To You, Whom I Shouldn't Love (24 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 15
“Bianca!”
Countess Daik shouted fiercely. Bianca, who had been gently linking arms with her, startled and stepped back.
“Why are you suddenly yelling like that?”
“Why are you being so willful and selfish today of all days? Did I raise you like this?”
“Why are you blowing things so out of proportion…?”
“There’s nothing more to discuss. Go to your room and get some sleep. Don’t irritate me further.”
Bianca pouted discontentedly but, instead of arguing, went upstairs.
Countess Daik let out a deep sigh and returned to her room to compose herself for a moment.
She repeated to herself several times, as if trying to convince herself it would be fine, yet her pounding heart showed no sign of calming.
About thirty minutes later, the head maid cautiously entered.
“My lady.”
“What is it?”
“Lord Belliar has requested to see you, saying it’s fine now. I asked if meeting tomorrow morning might be better since it’s already so late, but he insisted quite firmly that it must be now…”
“Where is Lord Belliar?”
“I’ve shown him to the drawing room.”
“Very well. Prepare some tea, and make sure not even an ant gets near the drawing room. I’ll serve the tea myself—once you’ve brought it in, you may return to your quarters. Understood?”
The head maid looked puzzled but obediently bowed her head.
“Understood.”
Countess Daik watched the head maid leave, took another deep breath, and stepped out of the room.
[This is the timeline separator]Countess Daik observed Johannes Belliar, seated across from her, silently sipping his tea. He looked just as elegant as ever—the very image people described as angelic.
Yet the countess knew well how dark his true intentions were.
It had been Johannes himself who first approached her with that absurd proposal.
“I’ve heard your relationship with Count Daik hasn’t been the same lately.”
Several months ago, he’d said those words with a spotlessly kind expression.
Though the countess had secretly been waiting for a chance to meet Johannes, she was utterly flustered by this unexpected topic.
“Lord Belliar… exactly why did you summon me?”
“Didn’t I just ask? Whether things between you and Count Daik are no longer as they once were.”
She didn’t know how he’d found out, but it was true—over the past half-year, relations between Count and Countess Daik had deteriorated.
The count had continually reproached his wife for her extravagance, and the countess had retaliated, claiming, “I only spend so much because you neglect our home.”
Their conflict exploded uncontrollably when the count discovered his wife had secretly amassed a massive debt.
He told her the debt was hers alone to settle, adding that since she incurred it without his knowledge, he bore no obligation to repay it.
In truth, Count Daik had taken this hard stance to correct his wife’s wasteful habits. Had she shown remorse and tried to change, he intended to repay the debt in the family’s name.
But instead of reflection, she grew even more defiant, continuing her extravagance—which truly exhausted him.
The countess bitterly resented that she couldn’t freely access the family’s fortune. She believed her son Aaron Daik, once he became count, would never face financial hardship.
Yet this was purely a domestic matter—indeed, a marital one—and Countess Daik retained enough sense of honor not to discuss it with outsiders.
“I don’t know why Lord Belliar is asking about private marital affairs, but no—my husband and I are still very much in good terms.”
“Really now? That’s not what I’ve heard.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I hear you secretly incurred a substantial debt behind the count’s back?”
“…!”
“And from what I understand, this has caused quite a deep rift between you and the count…”
“How on earth could you possibly know that…?”
Johannes gave her a gentle, benevolent smile.
“How I know isn’t important right now. What truly matters is why I’ve come to you with this conversation.”
“…”
“I want to help you.”
“…Help me how?”
“I’ll settle your debts and ensure you gain control over the Daik household’s finances.”
“…!”
The countess was conflicted. She had no meaningful relationship with Johannes Belliar—they’d merely exchanged polite greetings a few times at capital society parties. They’d never spoken privately, nor danced together.
The same went for her daughter Bianca.
There was absolutely no connection between the Belliar marquisate and their own family.
So why was Johannes suddenly appearing out of nowhere with such an offer?
Even if he sought closer ties with House Daik, it brought House Belliar no tangible benefit whatsoever.
‘Could it be…?’
One possibility came to mind. What else would a marriageable man be interested in? Especially since he currently had neither a fiancée nor any known romantic attachments.
Might Johannes perhaps be interested in her daughter Bianca?
It was entirely plausible—Bianca was, objectively speaking, a beauty who captivated countless suitors.
‘If that’s the case, this would be an incredible catch.’
Johannes was the heir to House Belliar and publicly renowned as a refined gentleman. Even at this very moment, marriage proposals likely flooded into the marquisate daily.
The countess asked, her voice tinged with excitement.
“Your offer is deeply appreciated. But may I ask why you’re making it? As you know, there’s no significant connection between the Belliars and the Daiks.”
She pressed Johannes, who merely offered a meaningful smile.
“Could it be… you have an interest in my daughter…?”
“Yes.”
When Johannes readily confirmed it, the countess nearly cried out in delight—only for her mood to plummet instantly at his next words.
“I’m rather interested in Lady Riena Daik.”
“…Riena?”
“Yes. Is that a problem? Isn’t Lady Riena also your child?”
“W-well, yes. Riena is indeed a daughter I cherish deeply, but…”
Seeing how clearly disappointed the countess was, Johannes gave a faint, amused chuckle.
“So—will you accept my proposal?”
The countess, now sobered from her earlier exhilaration, coldly pinpointed a flaw she’d previously overlooked.
“Before that, I’d like to ask one more thing. What do you expect in return for repaying my debts? And how exactly do you plan to help me seize control of the Daik finances?”
“If I tell you the answer, will you be prepared to handle the consequences?”
“…Excuse me?”
“From the moment you hear that answer, you’ll be in the same boat as me.”
Johannes smirked, lazily crossing his legs.
It felt ominous. She couldn’t predict what Johannes might demand—but it seemed beyond her capacity to bear.
Yet turning back now also frightened her. Just recently, her creditor had sent urgent demands—and even threatened her beloved children.
With her own life now at risk from creditors, perhaps allying with Johannes was the safer choice after all.
“Then promise me just this one thing—my children and I will be safe. Guarantee the lives of the three of us.”
“So, Count Daik and Lady Riena aren’t included among your family, I take it?”
“…”
“Very well. We’ll do it as you ask.”
“Then tell me.”
Johannes laughed aloud again, clearly amused by the countess’s resolute expression.
His laughter was as crisp and refreshing as a summer stream—utterly mismatched to the gravity of the moment.
“I’ll ensure your son Aaron Daik inherits the countship—within three months.”
“But my husband is perfectly alive! How could that possibly…?”
Johannes merely smiled, offering no reply to her question. The countess felt a chill race down her spine.
“You can’t possibly mean…!”
“Hush. There are too many listening ears.”
“But how could you even…!”
“I didn’t expect you’d refuse.”
“…”
The countess wavered.
Their marriage had never been based on love. Count Daik needed a wife to care for his young daughter Riena, who’d lost her mother early. The countess, widowed and homeless, needed a place to live with her daughter.
The count, who’d deeply loved his late wife, never gave his new wife affection—though he always treated her with proper courtesy as a husband.
The countess felt the same. Once, she’d felt love for this man who treated her kindly—unlike her late husband—but his emotional fortress had long since extinguished even her lingering attachment.
Now, all that remained in her heart was hatred toward him.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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No shit Sherlock! 🤔🙄🤦🏻♀️ I don’t like stupid people really …My hand starts to get itchy 😡
I think sometimes she can be reeeeeaaally dumb 🤔😒🤦🏻♀️