how to divorce the male lead - chapter 8
Yuliana thought about her various flaws that she didn't like, biting her lips tightly.
The sharp pain somewhat awakened her sense of reality. While leaning halfway on Evan, Yuliana made her way up the stairs to the second floor, heading toward her room.
Since they had never shared a bedroom as a married couple, they used separate rooms.
While Evan knew the location of Yuliana's room well, Yuriana had no idea where his room was. She had never approached him for greetings or business matters. Now that things had come to this point, Yuliana found it strange that she didn't even know where his room was.
Their marriage was entering its second year. It had only been yesterday that she had gone on a journey and returned. What would have happened if she had visited his room before or perhaps written him a letter, pretending to be waiting? Could our relationship have unfolded like the contents of a novel?
"Yuliana."
"Yes?"
Evan came up to her room and opened the door.
Yuliana, lost in several thoughts as she walked, slowly lifted her head. His blue eyes were as cold as ice, something she had never seen before. He still seemed angry.
Yuliana hesitated for a moment and then nodded. If he was angry, there were things that needed to be addressed.
"Speak."
With his assistance, she made her way up to the second-floor landing and leaned against the bedroom, feigning indifference as she spoke.
However, at that moment, Yuliana found herself audacious and even somewhat amusing, and she couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Unexpectedly, Evan smiled in response to her laughter. It was a pathetic sight, still annoyed but unable to help himself, laughing along with her.
After the brief laughter subsided, Evan spoke softly, just as before.
"If you were to ask me why I started to like you, it would be from that day. The day you visited our family."
"There have been so many days like that, I can't remember any of them."
"Then how about the day you fell into the Emerald Lake?"
"Emerald Lake, you say..."
Yuliana struggled to recall the memory.
Then, the memory resurfaced quickly.
In old families, there are places like ancient relics. The Emerald Lake was a peculiar lake belonging to the Hillchen family. It was a strange place with legends that if you made a frivolous wish there, misfortune would befall you. Because of these eerie tales, local children were terrified of the place. However, hearing the rumors as a child, the fearless Yuliana Oben ventured to the lake. She had brushed off the idea that she was afraid and ended up falling into it. Naturally, she blamed her nanny, who had not been paying attention to her, and the nanny was dismissed after several similar incidents.
It was an ordinary day like any other for her, but it was the day she fell in that she fell in love with him. It sounded foolish.
"You went as far as saving me when I was floundering in the lake, didn't you? I remember that Hillchen family knights saved me."
"I was undercover as a family knight's squire, concealing my identity. Of course, I saw you struggling."
"Even though I should have been a damsel in distress? Your tastes are unique."
With a sigh, Yuliana finished her sentence and leaned against the door frame.
She had thought too much, known too much. She didn't want to know anything else, especially not Evan's first love story. Even more so if that person was herself.
But Yuliana had to listen to him. She had promised to listen to him for the first time.
Meanwhile, Evan, who had been looking at Yuliana's pale cheek, gently slipped his hand between her cheek, which was pressed flat against the door frame. His hand, firm and slightly cool, felt much softer and more pleasant than the pillar.
Yuliana let out a tired sigh. Evan, holding her cheek, whispered affectionately.
"That's right. You changed my taste. The girl who was struggling in the lake had a completely different look in her eyes, and I found it cute when she scolded me."
Evan spoke with eyes that seemed to be reminiscing about that day.
"But I soon found out. You were my detested brother's fiancee and the illegitimate daughter of the Oben Viscount House. I did all of it because of you, swearing to hide it like it never happened, and I even started to want to die out of hatred for you. That's why I fell in love with a shameless woman."
"..."
Yuliana, still looking at him even as she blinked, saw Evan smile.
"And I still like a shameless woman."
As soon as he finished speaking, he swung open the previously slightly ajar door.
Afterward, Yuliana entered the bedroom as if she were bewitched by it, still being warmly welcomed inside. When she turned around, Evan was already descending the stairs without a sound.
Yuliana leaned forward, watching him go down the stairs. She kept staring until he was completely out of sight, then quickly turned and rushed into the room.
"What on earth..."
Her heart was in turmoil.
She buried herself under the blanket, trying to sort out her emotions. And then, the answer came to her.
She was angry because she couldn't properly respond to his words.
Nevertheless, she had no choice but to anticipate what would come next. Her stamina wouldn't allow her to continue the verbal battle.
Yuliana buried herself even deeper under the covers, determined to find a way to counter his words and plan for a divorce. Soon, the male lead who would genuinely fall in love with her and the female lead who would receive his love would appear.
Of course, Yuliana Oben knew very well that she was not the protagonist of this story.
* * *
The next day.
Yuriana walked briskly through the garden, trying to clear her thoughts. Perhaps it was because she had passed out like a log last night. She had woken up unusually early, and the surroundings were bathed in the blue light of dawn.
She inhaled the unusually cold morning air and gazed at the blue roses that bloomed even in winter. In the Marquisate, there was a mysterious and unique blue rose garden. It was a garden Evan Hilchen had created simply because Yuriana liked roses. Yuriana had never thought of it as a garden carefully prepared by him.
To be honest, Yuriana Oben had deliberately avoided thinking about Evan Hilchen. However, on a morning like this, and while walking through the garden surrounded by the blue roses he had given her, she couldn't help but think of him.
The man who couldn't help but smile when Yuriana laughed, the man who loved her unreservedly. But when the true protagonist appeared, he would assist in Yuriana Oben's death, and he would pretend not to have loved her—the male protagonist of the story.
"It's surprising how much you like me."
Yuriana faintly smiled and gently caressed the blue rose he had given her.
"I still don't know why you like me."
As she counted the rose petals, she was about to touch the stem when she suddenly felt a prick. Her thumb grazed a thorn that had been hidden by the beautiful rose petals.
"Ouch!"
Yuriana sucked on her slightly bleeding thumb and winced. She quickly raised her head.
She could sense someone's gaze, even though there was no one by the window. However, Yuriana had a vague idea of whose gaze it was, and that person probably realized that Yuriana already knew. Even so, he wouldn't care.
"I care, though."
Yuriana complained inwardly. She lowered her hand that had been sucking her thumb and stared at the slightly injured finger where a faint thorn mark remained.
The skin was slightly torn, and a small drop of blood had gathered. Yuriana frowned thoughtfully.
"It's an unfair game from the beginning. You can't stop your attention, and I can't push you away."