I’ll Become the Heroine’s Capable Divorce Partner - Chapter 23
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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 23
Meanwhile, Isabel quietly fixed her gaze on Elodie.
Didn’t she resent her?
It would be a lie to say she didn’t.
Isabel still remembered the cold look in Elodie’s eyes when she had looked at her.
However.
‘Please look at this.’
Elodie had carefully picked up the doll clothes that Marisa had trampled on.
With a face that looked far more wronged than Isabel herself, she had loudly protested.
‘This was made with Sister-in-law’s love. How is that foolish?’
‘I actually thought it was wonderful.’
Elodie probably needed courage to say such words out loud too.
‘So I don’t think you need to quit.’
……That was also Elodie’s sincere feelings.
She had pushed Isabel forward when she had been hesitating all along, and had done her best to help her.
It was because Elodie was there that she could overcome various difficult situations.
So.
“First of all, I would worry even if it were a complete stranger with such a dark expression. Let alone.”
Isabel took a short breath.
Then she looked straight at Elodie with determined eyes.
“……You and I are family, aren’t we?”
“……”
Elodie suddenly lifted her head up.
Her blue eyes shook violently.
Family.
That word pierced deep into her heart.
The words Marisa and Catherine had said earlier came to mind.
‘But Elodie, we’re the real family. There’s no need for our relationship to become distant because of some rolling stone, is there?’
‘That’s right. The Duke is very dissatisfied too. He says the Duchess is too stone-hearted.’
She must have heard such gossip countless times.
Naturally, the original Elodie had also agreed with that gossip.
Yet Isabel, to Elodie……
‘She’s calling me family.’
Somehow her heart felt touched.
Elodie unconsciously clenched her fists tightly.
But then.
“Of course, the way you treated me harshly before……”
Isabel, who had been rolling her eyes for a moment, finished her words with a sigh.
“Honestly, it didn’t feel good.”
Hng.
Elodie shrank down small.
Isabel, who had been quietly watching her, soon smiled faintly.
“However, I also know well how much effort you’ve been making recently.”
“……Sister-in-law.”
“So you don’t need to try so hard to accommodate me.”
Isabel’s smile deepened a little more.
“When there are difficult things, we share them with each other and comfort each other. That’s what family does, right?”
Just then.
Isabel suddenly blushed bright red and averted her gaze.
It had been so long since she had opened up and talked about her feelings that she felt a bit embarrassed belatedly.
“Um, I feel like I rambled on too long.”
“Rambled on!”
Elodie, who had regained her energy, clasped both hands over her chest.
Then she looked at Isabel with sparkling eyes.
“I was really, really moved!”
“……I get it, so stop it.”
Isabel rolled her eyes in a way that wasn’t unpleasant.
But Elodie went even further.
“Sister-in-law, do you happen to have wings on your back? Are you actually an angel who fell from heaven!”
“Really, what are you saying?! I’m dying of embarrassment……”
Isabel, who had been grumbling, completely covered her face with both hands.
The tips of her ears had turned bright red.
‘Ah, my favorite is really cute!’
Elodie looked at Isabel with a pleased gaze.
Even though Isabel had already received countless wounds, she was still able to prevent their relationship from reaching the worst point.
Because Isabel could still smile like that……
‘I’m really glad.’
Just then, Isabel peeked at Elodie through her fingers.
“So, are you feeling better now?”
“Yes! I am……”
Elodie, who had been answering energetically, hesitated.
At the same time, Isabel’s eyes narrowed.
“What is it?”
Startled, Elodie slightly pulled her body back.
“Y-yes?”
“You don’t look like everything’s resolved.”
Isabel continued with a serious expression.
“If you have worries, just spill them out completely. Ah, of course, if you’re uncomfortable telling me, then there’s nothing I can do……”
“No! It’s not that!”
Elodie, who had reflexively raised her voice, just rolled her eyes around.
‘Actually…… there is a problem.’
Arthur’s painting.
Would it be okay to mention this?
Just when she was worried it might burden Isabel unnecessarily.
“I said it earlier, didn’t I? We’re family.”
“……Sister-in-law.”
“I might be able to help.”
Elodie’s eyes widened greatly.
A moment later.
She, who had only been fidgeting with her fingers, opened her mouth with difficulty.
“Actually, there’s a painting I absolutely need.”
“A painting?”
“Yes. But I need to get that painting without drawing other people’s attention.”
For a moment, Isabel felt a bit sorry for Elodie.
She seemed to understand why Elodie was having such concerns.
‘Miss also… doesn’t have a single trustworthy servant within the Duke’s House.’
Most of the maids follow Marisa, after all.
It’s just one painting.
It should be fine to help with something like that, right?
Having made her decision, Isabel smiled warmly with her eyes.
“Then shall I help you?”
* * *
Art Gallery Street.
Originally, it was a street where poor artists gathered to live, but now it has been developed into a tourist destination.
Colorful murals painted on the walls.
Artists sitting scattered on the streets, painting.
People chatting noisily.
It’s a place where you can feel an exotic atmosphere in many ways.
It’s also the place where Arthur, the artist of the painting I’m targeting, spent his youth.
And inside a carriage parked in a corner of Art Gallery Street…
‘Finally!’
I lifted the painting up with a face full of joy.
When the sunlight hit it, a signature faintly appeared beneath the paper.
‘I’m certain, it’s Arthur’s early work!!’
Arthur, who had strong pride in his paintings, left his signature on his works with special dye despite his poor circumstances.
However, that was limited to his early works, and at some point he stopped leaving signatures.
What was it again.
‘He said he wanted to prove his works through his painting style, not signatures?’
By the way, that interview was also discovered after Arthur’s death.
To be precise, it was made public during the process when Marquis Bartsen was proving that those early works were authentic.
Anyway.
“Is this a painting that requires such difficult efforts to obtain?”
“Of course.”
At Isabel’s question, I quickly nodded my head.
Naturally.
This painting will become the startup funds for my future dress shop!
“Thank you so much, Sister-in-law. If it weren’t for you, I would have…”
I looked at Isabel with eyes brimming with emotion.
Isabel smiled as if it was nothing.
“Don’t mention it.”
But without Isabel’s help, it would have been impossible to obtain the painting without revealing my identity.
Thus, the current owner of this painting was thoroughly concealed.
From what I heard, she used people through several intermediaries, ensuring that the final buyer was someone completely unrelated to Isabel.
‘Indeed, someone from a well-connected family is different.’
I had struggled just to find one person to help me.
Well, Isabel confidently said she had been thoroughly careful about it.
I should be able to rest assured.
‘Of course, our female protagonist handles things efficiently.’
Isn’t competence the basic requirement for a refreshing heroine?
In an ecstatic mood, I carefully secured the painting and glanced out the window.
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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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