Chapter 02
Yeah, I get it—you’re a crazy, obsessive, regretful male lead.
But do you think I’ll just obediently die because of that?
‘The runaway female lead always gets caught anyway.’
How many regret stories and runaway stories have I read?
I’ve never once seen a female lead successfully escape and live happily ever after.
No matter the reason, she always ends up going back.
So I’ll just bring her back properly and squeeze a huge payment out of him.
Thinking that way, my tense nerves eased a little.
‘This might actually be a good opportunity?’
I had never owned a home, nor even had a stable job in my entire life.
But if I adapt well here, this office—and this job—will become completely mine.
Then I can start over with everything in my hands!
I clenched my fist, determined to overcome these hardships and enjoy my new life.
“…Huh?”
Just then, a bright white light began to spread out before me.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
In the quiet room filled only with the faint sound of cutlery, Chelsea whispered softly.
Clink.
The Marquis Graydan deliberately set his utensils down with a loud noise.
Chelsea flinched.
“You don’t seem to have much of an appetite. It’s a bit early, but let’s have dessert.”
“Your Grace.”
“They sent fresh fruit again from Larmin this time…”
“I’m serious.”
Chelsea spoke, forcing strength into her trembling voice.
The marquis could easily tell she had mustered all the courage she had.
“Why?”
His voice came out stiff and cold.
He hadn’t meant to frighten her.
Yet Chelsea was trembling pitifully.
He suppressed the urge to rush over and pull her into a tight embrace.
“…Because it’s no longer necessary.”
“Not necessary?”
“It was part of our agreement from the beginning, and now…”
Bang.
The marquis suddenly stood up, knocking over his chair.
Chelsea startled and held her breath.
As if he didn’t need to hear more, he walked around the table toward her.
The closer he got, the paler her already white face became.
“So, you intend to discard me?”
“Your Grace…”
“Because I’m no longer useful?”
“That’s not what I meant—ugh!”
He grabbed her chin and lifted it.
His piercing blue eyes locked onto her face.
Reflected in his faintly glowing pupils was Chelsea’s terrified expression.
“Everything in this estate is under my control. The food, the water, the clothes. Did you think you wouldn’t be included in that?”
As Chelsea remained frozen in his grip, his gaze slowly traveled over her.
Slowly. Deeply. Almost as if licking.
From her eyelids to her chin, down her neck, and further to her chest…
Then his eyes returned to her face.
A burning emotion churned beneath his gaze.
“You won’t take a single step outside.”
His voice, crushed and heavy, echoed over the quiet dining table.
“Not without my permission.”
Chelsea’s eyes widened.
She could feel her fingertips growing cold.
She had to say something. She had to—
“Y-Your Grace, it’s time for your meeting.”
“Cancel it.”
Answering the butler’s interruption coldly, the marquis stood up.
Even then, he never once took his eyes off Chelsea.
His hand twisted his cravat, revealing intense, bottled-up emotions.
“Cancel everything.”
“…Understood.”
“I’ll be spending some private time with my wife today.”
He caressed her trembling cheek and smiled faintly.
“Wow… this guy’s basically a beast.”
I muttered in admiration as I read the last line.
I thought he was a dog, but turns out he’s a wolf.
Either way, he’s still not fully human.
“So it really is a novel I’ve never read…”
As expected, <The Contracted Marchioness Files for Divorce> was unfamiliar to me.
It was full of clichés, so it felt easy to read—but everything, from the characters to the detailed plot, was completely new.
To summarize…
“They had a contract marriage, the term ended, the woman asked for a divorce, and the husband refused?”
And then the wife ran away, so now I’ve been hired to find her?
A hollow laugh escaped me.
Why not just let her go peacefully?
“Well, if he let her go just because she asked, he wouldn’t be a regretful male lead—he’d be a relieved male lead.”
I get it. I do…
But threatening me with “find her in a week” and “you won’t live to see the morning” while obsessing like that—it’s just pathetic.
Would you like to read the next chapter?
Read
Close
“Anyway, if I read further, I’ll figure out where Chelsea ran off to.”
It was a shame I ended up inside a novel I didn’t know, but since I could read it through the system library, it wasn’t a big problem.
I had been feeling completely lost after the marquis’s threat, so it was a relief to have a solution.
This is it. If you’re going to be transmigrated, you should at least get this kind of cheat ability!
Thinking that, I pressed [Read Next].
But what appeared before my eyes was—
Not enough cash!
Time until free access: 23:59:59
“Are you kidding me?!”
What kind of annoying system is this?!
Even the UI looks like that old web novel app I used to use—did they just copy it?
What do you mean “wait”? Just pay already!
Not enough cash! (Current balance: 0)
Would you like to recharge?
Recharge Cash
Wait patiently
This message is giving me flashbacks to an empty bank account.
And that second option feels weirdly mocking.
But with my life on the line, I didn’t have time to argue.
The 500 cash I had earned as a reward was already gone—I had spent it reading five chapters of the original novel.
I didn’t know exactly how recharging worked, but I had to throw everything I could into it.
I selected [Recharge Cash].
Cash Recharge Station has been activated.
Current Recharge Station: Graydan Marquis Estate
Huh? It’s not instant?
What does it mean that a recharge station is “activated”?
A Cash Recharge Station is a location where you can obtain cash.
A great detective must walk the field and personally search for useful clues.
Explore the recharge station and find hidden cash!
※Pro Tip! The more closely related the location or object is to your case, the more cash you can obtain!
The system window kindly explained.
So I have to walk around and find cash?
Like a detective searching a crime scene?
“This is what you call a recharge…?”
Back in my old life, I could pay in one second online. Other protagonists get sponsored by constellations…
Why am I the only one suffering like this?
And having to physically go to the recharge location is especially annoying.
But I had no other choice.
In the chapters I read, they were still arguing about divorce—how long would it take to wait for free access?
That damn marquis only gave me a week!
“In that case, I’m heading to the Graydan estate.”
And just like that, my next objective was set.
“You may enter.”
As soon as I arrived at the estate and introduced myself as the detective handling the marquis’s request, I was immediately granted access.
Apparently, orders had been given to fully cooperate with my investigation.
“This is the Marchioness’s room. If you need anything else, please call.”
The butler who guided me spoke politely.
Following the system’s advice, I came straight to the place most relevant to the case—the female lead’s room.
So searching here will let me recharge cash?
I looked around before cautiously stepping inside.
You have entered the room of the female lead, Chelsea Graydan.
First-entry bonus: 1000 cash awarded.
Importance: A
Danger Level: D-
Hidden Cash: 3000
Right on cue, the system window appeared.
Seems like entering a location with cash reveals its details.
‘So I can get 3000 cash here.’
Not bad for a D- danger level.
And the entry bonus is pretty sweet too.
After reviewing the information, I closed the system window.
Then I slowly scanned the room.
As expected of a “Marchioness,” the room was large and luxurious.
A spacious area for rest and tea time sat in the center, with a bathroom and bedroom connected on either side.
In other words, two rooms attached to a living space.
This is way too nice for someone in a contract marriage.
‘There must be something hidden… like in a place like this…’
