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chapter 83
“Excuse me? You’re coming with me?”
Derick seemed a bit surprised at the suggestion.
“I have something to say to His Grace the Duke. Since he won’t come home, I have to go to him.”
I wanted to finish the divorce quickly. I had to return to being the version of myself that only wanted the divorce and live the life of Serrett Inohater, entirely separate from Yuhan.
There would be no miserable life of being abandoned, cast aside, or killed in this life. Yuhan would pursue his happiness, I would pursue mine, and everyone could live in happiness without causing anyone misfortune.
That was enough for Serrett.
“Well…”
Derick hesitated, adjusting the suitcase he was holding.
He knew Yuhan’s personality, so he felt uneasy. If he took the Duchess without permission, Yuhan would be furious.
Honestly, he wanted to bring the Duchess. These days, the Duke exuded such a cold aura that it was almost impossible to speak to him. If the Duchess were nearby, perhaps the Duke would soften.
“It seems I’ve put Assistant Derick in a difficult position. Don’t worry about it. I’ll visit him separately later.”
Seeing Derick’s awkward expression, Serrett felt a pang of guilt and spoke.
“…Then let’s go quickly.”
Leaving Assistant Derick behind, Serrett headed back toward the stairs.
“No, let’s go together. I’ll escort you.”
At that moment, Derick stopped Serrett. He couldn’t just leave the Duke like that. Believing that marital issues should be resolved through conversation, Derick mustered his courage.
Serrett turned to look back. Seeing that the discomfort had left Derick’s face, she decided not to refuse.
“Then just a moment. Wait here for a little while. Have some dinner while you wait. I’ll be back soon.”
Serrett hurried up the stairs.
Entering her bedroom, she went to the wardrobe to choose her outfit. She wanted the most beautiful dress. This time, she wanted a proper farewell—not a cruel, tragic separation like in her previous life.
As she pulled out a peach-colored dress, Hannah entered.
“Ma’am, where are you going?”
Hannah’s eyes widened as she saw Serrett holding the dress.
“Hannah, call Eve. I need my hair done.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Hannah quickly left the bedroom.
Shortly after, Eve entered.
Serrett, struggling slightly with the peach dress, looked at Eve and Hannah as if asking for help. The two smiled and helped her into the dress.
“Where are you going?”
“To His Grace the Duke.”
“Did His Grace ask to see you?”
Eve asked as she helped pull Serrett’s hair out from inside the dress.
“No. I’m barging in myself.”
Serrett smiled and went toward the vanity.
Sitting at the vanity, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She wanted to appear confident when discussing the divorce—as if it were nothing.
“I want to look more like the Duchess than ever before.”
“Yes.”
Eve nodded, understanding what she meant.
Eve carefully styled Serrett’s hair and applied her makeup. She looked elegant enough to attend a royal ball at that moment.
Serrett put on the pearl necklace Yuhan had given her. The leash he had placed around her neck—it was time to cut it and live independently of him.
Once ready, Serrett left her bedroom. As she entered the lobby, Assistant Derick greeted her politely.
Together, they headed to the hotel where Yuhan was staying.
Upon arrival, Derick escorted Serrett to Yuhan’s room. Standing at the door, he turned to Serrett.
“We’re here.”
Serrett stared at the firmly closed door. The thought of seeing Yuhan made her nervous.
“Go in and wait. His Grace will be here shortly.”
“Thank you.”
Serrett followed Derick into the room.
The spacious sitting room was the first thing she saw, with a bedroom to the right and what seemed to be a dressing room beside it. Imagining Yuhan and Lydia living here together, Serrett bit her lip.
Derick entered the dressing room, then came out to say he would leave first.
“Thank you, Assistant Derick. Take care.”
After seeing him off, Serrett looked around the room and sat on the sofa, waiting for Yuhan.
The only sound in the quiet room was the ticking of a clock. Her heart raced faster than usual as she sat upright.
What expression would Yuhan make when the divorce was brought up? Would he confess his love for Lydia? And how should I react?
Her thoughts were chaotic when she heard the door open. Startled, she stood.
The door slowly opened, and her heart pounded. She clasped her hands together and straightened her posture, her face tense.
Yuhan entered, expressionless. He froze when he saw Serrett inside.
“Serrett.”
Yuhan muttered her name in a daze.
“Your Grace.”
Serrett lifted her lips slightly in an awkward smile.
Yuhan closed the door firmly and approached her, unable to hide his embarrassment.
“Why are you here?”
Yuhan asked in a dry tone.
He wasn’t ready to face his wife. It was ridiculous that he had to summon courage to meet her, yet strangely enough, he did.
“You never come home, so I came.”
Yuhan’s obvious displeasure pricked Serrett’s heart, but she kept her composure, speaking lightly as if joking. She wouldn’t be hurt anymore.
“….”
Yuhan avoided her gaze, staring elsewhere.
A brief silence filled the room. Serrett bit her lip as Yuhan refused to meet her eyes.
“Before it gets too late, let’s not delay.”
Finally, Yuhan spoke.
“Are you sending me away?”
Serrett gave a bitter smile. She had come to part properly. This time, she hoped to leave without causing pain. She wouldn’t get in his way in life.
“I’m tired.”
“I have something I must say to Your Grace.”
“….”
Yuhan finally looked at her, but soon averted his eyes again.
“Please give me some time.”
Yuhan seemed to want her to leave, but Serrett ignored his wish and sat on the sofa.
He sighed lowly and reluctantly sat opposite her.
“What do you want to say?”
Though seated across from her, Yuhan still avoided her eyes.
Serrett looked directly at him.
“Do you remember what you said before? That if you fell in love with someone, you would quietly leave their life?”
“….”
Yuhan nodded silently.
“I mean it. It’s still valid.”
“What do you mean?”
Yuhan frowned. Was she saying she would leave his life?
“I’ll quietly leave your life, Your Grace. Just like I promised.”
Serrett clenched her hands on her lap. She realized her reason for returning might be to properly resolve her relationship with this man.
The god’s mercy allowed her to organize her heart and not be cruelly abandoned by the man she once loved madly—just like Hopos in the painting in Yuhan’s study, who returned to the past to save himself from suffering.
“Serrett.”
Yuhan stared at her in silence for a moment.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
Serrett calmly brought up the topic.
The word froze Yuhan in place. He held his breath for a moment.
“Divorce?”
“You suggested it first, Your Grace. You said we should divorce.”
Yuhan’s head spun. Right, he had said that.
“I agree. Let’s divorce.”
“You must have come all this way wanting a divorce.”
Yuhan’s face grew cold. The fact that Serrett came here in the middle of the night to discuss divorce drove him nearly mad. She was a woman who married intending to divorce. His fists clenched.
“You brought up the divorce first, Your Grace.”
Yuhan’s sarcastic remark made Serrett frown slightly.
“You must have been excited. Always so eager to divorce.”
“Don’t mock me.”
“How much alimony would you like, madam? Would 170,000 Lupin satisfy you?”
At that moment, the door suddenly burst open.
Both Yuhan and Serrett, faces marked by past wounds, looked at the door. Lydia stood there.
Lydia stood at the doorway, tears streaming down her face.
“Yuhan.”
Seeing Lydia’s sorrow, Yuhan jumped up, shocked.
Serrett’s gaze shifted from Lydia to Yuhan. Her eyes, looking up at him, shimmered with sadness.
“Miss Elliott.”
Yuhan called Lydia, puzzled, and approached her.
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong, Yuhan?”
Lydia, sobbing, hugged Yuhan’s waist.
As Yuhan tried to separate her, Lydia delivered unexpected news.
“The Emperor has passed away. Father… the Emperor has passed away.”
