My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 51

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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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Sindy’s eyes widened.
A large hand pressed down on her stiff, trembling back.
The moment the door swung open, that same hand shoved her into the room.
Crash!
Sindy tumbled inside with a loud, clattering thud.
“Ahhh!”
A startled maid shrieked.
“Goodness, my ears.”
Exaggeratedly shuddering, Saidel Nishurban squatted down in front of her.
Sindy’s face was right beside him.
He poked her cheek repeatedly, as if prodding a dead mouse.
“Someone was eavesdropping out there like a little rat. It would have been a real problem if I hadn’t stumbled upon her, Princess.”
Princess Lucretia approached and lifted Sindy’s chin with the top of her foot.
“Well, look who it is. Isn’t this the little puppy Amarynthis keeps?”
A cruel smile bloomed across her face.
“Something useful rolled in right on its own, didn’t it? Delivering this girl’s corpse the moment Amarynthis falls will ensure she never shows that wretched face of hers in public again.”
Just imagining it seemed to delight Lucretia, who threw her head back and laughed so hard her hair shook.
Then, she abruptly cut her laughter short.
“First, we need to make sure she can’t run away.”
Crack. A sharp scream echoed alongside the sound of snapping bone.
* * *
I stared at the letter addressed to me before slumping onto the sofa.
Resting the back of my knees over the armrest, I swung my legs out of habit.
The hem of my dress fluttered above my shins, but my mood showed no signs of improving.
‘No response.’
Yesterday, when inviting the craftsmen, I had also sent a letter to the Marquis’s Daughter.
Writing as affectionately as possible, I mentioned that I was worried there might be an issue with her dress since I hadn’t heard back from her.
In case asking the Butler might cause another interference along the way, I had even hired a separate messenger.
‘Usually, people reply immediately to short, private notes like that.’
I let out a sigh and stared at the ceiling until a knock rattled the door.
My reaction was automatic.
I bolted upright, lowered my legs, and quickly smoothed down my dress and hair.
Straightening my posture and plastering on a smile before the door could open, my tension completely vanished the moment I saw who entered.
“Oh. It’s just you?”
I muttered, collapsing back onto the sofa.
Scheit let out a soft chuckle as he stepped inside. He looked exasperated by my behavior, yet his expression carried a strangely ticklish warmth.
“Why are you laughing? You’re making me self-conscious.”
“For someone who claims to be self-conscious, your posture is…”
Scheit intentionally trailed off, his gaze drifting to my legs swinging casually over the edge of the armrest.
Only then did I realize how unladylike my posture was, though I didn’t particularly feel like sitting up properly.
“It’s actually really comfortable like this.”
“Weren’t you someone who preferred discomfort, my lady?”
He teased, stepping closer to me.
Then, he gently brushed my scattered hair to one side of the sofa.
Leaning his weight against the opposite armrest, his face came to rest right beside mine.
The tips of his strands brushed against the outer edge of my ear.
Suddenly hyper-aware of his breathing, I stared fixedly at the ceiling until he whispered.
“It certainly is comfortable.”
“R-Right?”
My voice shook foolishly, so I clamped my mouth shut and abruptly sprang up.
Scheit tilted his chin up, looking at me with his head thrown back.
His slightly long gray hair fell in a messy sprawl across the sofa.
Yet his legs remained perfectly still, and his hands were neatly clasped over his chest.
I found myself staring at him before consciously tearing my gaze away.
“What are you doing today?”
“Are you asking me out on a date?”
When I narrowed my eyes and glared, he offered his usual playfully charming smile.
I smothered his face with a cushion and spoke.
“Since the Marquis’s Daughter hasn’t received my letter, I’m going to visit a place she might frequent. A gift is meaningless if the misunderstanding isn’t cleared up.”
“Since your maid is absent, you mean to use me as your escort.”
He was always so quick-witted.
“If you know, just do it.”
“The audacity.”
“I learned from the best. I have an excellent teacher right in front of me.”
Scheit chuckled softly.
“Since I’ve taught you something so wicked, I suppose I must take responsibility.”
He rose from his seat and stood before me.
Naturally fixing my disheveled hair, he extended his hand.
“Where should we head first?”
“First, a place where many people gather. If we go, someone will likely know where the Marquis’s Daughter is.”
After staring at Scheit’s palm for a moment, I placed my hand over his.
We spent the entire day drifting from coffee house to exhibition.
Scheit followed me without showing a single hint of fatigue.
As a result, we discovered that the Marquis’s Daughter was scheduled to watch an opera with Princess Lucretia tomorrow morning.
Perfect.
I happened to own a private box at the opera house.
There was no need to book tickets; if I simply went and ran into her naturally, an opportunity to speak would present itself.
Once that happened, I was confident I could clear up any misunderstanding.
‘Once I meet her, I’ll separate her from Princess Lucretia first…’
Walking blankly in thought, my forehead bumped against Scheit’s back.
He turned around and caught me as I stumbled.
His gaze briefly flicked down to my ankles.
Upon confirming I was unharmed, his eyes immediately snapped back up.
He seemed to be paying closer attention to me than usual…
Glancing at his retreating back, I quietly followed him into Archduke Yulisian’s mansion, which had now become quite familiar.
As always, we headed toward Papilion Cortius’s room.
Opening the door, Papilion looked up. The seat beside him had been empty for days.
“Has Grand Commander Tristan Wigras still not arrived today?”
“Yes. I was told his work isn’t finished yet.”
Papilion’s expression was peaceful enough to border on indifferent.
It was a stark contrast to our first meeting, where he had kept the Grand Commander from leaving out of fear that we might threaten him.
Have they gotten closer?
When I peeked at him, his brow furrowed fiercely.
Apparently not.
I pulled out the notebook I had borrowed and handed the summarized contents to Papilion.
Papilion studied it intently before sliding his chair closer to close the distance between us.
“This section. Was nothing written about what goes into the soul-switching potion, or how to brew it?”
“Why do you ask?”
“I am curious to know if it actually works.”
“Your academic zeal is exactly the same as it used to be. If needed, I will decipher the other ancient books. For now, the fifty-third notebook I deciphered only contained a fragment.”
“Since it is research conducted over a long period, the contents must be scattered. Ah, and please take a look at this. It seems he was also researching the creation of mutated monsters, am I understanding this correctly?”
“Yes. That’s right. There were many books regarding demonic beasts in Scheit’s laboratory as well.”
“If it is revealed that these two things were researched under Prince Kildian’s orders, we can hand him over to the Inquisition.”
As we conversed, I felt a weight on me and turned my head.
Scheit was resting his chin in his hand, his head tilted as he watched me.
The corners of his mouth were curved upward, but he didn’t look particularly pleased.
When I tilted my head, his gaze drifted slowly between Papilion and me.
“It is nothing. I simply thought the two of you communicate quite well. I knew your academic zeal was high, but your distance is rather close as well.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Papilion’s chair rattled across the floor as he scrambled away from me.
Scheit naturally picked up a piece of paper, drawing my eyes away.
“My lady, please select the contents that would be suitable to present to Kildian. I must write a report regarding the restored data.”
“Understood. This section here, and…”
While I explained, Scheit’s gaze remained glued to my cheek for a long while.
* * *
The next day, I woke up much earlier than expected to prepare for our outing.
Without Sindy, everything took twice as long.
‘I wonder if Sindy is doing well?’
She usually didn’t report separately until her assigned task was finished.
Since this particular task involved surveillance, she probably wouldn’t have a spare moment to leave her post.
I wondered if she was eating properly.
While I worried over Sindy, the maids adorned me with a necklace and accessories.
After inspecting my smooth, tangle-free hair, subtle makeup, and the details of my dress, I turned around.
Leaving the mansion, I accepted Scheit’s escort and stepped into the carriage.
The scenery flickered past the window, and the opera house drew near.
Before stepping out, I took a deep breath to compose my expression.
Catching sight of this, Scheit offered a remark.
“You look exactly like someone marching off to battle.”
“Social circles have always been a battlefield.”

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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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