Chapter 9. That’s Not Something You Eat!
“Lorella.”
He called my name and slowly stepped forward. His black hair—usually neatly combed back even on the day he returned home from a long war—was now completely disheveled, pressed flat in some places and sticking out in others. His eyes, which had never lost their noble shine in any situation, were hollow and bloodshot, giving off an indescribably ominous aura. Even his complexion was deathly pale, like that of a corpse. And… what was with his clothes? He looked like someone who hadn’t eaten or slept for days.
I had only met him in person twice over the past two years, but while staying at the ducal residence, I had heard plenty about Pelliart. I knew he was the type who wouldn’t even leave a single pen in his office out of place. That was why it was so hard to believe what I was seeing. That Pelliart had appeared here in such a wrecked state.
Maybe I was dreaming.
“What are you two doing right now?”
With every step he took, the longsword at his waist rattled unpleasantly. That sound alone made it painfully clear—this wasn’t a dream.
No… maybe this wasn’t reality, but the entrance to hell.
The moment I heard his cold voice, the flower branches swaying behind him in the wind looked like the skeletal arms of the dead beckoning me to come closer. Even the beautiful lake now looked pitch-black, like a swamp of the dead that no one could return from once crossed.
A chill ran down my spine.
Why is he here? Don’t tell me he followed me all the way here? Since when—how much did he see?!
As I recalled what I had been doing just moments ago, all the blood drained from my body.
Th-thank goodness I didn’t go through with it…!
What if I had actually leaned in and pressed my lips against him?! The answer was obvious—I’d be dead on the spot. For that psycho who locked people up just for thinking they were meeting another man, no excuse would ever work…!
“Why aren’t you answering? Don’t tell me you’ve gone mute?”
While I hesitated, Pelliart kept getting closer. Overwhelmed by the pressure, I unconsciously stepped back.
“Wait.”
Someone stepped in front of me.
Beneath a pristine white uniform without a single wrinkle, long golden hair fell straight down.
It didn’t take long to realize—it was Commander Reonan.
“To meet you in a place like this… surprising. It’s quite far from your territory.”
He spoke calmly, blocking Pelliart’s path.
“Did you come all this way because of her?”
At Reonan’s question, Pelliart’s approaching footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but this isn’t the place for it. There are too many eyes watching.”
Even in front of Pelliart—who looked like he was possessed by a vengeful spirit—Reonan remained composed. Pelliart let out a short, incredulous laugh.
“I should be the one asking that.”
Then he glared at Reonan with burning eyes.
“What exactly is the newly appointed Holy Knight Commander doing with another man’s wife?”
A grinding sound of teeth echoed, loud enough for me to hear.
“Wife…?”
Reonan slowly turned to look at me, shock evident in his eyes. I couldn’t meet his gaze, feeling like a criminal.
“Yes, my wife.”
Pelliart lifted his chin arrogantly, a mocking smile on his lips—the exact same expression he wore when he shoved the divorce papers at me.
That memory instantly made my blood boil.
“Who’s your wife?!”
I pushed past Reonan and rushed forward.
“Show me proof that I’m your wife!”
“…What?”
Pelliart frowned, clearly displeased, but I didn’t care. I wasn’t afraid—I knew he couldn’t prove it.
We had only held the wedding ceremony. We hadn’t even lived together for a full day, and most importantly—the marriage contract didn’t exist. According to the laws of this country, a noble marriage without a contract was invalid.
I took a deep breath and delivered the final blow.
“Bring the marriage contract, you psycho bastard!”
At some point, the sun had set, and darkness began to fall. A chilly wind blew endlessly from across the lake, rustling Pelliart’s messy hair.
His eyes… they were like a deep cave with no light at all.
Black as obsidian, just looking into them sent a chill down my spine. I had heard servants gossip about his eyes before, but never had I felt it so vividly.
As I faced his sharp gaze, my anger slowly cooled, replaced by a wildly pounding heart.
Still, I forced myself to glare back.
The marriage contract had already burned to ashes—there was no way he could produce it. And unlike the ducal estate, there were many witnesses here, plus Reonan. He couldn’t just drag me away.
So… I wasn’t scared anymore.
“‘Psycho bastard,’ huh…”
Muttering to himself, Pelliart’s lips curved into a faint smile.
…No, actually, this was terrifying.
“Fine. You’re right—I can’t bring it. But what does that change?”
He slowly approached again. Reonan stepped in front of me protectively, but Pelliart’s gaze never left me.
“Once something falls into my hands, it remains mine, Lorella.”
“…What?”
I was so dumbfounded I couldn’t even respond.
“Wait.”
Reonan stepped forward again.
“That claim can’t be ignored. Is it true that the marriage contract doesn’t exist?”
“Yes! It’s true!”
I immediately answered, grabbing his arm tightly.
“It burned to ashes!”
He looked into my eyes, as if trying to determine whether I was lying. It was understandable—people guarded those contracts with everything they had.
“I ran away the day the mansion caught fire. You can ask the servants—they’ll confirm it!”
I spoke desperately.
“So Duke Pelliart and I are no longer—”
“Lorella, that’s not where you belong.”
His icy voice cut me off.
I turned—his terrifying gaze was fixed not on me, but on my hand gripping Reonan’s arm.
Instead of letting go, I tightened my grip.
“Are you testing my patience?”
His voice was low and chilling.
“Why do you think I ran away in the first place?!”
Anger surged again, overwhelming my fear.
“You didn’t even send a single letter in two years at war, and now you want to talk?!”
“Lorella.”
His voice was cold enough to freeze my neck.
“Yell, curse—do it by my side.”
His gloved hand reached for me as if to grab me.
“No! Why would I?!”
Just as I was about to drop to the ground to resist—
“Calm down.”
Reonan grabbed Pelliart’s arm firmly.
“She’s clearly frightened.”
“I’m not frightened—I’m angry…!”
But Pelliart’s voice, too, trembled with anger.
“…Reonan Bernhardt. I told you already.”
His voice was colder than ever.
“She is my wife.”
He shook off Reonan’s hand and glared sharply.
“You dare interfere as a third party?”
“And yet you show no reaction to violence?” Reonan replied calmly.
“I simply wish to help. Goodwill doesn’t require qualification.”
His voice was gentle but firm.
“And isn’t this—dragging someone weaker by force—the real wrongdoing?”
“…What?”
“Or chasing someone who can’t even run properly with dogs. Or attacking a carriage with armed knights.”
“Hah… interesting.”
Pelliart smirked, brushing his hair back.
“I didn’t realize the noble commander had a hobby of taking interest in other men’s wives.”
“That’s absurd—!”
“One last warning. Interfere again, and I won’t let it slide.”
The air turned ice-cold.
Right then—
Ding-dong!
[“King of Simps in This Area” slams their forehead on the keyboard and buys 500 shares!]
Another incomprehensible message popped up.
What is this even supposed to mean?!
But it snapped me back to reality.
This wasn’t the time to just watch.
“Pelliart, stop this already!”
I raised my voice firmly.
“Whatever you do, I have absolutely no intention of going back there!”
“Then where will you go?” he asked coldly. “There’s nowhere else for you.”
“What…?”
“Tell me. If not by my side, within my reach—where could you possibly be?”
His voice darkened.
“I’ll destroy it immediately.”
Snap.
Something inside my head broke.
“Wh—”
“Why the hell are you like this, you crazy bastard?!”
I stomped my foot, shouting at the top of my lungs.
“Just leave me alone! Get lost! We’re strangers now!”
“…What?”
For the first time, his expression faltered.
“Strangers?”
“Yes! We are! Even crazy obsession has limits! Why are you driving me insane?!”
But he quickly regained his composure.
“I told you—I won’t allow that.”
“What?!”
This lunatic… reasoning didn’t work on him at all.
Just then—
“Madam, submit a formal petition to the Imperial Palace,” Reonan said firmly.
“If you wish, I will testify for you.”
“Really? Thank you!”
I answered immediately.
With his testimony—especially as the commander of the Ecretus Holy Knights—no one would doubt me.
“I’ll help you with everything I have.”
“Thank you…!”
As if in response, the notification bell rang again, but I ignored it.
“…Ha.”
Pelliart let out a strange sound.
“Fine. Try it.”
Then he whispered—
“I’ll chase you to the ends of hell.”
Reonan clicked his tongue lightly and gestured to me.
“Let’s go. The night air is cold.”
“…Yes.”
I turned away without even looking back at Pelliart and began to leave under Reonan’s escort.
Ding-dong!
[“King of Simps in This Area” buys another 500 shares!]
[“Try Tasting an Obsessive Psycho Male Lead” buys 300 shares!]
I froze.
Ding-dong!
[“Try Tasting an Obsessive Psycho Male Lead” licks their lips and buys another 200 shares.]
“Slurp.”
My vision went white.
W-why would you eat that…?
…That’s not something you eat!
