My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 32
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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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The note Tristan had given him crinkled in his palm.
He had to hide it.
If Kildian found out Scheit had contacted the political rival’s subordinates without reporting it, he would cut Scheit Huniswald’s throat.
Whether he drew his sword right now or assassinated him later, one way or another, he would eventually be eliminated.
Yulisian curled his body and held his breath just like Scheit would.
Pretending to be nervous at Kildian’s sudden visit, he curled his hand into a fist to conceal the piece of paper.
The room was dead silent. The sound of Kildian pushing himself up and approaching echoed bleakly, like snake scales brushing through the brush.
“I asked where you have been. Lately, you make me repeat my questions.”
Kildian looked down threateningly at Scheit with his characteristic arrogant gaze.
A sharp, murderous intent.
That gaze scanning for signs of defection made a chill run down his spine.
What should he say? A walk? Or swordsmanship training?
Whatever it was, it would not sound believable in the deep hours of the night.
A clumsy lie would only worsen the situation and breed distrust. He needed a more plausible reason.
Even as he scoured his mind for an excuse, the distance between him and Kildian continued to close.
“Why no answer?”
He could no longer keep his mouth shut. The moment he resolved to say something.
“Scheit! How could you just walk away like that in the middle of our conversation?”
Amarynthis burst into the room, gasping for breath.
Kildian and Yulisian turned their eyes toward Amarynthis at the same time.
Yulisian tried his best not to show it, but he was bewildered.
Walked away in the middle of a conversation?
The two of them hadn’t even faced each other all day, let alone spoken.
However, Yulisian was not so tactless as to voice that thought aloud.
He instinctively realized that Amarynthis was trying to help him.
But why?
‘How did she know Kildian was here, and how did she know I was in danger?’
Yulisian concealed his bewilderment as best he could and looked at Amarynthis.
Instead of explaining anything to her husband, she tilted her head while looking at Kildian.
Her well-groomed, pale blue hair rippled and cascaded down the side of her neck.
“What brings you here at this hour, Prince Kildian? No, more importantly, how did you get in? I received no report of a guest arriving.”
Kildian offered neither an answer nor an excuse.
He merely looked back and forth between the two of them.
His murderous aura had dissipated, but he still didn’t seem to have dropped his suspicion.
The corner of Kildian’s mouth hooked up in a crooked smirk.
It made no sense for a couple who weren’t affectionate to be together until dawn.
Instinctively sensing that they were lying to hide something, he sneered.
“The two of you were having a conversation? At this hour of the night?”
Kildian tilted his head as if demanding an answer.
Yulisian looked at Amarynthis.
This was an opportunity to hide the fact that he was on his way back from meeting Papilion and Tristan.
“That is… correct.”
His flustered, halting voice actually sounded closer to the Scheit Kildian knew.
Kildian’s eyebrows twitched with a dubious expression.
Immediately, Amarynthis added to her claim.
“Is it so strange for a married couple to talk late into the night?”
“Is that so? What did you talk about?”
The only conversations Amarynthis and Yulisian usually had were bickering back and forth about whether to get a divorce or not.
Yulisian quickly tried to recall what normal couples talked about, but applying any of it to the two of them felt utterly awkward.
A half-baked topic wouldn’t work.
It had to be a matter serious enough to warrant talking until such a late hour.
While he remained tongue-tied for lack of a proper excuse, Amarynthis questioned in a sharp tone.
“I heard you told him to extract one billion from me every month?”
It was a completely unexpected topic.
How does she know about that? Yulisian peeked at Amarynthis’s expression through his hair.
She was merely huffing as if furious at an unjust demand.
“We had a rather long argument over that. It wasn’t the kind of conversation to have in front of others, so I called him out separately tonight.”
“Hmm.”
Kildian looked convinced.
And he quickly shifted his attention elsewhere.
“So, what was the conclusion?”
“We haven’t reached one yet. Scheit suddenly walked out, saying we should talk next time.”
It happened just as Amarynthis took a step toward Kildian.
Thud!
The ground vibrated briefly, and vases and ornaments crashed to the floor.
“……!!”
“My lady!”
Yulisian lowered his body, wrapping his arms around Amarynthis to protect her.
‘Is it an earthquake?’
Before his brief thought could even finish, the loud clang of an alarm bell pierced his ears.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
“Aaaah!”
“Fire! Fire!”
“Everyone evacuate!”
Black smoke rising through the carpet coiled around Kildian’s ankles.
Kildian stepped back. Yulisian also kept his distance from the smoke while holding Amarynthis.
Staring intently at the carpet, Kildian strode forward and yanked the curtains open.
Not far away, the Annex was on fire.
It wasn’t a massive blaze.
The fire seemed to have just started, as flames were visible only on part of the first floor, and dark smoke was wafting out sporadically.
However, Kildian’s face contorted in an instant.
“Damn it, what are you standing around for stupidly! Go quickly and put out the fire in the Annex before everything burns to ash!”
To anyone looking, he seemed desperate out of fear that everything important would be incinerated.
A sudden light flashed across Yulisian’s eyes.
He released Amarynthis and hurried out of the room, pretending to obey Kildian’s command. As he walked briskly, he mulled over Kildian’s reaction.
‘The laboratory is in the Annex. Seeing how the smoke drifted up through the carpet, there must be a passage underneath.’
While he paused for a brief moment despite himself, the Butler rushed over in a panic.
“Master, the Main Building is safe, so it would be best for you to remain inside.”
Yulisian walked on without even pretending to listen to his words and asked.
“What about the personnel who were in the Annex?”
“My lady ordered a thorough cleaning of the Main Building today and threw a banquet afterward, so everyone was in the Main Building.”
“My wife did?”
Yulisian looked back.
Amarynthis, who had been following him out, paused for a moment when her eyes met Yulisian’s. Then she subtly averted her gaze.
Yulisian stared intently at her demeanor before commanding the Butler.
“We need to account for everyone, so tell them to gather in front of the Garden. If anyone is missing, find out where they were last seen.”
“Yes, understood.”
“And keep spraying water around the Annex so the fire doesn’t spread to other areas.”
Just as the Butler answered and was about to leave, Amarynthis stepped closer and added.
“The chefs have basic training in firefighting, so tell them to take charge of the people and suppress the fire. There are about five Fire Pumps equipped in the Storehouse, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to extinguish it.”
“Understood, mistress.”
The Butler hurriedly turned around and retraced his steps.
Stepping forward at an unhurried pace, Yulisian questioned Amarynthis.
“Fire Pumps?”
That apparatus, which featured a pump mounted on a water cart with a hose attached, was something that had only recently been commercialized.
“Did you keep as many as five of those items in the Mansion, when even the guards of a Metropolis can barely afford to import them?”
“Yes.”
“What is the reason you bought so many?”
“Just because. They looked fascinating, so I wanted to have a lot of them.”
Her tone was perfectly casual.
It was impossible to tell whether she was being sincere or not.
After all, Amarynthis was a woman who would buy a small suit of Armor for a puppy for one billion just because she wanted to go home early from an Auction.
Yulisian frowned as he walked.
There were many things to ask, but for now, ensuring the safety of the household took priority.
He took the lead and opened the Entrance.
The Garden was already bustling with people.
Spotting Yulisian and Amarynthis, the Butler approached and reported.
“Everyone is safe. And the fire is being suppressed quickly.”
“That is a relief.”
Yulisian turned his head to look at the Annex.
Five hoses connected to the Fire Pumps were spraying water, putting out the fire.
Watching the billowing smoke gradually thin out, Yulisian turned his body.
He offered a tender smile filled with unvoiced questions to Amarynthis, who was standing beside him watching the flames die down.
“It seems we have quite a lot to talk about, my lady.”
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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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