CHAPTER~08
[Breaking News] Duke Frezen Decart spotted on a sweet carriage date with a mysterious woman… Who stole the heart of the war hero?
“Huh?”
I wondered what all the fuss was about when I saw it was a breaking news exclusive about Frezen’s date.
No, seriously—does going on a date belong on the front page of the Empire’s newspaper?
Then again, if it’s Frezen, I can understand.
He’s the youngest duke of the powerful Decart family and a war hero.
Aside from divorcing me, he’s never had any scandals and maintained a clean image.
There are even rumors that he’s practically a wooden statue and possibly incapable, so a dating rumor would definitely be a hot issue among the Empire’s citizens.
So he went on a carriage date with some woman as soon as he returned to the Empire?
Wow.
He barely even had time to date while leading the victory march.
Not that it has anything to do with me.
I clicked my tongue and politely folded the newspaper in half.
“But Lily, why are you showing me this?”
The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.
She ran all the way here just to show me an article about my ex-husband that has nothing to do with me?
I squinted suspiciously, and Lily rolled her eyes awkwardly.
“Wh-what? Well…! It’s serious! The rumors are already spreading wildly, so the scandal is only a matter of time…!”
“Huh. Has nothing to do with me. We’ve been divorced for five years.”
“What?”
“We’re basically strangers. Just crumple the newspaper and use it for firewood. This villa is freezing. What if our Mela gets sick?”
“L-Lady Evelyn, that’s not the point…!”
I waved my hand dismissively to end the conversation.
I had mountains of things to do, and worrying about my ex-husband’s scandal was nowhere on that list…
“Well, your face is printed right here in the article.”
…What?
I froze mid-step at the unbelievable words.
I rushed back and opened the newspaper again.
The moment I thought, “There’s no way…”
“Kyaaa!”
I screamed when I saw the giant photo.
My legs gave out and I collapsed to the floor.
So the woman in the article… is me?
This is insane…
“Lily, we can’t sit here! We need to take this article down immediately! Contact the newspaper at once! Hurry!”
I snapped out of it and jumped to my feet.
It was today’s early morning edition, so it might not have been distributed nationwide yet.
Clinging to that hope, I hurried to fix the situation, but Lily returned sooner than expected, pale as a ghost.
“Lily, what’s wrong? We don’t have time. At this rate, this will explode…”
“U-um, Lady Evelyn… The thing is…”
Despite my nagging, Lily only forced a stiff, terrified smile.
And then the unbelievable news came.
“D-Duke Decart has arrived. He says he wants to see you.”
“…What?”
Duke Decart came?
I was at a loss for words at the unexpected visit.
All the servants who delivered the news looked flustered as well.
Which made sense—after the divorce, the Leella household was practically isolated.
Even the families who used to maintain friendly relations stopped visiting completely.
And now the very cause of all that isolation had come here.
To my private villa, no less.
How did he even know I was here?
Did he come because of the article?
My head grew chaotic as panic piled atop panic.
I forced myself to breathe deeply.
“Listen carefully.”
I faced the servants with a grim expression.
“Tell him I’m not here. No matter what, send him away. Say I went far away to pick herbs or something.”
“Yes, my lady!”
If Frezen tracked me down all the way to this villa, he definitely had a reason.
To argue or accuse me of something.
But I wasn’t planning to get dragged into anything this time.
I moved quickly, planning to slip out the back door.
“Wait, what about Mela?”
I stopped abruptly.
I didn’t want to leave Mela behind alone.
Frezen would never hurt a child, but considering the incident during the victory march…
I couldn’t help worrying.
I was just about to decide to take Mela with me when someone suddenly rested a hand on my shoulder.
“M-my lady!”
Lily’s urgent voice hit my ears.
I grabbed the hand, thinking it was hers, and turned around.
“It’s fine, just tell him I’m not here! If he finds me—”
Then suddenly, my vision darkened.
Someone’s shadow loomed over me.
I looked up… and it wasn’t Lily.
“Too late. You’ve been caught.”
“D-Duke…”
“Since I found you, there’s no need for excuses.”
I stumbled back, too shocked to speak.
No wonder the servants were so pale.
From head to toe, dressed in black, he looked like a grim reaper.
Frezen showed no expression at all.
His deep, steady voice pierced the silence.
“I told you, didn’t I? We’d meet again.”
His red eyes locked onto mine.
“Hello, wife.”
* * *
I hurriedly ordered the trembling servants to leave and moved to the drawing room.
“…”
We stared at each other in silence, keeping a deliberate distance.
It felt like a silent war.
I broke first.
I couldn’t stand the awkwardness.
“How did you know I was here?”
“It wasn’t difficult.”
Meaning he investigated me.
How brazen.
“Well, nothing is out of reach for the Decart family.”
Even with my sarcasm, Frezen didn’t react at all.
Always expressionless, always unreadable.
I spoke first.
“You came because of the article, right? The one on today’s front page.”
Frezen nodded calmly.
“Of course. You always check the news at dawn. It’s part of your routine.”
“…”
Why does this feel like that clingy ex who messages you ‘You awake?’ at 2 a.m.?
I forced an awkward smile.
Small talk between us was a luxury.
I went straight to the point.
“Good timing, actually. I was just about to contact the newspaper. I know this puts you in a difficult position.”
“Very difficult.”
“Right, we’re both victims of this unwanted scandal. So let’s quickly—”
But he cut in with a completely calm voice.
“No need to worry. I’ve already taken care of everything.”
“Already?”
I knew he was efficient, but this fast?
Impressive—though also a bit offensive.
Was he that desperate to avoid being associated with me?
“The article will be taken down soon. You don’t need to worry about it anymore.”
“…That’s a relief.”
Silence fell again.
It was unbearable.
“Well, if that’s all, you can leave now.”
I stood to send him off, but he finally spoke again.
“The unnecessary matters are resolved. Now we need to talk about us.”
“Us?”
I stared blankly.
Then he continued with something even more shocking.
“More precisely… about our child.”
“What? What are you talking about?!”
Again with the child nonsense?
I let out a dry laugh.
But his eyes were oddly weighed down… with sadness?
“A letter arrived for me. From someone who knows both you and me very well.”
A bad feeling crept into my gut.
And of course, bad feelings are always right.
He pulled a letter from his inner pocket and placed it on the table.
“And…”
“…”
“It mentioned the child. Mela.”
