how to divorce the male lead - chapter 13
At that time, a stranger bowed before her.
He was a neat young man with smooth brown hair and eyes that resembled autumn leaves.
She furrowed her brow.
Who was this guy?
"Oh."
She briefly closed her fan and then unfolded it again.
He was the second child of Countess Elkelley, whom she had met when they went boating for a swim last time.
She had avoided him because he seemed innocent compared to the others who approached her, but did he really think they were on such familiar terms?
"Now even someone like him is bothering me."
With a deep sigh, Yuliana spoke coldly.
"Yeongsik and I don't have that kind of relationship. Please refrain from using my name. Besides, my husband is nearby."
"Doesn't that husband of yours make you unhappy, Yuliana?"
Yeongsik approached first, his eyes sparkling.
"Oh. you used to criticize him a lot back by the riverbank, didn't he…"
Yuliana thought about her past self and restrained the urge to clutch her head. Then, she spoke awkwardly.
"Well, please forget the foolish things I said in the past. Yeongsik, if you happen to want to request a dance from me, please hold back. My first dance partner will be my husband."
"Don't you know I'm on your side, Duchess?"
The fleeting sadness in young Yeongsik's face was both unfamiliar and not in line with Yuliana's preferences, so she hesitated and stepped back.
"No, could you please move away a bit?"
"Why would you keep your distance from those who are trying to approach the Duchess? You weren't like this before, were you?"
In the conservative noble society, there were surely people who admired and loved the free-spirited Yuliana, who openly enjoyed passing flirtations. They formed a kind of fan club, and it seemed that Yeongsik might be one of them. Of course, in the current situation, it didn't help at all.
"This guy?"
Yulriana tightly clenched her fan, wanting to slap the young man who was approaching her without any consideration.
"Just one more step, and it's going to be a problem. You little brat. Do you want to create a scandal at your mother's ball?"
"Yuliana."
That was when it happened.
Yuliana turned around.
It had just been a moment since she was surrounded by a crowd of people. She didn't know how she had managed to brush them off, but Ivan, holding a cocktail glass in each hand, was now looking coldly at Yulriana and the young man.
To be precise, it was the young man he was looking at.
Young Yeongsik hesitated for a moment under evan's gaze.
Then, as if he didn't want to be seen faltering in front of Yuliana, he straightened his posture even more.
Seeing the young nobleman showing no intention of backing away, Yuliana bit her tongue inwardly.
Regardless of whether she knew how much she had acted as a pitiful heroine, insulting her husband, in-laws, and parents' home in the past, this "fan club" seemed to have gathered impure thoughts and articles about Yuliana.
Their peculiar relationship wouldn't easily disappear just because the now composed Yuliana had dropped her present and entered the temple.
That's why a public setting like this was necessary. Instead of looking at the young man who wouldn't move away from her, Yuliana focused on Evan's gaze, which pierced through her.
As always, he was assessing Yuliana's mood. Or perhaps seeking permission.
Asking if he could handle the young man right in front of him.
"Haha."
Yuliana awkwardly chuckled.
The image of her husband immediately throwing off his gloves and challenging the young man to a duel crossed her mind naturally.
"You don't need to make a big scene like that," she thought.
She hesitantly left Yeongsik's side and approached her husband.
Then, she deftly took the cocktail that was undoubtedly intended for her.
With an air of confidence, she spoke.
"How about Yeongsik also asks other beautiful ladies to dance? There seem to be many distressed young ladies without partners, I think I'll dance with my husband. Before the alcohol kicks in. Right, darling?"
"Darling."
The word, spoken for the first time, was undeniably sweet and embarrassing.
But she managed to keep her composure, perhaps because she had trained her poker face so well.
Evan silently gazed at Yuliana's face, adorned with a seductive smile.
Then, he chuckled softly.
Although it was unclear what he was thinking, his expression didn't seem to be precious or uncomfortable in this situation.
In fact, it appeared to be enjoyable.
Yuliana swallowed hard.
She couldn't help but wonder if she had been the one to propose this situation first, yet she felt like she was being ensnared by him.
Yuliana took a deep breath.
His bronze-colored eyes, which had been leisurely gazing at even the swaying of Yuliana's eyelashes, turned towards the cocktail. Just as Yuliana had done, he raised the glass to his lips.
Droplets of alcohol clung to his lips and he licked them with his red tongue before smiling mischievously and saying, "Of course, I want to dance with you. Always wanted to."
After finishing his sentence, he released Yuliana's arm from his firm grip and wrapped his own arm around her waist. The way he held her made Yuliana's face turn crimson.
He took the cocktail glass from her one hand, drank the remaining contents, and then swiftly finished his own cocktail in his left hand.
With a composed expression, he held Yuliana's waist tightly.
She felt his warm hand through her dress, gently encircling her waist.
Yuliana couldn't tear her face away from his chest and struggled to catch her breath.
As if he knew her trembling, Evan casually remarked : "i didn't know you'd be the first one For the first time, his wife had asked him to dance.
"Even though we managed to avoid drawing attention..."
As Yulriana walked through the dancers, she discreetly wiped away the cold sweat. Nestling her face against his chest and swaying together like a unique couple seemed strangely awkward.
"It's like we've walked straight into the lion's den."
Yulriana felt a growing anxiety as it seemed that Evan's affection for her had intensified.
After ending their extravagant lifestyle of openly cavorting with hangers-on and partygoers, Yulriana had attended this event with plans to go into hiding. However, the anticipation in Evan's eyes only made her feel increasingly guilty.
"But still, Evan Hilchen, I won't get involved in any more events just because I'm by your side."
Now, her only wish was to spend a few years secluded in the monastery and enjoy the golden life that would come after all these various events played out.
Fortunately, Yulriana had wealth on her side, she was young, and she had ambitions to live her life to the fullest while cherishing her own existence.
"Even if I don't get involved in the assassination case, you know I don't have the strength or stamina to fight with the female lead in a love triangle, right?"
She had never been particularly athletic, and even a little exertion would leave her gasping for breath like a deflated balloon on a hot summer day.
Yulriana playfully remarked to Evan, who kept approaching her, in an attempt to establish a barrier between them.
While it might not have been appropriate to speak this way while dancing tenderly in front of others, she felt it needed to be said.
"I appreciate you saving me from my admirers. But you do understand that's not everything, right?"to ask me to dance. I don't know what you're thinking..."
He whispered in Yulriana's ear, "But I like it. Really."
Then, he gestured to the young boy who had been watching the affectionate noble couple.
As soon as his sharp gaze met the eyes of the young boy, Elkelley Countess's son, Yeongsik, already referred to as "the young boy" rather than by his name, froze in his tracks. The look he gave Yeongsik was itself a cruel article. I
f this were a battlefield, Evan's posture was ready to take Yeongsik's neck in one swift move.
Seeing Yeongsik bow his head with a twisted expression, Evan shifted his gaze away from him. Then, he smiled radiantly at Yulriana.
Now, it was time to leave.
For the first time, his wife had asked him to dance.
'Even though I managed to avoid drawing attention...'
As Yuliana walked through the dancers, she discreetly wiped away the cold sweat. Nestling her face against his chest and swaying together like a unique couple seemed strangely awkward.
' It's like we've walked straight into the lion's den.'
Yuliana felt a growing anxiety as it seemed that Evan's affection for her had intensified.
After ending their extravagant lifestyle of openly cavorting with hangers-on and partygoers, Yuliana had attended this event with plans to go into hiding. However, the anticipation in Evan's eyes only made her feel increasingly guilty.
"But still, Evan Hilchen, I won't get involved in any more events just because I'm by your side."
Now, her only wish was to spend a few years secluded in the monastery and enjoy the golden life that would come after all these various events played out.
Fortunately, Yulrana had wealth on her side, she was young, and she had ambitions to live her life to the fullest while cherishing her own existence.
"Even if I don't get involved in the assassination case, you know I don't have the strength or stamina to fight with the female lead in a love triangle, right?"
She had never been particularly athletic, and even a little exertion would leave her gasping for breath like a deflated balloon on a hot summer day.
Yuliana playfully remarked to Evan, who kept approaching her, in an attempt to establish a barrier between them.
While it might not have been appropriate to speak this way while dancing tenderly in front of others, she felt it needed to be said.
"I appreciate you saving me from my admirers. But you do understand that's not everything, right?"