When My Contract with the Misanthropic Duke Ended, I Filed For Divorce, But My Husband's Obsession and Doting Became Unbearable - Chapter 1

The year when same-s3x marriage was finally legalized—thanks to the royal family’s second prince being gay—two people were chosen to be the first example of it. One was the young duke, Gene Bandage, famous for hating people. The other was me, Sharon Tork, the second son of a baron family.

The official reason for choosing people from such different ranks was that the royal family didn’t want the ducal house to gain too much influence. But the truth was different. I was actually a friend of the second prince, who, like me, was also gay. He knew I had feelings for Lord Bandage, so this whole arrangement was secretly his doing.

I never thought I’d actually become husband and husband with the person I loved. The night I learned about it, I couldn’t sleep from excitement. But reality wasn’t that sweet. I knew that much, yet still—I think it’s okay to be happy for a little while. Even if it’s a political marriage, I get to live with the person I’ve always loved.

“Although we are married, the truth is I was chosen simply because I dislike both men and women equally. Don’t let the title of the duke’s spouse go to your head just because this is a royal decree. I do wonder why they picked someone from a baron family despite the differences in etiquette, but as long as you stay quiet, I don’t care. As for our first night—there’s no productivity in a man lying with another man, so I’ll return to work. Don’t do anything foolish. If you have any requests, tell the head butler or the head maid. Whether they fulfill them or not is another matter.”

Those were the words my husband said to me after our simple wedding ceremony, on our wedding night.

I’d rarely seen him speak before, so when he did, I found myself admiring the way his lips moved. Maybe I’m an idiot.

Well, I really was staring at him, but even so—being denied like that by the person I loved still hurt.
I knew people still looked down on same-s3x love, that they called it “unproductive,” yet hearing it from him… yeah, I really am stupid, huh?

“I’ll make sure not to cause any trouble…”

That was all I could say as my excitement from the wedding faded away. I had already planned to be careful not to trouble him because of our difference in status, so the words came out naturally.

“Do that.”

And so, left alone on our wedding night, I spent the evening trying not to cry.

I had no idea that worse things were waiting for me the next day.

Those “worse things” came in the form of cold treatment from the servants. After such a plain wedding and being ignored on the wedding night, it was obvious that the master of the house didn’t care about me.

On top of being only a baron’s second son—a low rank—I was also a man, which drew even more prejudice. It wasn’t surprising that the servants looked down on me.

Most of the duke’s servants were younger sons and daughters of noble families who wouldn’t inherit anything. The jealousy in their eyes was clear—they couldn’t stand that someone like me suddenly got a higher position.

Especially since Duke Bandage, though known for hating people, was good-looking and popular.
They must be thinking, Why would someone like him marry such a plain man?

If only I had been born handsome, maybe things would’ve been different.

Still, I was used to being treated coldly. Even in the baron family, I had been kept at a distance once my parents learned I was gay. At least I could take care of most things on my own—that was my only relief.
And my older brother, the heir of the barony, had always been on my side. Life there wasn’t too painful because of him. He was also the only one who worried when my marriage was decided.

But here in the duke’s house, I had no allies at all. That was what made it unbearable. When the duke wasn’t home, I wasn’t even given proper meals.

“No matter how much they hate me, refusing to feed someone is too much…”

At the baron’s house, even if the food wasn’t good—hard bread or bland soup—I still got two meals a day. Sometimes my brother would secretly bring me something tasty, and those moments made me really happy. That’s how important food is. I didn’t expect happiness here, but at least I wanted to eat something, anything.

But I wasn’t even allowed to cook for myself. With the duke rarely at home, my stomach kept growling every day. I wasn’t even introduced to the head butler or head maid, and when I tried asking who they were, everyone ignored me. At this rate, I might actually starve to death.

I couldn’t keep my promise to “not cause trouble.” So, ignoring the servants’ glares, I decided to stop the duke right after he finished his meal and was about to leave.

“Duke, I need to talk to you!!”

“…”

He looked extremely annoyed, but I had no choice—this was about survival. I begged him to spare some time, and in the end, I proposed a certain contract to him.

I didn’t know it then, but that contract would become the turning point that changed our relationship.