Wishing My Husband Dead (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 12
“Master, can I look at this?”
“Sure.”
Leonard nodded indifferently. Cordelia carefully read through the report.
Surprisingly, it contained detailed evidence of corruption by nobles affiliated with Abrams, including Helena.
“Is all of this true?”
“If Baron hasn’t gone senile, then it’s true.”
“I thought you made it up just to get rid of the Duchess.”
Because Helena’s rumored lovers, supposedly imprisoned in the dungeon that day, were nowhere to be found in the estate.
Later, when Helena found out, she flew into a rage, insisting Leonard had fabricated everything to frame her—but by then it was far too late.
“She admitted herself she had lovers, so it’s a done deal.”
“Then is it also true that she’s been illegally selling tax collection rights to merchants, as written here?”
“That’s just the major cases compiled together; it was quite a sight to behold.”
The report even specified exactly how much bribe money Helena had pocketed by selling those tax rights to merchants.
“If I show this to her, I could probably squeeze out a huge settlement.”
Cordelia smiled wryly and placed the report back on the desk. Leonard glanced at her and said dismissively,
“Take it if you want.”
“What? This? Really? Can I really take it?”
Her eyes sparkled as she asked again. Leonard waved his hand irritably.
“Go ahead and blackmail her for a fat settlement for all I care—just stop drinking wine through your head from now on.”
“Huh? What does that even mean?”
“You’re already not the sharpest tool in the shed; if wine seeps into your brain, you’ll be completely useless.”
Leonard scoffed. Just as Cordelia was about to retort, Baron suddenly appeared—as if he’d been there all along—and clicked his tongue.
“Oh dear, Master. Why not just say you’re worried about her?”
“Worried? Hardly. I’m just ashamed to admit she’s my apprentice.”
Leonard tapped the armrest of his chair habitually as he spoke.
“Other kids start studying at the Mage Guild from the age of five. To catch up with them, you’ll need to work twice as hard as this.”
“What? How am I supposed to catch up with them? I just wanted to modestly learn a few…”
Her humble dream had always been to pick up a handful of support spells and become a modest magic appraiser, just enough to get by.
But the moment the words “support magic” left her lips, Leonard scowled deeply.
“What? Support magic? Are you seriously planning to become some measly appraiser?”
“Yes. What’s wrong with being a magic appraiser?”
“That’s utter nonsense. Absolutely not happening.”
“Why not…?”
Her carefully laid life plan had just been summarily dismissed. Cordelia meekly protested, but as always, Leonard ignored her completely.
“You’re my first apprentice. At the very least, you should be able to run a Star by twenty-five.”
“Master, only five mages in history have ever managed to operate a Star by twenty-five. And Cordelia is already twenty.”
“Five years is more than enough.”
Cordelia was no longer startled by Baron’s sudden appearances—from cups or washbasins or wherever else he popped up. She blinked and asked him,
“Didn’t I ask this before? What does ‘running a Star’ even mean?”
“It means establishing your own school of magic under your name, which requires profound mastery of magical theory.”
“…Huh? Establish a school? At twenty-five? But I just wanted to learn support magic…”
“Baron, why are you so pessimistic even before we’ve started?”
“The biggest problem is that we haven’t even started! Others spend their whole lives wondering if they’ll ever achieve it—how could anyone possibly do it in just five years?”
“Hmph. My apprentice should easily manage it. If you sleep only three hours a day and read five papers daily, you’ll get there in no time.”
A horrifying phrase slipped out during their conversation.
“Wait, Master? People die if they only sleep three hours a day. I don’t need to run any Star—I’ll just stick with simple support…”
“Three hours? That’s absurd. Even one hour would be insufficient.”
“Then sleep one hour. Stop worrying about useless things. My apprentice should take that for granted.”
In an instant, Cordelia’s precious sleep time had been slashed by seven hours. She screamed silently inside.
Just then, Baron abruptly vanished. Simultaneously, a maid’s voice sounded from outside the door.
“Viscount Dylan has arrived.”
Before Leonard could even grant permission, Arnold Dylan strode right in.
The moment he saw Leonard, he broke into an exaggerated, beaming smile.
“Oh, Craig! How have you been?”
“Who?”
“It’s me—your uncle. Ah, I see your memory still isn’t fully restored.”
A gleam appeared in Arnold’s eyes; his intentions were all too clear.
Cordelia offered a light bow in greeting, but as usual, Arnold didn’t spare her a glance.
“You came to check how much of my memory has returned, didn’t you?”
“Ha! Of course not. I came to see my nephew after so long—and maybe have a little chat while I’m at it.”
“Then why didn’t you greet her?”
“Greet? I already did when I saw her.”
“A Viscount should greet a Countess first—it’s basic courtesy, isn’t it?”
“…”
Arnold’s face instantly turned beet red. But he quickly composed himself and smiled politely at Cordelia.
“Right. Cordelia. Ha ha. Long time no see.”
“Yes.”
It was the first time she’d heard him greet her in the whole year she’d lived in this house. Cordelia accepted the greeting with extreme awkwardness.
It was laughable how he’d ignored her completely until Leonard said just one word—then instantly changed his attitude.
Arnold lowered his voice and leaned toward Leonard.
“More importantly, Craig, I have something serious to discuss.”
“Since you’ve clearly already decided to talk to me anyway, go ahead.”
“Ha… ha. Your tone’s changed a bit, you know. But remember—I’m your uncle. Craig.”
“Doubtful. I’ve never heard of an uncle who never even visited his comatose nephew for five months.”
“That’s… I’ve just been very busy. You wouldn’t know, lying in bed all that time—but Abrams can’t function a single day without me. Do you have any idea how swamped I’ve been these past five months?”
Arnold puffed himself up and went on with a long-winded explanation. Leonard, looking thoroughly annoyed, cut him off.
“So what exactly do you want to say?”
“Ahem. The point is, you can’t do anything alone. Don’t you realize how many oppose your succession? You’re about to lose your title to Jared Abrams if you’re not careful!”
“Hm.”
“Russell, Vincent, Menias—they’ve all sided with Jared already. Such presumptuous fools.”
Arnold spoke passionately, veins bulging in his neck. Leonard, however, grew visibly bored.
“I’ll handle it myself—no need for you to worry.”
“Craig! How can you say something so unfeeling? Why wouldn’t we care? We’re your family! No one wants you to become Count more than we do.”
“Family? Who?”
“Me and Helena, of course! Speaking of which, I heard about Helena. Truly shameful—but she’s your mother. Focusing on such trivial matters now will make you miss the bigger picture.”
“So siphoning off family funds is trivial to you, then?”
“Oh, after checking into it myself, it seems there was a misunderstanding. I swear nothing like that ever happened. Someone must have fed you false information.”
Arnold stated this shamelessly.
Though Leonard already held abundant proof of Arnold’s embezzlement, he made no move to pull out the ledgers.
“Tell me—Viscount Dylan, was it?”
“What kind of rude tone is that? Craig, I’m your un—!”
“If you don’t even share a drop of blood, don’t pretend to be family—it’s disgusting.”
The air froze instantly.
Or perhaps only Cordelia felt that way. She stiffened, glancing nervously between Leonard and Arnold.
Arnold’s face flushed crimson, his mouth opening and closing as if ready to yell, his clenched fists trembling.
Leonard, of course, remained utterly indifferent.
“If you’ve said everything you needed to, leave. I won’t be needing your help.”
“You’ll regret this.”
“Yeah, fine. Now go.”
Leonard waved his hand as if shooing away a bothersome fly.
Arnold ground his teeth, then stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Cordelia watched his retreating back and stammered unconsciously,
“W-will we be okay? What if Viscount Dylan joins the opposition?”
“Let him. Do you really think I can’t hold onto a measly Count title in this backwater village?”
“Well… I suppose not.”
Of course, Leonard could surely handle Arnold—but it still left an uneasy feeling, like a seed of anxiety had been planted.
[This is the timeline separator]“Insolent little bastard!”
The moment Arnold entered his room, he grabbed everything within reach and hurled it across the room. A vase flew and shattered with a sharp crash.
Still unsatisfied, he only stopped when the room was in complete disarray, breathing heavily.
“Arnold! Good heavens, what on earth happened?”
“What happened? Do you even know what that brat just said to me?”
Helena had opened the door and gasped at the chaotic scene. Arnold grumbled resentfully as he recounted every word Craig had said.
Helena, listening quietly, interrupted midway.
“So Craig told you to greet Cordelia?”
“Yes! Honestly—now I have to bow even to some woman he bought with money.”
“Something’s off. This is strange.”
Helena rubbed her chin, muttering to herself. Still fuming, Arnold kicked an innocent sofa.
“It’s not just strange—it’s clear his mind’s completely broken.”
“No. I don’t think Craig came up with this alone.”
“If not alone, then who?”
“It’s definitely that woman pulling strings behind the scenes.”
“Who—you mean that Vasquez girl?”
“Yes. Doesn’t it strike you as odd too? How Craig changed overnight?”
Now that she thought about it, Craig’s personality had completely transformed from what it used to be.
He’d distanced himself entirely from his former lovers and kept only Cordelia close by his side.
Male lead fell into her trap — and shattered when she walked away
This is also on my reread list!
This one is a slow burn, but when it burns, it burns hard.
Definitely worth a read, y’all!
The story follows a thousand-year-old seductive spirit who, on a bet, sets out to charm the male lead—a once-promising but unfortunate cultivator.
But just when she succeeds in making him fall for her, she heartlessly leaves, driving him to madness.
Determined to find her at all costs, he captures her, keeping her by his side no matter what, even if she hates him.
I love this kind of trope—I enjoy watching the male lead suffer in agony.
The ending drags a bit with unnecessary filler, but that’s fine.
As long as I enjoy the beginning, I’m good.
Intro
As an enchantress, Su Heng possesses captivating eyes and charming beauty, easily manipulating the joys and sorrows of living beings at her fingertips.
But to enchant a god, making him taste the bitterness of love’s separation, long-lasting resentment, unattainable desires, and inability to let go…
Do you dare?
Su Heng assists a divine lord in his cultivation, aiming to make him experience all the sufferings of love, so that he can attain the Great Dao.
Only after being chased down from the heavens by the divine lord, confined and completely possessed by him, does she realize how successful she has been.
The once gentle and polite youth has transformed into someone she no longer recognizes.
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Fun chapter. The relationship between all of them is heartwarming.
Laughed out loud reading this, Lord Leonard is very jealous of the closeness of his own student and friend 😭
They are so cute together I can’t take it anymore <3 love the dynamic