CHAPTER 88………………………………………………
He says he has no intention of divorcing me…
For some reason, that statement felt oddly fascinating.
What’s so fascinating about it?
“…Why?”
I meant, why is he holding onto me like this?
I’m not some peerless beauty, not from a prestigious family, and politically I’m useless.
And as for being competent… well, I’m decent at my job, but just average compared to others.
As I thought that, Sidereon’s answer was surprisingly simple.
“Well… does there have to be a reason?”
“Huh?”
“Actually, I want to ask you. Why do you insist on divorce? Is there something you don’t like?”
There was some weight behind the last part of his words.
‘Something I don’t like…’
Honestly? There isn’t.
Right now, the thing I don’t like most is that there’s nothing I dislike.
‘What a ridiculous thought.’
I lowered my gaze, lost in thought, and then our eyes met.
Sidereon was looking up at me from below, and my reflection was perfectly mirrored in his beautiful golden eyes.
At that moment, I realized what I truly disliked.
“That gaze.”
“My gaze?”
“I don’t like that your eyes are prettier than mine.”
“…?”
I said it without thinking—but it wasn’t an empty boast.
Being prettier than me, a woman, was unfair.
Sidereon thought for a moment, serious, and then said:
“It’s a bit difficult for me to look away.”
Excuse me…?
“Because then I wouldn’t be able to see you anymore.”
And he gave that sly, teasing tilt of his eyes.
My heart started hammering uncontrollably.
“F-Fine!”
“So that means you won’t bring up divorce again, right?”
He withdrew his gaze from me and answered quickly.
“…Why does it come out like that?”
“Didn’t you just say it was fine?”
I hadn’t meant to fully retract my intention to divorce…
I pouted, then he muttered as if remembering something.
“Ah, I just thought of one reason why you shouldn’t divorce me.”
“…What reason?”
“Because you’re beautiful.”
I froze. Completely frozen.
‘Is he teasing me right now?’
He added, calmly, to my stiffened self:
“You once said that an ugly person can’t be a duchess.”
I really wish he wouldn’t dig up my pathetic past like that…
“Since you’re pretty enough to be a duchess, I can’t divorce you.”
The boomerang of my past words hit me squarely in the forehead—I felt my head spin.
I pressed my warm cheeks, trying to calm my racing heart.
‘Is this embarrassment, or do I not dislike this situation?’
I blinked in surprise at my own thoughts.
‘Not dislike it?!’
I must be insane!
Yet, thinking carefully, I felt a bit curious.
“What part of me is… pretty?”
Even saying those few words was hard. It was embarrassing and awkward to admit such a thing.
Sidereon answered without overthinking.
“All of it.”
“….”
“Why? Do you think you’re not pretty?”
There’s really nothing I can say to that.
Thinking I’m pretty and actually being attractive to someone are two very different things.
“…I’m not sure.”
At that, Sidereon’s lips curved slightly upward.
It wasn’t a full smile, but the faint hint of it made my heart race louder than usual.
‘Do I… like this?’
Why has my heart been doing this all this time?
Yet I didn’t dislike this confusion.
Perhaps because I was certain Sidereon wouldn’t kill me.
The unusual relaxation, the little things hitting me so strongly—was all proof of that.
And then…
I glanced sideways. Sidereon, observing me, added in a low voice:
“From my perspective, you’re already pretty enough.”
Whoa.
Heat rushed through my entire face.
My heart pounded, but at the same time, I felt embarrassed.
…Awkward.
I muttered in a small, shy voice:
“Y-You’re prettier…!”
“Is that so? Good to know.”
“…Good to know about what?”
“That at least one part of you appeals to me.”
Sidereon genuinely looked delighted.
Seeing that smile, I gained confidence.
Even if I’m not entirely supernatural, I must have some of that ability, after all.
If only realization could solve all my problems.
But realization brought more.
Of course, I no longer had to worry about Sidereon killing me.
Yes, that’s good.
Judging by his reaction, divorce wouldn’t be easy…
‘Come to think of it, I don’t even have to worry about dying, so there’s no real need to divorce.’
But not divorcing was also a problem.
All the preparations I had made would go to waste.
‘And Blake is involved…’
Would I regret that? Well, a little—but I wouldn’t give up the chance to avoid divorce.
Someone might think it’s simple to turn over all the years of effort in a moment, but…
I’m someone who thinks for myself, too.
‘…I never wanted a divorce.’
I only considered divorce to avoid dying, but who really wants a divorce?
Opportunities must be seized when they come.
I now had a chance to act without being ruled by the original story, and I wanted to grasp it.
My anxious heart felt lighter, and I could finally see things clearly:
Merry, who always cares for me; the mansion that’s sheltered me in this strange world for so long; the layers of memories built there;
And Sidereon, whose mere presence makes my heart race…
Everything I care about is here—why would I leave?
Leaving would be stranger.
‘Yeah, I can’t keep running, bound by the original story.’
Besides… unbelievable as it is, Sidereon seems to like me, too!
All I had to do to maintain this life was one thing.
“Honestly, I was a little surprised. I didn’t expect Milady to suggest meeting first.”
The middle-aged man placed his hand over the brooch on his chest, and his appearance began to change.
Blake returned to his familiar form, smiling broadly at me.
In the past, I didn’t think much of that smile—but now it seemed suspicious.
I hoped today would be the last time Sidereon was deceived under the pretense of talking to an investor.
Of course, trusting Sidereon’s recent kindness, and separating him from Blake, who I’d known for years, might not be the right thing to do.
‘He’s far too suspicious.’
Even suspicion has its limits.
I glared at him and finally said:
“Blake… you’re ‘Kan,’ right?”
There was a brief silence, then he spoke.
“Yes, I’m Kan.”
…Huh.
‘Why so easy to admit it?’
I had been trying to catch him off guard, but…
“Is that all you’ll tell me?”
“…Before, you acted like you wouldn’t tell me at all. Why so easily now?”
Blake shrugged.
“Honestly, I was too suspicious last time. I thought that conversation would lead you to find out eventually, and even if you did, it wouldn’t be a problem.”
Wow… he left me speechless.
All the backup plans I had made in case he stayed silent or evasive felt wasted.
Well, at least one mystery was solved.
‘Merry really was right.’
I sighed and asked:
“…What exactly are you?”
“Hm… that’s a tricky question. Nothing too grand, really. I’m just Blake. And also Kan.”
Even revealing his identity, Blake didn’t show the slightest embarrassment.
Come to think of it, has Blake ever truly been caught off guard?
Even in moments I thought he was flustered, he always covered it with a playful expression.
I wondered what his real face looked like under that mask.
Curiosity struck me.
What would I have to say for him to show his true face?
I asked, probing gently:
“You don’t seem surprised. I see the ‘Kan’ from last time in this version of you.”
Blake’s expression flickered, strangely.
