It Seems Like The Infamous Trash Can is Right Here! - Chapter 40
If I could finally be free of this endless anxiety and fear, there was nothing I wouldn’t do.
I would never again be so helplessly controlled by others as I was today.
And if I had to add one last selfish reason — I had never dated in either of my lives, so if I was going to experience romance, wouldn’t it be best with someone as stunningly handsome as Lionel?
‘Besides, he has a great personality. Cold, emotionless male leads are only fun in novels— In real life, someone who is kind and takes care of you like Lionel is the best.’
My heart thumped as I recalled the effortless way he had lifted me. The strength in his arms, the warmth of his chest —
‘I… I could do well as his partner.’
Compared to Lionel, I might be lacking in status, but— I had years of reading experience. I had studied every female lead in romance novels. If I set my mind to it, I could become an ideal lover.
I wasn’t prideful. I wasn’t one to stay silent and sulk, leaving people frustrated. And I had plenty of stamina.
‘I was going to suggest revising our contract anyway, so I’ll bring it up when Lionel returns.’
Somewhere between imagining his expression and predicting his response, I drifted off to sleep.
Surrounded by his lingering presence, wrapped in his scent.
* * *
“Sasha won’t want to play with me anymore, will she?”
As they left the gallery, Vivian murmured softly.
“Most likely not. She’s not as mild-mannered as she seems.”
Ilina wrinkled her nose as she replied.
Even now, she still felt a chill at the memory of Sasha’s piercing gaze as she spoke of ‘divine punishment.’
“To survive in the capital, you need to know how to strike back when attacked.”
Vivian felt a twinge of guilt, but she had no regrets.
It was something that needed to happen sooner or later.
Today, Vivian had tested two things.
First, she had wanted to see whether Sasha could hold her own in a battlefield beyond the monastery.
Fortunately, Sasha had handled herself far better than Vivian had when she had first entered high society as a member of House Luanax.
She’s sharp. And like Ilina said, she has quite the personality.
That alone meant Vivian had nothing to worry about.
And second— She had wanted to gauge just how much Lionel cared about Sasha.
‘I heard he looked ready to kill Ardin.’
Vivian laughed behind her fan.
“Do we really need to go this far? What if the Duke punishes you as well?”
“Hmm… Do you think I went too far?”
“You definitely provoked him.”
“I had no choice. If things continue as they were, that girl would have been dragged into my mess.”
Vivian blinked slowly before turning her head.
Standing in the distance, a silver-haired man stared in her direction.
The moment his gaze landed on her, his otherwise indifferent expression contorted.
“Look, Ilina. My fiancé seems to have come to see me.”
“So he has.”
Ilina sighed and took a few careful steps away from Vivian.
Halid Calitas.
Vivian’s fiancé strode toward her, his steps purposeful.
Stopping just two paces away, the man all but growled.
“Explain, Vivian.”
“What a lovely afternoon, Halid. Have you been well?”
“You sent me this ridiculous thing without even consulting me, and now you’re asking how I’ve been?”
The paper fluttered to the ground as he tossed it toward her.
At the very top, two bold words[1] were written:
‘Annulment Papers.’
“You didn’t sign it? I thought it was what you wanted.”
“There will be no breaking of our engagement, Vivian.”
Halid seized her wrist, whispering his threat in a voice sharp enough to cut. Vivian merely glanced up at him, an amused smile curving her lips.
“Oh dear. How troublesome.”
As she was all but dragged toward Halid’s carriage, her mind was preoccupied with an entirely different matter.
‘That lunatic of a brother of mine… will this incident finally push him to turn this opportunity into a proper romance? Will he actually manage to win over my darling priestess?’
All she could do was hope that she wouldn’t have to step in a second time.
Translator’s Note:
[1] ↩
It’s actually supposed to be “3 bold letters” because in Korean it’s “파혼서” but obviously, in English, it’s 2 words so… I adjusted accordingly.
