I Became the Obsessive Male Lead’s Ex-Wife

Meanwhile, Pervin, who had arrived at the restaurant first, folded the documents in his hand and placed them next to him. No matter how much she looked at the documents, she squinted at the food that didn’t come out. When he called Alfred the butler and asked what happened, he delivered surprising news.

 

“Ma’am, you said you were having dinner together. How about waiting a little longer?”

 

“That’s nonsense, why would someone who’s never even had a meal with me…”

 

Before he could figure out what happened, the dining hall was wide open. Irwen came in, smartly dressed in a flowing red dress, her long, curly hair flowing. She sat down at the table across from the maid, and then immediately raised her head. A sonorous voice flowed from her mouth.

 

“I want to eat together. Are you okay?”

 

Instead of answering her, Pervin just stared at her. He was surprised, so shocked, it felt like someone had hit him on the head. She, who usually wore heavy makeup to make her look like an egg ghost, appeared in front of him with her bare face. The fresh smile on her fair face was beautiful, and that smile that seemed to be directed at him was stuck in his heart. The bolt that had been locked tightly for the past four years wriggled wildly, as if trying to loosen itself.

 

‘I’m really going crazy.’

 

He barely took his eyes off Irwen’s face and buried her face in his hands. She tiredly rubbed her eyes and quickly gathered her thoughts. There was no other way to interpret the sudden change of my wife, who had no interest in me, but rather only hatred for me.

 

“Are you still in pain? I’m sure Mr. Dumpari said it was okay…”

 

Irwen looked confused at the question Fervin asked seriously.

 

“It doesn’t hurt anymore. I woke up after shaking everything off.”

 

“But why are you doing something you’re not used to doing? Why didn’t you wear makeup?”

 

“I feel like the makeup is too thick and it’s making my skin look bad. Why, is it strange?”

 

The honest tone of voice without any venom tickles him to the core. Pervin stared at Irwen. It was the first time she had seen Irwen’s bare face since her marriage. Irwen’s face, which was always covered by thick makeup that was even worse than her makeup, was so beautiful that it made her eyes ache. Irwen tilted her head slightly as if asking why she was looking at him like this, but he couldn’t stop looking at his wife.

 

‘This woman… like this… Was she a good-looking woman?

 

It’s been so long since he last saw her that he almost forgot her lively face. Since her bloody first night they had been in separate rooms, so he had never seen her bare face. She had heard the chatter of the maids who helped her with her grooming.

 

“Ma’am, it’s much better without makeup. I don’t know why you’re doing that, that ghostly makeup.”

 

Yeah, he didn’t know why he was doing that makeup thing. It’s much prettier not to do it. Slightly lowered eye corners, eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, and clear, clear skin. All those big eyes staring at me. Per Vin shook her head vigorously as Irwen’s face flashed before her eyes. The itch that had been sealed away for years tried to bloom again, but his guard blocked it again. No, he didn’t know what kind of plan that evil woman would have to harass him. He decided that he would not be carried away by Irwen and made up his mind. Pervin cleared his throat and spoke in a cold tone.

 

“Yeah, it’s weird.”

 

“Isn’t a bare face better than makeup like makeup?”

 

“No, I think the old days were better.”

 

He spoke in a stern tone, but his face became hot because he had actually lied. Irwen said in bewilderment, ‘Your taste is so unique…’. When he heard her mumbling, his face became even redder. His heart, which had been tightly barred, trembled again. Pervin gritted his teeth and turned his gaze away from Irwen. He thought about leaving this place, but he decided not to. He was offended by Irwen’s sudden change, but at the same time, he was curious. He had been reporting that for several days, Irwen did not verbally abuse the household staff at all, but rather treated them kindly. It wasn’t just Irwen’s tone that changed. She came out to dinner today without any mask-like makeup. Her attitude, which had always been combative, became much more docile. She also stopped special products that she had secretly been sending to his father’s home, the Duchy of Verma. Everything changed for his wife. Whether this was an act or sincerity, Pervin wanted to find out the truth, but at the same time, he was afraid. He was afraid that his sincerity would be betrayed again. But at the same time, he was anxious to see it through to the end.

 

‘You still get excited just by looking at her face, right? Can you really make it to the end? Won’t you collapse first?’

 

He could hear the sound of his conscience, sealed deep in his heart, stimulating him. Pervin gritted his teeth as hard as he could. 

 

* * *

 

Dinner went by in a heavy atmosphere. I wasn’t expecting a warm dinner, but I wasn’t expecting a breathtakingly quiet meal either. Pervin did not leave his seat at my sudden presence, but he continued to eat with a stern expression on his face. I tried various conversations, but each time, Pervin looked at me instead of answering, and often avoided eye contact as if he didn’t want to even look at me. How could I have a conversation if he avoided me? I just cut the steak in silence. I didn’t know whether the meat went into my mouth or my nose as the quiet silence pressures my entire body. However, one thing was certain: my eyes were delighted when I saw Pervin sitting across from her. The movements of the steak were elegant, and just sitting there was already a masterpiece. It was dazzlingly beautiful. Looking back on the contents of the novel, while everyone praises the appearance of the Emperor’s younger brother, the Duke of Sibelome, it ends with the Duke of Carlisle’s incomparable beauty. Before his marriage, Pervin was considered the best groom in the empire, and even after his marriage, he was considered the best man. Even though he was a married man, there were many noble women waiting for him in social circles, and the reason for this was this. Everyone predicted that the duke and Duchess would divorce after the five-year period of the national agreement, and that Pervin would then return to society as a single person. As a reader, knowing that background, I was aiming for just that time. Since I couldn’t break the agreement between countries, I would just live quietly for the remaining year, divorce peacefully, and move on with my life. However, if I wanted to spend the remaining year without any problems, I had to at least live in peace with my husband. I never thought my plan would go astray from the very beginning. I glanced at him and hesitated whether to give him a steak or not. Do you think feeding that man steak will make him feel better? No, we’re a couple worse than anyone else, so wouldn’t that be unreasonable? I looked at him reading the parchment next to him. He held out the steak on his fork as if asking him to eat it, then took the fork back. I held it out and took it back again several times. When I raised my head at the cold gaze, I saw Pervin staring at me with a strange look in his eyes. He was observing me without noticing the brilliant platinum hair falling gently on his forehead, and when his eyes met mine, he cleared his throat as if embarrassed.

 

“Hmm.”

 

His pale green eyes shook slightly and he turned around. He spoke to me in a voice that sounded like the growl of a wild animal.

 

“I ask you honestly. What on earth are you planning?”

 

“Now I’m trying to get along with you.”

 

“Irwen. It’s already been 4 years since I’ve been with you. “I wonder if I don’t know your shallow tricks.”

 

“I’m not saying it’s a good move, but I’m just trying to complete the tasks I haven’t been able to do and spend the rest of the year cleanly.”

 

“Mission… It’s a mission…”

 

Pervin lazily stroked his chin. He seemed to be thinking about something carefully, and then let out a low, gruff voice.

 

“So are you ready to accept that mission now?”

 

“What mission…”

 

He pursed his lips and hesitated for a moment. Why was he so embarrassed after what he said?

 

“You mean giving birth to a child. After what the elders in the family said so much, let’s go.”

 

“Kid… A child?”

 

I did my best to hide my embarrassment. What was he talking about, the duty of giving birth to a child? Of course, the most effective way for the defeated princess Irwen to preserve her name was to preserve her position by giving birth to the Duke’s child, that was, an heir to the Carlisle family. But I had no intention of doing that. It was because I couldn’t handle sleeping without love. So, I quietly completed the marriage period and tried to divorce as planned, but what? Obligation to have children? This was not the Pervin I knew. In the original work, didn’t Irwen and Pervin implicitly agree not to have children? As I was clenching my fist under the table, he let out a dry laugh.

 

“Well, what should I say to the person who did that on the first night because she didn’t want to be mixed with the blood of the invaders?”

 

“…”

 

“Forget what I said.”

 

Pervin jumped up. When I tried to get up, he waved his hand and looked at me.

 

“Don’t worry about me, just continue eating.”

 

“You stop eating in the middle of the meal, it’s inconvenient for me.”

 

“Do as usual, Irwen. Don’t do anything you haven’t done before.”

 

Pervin came close in front of me. It seems like he couldn’t control his temper and approached me, but when he actually looked into my eyes, he was clearly embarrassed again. He got angry, but now he hesitates again. Why was he doing this? To my confusion, he growled in a deep voice.

 

“Don’t ever appear in front of me again and don’t shake me up.”

 

He suddenly turned around. Steam was coming out of the plate, which was not even half eaten. I sat down and thought as I bit into the chicken. You really hate me. What on earth did Irwen do in the past to get such hate?

 

“Ma’am, don’t worry too much. The master must have felt the change in his wife.”

 

Mrs. Tilly brought me a clean towel and spoke to me as if comforting me. After I woke up, she supported me with her warm words and trustworthy attitude, so I spoke to her as if she were complaining.

 

“Of course, I know that I have done too much. Still, shouldn’t you give me one chance? “I’m trying so hard, but I just get angry.”

 

“Master has already noticed the change in Madam’s appearance, and she is quite agitated.”

 

“…is it so?”

 

Mrs. Tilly nodded her head in response to my question.

 

“It’s just hard to admit that, because I’m exhausted from years of waiting and patience.”

 

* * *

 

The next day. I had tea time with Mrs. Tilly in a garden full of flowers.

 

“I wish I had had this time sooner, Mrs. Tilly.”

 

“You must be busy, but you take care of me too, and I’m just grateful.”

 

“No, I am more grateful. He took good care of me when I was sick, taught me many things, and supported me even though my memory was not perfect. Thank you very much.”

 

As I happily sipped my favorite hot chocolate, I turned to face Mrs. Tilly across from her. Mrs. Tilly smiled her meaningless smile, her eyes filled with age. She didn’t even touch the luxury Earl Gray car in front of her. For some reason, their eyes were wary of me, yet curious. She is a middle-aged woman with patchy gray hair and a friendly appearance. She served the previous Duchess and was the second-generation chief maid at the Duke of Carlisle’s residence. She came here when she was young, and now she is a gentle woman with traces of age on her face. While having tea time and asking about various things, the topic turned to the cultural festival that would be held next week.

 

“Ah, the cultural festival held at the Marquis Celestine’s residence next week. It was supposed to be my turn, wasn’t it?”

 

“Yes, that’s true, but didn’t you, madam, reject it every year and take it instead at the Marquis Celestine’s? I think it will probably be the same this year as well.”

 

A cultural festival was a type of party created by noble ladies to show off their cultural level. It is said to be a venue for cultural exchange held on a rotating basis within a certain period of time, but in reality, it was a question of who would spend the most money and put on the best performance. Nobles, who seemed to be overflowing with money, invited the best actors and singers and held grand feasts in their mansions. However, the stage that was more precious than the stage decorated by the best artists was the stage decorated by noble ladies themselves. Normally, they were quiet as they were of noble status, but by appearing on stage, noble ladies gathered valuable guests and helped their husbands with their social activities. Dancing, theater, and singing were skills they had honed since childhood, but fortunately, it was also an area I was confident in. If the Duchess of Carlisle, who had been reclusive from social circles, announced that she would perform on stage, many people would flock to the event. I wanted to use that opportunity to change my image. From a foreign princess known for being a bad wife to a smart woman who has adapted to this place. I declared, looking straight at Mrs. Tilly.

 

“I will take charge of this cultural festival.”

 

“Yes…?”

 

“I’m going to sing, so please find the best orchestra to accompany me.”

 

As a former idol trainee and aspiring singer, I had to show off my skills and put on a perfect performance. Mrs. Tilly looked at me with an expression of disbelief, and then she bravely opened her mouth.

 

“Shouldn’t we sing the chorus too, ma’am? If you’re worried about your pitch, it might be better to ask a few people about it.”

 

“I can do it alone. Would you like to hear it?”

 

She strained her stomach and sang her song in front of Mrs. Tilly, who nodded her head. She could see the occupants eavesdropping from open windows throughout the mansion. There was even a squeaking sound of a window opening on the second floor. She called briefly, but Mrs. Tilly’s face was filled with joy.

 

“Oh my goodness, you’re so good! Have you been hiding it all this time?”

 

“No, well… Anyway, it’s okay, right?”

 

“It’s okay, it’s so great, ma’am! It would have been nice for the master to hear this as well, but it would be better to call it from the study right now.”

 

“No, you can listen to it on the day of the cultural festival, not now.”

 

I jumped up and caught Mrs. Tilly as she tried to enter her mansion. Even though her thorns were on her side, she had no intention of singing in front of her husband. He won’t be happy about it. The moment I finished my tea and looked at the second floor of the mansion where the study was located. Something large was hiding behind the curtain. I even caught a glimpse of her dazzling platinum feet.

 

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Translator Note: