Chapter: 7
The Day Before Roselyn Asked for a Divorce
“Your father won’t give up Roembek so easily. That worries me.”
“Then transfer the business rights to me, Mother.”
If she were to divorce him, Mother would reclaim the Roembek surname. And with it, the Roembek business rights that Jonas had obtained through marriage would return to her.
That’s why he let her die.
When a wife passes away, her property belongs to the husband.
Ludiana bit her lip hard.
Roselyn gently stroked Ludiana’s soft cheek, her brow knitting together.
Her hands, roughened from doing housework herself, brushed Ludiana’s face. Ludiana relaxed, leaning into the touch with a softened expression.
“But, Ludi… if we do that…”
Roselyn’s pupils wavered, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
She must be afraid.
I know the future, so I know divorce is the only answer—but…
A noblewoman of Kalatos is raised like a flower in her birth family, married off, and sent to her husband’s house.
For someone who has never worked a day in her life, giving up all business rights and divorcing would feel like being thrown out onto the streets with nothing. It must be terrifying.
“No matter how stubborn Jonas—no, Father—is, he’ll hand over the Brno Trading Company.”
“Brno…?”
“I know, Mother. I know the Brno Trading Company’s glory has already faded. But that’s exactly why he’ll give that much up.”
Ludiana smiled faintly.
“There’s no asset more important than our lives.”
The current Brno may look empty, but soon the board will turn upside down.
Seeing the confidence in Ludiana’s eyes, Roselyn steadied her wavering heart.
“You’re right. Even if we quietly farm in the countryside, we’d be happier than we are now.”
Roselyn smiled at Ludiana, as if she had finally made up her mind.
“Yes.”
No, Mother. I don’t plan on living quietly.
Ludiana swallowed those words back down.
“Truly ignorant of how the world works!”
Jonas’s sneer faded, but his eyes grew even more vicious.
“Even if we live tucked away in some rural corner, we’d be happier than now! The same goes for Ludiana and Irene!”
“Ludiana and Irene are originally Nurenbern. Why should I give up my daughters as well?”
You never once held them warmly, and now you call them your daughters?
The chill in Jonas’s gaze cooled Roselyn’s trembling body. Her deep violet eyes sank.
“That’s laughable, Jonas.”
Her voice, which had wavered only moments ago, settled firmly.
“In a few years, they’ll bring profit to Nurenbern once they’re put on the marriage market. I see no reason to give up what was originally mine.”
“Then we’ll have no choice but a divorce trial. You want what originally belonged to Roembek, and I want what originally belonged to Nurenbern.”
Their gazes collided in midair.
Jonas’s eyes burned with hostility, while Roselyn’s were calm instead. Rupert, standing nearby, felt cold sweat drip from his hand.
“…I’ll think about it.”
In the end, Jonas looked away and stepped back.
“Give me your answer by today.”
As if she had no lingering attachment at all, Roselyn turned sharply and left the study.
Jonas stared at the door she had exited through once, then lifted the long-cold teacup with his usual blank expression.
“Brno…”
He muttered to himself.
Nurenbern had grown fearfully fast by absorbing Roembek’s business rights, reaching its current status.
At the center of it all was the Brno Trading Company.
It once monopolized trade routes between the west and east, its scale enormous. But now, all operations had long since been transferred to Emden of Nurenbern, leaving Brno an empty shell.
She wants me to hand over that shell.
“For sending away three useless pieces, it’s quite a profitable deal.”
If Roselyn abandoned all Roembek business rights, every enterprise Nurenbern had been managing on Roembek’s behalf would fall entirely under Nurenbern’s control.
Jonas’s brow furrowed at the cold tea—but his lips curled upward with a thin, satisfied smile.
Roselyn marched out of the study, only to find Lea standing outside, pretending to admire the window in an awkward posture.
“There’s no need to pretend not to listen, Lady Werther.”
Roselyn spoke calmly.
“Ahem! P-pretending? Whatever do you mean?!”
Startled, Lea didn’t even notice Roselyn calling her by the title she hated.
“I’ve offered to give up the position of Nurenbern’s lawful wife. Go in and persuade the head of the house.”
Roselyn turned away from Lea as well and walked upright toward the annex.
When she reached the end of the corridor, she heard the door open behind her, followed by Lea’s nasal voice.
“Honey, did something happen?”
Lea carefully entered the study. Jonas was working as usual—but she could tell his mood was rather good.
“Roselyn asked for a divorce.”
Jonas replied in the same tone one might use to say, It’s raining today.
She really came to divorce him?
When Roselyn had stormed in from the annex to the main house, Lea thought she was going to demand her rightful position as the legal wife.
Jonas tolerated Lea now because she had given birth to an heir—but if Roselyn, a noblewoman from a prestigious family, asserted her rights, there would be nothing he could do.
And yet…
“Oh my!”
Feigning surprise, Lea covered her mouth with one hand and approached him.
“Are you all right?”
She passed the desk and caressed Jonas’s cheek.
This is better. Once they divorce, dealing with those daughters along with her will be much easier.
Lea smiled, imagining Roselyn and her two daughters leaving the family penniless and dying on the streets.
A seductive smile, completely mismatched with the cruelty of her thoughts, bloomed on her face.
“Aren’t you upset?”
Of course, her words were the opposite of her true feelings.
Jonas wasn’t unaware of her intentions, but since she behaved sweetly like candy in his mouth, he didn’t bother correcting her.
“She said if we don’t divorce by agreement, she’ll take it to a noble court.”
Jonas stopped his work and looked at Lea.
“Oh dear… how could she suggest something so disgraceful? But honey, wouldn’t that actually be the better option?”
Lea gently stroked Jonas’s cheek and signaled to Rupert with her eyes.
Perceptive as ever, Rupert excused himself.
“…Ha.”
When Roselyn finally reached the front of the annex, her legs gave out.
“Mother!”
Right on cue, Ludiana and Irene, who had been waiting, ran toward her.
“Did you wait long?”
“Are you okay?”
Roselyn, still unable to stand, hugged Irene as she rushed into her arms. Ludiana asked anxiously.
“Mom is fine.”
“Lean on us, Mother.”
Though smaller than others their age, Ludiana and Irene strained as they supported Roselyn.
Seeing them, Roselyn couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Yes. As long as I have these children, that’s enough. I won’t be afraid.
Late that night.
The crescent moon hung high in the night sky, casting a faint silvery glow.
A cautious knock sounded at Ludiana’s door.
“Yes.”
Ludiana, not yet in bed, answered in a calm voice that didn’t match her age.
“My lady.”
The door opened slowly, revealing the butler Rupert.
“Did the answer come?”
“Yes.”
“Judging by your expression, it seems positive.”
Ludiana’s cheeks flushed with joy.
A few hours after Lea’s visit, Jonas had summoned Rupert.
“Tell Roselyn that I’ll send the divorce agreement at daybreak.”
“Right now… sir?”
“Yes.”
“…Understood.”
Though it was already late with the moon high in the sky, Jonas didn’t care, and Rupert dared not question his master.
Yet instead of going to Roselyn’s room, Rupert came to Ludiana’s.
He worried she might already be asleep, but he couldn’t turn his steps away.
“…Was this your goal?”
“Who knows.”
Her black hair shimmered in the moonlight as she shrugged lightly.
“But the fact that we can leave at all is thanks to you, Rupert.”
Ludiana rose from her chair and bowed properly in gratitude.
“M-my lady! No young lady bows to a servant!”
Startled, Rupert hurriedly bowed back.
“Before being a butler, you’re our benefactor. I’ll never forget this kindness.”
A bright, innocent smile spread across Ludiana’s face.
It suited her age so well that Rupert found himself smiling too.
“Working for my lady’s happiness is a butler’s duty.”
“Thank you. Please go and tell Mother the news.”
“Yes, my lady. Have a good night.”
We can really leave Nurenbern…!
Ludiana thought of Roselyn and Irene she had lost in her previous life.
At the same time, she remembered the faces she had seen at the funeral.
This is only the beginning.
