In a drawing room filled with bright sunlight in the afternoon…
A cold-hearted woman with red hair and a gentle-looking man with drooping eyes sat opposite to each other between a table with serious looks.
"What did you say? Mind repeating it once again for me?"
"Roselia, I want you to accept Jeong-in as my second wife."
Roselia burst out laughing in amazement at the words of Alex who was mumbling, as if he was scared.
"Ha…Alex. Are you out of your mind? Are you saying that you're going to have another wife besides me, a Duchess?"
Roselia sharply refused her husband's ridiculous demands. Alex, who had his head down, clenched his fists, looked straight into her eyes, and spoke as loud as he could, as if he wouldn't stop unless she agreed.
"Yes. I apologize, but I'd like you to accept this demand of mine. I've already fallen in love with Jeong-in. So if you allow me, I'd like to keep her by my side and protect her."
Alex's determined attitude stiffened Roselia's face.
"Are you serious, Duke?"
"I'm serious."
Alex nodded in response to her question. Roselia asked again, suppressing the anger she felt deep inside.
"What if I won't accept it no matter what?"
At Roselia's question, the man looked at her with a frown. He hesitated for a while before opening his mouth.
"But, I can't help it. I've already made up my mind, and I was expecting that you would agree. So, I'll be asking you again, not as your husband, but as the Duke of Reinhart. Please accept it without opposition."
Alex's firm attitude finally made Roselia realize the reason behind his selfish request. She opened her mouth, feeling disheartened rather than angry.
"You're not asking permission, rather, you're informing me of what's to happen. I can't believe you can actually be so confident at making shameless demands. I was mistaken about you. I don't understand why you thought I'd allow it."
"You've never opposed me, have you? So, at first, I thought that even though it might be a little unpleasant, you'll have no qualms with it."
Alex continued talking, still unaware of how Roselia felt.
"I didn't know you'd actually refuse. Even if Jeong-in becomes my second wife, I will still be faithful to you, so there's no need to worry about anything else. So, would you please listen to this request of mine?"
Alex tried to persuade the woman somehow, but the more he talked, the colder her face became.
"This is how you repay me for believing in you and following you? But even if so, Alex, you seem to have forgotten something important, haven't you? Do you really think your family considers you as the Duke of Reinhart?
Even in front of Roselia who felt dumbfounded and disheartened, Alex still spoke in a confident tone.
"Even if you say that, it's already been five years since we got married. That means I've already been the Duke for five years. Do you know how much I've done for Reinhart as the Duke? I believe the elders of the family will follow my words, the current Duke."
Roselia rose from her seat without saying a word and slapped him on the face with immense strength.
The slap he received was painful, but he couldn't appear weak because of his high self-esteem. Alex maintained a haughty look, showing no concern to the pain he had just received.
"Ha, you've truly gone too far. I'll give you time to think again for a week. If you don't change your mind then, I'll think of other ways to make you drop that stupid request of yours."
Roselia said in a cold tone, turned around, and left the drawing room.
I've been hearing rumors saying that he was having an affair behind my back, but I can't believe that was actually true.
Roselia was overwhelmed with shame and bit her red lips until blood came out.
It was a political marriage, but I thought it could've at least been a good marriage that would serve as a model for others.
Her husband, who was a disciple of her father, a former Duke of the national convention, took over her father's position and married her. And, for the last five years, they have been paying enough respect to each other, if not love.
There was no love, but it was at least a rather peaceful and comfortable life compared to other promiscuous aristocrats.
But everything began to change after that woman with a strange name, Seo Jeong-in, fell from the sky.
When she fell from the sky into the palace's pond, she was wearing a plain white suit with short sleeves and a short navy skirt revealing her legs.
The woman, who looked more like a young lady, had rare black hair and eyes.
During a garden party held by the Imperial Family, many aristocrats witnessed the unusual phenomenon.
"It's obvious that a saintess has arrived for the Imperial Family!"
Before anyone could speak out, a priest had already declared so, and from then on, she began to be called a saint.
Upon remembering the saint, she felt blood seeping out of her mouth.
Roselia realized that she was too careless. Although she has not yet been officially recognized in the temple, I never thought he would fall in love with her just because she was named as a saint.
Roselia, who was finally able to return to her room while barely holding back her anger, lied down in a space where no one, but her, was there.
Raising her trembling hand, she pointed to the temple and recalled her husband's brazen face.
If he were to have her as his second wife and that becomes known throughout the society, my reputation would fall tremendously.
It was obvious that the people who used to envy her would insult her saying that she was easily abandoned by her husband in a flash after meeting the saint.
Of course, because her husband and the saint would constantly be on and off the lips of others, she'll never be able to receive the same respect she has now.
Roselia was torn about what she should do in the future. But, there was one thing she'd do for sure.
'I will never share my husband with another woman.'
She will never share or lose what she owns.
If that happens, I would rather throw it away with my own hands before it's taken away by others.
If my husband will take her as his second wife, he will never be faithful to me.
Roselia gnashed her teeth, vowing to pay him back with double the pain and humiliation she felt.
There was no exception, even if the opponent was a saint from heaven.
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