Chapter 1

Parsed with an automated reader. The content accuracy is not guranteed.

Translator: Hanalou & Zigrin

 

 

<b>Chapter 1: It’s been planned for a long time.</b>

 

A love of the century produces a rare marriage between the witch Hanella and the holy knight Tarotte.

 

He is an excellent husband who loves his wife and will do anything for her.

 

That was the reputation of Hanella’s villainous husband, Tarotte Thearin.

 

I believe so too, that he loved me enough to do anything for me.\n 

Until she caught him having an affair with her stepsister, Rosearin.

 

Tarotte’s step sister, Rosearin Thearin, was a woman unable to belong in the house of Thearin due to not sharing the same blood of a family that has a legacy of producing saints and holy knights from generation to generation. Hanella had never imagined Tarotte having such a relationship with her stepsister before he courted her and had never expected them to continue having such a relationship even after their marriage.

 

“How could you do this to me?! How could you…!”

 

After discovering the truth, she slapped him in the chest and yelled at him. Tarotte grabbed her two hands and squeezed them tightly, pleading for forgiveness, but Hanella, who wished he would deny everything, was left with her heart torn into pieces.\n 

“You’ve been lying to me since the day we met. You’ve been deceiving me from the start!”

 

“Hanella…”

 

“I want a divorce, now!”

 

Tarotte’s face turned pale when he heard the word divorce.

 

“No! I won’t allow it. I need you so that Rose and I can be together as we are right now.”\n 

Only then did she realize that Tarotte didn’t marry her because he loved her. He needed someone to protect his love with Rosearin, and she was the perfect candidate.

 

The marriage to the only daughter of a dark magician family, who had long been a rival to the Thearin family, made Tarotte a romanticist who knew nothing but love and simultaneously gained the opportunity to have the knights behind his back.

 

That must have been the reason why he persistently courted me, the only daughter of Ethan Berg Ariel, the black wizard who leads the knights.

 

Nobody expected the Thearin family, which had produced saints and holy knights for generations, to be tied with the Ariel family that practices black magic, until the day of the wedding. And even though Hanella had feelings for Tarotte, she never thought his father would approve of their marriage.

 

The marriage was certainly not easy. Hanella’s father was furious, and the Thearins opposed their union at the Great Sanctuary. Still, Tarotte persuaded the high priests that it had to be Hanella he should marry, and his devoted love for her was enough to have her heart as well as her father’s trust. Without realizing that it was all a blatant lie, they got married rather hastily and became a couple.

 

Tarotte cemented his position after marrying Hanella and prevented anyone from touching his beloved Rosearin, especially the Great Sanctuary. And, although he couldn’t marry Rosearin, he was steadily laying the preparations to live as her companion for the rest of his life.

 

While deceiving me, his wife.

 

“Don’t even think of getting a divorce. You’ve been doing well so far. Nothing will change. Just continue loving my shell as you do now, and I will continue to act as a husband who loves you in front of everyone.”

 

Her husband, who said that divorce was not an option, had left the house. And since it was her who caught them in place, she thought he would be staying with Rosearin in every way possible.

 

She was unable to meet Tarotte, so she contacted Rosearin instead. She appeared unconcernedly at her summon and cast a mocking look in Hanella’s direction.

 

It was always like that from the start. Rosearin had looked down on her as Tarotte’s public wife from the moment she married him. Doubtless to the fact that Tarotte would never, ever belong to Hanella.

 

“I believe you already figured out why I asked to meet you.”

 

“I don’t know. Why did you want to see me?”

 

The shamelessness didn’t shock Hanaella.

 

“I want to divorce Tarotte, but he doesn’t want to divorce me. I want you to persuade him so that we could finally go on our separate ways.”

 

“…Why me?”

 

“You love Tarotte, don’t you? Don’t you want our divorce?”

 

At her words, Rosearin’s lips contorted unpleasantly.

 

“You seem to be misunderstanding something, I don’t want my brother and sister to get divorced.”

 

“……!”

 

Surprised by her words, Rosearin leaned in closer to Hanella and murmured something only she could hear.

 

“Only when you’re here that Tarotte and I can peacefully love each other, so please carry this fake marriage for the rest of your life for us, stupid sister.”

 

Their shamelessness and impudence made it difficult for Hanella to breathe. Their brazen and selfish attitude almost caused her to faint.

 

It wasn’t because of jealousy. It was rage. They knew she’d never expose her husband and stepsister’s affair since it would tarnish her family’s reputation.

 

Hanaella’s mind is consumed by wrath, and her broken heart has led her to the forbidden power that should never be touched. With her hand, the clouds darken, and the wind turned cold; she cast a curse that transformed Tarotte into a hideous monster. Hanella told him that the curse can be reversed only if Rosearin’s love for him does not change after witnessing his appearance.

 

Rosearin, who had always been by Tarotte’s side, had run away from him out of fear. With that, their unbreakable love ended.

 

Hanella found the scene delightful and invigorating; it made her realize how futile their love was to her. But she who dared to use the forbidden magic must also pay the price.

 

“Burned the witch Hanella Reeve Ariel, who used forbidden magic in the Hayden Empire, at the stake!”

 

Hanella’s curse caused the death of his father and the demise of the Ariel family, which was once called the “Hayden’s Darkness.” She was then chased and burned at stake in front of the crowd.

 

It was a pathetic tragedy brought on by her blinded wrath and foolishness. She regretted casting the spell. If only she had endured, her father could have lived, and the Ariel family would have kept its glory. However, it’s too late. Her regrets won’t bring those she’d already lost.

 

And before she drew her last breath, she thought: So my life came to an end. It’s definitely over…….

 

However, she felt no pain or anguish, and if she did, it was rather serene. When she opened her eyes, Hanella found herself back on the day before he met the villainous Tarotte Thearin.

 

───※ ·❆· ※───

 

Boom.

 

Rumble~

 

Crack! Boom!

 

Flash.

 

Awakened by the loud sound of thunder, Hanella gently opened her eyes and gazed around the room.

 

Swish–

 

She rose from the bed and sat, rechecking the room.

 

‘What… this place…’

 

She was overcome with feelings of nostalgia as she looked at the room she used to have.

 

Hanella rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand.

 

‘Am I really in my room…?’

 

Hanella, who sprung to her feet and checked her hands in a state of bewilderment, rushed to the mirror to see herself.

 

‘Oh my god…!’

 

When Hanella saw her face reflected in the mirror, her eyes widened in disbelief. She didn’t waste time and examined her condition, touching her face and body with both hands.

 

‘Undamaged…!’

 

She was clearly burned to death, but she was clean and spotless—there were no scorch marks on her. Hanella checked herself numerous times and instantly collapsed on the spot, her legs loosened.

 

Knock, knock.

 

“Miss, are you okay?”

 

“Gemma…?”

 

The voice she heard outside the door was definitely her nanny and maid, Gemma.

 

“I’ll open the door, miss.”

 

The person opened the door and entered with a click, and there Hanella saw that it was indeed Gemma. She clasped both of her hands together and covered her mouth. Her eyes, which were large enough to pop out, trembled uncontrollably.

 

“Are you all right, miss? I didn’t know you were still afraid of thunder—”

 

“Gemma!”

 

Fmph.

 

Before Gemma could finish her words, Hanella hugged her and muttered, “It’s really Gemma,” with tears flowing from the corners of her eyes. Gemma was startled by her sudden behavior but soon patted her back with a soft smile.

 

‘Despite the fact that you are already a lady on the verge of your coming-of-age, you remain fearful of thunder. To the point of waking up from the sound of the lightning.’

 

A friendly smile spread across Gemma’s lips.

 

“Isn’t the lightning extremely loud?”

 

‘It’s really Gemma… Have I returned…?’

 

She was driven to the edge of the cliff, where she reached her hand on the forbidden magic. Her end was truly miserable. She lost her father, her family, and even her life.

 

But she came back to the past.

 

‘Did God pity me and decide to give me a new life? If not… was it because of Tarotte? Is it God’s will to protect the knights and my family who have suffered defeat at the hands of the devil wearing the shell of a saint?’

 

Hanella’s face turned white for a moment, remembering how Rosearin smiled while looking down at her.

 

Perhaps this was a window of opportunity. To exact vengeance on those ugly, filthy, selfish siblings.

 

They used her to protect their secrets from being revealed, a safe guarantee if they were discovered.

 

Since it doesn’t matter if they were step siblings, that kind of love between them is still taboo in this era.

 

That’s why they needed her. Her family and the knights that the Great Sanctuary couldn’t touch.

 

In fact, if they were strangers to one another, their genuine love might have been truly touching. Although it is taboo, love does not always go as planned, and Tarotte’s blinded love for Rosearin is both envious and pitiful if you think calmly.

 

However, they shouldn’t have used me for their love. 

 

Although it was also her fault for falling in love with him during the coming-of-age ceremony and not bothering to conceal her feelings, it was still disgusting how they used such feelings to protect theirs.

 

“Should I stay with you until you fall asleep?”

 

Gemma asked Hanella, who was deep in thought. Her appearance looked tired since she woke up and ran worriedly towards Hanella.

 

“No, Gemma. I’m fine.”

 

“Would you really be alright? I believe it will only stop in the morning.”

 

“I’m not a child anymore.”

 

“You still look like a child to me.”

 

Gemma gave Hanella a warm smile and patted her on the head. Hanella lost her mother early and was raised by Gemma, so Gemma was more than a mother to her.

 

‘Ah, I forgot about this warm embrace…’

 

Hanella tightened her grip on Gemma.

 

“You’d better go to bed now, miss. Tomorrow, we’ll have to go buy a dress for your coming-of-age ceremony next week.”

 

…coming-of-age ceremony…?

 

Next week is my coming-of-age celebration?!

 

That means I’m 20 years old right now!

 

“…Yes, Gemma. Sleep well.”

 

Gemma, who smiled with tenderness, left the room as Hanella buried her face with her hands in the surreal reality.

 

‘I really came back to the past, even before meeting Tarotte. Is this a whim of God, or is it a chance for revenge? No, they haven’t harmed me in the current time I’m in, so I don’t think there’s a need for revenge. Just as I am a little different from who I was in the past, the people who wronged me may not be who they are now. Yes, not at this time. Not yet.’

 

When she first encountered Tarotte during the coming-of-age ceremony, she immediately expressed interest in him due to his handsome face and mannered appearance. And Tarotte took advantage of the chance and approached her; she fell in love with his sweet and caring remarks. Unaware that the only lady he truly loves is Rosearin.

 

 ‘Now I know he’s in love with Rosearin. So if I don’t show any interest in him…’

 

Then the bad ties of the past can be avoided.

 

Then there is no reason to punish them.

 

‘Since there’s no reason to punish them for something they haven’t done yet, or for something they’ve done in the past. So long as it goes on like this, I will have no ties with them and will be free to live my new life as I see fit. If that happens, Tarotte will not have the opportunity to touch the knights, and I will not be tempted to touch the forbidden magic, nor the collapse of my family or the death of my father.’

 

Her eyelids gradually closed as she considered it.

 

The roaring sound of thunder was nothing but a lullaby to her closed eyes.

 \n