Chapter 50

Karis grabbed my hands tightly and pulled me into his embrace, as if he were ready to throw me onto the bed right then and there.

No! I can’t just let this happen!

The finish line was right in front of me, and I couldn’t let all my efforts go to waste. I had to think fast.

“Karis… the rule was that whoever untied their ribbon first loses… so you lost, Karis…”

Luckily, I remembered the conditions of our bet clearly, so I said it to him.

“Your ribbon came undone first, so you’re the one who lost.”

Karis didn’t want to admit it and started pressing rough kisses against me while insisting otherwise.

“Ha… ha… Karis… Karis lost.”

When I started running out of breath from his kisses, he pulled away briefly to catch his own breath. That was my chance to remind him once more: I had won, and so he should sign the divorce papers.

“I will never admit it.”

As he tried to pull me in again for another kiss, I quickly covered his mouth with my hand.

“Karis… then… let’s just call this game a tie.”

I had already anticipated that he wouldn’t sign willingly today.

I’ll have to come back tomorrow for his signature…

For now, I was content just to have brought up the topic, so I struggled to free myself from his arms and tried to leave his room.

“Where are you going?”

“Karis!”

He pulled me back into a strong embrace, holding me tightly so I couldn’t move.

“When you enter my room, it’s your choice, but when you leave, you need my permission.”

“That’s ridiculous!”

“It’s my room, so it’s my choice.”

He lifted me onto the bed and held me there, still wearing his coat, refusing to let me go.

In the end, he spent the entire night holding me in his arms, and I fell asleep just like that.

When I woke up the next morning, it felt like someone was staring at me—and sure enough, Karis was looking down at me.

That exhibitionist husband had spent the night with nothing on his upper body, not even a robe, and he hadn’t covered himself with the blanket. His body was fully exposed to my eyes.

You idiot! Put some clothes on. At least cover those terrifying muscles!

I quickly checked myself to see if he had done anything bad. Thankfully, only the coat had been removed, and my dress was still neatly on me. I let out a sigh of relief.

Karis was smiling brightly, looking unusually tender from the morning.

“Did you sleep well? Let’s have breakfast together.”

Really… I had told him I wanted a divorce yesterday, yet he could speak so sweetly and casually as if nothing had happened…

“I’ll untie the ribbon for you. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I tried to untie the red ribbon on Karis’ left wrist, but he held my hand to stop me.

“Leave it. It’s proof that you belong to me.”

Normally, I would have been angry at his cheesy words first thing in the morning, but since I had to make him suffer a little that day, I decided to let it slide.

That night, I went to Karis’ room again and held the divorce papers in front of him.

“Please sign.”

Even though he surely had pajamas, Karis, still in just a robe, ripped the papers immediately.

Hmph. Did he really think I only prepared one copy?

I held up another copy immediately.

“Filina, there will be no divorce. Give it up.”

As he ripped the second sheet, he pulled me into his arms again and headed toward the bed.

In the end, I had to sleep that night in his bare embrace as well. I decided it was time to change my strategy.

I can’t keep coming at night… I need to check Karis’ daytime schedule!

It was a problem that Karis was too busy during the day to meet, but I had the capable Margaret. I was confident she could find out his schedule.

+++

February 9th, morning. As expected, Margaret brought back Karis’ schedule.

According to her information, Karis would be at the office in his palace-assigned workspace this morning.

Since I was still officially the Duchess, I brought documents that could be handled here and prepared them for approval with Stella.

Once Jane, Stella’s secretary, left for an external errand, I set down the papers and looked at Stella.

“Stella, if you want, we can go to the Luna Empire together. It’s much easier for women to work there. We can handle business as a team. You’re capable, so you can manage anything.”

I had grown fond of Stella and didn’t want to part with her. She was also extremely competent, so I subtly tried to persuade her to join me.

“Oh! If you maintain the industry’s top salary, I’d be happy to work together.”

Her cheerful acceptance lifted my spirits, so I placed half of my documents on Stella’s desk.

“Ma’am, these documents require the Duke’s signature. Take them with you.”

Stella sorted through the documents requiring Karis’ signature and handed them to me. I slipped the divorce papers among them.

“I’ll make sure to get his signature!”

“Yes, ma’am!”

After exchanging meaningful glances with Stella, I clamped my lips shut and headed to Karis’ office.

+++

“Ah… ah…”

I cleared my throat in front of Karis’ office door. Our eyes met briefly with the guards, but we both pretended not to notice.

“Karis~ are you busy? These documents need your signature.”

The moment the door opened, I forced a playful, affectionate tone and dashed to the desk where he sat, careful not to arouse suspicion.

Karis was reviewing the documents with glasses on. I couldn’t understand why he still wore a cloak indoors.

When I smiled at him, he returned a soft, gentle smile.

Glasses… wow… should I ask him to come with me to the Luna Empire?

For a moment, he looked quite handsome. The sunlight streaming through the window made his silver hair shine, and his red eyes looked unusually gentle in the daylight.

“My wife comes to see me, I should always make time, no matter how busy I am.”

As Karis got up and came toward me, I handed him the file of documents.

“What documents are these?”

As the head of a house, he wanted to read them carefully, one by one.

“These are contracts. They all just want money. You only need to sign here and there.”

I flipped through the documents, pointing out where he needed to sign.

“Really? I’m sure you know what to do. Just sign, right?”

Gosh… even someone who runs a business is so careless with signing…

I worried he might get scammed, but then realized I was the one trying to trick him, so I had no right to complain.

Just then, I heard the sound of paper tearing: szzzt.

“Filina, there were two weird documents mixed in with the contracts. You need to pay attention. Is this how the Duchess handles business?”

Karis shook the two torn sheets at me.

“Ahahaha… I see… well… the signatures are done, so I’ll be going.”

Embarrassed that my trick had been exposed, I awkwardly laughed and tried to leave.

“Where are you going? I told you, you can enter my room as you like, but you need my permission to leave.”

He grabbed my waist, stopping me.

“This is… the office…”

“The office is my room too.”

“Karis!”

“Work with me. The Duchess can’t do things so poorly. Watch what I do.”

Karis sat on the office chair and placed me on his lap, starting work.

“This is the total budget for the Rubelia Duchy this year. It even includes the military expenditures.”

“Why… are you showing me this…”

“These are new projects for the Rubelia Duchy this year. Top secret.”

“I don’t… want to see it…”

I wanted to close my eyes and ears. Karis continued showing me the top-secret plans, whispering them in my ear.

“Karis… stop showing me.”

“Alright. Then, let’s have lunch.”

I spoke up to avoid becoming an industrial spy, but only after eating lunch on his lap was I released.

I really need to change my strategy… I hope… no one notices.

As the documents dwindled, I started to get anxious. Could it be that a seal doesn’t hold authority in this empire? Such absurd thoughts crossed my mind.

+++

“The seal is fine. The Duke’s personal seal will suffice. Stamp it on the documents!”

“Ah! So that’s how it can be done.”

Back in my room, I told Stella that the plan had failed. Feeling frustrated, I asked if a seal might work, and Stella gave me an excellent idea.

“You mean the one the Duke always carries?”

“Yes, that must be it. Heads of houses usually keep their seal with them.”

“Hmm… this could be a pretty tough mission.”

The large ring Karis wore must be the seal. Could I take it off his hand? If not, how could I use it to stamp my documents?

Stella and I were pondering how to stamp the seal on my documents when Jane informed me that Lucas’ page had arrived.

“Duchess, the Crown Prince requests your presence.”

“The Crown Prince?”

I wondered why Lucas, who should be busy with wedding preparations, would summon me. I followed the page, looking around the palace in awe at how much money had been spent.

The Crown Prince’s palace was filled with statues of fierce beasts and valiant knights. According to the page, portraits of the greatest emperors lined the hallways. There were no typical flower paintings or beautiful women’s portraits—nothing valuable to steal, apparently.

Lucas, as a groom-to-be, looked even more handsome than usual: his skin flawless, hair shinier, and eyes sparkling.

Lucky, Heine.

I secretly congratulated Heine on her upcoming marriage and sat across from Lucas as tea was served.

“You brought the divorce papers, I see. Karis still hasn’t signed them?”

Gosh… it’s only been a few days! Seems like there’s no privacy here, as Lucas already knows.

“Your Highness, this is a private matter between my husband and me. Please refrain from overly personal questions.”

Though I appreciated Lucas helping revise divorce laws, this was too much. I drew a clear line while sipping the tea he served.

Rose tea again… it’s rare, but he serves it often.

I thought about how I’d rarely have this tea again after divorcing and returning to the Luna Empire, so I sipped it slowly, savoring every drop.

“Since it’ll be awkward for you to stay with Karis at the same palace… you’ll move to the Violet Palace starting today. Everything’s already prepared.”

“Pardon?”

I blinked, stunned at Lucas’ sudden relocation request.