My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 17

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

“…Even if I look at you coldly, you’re still going to ask for a divorce.”
“Even if you look at me lukewarmly. I suppose my mind will remain unchanged.”
Saying he wants a divorce like it’s a declaration of love makes me even more furious!
I grit my teeth and pulled the corners of my lips up into a sharp smile.
He was elegantly sipping his tea as if completely oblivious to the destiny he was about to get swept up in.
“Scheit, you really are…….”
The formal smile hovering on his lips grated on my nerves once again.
“An absolute headache.”
Just when I thought I had finally escaped the onslaught of divorce demands, he brought political strife into the mix.
‘Should I just give in and divorce him?’
The inheritance I received was roughly 52 trillion Bern (the currency unit of Melbern).
If we divorced, I would have to return that entire massive sum.
The thought was absolutely wretched, but returning the money on hand was at least possible.
The real issue lay in the inheritance I had already spent up until now.
The cost of purchasing the Mansion, wages for the servants, purchases of dresses and accessories, maintenance fees for the horses and carriage, donations, the dowry, and various other living expenses!
Combined, it approached nearly 100 billion Bern.
If we divorced, I would have to conjure up an missing 100 billion Bern out of thin air and return it.
…The moment concrete numbers surfaced, sanity returned.
Endure it.
As I was soothing my inner turmoil, I felt Scheit’s gaze on me.
“What is it?”
Despite my question, Scheit stared blankly at my face for a long moment.
“Do you wish to get a divorce?”
…How did he know?
“What are you talking about?”
“Your expression looked like you wanted a divorce.”
When I shut my mouth after being hit dead center, Scheit slowly raised the corners of his lips.
The second I showed a vulnerability, he started crying out for a ‘divorce, divorce’ yet again.
“Everything is fully prepared.”
“No.”
“You only need to sign.”
“I won’t.”
Scheit placed his hand over the back of mine with a solemn expression.
“Baroness, please do not hide your true feelings any longer.”
Conscious of the servants glancing our way, I maintained my smile.
“Why don’t you try understanding my true feelings for once, Scheit?”
I am not getting a divorce.
I flashed a threatening expression hidden from everyone else’s view. However, Scheit burst into laughter instead.
His ash-gray hair swayed gently. Unlike his dark coloring, a clear and refreshing laugh rang out.
It was even more infuriating when he laughed like that.
Giving him a light glare, I rose from my seat.
Scheit’s eyes followed me up.
“Where are you going, Baroness?”
“To prepare to head out. Today is the day of the charity ball at the Palace.”
“Hmm……. Let us go together.”
“Pardon?”
“Why that reaction? Is it a place I am forbidden to go?”
The invitation had been sent under Scheit’s name.
After all, Scheit was the Baron of the Huniswald Barony.
But still,
“You haven’t attended a single event like that since we married.”
“Is that so? I have no memory of it.”
That setting of his is certainly consistent. He uses it like an excuse only when he wants to be fickle, yet he never forgets it.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I finally nodded.
“Fine. Then get ready and come downstairs.”
* * *
Scheit came down looking reasonably presentable.
Yet his behavior was somewhat bizarre.
A slouched posture and an unfocused gaze.
It looked exactly as if he were mimicking the Scheit of the past.
“What are you doing?”
“I thought if I suddenly changed too much, people would trouble us with endless questions.”
“…….”
It was absurd, but his logic wasn’t entirely wrong.
Even just moments later, it proved true.
“Baroness, who is the gentleman beside you?”
He had merely brushed back his usually disheveled hair neatly, but people failed to recognize him at once.
“He is my husband. Everyone seems to miss him because he tidied his hair.”
“This gentleman is ‘the’ Baron Huniswald?”
Even while casting doubtful looks, they easily accepted my words upon noting his slouched posture and ash-gray hair.
I watched him with a strange look before glancing around the area.
I was curious to see how Kildian would react when he saw Scheit.
‘Speak of the devil.’
Prince Kildian was just stepping into the Ballroom.
His eyes locked with mine first, and then he caught sight of Scheit.
Surprisingly, Kildian didn’t display a hint of agitation.
As though he had known about Scheit’s transformation well in advance.
‘Could it be…….’
Was Scheit’s sudden change due to Prince Kildian’s orders?
If so, Scheit’s relentless insistence on a divorce, refusing to bend his will no matter what, finally made sense.
Given his personality, disobeying an order would be difficult.
‘I need to verify this.’
As I stared intently, Kildian arched a single eyebrow. Keeping eye contact, I toyed with the edge of my fan.
It was a signal that we needed to talk.
Catching the cue, Kildian let out a crooked smirk.
The moment the dance music commenced, he strode over and extended his hand.
“Amarynthis.”
Just as I was about to take his hand, I felt Scheit’s gaze.
He was watching me with an inscrutable expression.
Was it because I wasn’t sharing the first dance with him? But Scheit didn’t even know how to dance.
Tilting my head slightly, I excused myself purely out of formality.
“I’ll be back in a moment.”
Scheit offered a brief nod.
Escorted by Kildian, I stepped onto the floor.
The instant we reached the center, Kildian placed a hand on my back, drawing me close.
Moving my feet out of habit, I posed my question when Kildian’s gaze drifted toward Scheit.
“Was this your doing?”
Though we were dancing, there were still too many people around, so I omitted the specific subject.
If it was his doing, he would understand perfectly.
Sure enough, Kildian answered with that characteristic arrogant smirk of his.
“Did he tell you?”
I knew it. This bastard was the one who ordered the divorce, wasn’t he?
“He never said it directly. No, he hasn’t mentioned it at all. But isn’t it completely obvious?”
I let out a quiet sigh.
I was about to ask why he wanted the divorce when the other dancers spun in a circle, bringing them close in an instant.
I swallowed the word ‘divorce’ right back down.
“If you tell me why it’s necessary, I’ll assist you in a different way.”
Kildian snorted.
“No other way is necessary.”
Is he saying right now that no method other than divorce will do? He won’t even compromise?
“Are you truly going to be like this?”
I glared sharply up at him, but Kildian merely wore a look of utter amusement.
A blatant mockery laced his crooked mouth.
Scanning my face from inches away, he suddenly pulled my waist tightly toward him.
As I tried to push him away, he leaned his head down to whisper in my ear.
“Why. Are you planning to subtly coax me into your favor again, just like when you rejected my proposal?”
“Your Highness, you hold a grudge much longer than I thought. I married your man instead of accepting your proposal, didn’t I?”
“Except you married a man of your choosing, not the one I selected, you arrogant thing.”
“You accepted it back then, so why are you finding fault with it now? And arrogant? Do you mistake me for one of your subordinates?”
Deliberately stepping hard on Kildian’s foot, I spun around.
“Your objective was money anyway. It was a strategy to bind yourself to the Rutshield Family through marriage and solidify your position. You might have married off a subordinate, but I practically granted everything you desired. Didn’t things turn out exactly as you wished in the end, Your Highness?”
“I had no idea the Baroness was such an obedient follower of my wishes. Then you will surely follow my will this time as well, correct?”
I was utterly dumbfounded. He was absolutely intent on pushing through with this divorce?
I couldn’t let that happen.
“No. I intend to abide by our contract. Do not forget what I handed over to you.”
At my firm response, Kildian tightened his grip on my arm.
A sharp ache flared in my constricted waist, but I grit my teeth and endured it.
“It hurts, let go.”
“In the end, you will find yourself doing exactly what I want this time too.”
The music slowly began to fade.
Pulling myself away, I took a step back. Courteously curtsying to Kildian, who glared at me with a fierce expression, I turned my back on him.
Arpeggio must have arrived while we were dancing, as he was currently engaged in conversation with Scheit.
The moment I approached, Arpeggio spread his arms wide and stepped forward.
“Lintis! It feels like it’s been an eternity.”
“It really does. How have you been, Arle?”
“Oh, you know me, always the same. More importantly, my feelings are hurt. You rarely visit the family home these days.”
“I’ve just been, well, a bit overwhelmed.”
Because someone has been tormenting me endlessly to get a divorce.
Swallowing the remaining words, my gaze naturally drifted toward Scheit.
He was looking not at me, but at Prince Kildian.
My eyes followed his line of sight.
When our eyes met, Kildian scowled. It was a clear sign of his displeasure, but I chose to ignore it.

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