I Wish My Husband Were Dead - Chapter 96



Only Krnovel

Contract with the Devil
2024.02.04.

“Just what should I do?”

The same conversation had been repeated since earlier. Ilias and Cordelia were frustrated at the same point.

Cordelia explained as kindly as she could, considering that the magic circle drawn with magic was invisible to the eyes of ordinary people.

“So first, find the weak point of the magic circle.”

“Yeah.”

“Inject magic into it. Then it will be destroyed.”

“… … That’s all?”

Ilias asked back, as if he was dumbfounded. When he seemed to not understand at all, Cordelia looked at Ilias with pity.

“Is what I’m saying too difficult?”

“You explained it in two lines. You want me to destroy the seven-layer magic circle with that?”

“What part of those two lines of explanation is difficult?”

“Fine, this is why I don’t like talking to geniuses.”

Ilias grumbled. He stared at Cordelia, half-asleep eating. Cordelia couldn’t even take a few spoonfuls because the gaze was burdensome.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

“Do you have a lover?”

“Ugh.”

It was fortunate that there was no food in her mouth. Otherwise, she would have spit something out in the face of a stranger she was meeting for the first time. Cordelia was flustered by the completely unexpected question.

“Oh, no. I don’t have one.”

“Really? Then do you want to meet me?”

“What

did you say?” “Why are you being formal? I told you to speak comfortably.”

“No, wait. We’ve only just met for an hour. What on earth are you looking at me for?”

“Face and hair. Personality… …. I don’t look like a murderer who enjoys killing people. That’s fine.”

Cordelia, who grew up in a conservative family and married into a similar family, was shocked by every word Ilias said. It was

unclear whether Wilasra, located in the relatively southern part of the country, was so open-minded or whether the magicians of the Magic Alliance had a custom of meeting strangers, but neither of those were easy for Cordelia to understand.

“Uh… ….”

She had no idea what to say, so she just opened her mouth like an idiot. Ilias didn’t miss that opportunity.

“Huh? Huh? You just said “huh”? Then we.”

“No!”

If she kept going like this, she would end up promising a future with a man she had just met today. Cordelia put down her spoon with a thud and looked straight into his eyes.

“I have no intention of getting married.”

“Neither do I.”

“What? Then why are you asking me to meet you?”

Cordelia was flustered again. Isn’t a meeting between a man and a woman inevitably presupposing marriage?

However, Ilias broke the common sense she knew without hesitation.

“Let’s meet and have a good relationship.”

“A good relationship? What does a good relationship mean?”

“I’ll tell you when we meet.”

Ilias said, winking one eye. Strictly speaking, Ilias was a handsome man, but to Cordelia, who was used to Leonard and Rosenblu’s faces, he was just a living being in human form.

So she said to the creature in front of her,

“I’m sorry.”

In fact, she wasn’t sorry at all, but Cordelia was a person who knew manners, etiquette, and common sense, so she politely declined.

“I don’t want to be on ‘good terms’ with someone I just met today.”

“Why? Oh. Are you afraid I’m a commoner? Don’t worry. Nassau is a fairly old noble family in Angsene, and I’m the second son of that family.”

“Ansene? Are you from Angsene? I didn’t notice any southern accent.”

“Well, I’ve lived in Wilas since I was six. Usually, people are chosen as wizards when they’re young. It’s extremely rare for someone like you to learn magic as an adult. It’s not just rare; I’ve never seen someone like you before.”

He looked at Cordelia with eyes filled with curiosity.

Cordelia had only been in the Magic Coven for a little over two weeks, and she was slowly getting used to the Magic Coven’s customs and order. She had recently learned about how to become a wizard; usually, wizards bring talented children under the age of ten to the Magic Coven and raise them.

This requires a great deal of luck. First, magicians who usually do not leave the magic alliance must have a chance to go outside the magic alliance and meet a child with magical talent at a young age as if by fate.

In fact, because this possibility is very low, magicians usually take on the children of their acquaintances or relatives as their disciples.

“What else is at stake?”

“What do you mean?”

“Is there another reason you hesitate to meet me?”

There were too many reasons to list. Cordelia was envious of his confident attitude and also found it ridiculous.

“Cordelia.”

At that moment, someone put a hand on her shoulder with a friendly voice. Cordelia’s expression brightened as she recognized the owner. She turned around and saw Rosenblu standing there with a friendly smile.

“Mr. Rosenblu.”

“Oh, oh. Mr. Elfenbaum.”

Ilias’s expression, which had been sly from beginning to end, hardened for the first time. He jumped up from his seat and greeted Rosenblu with great tension.

“Hello. I am Ilias, studying under Doona of the Beset School… … .”

“I’m not curious, so I think it would be best to go.”

The tone was gentle, but the content was aggressive. Ilias hurriedly took the tray and left with a pale face.

Cordelia was a little taken aback by Rosenblu’s sharp attitude.

“Are you angry?”

“No. Not at all. You must have been eating. Is the food to your liking?”

“… … Yes. It’s fine.”

Rosenblu naturally sat down where Ilias had just sat. The face he was facing was still soft and gentle, making it seem like what had just happened was a dream.

“Thank goodness. By the way, if you have time, I know of some good restaurants near the

Magic Coven. Do you want to go together?” “I’m fine, but I’m not sure if the Master will let me out of the Magic Coven. It’s been a week since I’ve been to a restaurant like this.”

“That’s why I haven’t seen you lately. I saw that official document.”

“Oh my. Did you see that official document too, Rosenblu? I think our Master thinks I’m a real seven-year-old kid.”

Cordelia sighed deeply, as if embarrassed.

“Seeing you today, I think I can understand his feelings a little.”

“Huh?”

“It’s like seeing a child left on the waterside.”

“That’s too much. I’ve already passed the intermediate wizard exam, and I’ve also experienced the bitterness of life… … .”

Cordelia braced herself and tried to explain at length about the hardships she had endured. However, Rosenblu, still smiling affectionately, cut her off.

“Don’t listen to him.”

“Him? Master?”

“No, the man who sat here earlier. It would be better not to approach a man who smiles and flirts with a woman you’ve never met before.”

“D-did you hear that?”

Cordelia’s cheeks flushed hotly. It was embarrassing enough to know this all by herself, but it felt strangely embarrassing that someone else, and especially Rosenblu, would find out.

“Don’t worry, I didn’t hear everything. I just want you to know that there are many people who approach you for that purpose.”

“What is that purpose?”

“A night for men and women.”

“Ah… … .”

Cordelia realized belatedly what Ilias meant by ‘good relationships’ after hearing his rather direct explanation. She stuck out her tongue as she looked in the direction in which Ilias had left, now invisible.

“The Magic Alliance is a very open place. How dare you make such a suggestion to someone you’ve never met before.”

“Magicians don’t get married very often. Casual romances have become a trend, and now some people take them for granted.”

“Oh.”

Cordelia let out a short exclamation. Casual romances, that was a word I’d only seen in books.

“So please be careful. Cordelia stands out in many ways.”

“Because I’m your disciple?”

“No. Because she’s beautiful.”

“Ahahaha.”

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing. Rosenblur waited until Cordelia stopped laughing and then asked,

“What part of what I said made you happy?”

“This is the first time you’ve called me beautiful, Mr. Rosenblur. Even though we’re close, isn’t that too much praise?”

“In my eyes, Cordelia is the prettiest.”

“… … .” Her tone

didn’t sound like a joke at all.

He didn’t know whether to tell her not to joke around, to stop teasing, or to ask if she was serious. Cordelia quickly lowered her head to hide her flushed cheeks.

“Um, beauty is a term used for Lydia.”

“If Lydia is beautiful, does that mean Cordelia isn’t beautiful?”

“No, um. What I’m saying is. Oh, Lydia! That’s right. How’s Lydia doing these days?”

Cordelia desperately tried to change the subject. Rosenblu seemed to appreciate her efforts and willingly agreed with her.

“It’s okay. As Lady Matilda said, she was very excited at the beginning of the contract. I’ve told Lord Kanon to temporarily welcome her to the Diduasel School.”

“Wow, so now you can learn magic together with Lydia.”

“No. As soon as the contract is terminated, Lydia will be sent to the Elfenbaum main castle.”

“Um… … . But, I see.”

Rosenblu said more firmly than ever. Cordelia hesitated and then closed her mouth.

“You think I’m going too far.”

“Just a little. I don’t know what Lydia was thinking when she made the contract with the devil, but it must not have been easy to make that decision, right? And ignoring her will and going back to square one… … . Of course, disappearing for a month without saying anything and then making the contract with the devil is clearly wrong, but how about giving her a chance to learn magic? Um. I’m sorry if I’m being presumptuous.”

Cordelia stood on Lydia’s side and defended her. The circumstances were definitely different, but she remembered the days half a year ago when she had desperately clung to Leonard.

Then, suddenly, she felt like she was going too far by talking about Lydia, so she shrugged her shoulders a little. Rosenblu stared at Cordelia and slowly opened her mouth.

“Lydia was born as Elfenbaum’s daughter. That’s why she could have anything she wanted.”

It was a slightly different answer from Cordelia’s question. But instead of pointing it out, Cordelia listened to Rosenblu’s words quietly.

“There’s just one thing. Lydia can’t have.”

“What is that?”

“Leonard Attila. Your master.”

“Ah.”

“He’s arrogant, but he’s a man who shines alone. Moths are so captivated by his light that they don’t even know they’re dying when they jump in.”

Rosenblu smiled faintly, but it wasn’t a warm or affectionate smile. It was more like cynicism.

“I don’t want Lydia to jump into that fire and burn her wings.”

“But I heard that Lydia has been in love with you for a very long time. Do you think she can give up so easily?”

“It’s time for her to admit that there’s something she can’t have. I’m Lydia’s older brother, but I’m also her protector. “I can’t let you cling to a place where there is no hope forever.”

The soft tone was just a way to cover up the determination within him. Rosenbler continued.

“As soon as I get back to Elfenbaum, I will receive a marriage proposal and choose the man who will make Lydia the happiest. As we get married and have children, those vain desires and the wrong decisions will subside.”

The answer was in the words wrong decisions. Cordelia raised her head and looked into his eyes.

“Does that mean…? …. Lydia made a pact with the devil because of you, Master?”

“Well. If not, then it’s hard to understand all the things she did.”

Rosenbler stood up after saying that. Cordelia tried to get up to greet him, but he lightly squeezed her shoulder.

“You don’t have to. There’s no need to be polite between us.”

“But you’re the head of Elfenbaum.”

“I wish Cordelia would just see me as Rosenblu. And stop talking to me.”

“T-that’s too hard.”

Cordelia tried to imagine not using formal language with Rosenblu, but it seemed as if she couldn’t open her mouth as she would if she were speaking informally to her teacher.

“Is it hard to destroy a seven-layer magic circle in a minute and just call me by my name?”

He laughed like a clear bell. Cordelia lowered her eyes, embarrassed to meet his gaze for some reason. Rosenblu’s voice reached her head.

“And I mean what I said earlier.”

“What do you mean?”

“That you think Cordelia is beautiful.”