My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 20

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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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“If I head to Kleinheits Mansion like this, it’ll cause an uproar.”
His goal was simply to sneak in and verify his own survival.
But what if they ran into each other?
He would undoubtedly be thrown out before he could even attempt a conversation.
‘Getting thrown out would be the best-case scenario.’
Papilion had a surprisingly emotional side. The moment he saw Scheit’s face, he might very well lunge at him with a weapon.
Of course, it wouldn’t pose any real threat, but it never hurt to be cautious.
Since Scheit was someone who used to handle covert missions, there had to be something to conceal his face.
Rummaging through the drawers, he found a suitable half-mask.
It was a black mask that completely covered his cheeks, leaving only his jaw and lips barely visible.
He held the mask up to his face.
It fit perfectly. He tied the straps behind his head and concealed his hair beneath a hood.
The moment he stretched his body and straightened his slouching posture, he looked like an entirely different person.
Yulisian stood before the mirror for a moment.
Staring at the unfamiliar figure reflected in the glass, he then moved toward the bookshelf.
Just in case of an emergency, he approached the shelf and retrieved the Marriage Contract.
Then, he pushed open the balcony doors.
Whether it had been planted there intentionally or not, a tree stood at just the right distance to grab onto when leaping down.
Dropping to the ground, he slipped over the wall, evading the guards’ line of sight.
He moved through the dark, shadow-drenched streets toward the forest he owned.
Stepping into the Hunter’s Shelter, he slipped his hand beneath the carpet. Lifting the flooring directly revealed the entrance to a subterranean passage.
After descending the narrow stairs, he walked for a long time through the pitch-black tunnel where no light could penetrate.
Upon reaching the very end, he encountered a door fitted with a complex locking mechanism.
Since unlocking this would lead straight into the room, he paused for a moment to check for any signs of presence.
Fortunately, total silence answered him.
He quietly manipulated the mechanical device. As he moved the intricate mechanisms in the designated sequence, the lock disengaged, and the door cracked open slightly.
Pausing once more to double-check for any movement inside, he stepped through.
The door clicked shut behind him and locked on its own.
Glancing back briefly at the entrance, which blended perfectly into the ordinary wall, he quietly made his way toward the bed.
However, there was no need to draw any closer.
‘It’s empty.’
Even from a distance, the bed was flat.
It didn’t look like anyone was lying there.
‘Did he really die?’
No, that couldn’t be.
Yulisian paced around the room anxiously, searching for evidence that he himself was alive.
However, because this mansion was a place he only utilized briefly when visiting the Capital, he couldn’t find any noteworthy changes.
Returning to the bedside, Yulisian looked down at the neatly made bed and exhaled a heavy sigh.
“Haa…”
He stood there, lingering as a wave of regretful thoughts washed over him.
Could they have laid him down in a different room instead of this one?
Should he search the rest of the estate?
The risks involved in doing that were far too high.
Besides, dawn was slowly breaking.
Once the sun rose, evading detection would become much more difficult. Even if he had to return later, he needed to withdraw for now.
The moment he knitted his brows and turned around,
“Who goes there?”
A chilling blade pressed against his throat.
* * *
I felt certain that I slept well, yet strangely, I didn’t feel refreshed at all.
‘This is all Prince Kildian’s fault.’
Yesterday’s conversation with him had confirmed it.
Scheit was demanding a divorce under Kildian’s orders, and no matter what I did, he wouldn’t withdraw the demand.
Yet, with Archduke Yulisian’s absence, the power struggle was right around the corner.
The only thing I could do here was endure Scheit’s relentless demands for a divorce and get the Inheritance Law Amendment passed as quickly as possible.
And then, safely secure the Inheritance and get divorced.
Steeling my resolve, I headed down to the Dining Hall.
Scheit would undoubtedly bring up the divorce as his version of a morning greeting, right? I needed to stay composed and handle it well.
I braced myself with that thought, but…
“How strange.”
Why isn’t this man coming down?
Scheit’s seat remained completely empty.
Normally, he would have come down before me, waiting to grate on my nerves.
It should be normal for him to follow me around like a ghost that died from a lack of divorce, tormenting me.
I narrowed my eyes and glared at the vacant chair.
“Strange…”
As I continued to mutter, Sindy quietly stepped up behind me.
“What is, Madam?”
“I’m talking about Scheit. Why is he so late today?”
“Ah, the Baron! The Butler mentioned earlier that his bedroom door was locked.”
Before Scheit had changed into a completely different person, he used to frequently lock his door to immerse himself in his research.
Though I still had no idea what kind of research it actually was.
He had been hounding me so much lately that I had entirely forgotten his day job was being a scholar.
‘Lately, it felt like he was focusing more on getting a divorce than his research.’
Furthermore, since I had thoroughly rattled Kildian yesterday, an order must have been handed down urging him to hurry up with the divorce.
So, it would be normal for his demands to triple in frequency right about now.
The total silence actually made me a bit uneasy.
As I anxiously watched the entrance of the Dining Hall, Sindy whispered to me.
“My Lady, your food is getting cold.”
I must be losing it!
To think I’m ignoring my food just to wait around for Scheit.
I shook my head to banish all thoughts of him.
If he didn’t show up, wasn’t that actually a good thing?
It meant I could enjoy a leisurely breakfast without hearing the word divorce. Opportunities like this don’t come around often.
To think I could savor the appetizer in such tranquility!
I hadn’t realized how much I missed this peace and quiet.
However, my peace of mind was short-lived.
By the time the main course arrived, the anxiety crept back in.
‘This isn’t some delayed ambush, is it?’
As if mocking my thoughts, Scheit never showed his face until breakfast concluded.
Not at lunch, and not even at dinner!
For some reason, there wasn’t a single hair of him to be seen.
‘He didn’t collapse while doing something dangerous again like last time, did he?’
After pacing aimlessly in front of Scheit’s door, I shook my head.
Let’s not care.
Stop caring!
Forcing my feet to move, I returned to my room.
I intended to relax and read a book, but I couldn’t focus.
When I kept looking around at the slightest sound, Sindy let out a sly chuckle.
“You’re waiting for the Baron right now, aren’t you?”
What an utterly ridiculous thing to say.
“As if.”
“Oh, come on. Anyone can see you’re looking around because you’re searching for him.”
I’m not searching for him; I’m looking around because I’m terrified he’ll pop out out of nowhere.
Because the moment he appears, my peace will be shattered!
‘Should I just go out? No. Who knows what he might plot while I’m away.’
Ultimately, I picked up the book again.
The letters failed to register in my mind.
“Why is this so boring?”
Sindy turned her head to look at the book I was reading.
Then, her face contorted as if she had just wafted the scent of spoiled milk.
“‘An Approach to Political Economy Based on General Rules?’ Ugh. No wonder it’s boring when you’re reading something like that!”
Sindy’s eyes sparkled as she offered me the book she had been reading.
“How about this instead?”
Emblazoned across the front of the book in large text was the title, ‘The Captive Pearl’.
…I couldn’t even begin to guess the plot based on the title alone.
As if reading my expression, Sindy began to chatter away.
“It’s about the secret power struggles within the royal court, and the romance that blossoms amidst it! The historical accuracy is so well done that it’s receiving rave reviews! I bet absolutely everyone has read it at least once.”
I was not included in that “everyone.”
And I had no desire to be included either. Although I shook my head with a polite smile, Sindy insists on shoving the novel into my hands anyway.
The moment I quietly set the book aside, Sindy pouted.
Then, her face lit up as if a wonderful idea had just struck her.
“If you’re bored, why don’t you go horseback riding?”
“You love riding horses, after all.”
Come to think of it, I hadn’t been able to ride properly lately because I was too busy running away from Scheit.
A quick ride wouldn’t keep me away from the estate for too long anyway.
It was the perfect way to soothe my boredom.
“I think I will.”
The moment I agreed, Sindy hurried downstairs to get the horse ready.
I changed my attire and headed to the main entrance.
Taking the reins from Sindy, I mounted the horse.
The moment we entered the forest, I let the horse run wild.
The cool wind brushing against my cheeks improved my mood slightly, but that comfort was brief.
The moment I returned to the mansion, my mind grew restless again.
‘Is it because Scheit is nowhere to be found?’
The silent room belonging to Scheit grated on my nerves to an bizarre degree. It felt exactly like that stormy night.
…Is this man seriously even in his room?
Glancing around, I cautiously used the key to unlock his door.
No one was inside.
Instead, a single letter rested upon the nightstand.
Sealed with wax bearing no crest, it was impossible to tell who had sent it.

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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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