The Wicked Wife's Dark History Keeps Coming Back To Haunt Her - Chapter 198

Once, he had counted down the days until their divorce. Now, as that day drew nearer, all he felt was anxiety.

“I regret… hurting you.”

“……”

“I’m sorry. I know that one simple apology is nowhere near enough for you to forgive me.”

Just like the scars etched on her legs, he knew wounds still remained in her heart.

“…I… I think maybe you’re just confused because I’ve changed all of a sudden. Please think it over. I’m sure it’s a misunderstanding.”

Nina removed his hand from her ankle and turned her back to him.

Unlike moments ago when she’d lain loosely relaxed, her body was now curled up tightly, rigid with tension.

“This isn’t a misunderstanding. If it were, I wouldn’t be begging you for a chance.”

“…What?”

“I’m saying… I’m begging you for a chance.”

A chance to love her.

A chance to live as her husband.

“Um… even if you say that, I… I don’t really know what to think……”

He had once doubted her sudden change of heart.

Even after she had shown through her actions, time and again, that she had changed, he hadn’t believed it.

Instead, he trusted the prejudices he had branded on her over two years of bitter experience.

The position she was in was no different from his, surely.

“……”

Ash watched her, her entire body wrapped tightly in a blanket like a wall between them.

Then, he brought bedding over and laid it out near the fireplace.

He had expected her to fall asleep quickly, but she kept her shoulders stiff even as he prepared her bed.

He gently placed her, curled up like a pill bug, onto the soft bedding, and whispered.

“It’s alright. It’s my responsibility to give you reason to trust me.”

Just as she had once worked to earn his trust, now it was his turn.

* * *

At the Azelot County’s residence, the drawing room—

Late at night.

Count Azelot swallowed dryly as he looked at the guest who had come to him in secret, avoiding all eyes.

Brown hair, emerald-green eyes.

It was none other than Rebecca, the lady of House Nord, a family of historical lineage.

“What brings you here in person?”

Sipping her tea delicately, Rebecca spoke in a measured, insinuating voice.

“I heard you once tried to become Ian Bayern’s guardian, but failed, didn’t you?”

“…Yes, I lost the case.”

And not only had he lost that trial, even his preparations for his eldest son’s own case had ended in failure.

What good were favorable conditions for a lawsuit?

He had failed to win over Duchess Bayern, failed to persuade Ian.

With neither of them on his side—both holding the keys to victory—filing a lawsuit could only end in certain defeat.

“Then may I ask why you’ve come to see me…?”

Count Azelot trailed off, glancing at her nervously.

“I’ve come to propose something.”

A proposition…

His eyes narrowed slightly.

Since she had brought up the guardianship first, it was likely related to that…

“Would you consider filing for guardianship once more?”

At one of the possibilities he had half-expected, Count Azelot gave her a skeptical look.

“Do you… perhaps have some brilliant plan in mind?”

There were rumors that his nephew and niece-in-law had grown closer.

Even with Duchess Nord backing him, it seemed obvious he would lose if he pursued another case.

He had exhausted every trick he could, and failed. How could she expect success now?

“You know the saying. If you can’t have the persimmon, at least prick it and see.”

Can’t have the persimmon…?

‘Of course.’

Any flicker of hope he’d felt vanished without a trace.

Who didn’t know that Duchess Bayern and Duchess Nord were on bad terms?

Surely she meant to use him to stir trouble in House Bayern.

Realizing Rebecca’s intention, Count Azelot frowned.

“My apologies, but what good would come of filing a lawsuit I know I’ll lose? I’d only end up bleeding myself dry.”

Just thinking of his nephew and niece-in-law made him boil with rage, but there was nothing more he could do now.

He’d already poured money into legal battles, and because Richard had been expelled, he had ruined his relationship with Marquis Ulverni.

Though Richard’s stupidity had been the direct cause, the Marquis had pinned the blame on him, saying it was his fault for asking such a favor in the first place.

Never mind that they themselves had coveted Ian’s fortune and agreed to his plan because of it.

That incident had left him in a cold war with his wife, and his household was in turmoil.

There was no way he would involve himself in something so costly and fruitless again.

Rebecca, however, smiled slyly and revealed her hand.