I'll Just Be Friends With My Ex-Husband

But before I even met the man I have to have a date with, I had no choice but to stop in my tracks. The man who was waiting for me was smoking a cigar.

Oh . . .

This isn’t right!

I don’t like people who smoke cigars. Why are you smoking something that’s not good for your health?

In all honesty, I didn’t have to say anything about other people’s preferences, but it was my one and only motto not to meet people who smoked.

But I can’t break that.

I trudged up to the man.

“Lady Louella.”

“Gentleman Cinelis. Well, would it be possible for you to stop smoking first?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It has become a habit.”

Cynelis smiled softly and put the cigar out. It was obvious that he did it as if it was natural for him.

I let out a sigh.

I walked as far away as I could from Cinelis. Cinelis has been courteous to me all this time.

During the meal, I asked just in case.

“Well, do you have any thoughts of quitting smoking? It’s not good for your health . . . If I have a baby later . . .” I blurted out, just giving him a hint to quit smoking.

“Oh, I won’t have to bear the child, but my wife will, right?” Cinelis smiled. “If the lady bears a child, it has nothing to do with me smoking, does it?”

What do you mean it doesn’t have anything to do with the child? Am I the only one who has to take responsibility for the baby? Does your sperm have nothing to do with smoking? Tsk. Why would I have your baby?

The hand that I used to hold the fork trembled with anger.

Cynelis went on talking without getting the hang of it.

“And smoking is a personal preference. I want to pursue the joy of the moment rather than taking care of my health or whatever it is. Probably. I don’t think I’ll ever stop smoking for the rest of my life.”

All right, then go ahead and smoke for the rest of your life.

Bye to you, too.

* * *

Alexid was out to meet me in front of the mansion.

Alexid smirked at me. He already knew of me having a series of dates with several men. He wore a towel roughly over his shoulder and it appeared that he had just finished training.

In the past, I would have been fed up with the smell of sweat and yelled for him to get away from me.

But when I came in after being with Cinelis, who went out every hour and smoked, the sweaty smell seemed lovely compared to the cigarette smell.

“What’s this smell? Did you smoke a cigar? That’s poison, you know! Poison!”

“Shut up, you stupid peanut!”

“What did you say? If you’re angry, you’re not supposed to take it out on someone else, okay? . . . What was he like?”

“Argh!”

“I can tell without even listening to your stories.” Alexid patted me gently on the back. “You must be having a hard time on a date. Let’s go home and rest”

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” I roared again. “So annoying!”

I thought Gerald would be the only last man I am supposed to meet. In this world, half of the population are men, can’t I even meet someone decent?

A series of failures broke my pride.

“Was it that bad?”

“Do you know what he said?”

He stopped on his way and jerked his body around.

I needed someone to vent to.

“He said, ‘Why should I stop smoking when it’s the woman who has to give birth to a child? It’ll never affect the baby!’ And he goes out every hour and smokes the hell out of it all the time.Why doesn’t he just go on a date with his cigar instead?! Why would he have a date with me?!”

“Isn’t it because you accepted the offer to have a date with him?” Alexid replied as a matter of fact.

“That’s right. It’s my fault. Why did you do that, Lulu!” I grabbed my head and screamed.

Alexid snickered at me.

Alexid turned me around, “Let’s get rid of the smell first. Mother will be surprised.”

“Sigh . . . When is Father coming home?”

“Well, since he said that the monster wave was still roughly done, he might be back in a week, I think?”

“Okay.”

“When will you go on a date again?”

“. . .  The day after tomorrow. If I fail this one, I’ll take a break. I need to fix the list.”

“Don’t you want some help? Did you forget that I know them better than you do?”

“Okay.”

Alexid tapped me on the head and went to his room. He might not have sharp wits, but he knew the men more than I do.

I’ve already debuted.

I’ll hang out with the men . . .

Ugh. Is there a single good guy out there?

Other than the unicorn, it has to be a human being, a man.

I sighed deeply and opened the door. And as soon as I took off my clothes to take a bath, I told the maid, “That dress and shoes, I don’t think it’s possible to get rid of the smell, so throw them away.” I grumbled. “Oh, I hate it!”

“Yes, ma’am.” The maid replied with a small giggle.

Life is so hard . . .

I stayed for a long time with my whole body in the bathtub. I want to completely erase the strong cigar smell!