I Had No Complaints About This Marriage - Chapter 60

Esina swallowed a sigh as she watched Xenon, undeterred by her lack of response, dutifully escort her and offer his hand to steady her over tree roots.

If this had been before her rebirth—if she had been the original Esina—

‘She would’ve been overjoyed by this attention alone.’

She might have genuinely been happy, even dreaming of a future with him.

The original Esina would never have guessed that the male lead—who paved the way only for the female lead—was showing romantic interest in her.

And honestly, if that were the case, she wouldn’t have to worry about betrayal. Wasn’t he the kind, gentle male protagonist who served as the sole ray of salvation in bleak stories?

“……”

But, surprisingly, that option didn’t appeal to her. Instead, she found his attention toward her—a married woman—irritating.

Her thoughts drifted back to Herman.

‘If the duke really is trying to push the female lead onto Herman…’

Could she win against the female lead?

The answer was…

‘No.’

She was just a supporting character—pretty, but average. Or rather, she had been the villainess. The odds were less than zero.

Realizing this, Esina’s mood sank even lower. She hadn’t asked for much.

All she wanted was her own diamond-grade trash.

To reject the male lead and cling to trash like Herman…

For a moment, she wallowed in self-loathing.

Had she spent so long attracting nothing but trash that her tastes had adapted to only trash? Had she resigned herself to the fate of a recycling bin, just as her friends had always teased?

‘…No. It’s different.’

Even after reconsidering, she had no desire to associate with the trash she’d known before Herman. She’d rather die than go back to them—she could nod solemnly to that.

‘Herman is—’

Herman was different. The world was overflowing with trash, but diamond-grade trash like Herman was rare.

So Herman…

A being like Herman was…

‘Ah.’

A sharp pang struck deep in her chest. Only then could Esina reluctantly admit it.

‘I…’

‘I must like Herman more than I thought.’

Not to the extent of some grand, passionate love where she’d die for him—but enough.

Enough that just imagining their married life ending left her feeling regretful and bitter.

‘It was a pretty good life.’

A life of luxury and indulgence, where she could be as lazy as she wanted. Delicious food, high-quality goods.

And above all—a husband with a face and body to die for, who satisfied her thoroughly.

But with the female lead now clinging to him, Esina had no confidence. Even the original Esina, for all her scheming and tantrums, hadn’t been able to pry the female lead away from the male lead.

If Herman and the female lead ended up together, the original story would be completely upended—but honestly, in Esina’s opinion, Herman was exceptional enough to rival the male lead.

If you ignored the disqualifying trait of him being a womanizer, that is.

‘…And he’d even stopped sleeping around indiscriminately.’

Of course, rumors are starting to spread again now, but those have been circulating ever since I met the female lead…

‘If the other person is the female lead, I can understand why someone would choose her side.’

The more I thought about it, the less clear the answer became.

“Sigh.”

“Lady?”

At the unconscious sigh, Xenon’s worried voice reached her ears. He was still looking down at Esina with concerned eyes.

Normally, her heart would have fluttered. A handsome man was gently worrying about her, after all.

But all that filled Esina’s heart was resentment.

‘Just who is it that’s making me feel so troubled?’

Perhaps because of her pent-up emotions, Esina unknowingly grabbed him and lashed out as if accusing him.

“So you’re the problem too.”

“Huh?”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I’m not sure what you mean…”

“Why are you acting out of character? Do something about it.”

Go and woo the female lead already. Instead of doing this to me, who has nothing to do with it.

“What am I supposed to…”

“Who knows—maybe we’ll end up divorced soon.”

Even as she said it, she knew she was being unreasonable, but she couldn’t help feeling bitter. It wasn’t like the other person would even understand what she was talking about anyway.

This was, in a way, just her venting.