Chapter 61
After finishing a light nighttime walk, Ailen returned to Adrian’s room. He was fast asleep, completely unaware that his older sister had even left her seat.
Ailen let out a small chuckle and pulled the blanket back up over him. Then she lay down beside him.
She lay there intending to sleep, but sleep did not come. Rather, perhaps because she had gone out to get some fresh air, her eyes felt wide awake.
Each time Ailen blinked, her violet eyes appeared and disappeared. Staring blankly at the ceiling, she recalled the conversation she had shared with Rihardt earlier.
“There are countless connections in this world. If there is a farewell, then there is also another meeting. It doesn’t seem necessary to cling so tightly to any one connection.”
Rihardt, who had been speaking up to that point, fell silent for a moment before adding,
“But that doesn’t mean that severed connections are insignificant.”
“Is that so?”
“Whether they are ongoing connections or broken ones, it’s because those encounters existed that I can be who I am today.”
Rihardt looked at her and smiled gently.
“Just as your memories with your mother are deeply etched within you, Ailen.”
“You really do have a way with words.”
Muttering playfully, Ailen let out a laugh—then suddenly her expression turned serious.
“So even broken connections are precious… is that it?”
As she pondered, she voiced a question that no one could hear.
“Will the connection we share now also remain a precious one to you?”
The person the question was meant for—Rihardt—was probably already asleep by now.
Though she received no answer, Ailen was able to steel her resolve.
❧ ❧ ❧
The next morning, Ailen was getting ready with the help of the maids.
She made a request of them.
“Dress me so I’ll leave a good impression on the other party today.”
It was a different request from last time, when she had asked to be dressed flamboyantly and boldly.
Because she was making such contradictory requests within a short period of time, the maids asked curiously,
“Are you going to negotiate some kind of deal?”
“A deal….”
Murmuring softly, Ailen gave a bitter smile.
“The opposite.”
“Ah….”
The maids nodded as if they understood.
So you’re going to end a deal.
After hearing Ailen’s answer, the maids took care of her appearance on their own. They gave her a gentle, benevolent look so that she would not leave a bad impression on the other party.
Once they finished and left the room, Ailen was alone. She glanced at the mirror briefly, then opened a tightly locked drawer.
Inside lay the divorce agreement, neatly placed. At the very bottom was Ailen’s name, along with her signature.
All preparations were complete. Once Rihardt signed here, the two of them would become complete strangers.
Strangers.
The moment that single word lodged itself in her mind, the resolve she had held so firmly began to waver again. But Ailen shook her head, forcefully brushing away the stray thoughts.
“It’s a good day. Smile, Ailen.”
Divorcing safely was no different from repaying all debts and ending a contract. On top of that, she would even gain additional wealth.
So it really was a happy day.
A smile floated onto Ailen’s face as she convinced herself. She took the documents from the drawer.
Before my heart wavers any more, let’s get this over with.
Her steps toward Rihardt’s office were resolute.
❧ ❧ ❧
Meanwhile, Rihardt was sitting in his office, pressing his fingers firmly against his brow. Seeing his headache-stricken expression, Claude, who had been reporting, stopped speaking and looked up.
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“Ah, no. Just a bit of a headache.”
“Did you not sleep well?”
“A little. I had restless dreams.”
“Dreams?”
At Claude’s puzzled look, Rihardt slowly opened his eyes. A faint weariness could be seen in his briefly revealed golden eyes.
“I don’t remember what the dream was about… but it was unpleasant. It felt like I was being tormented by something.”
“Did you have sleep paralysis, perhaps?”
“Maybe that’s it.”
Letting out a small chuckle, Rihardt lifted his head with a clearer gaze.
“I’m fine now. Please continue with the rest of the report—”
Knock, knock.
At that moment, a knocking sound echoed through the office.
Rihardt, who had been about to hear the rest of the report, and Claude, who was about to resume speaking, both turned their eyes toward the door.
A moment later, Ailen’s voice was heard.
“It’s me. May I come in?”
“Come in.”
Rihardt said this while raising a hand toward Claude, gesturing for him to wait.
Claude smiled faintly and set the report down for the moment. Even in the middle of work, the way he prepared to receive his wife made him a textbook doting husband.
Though the one receiving that love seemed completely unaware of it.
Claude looked at Rihardt with renewed pity. But before Rihardt could notice that look, Ailen entered.
After greeting Claude standing beside him, she asked carefully,
“I have something to talk about. Would it be all right if I came in for a moment?”
“That’s fine. What brings you here, Ailen?”
Rihardt asked lightly, trying not to make her feel pressured.
But for some reason, he noticed Ailen’s body flinch ever so slightly.
Feeling an inexplicable sense of unease, Rihardt tilted his head. For some reason, the back of his neck felt cold.
At that moment, Ailen took a small deep breath. Then, smiling, she approached where he was seated.
She placed a single sheet of paper on the desk. As Rihardt picked it up in confusion, Ailen uttered words that struck like a bolt from the blue.
“It’s the divorce papers.”
“…Pardon?”
Rihardt looked up with a blank expression. He doubted whether he had heard her correctly.
That doubt vanished the moment he saw Claude standing behind Ailen.
Claude, too, was staring at Ailen with eyes wide open, his brown pupils wavering in confusion.
Rihardt rolled his eyes back to Ailen standing before him. Her expression was bright—far too bright for someone who had just brought up divorce.
No, wait. They might not be our divorce papers, right?
Even in that moment, Rihardt clung to the hope that these divorce papers belonged to another couple. So he forced a smile and asked,
“Why divorce papers all of a sudden…?”
“To get divorced.”
“…Who are you talking about?”
“Who else? You and me, Rihardt.”
Ailen smiled sweetly as she handed him reality.
“Let’s get divorced, Rihardt.”
It felt as though thunder and lightning were crashing inside his head. His thoughts were in utter chaos, and a headache flared up.
So that’s why my dreams felt so ominous.
Muttering a curse under his breath, he tightened his grip on the divorce papers. With a soft crinkle, the paper wrinkled slightly.
“Divorce… you say.”
“Yes. It’s been a year, just as the contract stipulated, and I’ve earned enough as well. So I’ll leave cleanly. That’s what you want too, isn’t it?”
Ailen remembered the words she had heard here yesterday.
“Of course we’ll get divorced.”
Rihardt had been thinking about divorcing her. And he was not the type to cling to past connections.
Since he wanted it, it was right to part ways. So, in case he might feel bothered, she spoke in words that might sound a little cold.
Even so, her face still wore a smile. It was a mask to hide her wavering heart.
But because of that very mask, Rihardt felt driven even more to madness.
‘Is she serious?’
He had never once brought up divorce to Ailen. Which meant these words were spoken because she wanted it.
If she wants it… should he let her go?
As that thought reached its end, a wave of rejection surged through Rihardt, and he pressed his lips tightly together.
To part from Ailen—he absolutely could not accept that.
Rihardt lifted his head. He was about to say that there must be some misunderstanding, that they should think this through once more.
But before he could, Ailen pointed to one side of the document.
“I prepared all the paperwork myself. I’ve already signed it too. Now all that’s left is for you, Rihardt, to sign here—right here—and then we’ll be complete strangers!”
“Strangers….”
“Yes! Strangers!”
As Ailen spoke brightly, Rihardt found himself unable to say what he had intended. He simply kept his mouth shut.
Claude watched the scene anxiously.
Instinctively, he could tell. Rihardt’s heart was filled to the brim with every kind of negative emotion.
As Claude watched nervously, unsure when things might explode, Rihardt finally spoke.
“The Walker estate isn’t finished yet. Where are you planning to stay in the meantime?”
“Don’t worry about that. I have money too. Finding a suitable house won’t take long. Once I find one, I plan to move out immediately.”
“I see….”
A deep shadow fell over Rihardt’s face as he failed to hold on to her. Watching him, Claude swallowed hard.
When Rihardt fell silent, Ailen spoke first.
“Then please sign it and let me know. I’ll be waiting.”
Leaving those words behind, Ailen exited the office. A click sounded, but neither Rihardt nor Claude dared to move hastily.
After a long while, Rihardt rose from his seat. His steps as he slowly walked toward the window looked unsteady.
A deep sigh escaped him as he stared outside.
“Hoo….”
“Um… Your Highness, are you all right?”
When Claude asked cautiously, Rihardt shot back,
“All right?”
Turning his head to look at him, Rihardt’s gaze was extremely sharp. Claude flinched reflexively.
‘What did I do wrong?!’
It felt unfair. And for the first time, he felt resentful toward Ailen.
As Rihardt watched the at-a-loss Claude, he suddenly turned his eyes to the divorce papers. Staring at them quietly, he suddenly let out a small laugh.
“Ah, yes. I’m fine. Perfectly fine.”
At the sudden laughter, Claude thought silently,
‘Has he lost his mind?’
How else could he laugh in a situation like this?
With a grave expression, Claude spoke carefully.
“…You don’t look fine at all.”
“No. I really am fine. Fortunately, the divorce papers are in my hands.”
Rihardt picked up the divorce papers Ailen had left behind and set them on fire.
As Claude gulped at the sight of the papers burning fiercely, Rihardt’s sinister voice reached his ears.
“You spoke of divorce, Ailen. I’m sorry, but that won’t be happening.”
Rihardt brushed the now-ashen scraps of paper from his hand, then opened a drawer and took out another document—the contract between himself and Ailen.
Unfolding it, he read a single line with his eyes. Seeing the exact same sentence as before, a smile formed at the corner of his lips.
“From now on, forever.”
The sound of his low chuckle was so chilling that Claude desperately wanted to leave this place at once.
