My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 49

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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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Lucretia was Prince Kildian’s fiancée.
It wouldn’t have been difficult for her to play a prank in the Mansion, which was crawling with his subordinates.
It was clear that Princess Lucretia had ruined the dress.
‘Why on earth is she doing this again?’
Even during our university days, she used to torment me by spreading malicious rumors about me.
I let out a sigh.
Though it was tedious, I couldn’t just sit back and watch when I knew perfectly well she was trying to drive a wedge between us.
I immediately pulled out some paper and a pen.
* * *
That evening.
Despite the short notice, people gathered.
Carriages soon began to fill the space in front of the entrance.
Guided by the servants, the guests filed into the Dining Hall.
Watching the scene from the window, I turned my body around.
It was about time for me to go down as well.
I checked my hair and clothes one more time before spinning around.
Scheit was leaning against the doorframe, watching me, though I hadn’t heard him approach.
“I didn’t hear anything about a ballroom event being held at the Mansion. Who are all those people?”
“Well, it’s closer to a banquet, if I had to define it.”
As I stepped out of the room, I heard the sound of footsteps following behind me.
Without stopping him, I headed toward the Dining Hall together.
When we stepped inside, the craftsmen from various fields who had been invited as guests rose from their seats.
“Thank you for inviting us, Baroness.”
“It is an honor.”
Receiving the greetings coming from all sides, I made my way to the head of the table.
“Thank you all so much for coming. Please, take your seats. I’ve prepared some wonderful food.”
Scheit sat beside me, silently observing the situation.
Before our marriage, I had often invited craftsmen to the mansion to treat them to meals, so everyone conversed comfortably while enjoying their food.
I also smiled and joined in the conversation, discussing the styles currently in vogue and the rumors about who did what.
Scheit didn’t interject, but he kept his place quietly.
As the meal neared its end, I dismissed all the servants and maids with a wave of my hand.
“Thank you all for gathering like this. Actually, while I did want to treat you to a meal, I also have a favor to ask.”
At the mention of a favor, everyone nodded without any hesitation.
“We are always happy to work for you, Baroness.”
“What is it that you need us to do?”
Satisfied replies burst from the mouths of the people I frequently did business with.
“I need a dress and matching jewelry made within two weeks.”
“Two weeks?”
Making a dress usually took at least a month, and sometimes up to several months if it took a long time.
Demanding such a thing in just two weeks was bound to be shocking.
“I intend to pay five times the standard rate.”
“Even at five times the price, it’s impossible for a single person to produce a dress or accessories within two weeks, Baroness.”
“That’s exactly why I invited all of you. I want everyone to join forces.”
Despite my request, everyone seemed hesitant.
Of course they would be. Even if it was five times the amount, it wouldn’t be much once split among so many people.
“Naturally, I intend to pay each of you individually. The amount you take home won’t decrease just because there are more people.”
“Amarynthis.”
Scheit called my name in a low voice, as if trying to stop me.
Before I could even respond to his call, a lace craftsman famous for working at lightning speed was the first to raise a hand.
“I’ll do it.”
Then, he began to drop hints to the craftsmen he was close with, urging them to participate quickly.
The more people who agreed, the more money I would have to spend, but they would be able to earn a large sum in a short period while working less.
Swayed by the fivefold payment, the others began to announce their intention to participate one by one.
Five dressmakers, seven lace craftsmen, and three jewelers agreed to join.
“Thank you all for stepping forward so willingly. I’ve prepared the Blue Diamond and the silk from the Nodis Kingdom at the Villa, so you can start working tomorrow. The design is already set, so I trust you to make it perfect.”
As I finished speaking, everyone exchanged greetings and prepared to leave.
Once only the two of us remained, Scheit murmured quietly.
“That will cost sixty times the usual amount for the dress, and fifteen times for the accessories.”
Yet, I didn’t regret it in the least.
Hardly anyone in social circles was unaware of the deep friendship between the Marquis’s Daughter and me.
Therefore, if Princess Lucretia spread a low-quality rumor through the Marquis’s Daughter’s mouth, its credibility would soar.
“It seems like there’s a problem with Miss Metterni’s dress. It’s partly to soothe her feelings, but this is an expense to maintain my reputation and dignity.”
Hence, even if I spent a fortune, it wasn’t a waste.
Of course, Scheit probably thought I was squandering money recklessly on pointless things.
He might even click his tongue, thinking I was trying to buy people’s hearts with money.
I could practically hear his thoughts without even looking.
However, even I knew that material things only worked once a person’s heart had softened.
I was prepared to give him a proper retort if he nagged me, but Scheit merely gave a small nod as if he understood.
“Huh?”
I had been looking forward to a bicker, but his reaction was far too dull.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?”
“About what?”
“Well, I mean, usually at this point, you’d wear an expression that says you’re looking at a brainless, immature lady who knows nothing else but to overspend on useless things.”
“I wasn’t thinking to that extent.”
His voice carried a faint chuckle.
Fine, I admit it. I did exaggerate a little bit.
…Well, a lot bit.
Sliding my eyes away, I looked elsewhere.
Scheit’s gaze lingered on my cheek longer than usual.
“There was a time when I thought similarly, but now I know what kind of person you are.”
A man who had barely known me for a month, half of which was spent chasing him down for a divorce, claimed to know me?
I crossed my arms and stared at him.
It wasn’t that there lacked people who boasted about knowing me.
Usually, they fell into two categories.
Those who wanted to flaunt their closeness with me, or those who wanted to slander me by pretending to have seen through me.
The former usually believed the perfect image I had constructed.
A kind, generous, and sociable, flawless noble.
The latter usually believed the image of me they had created themselves.
A vulgar person who solved everything with money and used her status and appearance to gain advantages.
I had never tried to appear perfect in front of Scheit.
So, wouldn’t Scheit be closer to the latter category after all?
He probably believed the image he held of me was the real me.
Suddenly, I grew curious.
What kind of assessment he had made about me.
“What kind of person am I, then?”
I didn’t expect much. Still, if it was a compliment, I would readily accept it.
He looked at me.
I was reflected in his clear, dark brown eyes.
“You are intelligent and tender-hearted yet selfish; lonely despite being the center of attention; and though you claim you want to live freely while enjoying yourself lavishly, you are bound by decorum and reputation.”
“…….”
“A contradictory person who wishes to appear sweet and good-natured, yet covers it up as if there’s an ulterior motive whenever your unvarnished kindness slips through.”
It was neither praise, criticism, nor an assessment.
Just as Scheit said, he simply knew me.
I felt as though I had been struck in a vulnerable spot. I ought to deny this flawed version of myself. Yet, I couldn’t open my mouth.
The tips of my ears burned. I wondered if this was what it felt like to be stripped bare.
“Are you badmouthing me to my face right now?”
“If you are embarrassed, I should probably add snapping for no reason to the list.”
“Who said I was snapping…!”
I was about to shout, but because even to my own ears I sounded like I was snapping, I closed my mouth again.
Scheit continued speaking.
“Because I had resolved to get a divorce, I arrogantly and conceitibly assumed that a divorce would naturally happen. Seeing you spend the money that needed to be returned so thoughtlessly, I arbitrarily labeled you an immature person.”
“…….”
“You must have already had a plan to prevent the divorce in your mind. Or perhaps you knew a way to protect your inheritance even after a divorce.”
“…Why did you think that?”
“Because what you demanded of me at the end was a deferral, not a cancellation of the divorce. You must have calculated that whatever you are secretly plotting would bear fruit, which is why you presented a specific timeframe to me. Am I wrong?”
He was right. Within the period I had proposed, the bill would be passed.
Was I really a person whose thoughts were so easily read?
My mouth shut tight.
Flustered, I could only blink my eyes, and a beat later, a playful tone followed his words.
“Well, though I do still think your spending habits are quite excessive.”
I was reflected within those clear, dark brown eyes.
With a naive face that didn’t even think to hide its expression.
Like a person who had been walking around without realizing her mask had slipped off, only to be thrown into a panic upon a belated realization.
That was how I was held in his gaze.

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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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