how to divorce the male lead - chapter 5
Her defiance, apparent in her eyes, didn't seem to bother Evan.
In his usual indifferent tone, he said : "To my beloved Yuliana Overn, to my destiny—"
"Ugh."
Yuliana, who had been holding a spoon as if she intended to finish her meal despite the awkward atmosphere, put the spoon down without caring about the cream soup dripping. Whether or not Evan noticed, or rather, in her past, when she used to play around with different men to insult Evan, the letter's sender's name didn't come to her mind at all.
Yuliana thought, 'This must be a masterpiece!' and awkwardly got up to her feet, placing her hand on her forehead as if to buy some time.
"Oh, Evan. I have a headache. It seems my body is not feeling well again, just as you said. I should take a break!"
"'Yuliana, I'm writing this letter because I want to tell you that I've prepared the rose garden we promised last time.'"
"Ugh!"
At that moment.
Yuliana, who blinked her eyes and tried to leap forward to snatch the letter from Evan's hand without any hesitation, but it was as if he had already anticipated it. He lifted the letter high above her reach. Then, with eyes that shone a bright blue without understanding the English text, he looked down at her.
"Is your body already feeling better?"
"…Evan."
Yuliana gazed at the letter that was casually swaying in his hand with an awkward expression, then pronounced his name as if chewing on it.
He waited for a moment before responding, "Yes."
"I've met many men with the intention of insulting you. But I also want to let you know that my feelings have changed."
Yuliana knew the future that awaited her if she continued down this path.
What made it even more agonizing was that Yuliana Overn had clearly died as part of the 'plot to murder the male lead,' but she had no idea which idiot had conspired with her.
She breathed heavily, thinking, 'I knew it would come to this!'
[yuliana Auburn, caught in a conspiracy to murder her husband, met her death. She is by his mace.]
Yuliana took a deep breath to regain her composure and then sat down heavily on her chair.
The Yuliana Overn described briefly in the novel did indeed enjoy socializing with numerous men and having a good time, but she didn't have the kind of personality to conspire for murder.
She wasn't entirely reckless. She wasn't foolish enough to conspire with insignificant men to assassinate her husband, who was adored as a hero without any evidence. She might have complained a lot about wanting to break up with her husband on a whim, but the followers who took her words seriously were the problem.
"But I have no idea who I might have hinted it to. I kept saying such things to everyone I met..."
Yuliana grasped her throbbing head. Evan, who was observing her, smiled faintly.
"Do I have to read this trashy letter further?"
"Please hand it over here."
"Why? Do I have to keep this letter in your gift room?"
Yuliana met Evan's gaze with a hint of caution.
Normally, he would have readily handed over the letter, but her husband was showing a different side today. Jealousy, anger, and misery. His eyes, which were usually charming, appeared darker with an uncharacteristic anger.
Evan bent down, almost as if kneeling in front of Yuliana, and Yuliana locked her eyes .
At the same time, shadows enveloped her as he extended his hand toward her.
He firmly grasped the back of the chair she was sitting on.
Blue veins stood out on his exposed forearm as he clenched his shirt's cuff.
His face, once as expressionless as a doll, now carried a menacing undertone beneath its white, cold veneer , flashed ferocity.
He spoke through gritted teeth.
"Do you know what I thought on the battlefield?"
"I don't."
How could I know, my lord?
Yuliana gave Evan an uneasy look, and strangely, his eyes, filled with anger, seemed so calmed .
"Do you want to kill me?"
"I never had such a dreadful thought. So, don't worry."
Evan chuckled coldly.
The tone was one of disbelief, as if questioning how she could even entertain such a notion. Yuliana bit her lower lip.
'But you'll want to kill me eventually, won't you? When it becomes evident that I was falsely accused of trying to kill you...'
Yuliana turned her head quickly in a gesture clearly avoiding his outstretched hand.
Seeing her reaction, Evan sighed deeply.
He then reluctantly withdrew his hand from Yuliana's and handed her the letter.
As their faces came close, the refreshing scent of rose soap mixed with Evan's presence, so close that even the fine hairs behind her earlobes stood on end.
Evan held Yuliana's head, which rested on the back of the chair, tighter.
He cradled her, but in reality, he didn't touch her at all. Then he calmly spoke.
"Alright. Let's stop. I can't take away your enjoyment."
Lowering his head slightly, he lightly brushed his lips against her smooth cheek.
Yuliana clenched the letter tightly as she felt the sensation, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin.
He was being kind to her.
Confused, Yuliana furrowed her brow and trembled, her voice shaking as she spoke.
"You don't have to think like this anymore. I'll stop this game now."
"Do I get to know why you're changing your whim?"
"The game I was playing to torment you has become boring."
Yuliana laughed awkwardly and, without even looking at the letter properly, tore it up in front of him. Pieces of paper floated in front of her.
She cleared her throat with a small cough and said carefully:"Do you have time in the evening?"
"I don't have it, but I should make time if you want to see me."
"I didn't say that."
Yuliana abruptly got up from her seat, pushed her breakfast aside carelessly, and left the breakfast table while giving a half-hearted farewell.
Evan watched her as she walked away and then snapped his fingers.
The busy servants cleared away the dishes, and the butler entered the room.
Evan absentmindedly toyed with a half-empty glass of water, lost in thought.
The elderly butler, who had served the mansion for a long time and now managed three generations, patiently waited for the Duke's command.
This was a time when it was best not to speak unless spoken to.
"Raith."
"Yes, Your Grace."
"Have you noticed any suspicious behavior among Yuliana's dogs?"
"I'm not quite sure what you mean..."
"I'm wondering if there are any dogs that might be more useful than those idiots who dare to stuff love notes in my mailbox, boasting about proving their bravery."
"There haven't been any signs of that, Your Grace."
Evan brought the glass to his dry lower lip and took a sip of water.
He had been on the battlefield for a year, leading the Knights and crossing mountains and rivers to behead the chieftain of the Ya'har tribe.
Despite all that, he didn't feel dulled by the experience.
However, when it came to Yuliana's affairs, it was always the same.
He would be consumed by dirty jealousy in his heart, and his mind would become clouded. Sometimes, he felt no different from the fools who played around as Yuliana's lovers, teasing and being teased by her dogs.
Evan's expression darkened.
Jealousy welled up within him, dirty and consuming.
"Raith, wouldn't it be better to put down dogs that play around excessively?"
"Please do as you wish, Your Grace."
The butler, Raith, replied calmly.
If there was anything comfortable about being a butler, it was the ability to make those loudmouthed fools, who had claimed that even the brave Duke couldn't eliminate the government of his wayward wife, quiet down a bit.
"While it may feel like taking away one of Yuliana's sources of pleasure, there's nothing we can do about it."
"Isn't Your Grace's state of mind important?"
For the first time, Raith expressed his emotions and dared to ask.
The glint of injustice in the butler's eyes was a natural manifestation of his loyalty to the family.
"Raith, you speak foolishly."
Despite knowing that, Evan rebuked Raith and then spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Don't you know that the one who loves the most often loses?"