I Supported My Fiancé for 10 Years After He Said, 'Let's Get Married When I Succeed,' but When He Finally Did, He Dumped Me. By the Way, I'm a Witch and Turning 30 Next Year!! - Episode 7
At first, I was having fun alone, drinking quickly, but as soon as the wine bottle was empty, I suddenly came to my senses.
Looking at the empty wine bottle, I thought it was just like myself.
“Shopkeeper, is something wrong?”
“No, I was just thinking that I’m an empty person who can’t find purpose in life, except for marriage.”
“That’s not true.”
Although Ie denied it, I had lost my sense of direction and didn’t know how to live anymore.
“What should I do now?”
Living alone in the capital city, the pressure from society would be harsh.
The regulars at the pharmacy were worried about me, but I always confidently answered, “Once my fiancé becomes successful, I’ll marry him!”
Who could have predicted that a future where Reimar would break off the engagement would come? I sighed deeply.
“Shopkeeper, marriage isn’t everything in life.”
“Maybe, but…”
“I’ve been divorced, and I pay child support for my kid.”
“Eh?!”
I was surprised by the unexpected situation of Ie, who I had no idea about in his personal life.
“I have a ten-year-old daughter with my ex-wife.”
Eleven years ago, Ie had a political marriage with the daughter of a powerful noble, and the next year, their daughter was born.
“I didn’t have any title to inherit, and I thought I had fulfilled my role as a husband by having a child…”
But, he had witnessed his brother and wife’s affair.
“I started to wonder if my daughter might not even be my child… I couldn’t bring myself to treat her with love.”
Apparently, on their wedding night, Ie suddenly lost consciousness, and the next morning, his wife declared, “The wedding night went smoothly,” without consulting him.
“Looking back, I must have been drugged.”
Noble marriages don’t involve love; they are arranged for political purposes. Having children is an obligation, and trying to avoid it is unheard of.
Ie’s ex-wife left a strong impression as an extremely irresponsible and cunning woman.
“Any man who can’t treat his daughter kindly just because she may not be his own flesh and bl00d isn’t fit to be a father.”
Ie begged his father and filed for divorce. His wife agreed to the separation on the condition that she would receive alimony and child support.
“Alimony… It’s strange that the one who cheated on has to pay it.”
“Living alone as a woman in the Holy City is tough.”
Moreover, he was willing to pay anything, be it alimony or child support, if it meant he could get a divorce.
“So, I ended up having a loveless marriage, losing my wife to my brother, and becoming a miserable man, earning money for child support for a daughter who might not even be mine.”
It was a past so intense that what had happened with Reimar seemed trivial.
Ie worked hard, even though he was falling apart, because he needed to earn money for his ex-wife and daughter.
“Actually, before marrying my ex-wife, there was a woman I wanted to marry.”
She was bright, cheerful, kind-hearted, strong… She had everything that Ie didn’t.
“Why didn’t you marry her?”
“She rejected me.”
“That’s awful!”
“Do you think so?”
Ie’s eyes, usually hidden behind thick glasses, stared at me intently.
I was taken aback and my heart skipped a beat.
“Uh, yes…”
“But in the end, it was for the best. At that time, I couldn’t see what was around me, and if I had married her, I would have locked her up in my mansion, wanting to protect her so much.”
“You really had strong feelings for her.”
“Yes, it was my first love.”
Ie must have been deeply in love for him to feel that strongly. She must have been a truly wonderful woman.
“Marriage is really just a shackle. You end up trapped in a situation you can’t get out of. In comparison, you, shopkeeper, are free. You can do anything.”
“Anything…”
I had been thinking about going back home to help with my nieces and nephews, but maybe there’s something I can still do in the Holy City.
“Maybe I should start something new.”
“I think that’s a great idea.”
“But, what should I do?”
“Well… For example, how about serving food at the pharmacy?”
“Food?”
“Yes, this stew was really delicious!”
Ie said it would definitely become popular.
“Right… It might be difficult in the evening since I have to do the mixing, but maybe I could serve something like ‘Witch’s Whimsical Lunch’.”
“Witch’s Whimsical Lunch sounds great. It sounds delicious!”
The menu wouldn’t be set; I would make different dishes every day.
This place used to be an old tavern, so the foundation for a restaurant is already in place.
“If I clear up the counter and bring in some chairs, we could probably serve five customers.”
“What about making a terrace outside?”
“That’s a good idea!”
It might be too cold now, but in the spring or early summer, it would be nice to eat while feeling the breeze.
“Should I try lunch service?”
“Definitely! I’ll come every day!”
“Ie, thank you.”
At first, I could make just five meals a day or try a reservation system.
The more I thought about it, the more excited I became.
After Reimar broke off our engagement, I thought I was empty inside.
But that wasn’t the case. My ten years weren’t wasted.
Even my cooking skills had grown, skills I wouldn’t have developed if I hadn’t been engaged to Rymar.
“I’ll try my best from now on.”
“I’ll support you.”
I’m not alone. I have Ie and the regulars who come to the pharmacy.
I’ll do my best for them.
With that positive thought, I was able to end the day on a hopeful note.