I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 25

Right after the wedding, things had been too chaotic to even think about going out.

Just because his ties with the Telloien family were severed didn’t mean the businesses he was managing or some of the household affairs would immediately fall apart.

If anything, that was precisely why it had been crucial for Herman to solidify his foundations beforehand. Especially now that he had employees to oversee and Esina—now that he had a household to care for.

Calculating the potential backlash once Duke Telloien formally declared the disownment, ensuring his businesses wouldn’t falter no matter what setbacks arose, and…

…above all, teaching Esina all sorts of things.

Though many of those “etiquettes” had led to intimacy, Herman was slightly surprised to find himself rather satisfied with this life.

Normally, he would’ve grown restless within three days of being cooped up in the mansion with work. He was the type who preferred handling matters on the move rather than sitting still—and if women approached him along the way, he saw no reason to refuse, enjoying the fun where he could.

Yet, even though he went out less after marrying Esina, he hadn’t felt stifled. He remembered how Duke Telloien had once insisted, “You’ll develop patience as you get older,” and let out another hollow laugh.

‘Am I turning into a recluse in my old age?’

Far too young, decadent, and captivating to be a recluse, Herman lightly stroked his chin. Then, his eyes landed on what had captured Esina’s mesmerized gaze.

A jewelry counter, where all manner of gems dazzled in beautiful displays, drawing people’s attention.

Esina’s eyes were fixed on a necklace—one with a diamond set in the center of a palm-sized pendant. The silver prongs held the diamond in place, surrounded by a net-like weave of tiny pearls strung delicately along the chain.

‘It suits her.’
Truthfully, such a necklace would typically complement a beauty with black or silver hair, but to Herman’s eyes, it also seemed a perfect match for Esina, with her voluminous crimson hair tied up elegantly.

More than anything, that necklace would look like a painting against Esina’s pale, flawless skin. The design, letting the diamond fall naturally along her décolletage, would beautifully accentuate her ample chest—

For a brief moment, the illusion of Esina wearing nothing but that necklace flashed through Herman’s mind.

‘Just as I thought.’

It suited her perfectly.

As if it had been made specifically for her.

No sooner had he reached that conclusion than Herman approached Esina.

“Did it catch your interest?”

At his words, Esina’s eyes widened.

“This?”

“You’ve been staring at it.”

Well, she had been. Because it reminded her of her past life.

A diamond necklace she had once received from one of those trashy men surfaced in her memory.

Of course, that so-called “diamond” had been nothing more than a fake cubic zirconia, not even half the size of her pinky nail—and after she learned that everyone around her had known and laughed at her for it, she had discarded it without hesitation.

Back then, she had been foolishly happy just to receive it as a “gift.” But now, seeing a real, exorbitantly expensive diamond, she felt…

‘The aura of the real thing is completely different.’

How stupid she had been, falling for such a cheap trick. The way it sparkled made her gasp instinctively, her gaze drawn to it.

“Is it pretty?”

“Yes. Very pretty.”

Her honest answer made Herman’s lips curl into a smirk. The glances of nearby shoppers instantly flickered toward him, but he paid them no mind as he spoke again.

“If you want it, take it.”

Esina’s eyes flew open. At her bewildered expression, Herman’s smile deepened.

“You said you’d be extravagant.”

“Me?”

“That you’d live so lavishly, people would call you a wicked wife.”

Finally, Esina remembered the act she had put on to marry Herman.

She had said that in desperation, but having lived modestly even in her past life, the thought of casually buying something so expensive made her uncomfortable. Sure, she had asked for a sapphire mine, but since it wasn’t something she could physically hold, it hadn’t felt real.

And now, here was something so valuable that merely wearing it might make her a target for thieves.

“I did say that, but…”

“So buy it.”

“I just…”

“Don’t forget our agreement.”

“……”

“Buy it, wear it, and make sure everyone sees it.”