My Contract Husband Demands a Divorce - Chapter 61

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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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Early morning. The Palace was bustling with people.
It was always a crowded place, but today was exceptional.
Carriages had been streaming in continuously since dawn, and people were chatting with excited faces.
The venue for the Flower Show was the Flower Garden, tucked away in the southern corner of the Palace.
It was usually a secluded spot where people rarely ventured, but today it was teeming with life.
The path leading to the Flower Garden was decorated with garlands and festoons, and banners painted with various kinds of flowers fluttered from the lampposts.
The inside of the glass Greenhouse and the area right in front of it were filled with flowers.
There were rare varieties submitted by the nobility, as well as plants showcased for the first time after years of careful cultivation. On the opposite side, topiary and sculpted garden trees that the gardeners had spent months shaping were on display.
I entered the venue alone and stood near the section where my own flowers were displayed.
Not wanting to draw attention, I pulled my wide-brimmed hat down low and stood quietly, shielding my face with a fan.
People admiring my roses began to converse.
“Someone actually submitted roses in autumn?”
“Look at those layered petals and lovely buds. Anyone can see it’s a rare variety.”
“Don’t you know this rose? It’s a breed that only grows across the sea on the continent, and it blooms all year round.”
“They must have cultivated it further after bringing it over. It’s a white rose, but only the edges of the petals are red. It’s exquisite. I’ve never seen such a color before.”
“The name of the variety is… Frost Flame?”
“I wonder who submitted it.”
It was me.
“It’s a variety you couldn’t possibly obtain without considerable wealth.”
That was true.
Thinking that winning an award wouldn’t be difficult given this level of interest, I stood under the shade and waited for Princess Lucretia.
After a short while, I saw her make her entrance.
I had expected her to be escorted by Prince Kildian, but only her maids and Melis Haller were by her side.
Still, perhaps due to her status as Prince Kildian’s fiancée, people quickly flocked to her.
Lucretia smiled, fluttering her fan.
“I wonder if that woman is coming today.”
“Whom do you mean?”
“You know. That murderer.”
The provocative choice of words sent a murmur through the crowd.
Princess Lucretia tilted her head, her eyes widening in mock innocence.
“What? It’s not as if I’m making things up. Or am I supposed to walk on eggshells around her?”
Those eager to curry favor with her laughed and chimed in.
“But it really was shocking. Even if there’s no proof she killed the child, how could she insult her close friend by telling her to attend an imperial event in a torn dress?”
“Exactly. The rumor about her killing the child might be true as well. After all, she wouldn’t have to do it with her own hands; she’d just have to order it.”
My hands trembled violently.
I swallowed the words rising to the back of my throat and suppressed the urge to flee.
There were too many ears around, and the topic spread like wildfire.
In an instant, whispers about me erupted from all directions.
A murderer, a hypocrite, a human devoid of friendship.
Some remarked that they had always found my usual smile eerie, while others claimed my unreadable expressions gave them goosebumps.
It was just then that the Duke and Duchess, along with the Count and the Count’s Wife, entered the Flower Show venue.
“Isn’t that outfit made from silk produced in the Nodis Kingdom?”
“The one they say the Baroness Huniswald gifted them?”
“Oh my, it is.”
The Count’s Wife and the Duchess were wearing the clothes I had gifted them.
It felt like a clear declaration that they were on my side, and tears threatened to prick my eyes.
Hiding my face behind my fan, I blinked to dry my watering eyes when Princess Lucretia whispered in a hushed tone.
“To show up wearing clothes gifted by a murderer, what could they possibly be thinking?”
She had no problem loudly slandering me.
Yet she seemed to lack the courage to openly insult the wives of influential nobles.
It was truly pathetic.
While I was observing Princess Lucretia’s pettiness, the Duchess and the Count’s Wife noticed me and approached.
“Amarynthis, why are you standing here all alone?”
“Indeed. Where did the Baron go?”
Instantly, the surrounding area fell silent.
I maintained my smile and folded my fan.
“Scheit will be arriving a bit later because I asked him to take care of something for me.”
The Count’s Wife swept her gaze over my attire.
“You aren’t wearing the outfit we matched together?”
The silk from Nodis Kingdom possessed a unique luster that set it apart.
Knowing that wearing it would cause a commotion before I was mentally prepared, I had chosen a modest dress for the time being.
“It needs a few alterations. I plan to change into it after the evaluation and awards ceremony, when it’s time to attend the garden party.”
“Is that so? I almost felt slighted.”
As the atmosphere turned warm and amicable, the corners of Princess Lucretia’s mouth twisted.
“How gloomy.”
The sharp remark pierced the air, and the pleasant mood instantly turned icy.
Once again, all eyes locked onto us.
Excited, expectant gazes darted toward me.
I swallowed hard and composed my breathing.
Lucretia sneered once more.
“Were you secretly eavesdropping over there? Do you have a voyeuristic streak? Ah, or perhaps you have that kind of taste? Getting aroused by hearing insults?”
People around her masked their laughter behind their fans.
Only Melis looked restless, anxiously scanning the mood.
When Princess Lucretia’s words crossed the line, the fiery-tempered Count’s Wife knitted her brow.
Sensing her intention to step forward, I moved first.
Normally, I would have stayed quiet while someone else defended me, but this time, I wanted to speak for myself.
“Then should I, who arrived first, have vacated the spot? Just so you could badmouth me comfortably?”
Gasps echoed from several onlookers.
Since I had always smiled and let things slide no matter what happened, such a sharp retort was bound to surprise them.
As murmurs began to ripple through the crowd, Princess Lucretia smiled as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
“Look at this. You’re finally showing your true colors. How exhausting it must have been to pretend to be so nice all this time.”
“You are right.”
When I readily agreed, Princess Lucretia’s expression contorted.
She let out a hollow laugh, looking thoroughly dumbfounded and flustered.
“I realized that I really have been living while only pretending to be nice.”
As I took a slow step forward, Princess Lucretia retreated.
“I used to laugh everything off because I feared any flaw in my character would bring shame upon my clan, but I suppose that is exactly what brought things to this pass.”
“To this pass?”
“Yes. People fabricating rumors, tearing me apart, and slandering me at will, only to shut their mouths and act entirely innocent once the truth comes to light. Turning their backs with a casual ‘if not, then whatever’ instead of an apology.”
Feeling pricked by my words, several people quietly stepped back, distancing themselves from Princess Lucretia.
The Duchess and the Count’s Wife watched me with wide, startled eyes. The others spectated with absolute fascination.
But I felt no fear.
I took another step closer to Princess Lucretia.
“You all thought I was an easy target. Am I wrong?”
“An easy target? Ha! I merely spoke the truth. Because your sanctimonious attitude is utterly sickening.”
“And what exactly is the truth?”
“That you gloomily bullied the Marquis’s Daughter behind everyone’s back. And that you pretended to forgive that poor, young commoner child, only to have her killed!”
“Do you have any proof that I did that?”
“Of does it exist. The Marquis’s Daughter herself is the proof. She is the victim of your malicious games.”
People scanned the crowd, looking for the Marquis’s Daughter.
Before long, the crowd parted, and Metterni approached.
She was wearing the dress and accessories I had gifted her.
I hadn’t dared to hope she would actually wear them here.
As I stared in surprise, she offered a smile filled with deep apology.
At that sight, the crowd began to whisper frantically.
“Isn’t that made from silk from Nodis Kingdom?”
“I heard she tore it to shreds?”
“I knew it. There’s no way the Baroness would do such a thing.”
Even as the people wavered, Lucretia’s expression didn’t change in the slightest.
“As if. No doubt she hastily bought a new dress and accessories to gift her. She’s just trying to clean up the mess because the situation turned unfavorable for her.”
Metterni’s eyes wavered slightly.
Lucretia refused to stop.
“Don’t be fooled, everyone. Even back when we were at the Imperial Comprehensive University, Amarynthis used her money to buy off the people around me, turning me into the greatest villainess in the world! Whose words would a servant of the Barony follow if not the Baroness’s?”
Having incited the crowd, Lucretia tightly grasped both of Metterni’s hands.
“It’s because you are so naive that you live your life being deceived, Lady Metterni.”
Her voice sounded entirely laced with pity.
Yet, beneath it lay a bizarrely condescending nuance.

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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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