I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 2

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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 2

1. Just Trust Me, Sister-in-Law

A cold silence had settled over the dining table.

Freshly baked bread and various jams, fruits and soup, sausages and eggs, and even coffee and juice.

It was truly a picture-perfect breakfast, but the atmosphere among the family members seated around that table was far from harmonious.

“Water.”

My brother, the epitome of authoritarianism, spoke just one word while pointing at the water glass with his chin.

Even though a maid was clearly standing by, his petty nature in deliberately making Isabel pour the water was truly despicable.

His intention to break down and tame his wife was transparently obvious.

“Really, why aren’t you hurrying to pour the water?!”

Beside him, the Duchess Dowager nagged at Isabel, trying her best to curry favor with my brother.

And Isabel, who quietly rose from her seat like a shadow to pour the water.

It was the usual morning breakfast scene at the Laventess Ducal House.

My arrogant brother and the Duchess Dowager who sided with him—very, extremely, so, truly insufferable.

‘Ugh, I think I’m going to get indigestion.’

No, how does our sister-in-law manage to eat at this table every time without getting indigestion?

I stopped picking at my soup and glanced sideways at our sister-in-law sitting across from me.

Ah, why is our sister-in-law sitting facing me, you ask?

The Laventess Ducal House strictly follows hierarchy when it comes to seating arrangements.

My brother sits at the head of the table, and to his right sits Marisa, the current Duchess Dowager and our nominal stepmother.

For reference, Marisa was the second wife of the late Former Duke.

Her efforts to cling to my brother, the current Duke, to maintain her position as Duchess Dowager were absolutely disgusting.

No, why is Marisa sitting to my brother’s right in the first place?

Isabel is the lady of the house, so shouldn’t Isabel naturally be sitting in Marisa’s place?!

But, well.

‘This isn’t a household where such common sense applies.’

My brother was quite fond of Marisa, who fawned over him like a tongue in his mouth.

So much so that he left aside his own wife Isabel and entrusted a considerable portion of the lady’s duties to Marisa.

Of course, Isabel didn’t just sit idle either.

At first, Isabel had tried various approaches, but all those efforts were thoroughly crushed.

For example, there was an incident early in their marriage.

She had carefully prepared dinner with the sole desire to serve delicious food to her husband, but.

‘The food is salty.’

‘Pardon?’

‘The lady of Laventess can’t even properly control the kitchen staff. Is this why they’re serving such garbage food?!’

My brother furrowed his brow fiercely and shoved the food plate across the table as if to make a point.

Crash!

Isabel’s face, horribly distorted, was reflected on the completely shattered and broken plate.

For reference, the seasoning was just right.

It wasn’t salty at all.

So why did he spout such nonsense?

That was part of ‘training his wife.’

It was a process to create a submissive wife. Ugh.

Perhaps that’s why Isabel now always wore an expressionless face.

‘In the end, Isabel had to give up all expectations.

Days of slowly withering away in the most shadowed corner of the ducal house.

It was truly horrible.’

……Even the original work described it this way.

Just look at her now.

She’s just quietly keeping her seat without even touching her meal.

That sight of her only sipping bitter black coffee was so pitiful that……

‘Sister, drinking only coffee from morning will upset your stomach!’

After screaming internally, I eventually slid the basket full of freshly baked croissants toward Isabel.

Isabel looked at me with puzzled eyes.

But only for a moment—Isabel primly turned her head away.

From her resolute gesture and attitude, the meaning ‘Why are you suddenly acting friendly when it doesn’t suit you?’ was clearly evident.

‘Sob, so sad.’

While I was internally shedding tears.

“It’s spring, isn’t it.”

Marisa leisurely opened her mouth.

A bright smile was plastered across her face, as if something made her so delighted.

Honestly, even that smiling face was extremely irritating.

Ah, I want to flick her forehead just once. Really!

“So I’m planning to hold a garden party after a long time.”

After a long time, my foot.

I grumbled internally.

Spring because it’s spring, summer because it’s summer, because the weather’s nice, because she’s in a good mood.

She holds parties with various excuses almost every two or three months, yet her tongue just keeps wagging.

For reference, the cost of throwing parties would be quite substantial, but my brother had never once told her not to hold parties.

It would probably hurt his male pride to say ‘the cost of parties is wasteful.’

“We need to find a good marriage prospect for our Elodie somehow, don’t we.”

Marisa continued speaking in a generous voice, as if she were a mother who cherished her daughter dearly.

‘What the hell is that nonsense?’

I made tremendous effort not to show my sour expression outwardly.

Honestly, her intentions are transparent.

By hosting the party herself, pushing aside Isabel who is the current Duchess.

She wants to show off that she still has considerable influence in the Laventess Ducal House.

‘Well, she’s also appealing that she’s looking out for my marriage prospects while she’s at it.’

Meanwhile, Marisa, completely unaware of my inner thoughts, continued speaking in a gentle tone as if she were a kind mother.

“Elodie needs to meet many young lords to form connections with decent men, doesn’t she?”

Ah, is that the same person who enthusiastically supported that ridiculous marriage proposal that came for Elodie?

Did you conveniently forget that the other party was a man twenty years older than Elodie?

Just as I was desperately suppressing the urge to be sarcastic.

“So, about the guest list for this party……”

Marisa very naturally mentioned the guest list, making it clear that she would be hosting this party as well.

At the same time, I felt my reason snap completely.

Ah, I can’t listen to that nonsense anymore!

“Wait a moment.”

When I suddenly spoke up, everyone’s attention turned to me.

I shrugged my shoulders lightly.

“Something seems a bit strange. Shouldn’t sister-in-law be making the guest list, not mother?”

“…….”

“…….”

A moment of silence flowed.

The smile that had been lingering on Marisa’s face completely disappeared.

Seeing how she glared with menacing eyes wide open, it seemed my words were quite shocking after all.

Meanwhile, Isabel couldn’t hide her surprised expression as she stared at me blankly.

And my brother, who should have been considerate of Isabel from the beginning to prevent such an unreasonable situation from arising…….

“Don’t cause unnecessary trouble.”

He only spouted such words while cutting a large piece of omelet and shoving it into his mouth.

‘Right, I didn’t expect anything anyway.’

Clicking my tongue inwardly, I proudly lifted my chin while meeting the gazes of the three people.

“I’m not trying to cause trouble. I’m simply speaking for the dignity of our family.”

“You’re still young, so you don’t understand. It’s better to leave such matters to adults…….”

Just then, Marisa hastily managed her expression and tried to silence me by bringing up my age.

However, I continued speaking nonchalantly.

“As far as I know, family parties are usually hosted by the lady of the house, aren’t they?”

“Well, that’s…….”

“Since my brother is currently the head of our family, the lady of the house would naturally be my sister-in-law, right?”

Marisa’s face hardened stiffly.

I smiled with my eyes.

“Of course, I’m well aware that Mother has devoted herself to our family all this time.”

“Hey, Elodie.”

“But excluding the lady of the house from family events might make it seem like my brother isn’t being recognized as the family head.”

At that moment, I saw it.

The way my brother’s grip tightened around the fork he was clutching.

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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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