TDLWFJ 04

Chapter 4

No matter how much people disliked it, once you became the best, they couldn’t easily touch you.

If she was going to become a divorce advocate who defied Joseon’s laws, then she had to become the very best.

That was the only way to protect herself—and Ahn Hari’s family.

Hari stood in front of a shabby thatched house not far from the Hanseong magistrate’s office.

With her hands on her hips, she proudly looked at the place she had poured days of sweat and effort into.

“My lady, I brought the signboard. But… are you really going to do this?”

Maldong came running through a cloud of dust, holding out a carefully wrapped bundle.

“I told you, I am.”

“But the master…”

“Father didn’t say anything against it.”

“Well, if that’s the case, I shouldn’t object… but still, my lady, at this rate you really won’t be able to get married.”

Maldong said it like it was a catastrophe—but that was exactly what Hari wanted.

Of course, she couldn’t say that outright.

To him, a woman living unmarried was like the sky collapsing.

So instead, she gave him a different reason.

“Maldong, it’s not right to ignore someone else’s suffering. There are so many women out there who have no one to talk to, suffering in silence. Even if the path is difficult for me, if I can help them, I’ll be happy.”

“My lady…”

Maldong was completely moved, tears welling up in his eyes.

Well… it’s not entirely a lie. That’s why I became a lawyer in the first place.

Leaving Maldong like that, Hari unwrapped the signboard and hung it up.

“Hired Litigation Services ”
Below it, in smaller letters: “Consultations Welcome ”

Seeing it written out made it finally feel real.

I’m really an advocate now.

The first thing Hari had done after deciding this a few days ago was meet a property broker.

“You won’t find a place this close to the magistrate’s office for this price. Especially not for just fifteen nyang.”

Using all the fees she had received from Lady Yang, she rented this office.

Then, over several days, she cleaned and repaired the nearly collapsing house until it looked presentable.

Hari gazed at the signboard with satisfaction.

“She’s really doing it… she’s actually doing it.”

Maldong muttered blankly.

She thought things would take off.

She imagined crowds lining up for consultations, wealth piling up like a mountain.

Even if only those who had previously sought her out through Maldong and Lady Damyang came, it should have been that way.

But instead—

Not a single client.

Hari sat at her desk, resting her chin in her hand, and glanced at Maldong sitting in the corner.

“Maldong, no customers outside?”

“No, it’s quiet out there.”

“Go check again. Someone might be too shy to come in.”

“I already walked around the whole neighborhood half an hour ago. There isn’t even an ant nearby.”

That wasn’t entirely true.

There were plenty of people passing by—it was near the magistrate’s office.

But no one even glanced at her impressive signboard.

Hari let out a deep sigh.

Things were far from what she had expected.

Did I fail at marketing?

Maybe Lady Yang’s case wasn’t impactful enough to spread through the capital.

Should she go around asking if anyone needed a divorce?

Or put up flyers?

Just as she was pondering how to attract clients, she heard movement outside.

In an instant, Hari straightened up and waved at Maldong.

“Maldong! A customer—someone’s here!”

“Huh?”

“There’s someone outside. Go check.”

Muttering that he hadn’t heard anything, Maldong stepped out—only to rush back in moments later, pale.

“My lady! A—a—customer is here!”

“…Yes, I know?”

But his reaction was strange.

01. Annulment of Marriage

A woman dressed in plain white mourning clothes sat in front of Hari.

She had a somewhat cold impression, but her posture was refined. She gracefully removed her veil and set it aside before lifting her head.

Hari narrowed her eyes.

She’s young?

Until now, every woman Hari had counseled had been older—at least in their mid-thirties.

But this woman looked to be around her own age.

And not just that—

A noblewoman!

Hari’s sharp gaze swept over the woman’s pristine silk garments and jade hairpin.

This is big.

Her heart started pounding.

Truth be told, divorce among commoners in Joseon was easy.

“I can’t live with this woman anymore!”
“And I can’t live with a man like you either!”

If both parties agreed, they could simply cut off their sleeve ends and go their separate ways.

The real problem arose when one side refused.

Those were the cases Hari had been handling.

Even officials were lenient toward commoners’ divorces—and remarriage too.

There were even women who had remarried multiple times.

But for nobles, it was entirely different.

Women can’t even file lawsuits themselves… and divorce is nearly impossible.

If this woman became her client, the road ahead would be full of thorns.

Normally, one would comfort her and send her away.

But Hari was different.

Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

The competitive spirit of a lawyer facing a difficult case began to stir within her.

The woman flinched slightly at Hari’s fiery gaze.

“You’re Ahn Hari, the advocate?”

Her tone was rude despite her elegant appearance.

Still—a client was a client.

Hari smiled sweetly.

“Yes, that’s correct. How may I help you?”

“How much?”

Hari tilted her head, and the woman frowned.

“I’m asking for your fee.”

Hari turned her head slightly to hide her smile.

She liked this kind of client—someone who solved things with money.

“I’m not sure which household you belong to, but shall we start with your story? I’ll need to understand your situation before setting a fee.”

She had no intention of charging for a simple consultation.

In Korea, she had charged enormous fees—but only after building her reputation.

I can start charging later, once I’m well-known.

For now, gaining recognition was the priority.

“Please feel at ease and tell me why you came.”

Hari asked gently.

“I came here because…”

The woman’s expression darkened.

The client, Kim Na-hee, was twenty—same as Hari—but already in her fourth year of marriage as the second daughter-in-law of the Choi household.

“Are you really going to take this case?”

Maldong asked, glancing at the door Na-hee had just closed behind her.

Hari didn’t answer immediately, instead going over the story she had just heard.

At sixteen, Na-hee’s family received a marriage proposal from the prestigious Choi household.

Her father, who had modest means but no significant position, accepted immediately.

The wedding preparations moved quickly.

Her friends envied her for becoming the second daughter-in-law of such a prestigious family.

Na-hee herself had quietly looked forward to married life.

Everything proceeded smoothly—except for one thing.

“No one has ever seen the second son of the Choi family.”

Unlike the eldest son, who was infamous for frequenting entertainment houses, the second son was said to stay home all the time.

Na-hee had thought that was a good thing.

Better a husband who stayed home than one who wandered around.

But that thought changed on the wedding day.

“Oh my lady! My lady! This is terrible! The young master—the second young master—!”

Chaos erupted outside.

She could hear what sounded like her mother-in-law wailing.

Through the sobs, broken words reached her ears—

“The second young master… he’s not breathing…!”

For Na-hee, sitting there as a bride with her makeup perfectly done, waiting for her groom—

It was like a bolt from the blue.