The Returned Husband Refuses to Divorce - Chapter 17

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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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The Calia Tree.
A tree that naturally thrived only in warm climates, it had come to this place five years ago as a monument to peace between two houses when Ines married Duke Eberhardt and became a duchess.
In its natural state, it could never survive in the Northern Region.
To maintain this devastatingly beautiful and extravagant monument required countless hands and resources.
‘Ah, so this was here.’
She had known of its existence, but it had been years since she’d actually seen it.
For the past five years while Zekard was away, Selena, who held the real power of the domain, had despised this tree.
‘Even when I offered to care for it myself, she was furious.’
She was already out of favor.
From Selena’s perspective, there was no money to spare for Ines’s sake.
In fact, over these five years, Selena had tended to it only enough to keep it from dying.
Skeletal branches and papery bark caught her eye.
Moved by a pang of pity, Ines stepped toward the tree.
That was when it happened.
“The Calia Tree requires a considerable amount of Purified Water to grow properly.”
Ines turned reflexively.
When their eyes met, the young man with long silver hair smiled softly.
“Moreover, the climate of the Northern Region is not suited to the Calia Tree’s growth.”
Who was this?
He was strikingly handsome, but his face was unfamiliar.
Someone so striking—surely she would not have forgotten him after seeing him once.
“Maintaining this tree costs tens of gold per year on average. That is an amount on which two or three Northern peasant families could live for an entire year.”
The man asked flatly.
“Do you understand what that means?”
“……What does it mean?”
“It means that the Northern Region is spending a considerable amount because of you alone.”
Ines flinched.
It was a familiar rebuke.
Words she had heard many times from Selena and so many others in the castle.
And yet……
‘It doesn’t sound like mere criticism.’
The man appeared to be blaming her, but his tone and expression held no particular hostility.
His voice carried no special emotion either.
Ines answered calmly.
“That is unfortunate.”
“Indeed it is. A rather unfortunate state of affairs.”
The soft-spoken man drew closer to her.
“Such a luxury is a very effective tool for a criminal to use against a lady.”
Criminal.
He must have meant the Lady Dowager, Selena.
“In fact, the criminal reduced the budget allocated to the lady significantly under the pretext that this tree’s maintenance consumed enormous costs. And it did not stop there—she was preparing to turn that expense into the lady’s personal debt.”
“Personal debt……?”
“Had His Grace’s return been delayed by even one more month, the lady would have owed one hundred gold. All under the pretense of maintaining this tree.”
She had not known that Selena was scheming something so elaborate.
Ines was inwardly startled, but another question quickly arose.
“But the tree doesn’t look particularly well-tended, for all that.”
“That is also true.”
The man’s voice remained mild.
“According to the testimony of a dismissed servant, the criminal ordered the tree to be kept alive only—nothing more. It appears she was careful at least in that regard, lest the tree’s death escalate into a diplomatic incident.”
Who exactly was this man?
His fine clothing and the way he approached her without hesitation despite knowing her station suggested he was no ordinary person.
Judging by his appearance and bearing, he did not seem to be part of the knight’s order.
“However.”
The man reached out and grasped a branch.
“That has changed now.”
At the tip of his gesture, there was a small flower bud.
“……Ah.”
Why had she not noticed until now?
‘It is not entirely dead.’
The tree was preparing to bloom again.
Her heart quickened.
“Indeed, truly.”
It had been years since she’d seen a Calia flower.
In truth, she hadn’t seen one properly since leaving her homeland.
She bore no great nostalgia for home, yet it would be a lie to claim she felt nothing but indifference.
“Reviving this tree was one of the first orders His Excellency issued upon his return.”
“His Excellency?”
“Yes, and it was a remarkably high priority.”
It was astonishing news on top of astonishing news.
She’d known Zekard took this Contract Marriage seriously, but she hadn’t imagined he’d concern himself with such details.
And moreover.
‘How does this man even know that?’
Gratitude toward Zekard, guilt, bewilderment.
Adding to that her confusion about the man before her, her heart grew complicated.
“I really must express my gratitude to His Excellency.”
Ines said this softly as she ran her hand along the trunk.
“I think you should. This is hardly a common favor.”
The remark might have sounded presumptuous, but Ines didn’t react strongly to it.
He wasn’t wrong, after all.
When Ines withdrew her hand from the tree, the man spoke again.
“Allow me to introduce myself properly now.”
He bowed his head with elegant grace, observing all courtesy.
“My name is Enrique Orce.”
Orce?
It was a house she’d heard of before.
‘It was one of the vassal houses of Duke Eberhardt.’
In any case, having spent five years here, Ines had gained at least a general sense of how this noble house operated.
But the man’s next words were entirely unexpected.
“As of today, I have become the Count of Orce. I look forward to our continued acquaintance.”
“Pardon?”
Ines knew the previous Count of Orce.
An old and greedy man who bore no resemblance whatsoever to the person before her.
“What do you mean? Until just recently, the Count of Orce was someone else entirely.”
Even if it was a minor nobility in a remote region, the authority to appoint titles rested with the Emperor.
Though the Emperor might not review every detail personally, at minimum there had to be a reporting and approval process.
“I’ve just received word that the succession procedures have been completed. It’s all thanks to His Excellency personally contacting the Emperor.”
“The… Duke contacted the Emperor?”
The absurdity of it all was staggering.
Since when had Duke Eberhardt developed a direct communication line with the Emperor? The political landscape of the Empire as Ines understood it suggested nothing of the sort.
And merely to expedite business concerning a vassal house?
‘He isn’t deceiving me, is he?’
Suspicious now, Ines squeezed what little spiritual power remained to examine the man closely.
Yet, remarkably.
The man showed not the faintest hint of deception—not even the slightest Dark Aura.
“Ah…”
Confronted with this unexpected sight, Ines felt her mind go blank for a moment.
“My lady? Are you well?”
Ines’s legs gave way, and she swayed precariously.
“My lady!”
Enrique caught her hastily.
She felt strange.
It had been so long since she’d encountered someone without a Dark Aura in this house.
Though it didn’t seem the man held any particular goodwill toward her either.
“Hold on. I’ll help steady you.”
Feeling the grip of his hand—not exactly gentle, but firm—Ines managed to remain standing.
…She’d sensed it since the beginning, but despite the smile on his face, there was something oddly cold about this man.
“I’m fine. Just… a moment of dizziness.”
Yet Ines found herself drawn to this mysterious man.
For the absurd reason alone that no Dark Aura emanated from him.
Enrique held her arm, supporting her weight, and exhaled a shallow sigh.
“You seem to have a rather delicate constitution. Since we’ll be seeing each other often from now on, I’ll make a note of it.”
Ines, offering an awkward smile, suddenly noticed something odd.
“Seeing each other often? But why would we….”
It was at that very moment.
“Ines.”
A hand suddenly seized her, pulling her close, and she started in surprise.
Turning around, she found Zekard had drawn near without a sound, his gaze fixed upon her with an intensity that held her captive.
……There was something almost desperate in his expression.

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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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