KMKS 40

chapter 40

It was the thirteenth time in total. Seeing him rush over immediately at the call, it was clear that Leo still thought he was the master.

Leo quickly concluded that there was no connection between Aiden and Jace.

“This time, you really need to give me something to do, Duke,” Jace said, almost on the verge of tears.

Where had that earlier bravado gone, stomping out the door? Leo let out a sneer.

“What have you been so busy with since morning? Take off those gloves at once. I can’t even stand the sight of you.”

“I was organizing the study you messed up, Duke,” Jace replied.

He took off his gloves, and sweat dotted his forehead, proof of his effort in cleaning.

“How dirty could it be for me? You should do something about that sweat on your forehead—it’s disgusting.”

“It’s the fruit of my effort.”

“Anyway, shouldn’t the servants be the ones to clean?”

“There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing it all clean.”

Jace chuckled good-naturedly and scratched his cheek.

“Such a peculiar hobby. Tsk, tsk. Come closer. I have something important to tell you.”

Leo beckoned with a finger, and Jace stuck out his lips before stepping forward.

“Is there no way to forcibly take over the Riera building?”

“I’m not sure,” Jace replied.

“Such a half-hearted answer. You didn’t see it, but Aiden went on an inspection. He’s definitely plotting something.”

They weren’t going to give up the building willingly. It would be a long game.

“Technically, we were the first to act. We even hung a banner to provoke them, and—”

“So we’re just supposed to stand by and watch Spencer take action?”

“No, but there’s no law for that. How can we seize ownership of a building?”

So, they were expected to just stand there and watch? What a foolish answer.

Leo’s lips curled into a smirk.

“Wait. That’s actually a very good answer. If there’s no law, why not make one?”

“Eh… yes?”

Jace’s expression darkened momentarily.

“There’s nothing wrong with proposing a bill. Well done.”

Leo patted Jace on the shoulder.

“Find out what procedures are needed immediately. How many committee members’ consent is required—everything.”

“But—”

“Why so many complaints?”

Jace scratched his head, then straightened his expression, bowed, and stepped back.

‘Should’ve listened sooner. Tsk.’

Leo hated repeating himself. He wasn’t the type to speak logically, so if someone asked back or didn’t respond promptly, he took it as disrespect.

‘That woman was the same,’ he thought.

Sara. Seeing her empty gaze made him feel as if his words were completely useless.

Leo stretched comfortably. He was no longer the incompetent “Aiden Spencer.” Anyone who looked up at him would do so from beneath his feet.

At that moment, a breeze from outside caused a letter on the side table to fall to the floor.

It was a tea party invitation personally sent by Lady Cordelia.

Leo opened the invitation with a disinterested expression.

Duke, that kiss the other day was so sweet that I could not sleep that night.
In two days, I plan to host a small tea party. It will be a ladies-only event, but I hope you can come and honor the seat beside me. Then I will ask for nothing more.
We are known as lovers, and if you do not attend, people will whisper.
Ah! Of course, my father also hopes you attend. – Cordelia

Leo furrowed his brow. There was no concern or worry about him.

‘She only thinks of herself.’

Was he really of no concern to the Cordelia family, where he had collapsed before?

Sara, who was like a wooden doll, at least showed some concern.

[What are you lurking around for?]
[Your hand is…]

When she bled from the shattered glass, Sara had genuinely worried about him. She had lingered in the hallway all night, despite being told to leave. At the time, Leo had been so tense he couldn’t stand even her presence.

He shook off the thoughts. To pass the bill, he would need the Cordelia family’s power.

Above all, he needed the favor of the nobles gathered there.

“You’ve been too obedient until now. I’ll make proper use of this body.”

Even if Aiden regained his memory, he wouldn’t be able to claim this body.

“It’s even better if he can’t.”

Leo’s chilling laugh filled the room.

Sara still couldn’t take her eyes off the divorce papers. It was unmistakably her handwriting.

Embarrassingly, tears had stained the pages and dried completely.

From the calm handwriting, one could recall the feelings she had while writing them.

‘He must have vaguely realized,’ she thought, that she hadn’t been treated properly by her husband.

If he had been kind to her out of pity, it made sense.

‘Did that boy feel the same?’

The boy who had reached out to Sara when she was bullied in the orphanage.

Sara couldn’t tell him her name when he asked.

[I’m Sara.]
[Oh. It doesn’t suit you.]

The orphanage director had mocked her coldly when she first joined.

Sara had not asked the boy’s name, only observed what others called him.

‘Ron. His name was Ron.’

Sara set the divorce papers down and walked to the window, staring into the distance.

She hadn’t been able to safely look outside while in the orphanage. Avoiding the outside was her way of protecting herself.

When the boy who had once been on her side stopped coming, she never went out again.

‘He might be tired of me,’ she thought, assuming that was why Ron never returned.

Lost in thought, she didn’t even notice a petal landing in her hair.

After a while, there was a heavy knock.

“Madam, may I come in?”

It was Aiden.

Sara tried to smile but quickly stiffened her lips.

After discussing divorce earlier, such a reaction was natural.

Not knowing what to say, she fiddled with her sleeve.

“I’m sorry.”
“I’m sorry.”

They apologized simultaneously, as if by agreement.

Aiden ruffled his hair and approached Sara.

Golden hair, blue eyes. Even though it wasn’t really his body, her heart fluttered.

Guilt followed immediately.

Though she felt sorry for him, now that Aiden’s memories had returned to the Duke’s body, he might have no intention of returning to the viscount’s estate.

Sara wasn’t particularly close to her husband emotionally, and he had always desired the power of the Duke of Winston.

Besides, he seemed to have a new love—Lady Cordelia.

Sara was startled by this thought.

This was Leo’s body in front of her. Leo would surely want to fix any wrongs, and it related directly to his reputation.

‘He has to go back.’

Even knowing this, she wanted to remain his wife.

It was a hope to escape from her real husband, Aiden, which was why she wanted to hold on.

“The divorce talk was premature on my part.”

“……”

“Learning why I married him made me furious. It hurt my heart.”

“You are a good person.”

Sara was the one who should apologize, knowing about the body swap but keeping quiet.

“I sincerely don’t want a divorce… at least for now.”

Of course. He couldn’t leave her in her current precarious state.

Sara understood she couldn’t hold onto him forever.

‘…I need to prepare.’

She had to prepare for a future divorce—not from Aiden, but from Leo—before he let her go.

Aiden looked at her gently, as if aware or unaware of her thoughts.

He lifted his hand and brushed the petal from her hair.

“…There’s a petal stuck here.”

Holding the small petal, he smiled. The warmth of his gaze reached the tip of her nose.

Unlike before, she no longer flinched under his touch.

“Are you really going to attend?”

Bibi’s eyes went wide in disbelief. She quickly tucked the letter into her chest, worried Sara might change her mind.

“Yes. The earliest invitation, please.”

“Good decision, Madam! I secretly thought it a shame before. Why not use this chance to broaden your social circle?”

Unlike the cheerful Bibi, Sara couldn’t answer so easily. Her decision had other reasons.

[I sincerely don’t want a divorce… at least for now.]

She could no longer hold Aiden back. His memory had returned, and he had expressed the intention to remain her husband, at least for now.

She was glad he was here, but doing nothing and letting time pass would be unfair.

His promise had a time limit. She had to prepare to stand on her own, since he might leave at any moment.

[That day, I saw you from afar talking with Lady Cordelia. It reassured me to see you smiling, even a little tipsy.]

So, while he was there, Sara decided to be brave. She would do what she couldn’t under her husband’s shadow.

Now, Aiden didn’t stop her from doing anything. He wanted her to explore wider horizons.

For Sara, who had known only the viscount’s estate, this could be a first step outward.

That first step would be the tea party hosted by Lady Cordelia.

Sara felt guilty toward the lady, who had kindly extended two invitations despite her refusals.

“Well then, Madam! I’ll be off!”

Bibi, eyes sparkling, quickly left the room. She hurried, worried the invitation might not reach in time.

Sara watched the door close and closed her eyes.

Standing in front of people was still nerve-wracking and awkward, but this sudden change didn’t feel bad at all.