My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 23

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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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“Regardless, the Baroness is adept at reading an opponent’s moves and manipulating their psyche. She is pretentious, and she hides her true feelings exceptionally well. Thus, divorcing her without Prince Kildian’s knowledge will not be easy.”
A subtle smile played on Yulisian’s lips.
Hearing about Amarynthis from another person’s perspective made her sound like an entirely different individual.
Yulisian did agree with the sentiment that she was pretentious.
After all, she was a woman who could not even put her own servants at ease.
Yet, rather than because she hid her true feelings so well,
‘She seemed more like a child struggling desperately not to lose affection.’
Watching her from a close distance made him feel a bit sorry for her, strangely pitiful, and sometimes…
Yes, she looked quite cute.
The way she huffed with indignation whenever he pursued her for a divorce, and the way she trembled while forcing her soft eyes to glare.
A smile bloomed beneath his mask and vanished before he could even register it himself.
“It certainly was not easy.”
“We will devise the plan for how the divorce will take place, so you need only do exactly as you are told.”
Papilion spoke coldly. Despite the sharp edge to his voice, Yulisian simply nodded with composure.
Even without this intervention, the demand for divorce was no longer yielding any results.
He had been in need of a different approach.
He had felt utterly stuck without a proper method, so Papilion offering outside assistance was a welcome turn of events. There was no reason to refuse.
“Very well.”
“…Furthermore, you are to bring every set of directives Kildian issues in the future straight to us.”
His gaze seemed to test just how cooperative the other man would be.
“Understood.”
When he acquiesced so readily, Papilion scowled.
It felt as though the man was harboring some hidden motive, which left a bitter taste, but throwing away a card that had fallen into one’s hand would be foolish.
After pondering for a moment, Papilion continued.
“For starters, you must keep the Baroness tied down so that she distances herself from the rumors in the social circles.”
* * *
It was quiet.
Too quiet, in fact!
I glanced at Scheit, who was sitting across from me.
He had been stuck in that exact state ever since we returned from the ballroom event.
With a strangely exhausted complexion, he had not even brought up the topic of divorce. Yet, paradoxically, the amount of time he spent trailing after me had only increased.
Originally, he used to start harassing me at breakfast and finish at dinner, much like someone commuting to a regular job.
But now, he would come by and sit in my room before I even ate breakfast, or remain rooted in his spot long after dinner was over.
Whenever I attempted to go out, it felt as though he was subtly obstructing me.
He tag-along to social gatherings, and even when I was with others, the moment a conversation threatened to drift toward the rumors, he would naturally seize control of the discussion.
‘It almost feels like… I’m being monitored.’
Today was no exception.
He had followed me right into my room after dinner, despite having absolutely nothing to say. Then, he simply settled in.
Why on earth was he staying in my room instead of his own?
I narrowed my eyes and stared at him intently.
Sensing my gaze, he turned his head slightly to look at me.
However, he did not say anything of note.
See? I told you it was strange.
By this point, it would be normal for him to spew some nonsense to get under my skin, like ‘Your gaze is so intense that I want a divorce,’ or ‘Is staring so passionately your signal to grant me a divorce?’…
Should he not at least spout something similar to provoke me?
“Did something happen by any chance?”
“As you can see, nothing has happened.”
Does he really not know, or is he just pretending?
Ah! Or perhaps Kildian revoked the order to divorce?
Instead of a divorce, he must have told him to monitor me!
As I nodded to myself in realization, a knock echoed through the room.
Soon, the Butler entered, carrying a silver tray. Three letters rested upon it.
“My lady, the replies to your invitations have arrived.”
At the Butler’s words, Scheit was the first to react.
“Invitations?”
I took the letters from the Butler, opening an envelope with a letter knife as I replied nonchalantly.
“Ah! Did I not mention it? We have guests coming tomorrow.”
“This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
Of course it is! I intentionally kept it from you. If I had told you in advance, you would have interfered to prevent anyone from being invited.
I feigned innocence, putting on an apologetic expression.
“Oh, is that so? I must have forgotten to mention it.”
Scheit leaned back against the chair, crossing his arms.
The slight tug at one corner of his mouth spoke volumes about his displeasure.
“It is no use glaring at me like that. Surely we cannot cancel the invitations so suddenly, can we?”
“And why not?”
“Because they are very important people.”
Scheit’s toe tapped against the floor.
“I did not think you were one to invite people to the mansion.”
That was true.
However, when I visited the coffee house, I had promised to invite those close to me soon to present them with dresses as gifts.
A promise made must be kept.
Only by doing so could I dispel the misunderstanding that I was giving Melis special treatment.
Explaining all the details to Scheit felt far too tedious.
Moreover, I did not want to reveal that I had met Beldamin, so I brushed it off vaguely.
“That may be, but I have some matters to attend to this time.”
Scheit did not pry further and moved on to another question.
“How many guests are coming?”
“Three.”
They were all figures who held prominent positions in social circles.
They were simply people I shared a personal acquaintance with, not the individuals I had encountered at the coffee house.
Instead, I had already sent personalized gifts tailored to the tastes of those I met at the coffee house, accompanied by handwritten letters.
Nothing touches a person’s heart quite like genuine sincerity.
Having gone to these lengths, the wild rumors would likely not spread too wildly.
‘To think that a momentary lapse into pity would snowball into such a bothersome chore. Kindness truly demands a heavy toll.’
Swallowing a sigh internally, I continued speaking.
“I intend for us to spend time in the Long Gallery along the West Corridor, so there will be no chance for you and the guests to cross paths.”
“Hmm. Is that so?”
His response was entirely half-hearted.
“That was my polite way of asking you not to disrupt my time with the guests.”
“It was so polite that I almost failed to catch your meaning. Very well.”
Scheit nodded.
How peculiar. Why did I feel so incredibly anxious?
* * *
The following day.
From early morning, the mansion was a whirlwind of activity as preparations were made to welcome the guests.
Once noon had passed, carriages began arriving one by one inside the well-manicured garden.
As I stood in the central hall, right before the staircase leading up to the second floor to greet the guests myself, I suddenly felt a presence beside me.
Turning my head, I found Scheit standing there, impeccably dressed.
“……?”
Question marks practically floated through my mind of their own accord.
I had explicitly told him not to disrupt my time with the guests.
Yet there were far too many people around for me to throw him out directly.
Pressing close to his side, I whispered through grised teeth, using ventriloquism.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Since guests are arriving, should the master of the house not at least offer a greeting?”
“I am the master of this house.”
“Then should the husband of the master of the house not at least offer a greeting?”
Scheit shifted his words with infuriating speed.
I could hardly chase away a man who had already made an appearance…
“……Just say your greetings and go back inside. Understood?”
“Why are you so dying to rid yourself of me?”
“That should be obvious—because I am terrified you will say something bizarre—”
Before I could even finish my sentence, the front door swung open.
I turned my head, instantly composing my facial expression.
The Duchess of Beutelen, the Countess of Eloen, and Lady Metterni entered one after another.
“Aarynthis, it has been so long.”
“Oh my, did you come out to greet us personally?”
“Are we the first to be invited to the Huniswald Mansion? My goodness, I am so thrilled!”
As we exchanged light, laughing conversation, I felt a burning gaze from the man beside me.
It was only polite to introduce the person next to me, but…
I was entirely uneasy, terrified he might utter something strange.
When I merely maintained my smile, the ladies and even the young noble lady turned their attention toward me.
Unable to delay it any longer, I had no choice but to speak.
“This is my husband, Baron Scheit Huniswald.”
With a smile gracing his face, Scheit bowed his head slightly in an elegant greeting.
The ladies and the young noble lady returned the greeting as if they had been waiting for the moment.
The atmosphere was exceedingly harmonious.
At this rate, it felt as though he might follow us all the way to the Long Gallery!
I had to break this atmosphere somehow and send Scheit back to his room.
The moment I resolved to do so, the front door opened once more.
The conversation halted, and everyone’s eyes shifted toward the entrance.
This was my chance. I could send Scheit back to his room right now and…
I went to turn my body, only to freeze entirely in place.
Through the widening gap of the door, the hem of a pale yellow dress came into view. And soon, a brightly smiling Melis Haller revealed herself.
“Lady Amarynthis, thank you for inviting me.”
Invited…
I never invited her.

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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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