CHAPTER 02
‘What… is this?’
Just as I was about to take off the ring to examine it—
“Madam, pardon me. I’m coming in for a moment.”
Just then, new food was brought in.
Lobster and seafood dishes I used to love—and had dearly missed.
While my attention was briefly stolen by the food, the shimmering ring returned to its original, ordinary appearance as if nothing had happened.
‘…Was I imagining it?’
I dismissed it casually and picked up my cutlery again.
But it wasn’t just my imagination.
Back at the mansion, the first thing I did was check my jewelry.
“…Yeah. Nothing particularly valuable here.”
Then, I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in the vanity mirror.
A beautiful woman with dazzling blonde hair and eyes like sapphire beads—
the kind of beauty fit for the title of a female lead.
But despite such looks, I had dressed plainly, even pitifully.
‘The Modest Duchess of Farnese.’
The words that had always followed me around made me laugh bitterly.
Only now did I regret having lived so modestly.
‘It’s not like anyone ever praised me for saving Paydan’s wealth like it was my own.’
In the end, what stays with you isn’t love or feelings—it’s the things you’ve secured in your own name.
‘The only expensive thing here would be…’
As I examined my sparse collection of jewelry—
Something suddenly sparkled deep inside the jewelry box.
“What’s this…?”
Inside was a small diamond necklace.
The only keepsake I had left from my mother.
I had protected it with my life from my stepmother, who had been desperate to steal it from me.
‘But why is it suddenly glowing like this?’
I rubbed my eyes and looked again, but the necklace still glowed brilliantly.
As if proudly announcing: I’m the most valuable thing here!
‘In the restaurant earlier, it was the wedding ring that glowed…’
But now, the wedding ring looked completely normal again.
‘Don’t tell me…’
Putting the clues together, I formed a hypothesis.
I placed my mother’s keepsake back into the jewelry box and shut the lid.
Then I thought:
‘What’s the most valuable thing in here right now?’
And instantly, the wedding ring began to shimmer again.
‘I knew it…! My guess was right. This glow shows me what’s the most valuable item in sight.’
Back in the restaurant, I had also thought about what was the most expensive item I had with me.
‘But this wasn’t part of the original novel’s setting.’
Why was this suddenly visible to me now, when I hadn’t seen it in my previous life?
As I struggled to make sense of this change, I recalled what I’d said just before noticing the shimmer:
“To hell with the original story. This time, I’m living the life I really want.”
At that moment, a strange thought passed through my mind—
one that sounded like either nonsense or a tiny sliver of hope.
Maybe the moment I rejected the novel and resolved to live a new life…
…a different fate opened up to me.
Whether this was a chance given by God, or just a hallucination brought on by my fractured mind, I didn’t know.
But…
‘If I really can see the value of objects now…’
This life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
A sly smile curved my lips as I clutched the sparkling ring.
After sorting through the items worth money, some time passed.
Then my personal maid, Erin, came to my room.
“Pack my things and load them into the carriage. I’m going to stay at a hotel.”
Sprawled on the soft bed, I said this without even looking at her.
“M-Madam…”
“I’m really fine, Erin. Truly. Just go pack for me, okay?”
Erin, who had been with me since my time at my family’s estate, looked like she wanted to say something—
clearly upset by the sight of me like this.
But all I wanted was to lie down, just for a moment, on this soft bed.
‘I died lying on the freezing stone floor of a prison, and now I’ve been on my feet all day right after waking up. No wonder I’m tired.’
I missed you, bed. More than anyone else.
But just as Erin was about to say something—
The door burst open without a knock, and Paydan stormed in.
“Leticia!”
…Sigh.
Can’t you just let me rest for once?
“Are you out of your mind?”
Even as he approached me, I didn’t bother to sit up.
“Whatever you’re mad about, I’m probably more sane than someone who brings his mistress into a house where his wife still lives.”
Paydan sighed at my blunt response and then launched into an excuse that didn’t even sound like one.
“I just didn’t want to deceive you. My heart already left, and I didn’t want to lie about my feelings—”
“Save it.”
I cut him off and gestured for Erin to continue packing.
I’d wasted enough of my life on this man in my last one.
“Just get to the point. I’m about to leave.”
“Hah… Seriously, have you lost your mind? The National Foundation Day hasn’t even passed, and you’re already leaving the house?”
“I am. Is that a problem?”
My calm response made Paydan’s face twist in visible irritation.
“Are you really asking because you don’t know?”
His face looked like he might explode at any moment.
But I already knew.
I knew exactly why he was acting like this.
Because I had calculated every move leading up to this.
“You’re worried I’ll go around telling everyone about our divorce?”
“So what if I do?”
“So what?! You know the launch of our new business is just around the corner!”
After the Foundation Day celebration, the Farnese Duchy was set to announce a major business venture and gather investors.
If word got out about marital discord—and even potential alimony lawsuits—
‘Any investor who values stability would be quick to pull out.’
So why had he brought up divorce so recklessly?
The reason was obvious.
‘He expected me to cling to him, beg, cry—and then he’d use that to lower the alimony payout. Typical cheapskate.’
But too bad for him.
‘The Leticia who loved you died.’
I had no intention of playing by his rules anymore.
“If people hear rumors about us divorcing, and even start talking about settlement money, do you think investors will line up to invest?”
“No, any rational investor would walk away.”
I shrugged casually. Paydan’s face turned red, then pale.
But realizing he was the one in the weaker position, he quickly calmed himself and lowered his voice.
“Haa… Leticia. I get that you’re upset. I really do.”
Wow.
The cheating bastard now thinks he understands me.
“But Leticia, as an adult, shouldn’t you be more careful about time and place?”
Now he was lecturing me.
I was briefly worried he might have regained some sense, but thankfully—not a chance.
I gave a cold laugh.
“I don’t get this situation.”
“What don’t you get?”
“You were the one who asked for a divorce. I agreed. I even congratulated you two. Very generously, I might add.”
I even clapped, just in case he’d forgotten.
He stiffened—clearly remembering the scene—but I continued anyway.
“I gave you exactly what you wanted. And now you show up here to yell at me?”
“…”
“So what—you want me to accept the divorce but quietly stay in this house until you say otherwise?”
He flinched as I hit the nail on the head.
“If you really were an adult who understood the importance of this business—”
I got up and walked straight toward him.
“You would’ve known better than to bring this up now. You’re not some emotionally driven child, right?”
I repeated his own words back to him—
and this time, I meant every one.
