I Became the Obsessive Male Lead’s Ex-Wife

A week later, it was late at the imperial palace. The meeting started in the early afternoon and continued until late at night, when dinner was postponed. Several high-ranking nobles who attended the meeting were members who helped the emperor lead the empire. The main characters here were Sibelom, with his silver hair tied together, and Pervin, with his eyebrows furrowed. Pervin, who had been in a good mood these days, felt worse the moment the meeting began, or rather, the moment he faced Sybelom. At every moment, Sibelom interrupted Pervin, threw tantrums, and repeatedly broke off the meeting by citing nonsensical reasons.

 

“I think the taxes levied on nobles are excessive. In contrast, why were taxes paid to farmers reduced? I think we can collect 30% more from the local residents than last year.”

 

“Don’t you know that due to the drought this year, the harvest has decreased by 20% compared to last year? If the peasants cannot afford to pay it, it is right to withhold payment of taxes and release the grain held by the nobles.”

 

After tasting his 50th defeat in a war of words with Pervin, Sibelom was left with a bitter taste in his mouth. Pervin Carlise was a man that Sibelom could never understand. Although he was born as a noble nobleman, he did not even try to enjoy those rights, but even cared about the commoners. Is he trying to improve his own reputation? In fact, the Duke of Carlise had a widespread reputation as ‘a charismatic person who is hard to approach, but fair to everyone.’ Seeing the emperor from the side nodding his head as if pleased with Pervin’s words, Sibelom gritted his teeth.

 

‘Such a fox-like bastard.’

 

Sibelom’s venom-filled eyes met Pervin’s calm eyes. He was so anxious to somehow defeat Pervin at least once that he spoke his words as they poured out of his mouth.

 

“By the way! We must stop artistic exchanges with the Principality of Verma immediately! “No matter how much we provide the market, they only profit unilaterally from the troupe’s performances, and we don’t get much, right?”

 

The Emperor attempted to stop Sibelom by covering his throbbing head.

 

“Sibelom, the treaty also states that your actors will help train Theresia’s actors.”

 

“Especially you, Carlise.”

 

Sibelom, who arbitrarily ignored the emperor’s words, pointedly pointed at Pervin. Pervin was maintaining a cool expression while brushing his white blond hair. He turned his green eyes, as cold as a midwinter snowfield, to Sibelom. Sibelom unconsciously trembled slightly at his strength. But he put strength into his voice again. The one with the loudest voice wins, was his motto.

 

“I know that you have personally benefited by promoting exchanges with the Principality of Verma.”

 

“That’s not true at all.”

 

“Tell me. If I flatter Lord Lilias, will anything come of it? Did Lord Lilias say that if we allow artistic exchange, she would give us at least a dozen beautiful actresses?”

 

“That’s nonsense…”

 

“That’s right. Since you lived with so many women in your arms, you must have become estranged from the Duchess. Isn’t that right?”

 

This is an insult beyond stupidity. I know you’ve been fighting against Irwen for the past four years, so why are you talking nonsense like that? Pervin’s green eyes began to darken. Marquis Celestine, who was sitting next to him, noticed and poked his thigh.

 

“Hold on, just hold on for now. I’m sure His Majesty will mediate such nonsense.”

 

“…”

 

Pervin tried to calm her body as it tried to wake up. The emperor sighed towards the troublesome Sibelom. If I could, I wanted to sew Sibelom’s mouth shut. There were more than once baseless hypotheses raised in an attempt to get rid of Pervin. As he was the heir to the throne, a group of nobles who followed Sibelom also agitated his opinion. Of course, the fighting was still stopped thanks to the emperor’s strong intervention. Sibelom asked Pervin with a sigh.

 

“Isn’t that so? “Isn’t that why the Duchess has been secluded in her house and her beautiful face has withered?”

 

“I won’t bother answering questions that aren’t worth answering.”

 

“What… what!”

 

“And according to the popular rumors, isn’t it true, Duke, that you never run out of women in your arms?” said Pervin, tapping his fingers absently. It seemed like the patience that had been patient with Sibelom for so long had run out. It was a languid voice, but it seemed sharp as if there were thorns hidden in it.

 

“I wasn’t going to say this here, but… Last month, all the actresses from the troupe that toured in the Principality of Verma were invited to the duke’s party, including Pa and Ti, who were extremely promiscuous.”

 

“Carlise!”

 

Sibelom jumped to his feet, his face turning red.

 

“Stop saying nonsense, without any evidence!”

 

“I apologized several times and compensated to prevent the theater company director from taking the actors back to the Principality of Verma to report. I am ashamed that the heir to the empire goes around violating women at random.”

 

“Can’t you shut your mouth?”

 

“If you hadn’t done something like this in the first place, I wouldn’t have had to tell you this, Duke Sibelom. Relations with the Principality of Verma have finally become amicable, so I don’t know why you are stirring up trouble.”

 

When he heard whispering around him, Sibelom’s face turned red. When she tried to attack Pervin, she could not lift her face as only her private parts were exposed. The only thing that filled Sibelom’s mind, driven by her evil, was to provoke Pervin and bring him down. Sibelom knew very well that there was only one thing that could destroy the elegant Pervin Carlise.

 

“I guess you really want to make a good impression on Lady Irwen’s parents, don’t you, Carlise? I wonder what will come out of being seen well by Duke Lilias, seeing the noble Carlise taking care of the Duchy of Verma to such an extent. Isn’t that what Lady Irwen told you to do?”

 

When she heard her wife’s name, Pervin’s cold green eyes flashed. Pervin took a deep breath of her own. Although Sibelom would go crazy because it would be unpleasant for him to say Irwen’s name, he would use his best sense to overcome the situation. The emperor next to them was about to raise his hand as if to break up the conflict between the two. After seeing Sibelom’s triumphant face, Pervin could not bear it any longer. She opened her mouth with a smooth voice, maintaining the dignity of the seemingly arrogant and overbearing Duke of Carlise.

 

“It is true that her wife is very helpful in her interactions with the Principality of Verma. She is from there and has an excellent artistic sense, so she often gives me advice.”

 

“No, what is Lady Irwen…”

 

“It is no exaggeration to say that the relationship with the Duchy of Verma has been maintained smoothly so far thanks to my wife’s ability. I could not bear to say it with my own mouth, but thanks to Duke Sibelom, I am grateful to be able to express my wife’s abilities.”

 

Normally, she would have silently exuded coldness at Sibelom’s provocation, but she was dumbfounded, as if everyone was surprised. This was the first time that Sibelom had rebelled against him and the duchess’ name had been mentioned in an official setting. Hearing his wife’s name from another man’s mouth was understandably unpleasant, but surprisingly, he overcame this crisis in a sophisticated manner, and sighs of relief could be heard from those around him. Rather, the atmosphere took a turn as the diplomatic activities of the Duchess of Carlise, which is not well known, were revealed. Sibelom glared at Pervin as if he were going to kill him, and then momentarily met his noble eyes. His deep green eyes passed by Sibelom’s cloudy eyes. He flinched without realizing it. I clenched his fists, but they were still shaking. Sibelom let out a sigh as if making a final struggle.

 

“…Being wrapped up in a woman’s skirt and acting like a girl and pretending to be noble.”

 

As if she couldn’t bear it any longer, Pervin snapped her hand. 

 

* * *

 

“Oh, why are my ears so itchy?”

 

While I was watching cats wagging their tails in the back garden, I jumped up because my ears were itchy. Marianne, who was playing with a cat and rustling the grass nearby, came running to me.

 

“Are your ears itchy? Would you like me to dig it for you?”

 

“No, I don’t think it’s that bad.”

 

The feeling that had been tickling my ears seemed to have disappeared, so I grabbed a long piece of grass and joined Marianne next to me. Two cheese cats lay down in front of me, showing their bellies. At that time, the front paws that were swinging as if trying to catch the grass that I was shaking, and the tail that was hitting the ground were all so cute that I kept smiling. Marie Anne chattered curiously next to her.

 

“By the way, ma’am, my master, have you ever won in an argument?”

 

“Huh?”

 

When Marie Anne turned her head to her absurd question, she blinked her big eyes.

 

“I was talking with Alfred yesterday and couldn’t come to a conclusion until the end. We all know that there is no one in the empire who can match our master with swordsmanship, but Alfred said that our master is not an ordinary speaker either. If that is true, then why do other people misunderstand our master as a silent and scary duke?”

 

Well, I agree with Alfred. Thinking about what Pervin had said to me so far, it seemed as if he had no gift for speaking at all… At least he spoke well in front of me. But, would you do that in front of other people too? 

 

* * *

 

Pervin rested his sinewy hand on his chin, and placed his shadowed face upon it. Fine platinum hair fell over his forehead. The sculptural face calmly faced Sibelom without any agitation. As Sibelom’s eyes wavered, he smiled brightly. It was the leisurely yet arrogant smile of a predator.

 

“How about being wrapped in the width of her wife’s skirt, and not just anyone else? If I could bury my face in the width of her skirt and gain the wisdom of her wife, I would do so as many times as I could.”

 

The eyes of the people around me shook greatly at the unexpected answer. Sibelom opened his mouth as if to retort, but he only stuttered and said nothing. Even he, who had charmed many women with his brilliant speaking skills, could not respond to Pervin’s speaking skills. Meanwhile, the emperor, who was watching all this, raised his hand and ended the conflict.

 

“Everyone, stop. I knew Lord Carlise’s opinion well, and you, Sibelom, went too far. Stop it now.”

 

He was an emperor who pretended to remain neutral and subtly took Pervin’s side. Pervin, who was looking at Sibelom’s indignant appearance, made an effort to return to his usual noble self. It was a provocation that I would have normally avoided, but I got a little excited when Irwen was mentioned. By the way, why did I say something like that, because it was covered in the width of her wife’s skirt. Pervin covered half of his heated face. 

 

* * *

 

After the meeting broke up. Sibelom, who was the last to remain, went to the emperor and cooed.

 

“Lord Carlise must be stripped of his right to the throne, brother. I can’t see that arrogant bastard holding his head high anymore!”

 

The emperor sighed heavily and frowned. Hearing those words a thousand times made his ears bleed. He was once again faced with a question that had been discussed a thousand times: the right to succeed to the throne.

 

“How can the right to succession be taken away when the blood of the royal family flows?”

 

Sibelom did not even pay attention to what the emperor said.

 

“That’s right! That’s the only reason your brother cares about that guy, that’s the only reason he’s able to raise his voice more and more in the imperial court. He says it’s because of the succession rights he has because of his ancestors. Didn’t you see it at the meeting earlier? Brother, the head of the empire, you raise your voice even when His Majesty the Emperor is present! So, brother, you must officially name me the heir to the throne and give me power.”

 

“Why me?”

 

“Only then will I be able to help my brother as the heir to the throne.”

 

Sibelom huffed and pointed at the large portrait hanging in the corridor. Among the portraits depicting the ancestors of the previous imperial families, their decadent beauty shined through. Even though it was only a portrait, its eyes were so bright and bright that Sibelom made eye contact with the portrait and for no reason became nervous and raised his voice for no reason.

 

“Carlise is tormenting us so persistently simply because he is our enemy!”

 

The subject of the portrait he pointed to was Erwin Carlise, the 1st Duke of Carlise. The portrait drawn of Erwin in his youth looked exactly like it had been drawn of Erwin. The emperor said a cold word to Sibelom, who looked annoyed in front of a portrait that looked exactly like Pervin.

 

“No matter how you look at it, if Pervin was the royal family’s ancestor, then he was the ancestor, but I think you are not.”

 

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Translator Note: