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Chapter – 17
“Is there really a way to force a divorce regardless of Theodore’s wishes? Does such a method exist?”
Her tone sounded as if she were asking why no one had told her sooner.
At Rachel’s desperate, pleading voice, Sian’s lips curved into a smooth smile.
Because there were almost no nobles who applied for it, this law was unknown among young aristocrats. Only Sian—who had thoroughly studied imperial law within the imperial family—knew of it.
“Submit an application for annulment of marriage to the Council of Elder Nobles and the Temple.”
“Annulment… of marriage?”
Rachel’s eyes widened.
Marriage was a vow made under the names of the Goddess and the Emperor.
Just like marriage itself, an annulment required approval from both the Council of Elder Nobles and the Temple. The procedures were complicated, and the conditions extremely strict.
There was a simple reason nobles chose divorce instead of annulment, even though the law existed.
Honor and reputation.
An annulment meant that one party had committed a serious wrongdoing. That was humiliating both for the family at fault and for the family that had married into it.
Nobles, who hated stains on their honor, preferred to hush up faults and problems and chose divorce over annulment.
As a result, annulment applications became rare, and the system itself faded into obscurity.
Theodore had already committed a scandalous offense, so there was no need to argue over whether the conditions for annulment were met.
Rachel had no natal family whose honor needed protecting, nor did she need to worry about damaging Theodore’s reputation.
It was a law made precisely for someone like her.
Rachel looked dazed.
“An annulment… I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”
“If you doubt me, you may visit the Council or the Temple and confirm the law yourself.”
“No, no. I believe you. You’re the one telling me, Your Grace.”
Rachel cupped her cheeks with both hands.
An annulment of marriage—of all things!
Nothing could be better. It was far better to have never been married to a man like Theodore than to be divorced from him. The reality might not change much, but emotionally, it mattered.
Sian smiled quietly.
“Once you’ve finished your preparations, submit the annulment review request. There are many documents to prepare and the process is complex, but it won’t be difficult for you.”
“I understand.”
“Once the paperwork is accepted, I’ll ensure the annulment passes at the time you desire.”
Rachel met Sian’s gaze. His beautiful golden eyes shimmered softly.
It was a declaration. A temptation—promising to grant her wishes. Confidence that he could make it happen.
Sian d’Carchignac.
Perhaps because their first meeting had been as client and guild informant, or because he constantly lowered himself before her, the vast difference in status didn’t feel very real.
But Sian was a wise and valiant man of the imperial family, the one everyone wanted to elevate as the next emperor.
He was the emperor’s younger brother who had relinquished the throne to his greedy elder brother and voluntarily left the palace—yet he remained the empire’s one and only Grand Duke, standing at the pinnacle of the nobility.
So Graham had dated the daughter of someone truly extraordinary.
And this man would one day become her in-law.
Before gratitude, fear came first.
“…Thank you for the advice.”
“Do you not like it?”
“No. I like it very much. It’s something I hadn’t even considered. I’m truly grateful.”
“You don’t look grateful. Your complexion is dark.”
“Well…”
After hesitating, she spoke. It was Sian, after all.
“You offered to teach Graham swordsmanship, and you’ve shown me excessive kindness in many ways. To be honest… it frightens me a little.”
Sian’s chest went cold, as if struck by a snowstorm.
She feels burdened. I never imagined that.
She was intelligent—perhaps she suspected that his excessive kindness carried hidden intentions.
“I didn’t expect you to think that way. I never meant to intimidate you. I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s not that. I’m the one who misunderstood your goodwill. You don’t need to apologize.”
What should he do? He truly had no ulterior motives.
He simply wanted to help Rachel. There was no clear reason. Even Sian couldn’t properly explain his own feelings or desires.
But he knew how to make Rachel accept his kindness more easily.
“I should have brought this up first.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll help you—so you help me as well.”
As expected, a glint appeared in Rachel’s eyes.
She was someone who accepted transactions more easily than favors. That fact was both reassuring and a little sad.
“What would you like me to help you with? I’ll do whatever I can.”
“You don’t need to help me with anything yet.”
“Yet?”
“When the time comes, you must not refuse. You must stand on my side and help me.”
It was a strange request, but Rachel nodded.
“I understand.”
It was more comfortable to owe a debt she could repay someday than to accept a favor with no price.
Still, she couldn’t imagine what she could possibly help Sian with. As a Grand Duke and a guild informant, he surpassed her in connections, intelligence, wealth, power, and martial strength.
“Well, since he’s superior in every way, there may come a moment when he needs my lacking hand.”
With that conclusion, she put the thought aside.
Rachel smiled brightly, and Sian smiled as well.
“Then I’ll prepare your compensation, assuming you’ll proceed with the annulment.”
“Thank you.”
“And one last thing.”
“Yes?”
“As you know, you must be happy. That will be the greatest—and most cruel—revenge against Count Elrosa.”
Be happy?
She had never thought about that. Rachel’s goals had been only to separate from Theodore and to reunite Graham with Dolorasa according to the original story.
Sian, as if it were just a passing remark, calmly changed the subject—but the word happiness lingered in Rachel’s mind for a long time.
As Rachel left the Grand Duke d’Carchignac’s estate and began preparing the annulment documents, papers arrived at Jane’s house.
Jane’s youthful face turned pale as she broke the seal on the fine parchment and read.
[Notice]
It has been confirmed that Karl, who served as a butler for the Elrosa household, secretly embezzled the family’s assets.
The accused has confessed to all charges, and the Council of Elder Nobles has verified that the evidence collected matches the confession.
“W-What does this mean?”
Karl was an honest, kind man. Even at his own expense, he never harmed others.
He also knew well that Jane and Theodore loved each other. There was no way he would steal from Theodore’s family.
It was true that Theodore had given Jane money and expensive gifts. Sometimes at her request, sometimes of his own accord. That was all.
Jane didn’t know that the money and gifts were supposedly embezzled assets.
She simply assumed a count was wealthy and accepted what he gave her.
“This is ridiculous.”
The shocking notice continued.
Karl will be imprisoned in the Council’s prison for 150 years.
Until the end of his sentence, visits and memorial services will not be permitted.
The assets stolen from the Elrosa family will be temporarily confiscated by the Tax Administration.
After settling unpaid taxes, the remaining amount will be returned to the Elrosa estate.
“How can the sentence be 150 years? Dad is only forty! And they’re taking money he never stole? Why? Why does he have to suffer such a harsh punishment for a crime he didn’t commit?!”
What she had done with Theodore at the banquet was shameful even by Jane’s own standards.
Theodore had said he was preparing an important banquet. He bragged that sneaking Jane inside would be easy.
She wore servant’s clothes and slipped into the venue as instructed.
Pretending to work, she later met Theodore at their agreed location.
The music, the beautiful hall, the alcohol, her handsome boyfriend—everything was perfect.
Love flared, boiled over, and Jane gave herself to Theodore.
She never dreamed they would be discovered.
She was ashamed and humiliated. Even a normal relationship would have been embarrassing—but Theodore had a wife.
Jane hid and cried for days. She felt hurt by her boyfriend’s silence, but her father comforted her, saying he must be in a difficult situation too.
She wished they could just wait until her heart settled and things quieted down—but unfortunately, Karl had a job.
“I’ll be back shortly. I need to take care of urgent matters at the estate, then I’ll take a long leave. The master will understand. He loves you, doesn’t he?”
She hated being alone, but there was no choice. Karl was the caretaker of the home of the person he loved.
But Karl, who said he would be right back, never returned. Days passed with no word. And then this calamity struck.
Restlessly pacing the house, Jane finally prepared to go out.
She had to meet Theodore. She needed to hear the whole story from him.
Jane hated the Elrosa estate. It was the home of the man she loved—but also the home of the wicked woman who stood between them. It felt like the tower of a witch imprisoning a prince.
But she had to go.
Something must have happened to Theo. That witch must be keeping him from me.
She requested a visit at the Elrosa estate. If the witch were there, she would be turned away—but if the countess were absent, she might see Theodore.
Thankfully, her visit wasn’t refused. She sighed in relief and stepped inside.
Thinking of seeing her lover again made her heart flutter. All the sorrow, resentment, and fear surged up inside her.
Creeeak—
But when the massive doors opened, it was the witch who appeared.
“Hello, Jane. We keep meeting, don’t we?”
At the sight of Rachel standing confidently with her arms crossed, Jane felt a jolt of fear.
Wasn’t she supposed to be away? Where is Theo? Where is Theodore?
She looked around, but Theodore was nowhere to be seen.
She wanted to run.
No—if she wanted to save Theodore, she had to be brave.
“…Hello, my lady. I came to see Count Theodore Elrosa.”
Rachel smiled.
“Why are you looking for your boyfriend here?”
In that moment, Jane realized she had walked straight into the jaws of a tiger.
