I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 115

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 115

 

* * *

 

Joshua sat half-dazed in the carriage heading toward the imperial palace.

 

And for good reason, as Elodie’s sulking face was still vividly etched in his mind.

 

Not to mention the way she had personally opened the door for him while glaring at him.

 

‘I don’t think I’ll feel like talking to Your Highness the Crown Prince for a week.’

 

At that moment, Joshua had thought the world was collapsing.

 

But.

 

‘Instead, you must come find me after a week. If you don’t, I’ll be even angrier.’

 

The moment he recalled that coquettish voice.

 

Joshua covered his face with both hands.

 

A groaning voice escaped him without his knowing.

 

“Lady Elodie is… how can she be… so cute?”

 

He swore this was truly the first time he had felt this way about someone of the opposite sex.

 

It felt like someone was squeezing and releasing his heart at will.

 

This feeling of being swayed by another person’s every action, not knowing what to do, being helplessly dragged along.

 

Normally, he would have tried to control his behavior somehow.

 

Because he was the Crown Prince.

 

Because he had been taught that he must hold the initiative wherever he was.

 

But.

 

‘…If it’s Lady, it’s fine.’

 

If it was truly Elodie, it was fine.

 

And in this vast world, only she would be able to make him feel this way.

 

Finding himself ridiculous, Joshua let out a hollow laugh without realizing it.

 

Just then.

 

Joshua’s eyes sank deeply.

 

‘Expelled from the Duke’s House, he said.’

 

The social constraints that Duke Laventess had forcibly imposed.

 

Although Elodie said it was fine, it couldn’t actually be fine.

 

Having lost her status as a duke’s daughter, there would realistically be various difficulties in exercising her abilities.

 

Suddenly, he recalled the time they had carried the sacred flame together at the harvest festival.

 

‘I thought it was somewhat unfair.’

 

Elodie’s lonely profile as she muttered those words flickered before my eyes.

 

She who had to keep even the operation of ‘Bella Dress Shop’ secret, fearing interference from her own brother.

 

Women who had been bound by countless restrictions and unable to enter society until now.

 

Even she, who was once considered the most noble Lady in the Empire, couldn’t completely throw off those shackles.

 

And Joshua…

 

‘I wish Lady Elodie could be more free.’

 

Of course, it was true that his heart leaned more toward her because he had romantic feelings for Elodie.

 

However, separately from that, Joshua sincerely thought she could become a symbol.

 

Bringing new winds to the somewhat rigid Empire.

 

The expectation that she could become a role model for women successfully entering society…

 

In that case.

 

‘Couldn’t I somehow help her?’

 

Joshua’s deep contemplation lasted only briefly.

 

“Ha, really.”

 

A long sigh flowed out between his half-parted lips.

 

Unable to bear his frustration, Joshua irritably swept up his bangs.

 

‘That aside, how should I apologize to the Lady?!’

 

It couldn’t be helped.

 

Before being the Crown Prince who cared about the Empire’s development and social atmosphere.

 

Joshua was also just a young man suffering from his first experience of unrequited love.

 

* * *

 

At that moment.

 

I was sticking close to Isabel’s side, pouring out all my complaints about His Highness the Crown Prince.

 

“I mean, how could he do this to me?”

 

“Yes, that must have been quite disappointing.”

 

Isabel nodded seriously.

 

I leaned back into the sofa as if burying myself in it and pouted.

 

“Of course I know I was being childish. But His Highness said it was okay for me to be angry.”

 

Of course, I didn’t tell her about the Settler Auction House.

 

I just explained that the Crown Prince had been keeping a secret from me, and that he had only just confessed it, which made me a little sulky.

 

Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie either.

 

Isabel wasn’t someone lacking in perception, so she seemed to understand that it was a secret that shouldn’t be spoken of carelessly.

 

“More than that, Elodie.”

 

Just then.

 

Isabel, who had been comforting me for a while, carefully spoke to me.

 

“Why are you this angry, Elodie?”

 

“Huh? Well…”

 

“Of course, I think you could feel hurt about him keeping secrets. But you said you understand why he kept it secret, right?”

 

For a moment, I pressed my lips tightly shut.

 

Somehow I felt like she had hit the nail on the head.

 

Isabel continued speaking gently.

 

“But still, the fact that you’re angry… isn’t it because His Highness the Crown Prince is such a precious person to Elodie?”

 

“…That’s.”

 

“That’s right, isn’t it? If it were the usual Elodie, you wouldn’t have cared about such a problem.”

 

I stared blankly at Isabel.

 

It felt like I had been hit hard on the head.

 

“Rather, His Highness trusted Elodie enough to tell you such a sensitive secret.”

 

Isabel smiled warmly with her eyes.

 

“So Elodie should let go of your anger too. Okay?”

 

Actually, I knew it too.

 

That His Highness could have easily brushed off the matter about the auction house.

 

As a coincidence, or

 

Even so, the fact that he spoke honestly itself…

 

‘His Highness was also trying to treat me without deception.’

 

My stubbornly sullen heart finally felt like it was melting away.

 

As I nodded my head satisfactorily, I glanced at Isabel from the corner of my eye.

 

‘More than that, is Isabel okay?’

 

It was because such a question suddenly occurred to me.

 

In the original story, Isabel first becomes involved with the Crown Prince at this time.

 

After successfully getting divorced.

 

While steadily proceeding with her dress shop business, they develop romantic feelings for each other.

 

Of course, I had decided to overcome the original story, but still, just in case.

 

‘If the two of them become interested in each other according to the original story’s flow…’

 

Just that assumption alone made my heart feel like it was dropping.

 

I swallowed my dry saliva and casually threw a question at Isabel.

 

“Um, Isabel, do you have any thoughts of dating for the time being?”

 

“Dating?”

 

“Yes. Now that you’ve divorced Elder Brother, it would be fine to meet another man…”

 

As I was saying that, I flinched and stiffened my shoulders.

 

It was because Isabel looked at me with a truly serious expression.

 

“Elodie, how long do you think it’s been since I got divorced?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It’s only been a month at most. Not half a year, not a year. Do you think I’d be thinking about men at this point?”

 

Oh, is that so.

 

I became a little embarrassed.

 

Isabel shook her head back and forth.

 

“Besides, this might be a bit much to say, but the husband I lived with until now, you know. It was unpleasant in many ways, wasn’t it?”

 

…I really had nothing to say.

 

Isabel, who had silenced me with her perfectly reasonable words, concluded with a sullen expression.

 

“I absolutely don’t want to get involved with any man for the time being. I have so many other problems to worry about besides men.”

 

Isabel shrugged her shoulders lightly.

 

“Right now, I want to focus on my family and business.”

 

“Then… perhaps, if I may ask.”

 

I swallowed my dry saliva and carefully posed a question.

 

“What if you were to feel romantic emotions toward His Highness the Crown Prince, or something like that…?”

 

“…”

 

Isabel didn’t even bother to hide her displeased expression now.

 

“What’s your basis for thinking I might have romantic feelings for His Highness the Crown Prince?”

 

“Oh, no. It’s not that I have any basis for it.”

 

“Of course, I acknowledge that His Highness the Crown Prince is objectively a fine gentleman. But that’s not a reason why I should have feelings for His Highness.”

 

Yes, I’m sorry…

 

I quietly deflated at Isabel’s rational and definitive statement of facts.

 

Yet the reason a corner of my heart felt somewhat relieved was.

 

‘I don’t have to feel guilty anymore.’

 

Elodie, the villainess who interfered with the love between Isabel and the Crown Prince.

 

It seemed I had truly escaped from that role the original story had assigned to me.

 

The fact that I no longer had to suppress the romantic feelings I harbored for the Crown Prince…

 

“So from now on, don’t have such useless thoughts. Understood?”

 

Isabel repeatedly urged me earnestly.

 

I smiled brightly and nodded my head.

 

“Yes, I will.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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