Wishing My Husband Dead - Chapter 17

“Then can I learn other magic now?”

“Well.”

He nodded halfheartedly. Cordelia’s eyes sparkled like stars, showing clear signs of excitement.

“Oh, oh! There’s something I’ve wanted to learn for a while. The fireball throwing and wind-raising you showed me before. Ah! I want to learn that. From the tree…”

“Enough. You’ll start with identification magic.”

“Huh? What identification?”

He thrust a plate of various minced food ingredients in front of her face, seemingly prepared in advance.

“Let’s start with finding the carrots.”

“Huh? Why carrots all of a sudden?”

The identification magic forcefully initiated by Leonard was, in fact, an extremely intricate and precise form of magic.

It was so difficult that even intermediate mages struggled with it, making it quite overwhelming for Cordelia, who had just become a low-level mage.

After wrestling with plates of mixed carrots, onions, and the like for days, Cordelia put down her fork with a sigh.

“Can’t I just learn something else?”

“No. What if you die from eating something random? Huh? You should at least know what’s in your own plate, right?”

“But it’s too much to ask me to identify even the soup stock ingredients.”

“What if they make soup stock with peanuts?”

“Who in the world makes stock with peanuts? And I don’t mind eating such small amounts… I want to learn other magic…”

“Stop talking nonsense and concentrate. What’s the third ingredient?”

Leonard spoke in an utterly cold tone. Cordelia grumbled in weak rebellion, but it was futile.

She couldn’t strongly object since she could read the concern hidden in his words.

“Egg?”

“Try again.”

This magic training continued even during mealtimes, forcing her to spend more time guessing ingredients than actually eating food.

“Pepper!”

“Even with one eye, you’d know there’s pepper in it. Next.”

“Ca…”

“Are you joking? You’re confusing it with carrots again?”

“Then po…”

“How many times do I have to tell you it’s not potato?”

“Tch.”

The two even shared their food.

The servants looked at the peculiar sight of two spoons on one plate with strange eyes, but they failed to notice.

As they spent days training magic together like this, her skills improved dramatically.

At first, she struggled to distinguish even three or four ingredients, but later she could identify over ten.

“Salt, sugar, radish, carrot, onion, beef, tomato, basil… Oh, and rosemary!”

“What else?”

“There’s more? Ugh, what is it?”

“Oats.”

“Ah. So that’s what it was.”

“Hah… I’m tired of even mentioning your brain now.”

“Honestly, my brain is average. Isn’t it wrong to compare a normal person to you, Master?”

“Average? Who said your brain is average? On what grounds?”

“You’re… too harsh…”

Just then, there was a knock from outside. After permission to enter was given, a maid spoke more cautiously than usual.

“Master, Young Mistress. A guest has arrived.”

The two reacted differently to the maid’s words. While Leonard’s expression relaxed, Cordelia’s face was full of concern. She straightened her back and asked.

“A guest? Who is it?”

“Mr. Gerard Abrams has arrived at the north gate.”

* * *

“Welcome, Lord Abrams.”

She couldn’t bring herself to say she was glad to see him. Gerard Abrams looked around as he got out of the carriage.

“Haha, just call me Gerard, Lady Abrams. It’s the second time we’ve met since the wedding. But where are the others? Why aren’t they showing their faces when a guest has arrived?”

“Ah.”

Cordelia laughed awkwardly. Only Cordelia and a few servants had come out to greet him in the empty courtyard.

“The Countess left early for prayer at the temple and hasn’t returned, and Craig hasn’t fully recovered yet.”

“Oh, is that so? It’s terribly unfortunate that my dear cousin’s body hasn’t recovered yet. I should see him in person.”

“Now? You just arrived, you should rest from your journey first.”

“Didn’t you hear me? Lead the way.”

He arrogantly lifted his chin, pointing forward.

It was excessively rude behavior towards a countess, but Cordelia was so accustomed to such treatment that she didn’t even notice it was strange.

As Gerard entered the castle with Cordelia in the lead, the castle filled with an inexplicable tension.

The servants were busy whispering as they watched the two, clearly trying to gauge who would become the next count.

Cordelia stood in front of the count’s room and gave a light knock.

“Craig. Lord Gerard Abrams is here.”

“Oh come on, he’s probably awake anyway, why bother asking for permission?”

Before Leonard could even answer, Gerard barged in without hesitation.

Leonard, who happened to be on the reception room sofa, met Gerard’s eyes.

“Oh, Craig. Long time no see. Do you recognize me?”

“Well. You don’t seem like an important person. What was your name again, Jade?”

“How sad. I guess it’s true that your brain is completely ruined. You don’t even know my name.”

Of course, contrary to his words, Gerard’s face was full of a broad smile. After all, he was the one who wanted Craig’s brain to be damaged more than anyone else.

“You look like your face is completely ruined. Did you get run over by a carriage wheel on the way here?”

“Ha. Your unpleasant way of speaking is still the same. Since you don’t seem to remember me, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Gerard Abrams. The one who will take responsibility for this family in your place.”

“Hahaha.”

As soon as the words ended, Leonard burst into loud laughter. Gerard’s eyebrows twitched.

“What’s so funny?”

“I’m amazed at the consistency of this family. It seems that being stupid and foolish is definitely passed down through the bloodline.”

“What?”

“Your ears must have been damaged along with your face getting run over by the wheel. What a pity. I can see why you’re so desperate for this backwater count position.”

Cordelia, standing behind, inwardly marveled. It had been barely five minutes since they started talking, but Gerard’s face was already turning red and blue.

‘As expected, he has an extraordinary talent for irritating people.’

“Ha, let’s see how long that clever mouth of yours stays so high and mighty!”

Unable to find more words, Gerard stormed out of the room, fuming. After confirming that the door was completely closed, Cordelia approached Leonard.

“If you were going to do this, why did you tell me to bring him in? To provoke him? To make him blow his top?”

“What are you talking about? We need to check what kind of person he is, don’t we? He could be Maximilian’s pawn.”

“Is he a pawn?”

“Sadly, it seems impossible with that brain of his.”

The mockery on Leonard’s lips was so thick that even Cordelia felt embarrassed.

“Then are you just going to leave him be?”

“Do I need to bother with such a small fry?”

“The Countess… No, I guess you’re right.”

Cordelia felt disheartened at his indifferent tone, as if he were shooing away an insect. It felt futile that just a month ago, she had been racking her brains over how to handle Gerard Abrams’ visit.

“So I just need to deal with him moderately when I meet him, right?”

“Meet? Why meet? Every minute and second spent studying is precious, why bother seeing that fool?”

“Because Gerard is a guest of the castle, and I have an obligation to entertain guests. Starting from tonight’s dinner…”

“Ah. Right. Another guest will be coming.”

“Another guest?”

“Forget about that guest and prepare to welcome the other guest.”

“Huh? Who’s coming? Who is it?”

Leonard didn’t answer. He just said she would find out tomorrow. And exactly at noon the next day, a servant came running to her, out of breath.

* * *

“Ingrion? You said Ingrion?”

“Yes, yes. That’s why all the knights have rushed to the castle gates.”

The young servant’s cheeks were flushed with excitement. He too seemed eager to run there right away.

The question ‘Why here?’ rose to the tip of her tongue, but Cordelia lightly waved her hand.

“I see. I’ll go right away too.”

“Yes, Young Mistress.”

Although Abrams was in the countryside of the northeast, they weren’t so isolated as to have never heard of Ingrion’s reputation.

Unlike Vasquez, which only retained the empty honor of being the ‘Cleanest Sword’, Ingrion was one of the famous, established knight families in Ershe.

In other words, it was a family that Abrams would never be associated with, even if they were reborn.

‘Is this the guest Master mentioned yesterday?’

Cordelia instructed the maids to prepare food and bath water, then slowly made her way to the castle gates.

She could tell who he was even from a distance. The Abrams knights were swarming like bees around a man riding a massive black horse.

Even Helena and Lily, who hadn’t been seen for days, were out there.

“Hoho. How did such an esteemed person come to visit our humble place?”

“Ah, I have someone to meet.”

Ingrion replied lightly. Lily quickly leaned forward and asked.

“Is there someone you’re looking for?”

“And who might this lady be?”

“Oh my. I’m late with my introduction. I’m Lily Dahlia. My maiden name is Abrams.”

“She’s my daughter.”

His gaze lingered on Lily before moving to Cordelia, who was far behind. Ingrion raised his chin to point at her.

“Then who is that?”

“Ah.”

Helena turned around to see who Ingrion was pointing at and smiled awkwardly.

“She’s not someone to pay much attention to… She’s married to my son.”

“I’m Cordelia Abrams.”

Cordelia took a step forward and curtsied lightly. Upon hearing her name, Ingrion’s eyes changed.

He walked steadily towards Cordelia. Naturally, the people parted in two. Their gazes were fixed on the two.

The man facing her was larger than expected, and thus quite intimidating. Cordelia unconsciously took a step back.

He rather rudely looked Cordelia up and down.

There was no particular sexual meaning visible. Rather, it was a dry gaze, as if appraising an object.

“So it’s you.”

“Me?”

“The person I’ve been looking for.”

He suddenly smiled gently and spoke. His lips, which had been stiff all along, relaxed for the first time.

“Me?”

Cordelia, taken aback by the unexpected situation, could only blink her eyes.

Why She Is Still Unmoved (Female-dominant)

One-line summary: He uses various methods to seek her affection, but she remains unmoved.

Synopsis:

Si Qingyu is a doctor who has saved countless lives and enjoys tranquility.

Luo Shaoxuan is ruthless, deeply scheming, and the top young master in the capital. He admires Si Qingyu.

Luo Shaoxuan: I want to be the only one in your eyes and heart.

Features a cold and calm female lead vs A noble and scheming male lead.

There will be both sweetness and torture towards the male after their marriage.