After the Wicked Wife Leaves

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Translated by: Sienna

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

 

Sardin knew it well. He knew that the noble women would never give their hearts to a slave.

Still, it made him happy to know that she trusted him and included him in her plans.

Even if they weren’t lovers, he could be a part of her future.

 

‘And I can never forgive you for making my master cry.’

 

That’s why Sardin wished for Cornelia’s plan to proceed smoothly.

 

‘But if the Duke were to realize his feelings, surely my master would be shaken?’

 

So Sardin decided to keep quiet and ignore Erich’s emotions, which he had glimpsed.

 

“I understand. Then I’ll be off to attend to other errands.”

“Other errands?”

“Yes, I have a message to deliver to Dame Janet.”

 

As Sardin was about to turn away, a sudden question stopped him in his tracks.

 

“Is that all you have to say to me?”

‘Could it be that the Duke has caught on?’

 

If it was merely about hiding the mask a moment ago, he could deflect it by saying he didn’t want to draw attention.

But what if he had discovered something else?

It could disrupt Cornelia’s plan.

 

‘Even if I have to bear the consequences alone, I need to confirm.’

 

Sardin turned and looked at Erich, who was watching him with the murderous eyes of an interrogator.

Sardin replied nonchalantly.

 

“Is there anything else you need from me?”

 

With that response, Erich furrowed his brow before speaking.

 

“No, go on then.”

 

As Sardin turned away once again, Erich watched his retreating figure with a cold gaze.

 

‘As expected, it turned out like this.’

 

The senses of the transcendent were more developed than those of criminals realized.

As such, Erich often checked the bedroom for Cornelia’s safety, and he knew that Sardin had been wearing a mask and heading somewhere lately.

Still, he didn’t intervene because of the agreement he had with Cornelia.

In exchange for not interfering with each other, they would stay married and not divorce.

 

‘Well, I guess it’s better this way.’

 

Cornelia was supposed to marry his older brother, so Erich had kept his distance from her. But no matter how many times he pushed her away, she kept coming back to him, obsessed with him, relentlessly pursuing him.

She thought of him as the real Erich.

But when she said she would leave first, he thought, could there be anything better?

So after that day, he decided to honor her wishes and never entered the bedroom he shared with her.

He avoided being alone with her as much as possible.

He thought it was the best way to maintain their marriage.

But from that day on, he began to suffer from insomnia and have bizarre dreams.

 

[I’m pregnant with your child.]

 

In the dream, Cornelia shyly covered her stomach with her hands.

If this situation were real, it would surely be sinful, but at that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of awe and comfort.

The emotion he felt was indescribable, but he couldn’t express it for fear of the matriarch finding out.

And then the scene shifted.

It was shortly after the baby was born.

 

[Dada!]

 

Spending time with the golden-haired baby, calling him “Dada,” and Cornelia, who looked at him with loving eyes, felt like heaven.

It was a dream he never wanted to wake up from.

But the cruel reality always came knocking as soon as he opened his eyes.

 

<I’ve been neglected by you for five years. It’s not a big deal to have a paramour to alleviate my loneliness, right?>

<Now we don’t have to pretend to be a normal husband and wife, sharing the same bed forcibly. Just like how you dislike seeing me, now I dislike seeing you too.>

 

In reality, Cornelia no longer loved him.

As the gap between reality and dreams widened, he grew increasingly anxious.

With frustration, Erich sighed before his eyes lit up.

 

‘Now that I have a good excuse to see her…’

 

Maybe, just maybe, he could improve his relationship with her now.

 

‘If I do well now, maybe…’

 

[Honey!]

[Dada!]

 

Maybe he could spend time with her and the child, just like in his dreams.

Erich headed towards the greenhouse.

His stride was as graceful as ever, but his rigid gaze betrayed an unusual restlessness.

 

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I furrowed my brow at the sudden intruder.

 

‘What brings you to my room?’

 

Since the day I confessed my true feelings to Erich, he hadn’t come to my room even once, as if avoiding it deliberately.

Though I gave him a skeptical look, Erich simply handed me a bouquet of roses.

 

‘And what’s with the bouquet now?’

 

Still, I couldn’t outright reject his gesture, especially since I had something to ask him.

 

‘Well, might as well ask him to reinstate Landon while I have the chance.’

 

As I called for a maid to bring a vase for the flowers, Erich spoke up.

 

“Have you been well?”

 

I almost smirked involuntarily.

 

‘Such a greeting in a house, between a couple.’

 

But soon, I won’t have to see this conceited face anymore.

With that thought in mind, I replied bluntly.

 

“As you can see, thanks to your benevolence, I’ve been comfortable doing nothing as usual.”

 

Momentarily, Erich’s expression soured, and I realized I might have responded a bit too sarcastically. I quickly corrected myself.

 

“I mean, incredibly comfortable!”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, thanks to Landon’s excellent service, I’ve been well-fed and at ease.”

“Landon?”

“Yeah, so I hope you’ll reinstate him as our butler now.”

 

Erich nodded slowly at that.

 

“Very well, since you say so, I will reinstate him as the butler.”

 

Finally, I had repaid the debt to Landon.

 

‘Now I can leave in peace.’

 

As I silently chuckled to myself, Erich asked in a soft voice,

 

“How’s the child?”

 

Honestly, it was unexpected. I had thought he wouldn’t care about the child’s well-being at all.

But seeing him genuinely concerned about the child’s welfare reminded me of his demeanor before his regression, and my heart tingled.

 

<I read in a book that lavender isn’t good for mothers, so I’ll make sure to bring you safe flowers from now on.>

<You can always ask Landon if you need anything.>

 

‘At the time, I thought you were really… happy to have a child.’

 

But the truth was nothing more than his pretense to deceive me.

 

‘I won’t be fooled anymore. I know you’re the type to pretend to care even about a child who’s not yours, just to save face.’

 

Or perhaps you’re pretending to care so much because you secretly wish for this child’s demise.

I glared at him and said,

 

“It’s not your child. You don’t need to worry.”

 

Erich’s face hardened at my words.

 

“I have clearly stated that I will take responsibility for the child. That means I am accepting the child as part of the Blant family.”

 

I seethed inwardly at his obvious hypocrisy.

 

‘How ridiculous. Spouting lies about taking responsibility for the child when you didn’t even take care of your own?’

 

As I trembled with anger, he continued,

 

“Therefore, the child is my responsibility as the father.”

 

Even though I tried to appear composed, with each word he uttered, my mood plummeted.

 

‘But I have to endure.’

 

Though it was a fabricated excuse, being the adulterous wife I had been, I brushed off his words as best as I could.

After all, I thought I wouldn’t have to see his face for long, and I feared he might retaliate against me if I caused trouble.

However, no matter how hard I tried to endure, I couldn’t help but feel enraged.

 

“Shut up. Erich.”

 

I had warned him so many times, yet it was Erich Lennon Blant who had crossed the line first.

 

“To be honest, your behavior is not just uncomfortable; it’s disgusting.”

 

Whether it was my awkward delivery or not, Erich furrowed his brow.

 

“Why are you suddenly so angry?”

 

His voice sounded frustrated, and I couldn’t help but smirk.

 

“Yeah, why am I angry?”

 

Memories from the past surged to the surface of my mind, like buoys on water.

I had sacrificed my true self just to win your favor.

I thought that if I became a better wife, you might show me affection.

But all those days of clinging to you and begging for love were in vain.

Erich Lennon Blant had never loved me, let alone consider me family.

 

‘That’s why he wanted to kill me and my child, who stood in his way.’

 

At the time, Erich must have felt my imperial status was a burden due to the rebellious nobles.

I was the emperor’s sister, and naturally, the rebels would have demanded my surrender to use me as leverage.

So I understood why he abandoned me.

After all, noble unions were just shallow relationships where one spits out what they don’t like and swallows what they do.

But…….

 

‘At least you shouldn’t have given up on Demian.’