The Returned Husband Refuses to Divorce - Chapter 5

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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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Particularly troublesome was the fact that this saintess was Ines’s own younger sister.
‘I need to clear up this misunderstanding before things get worse.’
I have no interest whatsoever in your position as wife, and I’ll sign the divorce papers without hesitation.
Ines had already planned to leave first, regardless of Elise’s existence.
Rather than be sued for divorce compensation over a ridiculous misunderstanding, it was far better to clarify her position first and reach an amicable settlement.
That was Ines’s conclusion.
After hurrying through the corridors, Ines finally reached her destination.
‘…Ah.’
She found herself transfixed, staring at the massive door down the hallway without quite meaning to.
In truth, Ines had been overwhelmed from the moment she’d stepped into the Main Building.
She currently occupied a small, shabby room tucked away in the Annex.
She’d scarcely set foot in the Main Building in the past five years—all because of Selena.
That she’d made it this far without incident was purely a matter of timing.
Had the servants not all been in the hall preparing for the banquet, she would have been stopped on the first floor.
‘Come to think of it, Zecad should be in his chambers now, shouldn’t he?’
The image of Selena accosting Zecad in the hall flashed through her mind.
But an hour had already passed since then. Even Selena couldn’t possibly keep someone who’d traveled far detained indefinitely.
Besides, the two were never particularly close to begin with.
From what Ines remembered, five years ago Zecad was hardly warm toward his stepmother—though given their relationship, that was hardly surprising.
‘All right. Let’s go.’
Ines swallowed dryly and moved forward with caution.
But that was when it happened.
“His Grace is resting at the moment.”
The Duke’s chambers.
Just as she was about to knock on that imposing door, a voice spoke from behind her.
Ines stopped and turned around.
The face was unfamiliar, yet somehow familiar too.
‘I’ve seen him before.’
Precisely—he was the man who’d stood directly behind Zecad at the banquet. Someone positioned that closely would surely be his Adjutant.
Ines made her voice as gentle as she could manage.
“I’d like to see His Grace.”
The reply came blunt and unyielding.
“My apologies. There’s an order to admit no one.”
“There’s something important I need to tell him. Please.”
“Return at a later time, if you would.”
Ines considered for a moment, then spoke.
“It won’t be a conversation long enough to disturb his rest. If you can’t knock, would it be possible to ask him through the door? If His Grace says no, I’ll leave at once.”
“That’s impossible.”
There was not a trace of hesitation in the Adjutant’s refusal, and Ines’s expression hardened slightly.
‘He’s not even considering asking him.’
This was rather awkward.
Once today passed, there was no telling when another opportunity would come.
Ines had certainly considered that this might be an inconvenience to Zecad.
While it was a serious matter for her, to him—still recovering from his journey—it was likely nothing but a tedious ‘chore.’
Yet desperation prevented her from backing down easily.
There was another problem, besides.
‘Word about me seems to have already spread through the Knight Order.’
The Adjutant’s manner was far too discourteous for how one ought to treat the master’s wife.
He was clearly addressing her formally, which meant he recognized her, and yet he hadn’t even revealed his own name.
And if the Adjutant knew, then in all likelihood Zecad had already heard rumors about Ines as well.
‘I have to talk to him before things get worse. Ideally today.’
Then…
“What if I could help His Grace with his Purification?”
The moment the word “Purification” left her lips, the Adjutant’s eyes changed.
“What do you mean by that?”
Instead of answering, Ines withdrew something from her possession.
It was an herb, blackened and withered by exposure to Magical Contamination.
‘I brought it just in case, but I never thought I’d actually need to use it.’
Feeling a bitter twist of irony, Ines drew Holy Power up into the hand holding the herb.
A low hum resonated through the air.
“……What on earth!”
Moments later, the purified herb revealed its vibrant green hue.
Ines held it out toward the Adjutant.
“Would this be proof enough?”
This world was locked in an endless struggle against the Evil God.
Terminus.
In the region known by another name as the End of the World, the Evil God’s servants—the monsters—had invaded humanity ceaselessly.
Zecad had been deployed to this very Terminus.
In this war, he had brought to a perfect close a Monster Wave that had lasted a full ten years, or so it was said.
The Temple had declared that thanks to his magnificent achievement, humanity need not fear monster invasions for at least the next century. Zecad was undeniably mankind’s savior.
But.
‘He spent five years at Terminus. Even if he received Purification once in the Capital before he left, he’ll need it again.’
The more Purification one received, the better.
Moreover, the Northern Region here had an unusually high concentration of Magical Contamination compared to other areas. That was precisely why Ines had been able to find Contaminated Herb so easily.
Indeed, the Adjutant hesitated—unable to dismiss the Purification ability outright.
“But surely you…….”
Ines gave a bitter smile to herself.
He was probably about to point out that she had never manifested Holy Power and therefore had never become a Saint.
“I’m far inferior to the Saint, but it’s not as though I can’t use Holy Power at all. I am of the Chartie Family, after all.”
In fact, she could use “ordinary” Holy Power—only a very small amount, but she could use it.
Beyond that, there was something unique to Ines alone, but…… there was no need to speak of that. He was not someone she could trust.
“So what will you do?”
The Adjutant fell silent, his face grave as though lost in thought.
At last, having reached a decision, he spoke with finality.
“I’m afraid not. If you come back later, then at that time…….”
It was precisely then.
“Ines?”
A voice suddenly came from behind the Adjutant.
Both the Adjutant and Ines turned their gazes backward at once.
‘……What?’
The firmly closed door had somehow opened.
Through the gap emerged a towering shadow.
The moment Ines identified the voice’s owner, she could not help but start in surprise.
“It really is you.”
There stood her husband, Zecad Evanhardt.
Having already changed his clothes, he wore something more comfortable than before.
‘Good heavens.’
Caught off guard by his sudden appearance, Ines froze.
Zecad fixed his gaze steadily upon her face.
The sheer, unabashed directness of that stare left Ines bewildered.
‘Is there something on my face?’
Ines stopped herself from lifting her hand to touch her cheek.
Yet Zecad kept his eyes fixed upon her still.
A considerable time passed before Zecad finally opened his mouth.
“I believe I told you not to turn her away if she came looking for me.”
His voice was calm, but the Adjutant flinched visibly at his words.
“That is…… Your Grace seemed to be resting comfortably for once, and I could not bring myself to disturb you.”
“Disturb…….”
Zecad cast a brief, indifferent glance toward the man.
“Was that yours to decide?”
There was no anger in his voice—only a measured, almost languid tone.
Yet the Adjutant’s expression became even more terrified than if he had been scolded. The frozen man stood mute, his face drained of color.
Paying him no further attention, Zecad spoke again.
“Do come in. It’s perfectly fine.”
With the man himself saying so, there was no longer any grounds to bar her way.
The stiffly rigid man stepped aside, shuffling backward.
Ines, bewildered by the turn of events, hesitated a moment before entering.
‘……Well, I suppose that worked out.’
The Duke’s chamber was vast and ornate.
Naturally, it was the finest room in the castle.
She surveyed her surroundings with fresh eyes.
“I understand you have something to tell me. Is that correct?”
The voice pulled Ines from her thoughts.
When their eyes met, Zecad broke into a gentle smile.
The atmosphere was entirely different from the banquet hall.
Moments ago, he’d seemed so sharp, so guarded—yet now his features had softened. Had that brief respite done him good?
“Yes, that’s right.”
Ines met his gaze steadily and nodded.
“There’s something I really must tell you. I’ve been waiting for you to return.”
Zecad’s expression grew even warmer at her words.
Relieved by his unexpectedly receptive mood, Ines felt her shoulders ease.
‘Could he already suspect what I’m about to say?’
If so, that would be a blessing. The conversation could move forward all the faster.

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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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