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Chapter 1
They say you should strike while the iron is hot, so the moment I arrived at the resort, I sent a letter along with the divorce papers straight to the ducal estate.
The first line of the letter was concise.
To the esteemed Duke.
We weren’t actually all that close, but for the sake of my conscience, I wrote it that way.
I made the contents sound reasonably convincing too.
That I was terminally ill, and therefore wanted a divorce.
No wonder this place is famous as the best resort on the continent. This is absolute heaven!
After sending off the letter and divorce documents, I completely erased the ducal household from my mind and spent my days enjoying myself.
How was the weather today? Perfect. Warm sunlight poured down, not a single cloud in the sky—absolutely flawless.
The scenery is incredible too. The view is outstanding. No wonder this place gets so many guests.
The room I was staying in was famous for its large windows that offered a full view of the seaside.
A huge bed, neat furniture. Delicious meals prepared right on time, plus massages, garden walks, and all the basic amenities included.
That five-star rating wasn’t there for nothing.
“If I could, I’d settle down here permanently.”
Soaking in a bubble bath, I sipped wine while flipping through a catalog from a famous luxury brand.
Escaping not only a terminal diagnosis but also the ducal household and reclaiming my freedom made me feel truly alive again.
This had to be happiness born of freedom.
“Where should I travel next?”
He was the type who would happily sign the divorce papers rather than tear them up, so all I had to do was leisurely hop from one resort to another.
Then, with the alimony I’d naturally receive in time, I could buy a scenic mansion and live there peacefully.
I don’t know. I’ll think about it later.
I placed the wine glass back on the table and puffed out my cheeks.
Sweet fantasies didn’t need to be rushed. I had more than enough time.
“Should I go to the beach today?”
After finishing my bath and changing into pajamas, I gazed out at the beach beyond the large window.
The waves shimmered in the sunlight. Whether I went to find a seashell or a conch, anything would be fun.
Knock, knock.
Who could that be?
A quiet knock sounded behind me.
Unless it was urgent, no one would come looking for me like this.
I’ll change into something comfortable first.
Since I had no idea who it was, I asked them to wait briefly and changed out of my pajamas into casual clothes.
Alright. Let’s see.
Assuming it was probably a staff member, I headed toward the door.
“Yes?”
When I opened it, a staff member was standing there politely.
“There is someone who has come asking to see you.”
“To see me? Who is it?”
“His Grace, Duke Winston.”
…Excuse me? Who?
Have I relaxed too much at this resort? Why am I hearing things?
I had sent the letter and divorce papers only a few days ago.
There was no way the indifferent man would come all this way himself.
“He really introduced himself that way?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
That should have made sense, yet something felt off—as if things were starting to go wrong.
If it really is Adrian, why would he come here?
If it was him, I was curious about his reason for appearing so suddenly.
Had he come to finalize the divorce in person?
If that was the case, it wouldn’t be so bad.
“Where did he say he was?”
“He is waiting in the lobby.”
He hated inconveniences, so he must have already prepared the divorce papers, probably accompanied by a lawyer to discuss alimony.
Otherwise, there was no reason for a man who never cared whether I was by his side or not to personally seek me out.
“Please tell him I’ll come down to meet him.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Click.
After the staff member left, I stared at the closed door for a moment.
I’ll save the beach for the evening.
Since my counterpart was the Duke of Winston, he was sure to be formally dressed. I couldn’t meet him in casual clothes.
Unlike yesterday, when I wandered around looking shabby, I chose a properly formal outfit for the first time in a while and put some effort into my appearance.
Clothes really do make the person.
Just yesterday I looked like I was heading to the neighborhood market, but now, looking in the mirror, I resembled someone on their way to a party.
Alright. Let’s go!
As if my outfit itself were a weapon, confidence surged within me.
I felt like I could face him head-on, shoulders back and unafraid.
I headed to the lobby with slightly buoyant steps.
In a corner of the lobby were two sofas with a table between them—and there he was.
I don’t know whose husband he is, but at least his face is worth looking at.
Soon to be my ex-husband, though.
Golden hair, lightly wavy like the sun itself. Deep blue eyes reminiscent of a cold sea. Immaculately pale, almost translucent skin.
And finally, his perfectly upright posture—everything about him embodied who he was.
“Madam.”
His voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time, was still as captivating as ever.
“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”
We wouldn’t be seeing each other often anymore, so a smile like this should be fine.
I greeted him with the same smile as before, as if nothing were wrong.
“I was surprised to hear you came to see me so suddenly, especially since it’s only been a few days since I sent the letter.”
I sat on the sofa opposite him and took a sip of the warm tea placed in front of me, instantly feeling more at ease.
Just moments ago I’d been worrying about what to say, but now it felt like anything would be fine.
After all, he never really listened to anything I said.
“But I don’t see your lawyer? I thought you’d come together.”
“What are you—”
Was that not it?
No, that can’t be right. You didn’t come to finalize the divorce?
I’d only asked because I didn’t see a lawyer nearby, yet he looked genuinely flustered.
“We’re getting divorced anyway, aren’t we? I thought you came to finalize things in person and then part ways.”
“……”
“Was I mistaken?”
Seeing his blue eyes waver like that made me wonder if I’d brought up the wrong topic.
“Or… did the letter and divorce papers not reach you?”
That thought crossed my mind too.
That can’t be it. It should’ve been a day or two already.
There was no way he hadn’t received them. Yet judging by Adrian’s reaction, it seemed he hadn’t come here for divorce at all, which left me flustered instead.
“I received them well.”
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Whew. Thank goodness. I was worried there’d been a delivery issue.
But then another question surfaced.
If you received them just fine, why do you look like you’re at a funeral?
Nothing about him made sense.
“I never imagined you were thinking such things.”
As he spoke, his dry lips moving slowly, my mind went blank.
Such things… meaning divorce?
I’d been thinking about that since the very first day I possessed this body, Your Grace.
“At first, I thought you merely approached me because you wanted something, making conversation for that purpose. That’s why I didn’t answer your questions.”
…Huh? But you still gave me someone to talk to.
“When you told me you lacked dexterity, I pretended not to notice it as a signal that you wanted me to provide what you desired.”
…Then what was the education opportunity you gave me?
“Even when you were ill, I pretended not to see it and walked past. I avoided you, even knowing you were trying to stop me.”
…What?
I saw you come in the middle of the night—so what were my eyes seeing then?
My head filled with question marks.
Everything he mentioned were methods I’d deliberately used to pave the way for divorce.
You interpreted it like that?
No wonder every reaction had been exactly as cold as I’d expected.
Though, thanks to that, sending the divorce papers had been easy.
Wait—
Before I could finish the thought, Adrian stood up, walked toward me, and knelt on one knee. He lifted his head and met my gaze.
“I believed, arrogantly, that you would never leave me.”
“Your Grace?”
“If you wish, I will grant you anything. Please—won’t you come back?”
Tears pooled at the corners of Adrian’s eyes.
…Was I into crying men?
I knew it was strange to think that in this situation, yet I instantly realized that his tearful face had just been added to my ideal-type list.
Stay calm. Don’t let those eyes sway you. Push through with the divorce!
Ignoring the murmurs spreading through the lobby as people watched us, I forced myself to remain composed.
“That wasn’t my intention, Your Grace. It’s just… I was recently diagnosed as terminally ill, and I thought staying by your side would only be a burden—”
As my voice trailed off, his eyes widened slightly.
It was probably the words terminal diagnosis that reminded him of something he’d forgotten.
That should be convincing enough. He’ll reconsider the divorce now.
And it wasn’t a complete lie.
I really had been terminally ill—until I found a way out and finally returned to good health.
“So please, understand my feelings and grant me a divorce, Your Grace.”
Sad thoughts. Sad thoughts!
I recalled how I’d been upset just last night after dropping my ice cream while gazing out the window, and managed to squeeze out a tear or two.
“Madam.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
The lobby fell deathly silent in an instant.
“Please speak, Your Grace.”
At my words, his expression hardened with resolve.
Then he gently pressed his forehead to the back of my hand and spoke softly.
“If you pass away, I will follow you—along with the servants.”
…Excuse me? I’m firmly against human sacrifice.
If you’re going to die, do it alone. Why are you dragging the servants with you? Your Grace, have you lost your conscience?
The thought alone sent chills down my spine.
“So please… do not abandon me, my lady.”
He begged and begged.
I never thought I’d see such a sight before dying—yet here it was, now of all times.
When I wanted it least.
This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.
No—more importantly, I’m not dying! I escaped the terminal diagnosis!
But my husband, who had no way of knowing that, looked ready to die alongside me, nothing like the man I used to know.
This is going to make the front page.
There was no rule saying reporters couldn’t visit resorts. By tomorrow morning, our story would surely be splashed across the front page of the most famous newspaper in the country.
The thought that I was drifting even farther from divorce made my mind go completely blank.
Can I really get divorced?
Standing before my tall, handsome husband, I barely managed to suppress the sigh climbing up my throat.
And so, the beginning of all this traced back to about six months ago.
