This Marriage Must End In Tragedy Chapter 3
The ones who should be dead go on living just fine. So why is it always the ones who should never die that leave this world?
There was no mistaking it: fate despised Ansi. Why else could it keep taking people away from her?
A memory from a year ago rose in Ansi’s mind. It was shortly after her father’s death.
Her mother, Sophia, had thrown herself into the Benue River, the great waterway that split the capital. A man had saved her. Eyewitnesses say he’d worn a hat pulled low over his face. He left immediately after rescuing her, vanishing before anyone could see who he was.
“I’m sorry. I promise, I’ll never do that again, Ansi...”
Back then, Ansi hadn’t shed a single tear over her father’s death. She had held herself together and immediately sought out a way to survive.
But when she heard her mother’s apology, she kept silent. She only stood there, her tears falling silently. Seeing her daughter like that, Sophia turned pale and trembled as she apologized again. From that day on, she never tried to take her own life again.
But Ansi, seeing that even her mother had tried to die, had made up her mind.
But Ansi, after witnessing her mother almost leave her too, made a vow.
She would kill him—the man who had taken everything from them.
Curled up on the floor, Ansi whispered to herself.
“I’ll kill Cardian. And that damned debt collector, too.”
Then maybe the suffocating darkness that clouded her vision would lift, even if only a little.
Henet de Maron sat with his legs crossed on the sofa, puffing lazily on a cigar. After idly flicking off the ash, he pressed the cigar into the ashtray to extinguish it.
The Royal Club — a gathering place for the capital’s most eminent gentlemen.He’d been waiting there for hours for his friend, Damion de Orphe, who had recently become a frequent presence at the club.But today, it seemed he wasn’t coming. “Guess he’s not coming today. Oh, right—he said he was going on a business trip to the south. Of course, he wouldn’t come straight here after returning.”
Henet sighed as he rose to his feet. Truthfully, he was a little relieved. He hadn’t come to see Damion just for their friendship. It had been his father’s nagging that brought him here to deliver a formal message.
Just as he was about to leave, a familiar voice called out to him. Surprised, Henet plopped back down onto the sofa.
“You—why are you here?”
“Am I not supposed to be?”
Damion let out a short chuckle as he sat down across from him. He downed a shot of whiskey in one smooth motion, his red lips drawing a graceful arc around the rim of the glass. His brow furrowed slightly at the strength of the liquor.
Henet could practically hear the women swooning—Hadn’t someone once said even the frown lines between Damion’s brows were sexy?
Henet shuddered as if repulsed.
Damion raised an eyebrow at his odd reaction. Henet just gave a casual shrug.
“I heard Lady Ziden has fallen for you.”
“That party was only yesterday, Henet.”
“Plenty of time. Do you know how many couples pledged their futures to each other at that party alone? Anyway, how was the south?”
“There was a woman who tried to kill herself. Right in front of me.”
Damion’s expression darkened as he recalled the scene. Henet raised a curious eyebrow.
“Even you get shaken by that? The great Major Orphe, who’s seen death countless times?”
“I just hate it. I don’t like suicides. Not when they happen right in front of me,” Damion muttered, mostly to himself.
His murmur trailed off, not reaching Henet’s ears. Henet, meanwhile, fidgeted, wondering how to begin the real conversation he’d been sent for.
Fortunately, Damion saved him the trouble.
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it.”
Damion silently lit a new cigar, his eyes downcast. Henet remained silent, watching his friend’s face, gathering his thoughts. Then he sighed heavily.
Watching the smoke curl upward, he opened his mouth, resignation in his voice.
“My father wants you to marry into our family,” he said. “He wants you to wed my sister, Helcia.”
Damion lifted an eyebrow, but he didn’t seem particularly surprised.
Of course. At twenty-five, he was the most sought-after groom in the empire. The surprise would be if such offers hadn’t come already.
A war hero of the Empire.A living avatar of Legacy, the god of war.The cherished second son of House Orphe.
And recently dubbed the most handsome man in the Belgader Empire.
After five years of military service, Damion had returned from the battlefield just a few months ago due to an injury. With his return, high society had suddenly turned its eyes to him.
From parties to salons to elite clubs, every place he entered buzzed for days afterward.
He had it all: looks, pedigree, ability. He wasn’t just a pretty face. He came from impeccable blood. He had talent. He had charm. He had wit. On top of that, he was witty and charming. His business acumen was no joke either. He had invested in a horticultural venture after his retirement, and that investment had exploded with success.
To those who didn’t know him, it all seemed like one big fabrication spun by House Orphe.
But those who did know him had started scrambling to claim him before someone else did— Including Marquess Maron, Henet’s father.
Henet himself thought Damion was a fine friend. He wasn’t someone who formed deep bonds easily. Damion was one of the rare exceptions.
Yet he didn’t think Damion would make a good husband.
“You don’t seem thrilled about me marrying your sister.”
“Yeah. I don’t like it.”
“Most people would at least pretend to be pleased. For the record, I’d treat Helcia with kindness.”
“For how long? A twisted, ambitious guy like you would just drain her dry.”
“Henet, if you pretend long enough, it becomes real. Play a role long enough, and it becomes you.”
“So, what—you’re actually considering this?”
Henet leaned forward, his face tense. Damion lay back lazily, meeting his gaze with a calm expression. Then, just as Henet was about to protest again—
“Unfortunately, I can’t marry Lady Helcia.”
“What’s wrong with our Helsia, huh?” Henet asked. He had been the one to advise against the marriage, yet now, seeing that it wasn’t going ahead, he felt a sting of wounded dignity.
Damion could feel his friend’s pride was hurt, but he replied calmly.
“Marriage isn’t a win-win; it’s a zero-sum game. The plus side must always be on my side. I have to be the one who gains.”
Of course, the implication was that the wife’s side would be the negative. Should one say he’s selfish, or should Helcia be thankful for his consideration in trying not to cause her harm?
“Besides, there’s a position for me to leave the house.”
From the Orphe Duke’s household? Hennet raised an eyebrow without responding, uncertain whether it was a good position or not.
“You think you’ll find someone who would give you the plus side?”
“But who knows? Maybe fate will intervene.”
Even while thinking this, Hennet nodded, offering his friend a blessing in a voice devoid of emotion.
“Yeah. I hope you find a good match.”
On the outskirts of the capital, Feliz, the buildings lining Rons Street followed a uniform architectural style. Ansi, having stepped down from a shared carriage, walked forward with restrained movements.
The weather was still chilly compared to the south, so she unbuttoned her coat. Fortunately, her destination was nearby. When Ansi knocked on the door, it opened promptly, as if waiting for her.
Madam Roma greeted her with a broad smile, ushering Ansi inside. Her manner was less one of warmth and more of urgency.
“Is there something you need me to do in a hurry?”
That was Ansi’s conclusion.
Madam Roma was a woman who ran several small businesses, one of which involved assigning miscellaneous errands to people.
The requests varied greatly, from bringing fruits from the south to writing letters or summarizing books.
Ansi, unable to cover living expenses and medical bills solely with her servant’s salary, regularly took on work here.
“I’ve always got work stacked up for you, Rain. But today’s job is very urgent and important.”
“Before that, this first. Do you think you could sell it?”
Anshi pulled out a fountain pen and held it out.
Lady Roma’s eyes widened as she examined it.
“Where did you get this? It’s quite a fine piece.”
“It was given to me.”
“It has a name engraved on it. What should I say your relationship with the owner is?”
“Tell them we’re nothing to each other.”
Despite saying this, Roma thought to herself.
Let’s just say it was a secret lover.
That was always the cleanest explanation when selling something with a name on it. No one asked if it was stolen. It kept people from digging into how it had been obtained. There had been far too many cases of people getting hurt for poking into the private lives of the nobility.
“I’ll take a 20% commission.”
“Thank you. Now, what’s the job?”
“Rain, you will have to dress as a noblewoman.”
Ansi’s lips parted slightly, and a flash of wariness appeared in her blue eyes.
Roma paid no mind. She pulled out a few dresses made from fine fabric and held them up to Anshi.
“No, strictly speaking, you’re not a noblewoman, are you? Anyway, a young lady sent an urgent request a few days ago. Apparently, her family arranged a meeting for her to see someone. But the reckless girl already has someone she loves.”
“Right, this dress would be perfect. Anyway, she needs someone to go out in her place and cause a scene.”
“So, you’re saying… you want me to play that role?”
“Exactly! Didn’t I always tell you, Rain? You’ve got that refined air about you. You’re perfect for this.”
Anshi’s face hardened. Pretending to be someone else? This was nothing like the jobs she’d done until now.
Ansi pushed Roma’s hand away. Roma playfully nudged her with her elbow, speaking teasingly.
“One job, five hundred Rus.”
Five hundred Rus. That was much more than two months’ worth of a servant’s salary. But… the risk was too great. Until she had killed Cardian de Orphe, she could not afford to put herself out in the open in any way. “I can’t do it, madam.”
“Don’t be like that. You’re just going to cause a scene, nothing too serious. Is it the ‘causing a scene’ part that’s making you hesitate? Then just act dry. That should be enough to ruin things. No pressure, okay? And if you knew who the man was…”
“Find someone else suitable.”
“You have to do it today. If you don’t, it’s over.”
Roma put on a sulky expression. But Ansi shook her head and stepped back. Roma sighed deeply at Ansi’s determined refusal.
“Oh, then who is going to meet the young master of the Orphe house now…”
That name made Anshi flinch. A strange light flickered in her upturned blue eyes.