Chapter : 18
Dayna slowly walked out of Knox’s room, leaning against the hallway wall and sliding down to the floor.
She could barely remember how she’d managed to respond or escape the situation.
I-I managed to brush it off and get out, but…!
“What the heck is going on?” she muttered.
To think Knox was now saying he wouldn’t divorce Stella—it was utterly shocking.
This is completely different from the original novel’s plot…!
After sitting there dazed for a moment, she shot to her feet.
Like a lion hunting prey, she began scouring the mansion for the ever-unhelpful Clian.
Finally, spotting him training in a corner of the mansion’s garden through a hallway window, she raced down the stairs.
You…!
Dayna stormed toward him, fuming.
“Sir Hertus! Hold on a second!”
“Huh? What’s wrong…?”
Clian, mid-push-up, stood with a bewildered expression.
Dayna raised her voice. “Didn’t you say the Duke came with divorce papers?”
“I did, didn’t I?”
“Then what’s this?! Not only is he not divorcing me, he’s saying we should go to the capital together!”
“What, really?”
The confusion on Clian’s face gave way to joy. Like a boy receiving a surprise gift, he covered his mouth with his large hands, beaming.
“Wow, that’s great! He must’ve reconsidered the divorce!”
Is this something to be happy about?
Clutching her head, Dayna spoke. “Ugh, my head hurts. Are you sure he came with divorce papers?”
“Absolutely. I saw him draft them with my own eyes and even helped him consult a lawyer to ensure they were proper.”
“Then why’s he acting like this all of a sudden? He even said he never considered divorce in the first place!”
“He said that? Hmm… He’s not one to change his mind easily, so something must’ve shifted his perspective.”
Shifted his perspective? I’m going crazy…
Dayna gripped her throbbing head, frowning. How could things get so tangled?
Oblivious to her turmoil, Clian clapped his hands excitedly. “Oh! Maybe the avalanche made him realize the importance of family? Like, ‘I could die any moment, so I should protect my family!’ Something like that.”
What kind of nonsense…
Dayna sighed deeply.
At least it seems he really did come to divorce Stella initially…
But why was he acting like this now?
She’d hoped to resolve everything before Stella returned, but it felt like she’d completely botched it.
Suddenly keeping the marriage intact?
Stella was supposed to safely divorce Knox, as per the original story, and live a new life free of him. Staying entangled with him was never part of Dayna’s plan.
“Hoo…”
Knox would leave soon.
And she wasn’t the real Stella Viviwood.
She had to wrap this up before getting dragged to the capital with him.
“Wow! This is such a relief. No divorce!”
As Clian rejoiced over the peaceful resolution where no one got hurt, Dayna’s mind raced.
She had to ruin this marriage somehow. She had to make them divorce as planned!
This couldn’t go on.
* * *
“Ahem, Duke!”
With a bright smile, Clian coughed into his fist.
He glanced at Knox, who was eating a simple meal at the dining table, and spoke again. “I heard the news.”
“What news?”
“That you’re reconsidering the divorce with Lady Viviwood. That’s wonderful!”
Knox responded without a change in expression. “You’ve gotten close to Lady Viviwood already, I see.”
“Well, yes. She’s much nicer than I expected. Those rumors in the capital must’ve been nonsense. I misjudged her at first, too. Though sometimes those big eyes of hers darting around are a bit scary…”
Knox, staring at his plate, shifted his gaze to the air.
“Then you aren’t either, right?”
Her bright smile and words echoed in his mind all day.
She’d seemed flustered when he suggested going to the capital, but for her and her family’s sake, returning together would ultimately benefit the Viviwood house.
“Hmm, anyway! Since you’re going to the capital with the lady, should I contact the Betelgeuse estate to send a carriage? We only brought two horses…”
“I’ll handle contacting the family. Sir Hertus, find a decent carriage nearby. We might need to leave soon.”
“Yes, sir!”
Knox picked up his fork again.
He could already imagine how his aunt, Hillary Betelgeuse, would react to his unexpected decision to forgo the divorce.
Her sharp response was a concern, but picturing the shock on her polished face felt oddly satisfying.
“Uh, Duke. Why’d you change your mind?”
Clian, lingering nearby, asked hesitantly.
Knox looked up, his thoughts interrupted.
“I-I was just curious! Maybe the avalanche taught you the value of family… or maybe you met the lady and found her more to your liking than expected…?”
The reason for his change of heart.
Knox frowned, trying to trace the vague reasoning.
Seeing his irritated expression, Clian jumped and stammered, “If you don’t want to answer, that’s fine! It’s just, you’ve never gone against Lady Hillary’s wishes before, so this feels unusual…”
When no reply came, Clian hurriedly moved his bear-like frame. “Oh, I must’ve asked something unnecessary! I’ll head to the village to find a carriage!”
As Clian’s agile figure vanished, Knox leaned back in his chair.
The reason was simple.
It had to be her.
Maybe he’d felt it from the moment they met.
The unexplainable emotions simmering beneath his time at the Viviwood mansion, his constant urge to follow her, his fixation on her cold hands—it all pointed to that.
“Duke, do I seem like a mental case for being so scared of frogs?”
Her soft voice echoed in his mind again.
Thinking of her pale green eyes, he felt a sudden wave of helplessness.
Fiddling with his fork, Knox stood without finishing his meal.
* * *
“Jade!”
Skipping breakfast, Dayna roamed the mansion until she spotted Jade packing in the guest room and shouted.
Jade turned with an annoyed expression. “Your voice is something else, friend.”
“You’re leaving now?”
“Yeah, I gotta go. Who knows what’s happened in the village while I’ve been gone?”
Staring at her overly dutiful friend, Dayna swallowed hard.
Then she cautiously approached him. “You’re so cool! But Jade, before you go, I have a favor to ask.”
“Spit it out.”
“Promise you’ll do it first.”
“Just say it.”
Jade nodded casually, picking up a water jug from the side table. He opened it with one hand and brought it to his lips.
Watching him, Dayna declared with fierce determination, “From now on, you’re my secret lover.”
“Pfft…!”
Jade spat out the water he’d been drinking.
