A Change of Husband - Chapter 106

The conservative nobles, gathered around Count Mirk, spent some time in the banquet hall before heading to an empty lounge for a more private discussion.

 

At first, there seemed to be about six or seven people, but once they entered the lounge, the number turned out to be quite large.

 

Albert held his breath and glanced around, thinking Count Mirk certainly had an impressive talent for gathering people.

 

The first to speak was Count Bourbon.

 

“Something doesn’t feel right.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“The King is defending that divorcee. Showing personal favor to a divorcee, someone who should be socially condemned, is outrageous.”

 

In fact, Asilie—the “divorcee” in question—was someone Count Bourbon couldn’t help but be concerned about.

 

She was the ex-wife of the eldest son of the Bonaparte family, whom his own daughter was soon to marry.

 

Naturally, Count Bonaparte, who was also affected by the matter, hardened his expression.

 

The resentment he felt toward the King for ruining his son over Asilie still hadn’t faded. Yet the King had publicly supported Asilie as if mocking the Bonaparte family.

 

His son was so devastated he hadn’t even been able to attend the banquet that day.

 

“I heard the King wants to strengthen his relationship with the Duke of Grandier. Maybe that’s why he acted so dramatically.”

 

Albert, who usually stayed silent even when among fellow conservative nobles, couldn’t help but speak up since the topic was about her.

 

Esperad had specifically asked him to divert attention whenever Asilie was mentioned.

 

“You’re saying the King is trying to win over the neutral nobles?”

 

Albert nodded in response to Count Mirk’s question.

 

“Yes.”

 

“Hmph.”

 

“Still, I wonder if he really needed to use that woman to get close to the neutral nobles.”

 

“Then, Count Bourbon, do you believe the King has a special relationship with that divorcee? A woman who, after a recent divorce, deserves nothing more than pity or contempt?”

 

When Albert asked, Count Bourbon, who had kept bringing up Asilie turned his head away.

 

Romantic involvement is often the easiest explanation when there’s a visible connection between a man and a woman, but even so, the King had never been known for personal scandal. To assume he was in a forbidden relationship with a socially disgraced divorcee seemed too much.

 

Moreover, Count Bonaparte hadn’t told the other conservatives that Asilie had stolen the family ledger and handed it to the King, making it even harder for them to guess the true nature of her relationship with Esperad.

 

‘He probably showed her public respect to reward her for stealing the ledger. To make her future just a little easier.’

 

Even thinking about it again made him furious.

 

Count Bonaparte listened to the other nobles’ misguided assumptions with an annoyed expression as he gulped down his drink.

 

Meanwhile, Count Mirk, lost in thought, recalled the moment he saw Esperad and Asilie together.

 

‘I’m sure I’ve seen something like that before.’

 

It was very strange.

 

He had never paid much attention to that woman, but oddly, the way Esperad had asked her to dance reminded him of how his father, Astron, had once asked Rihanna to dance.

 

Maybe it was because he had never seen Esperad dance so intimately with anyone before. But the memory left him with an uneasy feeling.

 

And he knew. Esperad had mobilized troops to save Asilie and had even drawn his sword against the Bonaparte heir for trying to harm her.

 

‘It sounds crazy, but maybe…’

 

In the end, it was just a suspicion.

 

Count Mirk knew that if he voiced such a possibility, he could lose the trust of the nobles present.

 

A leader who makes baseless claims cannot win support.

 

And in that respect, Count Mirk was an extremely clever man—more sensitive to such things than anyone.

 

Whatever the truth was, for now, the most important task was uniting the anxious conservative nobles.

 

“For now, since we’re gathered to discuss what’s happening tomorrow morning, shall we end this topic here?”

 

The nobles agreed with Count Mirk’s suggestion.

 

Tomorrow was the day the weapons merchants would enter the palace, and also the day the revised bill for Esperad and Cordelia’s marriage would be finalized.

 

“I think we should go along with the King for now. That discussion is already over, and even if the Queen can’t stop him outright, she might at least delay him at critical moments.”

 

“I agree. I think we can afford to let the King enjoy his sense of victory until tomorrow.”

 

“Seems like we’re all thinking the same thing.”

 

“Looking back, the King was clearly paying attention to the former Queen in the banquet hall. Maybe he stayed quiet to avoid drawing too much attention before making things official.”

 

“I agree. He has acted quite cautiously so far.”

 

Once the discussion about the bill ended, Albert excused himself, saying he had a prior engagement, and left the lounge.

 

Baron Gritsper, who insisted on seeing him off despite Albert saying it wasn’t necessary, carefully checked the surroundings before coming back inside.

 

“There’s no one nearby.”

 

“Then let’s get to the real discussion. Count Bellucci, what’s the situation with the weapons merchants?”

 

At Count Mirk’s question, Count Bellucci, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.

 

“Of course, they will have an audience with the King. But they won’t meet his demands.”

 

“Hmm. Is ‘that plan’ coming along well?”

 

At the mention of “that plan,” the tension in the lounge was palpable as the conservative nobles waited for Bellucci’s answer.

 

“So far, everything is going smoothly.”

 

Visible relief spread across the nobles’ faces.

 

Especially Count Bonaparte. He was determined to drag Esperad off the throne if the opportunity arose—even if the King bowed to the conservatives.

 

The King had to pay the price for mocking the Bonaparte family.

 

“We have to show him. That the crown he wears is not forever.”

 

He muttered quietly to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

 

 

Cordelia could no longer hold herself back.

 

Normally, she would have behaved like a graceful queen, chatting with noblewomen. But the greater the expectation, the deeper the disappointment—and she couldn’t control herself.

 

In the end, she pressured a passing maid to tell her where Asilie was and went to find her.

 

Asilie who had just come off the balcony and was heading back to the banquet hall, was startled to see Cordelia standing as if waiting for her.

 

She instinctively stepped back in surprise.

 

Thinking she had gained the upper hand, Cordelia smiled calmly and greeted her.

 

“Nice to see you, madam. Oh, or should I say… ‘young lady’ now?”

 

Even though it hadn’t happened in this life, Asilie still remembered Cordelia’s face—when she stabbed her with a dagger.

 

That twisted expression, right before death, was burned into her memory so vividly that it was impossible to forget. Facing Cordelia always sent a chill down her spine.

 

Asilie looked at her and answered in the calmest tone she could manage.

 

“…Call me whatever you’re comfortable with, Your Highness the former Queen.”

 

“I’m surprised. Attending a royal banquet after going through a divorce.”

 

It wasn’t hard to read the ridicule in Cordelia’s voice.

 

But there was no need to lower herself. Asilie replied calmly.

 

“I also received an invitation from the royal family, so it’s not particularly unusual, Your Highness.”

 

“That’s puzzling. Receiving an invitation doesn’t necessarily mean you have the right to attend.”

 

“Considering what an invitation is for, I don’t think that’s entirely true…”

 

Cordelia’s face twisted with anger as the situation unfolded differently than she had expected.
‘What a shameless woman!’
It was probably thanks to her thick skin that she could accept the king’s invitation to dance despite being a divorcée. Still, she seemed even bolder than Cordelia had imagined.

 

Cordelia, clearly displeased, delivered a warning with a sharp tone.
“From now on, I hope you will mature enough to consider how your presence disrupts the atmosphere of the banquet.”

 

“I’m surprised, Your Highness. I’ve committed no crimes and harmed no one. I simply refused to accept something unreasonable and filed for divorce as I saw fit. So I honestly don’t understand what you mean by ‘mature consideration.’”

 

“Ha!”
The way she talked back to every word confirmed what the noblewomen at the banquet had said—this woman truly knew no shame.

 

Even though there was no one around in the hallway of the banquet hall, Cordelia couldn’t stand Asilie’s complete lack of respect and courtesy toward royalty.
‘She must be looking down on me because I’m the former queen. How dare a mere divorcée…!’

 

She strode up to Asilie.
Unlike earlier, when she had spoken calmly, she now raised her voice, putting force into every word.

 

“A disgraceful divorcée being in a place reserved for noble people is completely out of line. It’s immature behavior.”

 

“I’m afraid this is the first I’ve heard of that.”

 

“What? Ha! How insolent!”

 

“It sounds like you simply don’t like seeing me at the banquet. Or… did I misunderstand you?”

 

Cordelia sneered and shot back at Asilie’s calm response.
“And if you didn’t misunderstand?”

 

“Then I must clearly state that, unfortunately, Your Highness the former queen has no right to decide whether I attend or not.”

 

Cordelia’s previously smug expression crumbled in an instant.

 

Asilie, who had been staring at her without emotion, gave a polite farewell with only the bare minimum of manners and turned to leave.
“Then, I’ll excuse myself.”

 

“Stop right there!”

 

“………”

 

“How dare you speak and act so arrogantly? Repeat what you just said to me—clearly this time.”

 

“Whatever you heard, you heard it correctly. So I don’t see any reason to repeat it.”

 

Though Asilie hadn’t said anything wrong, her calm and confident reply only made Cordelia even more upset.

 

“You! A vulgar divorcée with no clear background dares to speak to me like that? How dare you insult me!”

 

“What is this commotion?”

 

A voice cut through Cordelia’s near-screaming—Esperad had stepped between them.

 

He had just finished a private meeting with his advisors and rushed to find Asilie, worried he might have kept her waiting too long. What he saw was the two women in a tense confrontation.

 

He had relaxed slightly upon seeing Asilie bow and try to leave, but Cordelia grabbed her and raised her voice again, which made him act before thinking.

 

“Y-Your Majesty!”

 

Cordelia looked up with annoyance at the man who had stepped in front of Asilie. But the moment she realized it was Esperad, her face turned flustered, and she stumbled over her words.

 

“I-I was simply speaking about royal etiquette and decorum…”

 

“If you truly cared about royal decorum, then lowering your voice in a place like this would be the first step.”

 

After finishing his sentence, Esperad looked away from Cordelia and turned to Asilie.

 

Cordelia hoped Esperad would say something to Asilie just as he had to her. That was the only way her crushed pride could be salvaged.

 

But instead, Esperad reached out to Asilie and spoke in a gentle voice, very different from before.
“The Duke of Grandier was looking for you. Let me take you to him.”

 

“I can go alone, Your Majesty.”

 

“I’m on my way there.”

 

“But still…”

 

Cordelia couldn’t hide her expression anymore. The sudden shift in tone was too jarring.

 

However, the two of them seemed completely immersed in their own world, unaffected by Cordelia’s piercing glare.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

In the end, Asilie took Esperad’s hand and walked away with him.

 

From what Cordelia knew, Esperad had never shown much interest in women, even back when he was just the Duke of Camédici.

 

There was no way someone like him would have developed feelings for a newly divorced woman like Asilie. And yet, for some reason, Cordelia couldn’t shake the feeling that something unusual was going on between them.

 

She glared at their backs as they disappeared down the hallway, eyes full of fury as if she might attack them at any moment.

 

Then she spotted Lady Avant, who had come out to look for her.

 

“Odette!”

 

“There you are, Your Highness. You left so suddenly—I’ve been looking for you.”

 

“Where is Count Mirk?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“I need to see him. Right now. Take me to him! Hurry!”

 

Lady Avant was flustered by Cordelia’s sudden departure from the banquet without a word, and now her unreasonable demands.

 

But this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, and since she had also been ordered by Count Mirk to report Cordelia’s every move, Odette answered as calmly as she could.

 

“I’ll take you to him.”