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Chapter – 29
“Hmm… I can’t say for certain. There’s no concrete evidence yet. It’s just that, according to what your wife’s previous fiancé said, she…”
If I said this, it might shake his heart. But is it right for me to unsettle him?
Would telling the truth and guiding him toward a better path be arrogance on my part? Or would it simply hurt my client, not destroy him? So many questions surfaced in my mind in a short moment, and my lips wouldn’t move.
Noticing my hesitation, Baron Taylor smiled, his cheek trembling as if trying to comfort me.
“Honestly, lawyer, I’ve been feeling shaken recently. My wife… she’s been throwing a fit, worried that he might leave since I won’t divorce her. I love her, but that love is overwhelming.”
“Baron…”
“She torments me every single day. I thought I could endure it, but when she even drags my parents into it, treating my love as worse than trash and hurling insults, my heart is slowly cooling off.”
Is he trying to draw words out of me? Or is there another motive he’s hiding? I looked at him with curiosity, and his eyes, as if truly weary, glistened with moisture.
“Ah…”
“I want to know everything. I said I wouldn’t divorce, but now… I don’t know. What I thought was a firm heart may have only been solid on the surface, crumbling like a sandcastle.”
Hearing him speak like this, I could no longer refuse.
‘The choice will be yours.’
All I could do was provide the information.
“Then I’ll tell you. Your wife reportedly said that if her husband died, all his property would go to her.”
I’m not sure if Baroness Rozenny truly intended to kill her husband at that time. But Chesper, who had experience manipulating widows, likely guided her in that direction. He already knew what benefits he could gain from a widow. Considering what happened to Baron Taylor, it seems Rozenny ultimately decided to kill her husband.
“…She really said that?”
He trembled in surprise at my words.
“So that’s why you asked me, just in case…”
Had luck not been on his side, he might have been dead too.
“So that’s why you were asking me about these things.”
“Yes. Given the circumstances… it’s quite suspicious.”
“I see. Even if I want to say it’s not true, even if I want to deny that my wife would ever do such a thing… it seems she… might have.”
He let out an awkward laugh.
“After that, no matter what she did, I didn’t die… so now, she just wants a divorce. Does she think that if we divorce, my property will go to her?”
“Maybe. Or maybe not. But the likelihood is high…”
I trailed off.
‘Or maybe she’s really that foolish, thinking she can just get Chesper if they divorce. She doesn’t even know the man she claims to love so much.’
Baron Taylor, listening to all this, let out a hollow laugh. I felt a twinge of guilt.
“I’m sorry. I think it’s right to follow the client’s wishes… but after getting this information, I can’t ignore your desire not to divorce, Baron. It weighs on me.”
In truth, I wanted him to divorce. That’s why I acted to gather information. And, unsurprisingly, I uncovered a fatal truth.
Even before knowing the truth, I honestly viewed her with suspicion. She had shamelessly hurt my client. But at least back then, I thought Rozenny might have other circumstances and that she would likely prioritize my client’s wishes. But not anymore.
“So, I hope you get divorced. Baron Taylor, you are someone precious.”
“…”
“Of course, first love can be painful. But… don’t let yourself get hurt anymore.”
“…”
“As a divorce attorney, my original purpose was to defend your wishes regarding the divorce. But now, it’s not about defense. I actually want to recommend that you file for divorce. If my firm stance as your lawyer makes you uncomfortable, I will resign.”
This was the best I could do. Ironically, as a lawyer, I was quite unfit.
“No.”
“Pardon…?”
“I came here thinking that maybe letting her go would be better for her. But… this is ultimately a choice for me. Let’s proceed with the divorce trial. I won’t hold back any longer.”
“I worry I might have pressured you unnecessarily.”
“No. I’ve made my own decision.”
When he first spoke about his wife, he looked happier than anyone. But now, he seemed far from happiness.
“Understood.”
There was no reason left to hold back. That day, I formally submitted the divorce application to the court.
And two weeks later, the divorce trial between Baron Taylor and Rozenny began.
Outside the courthouse, I met Baron Taylor.
Two weeks had left him shriveled like a dried squid. Seeing me, he awkwardly lowered his head.
“You’ve lost so much weight!”
“Just some emotional strain. Ah! Don’t worry. My mind hasn’t changed.”
“Yes. And Baron Taylor, you’ll hear some unexpected things today. Don’t let them hurt you. In the divorce process, people are quick to expose each other’s faults to pull the other down.”
His expression grew infinitely lonely.
“Yes. While I refused to divorce, she said many things trying to persuade me.”
“Baron…”
“That’s fine. Whatever she says, I can handle it.”
When speaking of Rozenny, he had always shone brightly, like a star—but no longer. Love always has an end. Eternal love, eternal happiness—those don’t exist.
Even if they did, eternity would start with mutual compromise and the shedding of selfishness. But Rozenny completely abandoned the relationship for her own happiness, mercilessly trampling on the man she held captive.
“Then let’s go.”
I waited a moment for him to collect himself. Just then, someone confidently approached and threw an arm over his shoulder.
It was the Emperor.
“Why are you here?”
“It’s my dear friend’s divorce trial and the day to prove yourself to me. I had to come. Right?”
“…”
“Now, everyone, let’s be strong. And Ravel, don’t feel pressured. If things don’t go our way, we can just… take care of that woman later.”
“No…”
Can’t you see Baron Taylor’s sad expression under your arm? But the Emperor’s gaze stayed fixed on me, his friend’s troubles aside.
“Hah… but if you don’t apply for an audience in advance, you won’t be able to see it.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve done that already.”
So thorough, as always.
We had no choice but to enter the courtroom.
I had been to court dozens, even hundreds of times in a previous life, so it was familiar—but this court was new, making it both fresh and tense. Yet today was different.
Baron Taylor and I sat on the plaintiff’s side, Rozenny on the defendant’s, and even with the judge entering, there was no tension.
“Let’s begin the divorce trial.”
“Plaintiff, Fel Taylor, requests a divorce from Rozenny Taylor.”
“Defendant.”
“Yes! I also want a divorce!”
“There’s nothing really to dispute. Therefore, the divorce will be granted without a separate trial. Fel Taylor and Rozenny Taylor find maintaining the marriage difficult, and both parties have agreed. The divorce application is accepted.”
That was it. The divorce, which took so much effort to reach the courthouse, was over in an instant. The clear sound of the gavel echoed through the courtroom.
The judge organized the paperwork naturally, and we did the same. Rozenny, clearly confused, glanced between me and the judge.
“What about the division of property?”
“Division of property?”
“Yes! When divorcing, property must be divided! Isn’t that obvious? How can it end like this?!”
