IWMHWD 05

<Chapter 5> The Awakened Husband
November 5, 2023

“I tried every possible medicine, but there’s no sign of improvement at all.”

“And?”

“So I thought maybe if I learned healing magic myself and used it on Father, he might get a little better.”

“Hmph.”

“Mother passed without even getting a chance to be treated. I… I can’t lose Father the same way…”

It was a story that should at least bring a tear to the eye of anyone with a heart, but Leonard remained indifferent.

“Cut the act. Wipe your tears and tell me the truth.”

‘Heartless bastard!’

Cordelia realized that emotional appeals didn’t work on this man at all.

It was better to drop the pitiful act and not waste her tears in front of him.

She quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and straightened her posture. Her expression had turned cold.

“Fine. Honestly, I just want to escape this wretched reality.”

“And what does that have to do with anything? If you want out, just get a divorce. Why are you trying to learn magic? You’re planning to return to the Vasquez family anyway, aren’t you?”

“I’m not going back to the Vasquez family, even if I do get divorced.”

“Why not?”

She couldn’t tell him the real reason—that she couldn’t go back. That even if her father died, she was told to die here.

She didn’t want to give Leonard another reason to hold something over her.

“You think I’d want to return to the house that sold me off like property?”

She scoffed without meaning to.

She couldn’t forget the cold gaze of her father the day she left home.

His words, “We won’t even take your corpse back,” had pierced her like a thorn.

That was the day she decided—she would never go back.

“To be honest, my original plan was to find a reason to get divorced, collect alimony, and open a shop that deals with magical artifacts.”

“Magical artifacts?”

Cordelia tapped under her eyes as she explained.

“I can see magic. I’d check if enchantments are properly applied or if there’s a curse on the object. If I also learned a few light support spells, it would help a lot.”

“So, you want to be a magic appraiser?”

“Yes. I’m not asking for advanced spells. Just a few basic support ones would be enough.”

She spoke sincerely and earnestly. It wasn’t like she dreamed of becoming a powerful mage.

But Leonard didn’t seem to hear it that way. His mouth curled into a sneer.

“No.”

“Why not? Why can’t I?”

Cordelia protested fiercely. Leonard crossed his arms and scoffed.

“I won’t stand to see you going around bragging about being my student after learning a spell or two. And an appraiser? Seriously? You think the student of Leonard Atilay would become something as lowly as that? That’s a joke. Even stray dogs would laugh.”

“I won’t ever say I learned from you.”

“And why should I believe you?”

“I’ll swear on my family name—”

“Your name means nothing. Vasquez is ruined and forgotten.”

“…”

His brutal insult left Cordelia speechless.

Should she threaten to go to Maximilian? No—he might actually kill her to shut her up.

So she forced a smile.

“Trust is something we can build over time.”

“That’s what you think.”

“But how can we build trust if you don’t even give me a chance? Don’t you think I deserve at least that much?”

“Not my problem.”

The argument dragged on longer than expected. The sun had already half set, and the warm glow of dusk seeped through the window.

Leonard still glared at her with distrust. At this point, Cordelia decided to back off.

There was always tomorrow.

“Oh my, look at the time. Get some rest. I’ll come again tomorrow.”

“Don’t. It’s annoying.”

“I heard from the maid you left most of your meal. Was it not to your liking?”

“What’s it to you?”

“Should I change the chef?”

“Didn’t you say you were leaving?”

“You sure can’t let anything go.”

“What?”

“See? You heard me. At least your hearing’s fine. That’s a relief.”

Leonard stared at her in disbelief. She just smiled brightly and stood up without blinking an eye.

“Well, I really am leaving now. See you tomorrow.”

* * *

She’s annoyingly persistent.

Only after the door shut and she was completely gone did Leonard finally relax. His entire body started trembling like he was having a seizure.

Just casting a few spells had drained all his energy.

His stomach churned like he might throw up, and his head throbbed like nails were driven into it.

He frowned, enduring the pain.

“Cordelia Vasquez…”

Everything about her was suspicious from beginning to end.

She claimed she figured out he was Leonard Atilay from just a few clues, but he couldn’t believe it.

“Is someone behind her?”

But if Maximilian had sent her, she wouldn’t be this clumsy and unconvincing.

Already in a chaotic situation, Cordelia’s sudden appearance only made things more confusing.

“Damn it. All this from just a bit of magic…”

His hand still wouldn’t stop shaking. The smooth, unscathed hand—so different from his real one—felt alien.

The absurdity of his fall from grace made him let out a bitter laugh.

This was all that bastard’s fault.

“Maximilian.”

The hateful name slipped out unconsciously. Leonard clenched his teeth and fists.

He had always found his brother annoying, but never considered him a threat.

More precisely, Maximilian wasn’t even worth considering as a rival. Leonard’s only true competitor had always been Leonard Atilay himself.

Some might call that arrogance, but to Leonard, it was just natural.

“I’ll kill you. No matter what.”

His seething hatred pushed him past the pain.

He would never forget the cold blade that pierced his side, or Maximilian’s ecstatic face as he stabbed him.

Had it not been for the soul transfer spell he cast at the brink of death, he would never have survived.

“You must be laughing now. Go ahead. Laugh all you want—until I tear you to pieces in the most glorious place.”

He muttered darkly.

The sun beyond the window finally sank below the horizon.

* * *

“How am I supposed to convince that man?”

Cordelia hadn’t expected to succeed on the first try, but she couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

It wasn’t absolutely necessary to learn magic to become an appraiser, but it would be a massive advantage.

There was a world of difference between appraisers who could use magic and those who couldn’t.

Besides, meeting a mage—let alone learning magic—was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. This could be the turning point of her entire life.

After returning to her room, Cordelia sat at her vanity, deep in thought.

The maid offered her dinner, but she declined, instead groaning with frustration.

Still, confirming that the soul inside Craig’s body was truly Leonard Atilay had been a huge step forward.

“I have to learn magic from him, no matter what.”

Nothing was going according to Cordelia’s expectations.

Craig, who was supposed to die, had survived—and inside her seemingly dull husband now resided the soul of a grand mage.

It might be a nightmare for someone else, but to her, it was a stroke of fortune.

For the first time in her life, she had a chance to make her own choices.

That alone sent a thrill down her spine and made her blood boil.

‘I can’t let this opportunity slip away.’

Maybe the star that protected the Vasquez line finally took pity on her.

It felt like receiving every birthday gift she’d ever missed all at once.

Cordelia fell asleep with a genuinely happy smile for the first time in a very long while.

* * *

No one visited the room of the “imbecile” count—except for Cordelia.

The attendants all praised her virtue, but their assumptions were far from the truth.

“Good morning.”

“Aren’t you tired of this?”

“What’s so tiring about seeing my husband’s face?”

Cordelia smiled and took her usual seat beside him.

Since that day, she had visited Leonard daily, practically waiting on him.

“Look. No matter how much you beg, I’m not teaching you magic. You think this is like learning history from a private tutor? If any fool could do it, the kingdom would be overflowing with mages.”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“Ha…”

Leonard found her annoying, exhausting, and bothersome.

If it were his original body, he would’ve simply ignored her. But in his current state, ignoring or kicking her out wasn’t an option.

And the fact that she knew who he really was made it all the more uncomfortable.

“You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“Not hungry.”

“I haven’t eaten either. Let’s eat together. I changed the chef—hope you like the food.”

“You must have selective hearing. Convenient, isn’t it?”

Even with Leonard’s sarcasm, Cordelia remained unfazed. Her shamelessness left him dumbfounded.

Right then, Emily arrived pushing a trolley of food. Cordelia moved a dish onto a tray and scooped up a spoonful of stew herself.

She even blew on it to cool it down before offering it to him.

“Just try a bite. The chef made it specially for you.”

She smiled kindly and thoughtfully.

“I said I don’t want it. Why are you so damn persistent?”

“Ah! Madam!”

Leonard brusquely knocked her hand away, causing the spoon’s contents to spill on Cordelia’s hand.

Startled, the maid quickly rushed over.

“Oh no! Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing.”

“But it’s red!”

The maid wiped Cordelia’s hand, her lips twitching. She couldn’t say anything aloud, but her eyes glared resentfully at Leonard.

“Take this and get out.”

“Yes, Madam. Please call if you need anything.”

Cordelia silently rubbed her reddened hand.

It must have hurt from the burn, but instead of glaring at Leonard, she simply smiled and cleared the dishes.

That unsettled Leonard even more.

“How are you feeling today?”

“You. Why are you so damn annoying?”

Her daily visits, her constant smile—everything about her grated on his nerves.

“Sorry?”

“I told you not to come. How many times do I have to say it?”

“I just… feel comfortable here.”

“How can you feel comfortable when we’ve barely even talked?”

“Well, at least you don’t call me a leech or a useless money-sucker.”

“…”

“You don’t get drunk and throw tantrums or bring your mistresses home to flirt with in front of me, either.”

Leonard was at a loss for words as Cordelia’s calm voice continued.