Chapter 2: Why?… Why On Earth?

“Let’s get a divorce.”

Yuria’s eyelids trembled slightly.

“…What?”

Yuria’s voice was barely audible, her unusually long eyelashes quivering. 

I rubbed my tingling hands and looked at her again.

It felt like all the pent-up resentment had been released at once.

Along with a strange sense of guilt, I also felt relieved that this was just a dream.

“For you, this marriage was something you could discard at any time, right? Besides, we don’t match. There’s a difference in our statuses.”

“…”

Yuria stared at me blankly, not even having the chance to touch her cheek.

It seemed she couldn’t comprehend the sudden change in the situation.

“…What?”

“Your family values status above all else… So that’s why you did those things?”

“Yu… Yujin…”

“Good for you. I didn’t plan on staying anyway.”

“…”

A strange sadness dripped from Yuria’s completely distorted face.

She had lost the composure she had maintained all her life.

But there wasn’t enough love left to care about that.

“There are plenty of nobles around you. Go find a husband among them.”

At those words, Yuria began to crumble.

The usually cold and unresponsive woman clenched her fists, swallowing her emotions.

“You never loved me anyway.”

There was no empathy, no concern, not even the slightest bit of consideration.

“It was a marriage of convenience. Now, it’s time to divorce.”

Honestly, if this hadn’t been a dream, I wouldn’t have been able to say these things.

It wasn’t that I hated Yuria enough to say this, but these were words I had held back for a long time.

But in a way, this was also her wish.

She must have found this married life painful too, so she must have wanted me to ask for a divorce.

And I only realized this after meeting Yuria.

‘You still don’t love me, do you?’

A smile formed on my face, feeling refreshed after releasing what had been bottled up inside.

But Yuria shook her head.

“…Didn’t you hear me? I said let’s get a divorce.”

“…I can’t go back.”

“I’ve already made up my mind.”

‘…Yujin.”

Yuria’s expression as she grabbed my collar, her clouded eyes, and the way she bit her lip—it all felt ominous.

But as soon as she realized what she was about to do, she quickly took a few steps back.

She let out a deep sigh and spoke coldly.

“…Do you want a child with me?”

“What?”

This time, a question far beyond my expectations made me blurt out in confusion.

Though it was phrased delicately, it sounded like she was offering to have a child with me.

A couple who hadn’t even shared a room, let alone lived together.

…Even a commoner’s child.

It was a question that completely missed the point, but I answered without hesitation.

“If I had a child with you, what would that child have done wrong? They’d be born with half-noble blood and suffer even more than I did.”

“…That’s.”

She probably didn’t expect such an answer.

Yuria’s face was filled with astonishment at my bold reply.

“In fact, that’s even more reason not to be with me. If you want a child, go find another noble. That would be much better.”

“…”

In my words, Yuria’s composure wavered again.

“Why are you saying this? Did you… did you start to hate me?”

Her tone wasn’t the usual stiff one but more like when we were childhood friends ten years ago.

“I’m just tired of it now.”

I didn’t even give her a glance.

But the more I did that, the more Yuria’s carefully maintained expression crumbled.

“The eldest daughter of the Madomyeong family, knowing that blood would be shed, held onto you tightly. But not anymore. I don’t want to shed blood for you.”

It’s all over.

This dream-like reverie will soon disappear.

As I was about to leave,

“Don’t go.”

Yuria grabbed my arm, her eyes filled with anxiety.

“…Just because you’re tired of me doesn’t mean you can divorce me so easily.”

“It’s strange enough that I, who can’t use magic, am here. You’re from the Madomyeong family, right? Your goal is to leave behind superior magical circuits. There’s no reason to keep me.”

“The social circle isn’t as narrow as you think. Do you think divorce is easy for nobles?”

“Let’s be clear. You’re the only noble here.”

As I cut her off, Yuria’s words stopped.

“We’ve both endured a lot. There’s no need to force ourselves to stay together anymore.”

“…”

“You know, right? What your siblings did to me. They often called me for magic practice, using me as a target.”

“…”

“Even the servants treated me like trash. You know that too.”

“…”

“There’s no place for me in your family. No one cares. My magical circuits are worthless, so there’s no need to pay attention to me. That’s why you did what you did, right?”

“…Yujin… that’s not…”

“I clung to you in the end. But… you ignored me.”

After losing an eye.

Even after giving up my sword, I clung to you.

But you didn’t even look back at me.

Whatever. 

It’s all in the past.

‘It’s not something Yuria would remember now.’

Perhaps the content was too sudden. 

Yuria looked dazed for a moment.

I added,

“…I really tried to make it work with you.”

“…”

“Even though your family treated me like trash… I only wanted to look at you.”

“…”

“…But now I realize it’s meaningless.”

“…I don’t understand a word you’re saying.”

“You don’t need to understand. You never even tried to understand before. Just stay as you are.”

“…”

“I’m leaving.”

As I grabbed the doorknob, a voice came from behind.

It was filled with anxiety, but I didn’t turn my head.

“…Yujin, do you remember?”

“…”

“On the day the moon fell, you promised me…”

“…”

“You held my hand and said we’d stay together forever…”

“You.”

I held my breath.

It’s just a dream. 

It’s funny how immersed I am in these emotions.

It was a significant memory for me.

At that time, just being with Yuria felt like I had the whole world.

…But looking back, it must have been nothing more than a game for her.

“…”

“…You were laughing at me back then, weren’t you?”

Yuria’s eyelids trembled.

A small voice escaped her trembling lips, but it didn’t reach my ears.

The betrayal I felt after loving her so much only grew stronger.

“…Don’t say anything more.”

“I don’t—”

“…”

I can’t trust you anymore.

I turned around and left the room.

///

I spent time alone.

It was rare for me to lose my composure.

Yuria kept replaying the comfortable feelings from the previous day.

She had been nervous, hoping to spend time with him after so long.

…No, to be precise, she wanted to be by his side to forget the nightmares that had been plaguing her.

When was the last time she had felt so at ease in someone’s presence?

It was the first time in her life that she felt comforted by being with a man.

…It was a bit frightening how much this emotion affected her.

For someone who had lived a cold life, these feelings were unfamiliar and awkward.

Was it because of those emotions?

“…”

Yuria couldn’t understand what she was feeling now.

She couldn’t put it into words.

All she knew was that her eyes never left him.

Thinking back to that time…

Yuria’s eyes frantically followed him.

Her lips quivered.

Instinctively, she knew.

This was the last time she could hold onto him.

For a moment, it seemed like the man glanced back at her.

He looked relieved on the surface, but disappointment was evident.

It was clear who that disappointment was directed at.

‘…Ah.’

She didn’t let out a sigh of regret.

The emotions and dizziness she felt.

If put into words, they could fill pages, but in the end, she couldn’t hold onto him.

Thinking back to that time…

“…Should I lock him up?”

But as soon as she realized what she was thinking, she quickly took a few steps back.

“What… am I thinking?”

Dizziness washed over her.

…Why am I like this?

I never used to feel these emotions.

To be swayed like this after being told about the divorce.

Could anything be more humiliating?

…I just wanted him to look back at me once… that’s all.

At that moment, she saw her reflection in the full-length mirror.

Her face was unusually red, as if it might burst.

Her neck felt hot, and her eyes were brimming with tears.

It was the opposite of her usual cold, cynical image.

Yuria brushed the hair falling over her forehead behind her ear and closed her eyes.

“….Sigh……’

Yuria sighed and looked at the closed door with mixed emotions.

It had been a while since he left, but there was no news of him returning to the mansion.

The conversation about divorce kept haunting her, making her chest feel strangely heavy.

Then, suddenly.

Yuria slowly raised her hand and touched her cheek.

The unfamiliar, stinging pain he had left her with made her expression change subtly.

“…I hate it.”

By the time she had calmed down somewhat, she muttered those words to herself.

She took out a small box containing a ring from the drawer.

She tried to throw it in the trash but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

The ring with their names engraved on it, carefully crafted.

The ring with her name showed signs of being worn a few times.

The other ring…

Remained untouched, as if it had never been used,

Waiting anxiously for its owner, who would never return.

“…”

Yuria couldn’t bring herself to speak.

She always found herself at a loss for words in front of him.

The image of him walking away, step by step, getting further from her side.

Thinking about it…

Her heart pounded.

It hurt.

So much.

Just the thought of divorcing him… felt like a huge hole had been torn in her chest.

Her nose stung.

Her breathing became ragged.

She couldn’t even stand properly, swaying unsteadily. Her temples throbbed.

If we were to assign blame for this divorce…

“…It was my fault.”

In a voice filled with regret.

She had no choice but to admit it.