The Returned Husband Refuses to Divorce - Chapter 25

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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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Jecad turned his head, sensing her gaze upon him.
“Is something the matter?”
“Nothing at all.”
Ines quickly looked away.
It was merely a thought that had struck her anew.
‘When you think about it… he really does lack for nothing.’
Even from a distance, his appearance commanded attention in a single glance.
Beneath hair dark and perfectly ordered lay a handsome face. Tall frame, broad shoulders. The disciplined physique of one who had wielded a sword across countless battlefields showed clearly even beneath his formal uniform.
And on top of it all, the title of Duke Evanhardt.
Looking solely at how he conducted himself toward Ines, his character seemed beyond reproach.
‘No wonder he’s so popular with the ladies.’
Ines knew this truth better than anyone.
Had Jecad possessed even the slightest flaw, people would have whispered not of Ines as a shrew, but of her as a pitiful bride sold to a monster.
The fact that they did not was answer enough.
A bitter thought crept over her.
‘… If only I could be something other than a blemish upon him.’
Regrettably, it was already too late.
The reputation that followed Ines throughout the Empire was utterly ruined.
And in a year’s time, she would leave him with a divorce besides.
Of course, it was unclear whether such a mark would truly tarnish the great Duke Evanhardt, but still.
‘I should leave as quietly as possible.’
One day Jecad would find someone worthy of him.
She only hoped that when that day came, she would not be the cause of bringing unnecessary scandal upon that woman.
So she would slip away quietly.
As though she had never existed at all.
That would be the greatest gift she could give him.
“My lady…!”
At that moment, a thin voice calling to her pulled Ines from her reverie.
“Mei?”
A small maid stood before her.
But something was wrong.
Though the girl was naturally reserved, her complexion now seemed unusually poor. Her clasped hands trembled faintly, and her eyes kept darting about the room.
“I… I apologize.”
Mei bowed repeatedly.
“Would you be able to step outside for a moment?”
Ines’s eyes narrowed.
It was already unusual for a maid to summon her mistress, but stranger still that the one doing so was Mei.
Mei was a girl who never dared so much as a personal word to Ines, let alone make demands of her.
Especially not in the middle of a banquet.
“Is it urgent?”
“Yes…”
Mei’s eyes rolled nervously as she trembled.
Ines paused in thought, then turned to Jecad.
“Would it be all right if I stepped away for a moment? I’ll return shortly.”
Jecad regarded Mei quietly with that cool gaze, and she flinched visibly.
“Since I don’t know what this is about, I’ll accompany you.”
“No, that won’t do. You’re the guest of honor tonight.”
It made no sense for Jecad to absent himself from the gathering.
“It’s likely nothing serious. Isn’t that right, Mei?”
Mei glanced about uncertainly before nodding vigorously.
“I’ll be back before long. And if anything seems wrong, I’ll return immediately.”
Jecad seemed reluctant, but ultimately acquiesced.
“I shall wait. Though if you’re gone too long, I’ll come searching for you myself.”
“Very well. I’ll be back soon.”
Having obtained his consent, Ines followed Mei out of the Banquet Hall.
And from behind her departing figure, a covert gaze trailed after them.
* * *
‘Perfect.’
In a corner of the Banquet Hall, Julia’s eyes gleamed.
‘Even that fool of a girl has her uses.’
In fact, Mei’s sudden action was Julia’s scheme all along.
“Do as I say, and I’ll tell the Temple priests all about your hometown.”
Julia didn’t miss the flicker of unease that crossed Mei’s face.
“You’re worried about the plague, aren’t you? It would be good if the Temple sent proper people here, wouldn’t it?”
She hadn’t offered only the carrot.
“If you don’t like it, forget it. But then I’ll have to tell people the truth.”
“What… truth?”
“That a girl from a plague-ridden village is working in this castle. If the guests find out, do you think you’ll be allowed to stay?”
The color drained from Mei’s face.
It would have been enough, but Julia drove one more nail in.
“You were never so loyal to the Duchess from the start, anyway.”
Julia smiled as she dealt the final blow.
“What you used to say about her—if I open my mouth, everyone will know.”
In the end, Mei bowed her head.
And today.
Mei did exactly as Julia ordered, summoning Ines out of the Banquet Hall.
‘People really do cave when you find their weakness and push,’ Julia thought with silent triumph.
After a quick glance around, she slipped out of the Banquet Hall.
Her destination was the East Corridor, a passage few frequented.
Tonight, there was a convenient gap in the guard rotation there.
The shift change had been thrown off by the banquet preparations.
‘Fortune favors me tonight.’
Because of it, slipping one person inside proved far easier than expected.
As she rounded the corner, a figure emerged from the darkness.
“You’re late.”
The man, his face half-hidden, spoke curtly.
“There’s still time, isn’t there?”
“You have everything ready?”
“Of course.”
The man lowered his mask slightly.
Hans Licker.
One of the servants driven out of the castle because of Ines.
“That damnable woman. I’ll kill her.”
Julia had chosen him for a reason.
Hans was strong, knew the castle’s inner workings reasonably well, and—
most importantly—he despised Ines.
He’d been exiled for theft, after all.
‘No connection back to me, either. Perfect for cutting loose ends later.’
A little money and the promise of revenge were all he needed. He didn’t hesitate.
“Now, let’s go inside.”
On the floor of the Abandoned Prayer Chamber, a pattern drawn in red pigment sprawled across the stone.
It wasn’t a true Heretical Ritual—Julia didn’t understand its meaning herself. But for a Temple priest to see it and find it suspicious was enough.
“When that woman comes, put the Short Dagger in her hand.”
Julia instructed Hans.
“Cut her palm so blood drips onto the pattern. If she dies, it looks like she was corrupted by Demonic Energy during a Heretical Ritual. If she lives, the Temple’s investigation is inescapable either way.”
As Hans reached for the hilt, Julia quickly stopped him.
“Don’t draw it here.”
“Why not?”
“I told you—it’s tainted with Demonic Energy. Touch it bare-handed and who knows what happens to you.”
Hans withdrew his hand at once.
“Bad luck.”
“That’s why I got you the Gloves.”
She’d obtained the object with difficulty through a wandering hedge sorcerer.
A small Short Dagger, hideously corroded with rust.
According to the sorcerer, it had been used in a Heretical Ritual long ago to curse someone.
Ordinarily, those without Holy Power cannot perceive Demonic Energy. Julia had run several ‘experiments’ before confirming this item was genuine.
‘Worth every coin, at least. A sure thing.’
Today, Temple servants were present in the castle.
Julia had already sent them an anonymous letter—a tip that a Heretical Ritual would take place during the banquet, instructing them to come investigate.
Then the priests would see it themselves.
A corpse tainted by Demonic Energy.
The Duchess performing a Heretical Ritual when an ‘accident’ befell her.
‘Once the Temple moves, not even a Duke can sweep this under the rug.’
Moreover, rumors had already spread through the city that Ines was a Witch. Julia had seen to that herself.
Julia’s laughter deepened.
Perfect.
Ines would die not as a noblewoman, but as a Witch.
And Jecad Evanhardt, who had sat her in the Duchess’s seat and kept her sheltered, would not escape without consequence either.
Then it happened.
At the sound of approaching footsteps from somewhere, Julia and Hans fell silent in unison.
From far down the corridor, beneath a pale light, two figures emerged.
Stupid Mei.
And.
‘Ines Evanhardt.’
Julia’s heart began to race.
Just then, Mei finally arrived.
“My lady…”
Her voice trembled.
“You’re here?”
“Yes…”
Mei had led her to the Abandoned Prayer Chamber at the end of the East Corridor.
The door hung half-open.
As Ines let her eyes adjust to the darkness, she noticed the crimson symbols drawn on the floor.
‘A Heretical Ritual?’
Before Ines could fully grasp the situation, Hans lunged from the shadows.
“It’s been a while, Duchess.”
Before Ines could turn, rough hands seized her arm.
“…!”
Hans shoved her hard against the wall.
Bang!
Her slender frame crashed against the stone.
“Now I can see your face properly.”
A twisted smile twisted across Hans’s features.
“Do you know how miserably you made me live?”
Ines’s eyes widened.
“…You?”
“You remember, then.”
Hans laughed, a low growl in his throat.
Hidden in the distance, Julia clenched her fists.
‘Perfect.’
All Hans had to do now was press a Short Dagger into Ines’s hand and draw her blood.
Soon, the Temple priests who received the anonymous tip would arrive.
What they would find was the Duchess collapsed in the center of a Heretical Ritual.
But something felt wrong.
Julia’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Too quiet.’
Ines simply stood there, held by the arm, watching Hans with eerie calm.
As though she were verifying something.
Sensing the oddness, Hans’s expression darkened.
“What is it? What’s with that insufferable look—”
That was when it happened.
Clang!
Silver flashed through the darkness.
Before Hans could react, his arm twisted violently.
“Ungh!”
His blade clattered to the floor with a metallic ring.
At the same moment, Hans’s knees buckled.
A sharp blade stopped just short of his throat.
“Move, and I’ll cut.”
A familiar man’s voice.
Julia’s eyes widened in shock.
From the darkness, Ash emerged into view.

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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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