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Chapter : 37
“What is this?”
The golden seal was a mark that only members of the imperial family could use.
No matter how long Rebecca had stayed at the palace, there was no way she would have a letter sealed with a golden stamp.
“Her Majesty the Empress gave it to me.”
“Her Majesty the Empress?”
“Her Majesty the Empress gave me a few invitations, saying she wanted to host a small tea party to commemorate my stay at the palace. As you know, Grand Duchess, I have no close friends in the Empire… so the only person I could give an invitation to was you.”
‘If there’s going to be a tea party, then naturally I would receive an invitation too.’
Since the tea party was hosted by Lisiancious himself, it was obvious he would personally give me the invitation.
Rebecca seemed to sense my thoughts and spoke carefully.
“I knew Her Majesty would naturally give the invitation to the Grand Duchess, but I wanted to be the one to give it to you personally.”
Does that pure-hearted princess not realize? Lisiancious would never host a tea party for anyone in a good way.
It’s absurd to think that someone who detests the Kingdom of Estoa would host a tea party for a princess from that kingdom.
‘She’s just trying to remind me of my place.’
A princess sent as a hostage to the Empire. A person unwelcome even within the Empire.
That must be the place Rebecca wants me to know.
Could Rebecca, who had no connections in the Empire, manage a tea party attended by the Empire’s top nobles? Absolutely not.
Still, I accepted the invitation she handed me.
If I weren’t there, the attendees would only be people Rebecca didn’t know.
‘This is just pity.’
Rationalizing it that way, I smiled and responded to her.
“Thank you, Your Highness. I will be sure to attend.”
After greeting Rebecca, I took the invitation and left the Lily Palace.
“Greetings, Grand Duchess.”
‘Who is this…?’
Looking toward the sharp voice, I saw a woman with pink hair and light brown eyes.
‘I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before…’
Though I hadn’t met her before, there was a sense of familiarity.
“I am Phvia Dothena, the second daughter of the Dothena Marquisate.”
‘Ah, the second daughter of the Dothena Marquisate.’
Only then did I understand why she seemed familiar. She resembled Empress Perician, which must have given me that impression.
“Are you coming out of the Lily Palace?”
She smiled gently at me as she asked.
I quietly nodded, unsure of her intentions.
“Yes, milady.”
“Rumor has it that the princess of Estoa is a troublemaker in the kingdom. How is it that someone as esteemed as the Grand Duchess spends time with such a princess?”
I wondered for a moment if she was genuinely curious, but I quickly concluded she wasn’t.
The contempt she subtly showed toward me and Rebecca was blatant—how could anyone ignore such a look?
“Rumors tend to be exaggerated as they pass from person to person and are often far from the truth. There’s no need to concern yourself too much, milady.”
At my nonchalant words, Phvia frowned briefly but then smiled again.
“I only mentioned it because Her Majesty the Empress was worried that the princess’ arrival might cause disturbance. I apologize if it offended you.”
In the original story, there was no mention of Phvia.
She appeared occasionally as a minor character in high society, just causing trouble for Rebecca.
So I couldn’t understand why she was hostile toward me and Rebecca.
Of course, I understood that she, belonging to a faction of nobles opposing the Emperor’s supporters, would dislike me, but why dislike Rebecca, whom she had never met?
After speaking to me, Phvia bowed and walked past.
With that encounter over, I returned to the Grand Duke’s residence by carriage.
“Madam, did you have a good outing?”
“Yes. Prepare a bath for me; I want to bathe.”
“Yes, madam.”
After instructing the maids, I took off my dress and entered the bathroom.
“I will manage myself, so everyone leave.”
After sending the maids out, I immersed myself in the bath.
After some time, there was a knock on the bathroom door.
“Madam, if you’ve finished bathing, I will come in and apply oil.”
“Yes, come in.”
The maids laughed lightly as they applied oil to my skin.
“Your skin is always so beautiful, madam.”
“How can my skin be this fair and smooth?”
I laughed loudly at their compliments.
“Don’t praise me too much—it’s embarrassing.”
“Madam, what should we do with the invitation you brought today?”
“I will attend the tea party, so leave it on the desk.”
After finishing the bath, I changed into indoor clothes and went downstairs, where I saw Luciano returning from the palace.
“Welcome back, madam.”
“Thank you, Luciano.”
He said he would change clothes and asked me to wait a moment.
“Madam, will you be dining with the Grand Duke tonight?”
“Yes. Prepare the dining area; we’ll eat there.”
When the time came, Luciano came out in casual clothes instead of his formal attire.
“Madam.”
“Let’s eat, Luciano.”
We dismissed the servants around us as we sat at the table.
“I have something to say, Luciano.”
It was time to put into action what I had decided that morning.
Luciano’s business had been running for quite some time.
I assumed it would have stabilized by now.
“Go ahead, madam.”
“Divorce me already.”
At my words, Luciano set down his utensils and said nothing.
“Luciano…?”
“Why… would you say that, madam?”
He had nothing to say, and the only words he managed were a question back to me.
He looked sorrowful, as if deeply hurt.
‘Why that expression…?’
To him, I was merely a wife bound by a political marriage. Once the business stabilized, he could deal with the Seledina family without me, so it wouldn’t be a problem. Divorce should be easy for him.
“You promised me. You said that once the business stabilized, you would divorce me. Enough time has passed, so I think the business has stabilized. Am I wrong?”
Luciano sighed and drank some water at my words.
“No, madam.”
“Excuse me?”
“Although the business has started, the export volume of magical stones is still unstable, so maintaining good relations with the Duke’s family is still necessary.”
Luciano said it was too soon to divorce.
‘As I thought, I’m only useful to him for the business…’
His words confirmed my value in his eyes, and it left a bitter taste.
“I understand, Luciano.”
He picked up his utensils again and spoke to me.
“I will tell you when the business is stable. Please wait a little longer, madam.”
“…Very well.”
After that, neither of us spoke until the meal ended.
I refused to look at him and focused only on my food, so I didn’t see his expression.
Selfishly, I even wondered if perhaps he didn’t want to divorce me.
His recent behavior was very different from the early days when I first possessed his body.
But knowing he only saw me as a means to manage the business with the Duke’s family left me feeling bitter.
When Estelin asked for a divorce again, Luciano first felt anger rising.
‘She doesn’t understand my feelings and asks for a divorce…’
Then, seeing Estelin’s unwavering gaze, as if her decision was final, he could only wear a lonely expression.
When he asked why, she immediately spoke, as if waiting for him to ask.
‘The business…’
How fortunate—it was because she said the business was stable and thus asked for a divorce.
It may sound like a lie, but the business with the Seledina family was still unstable, giving him a reason to postpone the divorce.
Even after she spoke, Luciano kept watching her, but Estelin never looked at him once.
‘Does she really want a divorce from me?’
Every negative thought crossed his mind.
Even though she requested a divorce, he had thought she still loved him.
Seeing her resolutely ask for a divorce, even that certainty wavered.
‘What is she thinking…?’
Luciano could not understand her thoughts.
Sometimes she smiled at him, seeming concerned, but at other times, like now, she tried to distance herself.
“May I leave first, Luciano?”
“Yes, madam.”
Estelin bowed briefly and left the dining hall.
“Phew…”
Edgar, who had entered after her, saw Luciano sighing and asked what had happened.
“You look troubled, Grand Duke. Did something happen with madam?”
“I can’t understand what madam is thinking…”
“What did she say to you, Grand Duke?”
“She asked for a divorce again.”
“A divorce??”
Edgar’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Of course, he didn’t know Estelin had already requested a divorce before, so his surprise was understandable.
“She requested it before, but I didn’t think she was still considering it.”
“But, Grand Duke! Madam loves you, doesn’t she? How could someone like her ask for a divorce?”
Edgar couldn’t understand and kept his mouth open.
“Yes, I thought she loved me.”
‘Then the reason madam has changed is because she no longer loves the Grand Duke?’
Edgar reflected on Estelin’s changed behavior over the past few months and became convinced of his thoughts.
