CHAPTER 39……………………………………
Moreover, he was an idiot, and now it turned out he was also confused about his own feelings. Hearing this story, a memory surfaced.
“So he married because he liked me, and even now he doesn’t want a divorce because he still likes me.”
Even if it hadn’t been about the abandoned mine, he had said he liked me and that a divorce shouldn’t happen. He must have had a genuine affection that could be mistaken for love…?
But I quickly shook my head.
“No, that’s impossible. It can’t be.”
If he had truly liked me, he wouldn’t have treated me the way he did all this time. Even if he couldn’t whisper words of love, he could at least have been kind.
But what had Liandro been like over the past two years? Always avoiding me with the excuse of being busy, and when we had to be together for family events, he openly radiated coldness.
“…The rumors must be lies. If he had even a little affection for me, he wouldn’t have acted that way.”
Even if, for the sake of fear of divorce, he couldn’t reveal the truth, the cold glances and mocking tone he had displayed were not the behavior of someone with any real affection.
The butler watched me carefully before responding.
“From what I saw, that seemed to be the case. That’s why I asked young lady why he acted that way….”
Liandro had tightly sealed his lips at that question. After that, whenever any topic related to me came up, he avoided it entirely, so the butler never asked again.
“….”
“….”
The tense atmosphere was met with an awkward silence. But it didn’t last long.
“Well, it’s fine. I’ve decided not to care about that man anymore.”
This wasn’t a white lie to reassure the butler. That’s truly how I felt.
Earlier, I’d been furious, but after a bit of time, I felt better. Not happy, but more like “So what?”
Staying sulky over someone like Liandro would only harm me. Better to spend the time indulging in a delicious dessert and lazing around.
“I’ve really changed, haven’t I?”
In the past, I would have spent a long time sulking angrily and feeling depressed.
Leaving the Cassius estate and meeting various people, I had finally chosen the path I truly wanted—a stark contrast to fleeing from Wallis and marrying Liandro.
And, in fact, there was one good thing about this.
“Could you also testify about that in court?”
“If it’s something I saw or heard, I will tell it exactly as it happened.”
Heh. We exchanged calm smiles, facing each other.
The butler would prove that absolutely nothing had happened between me and Liandro!
This was a huge gain. Simply saying the marriage was distant was one thing, but proving we had never even held hands—while he couldn’t feel me as a woman—was completely different.
“I think we should discuss more detailed and strategic matters when my lawyer is present.”
I gave the butler the secret entrance to my lawyer’s office. He needed to hide from the Cassius family for a while.
He promised to visit tomorrow. Staying away too long might worry Joshua, so today was impossible.
“Once again, thank you. You’ve truly opened my eyes.”
“There’s no need to bow so low. I’m the one receiving help.”
“No, compared to living as Joshua’s father even now, this is nothing.”
I had simply gone to prepare for the divorce and couldn’t help making a comment, yet he thanked me so sincerely it made me feel embarrassed.
“Go inside now. Your son will be waiting at your residence.”
“Then I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Just as we were about to part ways, a boy approached shouting.
“Newspapers! Get your newspapers! Today’s morning edition… uh!”
He was carrying a pile of papers in his arms and bag but was suddenly blocked by Vineta, who had appeared out of nowhere. She remained hidden a few paces away, guarding me.
“No one’s trying to assassinate me… there’s no need to be that strict.”
I gave her a reassuring glance, and she let the boy through. He glanced at her but still came bravely to sell the papers to me.
“Would you like a newspaper? Today’s edition has an exclusive story you won’t find anywhere else.”
“All right, can I have three copies?”
I ordered one for myself, one for Vineta, and one for the butler. The boy’s face lit up as he exclaimed brightly.
“Thank you! You’ll be blessed! You have no idea how interesting the news about Viscount Liandro Cassius is!”
The boy probably meant the newspaper would be fun to read, but my hand froze.
“Of all people… it has to be him again…”
After the boy left, I didn’t even glance at the front page. I immediately opened the page with Liandro’s article, which was in the section for gossip and social news about nobles.
The rumor that the Cassius Viscount couple’s divorce was imminent had been drawing public attention day after day, and attendees at the banquet hosted by Count Felis yesterday reported that Viscount Liandro Cassius had been unusually drunk.
(…) An anonymous source suggested that the Viscount’s mental anguish over a divorce had manifested in this way…
I didn’t need to read further and folded the newspaper back.
“Lady Idel…”
The butler watched me with concerned eyes. Even the usually stern Vineta didn’t look much different.
“I’m fine. This isn’t the first time.”
For the past few days—more precisely, since the day I met the Countess of Wallis—numerous newspapers had exploded with articles about us.
The content was roughly the same: miscommunication caused the conflict, but Cassius did not want a catastrophe, and Liandro was suffering.
And the public’s reaction, as expected, was…
“Did you see this article?”
I overheard passersby who had just bought the newspaper from the same boy.
“Yes. Poor Viscount Cassius.”
“Must be really hard. That man, so rational and cold….”
“He must have loved his wife that much.”
“If I were his wife, I’d reconsider. Where else could you find a husband like this?”
“Exactly. That’s why he even advertised saying he’d do anything if the divorce was called off.”
“Too unreasonable. If someone is busy with work, they might not make it home.”
…Better stop.
Somehow, I had become the narrow-minded wife unable to understand her busy husband, and Liandro had become the devoted lover.
It was all because the articles were cleverly written to favor Liandro. Moreover, Cassius flooded the newspapers with ads as messages to me.
Apologies, come back. If you come back, I’ll give you anything you want.
But in reality, the ads were aimed at the public, not me. Cassius was trying to show how much effort he was making to restore their relationship.
“So persuading me is completely hopeless… time to focus on the trial.”
The trial was attracting this much attention. Public opinion would inevitably influence the proceedings. Even a judge couldn’t completely ignore it.
I muttered unconsciously.
“Classic Riena tactics.”
The butler flinched in surprise.
“You knew, then.”
“Yes. I was part of that household, after all. The men of the Cassius family generally don’t care much about others.”
Perhaps because they were born privileged, they didn’t care much what others thought. “I’m Cassius, what are you going to do about it?” That sort of arrogant vibe.
Liandro cared somewhat about appearances, but even that was merely following someone’s advice. That someone was…
“But Miss Riena is different.”
Riena. Orphaned, scorned by those around her, and having once faced death, she was highly sensitive to others’ favor.
“Since she was young, she tried to elicit positive responses from others. That’s how she bent Cassius to her will.”
She understood the importance of making others her allies. One of her specialties was swaying public opinion.
“She’s used public sentiment to defeat Cassius’ rivals several times.”
I nodded at the butler’s explanation.
“She had no other choice. The last attempt to sway me through my family had failed, and there were truths to keep buried.”
The Wallis family had abused me and forced my marriage to Liandro.
Cassius had to prevent these rumors from spreading through the mouths of restaurant patrons at the time. If people sympathetic to me began supporting a divorce, it would be disastrous.
Sigh.
I hadn’t been completely unprepared for this. I had read countless novels about Riena’s tactics.
But there was no proper way to stop her. We were responding with Terrence’s help, but…
“How can you possibly compete with Cassius’ insane wealth and connections?”
Articles favoring Liandro were pouring in like a waterfall, leaving us helpless.
“I’m sorry I haven’t been more helpful.”
This morning, Terrence had said that apologetically—but I had already received more help from him than I could count.
Moreover, Terrence had enlisted his connections in the information guild, so the truth about the marriage was spreading quietly.
Was there a trump card that could turn the current situation completely around? Something that could draw all eyes to me and generate positive attention?
“Sigh… there’s no way.”
I thought that at the time. But soon I would realize I was wrong.
There was such a trump card.
