Chapter 1
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#1.
I died and was reincarnated into my favorite character's ex-wife from a web novel.
What I thought was an incredible stroke of luck quickly turned sour when I realized the ex-wife dies young in the story.
And of all the timing, I possessed her body just over a year into the marriage, when the couple's relationship had grown cold as ice.
But giving up was out of the question!
This had to be a gift from the heavens.
'Well, why not? Since I'm living this bonus life anyway, I might as well feast my eyes on my favorite face until the very end.'
The life of a successful fan wasn't meant to be easy.
Perhaps because I'd had no attachment to my previous life, death felt less terrifying and more like I'd been granted a second chance at existence.
Since I was going to indulge in my obsession anyway, I might as well be a happy fan about it.
That became my goal for this new life.
* * *
A commotion erupted from Arkid's Study Room.
Seized by anxiety, I used the master key I'd copied beforehand to unlock the door and burst into the lesson.
And what I saw made my heart sink.
"My lady."
Arkid wore an expression of discomfort.
He pressed a handkerchief firmly against his forehead, and I could see it was stained crimson with blood.
On the floor lay a scattered quill and an ink bottle.
From these details alone, I could piece together what had caused the commotion.
'How dare someone lay a hand on my Arkid's face? He's even more despicable than what I read in the book!'
I suppressed my seething rage and fixed a glare on Marquis Lorke, who stood with his hands clasped behind his back.
He seemed somewhat flustered by my sudden appearance, but quickly composed his expression with practiced ease.
"Grand Duchess, the lesson has not yet concluded."
It was clear at a glance that he disapproved of my interruption.
Ignoring his displeasure, I kept my gaze fixed on Arkid as I responded.
"I heard strange noises from inside, so I came to check."
'He can't be left with a scar... that face is a national treasure.'
I wanted nothing more than to rush over and apply disinfectant and salve to that pale complexion.
"There was a minor accident. It's nothing of consequence, so please return to your quarters."
Marquis Lorke smiled with unflappable composure and tried to placate me, but his words only fueled my anger further.
'A minor accident?'
I forgot my concern for my husband's torn forehead and turned my glare on Marquis Lorke instead.
"You dare inflict a wound on the Grand Duke's face and call that a minor accident?"
"Oh, I see there's been a misunderstanding. It was merely an accident that occurred during corporal punishment."
"An accident during corporal punishment?"
"Yes. The Grand Duke shamefully resisted the punishment and fell on his own, which is how his face came to be cut by the quill."
"Do you truly believe that explanation, Marquis Lorke?"
"You think I'm lying? Well then, Grand Duke, why don't you tell her? Am I mistaken?"
Marquis Lorke smiled with sinister intent as he turned his gaze toward Arkid.
Arkid didn't answer, biting down hard on his lower lip.
For someone who had endured countless verbal assaults and beatings from the Marquis, he was a terrifying figure. Arkid would surely try to hide it, just as he always had.
'I can't let this happen. Does he think I'll live like this forever?'
I cried out sharply, seizing the moment.
"This isn't discipline—it's abuse!"
"What did you just say?"
Marquis Lorke adjusted his glasses, his displeasure evident.
It seemed he was furious that not only had I, a woman, intruded upon this sacred lesson, but I'd also raised my voice at him.
"Are you certain you won't regret those words?"
The Marquis tapped his cane against the floor—tap, tap—wielding his authority like a judge presiding over a trial.
It was clear he was trying to intimidate a young girl like me.
He could treat both Arkid and me so carelessly only because his sister was the lover of Arkid's father, Grand Duke Hadelus.
The Grand Duke was extraordinarily indulgent with his lover, and he treated her brother, the Marquis, with considerable generosity.
He had no idea that this would vanish like a mirage in a single day.
'Hmph, the Grand Duke's tastes are fickle anyway. You'll be discarded within a month.'
I recalled the original story I already knew and smirked, lifting one corner of my mouth.
The Marquis naturally saw it, and his face hardened.
He probably thought I was openly mocking him. Regardless, I held my head high without showing the slightest intimidation before the Marquis.
"Are you threatening me?"
When a twelve-year-old girl spoke with such authority, his face flushed red and purple.
It seemed he was infuriated that the Grand Duchess, who usually confined herself to her chambers, had not only interfered with his lesson but was now showing him contempt.
"It's not a threat—it's advice."
The Marquis ground his teeth and growled his response. I found his arrogant behavior, backed by the Grand Duke's authority, utterly repugnant.
A fox riding on a tiger's back typically assumes people fear it because of the tiger, and struts about accordingly.
Simultaneously, it foolishly mistakes itself for something greater than the tiger itself.
It overlooks the fact that the tiger could, at any moment, rake its claws across the fox's throat.
But therein lay the problem.
Grand Duke Hadelus was a man whose whims changed as easily as boiling broth.
Though he currently doted on the Marquis's sister as if he'd give her his heart and liver, once he lost interest, it would all be over.
The Marquis seemed unaware of how grave the situation truly was.
Grand Duke Hadelus showed no mercy to those who disrespected his authority.
He was the kind of man who could behead even a beloved lover if they crossed him.
And Arkid was the one and only heir to the Grand Ducal House.
Though he bore the shameful stigma of illegitimacy, he was undoubtedly the one destined to succeed the Grand Duke.
Just because the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess ignored Arkid didn't mean others could do the same—yet the Marquis was truly foolish.
'I've been patient enough. But how dare he mark my Arkid's face?'
I had no intention of letting this slide.
Marquis Lorke had made a grave mistake.
I was a brilliant and ruthless villain who knew the future, and I was Arkid's devoted supporter!
How dare he touch the favorite of a villainess? He's lost his mind!
I swallowed my indignation and pointed to Arkid's forehead, asking sharply.
"What tutor smashes the Grand Duke's heir's head under the guise of corporal punishment?"
My stern rebuke filled Arkid's eyes with confusion.
It was understandable—the lady who usually despised him had suddenly come to his defense.
'Don't worry, Arkid. I'll protect you.'
I gave Arkid a subtle wink visible only to him, and he flinched at the gesture, his body trembling.
"Smashes his head? Your language is quite harsh, Grand Duchess."
The Marquis chuckled, apparently thinking I was merely agitated.
It was the confidence of someone who believed they could easily subdue someone like me. The Marquis spoke with utter self-assurance.
"I admit today's punishment was somewhat rough, but it's only because the Grand Duke failed to complete his preparation work...."
So he was going to use preparation work as an excuse this time.
"Preparation work? You mean this?"
I cut the Marquis off mid-sentence and gestured with my chin toward Hannah, my lady's maid.
There was no need to listen to the end of a tutor's words when he didn't even show me the courtesy due to a Grand Duchess.
As the saying goes, kind words beget kind words.
Conversely, harsh words breed harsh words in return—such is the way of the world.
At my signal, Hannah wheeled forward a mobile bookcase and presented it before the Marquis.
At a glance, it was an overwhelming amount to complete in a single day. Only because Arkid possessed a sharp mind could he manage to get through all of it.
The problem was that the Marquis expected him to memorize every single word without exception. I stood with my weight on one leg and asked.
"Does the Marquis truly believe this quantity can be completed in one day?"
"Most noble sons typically study this amount. Since you are a young lady, Grand Duchess, you may not be aware...."
"Why wouldn't I know? I have an older brother myself."
As I cut him off again, the Marquis's expression hardened.
I already knew he deeply resented having his words interrupted mid-sentence. I was deliberately provoking him, hoping he'd lose his temper and make a mistake.
"Ah, of course. With Count April as your brother, you must be well-informed."
The Marquis pressed down his twitching eyebrows and smiled thinly. He seemed to be holding up so far.
Though I doubted he could endure the full extent of my infernal tongue to the end.
I smiled wickedly. Looking at it this way, the villainess in the original work wasn't so bad after all. Since everyone assumed that was simply her nature, she could say whatever she pleased.
"Right. Now we're getting somewhere. I was worried you weren't understanding me—I was actually considering buying the Marquis a hearing aid."
"A hearing...."
"I frequently observed my brother's lessons before I married. Clearly, even half—no, a quarter of this amount overwhelmed him."
"How unfortunate. Most manage this level just fine...."
The Marquis stubbornly refused to back down, insisting on his point. But that was exactly the reaction I wanted. I covered my mouth with an exaggerated gesture and exclaimed.
"What?! Did you just call my brother an idiot?"
"What? No, I never said...."
"You just did. You said most manage this level just fine, which means Count April is clearly an idiot since he couldn't!"
"That's not it! That's not what I meant... Besides, the Count is still young, isn't he? Surely...."
"Right. My brother is fifteen now, so he's young if anything. But Marquis Lorke, doesn't that same logic apply to my husband?"
"I beg your pardon?"
"Are you pretending to be stupid, or are you genuinely stupid?"
"What, what on earth—!"
"I see ignorance has made you foolish. Then allow me to enlighten you. How old is my husband this year?"
"That would be fourteen... oh."
Marquis Lorke finally recalled Arkid's age and closed his mouth with a soft exclamation of realization.
I had let my guard slip for a moment while hurling insults like "hearing aid" and "imbecile" at him.
I smiled wickedly as I spoke, certain of my victory.
"Let me say it once more—the imbecile my brother, as you called him, is only fifteen years old this year."
"...."
"By your own logic, shouldn't you first praise the young Grand Prince for having read through all these books?"
"But the Grand Prince will become the Grand Duke in the future. To fill a thirteen-year gap in his studies, one day is insufficient...."
"Wait! Are you seriously insulting my husband right now, calling him a bastard with nothing in his head?"
"Grand Duchess! I would never say such a thing!"
Marquis Lorke jumped up to defend himself, but I cut him off swiftly.
"How disappointing, Marquis Lorke. I thought you were quite intelligent...."
Then I looked him up and down, exhaling deeply with exasperation.
"Now I see—you're nothing but an imbecile of a teacher who blames his students for his own inadequacies."
Having delivered that cutting remark, I finished with an exaggerated gesture and a dismissive tsk-tsk.
The Marquis's face flushed crimson and purple as he strode toward me.
"Are you quite finished speaking?!"
He looked ready to strike me down with the cane he held.
'Interesting—things are unfolding even better than I anticipated.'
I waited for him to grab my shoulder, my eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Let him lay a single finger on me. I would show him exactly what true malice looks like.
That was when Arkid, who had been standing vacant-eyed all this while, stepped forward to defend me.
"Step away from my wife."
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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