IWDFLSB 05

Chapter 5

“Hmmm. So you’re saying there’s nothing about my sister-in-law worth holding onto except the family’s circumstances.”

Lehaim lazily stirred the tea in his cup with a teaspoon.

“Bittersweet, isn’t it? You’ve been married for two years, bound by vows meant to last a lifetime, and that’s all you’ve got.”

“…”

Lehaim rose from his seat.

“Well, whatever. You’ll figure it out yourself. As Father said, I won’t get involved.”

Leaving behind a remark that matters between husband and wife were a private affair, the duke shut himself away in his study.

Riena had also been with them, drinking tea and comforting her eldest brother, but had left a short while ago.

Most likely for the imperial palace.

Without a doubt, she was going to meet the crown prince, who had been persistently courting her for years.

Someone had to keep an eye on him to make sure he didn’t pull anything stupid. Lehaim turned back to his brother.

“Just suppose for a moment.”

“What?”

“If—really if—your wife doesn’t come back, what will you do?”

“She will come back.”

“She could get so angry that she ignores the family and everything else.”

Leandro stared at the still surface of his tea for a long moment. Then he said stubbornly,

“No, Idel’s not that kind of person. She’ll definitely come back.”

“And what makes you so sure?”

“That’s…”

As if short of words, Leandro switched his answer.

“Riena said our marriage would remain intact.”

“Riena?”

“Yes. She told me so before you arrived.”

“She has always been good at predicting things.”

Their younger sister had an uncanny side to her.

Normally a carefree girl, she could act like an old soul at critical moments.

Sometimes she provided the family with valuable information, other times she made remarks that struck at the heart of the matter.

And more often than not, Riena’s words proved exactly right.

If someone like Riena was confident, chances were Leandro wasn’t going to get divorced.

Having reached this conclusion, Lehaim left in lighter spirits.

“Well then, I’ll be going.”

After Lehaim departed, Leandro remained, drinking tea just as he had when his brother was there, waiting for Idel to return.

Calmly. Leisurely.

Just as he’d said earlier, by now Idel should have come to her senses.

She might even be on her way home right now. No—judging by the time, she must be.

Surely she wouldn’t need more than half a day to regret such outrageous behavior and change her mind.

When she comes back, I shouldn’t blame her but welcome her.

Even thinking back on it, words like “get lost” or “idiot” were deeply insulting.

Leandro had never in his life been cursed at like that. No one dared show such disrespect to a direct descendant of Cassius.

Even political slander against him was always wrapped in noble language.

Still, he decided to endure it. After all, it was true he had wronged his wife.

…Regardless of the circumstances, it was undeniable they hadn’t enjoyed a normal married life in the past two years.

So, he decided to let this incident pass peacefully. If he didn’t make an issue of it, there’d be no problem at all.

He even spent quite some time pondering what kind words he should greet Idel with when she returned, despite his awkwardness.

By the time he finally thought of the right phrase, the sun was already dipping behind the mountains.

“…She’s a bit late.”

Was she perhaps lingering nearby, too embarrassed to face him?

But no matter how he looked, she was nowhere to be seen.

Not even when the sun had completely set.

The next morning, early.

Knock knock.

“Young master, are you awake?”

The young butler who oversaw the townhouse knocked on his door.

Leandro opened it without delay.

“What is it?”

“…Did something happen last night?”

“Nothing.”

“But your complexion—”

“Just tell me what you came to say.”

He didn’t need to look in the mirror to guess—his face must look haggard.

The truth was, he hadn’t slept a wink.

Because Idel still hadn’t come back!

Although he’d pretended to dine and handle work as usual, he’d actually been on edge the entire time.

No wonder he couldn’t sleep.

He was exhausted—both mentally and physically.

He was about to send the butler away so he could at least nap for a bit, but the next words snapped him wide awake.

“It’s just… the young madam is at the front entrance right now…”

The “young madam,” of course, was how the Cassius servants referred to Idel.

“Young master!”

Leandro didn’t even let the butler finish before bolting for the front door.

He was so hasty he almost tripped on the stairs, but his heart was light.

I knew it!

Idel had intended to come back after all. Where else would she go?

But—

“Um… Lord Leandro Cassius?”

Waiting in the entrance was not Idel, but an unfamiliar commoner, looking overwhelmed by the grandeur of the ducal residence.

“And you are?”

Feeling as if someone had poured cold water over his head, Leandro’s tone turned sharp.

“I… I’m a messenger sent by Lady Idel Wallace.”

A messenger? Where was Idel?

“My wife—where is she?”

“I wouldn’t know. I was only asked to deliver this to you.”

Before Leandro could ask more, the man thrust a large envelope into his hands and hurried away.

He tore it open almost violently, and out came…

[Divorce Agreement]

One sheet of paper with those bold words at the top, and a small note.

The note contained only a single line:

Today, noon. In front of city hall.

Leandro’s vision swam.

In the Asteroth Empire, city hall was where one registered a marriage—and likewise, where one filed for divorce by mutual consent.

Noon.

In front of the city hall in Royen, capital of the Asteroth Empire.

With no change of clothes, I arrived wearing the same outfit as yesterday, exactly on the hour.

“Idel!”

Leandro, who had been pacing near the entrance, ran toward me the moment he saw me.

“Oh my, you’re here already.”

I acted as though I were seeing him for the first time today.

In truth, I’d been at a café across the street for an hour, sipping coffee and watching him.

He’d looked exactly like an anxious dog needing to relieve itself. Very satisfying to watch.

“What were you thinking, sending me this?!”

A crumpled piece of paper flapped in front of my face.

“If you send a divorce agreement, it’s because you want a divorce. Why else?”

“Divorce? Do you really mean to separate from me?”

“Shall we separate pretend?”

My sarcasm made him exhale roughly.

“How could you do this to me? I was worried sick when you didn’t come home last night, and it turns out I was just a fool.”

“Did I ask you to worry? But at least you admit you’re a fool.”

“Idel!”

“What?!”

He wasn’t the only one who could raise his voice.

When I shouted back, his expression turned startled.

No wonder—my attitude lately must have seemed outrageous to him.

In two years of marriage, we’d never had a shouting match. But that wasn’t because we got along—it was because we rarely saw each other enough to fight.

Leandro was busy about 350 days out of the year, and even on the remaining 15, he didn’t spend time with me.

And now he’s making a scene?

He cleared his throat, lowering his tone from its earlier agitation.

“Anyway, I apologize for raising my voice.”

“If apologies solved everything, there’d be no murders, and the constables would all be out of work.”

“I’m apologizing here. Why must you respond so cynically?”

“Because I feel like it.”

“…Idel, please—calm down and hear me out.”

Even at my childish retorts, he only twitched an eyebrow, keeping his voice unnaturally calm.

“After you left, I did a lot of thinking. Yes, I admit it—I have…”

It seemed he was forcing down his temper, making a desperate effort to repair our relationship.

“Hold it.”

But I had no intention whatsoever of helping that effort.

“This sounds long and boring. I’ll listen after we file the paperwork.”

I cut him off and jerked my chin toward the city hall building.

“Less talk, more walking.”

His vaunted patience reached its limit.

“…Don’t you think this is too much?”

His face stiffened.

“I’m trying this hard to apologize, and you…”

He even looked hurt.

Oh, please.

Playing the victim now?

“Look here, little duke. I never asked how sorry you were, and I’m not the least bit curious.”

Half of that was to provoke him—but the other half was pure truth.

If he had apologized months ago—or even before yesterday’s lunch—

If, instead of this, he’d treated me like a person the way he had before our marriage, things might have been different.

But no—he’d shown me not even a scrap of interest all this time.

“So just because you apologize now, am I supposed to shed a few tears and forgive you? Forget all the resentment and smile like nothing happened?”

The more I spoke, the more my emotions surged.

I folded my arms and, out of sight, pinched the skin of my arm hard, to keep from bursting into tears on the spot.

Don’t cry.

I wasn’t here to look pitiful—I was here to demand a divorce with my head held high.

That was the only way to achieve what I wanted.

So I put on my most arrogant expression and glared at him.

“Let’s just end this cleanly. We clearly don’t have any fondness for each other. I never want to see your face again.”

“Idel…!”

I was just about to walk past him into the city hall when—

The sound of paper being torn to shreds reached my ears.