🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter – 22
“Th-That is…”
“On the contrary, it worked out well. It gives me the chance to hire you, and for you to prove your exceptional skills.”
No, I’m not taking that request! What does he mean by “prove myself”? I gaped in disbelief at him, and just then—
“Ah! I’ll accompany her!”
Perhaps realizing only now that the Emperor had come along, or maybe finally calming down, the Baron stepped outside.
“No. I think I should see your wife myself.”
“Rogenie… you mean?”
“Yes. I think it’s better to hear both sides to proceed with this matter. You need to know your opponent to figure out your next move. Of course, she probably won’t tell me everything, but I have to try.”
“Ah, shall I escort you?”
“No. Even though I am the Baron’s lawyer, it would be burdensome if I went with him. And even more so if His Majesty goes along.”
My father, Count Avalon, had not recognized the Emperor. The people at the mercenary office didn’t either. Since the Emperor only appeared in public occasionally, and with his hair colored differently, it made sense. But Baroness Rogenie, the Baron’s wife, must have had quite a few opportunities to meet the Emperor, who was closely connected to her husband.
“I’m not exactly eager to see her.”
“Your Majesty.”
“Does he really think he can lift his chin in front of her and act like that? I don’t approve, Baron. Seeing her won’t yield any good results.”
Whether he was considering me or simply did not want to see Rogenie, his handsome face turned as cold as if dipped in ice water.
“I will stay with the Baron here. Go on. Servant, escort her to that woman.”
“Your Majesty…”
The Baron looked utterly bewildered. His expression seemed full of worry: what if the overbearing lawyer harmed or hurt his beloved?
But the Emperor had already given his order. With a resigned sigh, the Baron gave in.
“Escort her, then.”
When the Baron shifted his gaze to the servant to command, the servant finally approached me.
“Shall we go?”
Guided, I went straight to Baroness Rogenie.
Thanks to the servant, entering Baroness Rogenie’s room wasn’t particularly difficult.
The room displayed the height of luxury, with expensive furniture everywhere. Even scattered dresses, shoes, and jewelry gave a clear impression of her extravagant lifestyle.
“Who is it?”
The servant knocked, and with the unexpected visitor, her expression was less than welcoming.
Her hair was neatly pinned up, adorned with rare pearls even though she wasn’t going out. Her pale face contrasted sharply with lips as red as blood drops. Her delicate features were undeniably beautiful.
Yet, matching the rumors of her ill health, she was unusually thin. Though adorned with pearls, her black hair was dry and streaked with gray. After taking in her appearance, I greeted her.
“Hello. I am Laviel, a divorce attorney.”
“A divorce attorney? Are you here to divorce me from him?”
She looked at me with an unusually hopeful expression, almost expectant.
“No.”
“No?”
“Yes. I’m not here to tell you that he will grant you a divorce. I’m here because I want to hear your story.”
Her sparkling eyes dimmed.
“…My story? What do you want to know?”
“My client does not wish to divorce. Normally, I would block you according to my client’s wishes. But I want my client to remain unhurt. So I want to confirm whether keeping this marriage is meaningful for him. And I thought you were the only one who could provide clear information, so I came without prior notice.”
She listened calmly and bit her lips tightly.
“…Don’t you have anything to say?”
“I do. You’re a divorce attorney, right? Then grant me a divorce. This is a loveless marriage. Even now, with my life seemingly limited, do I have to remain by his side? Do I have to continue pretending to love him?”
“I heard you’re not actually terminally ill.”
The mention of being terminally ill strangely bothered me. Perhaps because Laviel had once been in a critical condition herself, it felt almost offensive that she could speak of such things so casually.
“Not really?”
“Well…”
“I heard treatment can make you well.”
“That’s not the point. I do not love him. Rather, I still love Chespar, my former fiancé.”
“Chespar… the one you were engaged to before marriage?”
“Yes, Chespar. My first and last love.”
How shameless. If he was her first and last love, then Baron Taylor never even deserved her love. And yet, she wanted the marriage. Even if she married to repay a debt, saying this… really.
‘Same as always. Marriage truly is the most useless institution in the world.’
Worse than cohabitants. Today, too, my disdain for humanity grew as I maintained a blank expression and studied her.
“You never loved the Baron?”
“Marriage doesn’t require love. I stood by him, looked beautiful, bolstered his pride—wasn’t that enough?”
I glanced around the room as I listened.
“And in return for that, you received all this?”
“Yes… that’s all it was. Nowadays they call it a business marriage. I never loved him once. So I just want to live as his wife for even a single day. I’ve never forgotten him in five years. I loved him that much.”
“I understand Baron Taylor also repaid your family’s debts.”
“Yes. But how long must I live shackled by that debt? By now, I think I’ve repaid it enough.”
If this were a revenge story, I would have splashed her tea onto her face.
But as a third party and a lawyer, I had to restrain my instincts.
‘No, focus. I am a cold lawyer. I just listen and collect useful information.’
“I see.”
“Yes. Now that you’ve heard everything, please persuade him for my sake. Wouldn’t he be more comfortable letting go of a woman who loves another? I want to marry Chespar. I want to live even one day as his wife.”
“Why cling so much to a former fiancé? You are already married.”
“I thought he was dead. But now he’s back, isn’t that allowed?”
“Truly… remarkable love.”
“Remarkable indeed. He returned remembering only me, forgetting everything else. Isn’t that true love?”
People like this always said the same thing.
They act as if their love is monumental, the world’s stage theirs alone, everyone else merely supporting actors. To outsiders, it’s just a messy affair.
“Thank you for your cooperation. I’ve heard everything, so I should be going.”
“Your heart was stirred listening to me, wasn’t it?”
“Excuse me?”
“See, you’re leaving because our love is so beautiful, there’s nothing left to argue, and a divorce seems right.”
What’s the word for that? A head… no, a mind full of flowers, they say.
“I suppose.”
“You don’t have to hide it. I know you’re moved.”
“Think as you wish. I’ll be on my way.”
There was no reason to stay. The Baron’s story hadn’t changed much. I finished listening and stepped outside.
Unexpectedly, the Emperor stood in the hallway. Not wanting to linger in Rogenie’s room, I headed straight to the carriage.
As soon as I climbed in, the Emperor’s lips curved slightly.
“Well? How was it, hearing her story?”
