My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 40

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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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There was one more suspicious detail.
As far as I knew, Princess Isoldra was quite fond of desserts.
Yet throughout the tea party, she hadn’t touched a single sweet made with flour.
‘Something is off.’
I sipped my tea, keeping a subtle watch on her gloved hands. Setting down my cup, I turned to the maid standing behind me.
“My tea has grown a bit cold. Would you pour me a fresh cup?”
“Yes, Baroness.”
The maid reached between the princess and me. The moment she lifted the teapot, I shifted as if adjusting my posture, lightly bumping her arm.
In an instant, the lukewarm tea splashed over, soaking deeply into Princess Isoldra’s glove.
“Oh! I—I am so sorry!”
The maid gasped in panic, hurriedly setting the pot down.
I drew a handkerchief from my bodice and took the princess’s hand, gently wiping the back of it.
“Are you alright?”
Her fingertips were ice-cold.
“I am fine, Baroness. And you, calm down. It is only a glove; I can simply change into another.”
She signaled to her lady-in-the-maid.
The maid immediately brought forward a fresh pair of gloves and offered them to Princess Isoldra.
Princess Isoldra pulled off the damp glove nonchalantly.
I caught her bare hand before she could reach for the new pair.
“Hold on a moment. Let me make sure you aren’t hurt. What if you were burned?”
“The tea wasn’t hot, so there is no need to worry.”
Gently slipping her hand from my grasp, Princess Isoldra took the new gloves and put them on.
Her long, pale fingers were hidden from sight once more.
But I had seen it clearly.
Faint white horizontal lines sharply grooved across several of her fingernails.
That was a distinct sign of arsenic poisoning.
* * *
While Amarynthis was away, Yulisian conveyed her message to the butler and prepared to head out.
The butler regarded him with a questioning look.
“Where are you heading, sir?”
It wasn’t a simple question; it was surveillance.
As a plant placed by Kildian, the man was understandably on edge after yesterday’s incident.
Having anticipated this, Yulisian replied smoothly.
“As you know, my laboratory burned down. I’m going to purchase some necessary books.”
“Understood. I shall relay that information accordingly.”
It was a warning that his every move would be reported to Kildian, so he shouldn’t try anything foolish.
Yulisian nodded and fetched a horse instead of a carriage.
After leaving the mansion, he intentionally wandered around downtown.
He didn’t feel like he was being followed.
‘It seems I haven’t completely lost their trust just yet.’
Which meant now was the perfect time to move.
Since there was no longer any need to put effort into divorcing Amarynthis, it was time to prepare for the next step.
He took a secluded path and headed back toward Kleinheits Mansion.
Opening the secret passage, he stepped into a completely empty room.
He donned his mask and walked soundlessly toward Papilion’s room.
When he knocked, he heard signs of presence inside.
Before long, the door swung wide open.
At the sight of Scheit, Papilion’s relaxed expression hardened instantly.
He stepped back slowly, on guard like a threatened cat.
“I believe I made myself clear dawn. Do not seek me out unless there is an emergency.”
The way he glanced around made him look exactly like a man searching for an escape route in front of a thug.
‘I intended to retrieve Scheit’s notebook and discuss the traitor within our ranks while I was at it.’
But he was far too defensive.
At this rate, even if Yulisian handed him a rare book he would absolutely adore, the man would probably burn it out of suspicion.
If the relatively amicable Tristan had been here, it might have been easier to persuade him.
“Are you alone at this hour?”
Scheit’s vocal cords produced a rather gloomy, ominous tone.
Perhaps because of that, the question sounded less like casual interest and more like a criminal checking for witnesses before committing a deed.
Yulisian realized the blunder, but it was already too late.
Clang. A sharp metallic ring echoed through the room. It was the sound of Papilion drawing a dagger.
“You’re finally showing your true colors!”
Even with a blade in hand, he didn’t look threatening at all.
Nevertheless, Yulisian raised both hands to his ears in a compliant gesture of surrender.
“I came because there is an emergency.”
Papilion still didn’t lower the dagger.
“Then state your business.”
“The Baroness decoded the cipher.”
“…Is that true? How?”
“She didn’t share her methods. However, I confirmed the contents with Kildian. It was an order to assassinate Princess Isoldra.”
Papilion’s expression grew grave.
The dagger that had been pointed straight at the mask lowered slightly.
“So you came all the way here since morning just to tell me that?”
“Well, that and other things. Since my wife agreed to cooperate with the decoding, I need to take back Scheit’s notebook.”
Papilion frowned slightly. He fell silent for a moment, staring intently at the mask.
“……And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll have to take it by force. My circumstances are quite urgent. Given your suspicious nature, I doubt you took it outside the estate.”
Yulisian recalled the layout of the mansion.
The basement of a nobleman’s estate usually contained a holding cell.
However, the basement of this particular mansion was used as a storehouse, and it even had ventilation shafts installed.
Furthermore, people tended to hide sensitive items where they couldn’t be seen.
Without hesitation, Yulisian turned around.
In that split second, Papilion lunged at his back.
The sharp tip of the blade rushed forward with terrifying speed.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Yulisian spun his body.
When the blade came inches from his nose, he reached out, twisting Papilion’s wrist upward and shoving him back.
“Ugh!”
Unable to match Yulisian’s strength, Papilion let out a choked groan as he stumbled backward and tripped to the floor.
Kicking the fallen dagger far out of reach, Yulisian clicked his tongue instinctively.
“Tsk. I told you not to step up with those skills of yours.”
Papilion’s eyes wavered for a fraction of a second.
But it was only a momentary lapse; his face contorted in sheer frustration immediately after.
He didn’t look like he was in a state to be reasoned with.
‘I need to bind him temporarily.’
Yulisian scanned his surroundings.
He planned to tie him up neatly in a corner before he could attack again, then go search for Scheit Huniswald’s records.
However, Papilion didn’t lunge forward a second time.
Instead, he simply glared at the masked man from his vulnerable position on the floor and let out a long sigh.
“Fine.”
“Hmm?”
“I am well aware of the Baroness’s capabilities. However, you cannot take it out of this house. If you promise that she will come here herself to decode it and share the contents with us, I will hand over the records.”
“Aren’t they kept in the basement?”
“If you can drift in and out of this place so freely, it means you already know the layout like the back of your hand. Do you truly think I would leave them there?”
“Hmph.”
It made perfect sense. Papilion was no fool.
“But my wife won’t be so willing to follow me here.”
“That is for you to figure out. Why should I concern myself with your domestic matters?”
“Prickly, aren’t we?”
Instead of replying, Papilion brushed himself off and stood up.
“If you are finished speaking, please leave.”
“Not yet. One more thing.”
Watching Papilion walk over to retrieve his dagger, Yulisian broached the subject.
“There’s a traitor within your ranks.”
Papilion froze mid-stoop. Yet he quickly resumed his movement, picking up the dagger.
“I am already aware of that. Only a select few knew that His Grace the Archduke would head toward the Vatican after the trial concluded.”
“Is that why you’re still staying in the Capital? To prevent the news of Archduke Yulisian’s death from leaking to the Southern Region?”
“…….”
“If necessary, I can help you catch the traitor. I happen to be Kildian’s closest confidant, so it will be easy for me to contact the spy.”
“What exactly are you planning to do?”
“Since the traitor is in the Southern Region, I suppose I must head south first.”
Hearing those words, Papilion fell into deep thought, remaining silent for a long while.
Then, after a considerable pause, he spoke.
“By the way.”
“Hmm?”
Sheathing his dagger, Papilion stared directly into the dark brown eyes hidden behind the mask.
The sudden shift in the atmosphere made Yulisian tense slightly.
Did he recognize me?
If he did, how should I react?
Since my original body is dead, should I keep my identity hidden until the very end?
Yes. That would be wiser.
Revealing it to just Papilion and Tristan might be fine.
However, once they went down to the Southern Region, there were far too many people who followed Yulisian.
If he revealed his identity clumsily, the factions might split between those who believed him and those who didn’t, causing internal strife.
Until they stopped Kildian, they needed to stand united and move as one.
Just as Scheit was about to change the subject, Papilion’s lips parted.
“Why have you been subtly dropping your honorifics and speaking down to me this whole time?”
“…….”
“It is quite unpleasant.”
“…….”

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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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