How To Divorce A Male Protagonist

“Episode 9”

Even though she hadn’t turned around, she felt like she knew who had come too close. Yuliana swiftly turned around to face him.

Sure enough.

It was none other than Rick, the one who had stolen her mother’s handwriting to the point of even forging the countess’s seal, blushing as he looked at her.

Yuliana glanced at him as if she were looking at her first love, blushing, and took a sip of her drink. Her insides were burning, feeling like she was about to die.

“Having trouble finding a partner, aren’t you?”

Yuliana stepped back, keeping a distance from Rick as he approached, as if she intended to separate him from the crowd before they paid too much attention.

Yuliana spoke coldly, intending to detach Rick before more people noticed, “Rick, you see…”

“Do you remember my name?”

Rick’s round cheeks turned even redder with a childish hint.

‘No, seriously? Did he just go ahead and do that without even knowing if I remembered his name?’

“I just heard it from the countess.”

Yuliana spoke icily and continued to sip her drink arrogantly.

“By the way, there are still many young ladies who haven’t found partners yet. Why don’t you try over there?”

“My partner is…”

‘He wouldn’t say something as obvious as “My partner is here,” would he?’

As if reading Yuliana’s thoughts, Rick continued, “My partner is here.”

“Ugh.”

She coughed as she sipped her drink.

There were many followers around, but it was the first time someone had said it so blatantly.

‘…No. Is it really the first time?’

Lost in various complicated thoughts, Yuliana coughed to clear her head and turned around.

As if he intended to pat her back, Rick followed closely.

“It’s okay, Yeong-sik. I mean…”

“Won’t you call my name?”

“…Huh?”

Yuliana turned around abruptly.

As if he were about to kneel down immediately with a bouquet of roses and look at someone fervently, Rick gazed at her with a sweaty cheek.

Finally, Yuliana snapped sharply, “Yeong-sik, we are nothing to each other. It’s only natural that I have no feelings for someone like you, who would dare to steal my mother’s handwriting to send an invitation. How could you even think of such a thing? You clearly underestimate the honor of Countess Elcelli and my own honor.”

“Are you angry?”

Even after hearing Yuliana’s contemptuous words, Rick didn’t back off, but rather hesitated.

He acted as if he knew everything about Yuliana. Yuliana sensed what type of man he was. Those kinds of guys always existed. They loved and broke up on their own terms, repeatedly.

In other words…

‘This guy is insane…’

In those days, Yuliana behaved just like she usually did by the riverbank. Rick Yeongsik could easily tell how tragic Yuliana Oven had acted and how much it had affected her.

He saw Yuliana Oven as someone waiting to be saved. But that thought was a misconception. Yuliana Oven was actually the villain who enjoyed teasing and tormenting someone like him.

‘Such a villain wouldn’t like a fool like you.’

Yuliana clicked her tongue and replied, “Why would I be angry at you, Yeongsik?”

“Yuliana, I’ve been living with the thought of how wonderful it would be to meet you again. I know I did something pitiful. I sent that invitation thinking you wouldn’t come with the Duke. Of course, my mother was angry too. But…”

“But… what? Why did I think of coming alone to the ball, leaving my husband behind? Let me say it again, Yeongsik insulted my mother, Countess Elcelli, and deceived me as well. Be ashamed of that. Now, please leave. I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”

“Are you afraid the Duke is threatening you? Is that why you’re acting like this?”

“Yeongsik!”

Yuliana was surprised.

Yeongsik approached with a distorted face, seemingly innocent. He grabbed her wrist, holding the cocktail. Yuliana tightened her grip, refusing to let go of the shaking cocktail. Nonetheless, she couldn’t match his strength. As they struggled, the sound of their scuffle drew people’s attention.

Countess Elcelli, who had been chatting and laughing with others, froze. Before the commotion could escalate further, she approached. As Yeongsik released Yuliana’s wrist, or rather, was forced to release it, Evan Hillchen approached from behind. His gaze met Yeongsik’s wrist, and as soon as their eyes met, Yeongsik felt a sharp pain.

“Ugh!”

As Yeongsik let go, the cocktail swayed and shook before falling from Yuliana’s hand.

In an instant, Evan reached out and caught the cocktail. While the glass didn’t break, the contents spilled onto Evan’s hand, making a mess. People chuckled and laughed at the scene.

‘Ah…’

Yuliana’s face turned crimson. In the past, she might have acted brazenly in such a situation, but things were different now. She simply couldn’t do it.

Meanwhile, Rick Yeongsik held onto his wrist, which was partially torn and bloody. Blood oozed between the long, thick jacket sleeves.

Rick Yeongsik blurted out, his face flushed, but his voice seemed to die down, as if he had come to his senses.

“My lord!”

“Oh, Rick Yeongsik. You shouldn’t grip a cocktail glass so carelessly.”

“What are you talking about? My l… lord—!”

“Were you not hurt because of the glass, Yeongsik?”

“Rick!”

At that moment, Countess Elcelli hurriedly approached, clutching her skirt.

She fretted and examined her son’s wrist. As people whispered to each other, Evan intervened first.

“Yuliana, are you okay? Rick Yeongsik was trying to support you. Since Yeongsik doesn’t look well either, it’s impossible for him to support you.”

“I, I…”

“Rick!”

Countess Elcelli glanced at Evan’s reaction and adjusted her tone accordingly.

She couldn’t tarnish her foolish son’s honor any further by directly inviting the Duchess to see the Viscountess, whom she secretly admired, and even sending an invitation.

Fortunately, Duke Hillchen had the same intention. He didn’t want to involve the Duchess in any scandalous rumors.

Countess Elcelli finally managed to speak while gauging Duke Hillchen’s cold gaze.

“This boy lacks discernment. How dare he try to support the Viscountess in the presence of the Duke? That’s so disrespectful. Rick, apologize to them.”

“Mother!”

“Rick! Quiet!”

Rick bit his lower lip as if to suppress his anger, resembling a child being scolded.

Rick glared at the duke who had attacked him. In the meantime, blood pooled beneath his thick, black jacket.

He instinctively glanced around. He wanted to find someone who would take his side with genuine sympathy. However, people were only exchanging glances and whispers, eavesdropping on their conversation.

“This doesn’t seem like a trivial quarrel this time.”

“Rick Yeongsik may be young, but he’s so reckless.”

“I know. And to think the esteemed Countess—”

Yuliana lowered her head with a flushed face, overwhelmed by the murmurs around her.

Was it so embarrassing and pathetic?

Everything felt too real.

Yuliana fixed her trembling gaze downward. Then, amidst the murmurs of the crowd, she noticed a pool of blood beneath Rick Yeongsik’s feet.

“No way.”

“Save the apologies for later.”

Evan wrapped his arm around her shoulder, smiling wryly. Lowering his voice to ensure privacy, he continued, “Countess Elcelli, you should put more effort into your son’s education. Next time, the artery might be deeply severed by a glass, who knows.”

With his smooth words, Evan brushed his cocktail-soaked hand and led Yuliana outside, leaving her to cast a bewildered glance behind her. Clearly, the half of the glass that was intact before Rick grabbed it was now shattered on the table.

—

On the way back, Evan wiped his wet hand with a handkerchief as soon as he got into the carriage, then discarded it without hesitation. Meanwhile, Yuliana kept her head down, still blushing.

“Yuliana.”

Perhaps it was because of being called out several times that Yuliana finally regained her composure and lifted her head. Her cheeks were still red, and there was a slight hint of moisture, probably from the shock.

Evan furrowed his brow. “Did you cry?”

“…No, I didn’t,” Yuliana replied, her voice trembling.

She didn’t cry. She was just sweating from tension.

Or… was she?

In that moment of uncertainty, she wondered if she had actually cried.

Evan hesitated as he raised his hand, intending to wipe away her tears with his alcohol-scented hand.

Then, he paused for a moment, looking puzzled.

Yuliana glanced at him and couldn’t help but smile lightly.

To an outsider, he wouldn’t seem like someone who had injured another person’s wrist. He was just flustered because he didn’t have a handkerchief to wipe his wife’s tears.

“It’s okay,” she said, taking a handkerchief from her pocket and pressing it gently against her tear-stained cheeks. Ah, it felt a bit better.

“I’ll kill that bastard,” Evan said in a tone that lacked refinement, showing his raw emotions. Hearing his rough sincerity, Yuliana responded casually, as usual.

“If you killed him there, there would’ve been too much fuss, and you would’ve had a hard time.”

“Is that so? Then you should recommend a place for me to kill him.”

“The only thing I can recommend is not to kill him. If you try to kill every guy who bothers me, we’ll end up starting a war.”

“If you give me permission, I’d kill those guys as many times as you want.”

“I hope I won’t be implicated in your murder attempts.”

Yuliana, still covering her eyes with the handkerchief, muttered, “Who would’ve thought I’d be dragged around and grabbed by the wrist in such a formal setting?”

The carriage rattled as it moved, and leaning into the motion, everything that had just happened felt like a farce.

Evan, observing the slight smile on her lips, remarked, “I told you. If I had your permission, I would’ve killed him without hesitation. My nature is dirty.”

Yuliana lowered the handkerchief. She probably didn’t realize that her eyes might swell up tomorrow.

“I appreciate your sentiment. But there’s no need for that.”

“Are you still considering divorce?”

“Yes.”

“I thought maybe the admiration from my knights would change your mind.”

He rested his arm on the carriage window sill and propped his chin up. The chilly night breeze blew through the half-open window, brushing his hair.

Yuliana suppressed the urge to continue speaking, hesitating for a moment. After a brief silence, she glanced down at the crumpled handkerchief and hesitantly continued.

“You don’t have to do that to me. You can find a better woman.”

“That’s going too far with the joke.”

He chuckled softly. His blue eyes, somewhat chilly, darkened.

Unable to see his gaze, Yuliana continued to speak with her head bowed, stumbling over her words, trying her best to convey her intentions to him.

“It’s not a joke. My reputation has been ruined. If other ladies had faced such a thing, everyone would have helped. But no one helped me. They all know. They laughed at me…”

“Those guys are just cowards and villains.”

“It’s not like that.”

“Why do you keep thinking it’s your fault? You’re the victim here. That inadequate guy dared to treat you like that.”

“Are you trying to get involved in a brawl?”

“Yuliana, you have no idea how much I wanted to get involved in your brawl.”

“That’s nonsense.”

“You’ll hear a lot of nonsense from me in the future. So don’t take it seriously, just listen.”

“Haha!”

Yuliana laughed loudly.

However, her laughter gradually faded. She still kept her head down. The sound of the carriage rattling, the whirring of the wheels—silence settled in, so deep that one could hear the breath of the horses.

Yuliana frowned as she looked at the creases on the crumpled handkerchief.

Repeatedly, she reminded herself that this was a novel, that the man in front of her was the male lead, and she was just an extra representing his painful past.

But for the first time, that fact hurt her. Yuliana met the gaze of her husband, who was staring at her intently.

Before he could shake her even more, or before she surrendered to the flow of the novel, she had to prepare herself. Prepare for this moment not to be ruined.

Yuliana bit her lip and said, “I’m going to divorce you.”

Before that, she would choose and get rid of the guy who annoyed him. Then he could meet a good person like himself and everything would be fine.

Yes, just like in a novel.

“So don’t worry about me anymore. I won’t cry or be embarrassed from now on, and I’ll take care of my past relationships.”

She tried to mimic a cold tone. Words that she used to say without a second thought now pierced her heart more deeply each time she said them.

Yuliana covered her lips with the crumpled handkerchief and bowed her head deeply.

Her fingertips trembled slightly.

How nice it would be if he got angry and thought it was a mistake to help her. Then maybe she wouldn’t feel so guilty.

The sound of hooves clattering filled the air as the carriage resumed its journey towards its destination. The coachman’s encouraging voice pierced through the heavy silence that enveloped them.

Amidst the silence, Evan spoke up.

“To be honest, there’s something you said that doesn’t quite sit right.”

Yuliana covered her face with the crumpled handkerchief.

This time, Evan knew it wasn’t tears but rather her distorted face that she wanted to hide.

She was a proud woman, and that’s why he liked her. He crossed his legs while watching her refuse him outright. Then his gaze shifted to the view of the estate beyond the window.

It was a fleeting moment.

His gaze returned to Yuliana, and his hand reached out towards her chin.

But his hand didn’t touch her. He absolutely didn’t want to touch her with his alcohol-scented hand.

Evan chuckled softly.

“You didn’t engage in a brawl. You just got into trouble among the fools who foolishly admire and love you. So you don’t have to apologize to me.”

“I-I…”

“Crying again, I see.”

Yuliana raised her hand to wipe her wet cheek.

‘Why am I crying? I have no right to cry…’

Yuliana felt confused.

Looking at his wife like that, Evan whispered in a voice tinged with embarrassment.

“Don’t cry. I can’t comfort you like this, especially with my hand soaked like this.”

The coachman’s voice calmed the horses as they approached.

Yuliana realized they had finally arrived home as she wiped her face. Struggling to suppress her sobbing, she attempted to leave her seat. Evan, as if he knew everything, didn’t try to stop her further.

Before the servant could open the door, Yuliana hastily opened the carriage door and headed towards the main entrance of the mansion.

As her husband had mentioned on his return, the path to the main entrance had already been prepared and even covered with a carpet, ensuring that Yuliana’s delicate shoes remained clean with each step.

—

Whether it was due to feeling the weight of her conscience or simply a release of pent-up emotions, Yuliana found herself bedridden the next day.

To make matters worse, she was reborn in a body as fragile as a caterpillar. Despite relying on her fragile physique, she had attended a late-night ball and even gotten into a confrontation with a fool. And to top it off, she had cried.

Yuliana felt her limbs heavy like a wilted cabbage.

“Ugh… this cursed stamina.”

Honestly.

What good was being a skilled fire mage and a proficient magician if she couldn’t even keep up with half the magical energy required? The balance of fairness in the world seemed questionable to her.

Yuliana struggled to rise from her seat, and suddenly, the maids standing around her bed rushed to support her.