We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 27

“See ya, little girl! Come again. Next picnic’s at the beginning of next month. Make sure you come. If you don’t, I’ll come dredge you out myself! Everyone line up, play the music, set off the fireworks. Send my little sister off in style!”

“Th-thank you very much.”

Feeling somewhat overwhelmed by this send-off fit for a state guest, we left the Empress’s picnic. Loaded with so many souvenirs they nearly spilled from the carriage.

Somehow, it seemed my sister-in-law had taken an unusual liking to me.

After that, Nadine who had laughed herself silly kept up the momentum by throwing a banquet, singing heartily, drinking heavily, and ultimately ended up embracing my shoulders while bestowing both encouraging words and a kiss on my cheek, saying, “If it means wiping that smug look off Julian’s face, I’ll help you with anything.”

Well, though I had many thoughts about it, right now the outcome mattered most.

In other words,

“Despite everything that happened, I’m glad it worked out in the end.”

That’s how it was.

“For a moment I wondered how things would turn out, but all’s well that ends well.”

“……”

“Lady Nadine must be a good person at heart, right? Though she was a bit scary at first, she was laughing the whole latter half, and I can see why her subordinates adore her.”

“……”

“Um, my lord. Perhaps… you’re angry?”

And yet, Julian was in an extremely foul mood.

Since boarding the carriage, he had been sullenly silent, refusing to even meet my eyes. Maybe he was displeased that I got along too well with Nadine, with whom he had a cat-and-dog relationship.

At any rate, Julian remained utterly silent, nibbling only on the candied fruits we’d received as souvenirs.

Then, after finishing one stick in silent consumption,

“Sierra, don’t do anything like that again.”

He finally looked at me and said that.

“Anything like what?”

“This time it just happened to work out, but if Nadine had been serious, you could have been killed in one blow.”

“…Ah.”

Julian’s face, staring at me, was twisted in pain. I’d seen this face before. Just earlier. The face he made when he gripped my hand in the ship’s dueling arena.

My chest tightened sharply. Why does Julian make such a face? He shouldn’t care what happens to me. I recalled the many words spoken to Julian.

‘I don’t even want to touch such a rustic woman, nor do I want to see her face.’

‘If someone would let me divorce her, I’d pay any reward without regret.’

Of course, I knew those weren’t Julian’s pure, honest feelings. Now that I knew about his relationship with Chrislan, I understood he was likely venting accumulated resentment and bitterness through those words.

Still, it shouldn’t change that Julian dislikes women. Or that I’m only a temporary wife.

“…Sierra.”

So why does Julian make such a face? Why does he have eyes like a deserted winter lake, like a sky about to release freezing rain?

“My apologies. I won’t overstep like that again from now on.”

And why does seeing this expression on Julian’s face pain me so?

I don’t understand. Neither Julian’s feelings nor my own heart.

“Please.”

With that, Julian started anew and went back to nibbling on the candied fruits.

“……”

“What is it?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

I still understood nothing, but I liked Julian’s face when he was stuffing his cheeks with sweets.

“Anyway, regardless, winning Nadine over is significant. Next, we’ll ensnare her younger brother Arcadia as planned.”

“Is Lord Arcadia also governing some territory?”

“No, Arcadia has been appointed chief of the Vraogone Military Police.”

“Military police? He must be a strict person then.”

“The opposite. To describe him in one word, he’s a good-for-nothing womanizer and a spoiled brat.”

One word…?

“He’s always been an annoying pest who picked fights. He probably didn’t like that I, a concubine’s son, had inheritance rights, but with his personality, even if I were gone, Nadine would become the heir.”

“Then why is such a person in the military police?”

“He volunteered. The military police are the only force that can oppose Nadine and me, who command the army. That’s the kind of guy he is.”

“Um, if I may ask, how are the sibling relations…?”

“We’re noble siblings.”

“I see.”

Glancing sideways at Zach standing by, he shook his head with a pained expression. It seemed this persuasion would be difficult too. I was secretly steeling myself for it, but then,

“I’ll handle the negotiations with Arcadia alone. Sierra, rest at the mansion.”

Julian declared as if he’d read my mind.

“What! Why?”

“Men’s business is between men. Leave this one to me.”

“But—”

“Don’t worry, I won’t reduce the alimony.”

Apparently, Julian was quite confident about persuading his brother. However,

“Understood, Sierra? Don’t try sneaking into the carriage like before. Wait quietly for my return.”

Each time he emphasized this, a feeling completely opposite of reassurance welled up inside me. Why?

“My lord, will you be entering Vraogone?”

“Naturally.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say “Please don’t go.” Even though I’m his wife. Even though we’re partners aiming for divorce, I couldn’t say it. The words were there in my throat, but the moment they passed my lips, they turned into sighs.

“What is it, Sierra?”

“…It’s nothing.”

Why are tears welling up? Was this how Julian felt when he sent me out to duel Nadine?

The carriage rattled, transmitting every irregularity in the road’s pavement to the seats, further violently shaking my unsettled heart.