I have crawled into this swamp again.
The two of us are stuck in the carriage again.
I'm an idiot.
I shake my head.
At least, it will not be too uncomfortable since the distance to downtown is shorter than when we were coming from Lapel. Regardless, it's still uncomfortable.
"Is it far away?"
"Two hours by carriage."
OMG.
"No way. You're lying."
"Yes. I'm lying."
"..."
Is this guy trying to kill me?
Slanting his head, he smiles as he looks at me, whose mouth drops open.
"You said you lived in the capital, but you can't tell how far it is."
"I-I didn't go downtown very often."
The end of my words crack a bit, though they're not very significant.
"Is that so?"
"Yes. I was just at home."
He stares at me when I said that I was alone at home, and asks with a slightly narrowed eyebrow.
"You only stayed at home?"
"Well, I stayed around the house, so I've never been to the downtown area."
"Isn't that abuse?"
I try to wave my hand dismissively, but then I shut my mouth. This is not a matter for me to judge hastily.
Frankly, if I look at Abella's memory, she was Cinderella, and the baroness and her daughters were like stepmothers and sisters.
So the odd thing is,
Why did you send Abella to Charles?
He had three daughters at his disposal.
Most parents would want their children to go to a nice house and eat well.
However, the baron couple, who were greedy for everything, chose Abella in this case.
Is it because she is the only blonde in the family?
After all, Abella is the prettiest in the family.
The appearances of her older sisters from Abella's memory are subjective rather than objective, and it isn't even said that they were pretty in any way.
Out of greed, did you ever think that things might go awry if you let the older sisters go?
Well...You made a very wise choice for the first time.
Otherwise, you'd suffer a big loss if you pursue a small profit.
This wasn't just cutting the belly of the duck that laid the golden eggs because it was almost impossible to have the duck that laid the golden eggs in the first place.
As expected.
When I remember the couple who were very shrewd while greedily protecting their interest, a smirk forms on my lips.
How angry would they be if Abella, who has been thoughtful toward them, does not even meet them and even give them discipline for being callous.
Let's just say this is my second gift to Abella.
I'll take a small revenge on them.
Now that I have your body, I'll give you a little bit of what you want.
I don't know if that's revenge or not.
"..."
I bite my lips as if swallowing the bitter expression I'm making while thinking of Abella,
"What else are you thinking about with that expression on your face?"
Charles glances at me and asks.
He must have been looking at me the whole time. As soon as I turn my head, our eyes meet.
From his black eyes that stare at me unwaveringly to his clenched lips.
A gnawing feeling in between my chest forms because he looks a little different from usual in this carriage, which has caught a bit of turbulence due to the uneven ground.
I don't think I should be staring at him for long.
In between our swaying gazes, I shrug my shoulders and turn my head, as if to avoid his gaze, which I can feel some magical power stemming from, that somehow has bewitched me.
"Just...Was I abused? That's what I'm thinking about."
"And your conclusion...?"
"I do not know."
I give another casual slide of the shoulders with a laugh.
Other than that, there's nothing else I can say at this moment.
Only Abella could give an answer to whether she was abused, unhappy, or sad in that house.
"I see."
After staring at me like that, he shakes his head.
I've been wondering why he's trying to pry.
Yesterday was Leo, and today's Charles. I'm grateful that uncomfortable questions do not continue.
Of course, Leo was asking about me, and Charles is— He's asking about Abella.
Turning away, I ponder the questions for two people, who are subtly different.
"Oh, and—"
He awkwardly grabs my attention as he turns his head.
"Catherine has been handed over to the imperial guard."
"Ah."
Catherine.
At the name of a being that I have completely forgotten, I burst into laughter as if I have lost steam.
She left with mischief until the last moment.
"Everyone knows that you're an illegitimate child, so you will be kicked out of that place soon."
"Ah, it's not that you're kicked out. It's that you're coming back to your original place."
"A shallow illegitimate child as a duchess? Ha! What's the difference between you and me?!"
(T/N: Charles. Charles is the difference between you. Lmaoo)
The origin of her hatred towards me seems to have started from her inability to accept me, an illegitimate child who came from an aristocratic family with the standing of a baron.
But if that was the case, she should have only hated me. Why did she take bribes and embezzle?
The amount was really huge.
From what Edgar said, it was enough to buy a decent castle in the countryside.
Originally, I wondered if I had to make a lot of money to make even more money.
To be honest, I don't want to hold on to my feelings for Catherine for very long.
If it's Abella, there might be some ties, but I don't have much feelings when it comes to her.
Since I've to cut out annoying bastards.
"That's great."
"My mother must have already heard of it, but seeing that she is quiet in that regard, she probably feels that there is no need to take action."
Hmm.
I thought she was a trusted aide.
You're just throwing her away because she caused a problem.
She is, after all, a woman who abandoned her son because she does not like him, and used violence against the duke's lieutenant.
"I see."
Speaking of which, I wonder who she is. Do I want to see her at least once this founding festival?
Thinking about what to do with the awkwardness, I already feel a cold sweat running down my back.
"About Evangeline."
"Ah, do as you wish, Your Grace."
"..."
"Isn't the punishment she has already suffered for the past few days enough?"
To be honest, I thought it might have been better had I stepped on her instead of him, but my arms were twisted.
If I had gone a step further, Charles might have stood by her side.
At least, he's not on someone else's side.
If that happens, Evangeline's nose, which is already held up a bit high, will become even higher to the point where the world wouldn't be able to escape it.
Will she get out of hand?
The fact that Evangeline will not be able to say much in front of me in the future means that I have achieved my intended purpose.
It's not like I'm going to be in this house for a long time anyway, so I just wanted you to be quiet for a while.
"So, if that's your intention—"
"I was just trying to tell you not to let it slide."
How much of what he said should I believe?
"What?"
"You are too soft."
Me?
Embarrassed, I laugh awkwardly since this is the first time I've heard this.
That I'm too soft.
If the people around me had heard the words 'Kim Eun-jung, who was strict, is a softy,' they would all have protested before moving on.
However—
"If I were you, I would have married her to a local nobleman, who would be on my side."
He's tough.
As I listen to his next words, it seems that I'm right.
"Or you can become the center of the social world in the capital, leaving no place for Evangeline."
"For example?"
"You can take control of them and exclude Evangeline."
Wow—Isn't that the same as telling a young girl to die?
"Or you can invite all the nobles from the capital to a banquet at the duke's residence, except Evangeline."
How can he think of harassing people like this?
What now...
"And best of all..."
"....."
"You are in a position to do it all."
"What are you going to do if I really do all of that?"
"I'm telling you to do it. In a social world, this is what happens, and it's very common."
"..."
"There are many cases where a noble girl of high status like Evangeline, doesn't appear in the social world at all."
"It doesn't sound like she likes that."
"She hates it."
"Then, why are you telling me to do something she hates?"
"Because I don't want you to get hurt."
"..."
Wow—This man must be crazy.
Otherwise, how can he say such cheesy words so casually?
Especially in front of a woman who is constantly asking for a divorce.
Should I respond just as boldly?
"Ahaha. I see."
Unfortunately, I don't have the confidence to be as bold, so I sneakily avoid his gaze.
"Don't look away if you have nothing to say."
He's like a ghost.
(T/N: she's saying that he's haunting her thoughts in a sense lol)
"That's absurd."
Looking back at him, I give an awkward laugh.
"Not at all."
As I stare at him with an exaggerated smile, he also looks back at me and says nothing.
"So, do whatever you want, whatever it is."
"..."
"Neither mother nor Marissa will be able to protect Evangeline forever. If you want, you can block her cash flow on their side as well. Well, it may not have any impact because Evangeline has a lot of inheritance on my mother's side."
Thinking that he's joking, I slightly narrow my brow at his words—
Rattling!
I lose my center of gravity because of the disturbance from the carriage.
My body tilts forward, making my butt stick out, before I fall down..
.
.
.
T/N: Charles as he tries to tell Abella ways to punish Evangline
Abella, who stares at him as if he's insane
Get you a man that can do both ladies. Get yourself a Charles. lol.
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Divorce Manual
RomanceHaving lived as a small citizen of the Republic of Korea, I was somehow reborn as a supporting character in a historical novel as the wife of the villain, Charles Diago, who fell for the heroine and died after committing all kinds of evil deeds! My...