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chapter 1
1. Revenge Requires an Axe
He was like an old house—one that couldn’t be sold, didn’t increase in value, and only drained taxes.
September, from Iona’s diary
How did we end up like this?
Iona muttered inwardly, her gaze fixed.
“Could you say that again?”
In his voice, carefully restrained as always, there was an unease he hadn’t fully hidden.
Iona felt a little flustered; she hadn’t intended to make him feel so uneasy.
“No, you can have another lover…!”
She hadn’t even finished speaking when she was lifted and seated on the desk.
He was usually so gentle, but the moment she even suggested having another lover, he became unreasonably cruel.
‘He was always like this anyway.’
Yet, looking into the eyes of the man kneeling before her, she felt herself melt all over again.
Honestly, it was all because of his face. Or maybe his bulging chest muscles.
Or perhaps the taut thighs or the nape of his neck.
In short, Dionhardt, tilting his head to glance at her, was exactly her type.
“Do you need another lover?”
His low voice sank into her ears.
It wasn’t threatening—more like a wolf desperate not to lose its owner. Iona nearly told him she’d do anything he wanted.
‘Ah, I can’t let myself get enchanted. The constellations prefer reverse harem stories.’
But before she could continue thinking, Dion gently took her hand, pressed it to his cheek, and rubbed affectionately, making her heart feel like it would explode, forcing her to hold her breath for a moment.
‘This… wicked man!’
His black hair swallowed by shadow, long deep eyes, a graceful nose, and a strong jawline seemed almost within her grasp.
It was unfair—such a devilishly perfect face behaving like this.
Dionhardt knew exactly how to use his appearance to his advantage.
“Darling.”
In an instant, his gaze met hers, and he curved his lips into a smile.
His voice, low and sweet enough to make her heart drop, spoke slowly:
“Your ex-husband is at the front door again.”
“…!”
“Don’t you want to tease him a little?”
Dionhardt gestured mischievously toward the open window.
It was opened to feel the warm spring breeze, but he used it this way.
Iona’s ex-husband was a bastard, but a capable one.
From this bedroom to the entrance of the Kaelas Duke’s house was quite far, yet even through the small opening, he could probably hear everything.
Dionhardt’s hand slid under her back as if to lift her toward the window.
The devilishly tempting veins of his hand traced her spine, and her brief flutter of fear quickly disappeared.
After the broadcast ended, Iona wrapped her arms around Dionhardt’s neck.
“Make it hit his ears perfectly.”
[▶ Viewer complaints are flooding in!]
[Some constellations seriously consider that this might be better than reverse harem.]
Messages of complaints from the constellations filled the screen. Iona ignored them, blinking three times quickly to disconnect.
“If this is seduction, it’s a success.”
“Take it that way if you like.”
She thought of her ex-husband, likely feeling betrayed outside, and chuckled.
Even though her relationship with Dionhardt developed after signing the divorce papers, he’d claim she cheated.
‘Ridiculous. He should’ve acted right when we were married. Real cheating is what he did.’
Cheating isn’t just physical.
Before the divorce, she endured her ex-husband’s emotional infidelity.
Then, one sunny day, she made up her mind like she’d been struck by lightning.
‘Alright, let’s go all the way.’
Let’s see who wins if we go head-to-head.
She wouldn’t die quietly—not once, but twice if needed.
So Iona resolved she would no longer endure anything.
Iona’s husband had been a paladin.
Ascetic and neat appearance, dazzling silver hair, and violet eyes like violets.
When he appeared in uniform with other knights, women clutched their chests.
A stern expression, tall stature, strong build—the paladin uniform enhanced all of it.
A man who was kind to the weak and punished wrongs on the spot.
The light and sword of the empire—Felix Teresia.
Praised by all, his only flaw was that his wife was Iona.
A woman deemed frivolous and ostentatious—words used to describe her.
‘Damn, unfair.’
And now, that Iona wandered the streets penniless.
‘If I knew I’d get kicked out, I should’ve spent money recklessly instead of worrying about appearances!’
She had always tried to save every coin because he always said there was no money.
‘I shouldn’t have held back. I should’ve shouted that the rumors were nonsense. You need money to indulge in luxury!’
No, no.
She should’ve exposed that the man everyone praised was a complete mama’s boy.
A man who always ran to his mother in tough times was a child, not a man.
‘And that’s not all.’
He obsessed over a saintess while leaving his wife alone—a story for gossip magazines.
Yet, he covered it all up pretending to be a good husband.
‘A forced political marriage at twenty.’
She tried to adapt, thinking it would be better than living with her parents.
She had nowhere else to go and tried to make it work, only for this to be the outcome.
“Cough, cough…!”
It was useless to try to be brave now.
She had already been expelled from the Teresia family.
‘I won’t go back to my family… I’d rather die.’
Iona exhaled sharply and tugged her hoodie closed with delicate hands.
Already weak, her current cold made things worse.
‘Ah, dizzy.’
Her husband had thrown her out like trash, not letting her wear a proper coat.
He lectured her to understand the importance of a family to protect her.
She had no emergency money, so she couldn’t even book a cheap inn.
Perhaps they thought she’d bend her pride—but this time, she wouldn’t.
“Apologize to the saintess for your rude behavior if you wish to return home.”
“Ha! Why should I? I am the lady of this house, not that saintess!”
“You are as insolent as ever. Kneel in front of the mansion until you feel remorse. Until you change your ways, you are no longer a member of the Teresia family.”
What she saw was the saintess tearing at her husband’s shirt.
Even if the place was unused, it was their bedroom—her bedroom—so she had every right to question it.
Her husband’s exhausted response was perfect:
“Please clear up your misunderstanding. The saintess was merely tending to my wounds.”
Wounds, indeed!
Her nose had widened from excitement!
The saintess had hidden behind him throughout their argument.
If you’re confident, come out and face her! Why hide?
When Iona pointed this out, Felix glared with contempt.
“Your mind is extremely lewd. Is this what you always think of?”
At this point, admiration turned to awe.
If there were a contest for overturning human decency, her husband would win first place.
‘He causes problems, then lectures his wife about correcting behavior.’
The world must know how petty he is.
‘They must…’
Her vision blurred.
Staggering, she felt a cold touch and looked up at the sky.
Gray skies, with sleet falling.
Others might enjoy this weather, dating or rushing home—but she had nowhere to go.
Neither her parents nor in-laws were on her side. Rumors left her friendless.
She was utterly miserable…
Bang!
Before she could finish thinking, her body was lifted.
The carriage wheel skidded or something, and it charged at her.
She had no strength to dodge, collided, and scattered like sleet.
‘Who sent someone to kill me…?’
The driver’s gaze sent chills down her spine.
It seemed as if he wanted her dead, deliberately running her over without flinching.
‘I should’ve caused a scene. If I’m going to die this way….’
That was her last thought as she watched the driver flee.
She thought she heard someone mutter, ‘Ooh, this looks promising?’ but it was probably a hallucination.
What followed was an unbearably unjust darkness.
And—
[▶ An unidentified contractor has used <Helheim’s Hourglass> on you!]
[All constellations are watching over you!]
[Some constellations savor your thirst for revenge.]
[Some constellations grant you <Amazing Adaptability!>!]
The cold air slowly revived her consciousness.
