After the Wicked Wife Leaves

 

 

Erich momentarily wore a blank expression before clenching his fists tightly.

‘Divorce…?’

He had anticipated that she would eventually mention divorce. That’s why he had preemptively asked the emperor not to allow her request for a divorce. Yet, hearing her say it now made his heart plummet.

‘Did she dislike me that much? To the point where you wanted to talk about divorce in this situation?’

Finally, Erich managed to speak with difficulty.

“Why… would you say something like that?”

Whether she was unaware of his tense expression or simply ignoring it, she responded calmly.

“Your reputation has suffered because of my running away. And one of the reasons for that is your mother’s attempt to poison me.”

Hearing the word “poison” directly from her, something he had been avoiding, made him feel suffocated.

‘Still, it’s something I have to deal with.’

Erich said to her, “If you’re blaming me for my mother’s actions, I’m willing to listen. It’s my responsibility.”

If that could ease even a little of the burden in her heart.

He was prepared to receive any accusations from her, but Cornelia shook her head.

“I’m not blaming you. Thanks to Janet quickly swapping the poison with a similar herbal tea, I didn’t drink a single drop of poison. Of course, it tasted horrible, so it was quite hard work.”

She had nearly been poisoned by her husband’s mother.

For an ordinary person, that would be something they would resent and curse for a lifetime.

Yet, her voice was indifferent, as if she were discussing someone else’s affairs.

“And it’s not like you did anything wrong.” 

Her following words tightened his heart even more.

She was saying it wasn’t his fault, but it felt like she was drawing a line.

Yes, as if treating him like someone else.

“Cornelia, I know I’ve disappointed you all this time. But this is clearly my fault.”

“There’s no need to blame yourself like that. Besides, you’ve protected me all this time, right? So, I’ll testify that I didn’t drink a single drop of poison and that Grand Madam is innocent…”

Seeing her speak such pointless words, Erich couldn’t hold back and kneeled down.

Cornelia’s face hardened coldly.

“What… are you doing?”

“I was wrong.”

“What exactly did you do wrong?”

Even after apologizing, her voice, questioning his mistakes, was as cold as ice.

And Erich understood well why she was acting this way.

<Recently, I thought about whether I had done anything wrong to you, but no matter how much I thought about it, there was nothing.>

‘It’s my fault. I said those things to her back then…’

There were many past mistakes besides the harsh words he had spoken.

So he needed to ask for her forgiveness.

Until her heart softened.

“Since we got married, I should have been on your side, but I turned my back on you.”

Of course, he had his reasons for that.

If he got close to Cornelia, he had no idea what kind of heinous acts the Grand Madam, who already regarded her as a thorn in her side, might commit.

Just like how she had tried to arrange for an abortion the moment she found out about her pregnancy.

It was also to extinguish his desires for her, as she was his brother’s wife.

So, he diligently avoided her and tried to refrain from speaking to her whenever possible.

As a result, he didn’t even realize that the servants were ignoring her; he only thought that she was simply disliked because she was mistreating the maids.

The real cause of her misbehavior had been with the maid.

‘But not knowing this cannot be an excuse for my circumstances.’

Above all, she was alone except for Sardin.

Even if it was only for appearances, as her husband, he should have supported her and acted as her shield. Instead, he had been at the forefront of isolating her.

He deserved the criticism he received.

However, instead of blame, she offered understanding.

“It’s okay. It was to be expected. Honestly, you were forced to marry me by His Majesty, right?”

It was true that their marriage had come about through the Emperor’s coercion.

But she didn’t know the truth.

She didn’t know how his heart had throbbed wretchedly when he had heard that demand.

She didn’t know the desires that had stirred within him when he saw her in her wedding dress.

Eventually, he revealed his inner thoughts.

“I have never regretted marrying you.”

But he couldn’t help but be at a loss for words at her next statement.

“You’ve never regretted marrying me? Then why did you turn your back on me and ignore me all this time?”

There was no way he could answer that.

To explain it all, he would have to reveal the truth that he was not Erich.

And if that happened, she would never keep him by her side.

‘No. It would be dangerous if I got separated from her now.’

Given that Reinhardt was currently lurking around her, ready to pounce at any moment.

So, Erich spoke only the façade, omitting the important truth.

“I was shortsighted.”

At that, she sighed deeply.

“Yeah, you were shortsighted too. I was the same. But what’s the point of that now? We’ve already become worse than strangers.”

Worse than strangers—he understood that in his mind.

Yet hearing it confirmed by her tore at his heart.

‘No, we’re still… It’s not over yet.’

Erich instinctively denied her words, as if struggling.

“Cornelia, we are still husband and wife!”

“Yes, we are. A couple stained with all sorts of disgrace. And that’s why I’m saying I’ll help you wash away that disgrace. If I hadn’t accepted the Emperor’s proposal in the first place, none of this would have happened.”

“No, that’s not true. It was I who…”

It was he who had selfishly desired her.

Even though he wasn’t Erich Lennon Blant, he had dared to love her.

Yet he couldn’t reveal even that meager sentiment.

To ignore and turn his back on the one he loved was something that made no sense to him.

As Erich fell silent, Cornelia sighed and spoke.

“Enough. Let’s stop this. Discussing past mistakes won’t change anything.”

“Cornelia, please…”

He knew he was being shameless, which was why he had been unable to voice his need for another chance all this time.

But now it didn’t matter if she resented him or cursed him.

He wanted nothing more than to hold onto her.

“Just give me one more chance.”

Having always played the role of someone else, he had never once expressed what he truly desired.

His voice, for the first time revealing his longing, was filled with desperation, regret, and yearning.

It was enough to elicit sympathy from anyone who heard it.

However, her demeanor as she listened to his plea was cold and distant.

“Chance? As you know, my child is not your child. So how can we become a couple again…”

“It doesn’t matter. If a smart child like Demian becomes the Duke of Blant, it would be beneficial for the family.”

At those words, she seemed momentarily speechless, then coldly replied, “You’re quite simple. Apologies and forgiveness come so easily to you.”

Erich flinched at her piercing words, but she continued unabated.

“I don’t understand why you’re apologizing and seeking forgiveness now, but I already consider you a stranger.”

Her gaze grew icy, and she added, “If this is all because of your reputation, then it would be better for both of us to shed that disgrace and get divorced. So, I suggest you think carefully about our deal before the state council meeting begins. Of course, it would be regrettable if you ultimately refuse to divorce me.”

With that, she turned her back and said, “Oh, and as for the heir to the Duke of Blant? I don’t need that. So don’t ever mention that position again as if it were charity.”

Erich stared blankly at her retreating figure, then clutched his chest in pain.

He had felt numb to the wounds from war, but the change in her attitude hurt deeply inside him.

In frustration, Erich slammed his fist against the floor.

 

☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓

 

After my conversation with Erich, I returned to my room, my face twisted in distress.

‘Why now…?’

I was taken aback. However, not wanting to show my agitation, I feigned calmness.

Even if you regret it, nothing will change. We are already done.

‘Yes, that was the right thing to do. That man is certainly just playing games because he doesn’t want to bear the disgrace.’

If he had any sense, he would likely agree with my words.

‘I never thought he would go so far as to put the Duke of Blant title at stake, though…’

I unconsciously clenched my fist.

Somehow he felt like a thief to me.

A thief coveting a treasure I cherished.

‘It’s true that my child is exceptionally intelligent. Moreover, he even said he would grant him a title, even if the child isn’t his. If he discovers the truth, he will definitely try to take my child away.’

I was grinding my teeth at that thought for a moment when suddenly…

“Mom!”

My child called out to me and jumped into my arms.

The soft scent emanating from the child calmed my anxiety.

‘Yes, as long as I have you, that’s all I need.’

This warmth and sweetness were the only happiness I possessed.

I didn’t want to lose it to Erich.

‘So, my dear, please forgive this foolish mother who is trying to take your father away.’

I hugged my child tighter.

The next morning, dawn broke.

And as soon as morning arrived, I received a message.

“It’s from the Oneflower Workshop.”

Upon opening it, I found urgent handwriting inside.

[Please visit the workshop as soon as possible.]

‘What could have happened?’

I pondered this for a moment before telling the maidservants, “Please prepare for my outing.”