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Chapter 32
There Is No Divorce Between Us
“This can’t be. This… something’s wrong.”
Liandro’s gaze faltered.
“To think the temple’s seal is authentic… I just can’t believe it. Someone must have tampered with it…”
At that moment, Liandro paused and clenched his teeth. His eyes caught the golden emblem of the temple. The gold-infused divine power of the official temple seal couldn’t be faked.
“There’s no way that demon would genuinely marry you, Lady. Don’t let yourself be swayed by such tricks. It’s all fake…”
Engrossed in his thoughts, he froze when he saw me. I was still in Johan’s arms, holding his hand tightly. Liandro’s blue eyes reflected pure shock, as if this was impossible. His normally rigid expression twisted.
‘Why is he like that?’
It seemed he was deeply shocked that I didn’t trust him or follow his lead. Liandro called out to me with a trembling voice.
“Lady Estelle.”
But I found it somewhat amusing. He had never met me before and knew nothing about me.
‘Yet he only saw me as a shadow of Estella.’
Everyone acted as they pleased.
‘But Johan…’
Johan had placed the marriage contract in my hands. As I fiddled with it, he asked,
“My wife, curious about the marriage contract?”
Johan seemed to have recovered from his earlier shock, regaining a calm composure. He smiled sweetly, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“You can look at it all you want. We are undeniably real husband and wife.”
“That’s true. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to even have the temple’s seal.”
Liandro had said something toward me, but I ignored it and spoke to Johan.
“With the temple’s seal, it would be hard to divorce, right?”
“Divorce?”
Johan tilted his head.
“Are you trying to divorce me?”
His crimson eyes flashed like a wild beast.
“Just so you know, there’s no divorce between us.”
I swallowed hard without realizing it. Though he smiled gently, there was a cold undertone.
“You’re not thinking it’s because of that guy, are you?”
“No! Usually, even nobles don’t get the temple’s recognition. That’s why I was a little surprised.”
“There are just few couples who genuinely care for each other like we do.”
Johan covered my hands holding the contract with his own.
“But my wife, don’t ever say something like that again. What if I misinterpret it and go mad?”
“….”
You’re already mad! I thought, but my heart couldn’t help but race.
‘I changed the original story.’
In the original story, Johan had prepared various “incidents” to threaten me—troubles meant to harass or trouble me, like Anton or Patricia did.
‘But almost all of that is gone now.’
I had only experienced one or two minor events; now, no threats or harassment existed. I could perform my duties as the Duchess of Blanchet and had officially been recognized by the temple.
‘Johan’s revenge isn’t entirely over… but…’
Still, this change couldn’t be denied.
Bang! A loud noise startled me, and I clung to Johan’s chest. Liandro swung a sword made of blue light, shouting my name.
“Estelle!”
“I’d appreciate it if you stopped calling a married woman’s name who isn’t yours.”
Johan growled lowly.
“Uninvited guest.”
A red magical circle rapidly formed around Liandro. Sharp red arrows shot from above, attacking him.
“You dare attack me with such magic—!”
“Think whatever you want.”
A massive magic circle appeared beneath Liandro. Shadows erupted from the ground, binding his limbs. He broke the shadows and struck with his sword, but Johan’s moving magical defenses blocked him. The duel was intense and overwhelming.
‘The fight between the male lead and the villain is on a whole other level.’
An ordinary person like me would have been killed instantly if caught in such a battle.
“You dodge like a little rat.”
Johan’s red eyes glared down at him sharply.
“But even then, you’re just a little rat.”
“Ugh!”
The black shadows that bound Liandro turned into chains, forcing him to his knees.
“Let’s end this waste of time here.”
He snapped his fingers. The magical circles collided gracefully, forming larger spells.
“I’ll deal with you properly later.”
At those words, Liandro’s form began to blur. He stabbed his sword into the ground, but no matter how hard he pressed, it didn’t matter. His body gradually faded.
“Demon of Blanchet. You think you’ve won?”
Liandro bled from his mouth, grinning fiercely.
“But the truth will always be revealed. No matter how cunning the lies, lies remain lies!”
His bloodshot eyes glared at Johan with hatred.
“Even if she doesn’t choose me, you will never be chosen either.”
Johan, still holding me protectively, paused. At that moment, Liandro completely vanished. Only the two of us remained. The garden, scarred by battle, was a mess.
“…Duke, you used your power right after waking up. Are you okay?”
“Completely fine. I feel even better now.”
The black marks from his previous rampage were gone.
“My lord!”
“My master! Are you unharmed?”
Knights and soldiers of the Blanchet household poured in. Liandro’s power had kept them away until now. Johan pulled me close and drew the curtains, plunging the room into darkness.
‘Suddenly?’
I blinked. Johan smiled gently.
“By the way, my wife, I didn’t get to ask when that scoundrel appeared—was there any trouble or harm while taking care of me?”
“Nothing happened, surprisingly. You didn’t have to worry.”
Hearing that, Johan frowned slightly, noticing the red marks on my wrist and the scars from his dream. My hand was firmly held in his, unable to pull away. I smiled awkwardly.
‘It doesn’t hurt that much.’
The palm scar, being from the dream, caused no real pain and had mostly faded.
“My wife, would you like to visit the Blanchet estate with me?”
“The Blanchet estate?”
“It’s about time to inspect the land. Everyone should meet the new Duchess.”
Inspecting one’s estates was a noble’s duty and right, much like a lady overseeing her household. In the original story, I wasn’t the true duchess, so there was no need for me to inspect. This change in the story had both positive and problematic implications.
‘It’ll be harder to use my original knowledge…’
A deep worry rose in my heart.
‘Can I do this properly?’
The people of the estate would show raw emotions, unlike the Blanchet household. Johan couldn’t control them all.
‘They’ll probably hate me just for being from Libertan.’
Johan placed his large, warm hands over mine.
“What’s there to worry about? I’m here.”
He kissed my hands, as if to soothe my worries.
“If it’s too much, we can go later. It doesn’t have to be now.”
“No, let’s go now.”
I couldn’t avoid it just because I was scared. The story would continue to diverge from the original.
“I wasn’t used to meeting many people. My body is weak, so I’ve never left Libertan before.”
Johan looked at me for a moment, his lips curling slightly in a bittersweet smile.
“Yes, you’ll experience everything you’ve never had the chance to before.”
Even though I said Libertan, Johan showed no anger, only sadness.
“I won’t let your time be wasted.”
“….”
“Of course, you’ll continue being with me.”
It seemed Johan had prepared something in advance.
‘Why do I feel so scared?’
Something told me whatever he prepared wasn’t normal.
Meanwhile, deep inside the dark temple
It was a secret place no ordinary priest could enter. A few candles barely illuminated the darkness. An elderly priest sighed.
“The Duke of Blanchet has requested a priest.”
“What is he planning?”
“I don’t know. He claims it’s for treatment, but who can guess his intentions? We don’t even know who to send there.”
The Blanchets had never been on good terms with the temple. The priests secretly wanted to punish the cunning criminal who even defied the gods, but there was no way to challenge such a powerful duke. This request left them unable to assess the situation properly.
“Don’t worry too much.”
A clear, glassy voice came from beyond the tent. A woman slowly appeared. Golden hair like the sun, deep blue eyes like a lake—she looked incredibly fresh and pure.
“Estella!”
Estella Libertan, the daughter of the Libertan ducal family, long thought dead. She smiled gently, looking at the worried priests.
“I will go.”
The high priests tried to stop her with worried voices. They couldn’t risk sending Estella, who had been secretly preserved as a saint within the temple.
“…Saint, it’s too dangerous.”
“Exactly. There’s no need for a saint to go somewhere so perilous.”
The saint had been safeguarded since the extinction of the Libertan ducal family for treason. Only through careful protection had Estella survived safely. The fearsome Duke Johan couldn’t revive the dead, so the fake had taken her place.
“That’s why I must go.”
Estella’s long lashes trembled as she spoke softly, her voice full of resolve.
“I am the one who should be there.”
The true daughter of the Libertan family had survived. The fake held her place, but she alone carried the noble blood of Libertan and was thus rightfully the Duchess of Blanchet.
“The Duke of Blanchet defies even the gods, Saint.”
“You cannot send the precious saint to such a dangerous place.”
Estella smiled gently at the priests. Her clasped hands and delicate presence were like a tragic heroine.
“This must be a trial from the gods. I will become the true wife and change him.”
Johan’s cruelty stemmed from the real Estella not having atoned. She had heard rumors of the duke’s wife while in the temple.
‘Unfortunately, she was a fake…’
The Duke of Blanchet had not yet known love. Only she, the true bloodline, could accept and release his heart. Therefore, Estella had to go. Her atonement alone could save him.
‘Only my atonement as a saint can save this sinful man.’
It was time to reclaim her place as his wife.
