I Was Tricked Into A Fraudulent Marriage By The Obsessive Villain - Chapter 1 Part 5

Chapter 1 Part 5

“Please, Creator, please.”

I won’t resent being thrown into a novel. I won’t resent dying as a single woman

So please.

Iona murmured inwardly as she moved her steps. Clutching the divorce papers she painstakingly prepared, even if it was just a piece of paper.

Iona was now at the smallest and most remote temple in the capital city.

“No way… Johanna’s influence wouldn’t reach this far.”

She mumbled and stepped into the temple.

“……”

Blending in with the crowd, she entered the temple. She worried that the knights guarding the entrance might stop her, but no one did.

It seemed like she did well in covering her face with her hood.

She pressed the hood down even further and continued walking.

Approaching a place with the sign ⟨Document Submission,⟩ she went closer. After submitting the papers and waiting for a while, she was guided to a small room. Opening the door and entering, she saw a priest dressed in white sitting there.

“May you have a splendid day. What brings you here, my sister?”

Iona swallowed nervously and answered. It felt like her hands were sweating from the tension.

“…I’m here to submit divorce papers.”

“I see. What is the reason?”

The priest took out a piece of paper and started writing.

At the mention of the reason, Iona froze for a moment.

‘Reason. A reason.’

She quickly organized her thoughts.

In this position, if I were to say, “I was deceived into marriage!” it was clear that they would immediately try to arrest my so-called husband, the villain.

Then, naturally, I would find myself pretending to be the villain.

‘…No. Just pretending, huh.’

It would be fortunate if my life wasn’t in danger right away.

I wanted a divorce, but I didn’t want to pretend to be the villain.

I wanted to live a long and happy life.

What I wanted was a peaceful divorce that would leave no trace of the villain.

I wanted to cleanly remove the villain from my life.

In that case, I shouldn’t even say the first sound of the word fraud here.

I couldn’t think of anything to say. All I could think of was the word ‘fraud’, spinning inside my head.

“I…I’m widowed!”

In the suffocating silence, I blurted it out without even realizing it.

Damn it. It will work out somehow!

“Oh, dear. Wouldn’t it be better if I assist you with a death report then, Sister?”

Damn it.

I panicked and blurted out that I was widowed in my confusion, but a death report?

If I were to report the death of a prince, I would undoubtedly be handcuffed and escorted to the palace right away.

“Think. Think, please! Iona! Think!”

I wanted to tear my hair out.

If only I had watched some trashy divorce dramas like crazy.

I had no idea what to say in this situation, as I had only ever read nothing but explicit adult-rated novels, like my life depended on it.

Then, a brilliant idea suddenly crossed my mind.

Right. It’s a money issue.

Isn’t everything in life about money?

“Oh, no! Actually, it’s related to my in-laws and property issues…”

“Oh…I see. In the name of the Creator, I offer my condolences. Then, could you please show me the documents?”

The priest spoke with his head low, as if expressing sympathy.

I handed over the documents with trembling hands.

The priest who received them began to examine the documents.

Please.

Creator, please let me get a divorce.

Iona cried out to God inwardly.

I won’t even resent the reincarnation truck for dying without ever holding a man’s hand…!

Ah, maybe I already resent it. Anyway!

The priest’s eyes darted along the text.

Every time the priest’s eyes moved, it felt like my heart would burst. It felt like someone was holding my heart in their hand and punishing me.

Please.

Please let me get a divorce.

I want to do all sorts of things with a man, too!!

In the moment when she desperately shouted inside, the priest’s eyes began to shake violently as he looked over the papers.

Iona instinctively felt a tremor in the priest’s eyes.

“This, this is…!”

Oh no.

It’s over.

“Tenebres…I-Imperial…!!!”

As the priest screamed in shock, Iona reached out and covered the priest’s mouth. For a moment, the gagged priest continued to shout.

But the sound was muffled by Iona’s hand and scattered without being heard.

The priest struggled to remove Iona’s hand from covering his mouth, but Iona didn’t even blink. 

Thanks to the K-martial arts she had learned in middle and high school, including Taekwondo, Hapkido, Special Forces Martial Arts, and Kendo, she was confident in her strength.

“Please…don’t scream.”

As she lowered her voice and spoke in a threatening tone, the priest nodded his head.

After confirming the priest’s gaze, Iona removed her hand from covering his mouth.

“La…Lady Hardin.”

The priest, who had realized Iona’s identity through the documents, trembled as he spoke. 

At that sight, Iona harbored a hope that she might be able to get a divorce this time, her hope swelled up like a balloon, deep in her heart.

“…Is divorce impossible?”

She asked in a subtle voice. 

Just in case. Just in case it might be possible after all.

The priest was trembling like a cedar tree. 

Well, even if it were me, I would have been nervous. 

The sudden appearance of a high-ranking noblewoman presenting divorce papers against a member of the imperial family. 

It wasn’t even a showdown between the strongest beings in the world.

“Hooh.”

She let out a deep sigh.

The priest, who had been observing Iona’s expression for a moment, cleared his throat and cautiously spoke.

“Ahem. Divorce in the imperial family is complicated due to the lack of precedent. In order to proceed with the divorce… it seems that you would need the Emperor’s approval or the consent of a high-ranking priest.”

“……”

“Alternatively, you would have to visit the temple with your husband, His Highness the Ninth Prince…”

…Oh God.

It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath her.

She had to exert all her strength to keep from collapsing and sinking down.

To summarize the priest’s lengthy explanation, the conclusion was this.

Iona Hardin could never remove the label of being a single woman since birth.

“…So, does that mean I will never even touch a man in my life…?”

“La, Lady Hardin.”

For a moment, the priest stumbled backward when a surge of energy flowed out from Iona.

“……”

With sunken eyes, she took out a pouch of gold coins from her bosom and handed it directly to the priest.

Thud.

“…Please keep today’s events a secret. It would be better in many ways.”

“Yes, yes!”

The priest vigorously nodded his head in response to the dark energy emanating from Iona’s purple eyes.

After briefly meeting the priest’s gaze, Iona turned and walked out of the room.

***

“One more drink.”

“E-excuse me, but this is already your fifth drink…”

“Quickly.”

“Yes.”

The cafe employee obediently brought over another cup under the sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through them.

The employee seriously considered quitting their job.

Last time, she crumpled up papers and banged her head against the table, this time, the employee had to deal with this peculiar customer who seemed to gulp down tea as if it were alcohol.

Bang! Bang!

“XX. XXXXXX……”

“Hi-hic!”

Iona spat out curses while banging her head, causing the employee to scream.

Finally, the worst behavior of that disgraceful customer had come out. Her head banging.

‘Oh God.’

The employee silently called upon the Creator and shed tears. Was this their punishment for not tithing?

“I’ll watch over here, so keep an eye on that table over there.”

At that moment, the cafe owner, Rosen, approached and spoke.

The employee instantly felt the presence of the Creator.

It seemed like a halo was shining behind Rosen. Hymns echoed in their ears.

‘Oh, Creator. Thank you. I will definitely make an offering this week…!’

As the employee stepped back, Rosen approached Iona.

Rosen offered Iona a glass of cold water as she banged her head on the bar table.

“It’s a blessing from God that you’re still alive after banging your head like that.”

“…….”

“It seems like you failed again this time?”

“… Rosen. Don’t get married. Death and marriage should be put off. Forever!”

“Don’t get too worked up. There will be another chance next time.”

While Iona shouted in frustration, Rosen calmly wiped glasses.

“… There is no next time.”

Bang!

Iona hit her head again.

She could feel the attention of those around her, but Rosen ignored it as if he was used to it and continued with his work.

“You’ll learn as you live. Even when it feels like the end, it’s not really the end.”

“…….”

“Just wait and see. You never know when another opportunity will come.”

Rosen comforted Iona with his wise words.

Of course, it didn’t bring comfort to Iona.

“Stop that and cool your head before coming back. Thanks to you, all the customers have left.”

There. Look. I heard it’s your favorite festival.

Rosen unfolded the news section of the newspaper that was placed next to him and handed it to Iona.

“… You didn’t have many customers to begin with.”

Iona gulped down the glass of water in one go and mumbled as she accepted the newspaper. The headline was written in bold letters.

⟨De Libertas⟩

It was a festival held every year in Solar, a city a little away from the capital.

It was a festival where people wore masks and enjoyed free love regardless of their status.

Iona had promised herself to run there as soon as she got rid of her label as a married woman.

“……”

Iona’s mood plummeted as she caught sight of the article. It felt like her mood had pierced through the center of the planet.

She had promised to go there and enjoy herself until she was exhausted after dealing with the tedious household registration!

“Just come and watch. Don’t stare at the passing men with your fish eyes. Go do something to change your mood and come back.”

“…What’s the point of going? It won’t make me feel better!”

“Oh my.”

Iona stood up in anger for a moment and shouted.

“I need to touch something to change my mood!!”

“UH, WAH!”

As Iona screamed as if flames were coming out of her mouth, the employee, who was far away, yelled back.

While Iona was still angry, a voice came from behind her.

“Hey, boss! Come up here quickly!”

It was Runkel.

“A suspicious request has come in!”

“……?”

“Some poor guy came looking for his wife!”