The Returned Husband Refuses to Divorce - Chapter 18

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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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“Could it be…….”
Did you come running?
Ines, who had started to ask this, clamped her mouth shut.
‘That can’t be right.’
Or rather, even if he had come rushing over in haste, it wouldn’t matter much. He must have caught sight of her stumbling from a distance and panicked.
After all, for him to inherit his peerage without incident, Ines needed to stay alive and well.
“I’m fine, sir. Thank you for steadying me.”
Ines placed her hand over Zekard’s large one that gripped her arm.
“It was just a fainting spell. I can stand on my own now.”
It was a polite way of asking him to let go.
Yet for some reason, Zekard didn’t budge.
Rather, as if entranced, his grip on her shoulder only tightened.
“Ah——”
Ines couldn’t help but let out a faint cry of pain.
Then Zekard seemed to snap out of a trance, coming back to himself.
“……I’m sorry.”
Ines, who had instinctively begun to placate him, hesitated.
His expression looked so terribly pained that she felt as though she shouldn’t touch him carelessly.
By the time she’d collected herself, Zekard had already returned to his usual demeanor.
“Enrique, what are you doing here?”
His face was relaxed, but his eyes were cold and emotionless.
“I was paying my respects to the lady.”
“I told you to leave for the day.”
“I happened to run into her on my way out. It would be rude to simply pass by, wouldn’t it?”
Zekard was a man who radiated an oppressive presence merely by existing.
Yet seeing how Enrique didn’t yield a word to him suggested that he was no ordinary character either.
“Fine. Now go. You don’t start work until next week.”
“……Start work?”
Unable to contain herself, Ines interjected, and Enrique answered boldly.
“Yes. I’ve taken on the responsibility of your education going forward.”
“You don’t mean education in territory administration, do you?”
Ines was taken aback.
Though Zekard had mentioned education before, she’d assumed it would proceed merely as a formality.
‘He was serious enough to assign a retainer to me?’
Seizing the opportunity, Zekard’s eyes gleamed.
“If you’re dissatisfied with my choice, I can replace him at once.”
“No, that’s not it at all.”
“Then you’re pleased?”
“That is…….”
Ines, on the verge of nodding thoughtlessly, clamped her lips shut.
There was something suspicious in the gleam of Zekard’s eyes as he faced her.
Something told her that if she agreed, something bad would happen…….
“……Well, there’s no need to change an appointment already made, is there? It would be troublesome to search for someone new.”
His mouth softened, as if she’d given the right answer.
“Don’t worry about me. If you need anything, just let me know at any time.”
Enrique, who had been watching all of this unfold from the side, pretended to be bored and turned away.
“Anything else to say?”
“Nothing, of course.”
“Then go.”
Enrique saluted as if he’d been waiting for those words, then departed with unhurried grace.
Now only Ines and Zekard remained before the Calia Tree.
Ines, watching for his reaction, asked awkwardly.
“Are you finished with your schedule for the day? I thought I heard you had a lot to do earlier.”
“Nearly finished. There’s no need to worry.”
Then that must be how it was.
‘Perhaps there’s less to do than I thought…….’
It hadn’t been long since his return, and she’d assumed he’d be occupied with internal affairs, yet it seemed that wasn’t entirely the case.
“Ah. I had a question about the Baron of Orche.”
“What is it?”
“The baron I knew was a different person. Did something change at some point?”
“Not long ago. The former Marquis of House Orche was discovered to have embezzled taxes over the past five years in collusion with the Countess. He is currently in custody.”
Zekard answered as though it were of little consequence.
“Enrique is his second son and the legitimate heir. He will lead House Orche going forward. We received His Majesty’s approval today as well.”
Ines found it oddly remarkable.
‘When did he manage to accomplish so much?’
Since his return, Zekard had always looked after Ines.
His care extended beyond meals to every aspect of her daily life.
Though she was always grateful to him for it, Ines couldn’t help but wonder, separate from her gratitude.
How had he managed to attend to her while simultaneously completing all those tasks?
‘It was as if he’d planned everything in advance the moment he arrived home….’
Just then, Zekard’s voice drew Ines from her thoughts.
“Enrique is young, but his abilities are widely recognized. In various ways, he seemed likely to be of service to you, so I selected him.”
“Ah, I see.”
“However, his temperament leaves something to be desired. Should he ever speak or act disrespectfully, please tell me at once.”
Ines laughed awkwardly.
‘That must be it, then.’
Aside from the dark aura, there was something distinctly distant about this man Enrique—a chill that lingered even beneath his smile.
But they would never grow close anyway, so it hardly mattered.
“Oh, but about this tree…”
Just then, a figure appeared in the distance.
“Your Excellency!”
Both their gazes turned toward the voice.
“Forgive me—I’m out of breath—but you left the meeting so suddenly…”
It was Fin Delaine, Zekard’s aide.
“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble… might you return for a moment…”
The way he glanced about nervously was almost pitiful.
‘But didn’t he say all the work was finished earlier?’
When she glanced over, Zekard was looking at Ines, not even acknowledging his aide.
“What were you just saying?”
“Oh… it’s nothing.”
He had meant to discuss the disposition of the Calia Tree, but since it wasn’t urgent, there seemed no need to bring it up now.
“Go ahead. I was about to retire to my room anyway.”
“Are you certain? If you should collapse again…”
“I simply twisted my foot earlier. I assure you, I’m perfectly fine.”
Yet Zekard’s expression remained troubled.
“We’ll see each other at dinner this evening.”
Only then did Zekard reluctantly nod.
“I’ll have a maid attend you. Please wait here a moment.”
He pressed upon Ines several times not to go anywhere alone, and only after receiving her assurance did he finally depart.
“Whew.”
Ines exhaled softly, feeling oddly drained.
Behind her, the branches of the Calia Tree swayed gently.
* * *
It was a season when biting winds swept through the land.
No one raised in the Northern Region would dare venture outside in such vicious weather.
Everyone barred their doors and waited for this cursed blizzard to pass.
Yet one woman ran barefoot into the storm.
〈Please believe me, Your Excellency. I beg you.〉
Her voice trembled thinly.
〈I didn’t do it. I truly didn’t.〉
The woman, clothed in nothing but a thin indoor robe, shivered as she pleaded again and again.
Her eyes held desperation and yearning.
〈I never tried to poison the Saint. Never.〉
And before her stood a man.
A towering figure, massive as a mountain, who seemed unbreakable in the face of any hardship.
〈I understand.〉
The man answered briefly, then draped his cloak around his wife’s shoulders.
〈It’s cold. Let me handle this. Go inside.〉
Yet he knew the truth.
He did not believe in his wife’s innocence.
The woman had sensed that cruel and terrible truth from the very beginning.
“I see.”
The woman with hollow eyes lowered her head and released the hand she had been holding.
That was the end of it.
Freed, the man looked down at her for a moment, then turned and left without hesitation.
No one was at fault.
She understood that he could not trust her.
The circumstances, all the evidence, had pushed her toward the role of culprit.
Yet he was foolishly determined to shoulder everything himself in order to save his wife.
It was something she should be grateful for.
Without him, she would die as a criminal.
But even so…
“I truly did not do it.”
Watching her husband’s retreating figure, Ines was struck by a profound loneliness.
……
“……Ah.”
Ines’ eyes snapped open.
Cold sweat covered her body, and her heart was racing.
It must have been a nightmare.
Lying in bed and blinking blankly, Ines finally came to herself.
‘What kind of absurd dream was that?’

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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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