To You, Whom I Shouldn't Love (24 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 16
In the early days of their marriage, Countess Daik had doted on Riena as if she were her own daughter, but at some point, she began mistreating her—and all because of that very reason.
What did it matter if her husband, whom she no longer loved and who had become nothing but an obstacle to her future, died?
〈Very well. And then what?〉
〈Naturally, you must help me propose to Lady Riena.〉
According to Johannes, this was how it stood.
He had already shown interest in Riena and once sent a marriage proposal, but Count Daik had flatly rejected it without hesitation.
Still, Johannes couldn’t give her up—and that was why he had ultimately come to see the Countess.
〈Not long ago, Viscountess Rotman died in an accident, and the Viscount is now seeking a new wife. Should Count Daik meet with misfortune and Aaron Daik succeed to the title, you must put forward a marriage proposal between Lady Riena Daik and Viscount Rotman.〉
〈What? But…〉
〈Leave the rest to me.〉
〈Yes.〉
Their conversation that day nearly ended amid lingering doubts, but just before leaving the room, the Countess cautiously asked Johannes,
〈Must… must it really be Riena?〉
Seeing Johannes raise one eyebrow as if to ask what she meant, the Countess continued,
〈I have another daughter besides Riena—Bianca. She’s just as beautiful as Riena, if not more so.〉
Encouraged by Johannes slightly leaning forward with apparent interest, she pressed on.
〈I say this not just because she’s my daughter, but Bianca truly is stunning. Unlike Riena, who acts so haughty, Bianca is sociable and knows how to handle men well. My lord, you must not know this, but Riena is actually quite unruly despite her looks.〉
〈Hmm?〉
〈She’s always galloping off on horseback, mingling with commoners, and constantly avoiding parties. I worry whether she’ll ever be fit to manage a marquisate’s household affairs.〉
Johannes nodded slightly, urging her to go on.
〈In contrast, I’ve educated Bianca well since she was young—she has wide connections and the ability to take charge of household matters.〉
〈…〉
〈I believe she would be far more beneficial to you and House Belliar than Riena ever could be.〉
Until then, Johannes had been seated, but now he rose slowly and approached her. Up close, his build turned out to be far larger and more imposing than his delicate face had suggested.
Johannes pressed close against the Countess’s back and grasped the doorknob.
〈I alone decide who my wife is—and what use my wife serves. Your words are most unpleasant, considering our discussion is already concluded.〉
〈…〉
〈From now on, answer only the questions I ask you. That would be best for you, too.〉
The moment he opened the door, the Countess practically fled the room.
A month later, Count Daik died in a riding accident while inspecting the village. Though no one found anything suspicious, the Countess knew it was Johannes’s doing.
After Count Daik’s funeral, an anonymous letter arrived for the Countess. In elegant handwriting, it bore only a brief sentence: “Fulfill your promise.”
The Countess immediately moved forward with the marriage proposal between Riena and Viscount Rotman. Just as she began to wonder anxiously whether this was truly the right course, Johannes Belliar arrived at the Daik estate.
Only then did the Countess realize Johannes intended to play the part of the prince rescuing a princess in peril.
Anyone would choose Johannes over Viscount Rotman—and by his plan, Riena would surely have reluctantly accepted Johannes.
But then Cassel Winkler suddenly appeared and proposed—and though it was understandable that Riena accepted his proposal, why had Johannes let them go so easily?
“Why on earth did you let Riena go like that?”
“What do you mean?”
“I did everything you asked of me! I pushed forward the marriage between Viscount Rotman and Riena. And you said you’d handle everything afterward, didn’t you?”
“Hush.”
Johannes set down his teacup and pressed his index finger to his lips.
“There are many ears even here. No matter that this is Daik Mansion, you can’t trust everyone. Are you certain you want to raise your voice? I don’t mind, of course—but I worry for your reputation.”
He pretended to care about Countess Daik, but in truth, it was a threat to shut her mouth. Knowing Johannes’s mannerisms well by now, the Countess had much to say—but for the moment, she stayed silent.
Johannes smiled gently, eyes softening as if pleased.
“You truly did everything I asked of you?”
“…Yes?”
“Then how dare you look me straight in the eye and claim you did well, when you knew Riena was trying to run away? You should be groveling at my feet begging for forgiveness!”
The atmosphere around Johannes, calm until now, shifted instantly. His presence, which had seemed too delicate to even wield a sword, now sharpened like that of a knight.
“And what’s more—Duke Winkler? While Count Daik was sending letters to the Duke, what were you doing? If only you’d intercepted that letter—or even told me about it—none of this would have happened!”
“I…”
“After ruining everything, how dare you answer back so boldly as if you’ve done well?”
An unrestrained killing intent poured toward Countess Daik. Her skin prickled, and she felt as though an invisible hand were tightening around her throat.
She scratched her neck lightly with trembling fingertips, making small, choked sounds.
She couldn’t utter an apology or beg for her life. All she could do was scramble desperately across the floor and throw herself flat at Johannes’s feet.
“G-G-Guh… I’m sorry… H-haah… Please… spare me…”
Johannes looked down at her with an expressionless face, then slowly withdrew his killing intent.
Though the oppressive pressure vanished instantly, the Countess couldn’t bring herself to rise. She remained prostrate, gasping for breath.
Tears she hadn’t noticed had wet her cheeks. Even without a mirror, she could feel her makeup was ruined beyond repair.
Then Johannes stepped forward and firmly pressed the toe of his boot against the back of her head. It didn’t hurt—but the Countess felt an indescribable humiliation.
She had never groveled so abjectly before anyone in her life, let alone begged for her life from a man young enough to be her son.
To suffer such disgrace…
But worse still was that she couldn’t protest against Johannes in the slightest. If she said anything, she was certain he would kill her outright.
And beyond herself, her beloved Bianca and Aaron might meet cruel deaths as well—
just as her late husband, Count Daik, had.
“Listen carefully. The only reason I’m sparing you and your children is because you’re still useful to me. If you fail to carry out my orders properly from now on, all three of you will join the late Count. Understood?”
Desperate to live, the Countess nodded frantically. Only after she’d moved her head until it ached did Johannes seem satisfied and finally lift his foot.
“If you understand, get up and sit properly.”
Arms crossed, he watched as the Countess hurriedly rose and straightened her posture to sit upright.
He then spoke again, this time using polite speech.
“Letting Riena go with Duke Winkler was an unavoidable choice. In that situation, I couldn’t have kept Riena by opposing the Duke.”
“Then are we simply to watch as Riena marries Duke Winkler?”
The Countess struggled to suppress the jealousy boiling within her.
It had infuriated her enough when Johannes ignored Bianca and wanted only Riena—but now even Duke Winkler desired her!
Just what kind of fortune did that Riena possess?!
Johannes’s green eyes, fixed silently on the Countess, suddenly gleamed with killing intent.
“Of course not.”
He murmured, sounding almost delighted.
“Since childhood, there’s never been anything I wanted that I failed to obtain. And among them, Riena is the one thing I’ve desired most desperately since birth. Do you think I’d ever give her up?”
“Then…?”
“No matter what it takes, I will bring Riena back to my side.”
A blinding flash of lightning lit the sky outside. Johannes’s face, previously hidden in shadow, was briefly illuminated before vanishing again into darkness.
The Countess stiffened as she recalled the fleeting glimpse of raw desire on Johannes’s face.
“Yes—no matter what it takes.”
Johannes’s low whisper was drowned out by the ominous rumble of thunder.
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
No shit Sherlock! 🤔🙄🤦🏻♀️ I don’t like stupid people really …My hand starts to get itchy 😡
I think sometimes she can be reeeeeaaally dumb 🤔😒🤦🏻♀️