I Became the Obsessive Male Lead’s Ex-Wife

His tone was obviously threatening, but why was his face shaking so dangerously? The way he clung to me seemed like he was craving me. I was shaken by him for a moment, but could not converse in this state. I felt like I could understand why the women of the empire were fascinated by him. Being this close, it felt like his body was pulling me in, as if tempting me.

 

“I can’t talk anymore in this condition. Let’s get up and have a proper conversation.”

 

“I can’t let you go until I hear your truth.”

 

“I told you the truth.”

 

“I still don’t know your true feelings, Irwen.”

 

This guy really. I was underneath Pervin, glaring at him with all my might, pushing his body away, and shoving his uniform as hard as I could. It only took a moment for the disheveled uniform to become a mess. Of course, it wasn’t my posture or my body that was uncomfortable. Although there was clearly a large and slender shadow, I did not feel any pressure on my chest as it moved up and down. He was trying not to hurt me. However, he just didn’t allow me to leave his arms. The strong scent of his body enveloped us. I could fully feel his strong body beneath the uniform he was wearing. The bulging arms that are trapping me, and the body that seems to have strong muscles. Without realizing it, I tried hard to keep his face from turning red. Pervin looked at me and whispered in my ear.

 

“Say it again. If you’re being shallow, you’d better stop.”

 

“I didn’t do anything. You just misunderstand my sincerity in reflecting on the past and repenting.”

 

“You reflect on the past and repent… So what do you ultimately get?”

 

“I’ve said it over and over again, that I will fulfill my duties as a Duchess and successfully complete the contract marriage…”

 

Pervin heard me and snorted.

 

“There’s nothing difficult to say, Irwen. You can fool me into thinking you want to get along and say honestly that you want to take the lead by giving birth to an heir to the Duke of Carlisle. Who recommended that? Is that why you changed the route like this?”

 

“What… What did you say?”

 

“You can gain strength by having a child with mixed blood from Verma and Theresia, if you ask me to get along with you. But, I really can’t believe this change in you.”

 

“It’s not like that…”

 

“Did you think you could show me a good attitude and try to get along with me now, after all the rude behavior you’ve shown me? Did you think you would easily get my child by tricking me?”

 

“I am…”

 

This man really thinks such ridiculous thoughts! Suddenly, tears filled my eyes. I was just angry about this situation. After all, I was resentful of the situation in which I had been possessed by the evil wife Irwen, and I was simply resentful of the situation in which Pervin did not recognize me despite my efforts to change it. Of course, I know that my situation is not easy. During the four years of marriage, she hurled harsh words at her servants, gave away special products from the Carlisle estate that were not to be sent to the Duchy of Verma, and hurled abusive language and harsh words at her husband, so she must have gotten sick of it. Naturally, she can’t help but be suspicious of her wife who has suddenly changed. Still, I felt resentful towards him for not believing in my efforts for several weeks. And I feel bad about joining Irwen Lilias. If I had gone with Stella, the female protagonist, I wouldn’t have had to face those cold eyes. His cold gaze brought tears to my eyes without me realizing it. These were tears not from sadness, but from anger. As I was whimpering and trying to hold back my tears, Pervin hurriedly got me up from my seat. He was looking at my face as if he was embarrassed.

 

“Are you crying?”

 

“Can’t I cry as much as I want? Now are you going to doubt this too?”

 

“That’s not it…”

 

Just as he lifted his graceful fingers to wipe my eyes. Before I knew it, my eyes were covered with tears. I felt tears flowing down my cheeks again. If I cry, I lose, so I thought I should stop this embarrassing crying first. But the tears wouldn’t stop. I wiped my tears with the blue handkerchief that Pervin gave me, but once the tears broke out, I couldn’t stop them. His sharp eyes gazed at me with the corners of his eyes lowering. He cleared his throat and struggled to maintain his composure.

 

“Don’t cry. That doesn’t change anything.”

 

“I’m not crying. Tears just naturally flow from my eyes.”

 

I lifted my shoulders and wiped my tears with a wet handkerchief again and again. The large handkerchief was already soaking wet. Originally, I was the type of person who cried more when told not to cry. Pervin chewed his lip and looked at me, then suddenly stretched out his hand. He took my hand and put it down. I took a deep breath from crying and glared at him.

 

“What are you going to do? Are you going to tell me you don’t want to see me cry anymore? It’s not your style?”

 

At that time, Pervin put his hand on my face. I wiped the tears flowing down my cheeks. He cupped my cheek with his four long fingers and wiped my eyes with his thumb. The sudden action brought silence. Per Vindo blinked as if he had not expected him to do something like this. It was extremely gentle, like a lover’s behavior. The tears that were hanging on my eyelashes dripped onto his fingers. His long, elegant fingers trembled. Pervin’s deep green eyes faced me.

 

The moment he stared into my trembling eyes. He seemed to have come to his senses. He quickly got out of bed. He was looking at the window where the warm sunlight was coming in for a moment, then suddenly turned to me. He seemed confused, covering his face with his hands, then gritting his teeth.

 

“If I’m misunderstanding you, let me make it clear here, Irwen. Why did you give me such a hard time for four years, and now you want to change?”

 

“I fully realize that I have caused you a difficult time and that I have not fulfilled my official duties as the Duchess of Carlisle. Our marriage lasted 5 years and was approved by the emperor. Please give me a chance to make up for my past mistakes by faithfully performing my duties as a Duchess for the remaining year.”

 

“Then the child…”

 

Before he could come to his own conclusions, I hastily answered.

 

“I never thought about children. It will continue to be that way, so don’t worry about that.”

 

“Never… you’ve never thought about it…”

 

For some reason, it seems like he is gritting his teeth.

 

“You were forced to marry me because of His Majesty’s orders, but fortunately, you can divorce after a year, so then you can have the child you love with the woman you like. Or you can think of another way. I will respect your wishes. Instead, I will fulfill my duties as a wife for one year and give you a divorce, so please respect my wishes.”

 

“…”

 

Pervin suddenly turned around. He walked with long strides and headed for the door. I thought he was grabbing the doorknob and trying to get out, but he suddenly turned his body towards me. His green eyes were darkened with deep emotions.

 

“I will respect your decision. “I don’t know how long it will last.”

 

Suddenly. As soon as Pervin opened the door and walked out, I let out a tense breath. That human was no ordinary human. They say he’s the emperor’s right hand man, so he doesn’t dispel suspicion easily. It seemed like the future would not be smooth. Even if you can’t win his favor, you must faithfully do your duty to earn his trust. Because that’s the only way I can survive here. Ugh… For what crime did I come into the body of Irwen Lilias? I buried my tense face in the blanket. 

 

* * *

 

After closing the door, Pervin placed his hand on his chest. Irwen was the wife he loved and hated. After a close battle with the Duchy of Verma, he eventually made it to the capital, where he met the woman who caught his eye, and his first love. It was the first time in his life that he desperately wanted someone, and the first time he desperately tried to win someone’s heart. This marriage was ostensibly a diplomatic order by the Emperor, but in reality it was a marriage he had pushed for, even though he knew that his younger brother, the Duke of Sibelom, was after her. He lost a lot, and gained her hard. So he swore to be faithful to his marriage, and actually did everything for her when she got married to a foreign country. The Empress had presented her with the unenviable splendor of her clothes, her ornaments, her books, and her numerous maids. And if he showed his sincerity in loving her, he was sure that Irwen would adapt well to being the Duchess, and that she would be happy, above all, by his own side. However, it was his mistake to judge her prematurely. She poured out her harsh words right from the start of their wedding preparations. The harsh words she poured out at him on their first night were so much that he could not bear to put them into words. Above all, Irwen’s words that she would rather die than mix her flesh with his frozen his heart. Since his wife hated him so much, his love for her had to be sealed to one side. Now he thought his own feelings for Irwen were well and truly sealed within only a cold wall of ice. However, his heart, which had clearly cooled down, started beating again some time ago. Irwen fainted. Ever since she woke up, ever since she had started to be kind to him, his heart had been pounding uncontrollably. So he was even more confused. Thinking that Irwen might be putting on an act to deceive him, he suddenly came to her room and looked. Although her feelings for him were unsealed, he dared to find her reason. No matter how much he thought about it, he didn’t know the reason why she warmed up to him after showing only her hatred for four years, so he wondered if she was planning to solidify her position by giving birth to his successor. He tried to squeeze out her thoughts. This was especially true for him because he knew that people do not change easily. Because he fell in love with her at first sight and his heart twitched. By the way, he obviously came to talk to her, but he tried to look at her calmly… Irwen’s large, tear-soaked wall glimmered in front of him. It was clear that his wife, who was like his own ice, had changed solidly. How could she shed tears? Tears as clear as amethyst from the eyes of that poisonous woman who would not come out even a single drop of blood even if pricked with a thousand needles. Did she really repent? The transparent wall that always looked at him with poisonous eyes, today stared at him full of sadness and resentment. It was his first time experiencing such an embarrassing moment. So he spat out her words in a poisonous manner and treated her even more sharply. Even though that wasn’t his true intention. Pervin let out a frustrated sigh and looked behind him again. Mrs. Tilly came sauntering up from afar.

 

“Did you deliver the dress to your wife?”

 

To Pervin, who turned his head without any answer, Madame Tilly clicked her tongue and advised:

 

“You should have talked to her, not just delivered the dress,” she said. “It’s just everyday conversation, like saying the dress is pretty or something like that.”

 

“Do I look like that right now, Mrs. Tilly?”

 

“Master, you should at least try. I can see that she is trying hard…”

 

Mrs. Tilly’s voice grew quieter. Mrs. Tilly, whose attitude changed so kindly in front of Irwen, only made him harden. But deep down, he was very happy with her transformation. He had been watching Irwen for the past few days, and he had offered her prayers of thanks as it seemed like her prayers to God had finally paid off. For four years he had been praying for the poisonous Irwen, a foreign princess, to have a good heart by the grace of god, but in the past few days, Irwen had shown that side of her. Not only did she no longer spew out harsh words, but she also worried that the employees would catch a cold when they sniffed her. And most of all, the color of her face changed. Her cold, poisonous face returned to a healthy complexion. He bravely looked at  Irwen’s face, which he had never seen before because he was too scared, and Mrs. Tilly was startled. Her face was so beautiful that she was famous for her appearance, so much so that rumors spread even in the Duchy of Verma and here in Theresia. In particular, her venomous face made others feel a sense of awe. The employees, who were afraid of her, were mesmerized by her changed appearance.

 

-I knew she was beautiful, but I think she has become even more beautiful these days.

 

-I didn’t know much about her before because I was scared, but her eyes were really pretty. It looked like a clear lake reflected in the sunlight at dawn.

 

-She looks like she was born again.

 

Madame Tilly was deep in thought when Pervin asked her in a strange voice:

 

“Mrs. Tilly, let me ask you one question. What does it usually mean when a woman cries? It means something other than crying because you’re sad.”

 

“Uh… Usually I cry because I’m sad… But it is not limited to women… Why did she cry? Then I should go inside quickly.”

 

Mrs. Tilly looked perplexed. For Pervin Carlisle, Irwen was his first woman, and she was the only woman who entered his world. She was his only woman, and Irwen, his wife, had shown nothing but anger. That was why her crying this time came as a great embarrassment to her Pervin.

 

‘I’m embarrassed that Irwen is crying? Why am I like this?’

 

He hurried Mrs. Tilly inside, and Pervin pressed his ear to the door. The womanly cries were not heard. Thank god… Was he glad? His condition was really strange today. Pervin thought that he should control his confused mind with his sword skills, and he walked busily. As Irwen appeared before his eyes, he bit his lip and moved his position. 

 

* * *

 

The day of the cultural festival has finally arrived. As guests arrive at the grand banquet hall one after another. I wore a pure white dress and relaxed my neck in the grand banquet room.

 

“Aaaaa~.”

 

“Your neck is in great shape, ma’am. And the pitch can’t be this accurate.”

 

The pianist who was playing music in the main banquet room repeatedly looked at me with admiration. I shyly shrugged my shoulders.

 

“Do you really think it’s okay? You wouldn’t be embarrassed to show it in front of others, right?”

 

“Your skills were great from the beginning, but didn’t you practice this song with me for two whole weeks? Talent plus effort can never be this great, ma’am.”

 

Marianne, who was watching from the side, also enthusiastically helped.

 

“I heard people who are good at things usually have more worries, but madam, you are so good!”

 

“Thank you, everyone.”

 

I tried to keep the nervousness of going on stage at bay, and once again organized today’s schedule. At the cultural festival held today at the Carlisle Mansion, the song I would sing was ‘I Can’t help but be sad for you who left.’ It was a rewritten version of a song I enjoyed singing in this life. I planned to sing with emphasis on the lyrics, ‘Give me one chance, please forgive me.’ It may be childish, but I will convey my true feelings to Pervin through song. And this was also thanks to Mrs. Tilly’s advice.

 

“Master especially likes singing. When you go to a banquet, you always listen carefully to the minstrels singing. Of course, I’ve never heard him sing before. You have a good voice, so you must be really cool when you sing.”

 

Yes, today I will relieve Pervin’s heart with a song. I’m singing another song, I’m sure you won’t hate it either. Okay, let’s slowly restore our relationship. At least don’t hate me, so I don’t incur his hate later. We were practicing singing for a while when Mrs. Tilly hurriedly came running in. He was excited about an event being held at the mansion today, but now he looks worried for some reason.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor, Her Majesty the Empress, and others who were not on the list… Even His Royal Highness the Duke of Sibelom has arrived.”

 

“I’ll be coming down soon.”

 

I looked at myself in the mirror and clenched my fists. Today is the day to present the newborn Irwen to the world for the first time. In the meantime, I’ve been hanging out at the Carlisle Mansion and not interacting with the people of the Theresia Empire at all, so everyone must be looking at me with disdain. The performance I will give you today should make you realize that Irwen is, in fact, a multi-talented lady who is good at art. And I have to impress everyone by showing them that I am offering a heartfelt apology to the Duke of Carlisle in song. Yes, I will definitely change my image. A cultured noblewoman who sings sweet songs in an evil place with thorns on her tongue. Just as I was about to take a step, Mrs. Tilly hurriedly stopped me.

 

“Ma’am, please wait a moment. The master said earlier that he was coming up here.”

 

As Mrs. Tilly looked nervously at her door, I shook my head at her as if that couldn’t be possible.

 

“There is no way he would escort me, Mrs. Tilly. He hates me so much…”

 

“There is no way the master would dislike you. That is too much speculation, ma’am.”

 

“This is the first time a cultural festival has been held at the Duke of Carlisle’s residence, and I am the one who has postponed this duty to other noble ladies, so I think it can’t be helped even if Pervin hates me. But I’m going to do well starting today, anyway.”

 

Just when I was about to open the door handle. The door handle swung open from outside. Pervin, who was one head taller than me, was looking down at me indifferently. He was wearing a luxurious navy blue uniform, with platinum-blonde hair flowing down to his neck. His face was always beautiful as he looked at me. I pursed my lips at his unrealistic proportions that seemed to have come out of a painting. He is looking at me without saying anything. I don’t know if he had been listening earlier or if he had just arrived. But there was a light blush on his face as he looked at me. His green eyes were strangely shaking as he looked at me.

 

“Do I hate you? You still think as you want, Irwen.”

 

“I’ll just leave now.”

 

“Let’s go out together, Mrs. Tilly…”

 

Sweet. As Mrs. Tilly hurried out as if someone was about to eat her, Pervin suddenly locked the door.

 

“Why are you locking it?”

 

“Well, why did I lock it?”

 

Pervin quietly approached me and muttered. His eyes stayed intently on me.

 

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Translator Note: