I’ll Be the Heroine’s Competent Divorce Partner - Chapter 152
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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 152
Facing him like that, my heart swelled with emotion.
A man who was completely nervous and embarrassed, yet somehow talked about a future together with me.
A man who came at me with his whole heart.
How could I not love such a man?
That was probably why.
The reason my answer popped out without even going through my head first.
“Yes, I’d like that.”
I smiled brightly.
With this man… it seemed like spending a lifetime together would be fine.
* * *
Inside the barn that was completely dark without even a flicker of light.
A middle-aged man sat leaning against a haystack with a hollow expression.
His identity was none other than Marquis Bartsen, whose whereabouts were currently unknown.
“Ha, haha, hahaha…”
A hollow laugh flowed from between the Marquis’s lips.
It was so ridiculous he couldn’t stand it.
Everything had vanished like a mirage.
The wealth and comfort he had enjoyed as if it were natural since birth.
The attention and admiration he had received as a high-ranking noble until now.
Even the thread-thin possibility of seizing the imperial throne, all of it.
‘Is recovery impossible now? Really?’
The moment he posed that question to himself.
The Marquis’s laughter stopped abruptly.
Venom had already settled in his eyes.
“No.”
The Marquis ground his molars harshly.
“You think I’ll crumble in such a pathetic way?”
Both his brother and Joshua had been infinitely noble from birth.
And he had never once been given the chance to share in that nobility.
Wasn’t this too unfair?
Collapsing like this would only make his brother and Joshua happy!
“Right, let’s flee abroad for now. Wait for the right moment. And then…”
The Marquis, who had been muttering frantically, suddenly furrowed his brow.
“Damn it, how do I cross the border?”
Currently, a wanted order for the Marquis had been issued throughout the entire Empire.
He had barely escaped with just his body before soldiers stormed Bartsen’s Town House.
The Marquis currently had neither the large sum of money nor the manpower to cross the border.
All he had was some small funds and his body.
‘No, there must be some way.’
The Marquis desperately racked his brain.
After doing so for a while.
The corners of his lips drew a clear arc.
“Right, that wench would be perfect.”
If he didn’t have the means right now, he could create them.
If she was the most precious woman to his damned nephew, she could certainly serve as that means.
Elodie Lucerno.
That arrogant little wench who had interfered with him at every turn, and ultimately chose Joshua.
Also.
“Still… there’s one last move available.”
The Marquis rummaged in his chest and pulled out something long.
His vile smile grew even deeper.
His crouched figure looked exactly like a venomous snake harboring deadly poison.
* * *
Late at night when darkness had completely fallen.
All the employees of Bella Atelier had already gone home.
I was the only person left.
Ah, so why am I voluntarily working overtime, you ask?
Because some good news came in for once.
Well, the Grand Duchess of the Maltz Duchy commissioned a dress!
This must all be thanks to our dress shop’s reputation spreading overseas, right?
Until now we had only received domestic commissions, but it seems like we can gradually expand our commission range overseas.
As I was humming and reviewing the documents once more.
Flutter-.
A breeze from somewhere made the documents I was holding sway gently.
I looked up with a puzzled expression.
‘Huh?’
That’s strange, is there a window open somewhere?
But the seamstress who left last should have locked everything up.
“You look quite happy.”
Instantly, as if cold hands had swept down my spine, my entire body turned ice cold.
Stiffly frozen, I slowly raised my head.
In one corner of the study.
A middle-aged man who had been hiding revealed himself.
…It was Marquis Bartsen, whose whereabouts had been unknown.
“Right, after bringing about my downfall.”
Thud.
The Marquis took one step toward me.
“Playing lovers with Joshua.”
Thud, thud.
Each time the Marquis narrowed the distance, my breath caught.
“Living well and eating well… is it enjoyable?”
“…Marquis Bartsen.”
I bit my lips until they bled.
That bastard obviously hadn’t come with good intentions.
Just then, the Marquis suddenly opened his mouth.
“But you know, isn’t it still unfair?”
“…”
“I’ve lost everything, yet only you and Joshua get to live enjoying life.”
The Marquis’s eyes flashed, filled with madness.
“So I thought I’d make things a little more fair.”
The documents in my hand trembled violently.
‘Calm down, Elodie.’
I tightly gripped my dress hem to hide my shaking hands.
If I showed too much fear here, the Marquis might become even more arrogant.
Also, I mustn’t provoke the Marquis too much.
He’s already in an extremely agitated state, so there’s no telling where he might lash out.
But then.
“It seems Joshua is quite fond of you, isn’t he? In that case, I’ll have to use him too.”
The Marquis twisted his lips into a vicious sneer, then suddenly thrust a dagger toward me.
“Follow me. Or would you rather die here?”
The Marquis waved the dagger clutched in his hand threateningly.
The razor-sharp blade reflected light with a deadly gleam.
“I wouldn’t mind that either. I’ve been wanting to see that bastard Joshua despair at least once.”
At the same time, the Marquis pushed up the corners of his lips.
He burst into maniacal laughter.
“Ha, haha…!”
I carefully asked a question, being cautious not to provoke the Marquis’s temper.
“If I follow you, Marquis, where will we be going?”
“Anywhere. We’re leaving this damned Empire.”
The Marquis continued rambling incoherently.
Intoxicated by his own emotions, he seemed half out of his mind.
“Just wait and see, both my brother and Joshua! I’ll make sure you can never look down on me again!
Meanwhile, hearing those words, my eyes sparkled with realization.
‘He’s planning to flee to another country?’
Currently, the Empire can only be exited by sea.
Which means, in other words.
If we just blockade the ports, we can cut off most of the Marquis’s escape routes.
‘I need to leave some kind of clue.’
Even if I’m kidnapped like this, I need to give those who will search for me a lead.
But how?
As I desperately racked my brain, my gaze happened to fall on the documents I was holding.
‘Ah!’
At the same time, my eyes widened slightly.
The documents contained information about how to transport the dress to the Maltz Duchy.
‘If it’s this…’
I folded that page conspicuously while avoiding the Marquis’s eyes.
Hoping that Joshua would notice the meaning of this page.
Then I organized the documents to hide the folded page and raised my head.
“I’ll cooperate.”
If I can’t escape from the Marquis’s grasp right now anyway, it’s right to aim for being rescued as quickly as possible.
There’s no need to get hurt by resisting pointlessly.
Most importantly.
‘Joshua will save me.’
There was someone I could trust most.
Taking a deep breath, I approached the Marquis with light steps.
“Shall we go?”
Meanwhile, at my reaction, the Marquis looked at me with apparent surprise.
After a moment.
“Good that you understand so well.”
The Marquis smirked and roughly grabbed my wrist.
* * *
Joshua read and reread the note in his hand with wide eyes, over and over again.
As if doing so would somehow bring the disappeared Elodie back to his side.
【Dear Joshua.</p】
That girl you’re so crazy about is in my hands.
If you want to save this girl, stop chasing me and stay quiet.
Otherwise, I can’t guarantee her life.>
The note filled with mockery ended there.
Joshua clenched his teeth so hard they might crumble.
Rage that someone dared to lay hands on Elodie.
Fear that he might lose her forever.
Countless emotions tangled together, turning his mind completely white.
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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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