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Chapter 63
“So you’re telling me to think and say whatever I want, however I like?”
This woman, Aileen—she really looks down on me.
Just as I was about to snap back with a sarcastic remark…
All of a sudden, from behind Mera, came a very familiar voice, shouting in anger.
“Enough of this nonsense already!”
The unexpected guest left not only Mera but everyone else in the room shocked.
“Wha—wait, how did you… how are you here?”
How could an old man, bedridden with age and illness, possibly show up here?
In a wheelchair, the Duke of Bliard appeared. Mera’s face instantly turned pale.
It was as if she had never once imagined he might come. The panic on her face was plain to see.
“Stop disgracing yourself further and let’s go home.”
His voice was rasping, metallic. Mera’s hands shook violently, as though embarrassed by her husband.
“Do I need to strike you like in the old days for you to listen? Come along, now!”
As his voice grew louder, Mera finally pouted like a child about to cry and reluctantly followed after the Duke.
In his wheelchair, the Duke turned his head slightly.
When Aileen, who stood in the distance, gave him a polite bow, he inclined his head briefly in return.
The moment they got into the carriage, Mera exploded.
“How dare you come here?! You’re sick in bed every single day, and now of all places you come here?”
“The invitation was addressed to me in the first place. I am the Duke of Bliard, not you, Mera.”
“Everyone will laugh! They’ll ridicule us! A wheelchair? You can’t even walk with a cane and yet you show up in front of people in a wheelchair—waaaah!”
“Tsk, tsk. Still so immature.”
“This is humiliating!”
“Oh hush! And your tantrums toward decent people aren’t humiliating? You don’t even know what shame is—I must have failed to raise you properly!”
“I’m not your granddaughter! I’m your wife! Even if you bought me with money, I’m still your wife! And yet you keep trying to lecture me—that’s the humiliation!”
Mera flailed and screamed through tears.
The Duke watched her quietly, then let out a long sigh.
“Fine. Blame me, then. But stop that wretched crying.”
“Waaaah!”
“If you don’t stop, I’ll dismiss that Madam who supplies you with all your dresses and jewelry!”
“……”
“Tsk, tsk. It is my fault, truly. My fault for thinking you could ever behave like a duchess.”
“Then you should have married Aileen instead! Why didn’t you make her the duchess!”
“Such vulgar speech, Mera. And why drag the Archduchess’s name into this? Well… perhaps if such a capable woman had been duchess, the Bliard family wouldn’t be mocked today as hollow nobility.”
At that, Mera—who had been sobbing with her head bowed—suddenly froze.
“I see… so that’s how it is. You ruined my life, and now… now you regret it? After all this time, you regret it…?”
She muttered quietly, her eyes vacant, unfocused.
On the ride home to the estate, Mera stayed silent.
Head drooping low, looking defeated.
The Duke, watching her intently, let out a faint sigh.
“Shall I give you a divorce?”
At those words, Mera lifted her head and stared at her husband.
“……”
There was no affection in his eyes. Only dryness.
Mera knew that look well.
It was the look he gave to things that were nothing but troublesome nuisances.
“If you wish, I’ll grant you a divorce. Isn’t that why you act this way—because you despise me? I no longer wish to shield you with the name of the Bliard family.”
“……”
“As soon as we return, I’ll file the petition in court. The papers have already been prepared long ago.”
“What—!”
“I’ll give you a generous settlement. The townhouse, and two buildings in the city center, will all be yours. Sell just one of them and you’ll have enough to host banquets and live lavishly for the rest of your life.”
What—he’s really serious about divorcing me?
Mera panicked slightly.
Of course, bringing up divorce at this stage was ridiculous.
But that wasn’t the point.
The Duke spoke as though he had been planning this divorce for a long time.
Divorce now?
After draining away her youth, now he wanted to divorce her?
“Then give me the Thanatos estate.”
At that, the Duke’s face instantly hardened and twisted with fury.
“What would you need that land for!”
It was the first time she had ever seen him so unsettled—his usually dull eyes now sharply reactive.
So there’s really something hidden there? He won’t even give me a barren wasteland, yet he talks of divorce—what, for someone else’s benefit?
No.
If she had to be divorced, she would secure that land first.
There was definitely a secret buried there.
Hilius wants that land. Not some city buildings, old man.
Mera bit her lip, then suddenly smiled sweetly and slid over to cling to the Duke’s side.
“I was only joking. Why would I ever want a divorce? Without me, how would you even survive? You need someone to care for you. Others won’t know your habits the way I do.”
“Enough. Even if it’s inconvenient, it would still be better than this. You act like you spend every moment tending to me.”
“Don’t say that. I’m sorry, all right? Please, forgive me just this once. I’ve lost interest in Aileen anyway. It won’t happen again. If I divorce now, my reputation will be ruined… everyone will laugh at me.”
“…Mera, do you only ever care about how others see you?”
“Yes, I only care about appearances! That’s why divorce is impossible. If you care about me at all, you must take responsibility until you die. You said so yourself, on the day you brought me here! That I’d live as the Duchess until death—that I must act accordingly! Without the Bliard name, I’m nothing… nothing… You know it’s true. People would find out.”
Clutching at his collar, Mera trembled.
The Duke sighed again.
“With such a fragile heart, why do you behave so cruelly?”
“Because if I act kind, people treat me like a fool.”
“And so—you thought the Archduchess would be an easy target?”
“…Again. Always Aileen.”
“I’m not comparing.”
“I don’t care. Compare all you want. Just don’t bring up divorce again. I’ll behave now. Please… my dear…”
As Mera’s eyes filled with tears again, the Duke finally nodded.
“Very well. I won’t speak of divorce again.”
“Really? Truly?”
“Yes. But you must keep your word.”
“Of course! I will! …Then, let’s go to the villa for summer this year. It’s been over five years since we went together, just the two of us. You always go alone for rest. This year, let’s go together, hmm?”
Watching her fuss excitedly, the Duke nodded calmly.
And as though she had never shed tears at all, Mera burst out laughing merrily and clung to his arm.
Yes… everything was my fault.
The Duke closed his eyes wearily, thinking bitterly to himself.
That evening, the Duke and Mera returned to the Bliard estate.
Mera immediately began chattering about preparing luggage for the villa, while the Duke headed straight to his bedroom.
“Aren’t you joining me for dinner?”
“I have no appetite.”
“Going to sleep? You already slept in the carriage…”
As she tilted her head curiously, he waved her away dismissively.
He had always been a man of few words.
Mera, realizing she had only asked out of formality, quickly turned on her heel and left without pressing further.
Once in his chambers, the Duke summoned his secretary.
“You called, sir?”
“Cecil, I need to amend my will at once.”
“…Sir?”
“Arrange it discreetly, without Mera finding out.”
“Yes, sir.”
That night, the Bliard family’s lawyer came and went quietly through the back door—so secretly that even the lady of the house never suspected.
