head before you even disengage the safety.”
Garris threw her to the floor. As she lay sprawled on the ground, his mocking laughter echoed above her.
“I’ll be back next month.”
Bang—the door slammed shut.
Silence fell around her. The whole ordeal felt like a dream.
Thank goodness she’d sent her mother to Mrs. Merchen’s house today. She’d arranged it so her mother could flee if she succeeded in killing Cardian—but she never expected something like this…
Ansi stood and began cleaning the house. Lips pressed shut, she righted chairs, gathered scattered clothes, and picked up broken glass.
“…Ah.”
A sharp pain shot through her finger. Blood began to well up in tiny beads. Ansi sank to the floor as if collapsing. Harsh breaths escaped her mouth.
The scorching hatred and humiliation swirling inside her refused to fade.
If only she hadn’t borrowed money from that scum. If only she’d had enough assets to cover her mother’s medicine. If only Rubelsa’s estate hadn’t been confiscated. If only it weren’t for that bastard Cardian de Orphe.
If she’d known this mountain of hatred would pile up, she should’ve killed him back then.
Instead of fleeing the ducal manor in fear, she should’ve slit his throat herself.
Whenever she closed her eyes, her father’s bloodstained dog tag and her brother’s screams under the bomb’s impact haunted her.
Ansi’s time had stopped dead one year ago—the day her father and brother died.
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.]
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Damion is selfish to think Ansi should give up her life span for him. However, considering he saw her almost end herself, he probably thinks if she wants to end things she might as well help him in the process.
Trishi is terrible. I hope she gets put in her place. I also hope this viscount son isn’t a loser, but I don’t have high hopes.