A New Life After Divorce - Chapter 115

Just as I arrived at Devon’s visitation room and was about to enter, the duke’s knights guarding the door blocked my way.

“Sorry, but you are not allowed to enter.”

“If I can’t go in, please call the Duke.”

The knights exchanged glances, looking troubled.

“I have something important to tell him.”

They groaned softly, avoiding my gaze.

I looked pleadingly at the knights I had met before while discussing the Lebron jewelry business.

“Is that not possible either?”

“Well, actually, even if Count Buell himself were to come—”

Just as they hesitated to explain, a pained groan echoed from inside the visitation room.

Startled, I flinched.

‘What was that sound?’

Moments later, the door opened, and Edmund stepped out, irritably running his fingers through his hair. When he saw me, his expression momentarily froze in surprise.

But only for a second. His gaze quickly turned cold as he shot a sharp look at the knights.

“Discipline must be slipping. Can’t you even follow a simple order?”

“S-Sorry, sir.”

At his stern rebuke, the knights paled. Realizing that my presence was causing trouble, I quickly stepped in front of him.

I had come to deliver news about the monster, but I set aside my seriousness and instead put on a sullen expression.

“So, I wasn’t supposed to come to the visitation room, was I? Well, considering the Imperial Search Team and the interrogation, there must be things I shouldn’t hear, even if I am a victim.”

His eyebrow twitched.

“There’s nothing you’re not allowed to hear.”

“Then why shouldn’t I be here?”

I deliberately pouted, hoping to get an answer out of him. He stared at me for a few seconds with an unreadable expression before abruptly turning his head away.

“I didn’t want you to meet him.”

“Are you worried I’ll be in danger again? You and the knights are here, so what’s there to worry about?”

“That’s not it…”

After a long pause, he frowned and muttered in a dissatisfied tone.

“…He’s your ex-husband.”

It took me a moment to grasp the meaning behind his words. My eyes slowly widened.

“Damn it, that’s not what I meant to say.”

Edmund ruffled his neatly combed hair, revealing his reddened ears. Seeing such a strong and imposing man suddenly appear vulnerable made him look irresistibly endearing.

‘Ah… What do I do?’

I was itching to tease him.

Ever since he realized his feelings for me, I had been the one constantly being pulled along. It had been a long time since I had felt such a mischievous urge. In the past, I wouldn’t have hesitated to joke around, but after last night, I had learned just how terrifying provoking him could be. So instead, I secretly smiled.

Jealousy? To me, Devon was nothing but an object of hatred—a clear enemy. So, I never imagined he could be a source of jealousy for Edmund.

‘I was being oblivious.’

If Edmund had an ex-wife who had tried to harm him, I might have lost my mind in jealousy and resentment, too.

Smiling softly, I gently cupped his cheek, despite him avoiding my gaze.

“My time with Devon is nothing more than a disgraceful past. What matters now is my present with you.”

His rigid expression softened in my hand. Then, he let out a faint smile, as if resigning himself to my words.

“Have you finished your visitation with Verita?”

“Just now. But Verita made an important statement. You need to hear—”

At that moment, another sickening groan came from inside the room, muffled by the door.

Edmund’s lips pressed into a tight line as if troubled. Sensing something was wrong, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

“Etricia.”

Startled, he quickly followed me in.

Devon sat bound to a wooden chair, his arms and legs tied with thick ropes. Blood, mixed with other bodily fluids, dripped from his mouth.

The sight of torture was unsettling, sickening even.

The cold air, heavy with the scent of blood, made my body freeze in place for a few seconds.

The imperial knights turned to Edmund in shock, silently asking what to do.

Then, Edmund stepped in front of me, blocking my view with his hand. His warmth helped me regain my composure.

“What happened here?”

“Baron Lofrato, who was involved in the illegal trade of monster blood, bit his tongue and committed suicide.”

“So, he took the coward’s way out rather than take responsibility. And now you’ve restrained Devon to prevent him from doing the same. But he wasn’t cooperative, so you had to torture him.”

Silence followed my deduction, confirming its accuracy. The knights shifted uncomfortably, their boots scraping against the floor.

I let out a short laugh, shaking my shoulders.

“So, in the end, I wasn’t stopped because of jealousy?”

“I meant what I said. But I also didn’t want you to see this.”

I knew. There was no deceit in his words—his concern was genuine.

I slowly smiled. As my facial muscles lifted, his hand trembled slightly.

“You don’t have to shield me from everything, Edmund. Whether it’s good or bad, if it’s something you must do, I’ll share the burden with you. We promised to walk through life and death together, didn’t we?”

So, I needed to see this, too.

Honestly, it was gruesome and disturbing. It would be easier to turn away, but I didn’t want to leave Edmund to bear it alone. He didn’t want this responsibility any more than I did.

I gently lowered his hand, and he didn’t resist.

Edmund frowned; his eyes filled with concern.

I reassured him with a smile before stepping toward Devon—only to be stopped by Edmund’s protective hand once again.

“Devon.”

At the sound of my voice, Devon slowly opened his swollen eyes. His unfocused gaze eventually found me, and his body jerked.

“Etriciaaa!”

With a clatter, the knights pushed down on his chair to restrain him, causing it to topple over. Devon, unable to reach me, screamed in frustration.

“Ugh! Etricia! It’s all because of you! If only I hadn’t met you—cough!”

Blood spewed from his mouth, staining his face.

I sighed in exasperation.

Shaking my head, I clicked my tongue.

“They say you’re sick. Seems like God still has some interest in this world—just enough to punish you.”

“Shut that deceitful mouth! This is all because you tried to kill me—!”

“Still blaming others, I see.”

He was as pathetic and cowardly as ever.

The same man who had once tried to kill me now dared to act like the victim.

“You won’t escape like Baron Lofrato. You’ll rot in prison and die in misery from your illness.”

His eyes widened in fury as I met his glare without flinching.

“Live in the hell you created, where no one loves you.”

“…….”

“And every time you feel like biting your tongue and ending it all, remember this—you created that hell.”

The tension in his face slowly melted away, and Devon collapsed, sobbing in agony. It was a pitiful, broken sight.

I thought seeing him suffer would feel satisfying…

But all I felt was disgust and bitterness. This was the miserable end of the man who ignored my pleas for love for four years. And I had once clung to someone like this?

I let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the tangled emotions. A strange sense of relief followed.

After all the years of being tied together—and even after the divorce, when he still tried to kill me—my connection to that man was finally severed.

I watched Devon’s downfall, then remembered something I had momentarily forgotten.

“Oh, right. Want me to tell you one more truth? I didn’t kill Viscountess Dien. It was a monster.”

“Don’t lie to me, you snake!”

Devon clenched his teeth and glared at me with teary eyes.

Ah… So even if I tell him the truth, it means nothing if he’s too foolish to accept it. I’d only tried to show a little kindness because I pitied him.

I gave a mocking snort and turned to leave—only to come face-to-face with Edmund. My eyes, still tense from confronting Devon, softened naturally at the sight of him.

“Etricia, what do you mean? That a monster killed the Viscountess?”

“Just what I said, Edmund.”

“……”

“I know who it was.”

Edmund’s eyes narrowed, confused at first. Then they widened in shock.

“Yes. The very same monster who stole everything you should’ve had years ago.”

The sky had darkened quickly, clouds hanging low and heavy as though rain might fall at any moment. The damp air made the wood inside the carriage smell even more strongly than usual.

The lantern hanging from the ceiling of the carriage swung slightly as the wheels bumped over a stone.

Pale yellow light flickered over Edmund’s profile. He was deep in thought, unaware that I was even looking at him.

When I told him what I had discovered, Edmund had closed his eyes tightly. Even though he had been in the capital, even though he had been close, he had missed the monster. He was surely blaming himself.

“So that’s why the purification stone wasn’t found in the Duchy—it was with the monster,” he muttered to himself.

I quietly shifted closer and gently held the back of his hand. I hoped that even a small bit of my warmth could bring him comfort.

Support