I Became the Obsessive Male Lead’s Ex-Wife

After Alfred came and took Pervin away, Madame Tilly came to the cabin soon after. She came with several maids, and when she saw the cabin in disarray, she could not keep her mouth shut. Yesterday last night, the wet, luxurious dress was lying around, and traces of dripping water remained on the floor of the cabin. Above all, she couldn’t help but be horrified when she saw my hair, which had dried out again after the rain and had become a mess.

 

“No, how on earth did this happen…?”

 

Next to her, Marie Anne gave me a sad look as she looked back and forth at my hair.

 

“Marquis Celestine, you rode a horse all the way here from your villa, so of course you deserve this.”

 

“But how heavy was the rain and wind last night? The weather was such that even a healthy person could fly.”

 

I secretly breathed a sigh of relief. I managed to clean up the mess with Pervin, but luckily I don’t think I got caught. Things like underwear that were scattered on the floor and things like that. Mrs. Tilly dressed me in her clothes from her mansion and said,

 

“It was really amazing to come all the way through the rain. No matter how good the master was with horses, this was too dangerous.”

 

“She said Pervin said she had urgent business to attend to today, so she had no choice but to come. I also have a tea party scheduled with noble ladies today.”

 

“Master, really… Anyway, it rained so much yesterday, but I’m thankful to God that you two arrived safely.”

 

Marie Anne and her other maids quickly began tidying up the cabin. After I was fully dressed, I pulled my hair to one side. Mrs. Tilly gathered my outer clothes and she reported to me.

 

“Preparations are complete for the tea party to be held around 3 p.m., ma’am. They say they serve cakes made with strawberries delivered directly from the production site without any problems.”

 

“I think it’s done, Chief Maid.”

 

The maids reported the briefly cleaned cabin to Mrs. Tilly. All I had to do was put the scattered supplies back in their proper places. I also nodded. Anyway, this is Pervin’s personal place. He wouldn’t like it if the maids cleaned too thoroughly. I got out of bed and tried to walk. The pain I felt in my lower back was excruciating, and my plan to pretend nothing had happened failed. Mrs. Tilly rushed to me and helped me.

 

“Oh my, ma’am, is your back hurting?”

 

“Last night… No, is it because I came on horseback? It hurts a little.”

 

When Mrs. Tilly heard me, she smiled sinisterly and came close to me.

 

“As expected, being alone with your master somewhere other than home feels different, doesn’t it? A cabin like this must have really shown off its wild charm. Even though you look pretty, you have a wild side that is different from how you look.”

 

The moment I saw Mrs. Tilly’s ‘I know everything’ expression and was about to retort. She added confidently.

 

“Although the master has good control over his strength, Alfred said that his back massage skills are excellent.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Beginners say that riding a horse usually puts a strain on their backs, and I recently heard the owner giving a massage. That’s why the master massaged my wife’s waist last night. Since she was young, she had excellent arm strength and her massage skills were excellent. How did you feel when you received it?”

 

It seemed like I had completely misunderstood something, but for now, I answered her question without hesitation.

 

“Of course it was good.”

 

“As expected, master, you are good at it, right?”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

The moment we continue a subtle conversation with a smile on our face. At that time, a loud sound of something landing was heard. It rattled. The eyes of the maids and mine, standing side by side with Mrs. Tilly, were all focused on one place.

 

“The leg of the bed fell down?”

 

Mrs. Tilly opened her mouth and opened her eyes wide.

 

“What? Nonsense. Although this is old, it is made of the highest quality materials so it will never fall down…”

 

Thud! 

 

I saw that the right leg of the bed, which was shaking, was broken. As the blanket slides down onto the tilted bed, a hollow spot is visible. A place where two people are entangled. The maids’ faces turn red and they look like they don’t know what to do.

 

“Oh my, it was something like that.”

 

“Here, all night… Oh my.”

 

“It’s natural that if you apply force to only one side, it will collapse. Madam, the bed was old anyway, so I was thinking about replacing it with a new one. You drink too much.”

 

Yes. The cavernous area was where Pervin and I had been tangled up all night. Still, it’s like that, why does the bed shake and fall down? It was absurd, but at the same time, her face turned red, and she fanned herself with her hand.

 

“How dare you say something like that in front of your wife!”

 

The maids, whose faces turned red at Mrs. Tilly’s displeasure, immediately closed their mouths. She gave a stern warning to her maids as if it was absurd.

 

“What a stubborn person our master is. He is not the type of person to take his wife mercilessly unless it is the scheduled annexation date. He is a very noble person and respects his wife.”

 

…Then what was the animal-like Pervin last night? She was still vivid. His harsh eyes as they scanned my inner skin and lips. While I was thinking about that, Mrs. Tilly spoke as if driving a wedge into my head.

 

“And, my master is not the kind of person who would act this passionately. How graceful he is, like a deer in the bush. I’ve seen him since I was young, and he’s not the type of person to carelessly cling to his wife without even showing basic courtesy. It’s rude to you to push him like that. Right, ma’am? I think the maids didn’t know what to do and turned their master into such a beast, so I apologize on their behalf.”

 

As I met the gaze of Mrs. Tilly, who firmly believed that Pervin was a deer in the bush, I unconsciously further covered the nape of her neck with her long, abundant hair. I was afraid that her illusion would be shattered when she saw the kiss marks dotted around the nape of her neck. 

 

* * *

 

Late afternoon. The weather today was so sunny that it was inconclusive that it rained yesterday. In the garden of Carlisle Mansion, which was shining moistly after the rain, several noble ladies were happily having tea time. Lady Stella was also invited to this event. She quietly gave me a teacup set as a gift, and other noble ladies also gave me gifts. Countess Honorin, who was here for the first time, looked here and there with her curious eyes.

 

“Today is my first time coming here, but I had no idea the garden here would be this beautiful.”

 

“Oh, Countess Norin is particularly interested in tending her garden, isn’t she?”

 

“Yes. In particular, these flowers, these lilies of the valley, are not even in our garden, but they are here.”

 

Fiery red hair shone next to the white lilies of the valley. Her eyes looking at the flowers were so kind that I said this.

 

“Then would you like me to cut you a bunch?”

 

“Oh my, that won’t work. What kind of flower is this?”

 

Countess Orin hurriedly shook her head and raised her teacup. The ladies around her also whispered and shook their heads. It seemed like there was a secret that everyone knew except me.

 

“What on earth is it?”

 

“Oh my, didn’t you know?”

 

Marchioness Celestine, who had often visited the Duke of Carlisle with her father when she was young, opened her mouth as if hesitating.

 

“That lily of the valley… It was planted by the mother of the previous Duchess, the Duke of Carlisle.”

 

Seeing my surprised expression, the Marchioness added something.

 

“My husband came here to visit a while ago, and she was drunk and tried to pick that flower and got hit… I’m not saying it’s all over. Anyway, that’s how much His Royal Highness the Duke of Carlisle values it.”

 

“Okay.”

 

Listening to her, I remembered that when I had her first dinner here with Pervin, she had put a lily of the valley in her hair. For some reason, Marianne noticed me and decorated my hair with a lily of the valley flower. That means she cherishes the lily of the valley that Pervin blooms in her patronage. But why has she never shown it like this before, and why did she even point it at me this morning? She definitely had a lovely smile and she gave me flowers. At that time, Mrs. Tilly came in holding a small vase. Several maids followed, carrying refreshments. Mrs. Tilly bowed her head as she placed a vase of lilies of the valley in her center.

 

“I thought it was too unadorned, and the owner said it would be nice to have the lily of the valley that he gave to his wife in the center, so I brought it like this.”

 

“It’s so pretty. Good job, Mrs. Tilly.”

 

“Oh my God, His Highness the Duke gave this to his wife as a gift?”

 

Countess Aunorine looked at her Lady Stella in disbelief. Lady Stella also looked at me in surprise and said,

 

“It seems like His Highness the Duke really cares about his wife.”

 

The moment she heard those words, she remembered what Pervin had said to me this morning.

 

-The more I look at it, the more beautiful it becomes.

 

His voice, anxious to please me, seemed to come from right next to me. I guess he really likes me, seeing as how he even gave his favorite flowers for me. I tried to cover my flushed cheeks with a fan. I saw Marianne, who was rushing inside, heading straight for me. She said as she placed a soft cushion on my back.

 

“Ma’am, lean here. I think your back hurts because you rode a horse for a long time yesterday.”

 

“Does your back hurt? Then we shouldn’t have taken too much time.”

 

“What should I do about this? Would you like me to give you a massage?”

 

Marchioness Celestine said sinisterly, moving her fingers wildly.

 

“Even though I look like this, I am a woman who manipulates her husband with her fingers. Starting from the back, to the waist, and then below…”

 

“Diane!”

 

Countess Onorin waved her hand in embarrassment. She was so embarrassed that she called out the Marchioness Celestine’s name.

 

“What are you talking about? There are unmarried virgins here, Diane.”

 

“I really don’t know what you’re talking about. I just massaged her husband’s back whenever he had pain, so the duchess wanted to do the same. What a healthy massage it is to knead it with her fingers?”

 

“Do your fingers have such an erotic meaning?”

 

Stella opened her eyes wide as if curious. She was the only unmarried girl here. Everyone just smiled sinisterly and turned their heads. Eventually she turned her head to me and asked.

 

“The Duchess must know something, right? She kneads her waist with her fingers.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Pervin’s actions last night came to mind again. He moved his fingers as if playing the piano. He caressed his cheek with his graceful fingers, lifted his lips, traced his waist… I cleared my throat and he had no choice but to say this.

 

“Lady Stella will know when she gets married.”

 

“It’s marriage, so you’ll get to do it with the person you love someday, right?”

 

Lady Stella showed a dreamy look in her eyes. Countess Oh Norin made eye contact with me as she giggled. Marchioness Celestin, who had been staring at me until then, looked closer at my face and she was impressed.

 

I wanted to tell you earlier, oh my goodness, your skin looks more glowing today. I guess you got some skin care from somewhere that we don’t know about?”

 

Marquis Celestine, now married for 7 years and like an experienced cat, seemed to see right through me. She affirmed with a nod of her head.

 

“After all, a woman’s skin improves when she receives love from her husband.”

 

Countess Honorine fanned her hand at the bold words of Marquis Celestine.

 

“Stay safe, Diane. After I got married, I became less hesitant in my speech.”

 

“Well, what do you think? It’s only with women.”

 

“Why does her skin get better when she receives love from her husband?”

 

Once again, the only young lady, Lady Stella, attacked. Countess Honorin seemed calm and actively explained.

 

“Hey, are you really asking because you don’t know? There is a common belief that a woman’s skin gets better if she has a relationship like that.”

 

“Your skin and body become prettier overall. You don’t know this unless you really experience it.”

 

I was stunned for a moment because I didn’t understand at first, but then her face turned red. This is my first time getting married, so why do I understand everything like that? Marchioness Celestine playfully poked me.

 

“Yes? Your Majesty the Duke loves you a lot these days, right? That’s why my skin is so fair and my waist is so…”

 

“Irwen.”

 

While her face was blushing, a familiar voice was heard from behind. It was Pervin who got off her horse and hurried here. 

 

* * *

 

After finishing her meeting in good spirits thanks to her finances being much more abundant than before and the public sentiment of the territory’s residents becoming more favorable, Pervin went straight to her mansion. She said that Irwen was inviting noble ladies to have tea time, and the voices of women giggling could be heard from her patronage. He paused for a moment at the sound of women’s voices, which he had never heard for the past four years, but he bravely went straight to the women’s seat, eager to see his wife. As he went to his patronage, he was met by familiar faces he had seen in the imperial palace. It was quite strange that, rather than being embarrassed when they saw him, they greeted him confidently, with some even giving him a sinister look. Marchioness Celestine greeted me with a wow expression.

 

“It’s been a while since I saw you, Your Highness.”

 

“I think your facial color has improved.”

 

Pervin stared at everyone with a strange expression. Why is everyone looking at me like that? In particular, Marchioness Celestine, known for her chastity, and Countess Honorin, famous for her meekness. And even Lady Belle, who was looking at her with a strange expression. Especially Stella Belle. That’s exactly the strange expression I had when I was a child and saw a cat grooming its fur. Why is everyone like this? But Pervin was not one to give in to their expressions. He didn’t care about them and kissed the back of Irwen’s hand.

 

“I came to see you.”

 

“I saw it this morning too.”

 

“I miss you every moment, so stop.”

 

At those words, I saw the ladies around me quickly lowering their eyes in shock. Irwen intertwined his fingers and met his lingering eyes, his face growing red. Behind her were women who were looking at them with interest. Pervin shamelessly responded to their gaze and bowed her head to Irwen.

 

“Strangely enough, I missed you. I couldn’t stand it even for a second and ran here.”

 

He glanced at the noble ladies. It was as if he wanted them to go quickly. Lady Stella seemed to have read his thoughts and jumped up.

 

“When I thought about it, there was some embroidery that needed to be completed urgently. I have to go quickly.”

 

“It was really fun and I want to eat until dinner, but the kids are waiting for me at home so I’ll go.”

 

“I would like to bring my husband and enjoy a couple’s dinner, but… I can’t wait to go.”

 

Everyone jumped up. Pervin clearly had a sweet look in her eyes, but the women seemed to have read the message in his eyes. The message is, “I want to spend time alone, so please leave on your own.” Stella’s body trembled slightly at the obsessive look she saw before. I can’t believe she showed such great obsession with the Duchess. It was the first time he had been so infatuated with a woman, and it was the first time he had clung to her and shown her affection, making it all the more surprising. Also, the Duke of Carlisle, who had never dated before marriage. 

 

* * *

 

I, who was almost in Pervin’s arms, quickly looked behind her. All three women greeted with gentle expressions.

 

“Then let’s go, Duchess.”

 

“No, just play some more…”

 

They were strong despite my dissuasion.

 

“Next time, I will invite you to my house.”

 

“No, I’d like to invite you to my house.”

 

“What do you want me to treat you to?”

 

“My turn comes first!”

 

In the end, the three women fight. Pervin personally gave them a famous verdict and sent them off.

 

“We can meet here again in front of me.”

 

After sending all three women away. Pervin bit all her maids who came to clear the garden.

 

“I’ll call you later, so just go.”

 

“Yes, master.”

 

I sat down on the chair and looked at him. No, I looked down again. Why does my face keep getting hot? Pervin seemed to find me interesting. Finally, I couldn’t bear it any longer and I got up. No, I sat down again. Because Pervin pulled me into his arms.

 

“Let me go.”

 

“…I like this posture.”

 

“Now you’re ignoring my doctor?”

 

“No, that can’t be possible. But…”

 

He buried his lips on my neck and murmured.

 

“Because you don’t seem to like me hanging on too much. No, you like it, right? Please say so, Irwen.”

 

Pervin turned her pale green eyes to me, as if she was showing off her charm, and her cool eyes were beautifully curved. How could you hate it? This man seemed to be making fun of me, nuzzling his head like a cat.

 

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Translator Note: