CH 9 ASIL : Changed wife

Arbella always spent her days rolling around with different men in her separate residence. Day after day, it continued. When the Duke and Duchess Carmen came to check on their daughter, they found her sleeping with her head resting on an unfamiliar man’s arm and quickly fled the Conte mansion.

Arbella sometimes roamed the grounds without even bothering to wash. When Asil advised her to at least maintain the dignity of a Countess, she responded with a sly smile.

“I know you’re attracted to me. But I won’t allow you to have me. That’s the punishment for your arrogance.”

She spoke with confidence, convinced that she was desirable and that Asil was undoubtedly aroused by the traces of her sexual encounters. However, the more she behaved this way, the less attractive and more repulsive she became to Asil.

‘I will never have feelings for that woman.’

Whether it was a feeling akin to friendship or a base carnal desire, harboring any positive emotion toward her would make him a fool.

Due to Arbella’s total lack of respect for Asil, the resentment among the people of the Conte estate grew. Even the butler clung to Asil, expressing his disdain.

“She’s definitely a demon.”

“Butler.”

“Please, my lord, just ignore it. I’ll handle it.”

He was implying that he would poison her. Asil sighed. Although he shared the hatred, he couldn’t condone murder.

“Have you forgotten who her family is?”

“Yes, the family who irresponsibly dumped that demon on you while living a carefree life.”

“That’s…”

Asil was momentarily at a loss for words. The Duke Carmen, unable to control his own daughter, had coerced the king into arranging the marriage, yet still had the audacity to advise Asil on managing his household.

Recently, they had even sent an official complaint about Arbella’s absence from public functions.

‘If they care so much, they should have taken in a son-in-law themselves.’ Asil suppressed his boiling anger.

‘Why should I be the only one to suffer this misfortune?’

If anyone deserved to be unhappy, it should be that irresponsible family and Arbella herself. Suppressing his resentment, Asil finally spoke.

“…Don’t do anything.”

“My lord.”

The butler, looking exasperated, wiped his dry face repeatedly. Then, changing his tone, he suggested to Asil,

“Why not go to the church and pray? Surely, if she’s a demon, prayer is the only way to deal with her.”

The suggestion was tempting, but Asil shook his head.

“Her baptismal name is Gabriel.”

“Oh dear.”

The Carmen family was known for their devout faith among the nobility. Despite their reputation, Arbella’s tyranny eventually drove Asil to the church, desperate for any form of help.

About thirty minutes into his prayer at the altar, he heard a strange voice.

“Asil Conte.”

“Who’s there!”

The voice shouldn’t have been audible in the secluded church. Asil looked around but saw no one. Instead, the strange voice continued.

“True love will save you.”

‘True love?’

He asked for clarification, but there was no further response. It had to be a divine answer to his prayers, but its ambiguity left Asil puzzled.

‘Is it suggesting I find someone else?’

No matter how much he despised Arbella, he wasn’t interested in taking a lover like she did. That would mean he had to develop love for Arbella, which seemed more like a death sentence than a solution.

‘That would be a grave mistake. It’s better to take the butler’s suggestion.’

Though he received an answer to his prayers, it only increased his frustration without solving anything. Days passed, and the first to notice something strange at the separate residence was the butler.

“The Madam has changed. Is she on her deathbed?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well… she’s reading books.”

While it wasn’t unusual for a noblewoman to read, it was indeed surprising for Arbella Conte.

‘The butler must be mistaken.’

Perhaps she was reading some erotic literature. Thinking this, Asil headed to the study and found her reading a perfectly normal book. Moreover, she had come to the study in the morning—a time she usually would never be active.

“You look well, Madam.”

At his sarcastic greeting, Arbella rolled her large eyes, clearly unsure how to respond.

‘She really does seem like a different person.’

But it was definitely still Arbella on the outside. She continued her debauched lifestyle at night. Remembering the faces of the lovers he encountered while entering the residence, Asil clenched his teeth and spoke.

“I hear you’re living quite healthily, but as the Countess, shouldn’t you start taking on some responsibilities?”

He didn’t actually expect her to work. However, to his surprise, she was quite diligent and intelligent. When he deliberately gave her an overwhelming amount of work, she handled it all.

“The Madam has finished today’s work as well.”

Moreover, she dismissed all her lovers from the separate residence and began living a celibate life.

Had she really changed? Asil observed Arbella with a mix of hope and suspicion.

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