Home/I Am Trying to End This Wrong Marriage/ch 8

Chapter 8

"If I could go back to before my wife left me… I would never let her go this time."

His words were not spoken solely to Young Lady Yeongae, but loud enough for everyone present to hear. Edward turned his gaze toward the spot where Angela’s coffin had been laid to rest, his voice steady but firm.

"So that she may remain by my side forever."

The intensity of Edward’s voice and expression struck Dylan powerfully.

He’s not lying…

Dylan perceived without difficulty the dark sincerity Edward was projecting. Edward’s words were genuine.

The Duke of Devonshire did not wish for Angela’s death.

Thus, it could not have been an accident deliberately orchestrated by Edward.

I had wondered if the Duke of Devonshire had changed his heart, but…

Now Dylan realized that Edward still loved her. The way Edward could not tear his eyes away from the coffin where his wife lay asleep reminded Dylan of Angela’s wedding day. Dressed in pure white, Angela had appeared more radiant and happy than anyone else that day. Had he known she would depart so soon, he would have tried to speak with her more—if only a little more conversation.

The memory of Angela, who had once approached him warmly even as he regarded her as only a passing connection, brought a mix of regret and bitterness. Ultimately, Dylan turned away first—toward a place where no more vulgar chatter or weeping could be heard.

---

"Excuse me for a moment."

Not long after, Angela asked permission from the Marquis of Kruger and slipped out of her seat. She could no longer bear to watch the grieving family. Only when she reached a secluded corner of the temple, out of sight of others, did she finally collapse.

How could she possibly soothe this sorrow? Angela crouched down and let the tears flow. In this place where no one would come, she could at least console herself alone. Having been unable to cry anywhere else, if only she could pour it all out here…

Just as she was wretchedly shedding tears, an unexpected figure appeared from around the corner, and their eyes met.

"Why are you crying here?"

"Your Grace…?"

How long had he been listening to her weep? Angela could not tell, but she could sense from his expression that Dylan found it incomprehensible.

"Because I am sad…"

"?"

"It is a funeral, after all."

"I was not aware that Lady Kruger and the Duchess of Devonshire were such close friends."

To her flustered, hastily spoken words, Dylan replied as if it were nothing unusual. He did not seem to believe her much.

When did Dylan get here? I didn’t see him in the temple earlier.

Thoughts raced through Angela’s mind. Of all times, to run into him like this. She belatedly wiped her tears with her hand, feeling nothing but embarrassment at having been caught crying.

"And why were you there, Your Grace…?"

"That is what I should be asking you."

Dylan retorted with an incredulous look, folding his arms. After studying the flustered Angela for a moment, he finally spoke again.

"Are you fully recovered now?"

"Ah…"

At that, Angela recalled the incident from a few days ago.

"I truly cannot thank you enough for what happened the other day. I am deeply in your debt."

The Marquis of Kruger had already sent gifts to Dylan in gratitude, but Angela knew he had returned them.

"I did not say that to hear such words."

Dylan frowned as if he had heard something unnecessary.

"I do not wish to create a debt between you and me. There is no need for talk of owing anything. Whether it was you or anyone else who fell into the river, I would have saved them."

His tone, as if stating the obvious, made Angela realize—ah, of course. Now that she possessed Penelope’s memories, Angela understood perfectly why Dylan kept his distance.

"You do not wish to be entangled with me in any way, do you?"

At Angela’s question, based on those memories, Dylan gave a curt nod with an impassive face. Then he fell silent for a moment, as if pondering something. Wondering what he might say, Angela quietly studied his face.

Perhaps it was because he had been forced to grow up earlier than others. His fine features, once softer in childhood, now carried a sharper edge, giving him an untouchable air.

If only I could have talked with Dylan about how we had been all this time.

Dylan was also one of the people Angela regretted not being able to reveal her identity to. And then, in a tone that sounded somehow bitter, Dylan spoke.

"I also detest tragic events occurring one after another. My saving you was nothing more than that."

With no further words to say, Dylan passed by her without waiting for an answer.

Tragic…?

As he walked ahead, Dylan’s broad back seemed weary, as if drained of energy.

Is Dylan also saddened by my death?

She thought it might be an overreach, yet somehow she felt that way, and Angela watched him with a strange feeling.

---

That day, Angela did not reveal her identity to the viscount’s family and returned to the marquis’s residence as soon as the funeral ended.

I cannot keep drifting along indefinitely.

She needed to decide her course of action. Unlike the "Duchess of Devonshire," who had been trapped like a bird in a cage, Penelope had a proper position in society. She had merely been on leave for a few days after the river accident. Now Angela would have to carry out Penelope’s work.

Since I have her memories, I should be able to manage.

Angela resolved to try her best to become Penelope.

When Edward’s interest has completely cooled, I will reveal my identity to my family.

She could not simply stay weeping, longing for her family. The unfortunate Penelope, who had passed away, would not have wanted her body to remain so despondent either.

If Lady Kruger were here, surely…

Through the body swap, Angela realized she had only known a small part of Penelope. At first, she had thought Penelope was merely a beauty with dazzling looks and a confident presence—that was why she had stared, enchanted, when she first saw Penelope at a pre-wedding party.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Only after Penelope noticed her gaze and asked did Angela realize her mistake.

"Oh, I apologize. You are so beautiful that I could not help but stare…"

"Me?"

Lady Kruger seemed taken aback by the unexpected compliment, then smiled gracefully.

"How surprising, to hear such words from you. Of all people."

But from Penelope’s memories, Angela learned that Penelope did not smile at everyone who said such things. Not long after, when a young lord made a similar remark, Penelope openly showed her displeasure.

Penelope, as Angela now knew through memory, was a person so forthright she seemed almost blunt. Realizing that Penelope had been relatively courteous to Angela, she felt neither disappointed nor disillusioned by learning Penelope’s other side. Angela had always wanted to be like her—confident and elegant.

I know I may not live up to Lady Kruger’s standards, but I will do my best.

Yet, no matter how much she thought about it, there was one thing she doubted would be possible.

---

In the drawing room of Devonshire House.

Edward sat facing a middle-aged woman dressed in antique attire. Even the simple act of drinking tea carried an air of nobility, yet her tightly pressed lips gave an impression of stubbornness.

"What brings you here, Mother?"

The woman was the Empress Dowager, his biological mother. Upon hearing Edward’s question, she frowned.

"How disheartening. Is that how you speak to a mother who has come to see her beloved son…?"

"I heard you were unwell."

When Edward pointed out her absence from Angela’s funeral under the pretext of poor health, the Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed.

"You know, don’t you?"

Even the nobles could sense it; there was no way Edward did not.

"Are you resentful that I did not attend?"

"You should have come, if only to consider the eyes of the nobles."

"The Emperor attended the funeral. Could there be greater honor than that?"

Watching his mother refuse to yield, Edward let out a low sigh.

"Then why have you come here? I have asked you not to appear unannounced at the ducal residence."

"Now that child is no longer here, is she not?"

In truth, it was the Empress Dowager who was growing impatient as the conversation wore on. Despite her visit, Edward addressed her with only formal politeness, treating her as though she were a burden.

Just because I did not attend that funeral…

"Do not come to the residence anymore. I will come to you instead."

It had been Edward who, after establishing his independence as duke, had stopped the Empress Dowager from suddenly dropping in to see her son. Edward had said it was for Angela’s sake.

It is all because of that child.

Her son, who had once cherished his mother so dearly, had changed completely after meeting Angela.

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