NOCEH~08

CHAPTER~08

[Breaking News] Duke Frezen Decart Spotted on an Intimate Carriage Date with a Mysterious Lady… Who Is the Woman Who Stole the War Hero’s Heart?

“Huh?”

I had been wondering what all the commotion was about, only to find a breaking news article exclusively reporting Frezen’s so-called date.

No, seriously.

Was going on a date really front-page news?

Then again, if it involved Frezen, it was understandable.

He was the youngest Duke of House Decart, a celebrated war hero, and aside from divorcing me, he had maintained an impeccable reputation without a single notable scandal.

There were even widespread rumors that he was as unfeeling as a stone statue—and incapable in bed.

Of course news about him dating would become the hottest topic in the Empire.

So he arrived in the capital and immediately went on a carriage date with a woman?

Give me a break.

He barely had enough time to participate in the victory parade, let alone go on a date.

Still, what did any of that have to do with me?

Clicking my tongue, I neatly folded the newspaper in half.

“But Lily, why are you showing this to me?”

The more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed.

Did she really come running all this way just to tell me about my ex-husband’s article?

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

Lily shifted her gaze awkwardly.

“M-My Lady…!

Because this is serious.

With rumors spreading this quickly, it’s only a matter of time before it turns into a full-blown scandal…”

“Hah.

It has nothing to do with me.

We’ve been divorced for five years.”

“Pardon?”

“If we’re being technical, we’re complete strangers now.

Just crumple that newspaper up and use it as kindling.

This villa is freezing.

What if our Mela catches a cold?”

“L-Lady Evlyen, that’s not what I meant…!”

I casually waved my hand, ending the conversation.

I already had more than enough to deal with.

There was absolutely no reason to concern myself with my ex-husband’s scandal…

“B-But, My Lady…

Your face is right there in the article.”

Huh?

Those unbelievable words brought me to an abrupt stop.

I hurried back and unfolded the newspaper again.

Just as I thought, There’s no way…

“Aaaah!”

The enormous photograph splashed across the front page left me completely dumbfounded.

My legs gave out beneath me, and I collapsed onto the floor.

So…

I was the mysterious woman the article was talking about?

This was insane.

“Lily, this isn’t the time to stand around!

We have to stop the article or have it taken down immediately!

Contact the newspaper office!

Quickly!”

Snapping back to my senses, I scrambled to my feet.

Since it was the early morning edition, it probably hadn’t been distributed across the Empire yet.

Clinging to that hope, I hurried to contain the situation.

Not long afterward, Lily returned after sending a letter.

Her face was deathly pale.

“Lily, what’s wrong?

There’s no time.

If this keeps up, things will really get out of hand…”

“U-Um, Lady Evlyen…

Well…”

Despite my urging, Lily only forced an awkward smile.

Then she delivered unbelievable news.

“D-Duke Decart is here.

He says he wishes to see you, My Lady.”

“…What?”

Duke Decart had come here?

I was completely speechless.

Not only Lily, but all the servants who had brought the news looked flustered and panicked.

It made sense.

Very few guests had visited House Leella over the years.

Even the noble families that had once been friendly had cut off all contact after the divorce.

House Leella had become practically isolated.

And now the very cause of that isolation had shown up in person.

At my private villa, no less.

How on earth had he even found this place?

Was he here because of the article?

As if my mind wasn’t already in enough chaos, his sudden visit only made everything worse.

I took a deep breath and gathered my thoughts.

“Listen carefully.”

A solemn silence settled over the room as I addressed the servants firmly.

“Tell him I’m not here and send him away by whatever means necessary.

If you have to, tell him I went into the mountains to gather medicinal herbs.”

“Yes, My Lady!”

If Frezen had gone to the trouble of tracking down the villa where I was staying, he had to have a reason.

Whether he had come to pick a fight or interrogate me, I wasn’t about to put up with either.

With that resolve, I hurried away.

My bedroom was close to the back exit, so I planned to slip out through there.

Wait…

What about Mela?

I stopped after only a few steps.

I couldn’t help worrying about leaving her behind alone.

Frezen wasn’t the type of man to harm a child.

But considering what had happened during the victory parade, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that he might use it against us.

I decided I should take Mela with me.

Just then, someone’s hand gently settled on my shoulder.

“M-My Lady!”

Lily’s urgent voice rang beside my ear.

Assuming it was her, I grabbed the hand on my shoulder as I turned around.

“I told you it’ll be fine.

Just tell him I’m not here.

What if he finds out…?”

In that instant, my vision darkened despite it being broad daylight.

I looked up.

Standing there wasn’t Lily.

“What a shame.

You’ve already been found.”

“D-Duke…”

“Since I’ve found you, there’s no need to pass along the message.”

I stumbled backward in shock.

Now I understood why all the servants had looked so pale.

Dressed entirely in a jet-black uniform from head to toe, Frezen radiated an overwhelming presence like the Grim Reaper himself.

Even as everyone around him looked at him with fear, he remained frighteningly expressionless.

Before I could recover, his deep, even voice reached my ears.

“I told you.”

“We would meet again.”

His crimson eyes locked squarely onto mine.

“Hello, my wife.”

* * *

I quickly dismissed the trembling servants before moving to the drawing room.

“……”

Keeping a measured distance between us, we silently watched one another.

The unspoken tension felt like a staring contest.

Unable to endure the silence any longer, I spoke first.

“How did you even know I was here?”

“It wasn’t difficult.”

Which meant he had people investigate me.

And yet he acted as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I suppose not.

There’s nowhere beyond House Decart’s reach.”

Despite my sarcasm, Frezen’s expression never changed.

Seriously.

He was still as stoic and impossible to read as ever.

I decided to get straight to the point.

“You’re here because of the article, aren’t you?

The one published on today’s front page of the Imperial Times.”

Frezen nodded without hesitation.

“I assumed you’d already know.

You always made it a habit to hear the latest news before dawn.”

“……”

What was this?

Why did this feel exactly like an ex-boyfriend texting, ‘Are you awake?’ at two in the morning?

The unexpected trip down memory lane left me forcing an incredibly awkward smile.

Still, small talk between us was pointless.

I immediately returned to the main issue.

“Actually, that’s perfect.

I was just about to contact the newspaper myself.

I know this has put you in an awkward position too.”

“Awkward is an understatement.”

“Exactly.

We’ve both become victims of an unwanted scandal.

So if we could just…”

That was when Frezen calmly interrupted.

His tone was completely different from someone supposedly troubled.

“There’s no need to worry about that.

I’ve already dealt with it on my way here.”

“Already?”

I knew he was incredibly efficient, but I hadn’t expected him to move this quickly.

I couldn’t help admiring his ability to get things done.

At the same time, it stung a little.

If he had acted this fast, it meant being associated with me had bothered him that much.

“The article will disappear soon.

You don’t need to concern yourself with it anymore.”

“…That’s a relief.”

The conversation ended there.

Another uncomfortable silence settled between us.

I nervously moistened my lips.

Did he really come all this way just to say that?

“Then I assume there’s nothing else to discuss.

You should get going.”

I stood, ready to send us each on our separate ways.

But Frezen, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke.

“The unnecessary matter has been settled.”

“Now we should talk about us.”

“Us?”

I stared at him blankly, unable to understand what he meant.

Then he said something even more shocking.

“More precisely…”

“We should talk about our child.”

“What?

What are you talking about…?”

Again with this child?

I couldn’t help letting out an incredulous laugh.

But for some reason, Frezen’s crimson eyes were unusually heavy with concern.

“A letter arrived addressed to me.”

“It came from someone who knows both you and me very well.”

A growing sense of dread settled over me.

And, as always, my bad feelings proved correct.

Frezen took an unfamiliar letter from inside his jacket and placed it on the table.

Then he continued.

“And…”

“……”

“It mentioned that child as well.”

“It mentioned Mela.”