Having regained her composure, Hestia stood up from the table.
“I’ll be returning to my room now,” she announced, politely bowing to everyone, ensuring no one could find fault in her actions.
“Saint Hestia, let me escort you to your room,” offered Boswa.
“It’s alright, you needn’t bother,” Hestia declined gracefully. Despite Boswa’s apparent desire to converse further, she firmly refused and left the banquet hall on her own.
Hestia sensed Anetha’s lingering gaze on her back as she walked away, but she neither turned around nor acknowledged it, feeling no need to do so.
Saint Anetha, at first glance, might seem innocent and carefree, almost childlike. However, Hestia knew better. Anetha was more cautious than anyone else.
With Hestia making the first move, Anetha would likely lay low for a while, trying to decipher what Hestia was plotting.
Once back in her room, Hestia closed the door and, feeling her legs give way, slid down against it, sitting on the floor.
“I did it,” she whispered, noticing beads of sweat on her forehead.
Though she had maintained a calm exterior, the tension inside was overwhelming. Now alone, she finally relaxed, her hands trembling slightly. Overwhelmed, she didn’t even think to wipe away her sweat.
Sitting there, she bit her lip, contemplating the next steps.
‘What happens next is crucial.’
Merely changing who first mentioned her impending death altered the entire scenario.
‘I don’t expect much, but at least I want to leave the temple on my own terms, not being cast out.’
This would allow her more freedom in her future actions. If Anetha had made the announcement as in her previous life, Hestia would have lived her days subservient to others’ opinions, like a criminal.
‘I don’t want that.’
Hestia wanted to lead the situation proactively. She stood up, steadying herself, and went to fetch a bag.
‘I need to leave the temple.’
Staying would likely mean falling back into Anetha’s and the temple’s schemes. Ostensibly, Anetha’s and the temple’s interests seemed aligned, as they had previously proposed suitors for Hestia in her former life, supposedly for her benefit.
But Hestia knew better. What others might see as kindness, she saw as manipulation.
‘Last time, fear of death clouded my judgment. I just followed along. But that was a mistake.’
Hestia briefly regretted her past decisions.
Anetha and the temple – if she had to choose, the clergy seemed more trustworthy, but that wasn’t enough to win her trust.
‘If I’m no longer useful, they’ll discard me.’
Hestia understood her worth to the temple.
With the emergence of the powerful ‘new saint’ Anetha, the temple no longer needed Hestia in her saintly role. She had become more of a political pawn.
Therefore, the clergy would want to keep her alive, especially for political maneuvering with the royal family.
‘After all, clergy can’t marry.’
By marrying to prolong her life, Hestia would naturally be excluded from her clerical duties.
Even if Hestia is no longer useful as a saint, turning her into a debtor of the temple’s grace will help clear any debts to the royal family. This would mean Anetha would be the sole saint recorded in this era. Anetha, by saving Hestia’s life, would naturally claim a higher standing than Hestia.
Additionally, this would enable the temple to also take credit for needing Hestia as a tool. Therefore, the high priests would eagerly follow Anetha’s plan if she finds a way to save Hestia.
‘Despite being the concerned party.’
The high priests would most likely focus only on the part where Hestia expressed her wish to step down from sainthood.
‘Thus, they would probably push for marriage.’
But that would just lead to the same events as in her past life. Hestia did not want that this time.
She clasped her head with both hands, took a deep breath, and straightened up again.
Despite sighing, one unresolved question continued to trouble her.
‘No matter how I look at it, Anetha seems… not to be aiming to keep me in check.’
Hestia’s gaze sharpened.
‘If my death solidifies her position, then from Anetha’s perspective, there was no need to find a way to save me.’
Her tapping fingers on the table suddenly stopped.
Her expression grew more thoughtful.
‘Why did Anetha try to find a way to save me?’
Pure kindness?
Or out of pity?
Her instincts screamed that neither was the right answer.
‘No, it’s fundamentally different. Anetha would prefer me dead.’
Though she seems to make an effort to save me, it feels more like she’s ‘buying time’ and ‘waiting for my death.’
Even if she seems to collaborate with the high priests, the course will eventually diverge.
Hestia thought Anetha’s feelings towards her were fundamentally rooted in ‘hatred’ and ‘loathing.’
‘If so, why? Why keep me alive for now?’
Hestia couldn’t understand it.
‘Is it to give me hope and then take it away?’
As absurd as it seemed, this theory resonated with her the most.
Hestia chewed on her lower lip as she wrapped up her thoughts.
Today, she only revealed that she would die in a year.
One thing was clear at this point.
Anetha would soon announce a method to save Hestia, tilting the situation in her favor.
Therefore, Hestia decided she needed to move her illness beyond Anetha’s reach.
‘I’ve already disclosed that it’s terminal. If I say I want to spend the remaining time with my family, nobody can stop me.’
She didn’t have many possessions to begin with.
Being a princess and forced to live modestly as a saint, she had very few belongings or clothes.
Hestia left behind her most lavish dress. She had no intention or desire to wear it again.
“Anetha will… try everything to kill me.”
Despite her usual avoidance, Hestia knew this better than anyone.
Her very existence was a burden to Anetha.
The high priests would certainly try to save Hestia if they heard the prophecy that she could survive through marriage. Even if Hestia loses her divine power, keeping her alive would clear the temple’s debts to the Elsword royal family and solidify the kingdom’s support.
In the past, for political reasons, Hestia’s honor was pushed aside, and an arranged marriage was decided.
‘Just preserving life is meaningless.’
In her previous life, Anetha exploited this loophole. She forced Hestia into a situation where she had to marry, only to make death inevitable in the end.
Hestia sighed, recalling the list of suitors Anetha and the high priests had pushed on her. The most likely candidate was Stefan Chiretto.
‘Anetha had even blessed him. But Stefan is not an option.’
He ultimately rejected and betrayed her. Therefore, she must find a more suitable partner before Stefan proposes.
Since she’s going to die in a year, there’s no need to include divorce in the agreement.
‘Under no circumstances will I take a vow. Never.’
She spent nearly half her life beholden to the temple. The idea of being dependent on someone else for her remaining life was dreadful.
‘I need to find someone who can be a shield.’
Her conditions were simple.
Firstly, someone who wouldn’t love her.
‘I don’t want to weigh down someone’s heart. I need someone who won’t cry after I die.’
Secondly, someone who wouldn’t betray her.
Though simple, fitting candidates were scarce.
‘But not non-existent.’
As she inhaled, a name came to her mind.
“…Aslan Kalati.”
With the name, a strong man’s image dissipated into the air. Just thinking of him made Hestia feel a tightening around her heart. She pressed her hands against her left chest.
〈Did I still appear to you as a foolish dog, wagging its tail at any princess?〉
A memory from a past she could never return to.
A time of brilliance stained with despair… Our end.
His harsh words from that time still echoed in her ears.
Male lead Asks for a Divorce Every Day
It’s not often you come across a plot like this in the female-dominant genre — make sure to check it out!
This is a novel I’m planning to reread as well.
The male lead is strong, skilled in martial arts, and not the usual fragile type you often see in matriarchal novels.
Meanwhile, the female lead is a scientist—rational and logical. Even when she falls for the male lead, she doesn’t let her emotions cloud her decisions.
If you push through the first few chapters, you’ll gradually find the story really intriguing.
It has a mix of mystery, detective elements, and romance.
The author’s writing style is like crafting a puzzle—except they deliberately leave out a few pieces, making it hard to predict what happens next, yet keeping you hooked.
In the end, everything will come together and be explained.
One-sentence summary: Wife, stop playing with beakers and look at me!
In a laboratory accident, research scientist Zhu Wansheng accidentally travels to a matriarchal world. The original owner of the body is an eighteen-year-old only daughter of a wealthy rouge merchant, already married with a handsome young man.
Zhu Wansheng grins: Nice! She always said she was heaven’s favorite granddaughter. After a life of toil in her previous life, she can enjoy blessings in this one.
However, her joy lasts no more than three seconds as bad news arrives: the original owner’s family is about to go bankrupt, and her husband wants a divorce.
Even worse, she’s stuck with a research system full of restrictions.
Zhu Wansheng: ? Is this the destiny of a research dog?
——
Faced with this mess, Zhu Wansheng pours herself a bowl of wine to drown her sorrows. In her drunken haze, her husband arrives.
His figure is imposing, holding a long sword, with a dignified air that captivates Zhu Wansheng.
Gu Yingqing, however, looks at the alcohol-reeking Zhu Wansheng with undisguised disgust and coldly asks, “Divorce or not?” The intoxicated Zhu Wansheng mumbles vaguely, “I think… it’s not… it’s not… impossible!”
——
The next day, after sobering up, Zhu Wansheng is full of energy, rolling up her sleeves ready to make a big move. As for yesterday? She has no memory of it.
Zhu Wansheng is ambitious; a research dog fears nothing!
Upgrading rouge, extracting fragrances, producing perfumes, researching lipsticks… all shall bow to the power of modern technology!
The original owner’s dying rouge shop is revitalized. Her mother is pleased and with a wave of her hand, passes on the family business to her. As she takes control and her experimental results gain popularity, it’s the pinnacle of her life…
——
But there are always those who can’t stand to see her doing well. Jealousy, scheming, assassination attempts – they want nothing less than her life.
The person who has always kept his distance from her suddenly holds her tightly in his arms, eyes full of concern.
She is unharmed, but he falls into a pool of blood…
Zhu Wansheng feels guilty, “I can grant you one wish.”
Gu Yingqing tentatively circles his arms around her, carefully resting his head in the crook of her neck, pleading softly, “I regret it. Can we not divorce?”
Zhu Wansheng: ? When did I agree to a divorce?
[Small Theater]
The newly developed rouge is beautifully packaged, and Zhu Wansheng is eager to try it.
Gu Yingqing suddenly appears: “My lady, may I apply it for you?”
Cool fingertips lightly brush her lips. His Adam’s apple bobs as he leans in for a light bite.
Zhu Wansheng: ?
Gu Yingqing: It smells so good, I wanted to taste it…
On a warm spring day, Zhu Wansheng tries a new perfume: “Spring Night.” Gu Yingqing corners her against a wall.
Warm breath lingers on her neck.
“My lady, from now on, may I test the fragrances for you?”
[Humorous female scientist vs scheming live-in son-in-law male lead]
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
