Chapter 19…………………………………..
After tearing down the wall in my heart that had been standing between us just a little, I asked lightly,
“Then why did you look so unhappy?”
“Did I?”
“Yes. You looked troubled.”
“Mm. To be honest, it was because your ex-husband turned out to be unexpectedly… normal. I mean, his appearance.”
…What on earth did Leandro looking normal have to do with Terrence being in a bad mood?
I didn’t quite understand, but I replied casually.
“Oh, come on. Normal, my foot. Some people say he’s handsome, but I really don’t see it.”
My sense of aesthetics was perfectly average, but for the sake of future backing, a lie of this level came easily.
“…Really?”
Though he didn’t seem to understand either, he brightened subtly.
Seizing the moment, I added some flattery.
“Of course. Compared to Leandro, Tae is much more handsome.”
“……”
He expressed his pleasure through silence. I felt a little relieved.
That said… I hadn’t known this about you, Terrence.
Could it be that you’re the type who can’t tolerate anyone else being handsome?
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“Judging by your expression, it seems you’re thinking something utterly absurd.”
“Oh, no, I wasn’t thinking anything at all.”
I waved my hands as I denied it. Sharp, indeed.
“But still. It’s something I’ve been noticing recently…”
He took a sip of the herbal tea, which had cooled to just the right temperature.
“This tea seems far more effective than I expected. These past few days, my mind has felt unusually clear. I think this may be the reason.”
I froze for a moment. The topic I’d been wondering when to bring up—he’d brought it up himself.
Feigning ignorance, I tested the waters.
“So you haven’t been feeling very well lately?”
“In fact, I’ve lived with migraines since I was young.”
Under the table, I clenched my fist tightly. Finally, the headache came up!
And my luck didn’t end there.
“So, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could you tell me the ingredients and proportions of this herbal tea? I’d like to brew it at home from time to time.”
The recipe for the herbal tea, in exchange for my divorce. All conditions were met.
“That’s not difficult at all. If you want, I can tell you everything. However…”
Making sure not to look calculating, meeting his eyes like a sincere friend—
“Instead—well, would you be willing to grant me one request as well, Tae?”
“If it’s something I can do, anything.”
I inhaled, paused for a beat, and said,
“Please help me with my divorce, Marquis Freihyden.”
The faint smile that had always rested on his face vanished without a trace.
Silence. The small teahouse, its owner dozing, filled with quiet tension.
“…How did you know?”
From Tae the mercenary-turned-guard to Marquis Freihyden—he slowly revealed another face.
Before he could fully shift into a guarded stance, I hurried to explain.
“It was purely a coincidence. I happened to overhear a man who came looking for you call you ‘Marquis…’”
“Jack, that fool.”
From his low muttering, it seemed the attendant who had come to call Terrence was named Jack.
‘Jack… I’m sorry.’
A fleeting pang of sympathy crossed my mind for the servant who might be punished because of me.
But Terrence didn’t accept it so easily.
“Just from that? You wouldn’t have heard which marquis it was.”
“I may not have been active in high society, but as the future mistress of a ducal house, I’ve memorized the basic details of most nobles.”
Especially high-ranking ones like dukes, marquises, and counts.
“I met several marquises at my wedding, and even those I didn’t meet, I learned their faces from portraits.”
The excuse I’d prepared in advance flowed smoothly. One by one, I laid out the reasons I couldn’t help but notice his identity.
“A marquis whose face I didn’t recognize even from portraits—very young, and here before the social season has even begun. That suggests someone who usually resides in the capital. Possibly even without a personal fief.”
Tap, tap.
Terrence tapped the table with his finger as he listened intently. A habit of his when deep in thought.
“Indeed. The only person who fits all those conditions would be the Marquis of Freihyden.”
Even so—his eyes narrowed slightly.
“You’re very clever. To reach that conclusion from a single slip of my servant’s tongue.”
Perhaps he thought the situation fit together a little too neatly.
Hoping to dispel his suspicion, I gave an embarrassed smile.
“Actually, I only became certain just now.”
His eyes widened. Then, as a hearty laugh spilled out, his red eyes crinkled until they nearly disappeared.
“I’ve been caught completely. You were testing me.”
“It was half a gamble. I might have misheard, after all.”
“And if you really had misheard?”
“Well, I’d just be embarrassed, I suppose. And if I’d asked normally, I had a feeling you wouldn’t have taught me so easily, Marquis.”
“That’s true. Playing the guard was quite entertaining, too.”
Even in the simple motion of stroking his chin, an unmistakable elegance showed through.
“If you want to pass as a commoner, you’ll need to try harder. Anyone well-versed in noble etiquette and observant enough would be bound to suspect.”
Until now, he likely hadn’t met anyone he needed to hide his identity from so thoroughly.
“Ah, I still have a long way to go.”
He shook his head lightly, then soon fixed me with a serious gaze. Perhaps thanks to the laughter easing things once, the atmosphere wasn’t as heavy as before.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly. My name is Terrence Freihyden.”
He leaned back lazily in his chair, yet the nobility about him could not be concealed.
“I hold the title of marquis, but I’m hardly such a remarkable man.”
Even words of such humility couldn’t hide his innate kingly presence—if anything, they made it stand out more.
“I look forward to working with you.”
A crooked smile tugged at his lips.
“The feeling is mutual.”
His gaze drifted to the teacup, now nearly empty.
“You said that in exchange for the recipe for the herbal tea, you wanted my cooperation in your divorce.”
Now we were getting to the point.
“To be honest, I’d gladly give you the recipe simply as a token of goodwill, considering how kindly you’ve treated me. But… my current situation isn’t so easy.”
“Of course. I never intended to receive it for free. The recipe is clearly something you devised yourself, my lady, and it deserves appropriate compensation.”
Strictly speaking, it was Riena who made it, not me—but well, what did it matter!
I decided to put aside any conscience that was of no help to me right now.
“So what kind of cooperation do you want? Financial support?”
“Money would be nice, but what I want from you, Marquis, is political cooperation.”
“Politics, you say. For example?”
“At the very least, I want to stop Cassius from using his power to interfere with the trial.”
Cassius may be one of the main figures in Walking the Flower Path After Regressing, but that didn’t mean he always insisted on fairness and righteousness.
‘Just look at how long it took for my divorce petition to even be accepted.’
To achieve his goals, Cassius never crossed more than the bare minimum line—but within that boundary, he used every underhanded and despicable means available.
That “minimum line” was violence against the weak. Against the strong, he didn’t hesitate to use threats, fraud, or even murder.
Of course, he didn’t just beat anyone at random—he reserved such punishment strictly for those he judged to be enemies or villains.
Because of this side of him, and the legendary rumor that one of his ancestors was a demon, Cassius was maliciously nicknamed the “Demon Duke.”
In any case, committing fraud to prevent the collapse of a marriage posed no moral problem for Cassius at all.
Bribing the judge, or filling the gallery with people favorable to us—anything was possible.
“You’re certain the ducal house will make a move.”
“Yes. I’d bet my entire fortune on it.”
Perhaps amused by my answer, Terrence chuckled, remarking that I had an objective perspective, then asked,
“I understand what you’re saying. But may I ask why you believe I have the power to restrain the infamous Cassius? I’m nothing more than the powerless illegitimate son of the emperor.”
That’s because I’ve read the novel and know you’ll soon be acknowledged as a prince.
Once that happens, many factions will support Terrence.
Houses that never got along with the current crown prince’s maternal family, the Duke of Bilrod; houses wary of Cassius, whom the crown prince obsessively favors; newly rising families who were too late in line to support the crown prince; even houses that placed importance on the emperor’s subtle intention to back Terrence.
But I couldn’t tell him the truth. Instead, I offered another reason.
“Even so, you arranged for my divorce petition to be accepted.”
“That could have been mere coincidence.”
Ah, honestly! He wouldn’t just let it slide.
Still, it didn’t seem like he doubted me—rather, he appeared to be enjoying this conversation.
Perhaps he was trying to gauge what kind of person I was.
“The very next day after you were away for a while, my divorce petition was accepted. It’s hard to dismiss that as coincidence. And also…”
I paused, searching for another convincing reason—then suddenly lost momentum.
Haven’t I been lying too much since earlier?
I couldn’t talk about possession or anything like that, so it was unavoidable—but my conscience prickled.
If it were anyone else, maybe. But I didn’t want to keep lying to Terrence, who had treated me with nothing but kindness.
“I want to believe that.”
So I spoke a fragment of my true feelings.
I couldn’t reveal everything, but at least this much.
“Facing a huge enemy, I felt like I was fighting alone. I acted fearless, but inside I was lost. So… I think I wanted to believe there was someone helping me.”
“……”
No response. Was that too sentimental?
Feeling awkward, I fidgeted with the handle of my teacup.
Resting his chin on his hand, Terrence looked out the window.
“How should I put it… that was rather sudden.”
“Yes. Of course, I understand.”
And the conversation broke off.
“……”
“……”
As the silence dragged on, my palm grew slick with sweat.
‘Was I too hasty?’
Outwardly, I’d boldly made my proposal, but inside, my heart raced at the thought of him refusing.
Still, I judged this to be the right moment—now, when Terrence had helped me through the emperor. I had to ride this current of goodwill.
‘Please… say you’ll accept.’
Perhaps my earnest wish reached him, because after a long while, Terrence finally spoke.
“Lady.”
And then he gave an answer I had never even imagined.
