We Will Get Divorced: The Perfect Divorce Plan of the Sacrificial Daughter and the Cold-Blooded Soldier - Chapter 8

“Thank you. I’ll be fine from here.”

I stopped in front of the bedroom door and glanced back.

“Madam, I…”

Amy’s eyes were still glistening with unease. Perhaps it was this girl who needed companionship more than I did.

“Would you help me dress tomorrow morning?”

“Y-yes!”

I closed the door with my brightest smile, hoping my dear maid could rest a little easier.

“—”

Then I went straight to the window.

In one breath, I vaulted over the windowsill into the garden, running barefoot through the night garden by moonlight.

I had visited Harrop several times during my tenure as Vice-Duke. My cousin Kevin, who served as territorial officer here, was a generous warrior who would openly share all sorts of information when drunk. Harrop’s local specialties, small gossip from surrounding villages, and—

“Found it, here it is.”

The secret passage from the master’s room to the garden of the territorial officer’s residence.

The disproportionately large goddess statue standing alone in the unkempt garden—behind it was a small hole in the pedestal. Normally it would require a key, but

“Sorry, Amy”

I pulled out the hairpin Amy had given me, bent it, and inserted it into the keyhole.

Good, it opened. My lockpicking skills taught by the Azizi Guild during my vice-duke days didn’t seem to have rusted yet. The Azizi Trading Company, which rose from thieves to become Eirondale’s top merchant house—the infiltration techniques their chairman found amusing to teach me when he took a liking to me were coming in handy here. Life is unpredictable.

Not caring if my dress got dirty, I crawled on all fours through the hole. It was pitch black inside, but night vision was another skill Chairman Azizi had drilled into me. Continuing straight ahead and climbing the ladder would bring me out behind the wall of the second-floor master’s room. I didn’t need to go inside. Just hearing the conversation would be enough.

Eavesdropping made me uneasy, but as a former vice-duke and as the territorial officer’s wife, I couldn’t overlook this outrage. Now then, what conversation were my dear husband and father-in-law enjoying?

“Answer me, Julian!”

…They seemed to be more heated than I imagined.

“Completing a marriage with just a single document without holding a ceremony—what were you thinking?”

The one shouting was probably Chrislan. His roaring voice was completely different from the gentleman I’d just exchanged greetings with.

“My apologies. The King ordered me to marry into Elon Dale as quickly as possible. I judged that waiting for both families to prepare would violate his command.”

“Even so, who omits the ceremony entirely! We were making elaborate preparations. We even planned to invite the King.”

“I thought it would be disrespectful to invite His Majesty to the wedding of a young man without title. There might be treacherous elements plotting against his life. It was all for His Majesty’s safety.”

“For His Majesty’s safety.”

“Yes.”

“What are you plotting? Don’t tell me you’re getting arrogant, thinking you’ve gained freedom by leaving Vraogone. Crushing you would be easy.”

—Crush. What is this conversation? It doesn’t sound like a discussion between family members at all.

“Well, Julian!”

“Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a loyal pawn. I have always sworn loyalty to Vraogone and His Majesty the King. Just like Father.”

“…Is that so.”

“…”

“Well, fine. By the way, how’s married life? I hear you quite forcibly took a bride—it’s become quite the rumor. Despite how much you used to dislike women, have you finally discovered the joy of appreciating them?”

“Absolutely not.”

Julian declared without hesitation.

“You know my aversion to women. I don’t even want to touch such a rustic woman, nor do I want to look at her face.”

…What?

“I only live under the same roof because of Father’s orders, but it makes me feel like vomiting every day. If someone would let me divorce her, I wouldn’t hesitate to pay any reward.”

…………What?

“Hmph, same as always. But I won’t permit divorce. Don’t make any more moves on your own. Understood?”

“Are you leaving? You could stay the night.”

“Who could stay in this provincial house? Don’t forget—I hold your weak point.”

That seemed to end the conversation. I heard the sound of someone standing up from their chair. Julian seemed to be seeing him off, as I heard them walking out into the hallway together.

I needed to return to the bedroom.

I didn’t think the Undying King would fail to detect the presence of a suspicious person.

Even knowing this, my feet wouldn’t move. The impact of Julian’s words violently shook my body. No, I have to go back. I can’t stay here. My brain kept commanding me, but

“Husband…”

“Sierra?”

My body moved in the complete opposite direction.