I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 22

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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 22

No matter how much Catherine might rage about being loved by David, the positions of Isabel and Catherine are strictly different.

The wife of Duke Laventess.

The Duke’s beloved mistress.

Unlike Isabel, who can legally assert her rights.

Catherine must live her entire life only in the shadows.

Moreover, David’s meager affection resembled treats carelessly thrown to a pet according to his whims.

That is to say.

If she fails to do her utmost as David’s mistress to suit his tastes…….

‘Even the luxury she enjoys now will vanish like bubbles.’

I drooped my eyebrows, pretending to genuinely worry about Catherine.

“So, wouldn’t it be better to be a little more careful?”

“Elodie, dear.”

Unable to watch any longer, Marisa quickly interjected into the conversation.

“Catherine didn’t mean it badly, did she? There’s no need to take it so sensitively.”

“Sensitively?”

I turned to look at Marisa with a serious expression.

“Lady Scofield has already made a mistake. In front of me, a member of Laventess, she said that Elder Brother couldn’t properly bring in a duchess, making the family unpeaceful.”

In truth, Catherine had insulted Isabel, but.

I cleverly twisted it to ‘David brought in the wrong duchess.’

“It’s fine if she makes mistakes with me. But what if she makes a similar slip of the tongue again and incurs Elder Brother’s wrath?”

Toward Marisa, who was left speechless, I concluded firmly.

“I only gave advice out of concern, yet you dismiss my sincere care for the lady as being sensitive. I’m truly hurt.”

“Dear, Elodie…….”

Marisa tried to say something to me.

However, since I had no desire to engage in any more pointless arguments.

“Anyway, I’ll be going in now.”

When I firmly drew the line, Marisa’s face turned bright red.

It seemed her pride was considerably wounded.

Well, that wasn’t my concern, so.

“Then I hope you both have a pleasant time.”

With that farewell, I turned around sharply.

Biting my lips tightly, I hurried my steps to get away from them as quickly as possible.

‘This is the worst, really.’

How should I even express this feeling?

‘We’re the only real family? How can she say such a thing?’

Today, I witnessed for the first time the true nature of the malice Isabel had to endure.

What must it have been like to live as an ‘outsider’ rather than part of ‘us’ throughout her married life?

How difficult must it have been for Isabel all this time?

Moreover, the original Elodie wasn’t much different either.

‘You hated me, didn’t you, Miss? Saying that someone unworthy of the noble Duke’s House had entered…….’

Not long after I possessed ‘Elodie.’

Isabel had certainly said this to me once.

“Haah.”

I let out a long sigh.

……I really had a bitter taste in my mouth.

* * *

The townhouse was quiet for the first time in a while.

It was because Marisa, Elodie, and even David had all gone out.

Normally, Isabel would have welcomed this quietness with great joy.

But now…….

‘This is really strange.’

Isabel let out a small sigh.

The quietness weighing on her shoulders somehow felt heavy.

‘I never knew that not having Miss by my side would feel so lonely.’

Isabel found herself unconsciously glancing out the window repeatedly.

As if doing so would make Elodie return home early.

But then.

In the distance, she saw a carriage come to a stop.

The carriage door opened.

And the person who appeared from beyond it was…….

‘Miss?’

Isabel’s eyes widened slightly.

It was Elodie.

However, her usual lively appearance was nowhere to be seen.

An expressionless face.

Quietly downcast eyelashes.

How should I put it, she seemed to have an overall sunken feeling.

‘Did something happen?’

After tilting her head in wonder for a moment.

Isabel stood up from her seat.

As she approached the entrance, she could see Elodie just entering the mansion.

At the same time, Isabel hesitated.

‘Am I being too familiar?’

Although she had grown somewhat closer to Elodie recently.

Perhaps because they had been distant for so long, Isabel still found Elodie awkward.

Maybe she should go back now after all…….

‘No.’

Isabel shook her head inwardly.

Because she knew too.

How much effort Elodie had been making for Isabel’s sake recently.

So Isabel had to at least respond to Elodie’s efforts.

“You’re back, Miss?”

After hesitating briefly, Isabel tried to greet her as if nothing was wrong.

“Ah.”

Elodie, who had been wearing a dark expression the whole time, stopped short upon spotting Isabel.

Then, with a very complicated expression, she looked at Isabel.

And answered in a deliberately bright voice.

“Yes, I’m back.”

……Why does she look so dejected?

Did something happen outside?

Wondering, Isabel asked warmly.

“Have you had dinner?”

“No, what about you, Sister-in-law?”

“I haven’t eaten yet either.”

Isabel reflexively suggested.

“Then, if it’s alright with you, shall we eat together?”

And so, in the Dining Room.

‘Something is definitely strange.’

Isabel stopped cutting the steak in front of her and glanced sideways at Elodie across from her.

If it were the usual Elodie, she would have been chattering away like a young bird with all sorts of stories.

‘She’s unusually quiet.’

She even seemed to have little appetite.

With her lips pressed tightly together, she was just stabbing at her salad with her Fork.

Her Fork movements were so persistent that the lettuce and Tomato had become completely wilted.

Unable to watch any longer, Isabel finally put down her utensils.

“Miss.”

“Yes?”

Elodie quickly raised her head.

Isabel quietly spoke.

“I’m sorry if this is an impertinent question. Do you perhaps have something troubling you?”

At that question, Elodie’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit.

Then she smiled with her eyes.

“Are you worried about me?”

However, that smile somehow had a mask-like quality to it.

Rather than laughing from genuine joy, it was more like a smile worn to hide her true feelings.

Isabel, who had been observing her closely, nodded.

“Of course.”

For a moment, Elodie hesitated.

Isabel was quietly gazing at her as if asking what the problem was.

And for Elodie, meeting those kind eyes was…

‘Too painful.’

That must have been why.

The reason Elodie unconsciously moved her lips slightly.

“Why?”

“What do you mean?”

Isabel tilted her head.

After hesitating for a moment, Elodie continued as if spitting out the words.

“I’ve been mean to you all this time, Sister-in-law. Of course, I’m truly reflecting on that, and I want to improve our relationship, but…”

Elodie clenched both hands tightly on her knees.

“But your feelings must be different, right?”

She remembered Isabel, who had been so wary of her when she first approached.

But Isabel had eventually opened her heart to her.

…Even though Elodie had once been so cruel to her.

“Sister-in-law is so kind to me, treating me as if you’ve forgotten all my terrible behavior. So I keep…”

Because she couldn’t find the courage to look directly at Isabel.

Elodie hung her head low again.

In the past, she might have understood it intellectually but couldn’t feel it viscerally.

She had simply felt it was the ‘female protagonist’s hardship’ in text.

But for Isabel…

‘All this persecution was her life.’

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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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