Chapter 2.5 - That Man's Circumstances - There's No Way My Wife Could Be This Strange
Chapter 2.5 – That Man’s Circumstances – There’s No Way My Wife Could Be This Strange
That day had been quite ordinary.
Save for one thing—an utterly bizarre creature he had never seen or heard of before had leaped into his life.
It was an open secret throughout the empire that Rubellian Florence’s birth was shrouded in mystery.
His mother, Charlina, had been born a commoner but rose to the rank of duchess thanks to her exceptional beauty. The emperor, driven by desire for her, sent her husband, Duke Florence, to the frontier before summoning her to the imperial palace
The truth was rape, but people didn’t see it that way. The nobles were excessively cruel toward the commoner woman who had secured the position of duchess, and most regarded Charlina as “a lowly wench who secured the duchess position then seduced the emperor to become his mistress.”
Her pregnancy cemented the rumors as fact. The only one who believed in her innocence was Duke Florence, who had returned from the frontier after three months on imperial orders.
In the end, Rubellian had to lose his mother as soon as he was born.
The previous Duke Florence had loved his wife. Even though the child wasn’t his blood, he loved him simply because he was her child, enough to tell him “you are my son.”
And this was also the reason he came to hate both the emperor and the House of Colica.
Colica—the emperor’s most reliable ally, yet simultaneously a sword that could stab the emperor at any moment.
The House of Colica, being the empress’s family, had regarded his mother as the greatest eyesore at the time and rightfully so, for despite having made their daughter empress and producing a son, the emperor’s favor was directed toward the duchess. Though whether that attention could be called “favor” was debatable.
Rubellian’s purpose was simple: to take revenge on the emperor, to bring down the House of Colica, and to overthrow the Crown Prince, their son.
He had no desire for power itself. If he truly wanted that, he would’ve already gone to the emperor—who always looked at him with that nauseatingly wistful gaze—and pleaded for a position.
What he wanted was something else entirely. To personally thrust a sword into the heart of the emperor who had mocked his father and dishonored his mother, and to annihilate the entire imperial family—that was his greatest goal.
Something he had never forgotten, not for a single moment.
“To do that, I need to drive a wedge between the House of Colica and the emperor.”
With this thought, Rubellian had frantically searched for something that could divide the emperor and the House of Colica ever since reaching adulthood.
And one day, he received a letter from the head of the Clauda merchant guild.
‘I possess something that could drive a wedge between His Imperial Majesty and the House of Colica.’
However, there was a condition.
That’s where it all began—the unbreakable bond between Rubellian and Evangeline Clauda.
* * *
“As Your Grace well knows, the bond between the imperial family and the House of Colica is not easily broken.”
One afternoon, sitting in Rubellian’s study, the head of the Clauda merchant guild began to speak.
“However, if they were to learn that the imperial family once tried to join hands with the temple, the House of Colica would no longer be able to trust His Majesty.”
What the head of the Clauda guild had brought was something tremendous.
Proof that the current emperor and the temple had once allied to bring down the House of Colica.
If this were revealed, the bond between the House of Colica and the emperor would clearly crumble completely.
Though he didn’t know how this evidence had ended up in the hands of the Clauda guild head, the merchant had boldly made his proposal while holding this ace.
“Please take my daughter as your wife. Then I will give you what I possess.”
Rubellian looked steadily at the audacious commoner who dared to demand a deal from him, curling up the corners of his mouth.
This man had held onto the very thing he had been searching for all these years and refused to let go until the end, and now he was telling him to marry his daughter.
“You must have a death wish.”
A chilling smile fell across Rubellian’s face as he leaned back leisurely in his chair. The head of the Clauda guild trembled at the sight of his hands polishing a long sword.
“…Then Your Grace will not be able to obtain what I possess.”
“No. That’s not it.”
The Clauda guild head slowly raised his head. Rubellian’s sinister gaze pierced through him.
“It’s not that—”
“……”
“The guild head dies.”
“……!”
“Along with his daughter.”
His young daughter was truly unfortunate—to have ended up with a father like him by chance. The sight of him wagging his tail, trying to somehow worm his way into high society, was quite pitiful indeed.
Killing a mere guild head was nothing special. The ducal house had many famous assassins, and in fact, even if they publicly framed him with some crime and had him beheaded, no one would stop them.
However, the moment the Clauda guild head opened his mouth, Rubellian finally realized what card he had brought to the table.
“I, I have hidden it away in secret.”
“Finding it is simple enough.”
“You won’t be able to find it.”
“……”
“Even if you could find it, you won’t be able to open it. It’s an object enchanted with ancient magic, and only I know how to open it.”
Ancient magic. Quite a luxury for a mere commoner to enjoy.
For a moment, thick murderous intent flared in Rubellian’s face.
“I wonder, would you open your mouth if one finger were cut off?”
“……!”
“Or if your tongue were cut off—ah, but then you couldn’t speak.”
“D-do as you please. However, I absolutely want to send my daughter to the ducal house. It’s nothing significant. Though my daughter may be a commoner, she is more beautiful than anyone. A-and she will absolutely not be a burden to Your Grace.”
At those words, Rubellian subtly frowned.
Why was he so desperate?
“Why?”
“……”
“Why are you so frantic to marry your daughter off to me?”
The sight of him sitting there so stubbornly even after receiving such threats was quite peculiar indeed.
However, the Clauda guild head’s answer was rather unexpected.
“My daughter says she wants to get married.”
“What?”
“A child who couldn’t leave her bed since childhood said for the first time that she wants to marry. That’s why I want to give her the very best.”
“And I’m that ‘very best’?”
“The imperial family is too cruel—that child wouldn’t be able to endure it. But Your Grace is kind, aren’t you?”
The moment the Clauda guild leader stopped talking, Rubellian’s face contorted oddly.
Kind? What nonsense. The bizarre word made him scowl, but the next sentence left him speechless.
“The child of Charlina couldn’t truly be cruel, could she?”
Charlina. Charlina Florence. The young orphan girl who had done odd jobs under the previous head of the Clauda guild. The woman who had been so kind that even after becoming a duchess, she would send gifts every year, always saying she was grateful.
The corners of Rubellian’s eyes twitched. Though harsh in every aspect, he ultimately broke down only before his mother and father. His whole life was driven by revenge and regret.
His life existed solely for revenge.
To move such a man, the head of the Clauda guild had brought up Charlina. Whatever else he might be, he was terrifyingly cunning.
Finally, Rubellian spoke.
“I’ll think about it.”
And a few days later, Rubellian sent a letter saying he would do so.
* * *
“The only daughter of Clauda?”
“Yes, I may need to prepare for marriage.”
The moment Rubellian’s words fell, Mrs. Jena’s face contorted in disgust. She couldn’t not know about that nouveau riche’s daughter who was currently the subject of much gossip in high society. But for her master to marry such a woman—Mrs. Jena was horrified.
“Absolutely not! Setting aside her lineage, she’s a woman without so much as common sense! For a mere commoner to propose to the Crown Prince—what on earth…?”
Mrs. Jena, who had been trembling with revulsion, suddenly clicked her tongue as if something had occurred to her.
Watching this, Rubellian raised an eyebrow slightly.
“What’s wrong?”
“There have been strange rumors circulating in the capital lately, and it seems they were true.”
“Strange rumors?”
“They say someone has been investigating Your Grace’s preferences. I dismissed it as nonsense and let it pass, but could it possibly be connected to that young lady……”
Mrs. Jena’s face twisted. When she first heard the rumors, she had dismissed them as ridiculous gossip, but now she couldn’t help but think of her.
A woman who relied solely on her face and figure to chase after men. A woman who didn’t know her place and was rejected after proposing to the Crown Prince. They said she would take any man to gain power.
But what was even more horrifying was that the Crown Prince, who supposedly had no interest in women, had quite seriously considered accepting her as Crown Princess based purely on her beauty. Of course, he had maintained his reason in the end.
Mrs. Jena, recalling various rumors, let out a deep sigh.
Gossip from busybodies was rarely trustworthy. Although it might be true that the Crown Prince was captivated by that woman’s beauty, most of the tales painting her as dissolute were clearly fabricated.
Moreover, wasn’t the source of the rumors Gellin Psik, that libertine of high society? Obviously he had made advances and been rejected. There was no way Rubellian didn’t know the facts she was aware of.
But when did truth matter in gossip? What mattered was that someone with such rumors would be entering the ducal house as its mistress.
“Must it really be so?”
“Yes. It’s a deal.”
At Rubellian’s words, Mrs. Jena clutched the back of her neck.
Lilith Bolton would be pleased. Given her habit of going wild over anything pretty, whether it was a pig or a peacock, as long as it was beautiful she could serve it as a mistress.
After finally deciding on Lilith as the new mistress’s maid, Mrs. Jena asked:
“So when will the mistress be visiting the ducal house?”
“……”
“What’s the matter?”
Mrs. Jena asked, but Rubellian’s face grew dark in response. It was only natural, since despite the deal being sealed weeks ago, he had never actually met the rumoured Evangeline.
Not even once.
“I haven’t met her yet either.”
“……Pardon?”
Mrs. Jena clutched the back of her neck once again. Even if it was just a deal, she was still the person he would have to live with for the rest of his life—the choice had been made too quickly.
At her incredulous expression, Rubellian said calmly:
“It’s not my fault.”
The first time, it had been the flu. He had accepted that readily enough. He had heard rumors that she was in poor health and often bedridden.
The second time was vomiting. He didn’t quite understand what that situation was about, but since they said her stomach wasn’t well, he had accepted it as such.
She must be quite frail indeed. When she enters the ducal house, I’ll have to make sure she eats properly, Rubellian had thought. In his mind, he already pictured a pure and pitiful young lady on the verge of death from not eating properly.
Someone who looked like she would collapse at the slightest touch.
And such thoughts of his were completely shattered when he visited the Clauda house once again.
Rubellian never dreamed that his meeting with his prospective bride would take place on a street filled with muddy water.
When the coachman, thinking he had hit someone, hurriedly stopped the carriage in alarm, Rubellian stepped out, and at that moment, he had to seriously reconsider this marriage.
No matter how important revenge was, did he really need to marry such a woman? Doubt about life washed over him like a tidal wave.
With a faint hope, he muttered:
“Evangeline Clauda?”
Rubellian wasn’t particularly picky about the type of woman he preferred.
But this strange being before him—regardless of gender—was hardly easy to regard as human.
A skirt splattered and thoroughly dirtied with mud, disheveled hair that was only neat in the front—he should have noticed Evangeline’s obsession with her bangs then—a grimy face, and amidst it all, a gaping mouth.
He wasn’t someone with a cleanliness obsession, but who in the world would like dirty things to begin with?
Suddenly, Evangeline giggled foolishly. Among her grimy, mud-smeared face, only her snow-white teeth stood out brilliantly. At this rate, he might fall for her teeth.
As he pondered what to do about Evangeline’s appearance that had delivered such a tremendous shock, a question suddenly crossed his mind.
‘But why is she coming out from here?’
Though she was a commoner, there was no excuse for a precious young lady to emerge from such a place. As Rubellian, sensing something amiss, thought, ‘Surely not—,’ Evangeline giggled foolishly once more. The sight was so unsettling it made him frown deeply.
But it was a marriage he had already agreed to. Moreover, the head of the Clauda guild hadn’t even handed over the evidence to him yet.
In the end, he extended his hand to Evangeline. With an impossibly cheerful smile, Evangeline took his hand.
And some time later, when Rubellian arrived at the Clauda mansion, the head of the Clauda guild said with an awkward expression:
“Actually, my daughter is a bit… lacking. She’s been bedridden since childhood, so she never learned social skills.”
“Lacking?”
“Yes, she’s a bit lacking.”
……It didn’t seem like just ‘a bit.’
Instinct was telling Rubellian that the head of the Clauda guild was definitely lying.
But he had to accept it. No, in truth, he wanted to accept it.
After all, wasn’t being lacking much better than liking dirty things?
That was when the door opened, interrupting their conversation. For a moment, at the pure white silhouette visible through the crack in the door, Rubellian stopped short.
Evangeline was beautiful. Even to Rubellian, who had no particular expertise in beauty, she was the most beautiful of all the people he had ever seen.
A face white as snow, elegant platinum hair, a swan-like neck, long eyelashes and pitifully curved eyes, and following down her straight nose, reddish lips that were particularly lovely.
Even standing still, she was like a work of art. Pure like a swan, yet with an alluring aspect like the sharp roses that filled gardens.
Beautiful enough that one could understand how the Crown Prince, who had no interest in women, that rational human being, had been slightly moved by her beauty.
Yet the moment the door swung open, a sudden chill sparked in her modest jade eyes. Her exquisitely proud gaze flickered sharply before softening. As she stepped inside, she resumed giggling foolishly, as though that proud look had never crossed her face.
Her appearance was extraordinarily splendid. Adorned with all kinds of jewels and pearls, wrapped in a gorgeous dress with lace and frills, she looked almost excessively decorated.
If others had seen her, they would surely have gossiped that she was indeed a nouveau riche’s daughter. However, the moment Rubellian saw Evangeline’s appearance, he could stake everything on the fact that Evangeline had absolutely no desire for this marriage.
‘So that’s why they investigated my preferences…… Then the previous incidents too……’
The flu.
The flu was easy enough. Given the chilly weather and her fragile health, couldn’t there be some way to take care of it?
Vomiting?
Weren’t there emetics sold in the market?
And her appearance just moments ago. That tangled thicket, with Evangeline lying face down beside it. Now that he thought about it, he recalled seeing money tucked beneath her thin dress. As he reviewed her recent actions, a slight frown crossed his face. To the head of the Clauda guild, she might seem like a lacking daughter, but to him, she didn’t come across that way.
Sensing this, he curled up the corners of his mouth.
How interesting.
At that moment, Evangeline’s eyes trembled seriously. What was she afraid of? They said she had proposed to the Crown Prince—what exactly did she want?
Ah, Rubellian tilted his head slightly.
Not just anyone could propose to the Crown Prince as a commoner.
‘Hmm, did she really love the Crown Prince?’
Soon a story of two people who couldn’t overcome their difference in status formed in Rubellian’s mind. A beautiful commoner, and the Crown Prince.
As he briefly thought of the Crown Prince, his mood soured and he frowned.
But soon he smoothed his expression again.
The story was taking an interesting turn.
* * *
