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Chapter 29
Looking at Radian, who had flinched in surprise, Michael let out a clear, refreshing laugh. From the hand Michael was holding, a cool energy gradually spread through her body. Warm water touched Radian’s body even though she was still fully clothed. The water didn’t soak her clothes at all, yet it thoroughly washed her, then instantly evaporated. Even her makeup disappeared completely, revealing a face that had been strikingly seductive moments ago, now returned to a youthful appearance.
“Wow… amazing….”
Radian, who had been pouting earlier about being teased, had already forgotten all about it and was now examining her refreshed body. Her clothes had also changed from a dress to the robe provided at the inn. She felt like Cinderella after midnight.
Ah, magic really is the best.
Her skin, now completely dry and fluffy, carried a faint scent of soap. Radian kept sniffing herself before stretching out as fatigue washed over her.
“Haahm….”
As her drowsy body sank into the soft bed, sleep came rushing in on its own.
“Ah… I was supposed to tell you….”
“Please tell me after you’ve slept.”
“Mm… is that… okay…?”
Instead of answering, Michael pulled a soft down blanket up to her chest.
“Rest well. It’s been a long night, hasn’t it?”
Even though Michael didn’t know everything, he acted as if he did. That made Radian feel comfortable. As she leaned into his gentle hand brushing away the hair stuck to her cheek, she acted a little spoiled.
“Mm….”
At her sleepy murmur of affection, Michael’s body stiffened like stone. After a long pause, he exhaled slowly, his breath finally breaking free in sync with Radian’s steady breathing.
Radian fundamentally didn’t trust people easily, but once she began trusting someone, she would show affection like this without even realizing it.
Do you even know how cute this is?
Michael gazed at the sleeping Radian for a long while, then pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“May you have sweet dreams.”
A café in front of the upscale inn “Libre.” Radian was sitting by the fireplace inside, reading a book. Since it was a weekday morning, there were only two people in the café: Radian and an employee. She was peacefully enjoying her solitude.
Ding-a-ling—
“Lady Radian!”
Hearing her name called, Radian looked up and scanned around like a meerkat. From the direction of the sound, Wendy came running toward her, her face full of worry.
Rustle—
Radian also threw her book onto the table and ran toward Wendy.
“Wendy!”
Wendy, overwhelmed with worry, initially ran toward Radian but quickly regained her composure and slowed down. Radian, however, did not stop and ran straight into her arms.
“What on earth happened…?”
Wendy spoke in a trembling voice as she awkwardly smiled at Radian. Her tone was full of concern, and Radian felt warmth spread in her chest.
“It’s nothing serious. I’ve decided to get a divorce.”
“W-what!?”
Though Radian said it casually, the meaning was shocking.
“D-divo-divorce?”
“Yes. Divorce. Why are you so surprised? One year is already a long time.”
It wasn’t just breaking up—it was divorce. Were noble divorces that easy? Wendy, who had never been married, felt her mind spin. Instead of asking further questions, she took off her scarf and wrapped it around Radian’s neck.
“Lady Radian! How can you stand out in the cold like this? You could’ve caught a cold!”
“…As expected, only Wendy cares.”
I should take her with me. Well, that was the plan anyway.
Radian hummed lightly as she felt Wendy carefully adjusting the scarf. Wendy, meanwhile, was increasingly anxious at Radian’s carefree attitude.
Radian then began explaining what had happened.
“…And that’s how it turned out.”
When she finished, Wendy’s eyes filled with tears. She grabbed Radian’s hands and began crying.
“Lady Radian…! How difficult must it have been for you…!”
Wendy imagined how much she must have suffered, taking all the blame just because she loved her husband. She felt heartbroken that she had been so close yet noticed nothing. Radian, whom she saw as younger and almost like a sister, made her feel like her heart was breaking.
As Wendy’s tears fell, Radian’s heart also ached. Having someone genuinely worry about her was a great comfort for someone who usually walked alone.
“Wendy. I’m going to divorce and go to my estate. I plan to live my life there. So….”
“Yes, Lady Radian….”
“Would you come with me? Of course, the estate borders the frontier, so it’s not exactly safe, but you’ll stay inside the castle, and I’ll make sure nothing can harm you. I’ll also pay hazard allowances regularly.”
Radian chose honesty instead of sweet words. Soon the estate would be overrun with monsters due to the emperor and duke’s schemes, but if she earned money through business and hired mercenaries, the damage wouldn’t be too severe. Ideally, she would stop it before it came to that.
Wendy hesitated.
“That’s fine.”
“Of course, it’s your decision. I’m not your master anymore—wait, what?”
“Yes. I want to go with Lady Radian.”
“R-really? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I am.”
“Even though there are monsters? You might see corpses… both monsters and humans…”
Despite frowning at the thought, Wendy remained firm.
“I’ve learned nothing useful, so until I marry, I would just continue this work. But even if I continue, I don’t think I’ll ever meet someone as good as Lady Radian again.”
“I… am a good person to you?”
Radian asked, unsure of the answer she already expected.
“No.”
Wendy answered immediately.
Radian became confused.
“Huh?”
“Lady Radian isn’t just good to me. She is good to all the servants. You treat all of us as people.”
Radian scratched her cheek awkwardly.
“Thank you for saying that….”
“When are you leaving? I’ll start packing.”
“As soon as the trial is over, so… maybe today or tomorrow?”
“Today? When is the trial?”
“Uh, what time is it?”
“11 a.m.”
“In three hours.”
Wendy’s mouth fell open.
Two and a half hours after meeting Wendy, Radian stood in front of a grand building. The enormous courthouse, built in a style reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple, was imposing enough to overwhelm anyone.
Taking a deep breath, Radian walked through the open doors.
A divorce filed by a woman was unprecedented. And even more so when it involved the famous “century love story” between a noble young lord and a baron’s daughter. Reporters rushed toward her wildly.
“Lady Radian! Please say a few words!”
“Why did you decide to divorce?”
“Is it true the reason is your husband’s unusual preferences?”
Holographic orbs circled noisily around her. Radian ignored them all and walked inside without saying a word.
Thud.
Behind the closed doors, disappointed sighs echoed. Radian took her seat.
Even though she arrived early, the gallery was packed. Tickets had been auctioned off for seats in this highly anticipated trial. People murmured excitedly as she appeared.
“That’s her.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“She looks a bit worn down.”
“She deserves love. How tragic.”
“But divorce is a bit much. She seems selfish.”
“If I lived like that, I’d divorce too. She must’ve suffered.”
Opinions were divided. Many understood her, but few thought her actions were entirely right. Radian didn’t care. She didn’t care about people who meant nothing to her.
Then she saw Michael in the crowd. Their eyes met, and he awkwardly looked away.
He came.
Realizing this, her tense body relaxed.
I’ll be fine.
As she repeated the thought like a spell, the judge and opposing family took their seats.
Bang, bang, bang.
“Silence. The trial begins.”
The judge struck the gavel. The crowd quieted instantly.
“Plaintiff Radian, please stand.”
Radian stood.
“Raise your right hand and read the oath.”
Radian glanced at the text in front of her and narrowed her eyes, then read smoothly:
“I, Radian, swear in the name of the goddess Vasana to speak only the truth.”
“…Be seated.”
The judge suppressed a displeased expression.
Radian felt her body stiffen again. The oath had been written in an ancient language—one used as the foundation of magic. It wasn’t something a minor noblewoman would normally be required to know. This was clearly intentional humiliation. The same was not required of the defendant.
So this was how it would be.
Radian looked coldly at the duke’s family, who were smiling with satisfaction.
They had bribed the judge.
The trial was clearly going to be unfavorable to her.
Radian gave a bitter smile.
This was going to be a difficult trial.
