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Chapter – 31
“This matter is still under separate investigation…”
I had already informed the Emperor of this. The mysterious incidents surrounding Baron Taylor.
Baron Taylor was not the type to make a fuss, so he hadn’t told even the Emperor. So when the Emperor learned of it this time, he was quite surprised—and thus began a proper investigation.
“Since the time Rozenny Gelas started seeing her ex-fiancé, Chesper, unusually serious incidents have occurred around Baron Fel Taylor. And now that Rozenny Gelas allegedly spoke to Chesper about her husband’s death and his estate, it seems likely there is a connection between them. We suspect the former Baroness may have intended to threaten her husband’s life.”
“Is that true?”
Since this was a divorce trial, the judge didn’t have to involve himself, but he joined in with an intrigued expression.
“Ah, no! I never tried to kill him! I just… thought maybe if I maimed him a bit, the property would all be mine. But he didn’t get hurt! He’s just ridiculously lucky, no matter what I did…”
Truly, she was empty-headed. Empty-headed with a flower garden, maybe.
This wasn’t a place to take her side or allow excuses, yet Rozenny tirelessly insisted on her grievances.
The person most frustrated by this was Baron Taylor himself. The revelation that the woman he had trusted and loved had actually attempted to harm him left his hands trembling as he sat silently in his chair.
“So you did try to harm him?”
“No! I didn’t do anything wrong! It’s fine as long as he’s okay, isn’t it?”
“Hahaha.”
The judge shook his head in disbelief at her audacious attitude.
“Anyway…”
I didn’t want to watch any more of this.
“Rozenny, they say people are punished. The greater the harm you inflict on others, the harsher the punishment. You’re about to receive just that. The fact that the man you chose over the husband who loved you turned out to be garbage is the natural consequence of your choices. So don’t harass my client, your ex-husband.”
“When did I ever harass him!”
“Everything you’re doing right now is harassing him. If this had been handled calmly, there’d be no talk of alimony—but as it stands, we will have to claim alimony from you. Right, Judge?”
The judge, who had been listening to us with interest, finally nodded.
“Indeed. Since it’s been confirmed that you are the at-fault spouse, Rozenny Gelas, you will need to pay alimony.”
“W-What…! No! Why should I pay that! I’m supposed to receive it! Do you know how hard it was being a wife? Honestly, I was so ugly that I hated sleeping beside him at night. But I endured and lived with it!”
“Stop talking nonsense.”
“No! I can’t pay alimony. I don’t have any money!”
“You don’t have no assets. You could at least sell the gifts the Baron gave you during your marriage.”
“Judge, do I really have to pay alimony? Why me? Isn’t that for people with money? Right?”
But seeing Rozenny casually call the judge “friend,” the judge shook his head again. At that moment, Rozenny finally seemed to realize: she really had to pay alimony.
Perhaps for that reason, she quickly turned her gaze toward my client, trying to appeal to Baron Taylor.
“Fel…”
“…”
“Fel! Are your ears fat too? Why aren’t you answering?”
“I don’t think there’s anything polite or pleasant to discuss in this situation.”
“Don’t be so annoyingly distant.”
“How can a person be like that?”
“If it’s difficult, you don’t have to say anything, Baron. I…”
“No. Even with her causing this commotion, I need to address her properly.”
“Yes! Fel, you love me, right? So forget about alimony or property division—can’t you just give it to me? Right?”
Now it was my client’s choice. There was nothing I could do. I had already revealed all the truths, and no pressure could force a result. Even if he gave all his assets to Rozenny like a fool.
All I could do was hope in my heart that he wouldn’t be a pushover anymore and would live for himself.
“No answer?”
“…”
“Answer me! I’m asking.”
Baron Taylor exhaled deeply before finally speaking.
“Rozenny.”
“Yes. That’s right. I’m Rozenny. The Rozenny you love and have loved.”
“Yes. I loved you. I loved you so much that giving you everything wouldn’t have been a loss. I loved you enough to not care if you loved someone else your whole life.”
She looked at him with hope in her eyes.
“Right. So you can at least give me some of the estate, right? Not all of it—just a little. Or maybe we shouldn’t divorce? Fine, since you want it, I won’t divorce you.”
Thinking she had been clever, Rozenny’s face shone brightly—completely forgetting who had filed for the divorce.
“…Now you say you won’t divorce? You used to beg for divorce, saying you wanted to be your husband’s wife, and now, knowing he had another woman and lied to you the whole time, you suddenly think staying by my side is better?”
“Why say it that way? I truly love you. If we divorced, how hard it would be for you… thinking about that breaks my heart. So don’t say bad things or think bad thoughts.”
“….”
Finally realizing the best path for herself, and how pointless the divorce was, Rozenny’s expression softened, full of yearning and tenderness. Her round eyes were endlessly gentle, soft, and loving. Of course, to my eyes, they were not lovable at all.
Seeing Baron Taylor still unmoved, Rozenny finally whispered with a trembling voice.
“I love you. I love you, Fel.”
Hearing that, Baron Taylor scoffed.
“I really love you.”
Thinking she had succeeded, Rozenny went in for another confession.
“…Rozenny.”
“Yes. Feels good, right? I said I love you—happy now?”
“No. Just pathetic.”
“What? Pathetic?”
“Yes. Your love is shallow. Truly pitiful. I never regretted loving you, but now it seems I do. You stabbed someone’s heart and sprinkled salt on it, and now you talk about love…?”
Finally realizing the reality, a sense of relief appeared on his face.
“Sorry—but no, I’m not sorry. Rozenny, let’s end this. I want a divorce. And I will claim everything I can from you. So don’t try to persuade me.”
“How can you do this to me? You said you love me, that you’d love me forever!”
“After being betrayed again and again… I no longer have the strength to hold on to you, Rozenny.”
“No! You love me. So you can’t let me go. Even if I let go, you won’t. Is this what you call love? Huh?”
Who’s talking about love to whom, exactly?
“Love, you see, even when you try to fill it, eventually it dries up in an empty glass. My love has run dry.”
“What nonsense.”
“…”
“If it’s dry, just refill it. So stop saying strange things. I’m giving you a chance—a chance to love me again, a chance to be by my side again.”
“No need for chances, Rozenny. No matter what you say, nothing will change. I will let you go.”
Truly, a gentleman through and through. If it were me, I’d have shouted every curse I knew. Yet he calmly expressed his heart. Then his gaze shifted to the judge.
“Judge. Please finalize the ruling. I want this to be over.”
Only then did the judge nod.
“Very well. The divorce between Fel Taylor and Rozenny Gelas has already been approved by the previous ruling. Now we move to property division and alimony…”
Then—
“I’m pregnant!”
