This Marriage Must End in Tragedy (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
“…Huh.”
Damion let out a disbelieving laugh at her outrageous behavior. Yet, at the same time, he found it intriguing.
He was genuinely curious—and even a little excited—to see how that woman would react.
But the outcome was somewhat disappointing.
She didn’t fight back.
She merely stayed on the ground, sifting through the sand.
Damion took a step forward, his gaze fixed firmly on her.
Only when the rough sensation of sand seeped into his shoes did he realize he’d already walked onto the beach.
“Damn it.”
But what could he do now that he’d already come this far? Damion began walking toward Ansi de Rubelsa.
The closer he got to her, the clearer her figure became. Her expression—dry, emotionless—somehow irritated him.
And in the next moment,
their eyes met as the woman stood up.
“…”
Yet she simply turned her head away.
She didn’t acknowledge him, nor did she ask him to rescue her from this unfair situation.
Why?
A question rose in Damion’s mind.
He had clearly confessed his feelings to her. Shouldn’t she look relieved, as if she’d just found unexpected reinforcement?
Instead, she seemed uncomfortable.
Her previously indifferent face twisted the moment she saw him, as though she wished to escape this place altogether.
For some reason, he felt dirty.
It was as if he’d been rejected without even properly confessing. No—wait—he already had confessed, so perhaps he really had just been rejected outright.
This woman felt neither his necessity nor any joy at seeing him.
His certainty that their lunch meeting would lead to a favorable outcome began to waver.
Moreover, the words he now overheard didn’t sit well with him either.
“Your mom dies if she doesn’t take her medicine, right?”
Jiden’s daughter hurled rude remarks at the obedient-looking Ansi de Rubelsa.
Damion was certain Ansi would simply lower her head again this time too. After all, she’d even picked up crumbs from the ground—surely she could endure mere words.
If so, whether she wanted it or not, whether she’d asked or not, he intended to shatter that false peace for her.
Ansi de Rubelsa would become his chess piece—and he didn’t like others treating her carelessly.
Yet again, her response defied his expectations.
“With all due respect, miss, I’ve done nothing that warrants kneeling or apologizing.”
Her previously quiet blue eyes swirled fiercely. The firm voice escaping her small, plump lips was shockingly sharp—utterly inconceivable from the calm woman who’d just been moments ago.
Like a wave crashing down when its prey lets down their guard.
In any case, she continued ignoring him right up until the moment he reached her—as if insisting she needed no help from him at all.
Damion felt a childish, petulant urge.
He suddenly wanted to ignore her too.
Until she called out his name.
[This is the timeline separator]Ansi flung open the man’s door without even knocking and strode in.
It was better to enter this way—even if slightly rude—than to risk being seen by someone passing by while waiting for him to open the door.
The man was drawing the curtains over the window. Unfazed, he finished his task with unhurried movements, then turned around with a lazy smile.
“It’s been a while.”
His greeting felt oddly formal. Hadn’t they been in the same space all day since that morning at the beach? Though, admittedly, this was their first actual conversation.
“Did you speak to the Jidens about me?”
Ansi marched straight toward him and asked bluntly.
She needed to confirm this first before proceeding further. The answer would determine the direction of their next conversation.
“About Rain? Or about Ansi?”
The man lifted an eyebrow lightly, teasing her with wordplay.
Ansi looked him straight in the eye and repeated firmly,
“About ‘me.’”
She had no intention of playing along with his word games.
Damion lowered his gaze to meet hers. Her reflection filled his eyes completely.
Her glare was piercingly clear, shimmering with boldness despite the anxiety it held.
It felt as though it might shatter if provoked further.
“I didn’t say anything. Not a word.”
Damion finally yielded first. Since she had initiated the conversation anyway, perhaps it balanced out.
“Thank you.”
“Leave this place, Ansi.”
His voice was gentle—but his tone leaned closer to a command than a suggestion. Ansi’s eyebrow twitched upward, unable to hide her dissatisfaction.
“This isn’t a place where you should have to endure such treatment.”
Ansi clenched her jaw and glared at Damion.
He didn’t understand. He had no idea how much she’d gone through just to get here.
She’d fled alone to the south, only to find nowhere to go. Robbed of her valuables by a porter, she’d endured leering stares like those of hyenas.
The name “Ansi” brought only pity or disdain. She’d crafted the name “Rain” and applied to countless places for work, yet had no skills to offer.
It was the first time she’d ever felt so utterly powerless.
And so, she’d grown numb—even indifferent—to “that kind of treatment.”
But now—
in front of this man—emotions she’d corked tightly burst forth. The shame she’d desperately tried to ignore raised its head.
Only now, through another’s eyes, did she recognize just how disgraceful her situation truly was. And that realization brought not just shame, but a deeper sense of unease.
But even that feeling was unnecessary right now.
Instead, Ansi decided she might as well use even this foul emotion to her advantage. Since Damion de Orphe had shown her the grim reality of her situation, things had actually become easier.
Rather than mocking him for casually suggesting she quit, she asked politely,
“If you truly pity me, might you grant me just one request?”
Damion raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise at her question. The corners of his previously stiff lips curled upward faintly.
“As long as it’s for your own good, as much as I can.”
“Let me work at the Orphe estate.”
“…”
He clearly didn’t like the request. An expression of discomfort crossed Damion’s face.
But for Ansi, this was the best path currently available to her.
To dismantle Orphe, she needed continuous contact with the Orphe family.
Rather than risking uncertainty—sharing a cup of tea with this man today and not knowing when they might meet again—it would be far more advantageous to observe and monitor the Orphes constantly as a servant.
To persuade him, Ansi deliberately spoke calmly.
“I adapt quickly to new tasks, and I’m quite meticulous as well. You could verify this with the other servants at Viscount Jiden’s estate.”
“I don’t need to verify it. I saw enough today to believe it.”
“Then, may I work for House Orphe…?”
“That’s impossible. I know you’re Ansi de Rubelsa.”
“Does that matter?”
“It matters to me.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t I already say? I like you.”
His sudden, confessional words left Ansi speechless.
His gaze was genuinely serious. She’d assumed he was merely teasing—but apparently, he truly did like her.
Ah, that childish, romantic young master of Orphe. What did he think he could accomplish with such useless emotions? Love wouldn’t feed her, nor would it exact revenge for her.
“If Your Grace truly likes me, then can you grant my request?”
“That’s out of the question. But how about this instead?”
Damion gently enveloped Ansi’s left hand in his. Her eyes dropped to his large hand.
His long fingers pressed firmly yet gently against hers—unlike Labo’s rough grip, this tender pressure stirred an odd feeling within her.
“Be in a relationship with me, Ansi.”
His soft voice settled over her words.
Ansi blinked rapidly, taking about three seconds to fully grasp his meaning. She abruptly lifted her head to stare at him.
“You mean as your mistress?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“If that makes you uncomfortable, I’ll rephrase it as ‘lover.’”
Damion tilted his eyebrow, an awkward sigh escaping his reddish lips.
But no matter how elegantly he wrapped it, his proposal was ultimately just that.
Many nobles took lovers—either before or after marriage—for brief amusement. Such people were rarely treated as serious romantic partners, but rather as playthings.
Instead of offering her servant work, he proposed a relationship. Clearly, he intended to cover her living expenses as the price of her affection.
A sickening wave of nausea rose within her. Ansi bit the inside of her lip, swallowing down this bitter feeling.
It was humiliating—but not a bad offer. After all, maintaining this kind of ongoing connection with him might allow her to uncover Orphe’s hidden sins.
“If you prefer to stay out of the public eye, we’d have to meet often here in the south.”
“I doubt it. While Rain Arel might manage it, a relationship with Ansi de Rubelsa would attract attention one way or another.”
“So… you want a public romance, then?”
“I prefer that over secrecy.”
“The name ‘Ansi’ isn’t one I use anymore. It’s already stained with a bad reputation.”
“If you attract attention in a different way, that stain might fade somewhat.”
Damion leaned down slightly to meet her eyes. His calm, whisper-like tone continued.
“This might sound tactless, but the name ‘Orphe’ is quite useful. Rumors of your relationship with Orphe would overwrite people’s current opinions of you and House Rubelsa, shifting public perception significantly.”
“…And what if Orphe suffers damage from that very stain?”
“That won’t happen. Don’t worry.”
He sounded utterly confident.
This man had no inkling that her very goal was to render the Orphe name worthless.
“It wouldn’t be a bad deal for you either. In a month’s time, you could start something—be it a tutorship or a business—under your own name. Not as Rain Arel.”
“What happens after that month?”
“You choose. Whether to part ways with me… or…”
He gave a slight, knowing smile. The corners of his lips rose elegantly, lazily.
“…to marry me.”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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He is so calculating. It will be all the more satisfying when he falls in love for real.
She’s just going to embarrass herself. Someone smarter would wait to confront instead of causing a commotion in front of everyone.
Damion may be conniving and manipulative, but he’s at least protective of Ansi even while she is not around.