My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 11

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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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What kind of trick is he playing now?
Keeping my guard up, I kept a sharp eye on Scheit’s every move.
With his dry hand, he pulled a rose out of his front pocket.
The stem was still damp, as if it had just been plucked, and every single thorn had been meticulously removed.
Scheit tucked the rose behind my ear and locked eyes with me.
“Just as I thought. I knew it would suit you perfectly.”
Flustered, heat rushed to my face.
As I tried to pull back, he firmly caught my hand and whispered sweetly.
“Amarynthis, would you do me the honor of granting me a divorce?”
Instantly, the warmth drained from my face, and my skin cooled.
Right, I wondered when he would finally bring that up.
He had even intentionally lowered his voice just for the word ‘divorce.’ To anyone watching, it must have looked like he was murmuring sweet nothings.
Sure enough, gasps of admiration and delighted squeals erupted from all around us.
For a split second, my composure slipped. I let the sheer displeasure show entirely on my face right in front of him.
Scheit let out a soft chuckle.
How utterly infuriating.
I snatched the rose out of my hair. Then, mimicking his exact gesture, I tucked it behind his ear and flashed him a bright smile.
“No.”
Before Scheit could even open his mouth, I quickly shook off his hand. Heading straight for the exit, I called out.
“Sindy! Follow me.”
“Yes, Madam!”
Sindy, who had been hiding until the very last moment, suddenly popped out from the bushes.
Listening to the sound of her quick, pattering footsteps chasing after me, I strode forward with long steps.
A cool breeze brushed past my cheeks, but my rising anger showed no signs of cooling down.
Following me all the way to the Greenhouse just to needle me with talk of divorce? Would it kill him to just let me enjoy my breakfast in peace?
As I walked away huffing, I felt a prickling sensation on the back of my neck.
I whipped my head around to find Sindy wearing an incredibly smug, pleased grin.
“…Sindy? Do you have something to say?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s just that you two look so lovely together.”
What on earth about this looked lovely to her?
“Me stomping around because I’m furious?”
“No, not that. I mean you and the Baron. You two have grown so close lately.”
“Close?”
When I’m literally fighting a daily battle against divorce?
I swallowed the words that had surged to the tip of my tongue.
Sindy had worked for the Rutshield family ever since she was a young girl.
She used to be the maid for my cousin, Arpeggio, before she came to serve me.
She was also the only maid who had accompanied me here after my marriage.
Having known her for so long, we were comfortable enough to be like friends, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that Scheit wanted a divorce.
Sindy shared a close relationship with Arpeggio.
Even after becoming my maid, she frequently spent time with him, and they still exchanged letters to this day.
What Sindy knew, Arpeggio would inevitably find out.
Given his personality, he would undoubtedly worry himself ragged if he learned that Scheit was demanding a divorce.
He was already a deeply busy man, and I had no desire to become an extra burden to him.
So, I chose not to correct Sindy’s misunderstanding.
Though, of course, I had absolutely no intention of validating the absurd rumors that some strange romantic tension was brewing between Scheit and me!
“It’s nothing like that.”
“Oh, come on! What do you mean it’s nothing? You’ve been having meals together quite often lately, Baron.”
That’s only because Scheit deliberately comes down to the Dining Hall right on time. Just to get in one more mention of getting a divorce!
“And you two frequently lean in close to whisper to each other.”
That, my dear, is him whispering about divorce.
“Most of all, look at how the Baron has been practically trailing behind you like a puppy these days.”
He’s trailing behind me because he’s utterly obsessed with getting a divorce.
“Starting out as a contract, but then falling in love and changing each other for the better. It’s just so romantic! Everyone is swooning over it. Watching the two of you is the highlight of our days now!”
While the actual couple involved is on the brink of a breakup, you lot are busy writing a romance novel.
…Is what I desperately wanted to say, but I couldn’t, so I merely forced a smile.
Then, a sudden wave of oddness made me tilt my head in thought.
A man changes one hundred and eighty degrees overnight. Yet everyone is solely focused on our love life?
That ridiculous excuse about having amnesia was something he had only told me, anyway.
“Is no one else saying anything about how much Scheit has changed?”
At my muttered question, Sindy chimed in excitedly.
“Well, of course not!”
“What do you mean, ‘of course not’?”
“The Baron barely ever left his room before, so most people didn’t really know what he was like originally…….”
“Even so, his posture and his entire aura are completely different. His way of speaking too, and his appearance has noticeably transformed.”
Sindy blinked a few times before letting out a sly chuckle.
“That’s because the Baron explained it himself. He said every single change is entirely due to you, Madam!”
“Because of me?”
“Yes. Word has it that the moment the Baron catches so much as a glimpse of your shadow, he immediately straightens his hair and adjusts his clothes.”
Unbelievable.
“Why on earth would he……?”
Is he trying to look polite while he torments me, or what?
As I tilted my head, utterly unable to fathom Scheit’s true intentions, Sindy burst into a giggle.
“Oh, Madam. It’s obviously because of love!”
What in the world is this girl talking about?
“That is absolutely not it.”
“Yes, it is. Just yesterday, the Baron came up to me and asked what you thought of him, and if you had said anything particular about him.”
He was totally feeling Sindy out to see if I really had no intention of divorcing him!
“Do you think that’s all? When the Butler asked the Baron what had happened to make him change into a completely different person, guess what he said!”
Sindy cleared her throat, dropping her voice to a deeper mimicry.
“‘I am a man of many shortcomings, so if I wish to stand proudly by my wife’s side, shouldn’t I at least put in this much effort?’ Can you believe he said that?”
“…Sindy, are we by any chance talking about two entirely different people right now?”
“I don’t think so.”
“Just to be clear, the person you are referring to is Scheit Huniswald, right? My husband.”
“Yes! Of course.”
“What kind of total bull—”
The rest of the exclamation nearly flew out of my mouth. But with superhuman patience, I swallowed the harsh words down.
Completely oblivious to my internal turmoil, Sindy rattled on with sheer excitement.
“The Baron is utterly smitten with you! This is definitely love.”
“Sindy, think about it logically. Does it make sense for a person to change overnight just because of love?”
“Love makes anything possible. Just like magic!”
Sindy clasped her hands together tightly over her heart as if offering a prayer. Her gaze drifted toward the distant horizon. Her eyes were dreamy, looking exactly like someone lost in a sweet fantasy.
“I would gladly offer up my own heart for the sake of my love, too. That’s why I can understand the Baron’s feelings. Once you fall in love, you become capable of anything, don’t you? Even your own life doesn’t feel like too much to give!”
I shook my head from side to side, staring at the half-delusional Sindy.
“Sindy, you need to stop reading those romance novels.”
“I think you’re the one who needs to read some, Madam. Your heart is far too dry. Shall I lend you a particularly thrilling volume?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Hmph.”
Sindy pouted her lips in disappointment.
Shaking my head again, I left Sindy behind and resumed my stride.
However, my mind was entirely consumed by thoughts of Scheit Huniswald.
What on earth is that man playing at?
* * *
A peaceful morning.
Today was no exception; Scheit came looking for me without fail.
“My lady, the weather is splendid today. Why don’t we go for a picnic by the lake?”
His face held a faint glimmer of anticipation.
It looked very much like he was hoping I would recoil in disgust, flee, or flatly reject him.
Instead, I beamed a radiant smile.
“I would love to.”
This actually works out perfectly.
Conveniently enough, I had spent the entire previous day brooding over Scheit.
To be precise, I was analyzing ‘why in the world does Scheit act in such a bizarre manner?’
No matter how much I racked my brain, I couldn’t find an answer, to the point where I wanted to grab him by the collar and demand the truth!
“Let’s go, a picnic sounds lovely. We can have a nice, private chat.”
A flash of surprise crossed Scheit’s face. However, he quickly masked his expression behind a smooth, mask-like smile.
“To think you would agree so readily. Had I known, I should have asked you to go sign the divorce papers instead of going on a picnic.”
“Then my answer would have been quite different.”
Snorting derisively, I rose from my seat.
As we stepped out of the building, the brilliant sunlight poured down upon us. I frowned, lifting a hand to shield my eyes from the glare, when a shadow suddenly fell over me.
Lifting my gaze, I sought out the source of the shade.
Scheit was standing right there, holding a parasol over me. Behind him, a line of servants carrying picnic baskets followed along.
He’ll probably use this little gesture of holding a parasol as an excuse to bring up divorce again.
I glared at him for a second, but sensing the eyes of the servants on us, I forced another smile.
“Thank you, but I can hold it myself.”
“If you are thankful—”
“No.”
It was completely obvious what words would follow if I didn’t cut him off. Snapping the conversation shut, I walked ahead, and Scheit quickly caught up to match my pace.
“The breeze is quite refreshing. Di—”
“Don’t you dare bring up the word divorce.”
“If I don’t bring it up, will you grant me the divorce then?”
Seriously, if I could just slap that infuriating mouth of his a few times, I would have absolutely no remaining wishes in this world!

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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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