My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 15

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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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In the past, there had occasionally been people like this.
It wasn’t exactly surprising, but it wasn’t particularly pleasant either.
“Special treatment? No, it wasn’t like that.”
Melis raised her head with a start, as if she had been burned.
But she immediately ducked it back down like a criminal. She began nervously picking at the skin around her fingernails, looking utterly guilt-ridden.
At least she seemed to realize she had done something wrong.
Honestly, I could have humiliated her openly right then and there.
Had I done so, Melis would have found it impossible to navigate social circles comfortably from now on.
She might have even been subjected to bullying behind closed doors.
I had heard she only recently moved to the Capital.
She must have been incredibly desperate to resort to such a thing.
I gently grasped her hand, which was beginning to bleed, stopping her from tearing at her skin any further.
She flinched slightly and looked up at me.
Deliberately avoiding her gaze, I smiled warmly at the rest of the group.
‘There’s no need to ruin Miss Haller’s reputation over a minor lapse in judgment. It’s true that I helped her choose a dress and offered some advice.’
As long as I didn’t flatly contradict Melis, I only needed to soothe the hurt feelings of the others.
That would clear up any misconception about us being deeply close, without branding Melis a liar.
If she had fabricated entirely non-existent events to brag, that would be her own cross to bear.
“It’s true that I offered a few pointers while helping Miss Haller select her dress. She mentioned it was her first time in the Capital.”
Melis’s expression brightened instantly. Once I confirmed she was no longer clawing at her skin, I released her hand.
“While doing that, several dress ideas that would suit the rest of you came to mind. I was actually planning to send out invitations to my close acquaintances sometime soon, but…”
The focus of those who had been eyeing Melis with disdain shifted entirely to me.
“Really?”
“Of course. I’ve even purchased some quite rare silk produced in the Nodis Kingdom.”
“Goodness, silk from the Nodis Kingdom is incredibly difficult to come by!”
The conversation swiftly drifted toward fashion and textiles.
Even those who had been sneering at Melis became entirely absorbed in the new topic. Melis managed to blend back into the group naturally.
Chiming in as they chatted, she subtly leaned closer to me and spoke in a hushed tone.
“Um, Lady Amarynthis, I’m so sorry. I just…”
Just as I turned to look at her, the door of the Coffee House opened with the crisp chime of a small bell.
It was him. Beldamin Pollen.
The very man I had been waiting for was walking inside.
He wasn’t alone.
A deathly pale, exhausted Papilion Cortius followed him in like a zombie.
‘This actually works out better.’
Papilion Cortius and I were alumni from the same university.
I had been wondering how to approach Beldamin since we were total strangers, but seeing him with Papilion changed everything!
I could simply pretend to greet my former classmate and get introduced naturally.
I leaned over and whispered softly, strictly for Melis’s ears.
“In the future, it would be wise to avoid telling lies that can be disproven so easily.”
I was drawing a clear line, but Melis nodded shyly, apparently under the impression that I was just looking out for her.
The moment I tried to correct her misunderstanding, Beldamin Pollen began moving further away.
‘I can always explain it to her properly later.’
I rose from my seat. The noblewomen and noble ladies sitting with me all looked up simultaneously.
“I spot a familiar face. Thank you for inviting me to join your table today.”
Acknowledging each of them with a polite nod, I hurried my steps across the room.
Beldamin and Papilion disappeared behind a decorative partition.
They seemed to have deliberately sought out a secluded corner.
Yet, as I approached their direction, eyes began to linger on me.
Sensing the shift in the ambient atmosphere, Papilion poked his head out from behind the partition.
His face came into view—stubby stubble just beginning to grow, chapped lips, and the gaunt skin of someone who hadn’t slept in days.
Papilion forced his half-closed eyes wide open.
His hollow gaze locked onto me. The moment our eyes met, his face contorted in a sudden scowl, and he ground his teeth.
“Aarynthis. Hoeniswald. …Baroness.”
…Why on earth is he looking at me like I’m his mortal enemy?
To be fair, we hadn’t been particularly close during our university days either.
To put it precisely, Papilion had always found me a bit uncomfortable to be around. Though I never knew why.
If I had to guess, he seemed to be the type who despised anyone he perceived as artificial.
Of course, I had always thought he was a decent, upright, and exemplary person, but regardless, we never had the chance to become friends.
Even so, he used to at least pretend to accept my greetings back then…
What could I have possibly done to make him this furious?
I was utterly baffled.
Should I back off? If I did, I would lose a natural opportunity to meet Beldamin Pollen.
Oh, whatever. I might as well just push through.
After all, Papilion was the one who acknowledged me first.
Maintaining my smile, I stepped around the partition into their space.
“It’s been a long time, Cortius. I heard you went down to the Southern Region, so meeting you here is quite a surprise. It’s wonderful to see you.”
“Are we really on such good terms that you’d find it wonderful?”
His tone was razor-sharp.
Beldamin, sitting beside him, let out a sharp gasp. Pretending nothing was amiss, he brought his foot down hard on Papilion’s foot.
Papilion grimaced.
It was impossible to tell whether it was from the displeasure of seeing me or from having his foot stomped on.
Feigning ignorance of Papilion’s nose wrinkling with rage, I turned my attention to Beldamin.
“Would you mind introducing me to the gentleman accompanying you?”
“Why should I—”
Papilion growled like an angry dog, his voice thick with suppressed fury. Startled, Beldamin quickly stepped forward, offering a genial smile.
“I am Beldamin Pollen, My Lady. Ah, I have heard much about you through rumors, but this is the first time we’ve met in person.”
As I stepped a bit closer to shake hands, Papilion abruptly bolted up from his seat.
Glaring at me one last time, he whipped around and stormed out of the Coffee House with long, angry strides.
He looked exactly like a man steering clear of foul filth.
It felt deeply unpleasant and rather unfair, but the petty emotions of a former classmate I wasn’t even close to didn’t matter right now.
I lightly clasped Beldamin’s extended hand.
“I have heard a great deal about you as well from various sources.”
After exchanging an awkward smile and a handshake, Beldamin vigorously rubbed the back of his neck with his palm.
An apology was written all over his face.
“My goodness, I must apologize. You clearly came over to greet your old alumnus, and I’ve inadvertently ruined it by being the only one left…”
“You don’t need to apologize for that at all.”
Beldamin looked up, a trace of confusion in his eyes. I let go of his hand and let my arms fall gracefully, offering a warm smile.
“To be completely honest, it was you I came to see, Mr. Pollen.”
* * *
Beldamin Pollen.
Despite his simple, rustic appearance—resembling a freshly dug potato—he was a remarkably capable former lawyer who now served as a member of the House of Commons within the Legal Ministry.
He was a man who attended state councils, gathered the opinions of the nobility, and drafted legislation.
He was also a talent the Emperor kept a close eye on.
From what I had uncovered, his parents had passed away a few years ago, and his deeply cherished older sister was currently on the verge of a divorce.
That piece of information signified only one thing.
A catastrophe known as the ‘Return of Inheritance’ was about to strike his sister as well!
Not only did our interests align perfectly, but above all, he belonged to the Emperor’s Faction. Consequently, he had absolutely no ties to Prince Kildian.
This meant the risk of any proposal I made reaching Prince Kildian’s ears was exceptionally low.
Though visibly bewildered by the revelation that I had sought him out, Pollen couldn’t entirely mask his curiosity.
“But why would someone like the Baroness wish to see me…?”
I wasn’t entirely certain what he meant by ‘someone like me,’ but that was hardly the point.
“I’ve heard rumors that you are quite a resourceful politician, Mr. Pollen. I understand you successfully persuaded the nobility to pass a tax law that His Majesty the Emperor had strongly opposed.”
Still appearing utterly clueless about my true intentions, he gave a modest nod and chuckled.
“Ah, haha. Well, yes. I was simply fortunate.”
“Is that so? It seems you possess a natural gift for passing difficult pieces of legislation. I’ve been told it wasn’t just a one-time occurrence either.”
When I spoke in a light, conversational tone, Pollen smiled simple-mindedly, his hand drifting up to fiddle with the back of his head again.
“Haha. I suppose that might be the case.”
“Which brings me to my point.”
“Pardon?”
“It just so happens that I am currently in dire need of that very luck.”
I placed an unsigned check onto the table, setting a pen neatly beside it.
“How much would it cost to borrow that luck of yours?”
Beldamin leaned forward slightly, his eyes widening in surprise.
A moment later, the rustic innocence of a countryside youth vanished completely from his face.
Politicians were invariably strapped for cash. There was no reason for him to refuse money when their interests aligned so beautifully.
Sure enough, Beldamin adopted an expression befitting a seasoned negotiator—mild, yet strictly professional.
“What is it that you want?”
“I want…”
I curled the corners of my lips upward, mirroring his precise expression.
“An amendment to the Inheritance Law.”

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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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