WARDV 59

CHAPTER 59

At her words, Peidan’s expression twisted sharply.

Leticia showing up with Idris was a development he hadn’t anticipated.

While Peidan stood frozen in shock, unable to process the unexpected situation—

Leticia gracefully stepped out of the carriage with Idris escorting her, and greeted him with a breezy smile.

“It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper face-to-face, Peidan.”

“You—what are you doing? Why did you bring the Grand Duke—”

“Oh, this man worries too much to let me come alone. So I had no choice but to bring him along.”

Leticia smiled as she boldly hooked her arm through Idris’s.

“Your mansion may not be as grand as the Grand Duke’s, but I’m sure you have at least two teacups for guests, right?”

Peidan, watching the two of them, looked as if he were about to collapse from a stroke.

He didn’t realize how much he resembled the Leticia he had once faced, back when he brought Elise into their home.

Even the servants were frozen in tension, the atmosphere ready to explode. And then Idris broke the silence.

“You look uncomfortable, Duke. Don’t tell me you’re frowning because you don’t have guest teacups in your house?”

A cold sweat ran down the backs of the observing servants.

‘Surely His Grace isn’t about to pick a fight with the Grand Duke… right?’

After all, the Grand Duke wasn’t just any noble—he was a war hero.

Neither politically nor physically was Peidan a match for him.

Still, people sometimes lash out in the heat of emotion, even when they know they’ll lose.

Thankfully, Peidan managed to suppress his feelings.

“…Come inside.”

Though he ground his teeth in frustration.

Peidan led the two into the drawing room.

Once they were seated, Peidan couldn’t help but notice Idris toying with Leticia’s hand.

Peidan’s face contorted at the sight.

‘Did he forget I’m still Leticia’s husband?’

Otherwise, how could he so shamelessly act affectionate in front of him?

As Peidan struggled to suppress the churning inside, Idris, catching his gaze, let out a dramatic sigh and spoke.

“Oh, I have separation anxiety. If I’m not at least holding her hand, I might lose control again.”

“….”

“As the duke, I’m sure you understand. We wouldn’t want your estate to be blown to pieces.”

He was clearly referring to the infamous outburst in the Empress’s palace just before the death of the Empress Dowager, Deon’s mother.

As the air between the calm Idris and the icy Peidan grew more tense—

A maid entered silently, placed the tea in front of them, and scurried out like she was fleeing.

That helped Peidan finally regain a sliver of composure. Avoiding the sight of their entwined hands, he cut straight to the point.

“So? You ignored all my letters, and now you show up in person—what do you want to say so badly?”

“Oh, nothing much. It’s something that’s already over, but I figured this kind of talk is best done face to face.”

Leticia lifted her teacup casually.

Idris, watching closely, voiced his concern.

“It still seems hot.”

“It’s fine. I can handle this much.”

The two behaved as though they were the only ones in the room, and Peidan could hardly believe it.

He almost wondered if they had come just to annoy him.

Thankfully, before he could flip the table, Leticia calmly put down her teacup and spoke.

“Now that the Founding Festival is over and everyone knows about our situation, don’t you think it’s time we clean things up properly?”

“…So you bring your lover into the home of your still-legal husband to talk about divorce?”

“And you brought your mistress into our home while I was still here—bit rich to hear that from you, isn’t it?”

“That was…!”

“Well, thanks to that, I met this man, so I’m actually grateful now.”

Leticia shared a knowing look and a gentle smile with Idris.

Peidan frowned at the exchange—until Leticia took something from her bag and placed it in front of him.

“Here. Sign it.”

Divorce papers.

Leticia’s signature was already on it. Only Peidan’s remained blank.

Once he signed, the papers would be sent to the Emperor, and the divorce would proceed without much issue.

‘Divorce papers? From that Leticia?’

The same Leticia who had always taken his side, who clung to him no matter what—even when he strayed.

Now, she was the one handing him the papers.

It was a clear declaration that she was ending this marriage.

Only then did Peidan realize she was serious—his eyes widened in disbelief.

His trembling hands clutched the papers again for confirmation.

And then—

“Divorce? Ha! And let you be happy? Not a chance!”

With a violent gesture, he tore the papers to shreds.

“I’ll never let you laugh after destroying my family!”

With eyes bloodshot, Peidan glared at Leticia as if he wanted to kill her.

Leticia, however, didn’t flinch. She calmly turned her gaze toward the drawing room door.

The maid had supposedly closed it on her way out—but now it was slightly ajar.

Leticia smiled faintly.

“Soon enough, Lady Elise’s belly will begin to swell. Wouldn’t a public mudslinging match be a bit rough on a pregnant woman?”

“That’s none of your concern. You should be more worried about your own reputation—carrying on with another man before your marriage is even annulled!”

Peidan, shouting and pointing furiously, froze when he met Idris’s cold gaze. Instinctively, he recoiled and stood.

He moved toward the door, leaving his guests behind.

Then, Leticia called out.

“Peidan.”

He ignored her, hand on the doorknob.

Her voice continued from behind him.

“If you walk out now, you’ll regret it.”

“….”

“I gave you a chance to protect your dignity.”

Her tone carried a heavy warning, but Peidan only scoffed.

‘Regret? That’s your problem, not mine.’

Without hesitation, he left the room.

As the carriage pulled away from the duke’s mansion, Idris asked,

“So what’s your next move? You didn’t go there just to rattle him, did you?”

“You figured it out?”

“Half of it.”

“For someone who only got half, you sure played your part perfectly.”

“Reading between the lines is what a good partner does.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at his smug grin.

‘That felt so good.’

Thanks to his quick instincts, I’d gotten under Peidan’s skin perfectly.

“So, what’s your plan now?”

I hadn’t gone to Peidan just to talk about divorce out of courtesy.

‘If I just wanted a peaceful divorce, I wouldn’t have gone to see him at all.’

I never thought he’d agree anyway—not with that personality.

‘My real goal was…’

I recalled the door that had been left slightly open—

And the glimpse of soft pink hair through the crack.

‘She probably couldn’t resist eavesdropping.’

I had deliberately mentioned the pregnancy, knowing Elise was listening.

To provoke her.

“Elise’s pregnancy is a lie.”

Idris furrowed his brows at the unexpected statement.

“…She lied to keep Peidan from leaving her?”

“Exactly. But the lie that secured her place is starting to become a problem.”

Because if she were really pregnant, her belly should’ve started to show by now.

“She’ll need to find a way to keep that lie hidden.”

I nodded.

“And I already have a pretty good guess what that plan is. I’m going to follow her and collect the evidence.”

Actually, it’s not just a guess—I know exactly what she’ll do.

‘In my previous life, Elise started searching for poison around this time.’

She planned to fake an attempt on her life and the baby’s, blaming me for it.

‘Last time, that poison framed me… but not this time.’

This time, that very poison will be the evidence that exposes her fake pregnancy.