To You, Whom I Shouldn't Love (24 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 2
“What on earth do you mean by that?”
Bianca, who had been sitting beside the countess and finally spoke up in her stead—since the countess could offer no retort—asked.
Bianca had come to the Daik household at the age of eight when Riena’s stepmother remarried Count Daik. She was the same age as Riena. Yet, over the past twelve years, Riena had never once exchanged an intimate conversation with her.
They were family, yet more distant than strangers—that phrase perfectly described Riena and Bianca’s relationship.
“Well, I thought I was being perfectly clear to avoid any misunderstanding.”
“So you’re saying Mother didn’t love the count?”
“I never said that. I merely said it didn’t seem like there was deep affection.”
“Isn’t that exactly what you’re saying? And Mother loved the count dearly! You saw her yourself—she sobbed until she nearly fainted on the day he passed away!”
Hmm. Was that display of grief truly sincere?
Though Bianca insisted the countess had loved Count Daik, everyone in the household knew the truth—it simply wasn’t so.
And Bianca herself undoubtedly knew that as well.
Their marriage had been purely one of mutual interest, and after Aaron’s birth, even that superficial cordiality had grown cold and distant.
‘Besides, was it really sobbing? Didn’t she just shed a few tears and leave it at that?’
Instead of firing back sharply, Riena offered an apology.
“Was it really like that? I’m sorry—I must have misunderstood. Please forgive me; I’ve clearly misinterpreted Mother’s intentions. As Viscount Rotman suggested, she must have changed her mourning attire quickly only to lighten the atmosphere in the mansion, right?”
Riena smiled sweetly at the countess. Though her sarcasm was unmistakable, her words were, at least outwardly, an apology.
If it were just family present, perhaps things would be different—but losing her temper in front of Viscount Rotman would only damage her dignity. The countess gritted her teeth and managed a reply.
“Yes, I’m truly grateful you finally understand my intentions.”
“No, Mother—it’s I who should be grateful. Thank you for always enlightening this foolish daughter of yours.”
Still smiling, Riena placed a napkin on the table to block Viscount Rotman’s hand, which had been creeping toward her thigh, then rose gracefully from her seat.
“If you’ll excuse me, may I leave the table early? I cried a bit earlier thinking of Father, and now I feel dizzy.”
“Oh! Then allow me to escort you…”
Riena raised her hand to stop Viscount Rotman as he stood to follow her.
“No, I’d prefer to go alone—I wouldn’t want you to see me at my worst. Is that alright?”
“Ah… well… of course.”
Viscount Rotman clicked his tongue in disappointment.
“If that is the young lady’s wish, I certainly cannot insist further. But might I request a stroll with you once you’re feeling better?”
“Yes, of course.”
As long as Viscount Rotman continued loitering around the mansion, she would never feel better—and thus would never have to take a walk with that repulsive man.
Unaware of Riena’s thoughts, Viscount Rotman immediately placed his left hand behind his back and gave a slight bow upon hearing her reply.
Riena had to carefully compose her expression to avoid grimacing at the sight of his outstretched right hand.
After a brief hesitation, she reluctantly placed her right hand atop his—and soon felt his lips press against her knuckles.
Unlike the dream man’s kiss, which had been tender and wistful, Viscount Rotman’s kiss, though proper by noble etiquette, filled her with nothing but disgust.
She disliked his lingering, greedy gaze and the way he deliberately pressed his lips firmly against her skin.
She simply couldn’t understand it. When the man in her dream had kissed her hand so freely, she’d only felt a pang of longing—but why did Viscount Rotman’s gesture feel so utterly repulsive?
The answer likely lay in their differing attitudes. The man in her dream had radiated respect and care, whereas Viscount Rotman saw her as nothing more than his property.
‘And no wonder.’
Viscountess Rotman had died in a carriage accident last spring. The wheel had suddenly come loose, sending the carriage tumbling off a cliff; the viscountess inside had broken her neck and died instantly.
Yet rumors swirled throughout society that Viscount Rotman had deliberately caused the accident to kill her.
It was said that after their marriage, he had subjected his wife to daily violence—and when she finally demanded a divorce, he lost control and murdered her.
There was no way to prove whether the rumors were true—perhaps only Viscount Rotman himself knew. But one thing was certain: just as the rumors claimed, he viewed women not as human beings, but as mere possessions.
If he truly regarded Riena as a person, he never would have looked at her body with that lecherous stare.
Riena forcibly withdrew her hand from his grip—though he tried to hold on—and suppressed the urge to rush and wash her hand immediately, managing only a strained smile.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll take my leave.”
Returning to her room with swift yet graceful steps, the first place she headed was the bathroom.
All the way down the corridor, she’d felt as though insects were crawling on her skin, and she’d nearly screamed in revulsion.
Only after scrubbing her hand raw with soap—again and again—did she finally step out of the bathroom. There, she found her personal maid, Joanna, standing with a troubled expression.
“What’s…”
Before Riena could even finish asking what was wrong, she understood. Countess Daik stood in the center of the room, her face flushed with fury.
Riena sighed deeply and approached her.
“What’s wrong?”
“What’s wrong? Are you really asking me that?”
“If I knew, I wouldn’t be asking, would I?”
“This is unbelievable!”
The countess raised her right hand. Sensing what was about to happen, Riena didn’t close her eyes—but instead stared her down defiantly.
But unlike usual, the countess quietly lowered her hand. With Viscount Rotman in the mansion, she couldn’t afford to leave a mark on Riena’s face.
Still seething with unresolved anger, she instead slapped Joanna, who stood behind Riena.
“Mother!”
Riena caught the staggering Joanna in her arms and cried out sharply.
“Don’t you dare call me ‘Mother’! If you truly saw me as your mother, you’d never have treated me this way today!”
The countess’s face burned crimson as she vented the anger she’d been suppressing all evening.
Yet Riena found her reaction absurd. It wasn’t the countess who should be angry—it was Riena herself.
Had the countess truly regarded Riena as her daughter, she never would have arranged such a marriage, treating her like a commodity to be sold off.
Hadn’t Bianca, her actual daughter, openly mocked her before dinner, saying, “Your fiancé is here—why not at least smile a little? Well, I suppose I understand, though.”
Despite all this, Riena had held back her fury—only because, legally, the countess was still her mother for now. But how could she say such a thing!
Unaware of Riena’s simmering rage, Countess Daik declared firmly,
“You’re forbidden from leaving the house until your wedding day. And furthermore, you will be confined to your room for the next week.”
“Mother!”
“Don’t you dare call me ‘Mother’ again!”
Furious, the countess stormed out of the room. Too exhausted to chase after her, Riena turned to examine Joanna’s face. Her left cheek was already swollen bright red.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
Joanna forced a smile as she answered, and Riena’s eyes stung with tears. Joanna was Riena’s only personal maid—the one person in this entire mansion she trusted and cared for deeply.
The thought that Joanna had taken that slap for her made Riena’s heart feel as though it were being torn apart.
“Go to the kitchen and ask for ice—apply a cold compress right away. If you leave it like that, it’ll swell even more by tomorrow.”
“It’s alright—I shouldn’t be using such expensive ice.”
It was deep autumn now. Though demand for ice was lower than in summer, it was still the most expensive time to buy it—just before winter arrived.
“Don’t worry. Tell them I asked for it—bring back a whole block.”
“Miss…”
Faced with Riena’s firm resolve, Joanna couldn’t protest any further. With tears of gratitude in her eyes, she headed toward the kitchen.
Watching Joanna leave, Riena curled up on her bed and carefully reflected on everything that had happened over the past two months. She couldn’t fathom how things had gone so terribly wrong.
Two months ago, after her father, Count Daik, had died suddenly in a riding accident, the atmosphere in the mansion had changed completely.
Everyone who had once been loyal to her father had now turned to Countess Daik instead. Witnessing this, Riena had learned a bitter truth: a knight’s oath truly meant nothing at all.
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.]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Chapter Comments (2)
Inline Comments (6)
It was a command.
I kinda like this bossy Cassel huh 😌😌🤔🤔🤔 even his shy side
“Taking a walk in the rain at this hour of night? Do you have any idea what kind
Fuck that pedophile freak!!! 😡😡😒😒 I hope the step mother suffers 😡
“Why should I care about that, Joanna?”
Nah this is foul. Joanna’s a commoner this is the only way for her to survive. I don’t blame her. Pretty classist sentiment this is.
YOUR COMMENT
2. Inline comments are now available. Tap the end of any line in a chapter to share your thoughts instantly.
Log in to comment.
I still don’t get how the countess has this much power when she’s not even blood related. Like I get she’s the elder but then when riena turns of age shouldn’t she be the proxy head or smth?? Idk I feel like that’s more plausible.
Wat happened to the other guy—raol or smth??? Wasn’t as going to go to him first?