I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 15
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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 15
“Um, Sister-in-law.”
After pondering for a while, I cautiously called out to Isabel.
A calm response came back.
“Yes, Miss.”
“First, I’m sorry for butting in carelessly. Watching it made me a little angry…”
No matter how good my intentions were, she might have felt hurt in her pride after being shown such humiliation.
But Isabel readily shook her head.
“No. I know well that you were trying to help me, Miss.”
“…That’s.”
“You never asked me to make doll clothes in the first place, did you?”
A faint smile spread across Isabel’s lips.
“If it weren’t for you, Miss, I would have been scolded much worse. Thank you.”
Isabel, who had expressed her gratitude to me, quietly gazed at the doll clothes in my hands.
Her eyes looked rather lonely.
“I really should stop making those trivial doll clothes by now.”
I stared blankly at Isabel.
‘Ah, there’s that expression again.’
That dejected face without any hope for the future.
A voice like a sigh flowed out.
“Why am I being so foolishly stubborn…”
“No, you’re not!”
I reflexively raised my voice.
“Huh?”
Isabel looked at me with surprised rabbit eyes.
I held up the doll clothes high so Isabel could see them clearly.
“Look at this.”
Even though it had been trampled and crumpled under Marisa’s feet.
The doll clothes were still beautiful.
“Sister-in-law made this with love. How is that being stubborn?”
“Miss.”
“Rather, I thought it was very admirable.”
Isabel blinked her eyes blankly.
“…Admirable?”
“Yes. You found something you’re good at and continue it as a hobby.”
I desperately continued speaking.
“What I mean is, the doll clothes Sister-in-law made are really pretty, aren’t they? Your craftsmanship in making those clothes is truly amazing too. Also…”
Rambling on, I finally squeezed my eyes shut.
“So, I don’t think you need to quit.”
Ah, really.
I didn’t plan to end my words so vaguely!
My face felt hot somehow, and just as I was subtly avoiding her gaze.
“Pfft.”
A small laugh was heard.
‘What, what?’
I quickly lifted my head.
At the same time, the sight of Isabel bursting into loud laughter was etched in my eyes.
“Ahaha!”
Isabel laughing so brightly without any trace of worry.
How long has it been since I’ve seen such a smile?
“Sorry, sorry. I wasn’t trying to mock you…”
A moment later.
Isabel, who had barely calmed down, gently wiped away the tears that had gathered at the corners of her eyes with her index finger.
Then she gave me a gentle eye-smile.
“I could feel how sincere you were, Miss.”
“…Sister-in-law.”
“Though my craftsmanship is lacking, I’m happy that you think it’s pretty, Miss.”
Isabel’s smile deepened a little more.
However, the problem was.
‘She didn’t take my words seriously at all, did she?’
She seemed to think I was just giving her sweet talk to cheer her up.
“So, Sister-in-law.”
Therefore, I resolved to speak up.
“By any chance, are you interested in fashion design?”
“Fashion design?”
“Yes. I’m not joking – I think Sister-in-law has talent in that area.”
I thrust the doll clothes right in front of Isabel’s nose.
“Just look at these clothes. They have almost the same details as real human clothes, don’t they?”
For a moment, Isabel’s eyes sparkled like stars.
But that light quickly dimmed.
“Never mind. What could I possibly…”
At the self-deprecating response typical of a downtrodden heroine, I felt as frustrated as if I had eaten a hundred sweet potatoes.
No, I’m being serious here.
Even in the original story, Sister-in-law becomes hugely successful as a fashion designer!
“I appreciate the compliment, but that’s too unrealistic.”
Saying that, Isabel tried to take the doll clothes from me.
But I didn’t loosen my grip on the doll clothes.
“…Miss?”
Isabel looked at me with a puzzled expression.
I desperately racked my brain.
‘Right, I can understand why Isabel is hesitating like that.’
This point in time was still the beginning of the original story.
Future Isabel was destined to become a refreshing heroine who would be incredibly satisfying, but right now she was still in the buildup phase to become that strong woman.
Her self-esteem was still rock bottom, in other words.
Then I should help boost Isabel’s confidence a bit.
“Sister-in-law.”
I made my eyes sparkle brightly.
“If it’s alright with you, would you like to go out with me?”
* * *
That night.
Isabel sat on her bed, quietly gazing down at the doll clothes she had made.
The fact that David rarely came to the marital bedroom, naturally leading them to use only their separate bedrooms, was the only fortune granted to Isabel.
‘This thing, Sister-in-law made it with love. How could that be foolish?’
‘Rather, I thought it was very wonderful.’
Elodie’s clear voice rang vividly in her ears.
Why was it?
Why did those words, which should have been nothing more than empty flattery, remain in her mind for so long?
‘It’s just worthless doll clothes after all.’
Isabel quietly sat up.
She pulled out a basket that had been hidden deep inside the wardrobe.
The doll clothes that had been buried in darkness for so long finally revealed themselves under the light.
“……Already seven outfits.”
Isabel smiled bitterly.
Whenever she felt troubled and lonely, she had made them one by one as an escape.
Before she knew it, they had become enough to fill an entire basket.
‘Come to think of it, it’s been really long since I started making clothes like this.’
Count Delaney’s House was one of the most prestigious noble families in the Empire, but their wealth was modest compared to their reputation.
So before marriage, Isabel used to tailor or make her own dresses to wear.
But that process wasn’t difficult or painful.
Rather…… it seemed quite enjoyable.
‘Oh my, it’s really perfect.’
The pride she felt when her now-deceased grandmother spoke with an excited voice while looking at a bonnet young Isabel had tailored.
When she went to parties wearing altered old dresses.
The rewarding feeling when noble ladies and other ladies showed curiosity about Isabel’s dress.
‘Well, that’s all in the past though.’
Isabel’s self-mockery deepened a bit more.
After becoming a duchess, Isabel always had to live in constant anxiety, trying not to be criticized.
Still, she was honestly happy about what Elodie had said.
‘By any chance, aren’t you interested in fashion design?’
‘I’m not joking, Sister-in-law seems to have talent in that area.’
“……Fashion design.”
Isabel murmured quietly.
Even though she once lived holding needles and thread every single day, she had never once considered that direction.
However.
“That couldn’t be possible.”
She had only handled some fabric at best.
With this level of skill, there was no way she could compete with professional dress shops.
Then, would she have to continue living this suffocating life forever……?
“Hah.”
Isabel breathed roughly.
Just thinking about having to spend her entire life at the Laventess Ducal House made her chest feel tight already.
‘Let’s stop thinking about it.’
Isabel shook her head and turned off the light.
Click.
Deep darkness settled over the room.
Isabel crawled into bed and pulled the blanket over her head.
As if hiding from this suffocating reality.
‘Still, maybe I should go out with the young lady at least once.’
Although she still couldn’t tell whether Elodie’s kindness was pure or had some other ulterior motive.
Still, the only place where Isabel could breathe comfortably lately was……
‘Only by the young lady’s side.’
With that thought.
Isabel slowly closed her eyes.
Pitch-black darkness filled her vision completely.
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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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