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CHAPTER 58
“Damn it…!”
Feydan cursed under his breath, furiously crumpling the newspaper and throwing it aside as he leapt to his feet.
The front page of the paper now lying on the floor was once again dominated by Leticia.
It had been this way for a full week.
Today’s article covered Leticia’s new boutique.
“She brought in some no-name male designer. I was sure the whole thing would flop.”
But contrary to Feydan’s expectations, Leticia was thriving—now even hailed as the “heroine who saved the Crown Prince.”
The public had long forgotten the scandalous image he tried to pin on her as “the duchess who abandoned her husband for another man.”
While investors were backing away from his failed business, Leticia was on a winning streak.
“We both had marital issues, so why am I the only one suffering for it?”
Feydan muttered bitterly, trying to swallow his frustration as he stood by the window.
That’s when he spotted a carriage pulling into the mansion through the main gate.
Elise stepped out.
“Tch. What’s she doing out again in times like these…?”
Feydan watched her with annoyance, and just then, their eyes met.
But he averted his gaze and sat back down.
Since their argument during the Founding Festival, they had remained in a cold war.
At first, Elise was visibly sulking and resentful, but after a few days, she had started giving him subtle looks, hoping he would be the one to reach out first.
Feydan ignored every one of them.
“I spoiled her too much.”
That’s why she ignored his warning to skip the festival—and had the nerve to show up holding another man’s hand right in front of him.
“This is a good chance to put her in her place.”
She was carrying his child, after all. It wasn’t like she could run off with someone else.
He’d make sure she never dared to defy him again.
“Sigh… It’s already enough to deal with my business. Now I have to deal with power games with a woman too…”
A quiet, obedient woman who knew her place—that’s who suited the role of duchess best.
It was as that thought crossed his mind that—
Knock knock—
“Your Grace, a letter has arrived.”
“At this hour?”
Official letters usually arrived in the morning. A letter arriving late in the afternoon could only mean one thing—it was personal.
Feydan raised an eyebrow but allowed the servant in.
“Enter.”
The butler stepped into the study, looking hesitant, and handed him the envelope.
“It’s a letter from the lady.”
The familiar handwriting on the front bore both his and Leticia’s names.
Feydan’s eyes shifted strangely as he took the unexpected letter in hand.
The Next Morning
As usual, I was having breakfast with Idrys when he froze at the name I casually mentioned.
“Wait… where did you say you’re going today?”
“To the Farnese estate.”
His expression changed completely.
Just seconds ago, he was calmly listening to me talk about my meeting with the Empress. Now, his tone was sharp.
“Why on earth would you go there?”
I explained.
“The Founding Festival is over. Feydan’s big investment project tanked. There’s no point in dragging this out anymore. I’m planning to go suggest a clean divorce.”
“You think he’ll just agree to that? After what he’s done? If anything, he’ll refuse out of spite because you ruined his plans.”
He had pegged Feydan’s personality perfectly after only a few interactions.
Well, he’s not wrong.
But I wasn’t going there just to ask nicely.
“Have you forgotten how that man treated you?”
“No. I know better than anyone what kind of person he is.”
Then why go?
His golden eyes said it all, filled with unspoken frustration.
I gave him a small, reassuring smile.
“Don’t worry. I know he won’t agree easily, but I’m bringing Wig with me. He won’t be able to pull anything reckless.”
“Leticia, that gorilla’s not even intimidating. He’s all size, no threat.”
“…You’re the only one who thinks that.”
Still, Idrys clearly wasn’t happy with the plan.
At that moment, the grandfather clock in the distance chimed the hour.
I sipped my water and stood to end the meal.
“The meeting time is near. I’ll get going now. You said you had to head out too, right? Be safe.”
Just as I rose, Idrys’s voice called out.
“I’ll come with you.”
“…Didn’t you say you had plans today?”
I blinked in surprise. But in a flash, Idrys was already by my side.
“I can reschedule. It wasn’t that important anyway.”
“There’s no need to change your plans for me—”
“How can I let you go there alone?”
His voice was lower than usual, and the concern in his eyes unmistakable.
“Let me come. Just in case.”
Despite his displeasure over my choice, the hand he reached out with was warm and steady.
That warmth made me hesitate.
“What? Changed your mind? Don’t want to go now?”
As I stood there staring at him, Idrys looked back at me with those soft, worried eyes—the kind that promised he’d fix everything if I simply said I was scared.
His worry tickled my heart in a way that made me feel strangely fluttery.
I cleared my throat and replied.
“With such a dependable ally, why would I be scared? Let’s go.”
…For some reason, the warmth of his hand holding mine lingered more than usual today.
A carriage bearing the Del Lua crest rolled into the Farnese estate.
Hearing the news, Feydan came down to the front entrance himself to wait.
“Even if we fought, a gentleman should always escort a lady.”
The letter he received from Leticia yesterday afternoon had said: “I’d like to speak in person. Please let me know a convenient time—I’ll come to the mansion.”
“She ignored me every time I told her to come back, and now suddenly she wants to show up on her own? There’s only one reason.”
She’d gotten carried away with Idrys, but now that she’d realized she’d lost Feydan to Elise, her pride was hurt—and she wanted to test the waters.
That’s the Leticia he knew.
She had always respected his opinions, and even when she opposed him, she’d eventually back down and return.
Because she loved him.
Leticia claimed she no longer did—but Feydan was certain. After all those years, there was no way she had truly let go.
“Granted, this standoff has lasted longer than usual.”
He was still resentful of the chaos she caused, but if she admitted her fault now and showed remorse, he could forgive her.
“A good husband should be generous enough to embrace a sulking wife.”
Escorting her in was his way of offering a hand for reconciliation.
He had also told Elise to stay in her room.
Just then, the carriage arrived at the entrance.
The waiting butler opened the door, and Feydan extended his hand, expecting Leticia.
But then…
“Oh? You came out to escort me?”
The man who stepped out was not Leticia—it was Idrys.
Wearing a calm, mocking smile, he took a slow step forward.
“Appreciate the sentiment, but no need. I’ve got it covered.”
He dropped the smile with the final line, his tone cool and sharp.
