Lilia's P.O.V
CRASH!
The coffee mug shattered into a thousand pieces. The corner of my lips twitched in annoyance as my eyes narrowed at the culprit.
My dearest husband in this newly transmigrated life, the one I never asked for.
How wonderful! I made sure to have no regrets in my heart so I wouldn't have to deal with this nonsense again. Like they do in romance novels. But here we are.
Again.
As if one tragic experience wasn't enough, now I have to deal with another one? Seriously?
God… if I ever meet you, you're done for.
"Remake it." His cold, indifferent voice struck a nerve as he flipped through his files without even glancing in my direction.
This man… How much did the original owner of this body endure to put up with this trash? And the worst part? He has the same face as dear Emperor Augustus, with the same trash personality as before.
All that changed was the world. And all that remained was that handsome face.
All debts. All feelings. All favors. All that one-sided love. The sacrifice. The misunderstandings. The fights. The tears. The Augustus who saved me from my abusive family.
Gone.
"Are you going or not?" My oh-so-dear husband's voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I forced a smile and nodded, walking to the kitchen like an obedient little wife.
I slammed the tray onto the counter, fuming as the servants flinched, nervously turning their heads in my direction. It hasn't even been two hours since my transmigration, but this man is already getting on my nerves.
It has to be some kind of talent.
"Young Madam, should I assist you?" Marie, my personal maid—according to the past owner's memories—asked, worry etched all over her face as she eyed me, concerned.
"Marie…" I gritted my teeth, trying to quell the burning rage inside as I turned around, leaning back against the counter. My eyes fixed on my husband from across the kitchen, who was busy with his work.
"Yes, Young Madam?"
"Why did I marry this man again?" I asked Marie, twitching my neck in her direction with a bitter look all over my face.
"Because you loved his handsome face, my lady," Marie replied nonchalantly as she started to make coffee, making me freeze in disbelief.
"Wait… Really?" There was definitely something wrong with this body's owner. How could she tolerate the mistreatment just because she loved her husband's handsome face?
I mean… He is handsome. But it's not worth sacrificing an entire lifetime over.
"Yes. You threatened your father that if he tried to come between you, you would die." Marie poured the coffee into another mug, placed it on the tray, and handed it to me while I stood there, blinking in disbelief.
Why?
The million questions coursing through my head boiled down to a simple word.
Why?
"You should hurry, Young Madam. If the Young Master gets angry… I don't know what new length of cruelty he has left to go to." A bitter smile covered Marie's face as her eyes stared at the tray held in my trembling hands.
My hands shook slightly as I carried the tray back to him, my mind still grappling with the ridiculousness of it all. How could someone choose to bind themselves to a man for a face?
A pretty face, yes, but still, just a face.
The previous owner was definitely a weird case.
I stopped at the doorway to the living room, hesitating for a moment. I could see him, completely absorbed in his work, not even sparing a glance at me. His handsome features were highlighted by the soft light coming in through the window.
But instead of the admiration that I used to feel when I saw Emperor Augustus work, all I could feel was cold indifference creeping into my heart.
I took a deep breath, plastering on that practiced smile, and walked over to him. I gently placed the fresh mug of coffee on the table in front of him.
"Here you go, dear husband. Just as you asked," I said, my voice dripping with false sweetness.
He barely acknowledged me, simply reaching for the mug and taking a sip. "Better," he muttered, still not looking up.
How charming. I could feel the sarcasm bubbling up inside me, but I bit my tongue and stood there for a moment, waiting for any sign of appreciation or acknowledgment. Of course, there was none.
I swear if he existed in my past life, I would have pierced my sword through his chest.
I turned on my heel and made my way back to the kitchen. As soon as I was out of his sight, I let out a deep sigh. My mind raced, trying to make sense of this life, this husband, and how I was supposed to survive this nonsense.
Marie glanced at me as I returned. "Young Madam, are you alright?"
I looked at her, forcing a small smile. "Oh, I'm fine, Marie." The sarcasm laced through my words, but Marie only nodded, concern still etched on her features.
This isn't even my body. How can I act as I please? I… Ugh! But I can't suffer once again. I don't want to suffer once again.
I don't want to die again while making sacrifices for others without being acknowledged once again.
"You know, Marie," I said, leaning back against the counter once again, "I think it's time I start learning other things than things that please my husband."
Marie looked at me with a mixture of surprise. "You are behaving differently since morning, Young Madam. Is something wrong?"
Marie's words made me cautious. I couldn't let them know that the body's soul has been changed. If I'm found out, it would only end in two ways. Either, I'll be labeled crazy or I'd die.
Neither are acceptable. This life… I want to live for me. No one else.
"Yeah. The handsome face doesn't look handsome anymore, Marie." I pouted as I shook my head. "Arrange a computer teacher for me. Instead of running around my husband, it's time I learned something useful."
Tears welled up in Marie's eyes as I watched her, furiously. "I… I'm sorry. It's just… You finally…" Her sobs were louder than the loudest of screams in my ears.
Ah… I have a person who genuinely cares about me.
"Don't cry, Marie. A lot of things are about to change." Tears welled up in my eyes as well. From a life where no one cared about me to having one person genuinely care about me.
What an improvement.
Guess I'm not that angry at you anymore, god, huh.