My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 45

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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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“Come here and help, Scheit!”
“Hmm?”
“You know how to do it.”
Drawn in despite himself, he approached and picked up the comb.
The maids gladly stepped aside to make room.
His touch as he detangled the knots was gentle and ticklish.
Every time her shoulders flinched, Scheit’s hand paused for a moment.
“I think it’s almost done.”
When Scheit murmured, Sindy gasped in horror.
“Almost done? Goodness, no! Now I have to apply the scented oil and comb it again. And to keep the waves from falling…”
Sindy rattled off the maintenance routine.
Scheit listened intently at first, but as her explanation dragged on, his brow furrowed with a dazed expression.
He leaned down and whispered.
“Does it always require this much work?”
“Of course. Now that you know, please be a bit more careful from now on. Because of how we rolled around yesterday, it’s a tangled mess, so it takes twice as much work as usual.”
“I shall try, though I am not certain I will succeed.”
He listened to Sindy’s ongoing lecture, gave a smooth smile, and shamelessly changed his tune.
“Come to think of it, there is no need to try. Even with your hair in a mess, you are beautiful, Baroness…”
Dumbfounded, she stared at him while putting on her earrings. As she was about to put on her necklace, a pair of arms reached over her shoulders.
“Let me do it for you.”
Yielding the necklace to Scheit, she asked.
“What brings you here so early in the morning anyway?”
“Just wanted to see if you slept well.”
She stared at him as if wondering why he cared about that, but Scheit merely smiled without answering.
Ah, this must be it again. Playing the happily married couple.
She nodded and smiled, and he fastened the clasp of the necklace.
His fingertips brushed against the delicate skin at the back of her neck.
The ticklish sensation made her shoulders twitch.
To brush away that strange feeling, she stood up abruptly from her seat, pretending to smooth down her hair.
Scheit adjusted her hair and asked.
“Are you free tonight as well?”
“Even if I’m not, I’ll have to make time.”
Scheit nodded understandingly with a smile.
“Then, I shall see you tonight.”
It was just a regular greeting, so why were her cheeks burning?
Once she caught her breath, a peculiar silence settled in the room.
She was used to the warm, adoring glances directed at her by now.
“Thank you for your hard work since early morning, everyone. You may go back and rest.”
Just as she was saying goodbye as casually as possible, the sound of a carriage came from outside the window.
“Sindy, tell the Butler to guide the dressmaker to the Long Gallery.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The maids bowed and filed out of the room.
She checked her appearance in the mirror one last time and headed toward the Long Gallery.
Not long after she took her seat, the dressmaker hurried in with the dresses and mannequins.
While she exchanged light pleasantries with the dressmaker, the assistants carefully dressed the mannequins.
In an instant, four dresses were displayed before her eyes.
Knowing how skilled the woman was, Amarynthis only skimmed the one meant for herself.
It had turned out exactly as she had designed.
Nodding in satisfaction, she turned her body toward the remaining dresses.
‘Since these are gifts, I need to look closely.’
Let’s see, the pattern of the silk matched perfectly, and the lace was delicate.
The stitching was meticulous and even, and every single button was securely fastened.
“The dresses are perfect. It seems your skills have improved even further.”
The dressmaker waved her hands in modesty.
“Oh ho ho! No matter how beautiful my dresses are, they cannot possibly compare to the Baroness’s beauty!”
My word, the woman certainly knew how to make someone feel good!
Lest she think Amarynthis was starved for compliments by reacting too happily, she tried hard not to show it. However, she couldn’t stop the corners of her mouth from twitching.
“Sindy.”
At her glance, Sindy handed the payment over to the dressmaker.
“I threw in a little extra since it must have been a lot of hard work.”
As her hands grew heavy with coin, the dressmaker’s smile split from ear to ear.
“Thank you, Baroness! Girls, what are you doing? Hurry up and pack them neatly!”
The dressmaker’s assistants carefully removed the dresses from the mannequins.
Three large boxes were opened, and the neatly folded dresses were layered inside.
“Baroness, please call for me again next time.”
“Of course. Travel safely.”
After the dressmaker left, she wrote letters to the three people who would receive the dresses.
I would be truly delighted if you wore this dress to the upcoming Imperial Flower Show.
“Sindy. I need to send these dresses to the Duchess, the Count’s Wife, and the Marquis’s Daughter, so please hand them over to the Butler.”
“Yes, Madam.”
Sindy lifted all three dress boxes at once with a grunt.
Watching Sindy leave the room, Amarynthis felt her heart flutter with anticipation.
It was her first time gifting dresses to people she was close with.
They would like it, wouldn’t they?
* * *
Early evening.
A carriage stamped with the seal of the Rootsild Family entered the garden of the Metterni Mansion.
Metterni, who had been busily grooming herself, flashed a bright smile at the carriage visible through the window.
Today was the day of a ballroom event at the Metterni Marquisate.
Amarynthis had sent a reply saying she unfortunately could not attend.
Since someone who went to the trouble of writing a letter beforehand wouldn’t show up without notice, that was probably a gift.
A dress made from Nodis Silk, which average nobles could barely even dream of touching!
This had to be checked right now.
Even if she ended up a bit late for the ballroom, she absolutely had to open it this instant!
‘How beautiful will it be?’
Anticipating eagerly, she waited for the servant sent by Amarynthis to come up to her room.
Soon, the door opened.
The servant placed a large box on the sofa table and bowed.
“Lady Metterni, this is a gift sent by the Baroness.”
“Right. Thank you for bringing it. Be sure to convey my gratitude to the Baroness.”
“Yes, my lady.”
She didn’t give so much as a glance to the servant as he left.
Reaching out immediately, she first checked the card tucked between the ribbon and the box.
The flower show. Just imagining it made it impossible to hide her excitement.
The Baroness, the Count’s Wife, and the Duchess would also wear dresses made from the exact same silk, right?
It was the perfect opportunity to flaunt their close friendship.
The Marquis’s Daughter hummed a tune as she untied the ribbon.
The lid of the box containing the dress was much larger than her torso.
However, she did not order her maid to open the lid.
Since it was a gift prepared by Amarynthis, she wanted to enjoy the joy of opening it entirely alone.
Lifting the corner of the lid and pushing it slightly aside, the elegant colors and lace came into view.
Unable to contain herself, she pushed the lid completely off.
She brushed her hand over the silk.
The texture flowing beneath her palm was ecstatic.
Only then did she gesture for her maids.
“Girls, please take the dress out.”
Two maids stepped forward and lifted the dress.
The dress slid upward smoothly and softly.
Yet, the further the dress unfolded, the lower the corners of Metterni’s mouth drooped.
By the time the maids pulled the dress out completely, tears welled up in her wide-stretched eyes.
“What… what is this…!”
The condition of the dress was disastrous.
The hem of the voluminous skirt was frayed and tattered, looking as though someone had deliberately shredded it to pieces.
Her soaring heart was instantly shattered to bits.
‘Is she telling me to wear something like this to the flower show right now?’
This was an insult.
How cheap must she look to her!
No. Let’s calm down. Amarynthis wasn’t that kind of person.
There must be some sort of misunderstanding.
She tried to soothe her mind, but the shock simply wouldn’t fade.
While she was trembling, the Butler entered.
“My lady, the guests are beginning to arrive.”
She was in no mood to welcome guests.
Naturally, she was in no mood to dance either.
However, because the host could not be absent, Metterni stepped into the ballroom with a gloomy face.
She forced a smile as she greeted the arriving guests.
The other guests noticed nothing strange about her expression.
Yet, there was no way to deceive the eyes of those she was normally close with.
As the atmosphere of the ballroom ripened, the Count’s Wife and the Duchess approached Metterni.
“Lady Metterni, did something happen?”
“You look unwell, which makes me worried.”
“Count’s Wife, Duchess…”
Metterni choked up, glancing at their surroundings.
There were too many listening ears.
Moving with the ladies toward a secluded spot, she hid her mouth behind her fan and whispered.
“By any chance, did you receive a dress from the Baroness?”

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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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