“You agreed to take me as your wife, and you owe me basic respect, you...” You piece of sh*t! She stopped herself from finishing that sentence, but it made no difference. Her face said it for her.

Silvian stared at Kanna in silence, a strange new light sparking in his lifeless eyes as though he’d witnessed a most strange and unusual phenomenon.

“You told me you wouldn’t expect to be treated like a wife,” he said languorously, his eyes locked on hers. “Those words came out of your mouth, Miss Kanna. Have you perhaps forgotten?”

That’s true. Kanna clenched her fists. He had been very clear before they were wed that he would neither fulfill his duties as a husband nor consider Kanna his wife. It was a raw deal, but Joohwa had replied that she didn’t care so long as they were married. That naive girl must have thought things would change once they were married, that some sort of relationship would naturally develop.

But she’d been sorely mistaken. In the seven years they’d been married, they’d never so much as held hands.

“You’re right. But that was then. I can no longer tolerate living like this,” Kanna replied with a sharp glare. “Perhaps you’ve heard, but Mother has cast me out.”

“And?”

“And so I am leaving. I plan to return to my family.”

This finally drew a reaction from the duke. He scanned her face carefully, judging the truth of what he’d just heard. She felt a faint sense of triumph at the sight. The old me, Joohwa, would never have said this to you. All she wanted was to be with you. But not me. Never in a million years.

“You said you would be leaving?” Silvian uttered deliberately, as if savoring the words. Leaving. Leaving... Leaving? You, leaving me? His eyes curved into thin crescents. A flash of something bright and shining swept through them, then flickered out in an instant—something akin to interest, or curiosity. But it was only a moment before the duke’s gaze slid back into its default expression of flat indifference. Sliding his fingers through his damp hair, he replied lowly, “Very well.”

“And I will be seeking my father’s approval for our divorce.”

“Of course. I will be waiting.”

Son of a b*tch. Kanna wished she could punch him in his smug face. It was evident he wasn’t taking this conversation seriously. In fact, he was barely even listening.

I suppose it’s understandable. Given how I behaved in the past, why would he believe me? She’d been begging and crying at his feet just a few days ago. How could that desperate, sobbing mess leave him? He probably thought this was just another scheme to get his attention.

Kanna held back a sigh and decided to stop trying, knowing nothing she could say would convince him she was serious. “Then I will be on my way.”

“Of course. Goodnight.”

You asshole. You think I’m just throwing a tantrum? I’m really divorcing you! Just you wait!

* * *

The next morning, Kanna left the manor behind. As soon as she stepped outside the gates, she felt the full weight of her situation. The first step in her plan went off without a hitch, but the second step required returning to her family and obtaining her father’s permission for the divorce.

Will the Addis family take me in? Forget that, will they even let me through the gates? Worry swirled around in Kanna’s mind. In fact, getting kicked out was the easy part. Everyone already hated her, after all. All she had to do was give them an excuse.

No one in this world cared one whit for her, not a single soul. Being thrown out is easy… but being accepted is a whole new ball game. She hung her head and let out a deep sigh. Her long, black hair fell messily over her dark eyes, reminding her why everyone in this world despised her—why they would always despise her.

This color was her curse. Misfortune and calamity. That’s all they can see in my black hair and black eyes. The same color as the Dark Fog, that terrible disaster that had swallowed up the entire southern continent so long ago. The Continent of Magic was thus destroyed, bringing the Era of Magic to an end. Those few who narrowly managed to escape the disaster crossed over to the western continent for a fresh start. Those survivors were the first to settle this continent, building new lives in a new land, leading to the current civilization a thousand years later.

But the western continent wasn’t completely safe from the Dark Fog, either. The Dark Fog of the western continent was small compared to the one that had engulfed the southern continent, but disaster still followed in its wake. Two families became responsible for protecting these lands from the Dark Fog: the houses of Addis and Valentino. The histories of these two families could be traced back to two holy knights who fought against the Dark Fog in the legendary Continent of Magic, and whose descendants were still defending the western continent against the Dark Fog to this day. These two families came to be known as the Guardian Houses and were granted unchecked power.

Well, the Dark Fog really is that dangerous. It released the most bizarre and disturbing things—mysterious masses, alien objects, and... monsters. Monsters not of this world, grotesque and occasionally possessed of such fearsome strength they were impossible to suppress.

But that wasn’t all. Anyone touched by the Dark Fog would be infected with madness. No, worse than madness, for it was said that they would turn into horrifying creatures that thirsted for human flesh, and that you could identify the infected by their darkened hair and eyes...

Then there are the Dark Believers. The Dark Believers were a cult that worshipped the Dark Fog, and many of its followers had black hair. With so many reasons to fear the color black, it’s no wonder the people of this world treat me like a monster. But although it might be rare here, it’s such a common color in Korea...

Kanna let out a long sigh. In any case, she needed her father’s permission in order to be granted a divorce. Just the thought was enough to give her a headache. Father hates me. That’s why Joohwa never visited the Addis estate even once after she was married. But now she had no choice. No matter if she had to resort to begging or to threats, she had to obtain his permission somehow.

And then... Then what?

I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. The thought of having to live as Kanna for the rest of her life was devastating, but for now, she’d do what she could.

The question is, will my family even let me in?

* * *

“Please go. We cannot open these gates to you.”

Kanna’s worries were not unfounded.

“This is upon His Grace’s orders. He commanded us never to open the gates for Duchess Valentino if she ever happened to visit.”

“But...”

“Please go,” said the knight again, firmly shaking his head. Kanna considered trying to persuade him again, but decided against it. She knew that there was nothing she could do.

I guess I’m not surprised. Kanna had known she wouldn’t be welcomed with open arms, but she’d thought she’d at least make it through the gates. I see. Father has completely cast me out. He’s thorough, I’ll give him that. Barring the gates in case his daughter ever returned... What a meticulous man. He really does hate me, after all. Why did I think he’d allow me to meet with him, when he’s despised me all my life?

The sound of an approaching carriage interrupted her thoughts. It was embedded with the Addis family crest.

“Open the gates! Mr. Kalen has returned!” The gigantic gates of the manor slowly began to creak open. And here she’d thought she would never see them open again.

She felt the intense urge to dash in while she had the chance. Maybe, if I could just make it in there, I could beg Father until he gives in...

While Kanna was hesitating, the carriage screeched to a halt right behind her. A sudden chill climbed up her spine as she slowly turned around, locking eyes with a young man gazing at her intensely from behind the carriage window.