My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 1

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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It was one day, a year into our marriage, that Scheit Huniswald changed.
As always, Scheit rarely stepped outside, and I only ever roamed outdoors.
Though we lived under one roof, I hardly ever ran into Scheit.
Even to places where we were invited as a couple, I usually went alone.
That day, too, Duchess Beutelen had invited the Baron and Baroness Huniswald.
Scheit was holed up in his room and didn’t even answer when I asked if he wanted to go together.
As I always did, I made up an excuse and attended the ball alone.
The moment I stepped inside, hundreds of pairs of eyes converged upon me.
“That’s Baroness Huniswald.”
Starting with a whisper heard from somewhere, the surroundings began to buzz.
I willingly took in all the attention directed at me.
I casually checked my reflection in the pitch-black window pane.
‘Perfect today, as well.’
My meticulously styled light blue hair, despite being curly, was wavy without a single tangle.
A blue dress made of the finest silk that even royalty found difficult to obtain. A necklace made of diamonds of which only three existed in the entire world.
Pale skin, a small face, and delicate features. I was satisfied with my serene expression.
‘Though I don’t quite like my droopy eyes…’
There was only one reason I disliked these droopy eyes.
“I heard she entered the Imperial Comprehensive University at the top of her class, but she looks dumber than I thought.”
“Hmph. No doubt she bought her way in with money. She’s the only daughter of that famous Rutshield family, after all.”
Slander.
“You’re right. I heard the family passed to her cousin after the master and his wife died. There must be a reason why the only daughter couldn’t inherit the family business, right?”
“From what I hear, she’s got quite a temper. They say Baron Huniswald is kept on a tight leash, too.”
Blatant gossip.
“That lace decoration, the designer rejected it before saying it took too much work!”
“Didn’t you know? The place sponsoring that guild is Rutshield Bank.”
“My goodness, how envious. As expected, a person just needs to have a lot of money.”
Jealousy.
“To think the man who rejected me met someone who’s just a bumpkin like Huniswald.”
“Maybe he’s muscular, unlike how he looks.”
“Have they confirmed that already? At any rate, it’s always the innocent-looking ones who are more lecherous.”
Even low-class harassment.
People filled with hostility babbled away within earshot.
It’s all because these droopy eyes make me look like an easy target.
I needlessly glared at my face reflected in the window before turning my head away.
Of course, it wasn’t as if I was swayed by those kinds of words.
The radiant golden Rutshield.
A family that exerted immense influence over the entire nation while operating various businesses centered around banking.
That is my family home.
Thanks to that, I had been the center of attention since the day I was born.
Even when I was very young, various rumors and speculations ran rampant.
There were always people who blindly hated me without ever having a proper conversation or even meeting me.
The scandals prattled on by gossips were like siblings who had been with me since the cradle.
Even so, two facts absolutely never changed.
That absolutely no one dared to disregard the influence of ‘Rutshield.’
And that even though I was married, I was still treated as a ‘Rutshield.’
Tearing me down and cursing me just meant they were interested in the end.
Compared to the admiration and affection directed toward me, it was practically nothing anyway.
If I just took one more step forward like right now,
“Lady Amarynthis, you are so beautiful today as well.”
“Baroness. Your skin seems to have become even better. It’s as white and soft as flour dough… My, how is there not a single blemish?”
“Could you perhaps attend the dinner held at our mansion next time? If so, it would truly be the ultimate honor.”
“Your hair is like silk. I have the same curly hair, so how do you manage it?”
There are this many people who love me.
‘There’s no way groundless slander could ever leave a scratch on my perfect image.’
My lips naturally curled upward at the pouring compliments.
Since it was a rainy day, my hair had been exceptionally frizzy, causing me a lot of trouble… The effort of spending four hours was about to-
‘Splash!’
-be worth it.
I gasped in surprise. The sharp and fragrant scent of wine filled my lungs.
My hair, soaked in wine, clung haphazardly to my face.
The blue dress I had liked so much was also stained purple.
The surroundings also grew quiet, as if cold water had been poured over them.
“Pfft!”
A vivid sneer burst out from someone, breaking the silence.
Only then did the surroundings begin to fuss.
“Baroness! Are you alright?”
“Here, use my handkerchief!”
Duchess Beutelen, the host of the ball, also rushed over in a single breath.
“Amarynthis, I’ll have a room prepared, so change your clothes there. I’ll lend you one of my dresses.”
“Thank you for your consideration, Duchess.”
Though I smiled resolutely, my insides were boiling over.
‘How dare anyone…!’
I gritted my teeth and turned toward the direction the wine had been thrown from.
A woman, looking shabby for a noble, was trembling all over. Her clothes were also a mess with wine. Tears quickly welled up in the woman’s orange eyes.
“I-I’m sorry, truly, I’m so sorry. I just got swept up by the crowd…”
I wasn’t going to let it slide if it had been intentional…
But it seems like a genuine mistake, doesn’t it?
Seeing her at a complete loss out of apology caused my anger to subside. However, the atmosphere around us was still menacing.
“Where on earth is she looking when she walks… Tsk tsk.”
“Don’t just make excuses about being swept up; offer a proper apology.”
As people aggressively pushed the woman, the onlookers’ eyes gleamed.
Like vultures that had finally spotted rotten meat, their eyes shone.
If I went along with them here, they would certainly chatter excitedly about how my character really is, or how the image I’d shown until now was just hypocrisy.
There was no need to give those kinds of people an excuse.
I managed my expression and approached the woman.
“What is your name?”
“M-Melis Haller, it is, Baroness.”
“I see. Miss Haller. Miss Haller’s clothes have become a mess as well. How unfortunate. Come with me. Duchess, would that be alright?”
“If Amarynthis wants to, by all means.”
I approached the dazed-looking Melis and took her hand as if escorting her.
As I moved my feet, the gathered crowd parted to make a path while whispering.
“My, how kind.”
“The Baroness is such an angelic person to begin with.”
“But who is that woman?”
“From what I hear, she’s a bumpkin who just came up to the Capital.”
“She must have spilled the wine on purpose just to get the Baroness’s attention.”
The color gradually drained from Melis’s face. Unable to hide her embarrassment, her fingertips trembled violently.
Openly taking sides wasn’t good for either of us.
Avoiding the situation was the best course of action, so I took her out for now.
Guided by a servant, we entered the Duchess’s dressing room, and Melis followed anxiously behind me.
“I’m sorry, Baroness. It was a mistake, but it’s wet, so you must be very uncomfortable, right? I’m truly sorry.”
Watching her whine like a puppy that had caused trouble made my heart feel quite uneasy.
She said it hadn’t been long since she came to the Capital, right?
There was a time like that for me, too.
When I was suddenly thrown into the marriage market.
People’s wariness and hostility were more blatant than I thought. To my bewildered self, my cousin Arpeggio had given some advice.
“The nobles of the Capital live lives that are not just affluent, but boring. Perhaps that’s why they seem to like stimulating things like hunting.”
Melis tilted her head.
“Pardon?”
“It means that if you show a weak appearance like right now, it’s easy to become a target for malicious people.”
“Ah…!”
A pale yellow dress hanging on a clothing rack caught my eye. It was a color that suited Melis’s skin tone, light brown hair, and orange eyes well, without looking tacky.
“So, apologizing just once with sincerity is more than enough.”
Melis nodded with a flushed face.
I took her and stood in front of the mirror.
When I placed my hand on her hunched back, Melis straightened her waist in startle.
“Open your chest, and square your shoulders. No, don’t be too stiff like that.”
When I held the elegant pale yellow dress below her neck, the tacky appearance from earlier was nowhere to be seen.
“Hmm. You look much better. How is this dress?”
“I-It’s so beautiful. For the Baroness to personally choose it for me, it’s truly an honor. I will wear it with gratitude.”
“It’s not even mine, anyway. It would be better to give your thanks to the Duchess.”
When I rang the bell, a maid entered.
“Take her with you and tidy up her hair again. I’d like two people to stay behind and help me.”
“Yes, Baroness.”
The maids took Melis away.
With the help of the remaining maids, I washed up and changed my clothes.
I stared into the mirror for a moment, then smiled amiably toward the maids.
“I’d like to rest for a bit, so could you give me some space?”
“Of course, Baroness. Please call for us again at any time.”
“Thank you.”
The maids bowed in greeting and left the room.
I stood in that spot for a while, listening as the presence of people faded away.
And then,
“Phew!”
I dove straight onto the sofa.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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