My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 14

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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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Scheit’s eyes widened ever so slightly.
It was my first time looking so dead-serious at someone in my life, so I, too, felt flustered.
While I bit my lip, unsure of what to do, the silence stretched on.
Should I apologize? Or perhaps offer an explanation…
With my mouth slightly open, searching for the right words, Scheit propped his elbows on the dining table.
Resting his lightly clasped hands near his lips, he leaned toward me.
My own flustered face was reflected clearly in his clear, dark brown eyes.
Scheit offered a faint smile.
“Or did you perhaps attain some great enlightenment overnight?”
He shifted the subject. It was a consideration as natural as breathing.
It was so seamless that anyone less sensitive to the reactions of others wouldn’t have even noticed.
Why is a man who usually torments me so relentlessly suddenly being sweet now?
I was grateful, but that only made him more irritating.
Narrowing my eyes, I glared at Scheit before smoothing out my expression to answer.
“…I suppose there was an enlightenment of sorts.”
“What kind?”
“You. Why aren’t you filing a lawsuit if you want a divorce so badly?”
“As you know, My Lady, I lost my memory. I’m finding it difficult to discover a justification for a lawsuit.”
“Then let me give you one. We haven’t shared a bed even once since we got married. Neglecting the duty of producing an heir should serve as a perfectly adequate ground for divorce.”
Scheit maintained his unreadable smile.
His attitude was entirely consistent. As I focused on the conversation, the dread I had felt moments ago evaporated into thin air.
I rested my hands comfortably on my lap and smiled brightly.
“Are you going to file the lawsuit now?”
“…….”
“You can’t, can you?”
“What makes you think I can’t?”
His counter-question was practically an admission.
“Scheit, look at you. You act like a man in love whenever other people are around. Yet in private, you slowly needle me. So annoyingly.”
“…….”
“It’s as if the word divorce absolutely has to come out of my mouth first.”
“…….”
“You need it to look like I’m the one who wanted the divorce, don’t you?”
Scheit, who had met my words with total silence, let out a soft chuckle.
A faint trace of competitiveness lingered in his eyes. It was as if he were marveling, ‘Well, look at this.’
“You are sharper than I thought, My Lady.”
Just for noticing something like this?
Tilted my head to the side, I studied Scheit.
“Don’t tell me you……”
Scheit paused mid-sip of his water and glanced at me. Seeing him raise an eyebrow slightly, I continued speaking.
“Don’t tell me you saw me as an ‘empty-headed woman who knows nothing but how to spend money’?”
“…….”
“Am I right?”
Instead of an answer, Scheit wore a gentle smile.
It was an affirmation.
Wow, this guy is unbelievable!
When I glared at him in sheer disbelief, the nuance of his smile shifted slightly.
He almost looked triumphant.
“Are you seriously taking revenge just because of what I said earlier?”
“You truly are quicker on the uptake than I expected.”
His skill at subtly teasing someone while smiling was top-tier.
However, I didn’t feel like I was going crazy with rage like before.
Seeing him change the subject under the guise of teasing made it certain.
Unless I step up, there will be no divorce between us.
And if I don’t get a divorce? My inheritance is safe.
As long as my inheritance remains secure, Scheit harping on about divorce right next to me might as well be a serenade.
“Anyway, that’s why I’ve decided to take things easy.”
“The divorce?”
“No. The things you say.”
My eyes crinkled and the corners of my mouth curled up in genuine amusement. The tightness in my cheeks felt delightful.
“Puppies go woof. Cats go meow, birds go tweet. And? Scheit goes divorce-divorce.”
“Does that mean I am a beast that cries ‘divorce-divorce’?”
Instead of answering ‘yes,’ I blinked my eyes wide and gently covered my mouth with a hand.
“Oh my, did it sound that way?”
“Very much so.”
“If you say so, then I suppose it must be true.”
Scheit’s flawless smile cracked once again.
Feeling like I might burst out laughing, I bit the tender flesh inside my cheek. I hid my rising smile by taking a sip of water.
Ah, how refreshing!
* * *
Avenging myself against Scheit with nonsense was quite entertaining.
I could understand Scheit’s perspective a little better now.
Because it was this amusing, he must have followed me around to torment me.
However, a momentary flash of satisfaction does not change reality.
There was no telling when he might change his stance and file a divorce lawsuit.
I needed a more definitive method to protect my inheritance.
Of course, I already had a plan in mind.
Looking perfectly composed as always, I boarded the carriage with Sindy.
The carriage rolled into the downtown area.
When I stepped down in front of a coffee house, Sindy tilted her head.
“Did you have an appointment today?”
“Not exactly, but staying cooped up at home is too stifling.”
“True, you’ve barely gone out lately. You’ve only been at the mansion. And with the Baron, at that.”
Sindy twisted her body and nudged my shoulder with hers.
Whoops.
My body lurched helplessly at the rather powerful shoulder-tackle.
Trying to regain my balance, I missed the timing to deny it.
I was about to tell her it wasn’t like that, but Sindy was already hopping up and down with both hands over her mouth.
“I knew it, you stayed inside just to spend time with the Baron, didn’t you?”
Is that really something to be that thrilled about?
Shaking my head sideways, I walked into the coffee house.
One by one, gazes began to converge on me.
“My word, if it isn’t the Baroness Huniswald.”
“It’s been so long since we last met. It’s been so difficult to see your face lately, Baroness, that I was actually thinking of paying you a visit.”
“If you had contacted us in advance, we could have come out together.”
I felt overwhelmed thanks to the swarming crowd.
For now, I maintained a practiced smile.
“I simply felt a sudden urge to come out, so I couldn’t make any prior arrangements.”
“Then your only companion must be your maid? How wonderful. Come join our conversation. Miss Haller happens to be with us as well.”
Haller?
I tilted my head at the name that felt right on the tip of my tongue.
Turning my head toward the group offering the invitation, my eyes locked with a woman who possessed light brown hair.
Her amber eyes were brimming with anticipation.
I felt as though I had seen her somewhere before…
‘Ah! Melis Haller.’
She was the person who had spilled wine on me at the Duchess’s ballroom.
When I acknowledged her with a nod, Melis cupped her flushed cheeks and cast her gaze downward.
But what did joining them have to do with Melis?
Musing over this, I scanned the interior with my eyes.
I had only one target.
Beldamin Pollen.
I had come after hearing information that he frequently surfaced at a coffee house near the Legal District.
Yet, the very person I was searching for was nowhere to be seen.
It seemed I would have to wait a little, but standing alone would make me stand out far too much.
I definitely needed a suitable place to sit.
Only when I joined a group would the crowding people disperse. That way, it would be easier to approach Beldamin Pollen when he appeared.
I readily accepted the hospitality.
“I would be delighted.”
At my subtle gesture, Sindy gave a small nod and discreetly excused herself.
As I stepped closer with the noblewomen, Melis stood up with a radiant face to welcome me.
“Amarynthis!”
The form of address she used for me was excessively intimate.
We had only met once.
Did she develop some internal sense of closeness in the meantime?
Since my name must have come up frequently while she mingled with people, I supposed it was possible.
Dismissing the thought, I sat down beside Melis as she guided me.
“Miss Haller, it has been a while.”
I had merely offered a casual greeting, but the atmosphere turned peculiar.
A few looked at Melis with faint sneers and expressions that read, ‘Of course.’
Unable to hide her flustered state, Melis rambled as she spoke to me.
“Um… how is my dress? It’s similar to the pale yellow dress Amarynthis picked out for me last time. Back then, you said it suited me well, so…”
Another noble lady cut Melis off and intervened.
“Baroness, is it true that you chose Miss Haller’s dress?”
It was true.
“I heard you even gave her all sorts of advice.”
This was also correct.
“Giving Miss Haller special treatment like that. I feel slighted.”
Was… that right?
I had never treated Melis specially.
No matter who had accidentally spilled wine that day, I would have acted the exact same way.
We hadn’t even met since then.
I had done nothing that could be considered special treatment.
I gazed intently at Melis.
She kept her head buried low, merely fidgeting with her fingers.
Her exposed nape and the rims of her ears were crimson.
Ah. I can pretty much figure out what happened.
She pretended to be close to me just to fit in with the crowd quickly.

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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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