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Chapter 3
“I have indigestion.”
Dressed in thick clothes, I sat in the garden, sighing and feeling miserable. The snow had fallen so heavily that it was piled up to my knees.
Fortunately, they seemed to have cleared a pathway using magic stones, so walking wasn’t too difficult.
The scenery before my eyes was truly beautiful. If it weren’t for the situation that was about to unfold, I would have enjoyed this moment.
Even though it was cold enough to freeze the flowers, they were blooming quite brightly and freshly.
Come to think of it, when on earth was I moved here?
Although it was a mansion somewhat away from the capital… hadn’t I heard that it was meant to be the marital home? Since the carriage went straight according to the map Isabel gave me, I couldn’t know the exact location.
Even so, as soon as I arrived, I was guided directly to the room by an escort, spent a hot first night with him, and seemed to have fallen asleep before I knew it.
And when I opened my eyes, I was at the Grand Ducal Residence. Unless I was so fast asleep that I didn’t even notice being moved, it made no sense.
“Aaaaagh! Isabel!”
Why on earth did you trick me and make me marry him?
She must have judged based only on rumors without even looking at Cedric’s face, just like in the original story.
Even though I gave her hints right beside her that it wasn’t me.
Could it be that she thought this was a signal?
Did she think I held feelings for him in my heart and sent me in her place?
Thinking about it, that seemed the most reasonable explanation.
“What should I do? I need to figure something out.”
I had to use whatever means necessary to smoothly get a divorce before being dumped.
I tried so hard to avoid Cedric just to escape the miserable fate of having a husband who affairs and abandons me after marriage!
Yet, kept beside such a handsome man with a great body, I couldn’t trust myself not to give him my heart. Therefore, no matter how much I thought about it, the only answer was divorce.
I brought up the topic to notify Cedric that we would be using separate rooms. I was also planning to subtly bring up the story of divorce.
“Excuse me…”
He looked up at me while turning document pages in his office.
“Is there something you wish to say?”
“No matter how much I think about it, I don’t think maintaining this marriage is right.”
“…”
A strange light flashed in Cedric’s blue eyes. He set down his fountain pen and rested his chin on his hand. Under his staring gaze, the inside of my mouth dried up completely.
“So, you are asking for a divorce from me?”
“…If that is possible.”
“It is impossible.”
“The marriage registration shouldn’t have been properly processed yet, and considering what my father said…”
Cedric pulled out a piece of paper from inside a drawer and showed it to me.
“I was told to prepare the documents urgently, so it has already been approved. Wasn’t it you who said a wedding ceremony was unnecessary?”
I mean, I wasn’t the one who said that!
“Above all, there is also a letter sent from the imperial family. Claire Anne Rose, isn’t that your name?”
He placed the letter on the desk. I carefully stood up from the sofa and approached the side where the letter was. Then, I gently opened the letter he handed me, narrowing my eyes.
‘It’s really written under my name? And my father’s seal is stamped on it, too…’
This is definitely Isabel’s doing. Did she hate marrying Cedric that much?
My head felt dizzy, and I let out a sigh.
“Marriage is a promise. Therefore, it cannot be broken. If you deem me lacking, I will make an effort.”
Cedric spoke to me without changing a single facial expression. I couldn’t tell if he even had emotions at all. Is he just thinking that since we’re married, we might as well protect this relationship first?
When it’s a relationship that won’t be kept anyway. Faced with his fortress-like composure, I had no choice but to step back.
“Rather, I do not understand your attitude. Wasn’t it out of curiosity that you secretly followed me at the palace?”
“Th-That was! I was just curious about the man Isabel was going to marry. It was simple curiosity!”
“Then you can just keep watching with more curiosity from now on.”
We were going in circles. He seemed to have no intention of divorcing. I thought he would readily agree to a divorce since he wouldn’t like this marriage either, but could there be a reason?
“Is there perhaps a reason why you cannot divorce me?”
“There are many reasons. The biggest reason is that I am not a light man to break a marriage that took place just a few days ago.”
“…On the contrary, a divorce from me might grant you an opportunity, Grand Duke. Like turning Isabel’s heart around.”
“I have no interest in the heart of someone who gave me away to another person because she hated marrying me.”
Cedric stood up with a clack and looked down at me.
“Even if you do not like this place, it cannot be helped. From now on, this will be your home, so please settle your mind here.”
“It’s not that.”
“I am busy with work, so would you please step out?”
“…”
Ugh. At his explicit dismissal, I had no choice but to leave the office.
“I don’t understand.”
Cedric brushed his hair back and let out a sigh. What on earth was she so dissatisfied with that she was desperate to get a divorce?
It hadn’t even been a week. In fact, since she intentionally avoided him after the first night, they hadn’t even properly touched each other. Part of it was that he couldn’t go to the room because he was busy, but her behavior of mentioning divorce every time she saw him triggered his stubbornness.
‘What on earth is she thinking?’
He got up from his seat, crossed his arms, and looked out the window. The sight of Claire, bundled up in thick clothes and waddling around the garden for a walk, caught his eye.
“She acts like that because she doesn’t know how much is riding on this marriage.”
It was said that she was an illegitimate child whom even the Emperor paid no attention to. Originally, his marriage partner was supposed to be Isabel, but whether her mind changed or not, the imperial family sent a letter. They added that they wished for the marriage to be conducted quietly without commotion.
It didn’t matter who sent it. Whether he married Claire or Isabel, what was given to him remained the same. In fact, Claire, who received no attention from the Emperor, was better for him. If he had married Isabel, surveillance would have only increased.
‘Or is even this instructed by the Emperor? To make me break the promise?’
If the marriage breaks, the freedom of the North that was guaranteed would return to square one. That was something that must never happen. Hadn’t he done everything the Emperor wanted for the sake of freedom all this time?
‘Divorce is absolutely out of the question.’
He steeled his resolve once again. No matter what she was thinking, he decided never to back down.
“Your Grace, Grand Duke.”
“Ah, Carven. Have you finished the task?”
“I have dealt with the monsters in the forest. However, Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, seemed quite upset. Did something happen?”
“Nothing happened.”
Carven scratched his head and nodded. Even while doing so, he looked at Cedric, who did not take his eyes off the window.
“I was worried, but it seems Her Grace, the Grand Duchess, quite likes this place.”
“…Likes it?”
That couldn’t be. She had looked full of dissatisfaction ever since the first night. He pulled the curtain shut with a snap and sat down in his seat.
“Yes, she marveled that she didn’t know the North could be so beautiful. Her eyes were sparkling as she looked around the garden.”
“You seem to have gotten friendly already.”
“She approached me first and asked various things, so while talking, it turned out that way. She said she wants to go to the forest tomorrow, too.”
Hahaha. Carven laughed boisterously while scratching his head. At those words, a shadow fell over Cedric’s face. Listening to it, it seemed he was the only one she was dissatisfied with.
Thinking that way made his mood sink even lower. Cedric narrowed his brows and focused on his work, turning the document pages.
“At first, I wasn’t in a good mood because you ended up marrying someone other than Imperial Princess Isabel, but I actually like that Lady Claire came instead.”
Carven spoke without losing his smile. It was not a gaze of disregard; he genuinely liked seeing her take a liking to the North. Although he had anticipated the ability they would gain by marrying Imperial Princess Isabel, hadn’t they gained much more through the marriage with Claire?
Therefore, Carven thought there was nothing to regret from the Grand Duke’s perspective. Since he always carried the words on his lips that it didn’t matter who he married.
‘I wonder if he knows the emotion called love. He probably doesn’t.’
A man who had never even met a woman might view Claire as a stone, but he certainly wouldn’t hold her in his heart.
“Your Grace, still, you must treat her well. Kindly, that is. How about taking this opportunity to go to the forest together with her tomorrow?”
“Why should I do that?”
“Because she is your wife from now on. Take this opportunity to share a bit of conversation. She must be lonely, staying all by herself in a place where there is nothing. Besides, frankly speaking, don’t you look intimidating, Your Grace?”
“…Huh?”
“Since you don’t smile, you can’t help but look scary. It would be trouble if she runs away, wouldn’t it?”
“Keep talking.”
“…I suddenly remembered work I need to do, so I will take my leave now.”
Noticing Cedric’s rapidly darkening expression, Carven quickly escaped the office. Cedric quietly turned his head and looked at the mirror placed on his desk.
“…”
Raising the corners of his mouth, he stared at his own appearance for a long time, only to flip the mirror upside down soon after.
He couldn’t even properly remember when the last time he smiled was.
“Doing such a foolish thing.”
Distorting his face completely, he left the office. Feeling frustrated, he couldn’t concentrate on his work at all.
