Chapter – 30
“…Don’t get the wrong idea. Do you really think it makes sense to quit being the Grand Duchess over such a laughably trivial reason?”
…Well, that’s true.
Honestly, I hadn’t said it with any great expectation either.
But at the very least, shouldn’t he give me a reason I could understand?
Frustrated, I shouted out.
“Then at least tell me why you’re refusing the divorce!”
“Because it’s bothersome.”
“Huh?”
Siderion, who had been smiling the whole time, wiped the smile off his face and spoke in a surprisingly intense voice.
“What would I gain by divorcing you? I just came back from the battlefield, I’m busy as it is, when would I find a suitable wife, educate her, and arrange all the proper appearances?”
“That’s…!”
Right.
Siderion fixed his gaze on my stunned face and drove the point home.
“I have no intention of putting up with unnecessary hassle. So don’t bring up the divorce again.”
At his warning, I bit my lip and quickly nodded.
Instinctively, I realized that if I argued any further, I might be signing my life away today.
And, at the same time, I came to a certainty.
The probability that Siderion likes me converges to zero.
“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”
“What is?”
Muttering to myself, Mary asked from beside me.
Right, I should at least get advice from Mary.
“Um, Mary. This is about a friend of mine. My friend wants a divorce from her husband. But he won’t grant it. There’s no reason for him not to.”
“……Are you speaking from your friend’s perspective?”
“Not necessarily. Objectively speaking, it’s the same.”
“Then there could be other variables. For instance, maybe he loves his wife.”
Mary said this as she shook the bedspread, and I shook my head in disgust.
“Absolutely not. Anyway, he refuses divorce for no particular reason. How can my friend get divorced safely?”
“Does she really need to get a divorce? Maybe it’s better as it is.”
“That’s…! My friend might literally die from stress if she can’t get a divorce. Someone’s life is on the line! So answer properly!”
I puffed up my cheeks while hugging a large cushion, and Mary hummed thoughtfully before pointing a finger at me.
“It’s simple. He refuses because there’s no reason to do it.”
“That’s obvious… wait, a reason?”
I froze, eyes wide, as I realized what Mary meant.
Siderion had said the same thing.
He refuses because there’s no reason to put up with the hassle.
In other words, if I create a reason worth putting up with that hassle, it could work.
A method suitable for creating that “reason” popped into my mind.
‘It’s a bit extreme, but…’
If this method fails, it might just accelerate my death.
‘This is a life-risking gamble.’
My palms were sweaty.
After thinking, I asked another question.
“…Mary, my friend has a plan to get divorced, but it has a high chance of failing, and if it fails, she might die. What would you do?”
“Hmm. So she’ll die if she doesn’t divorce, and she’ll die if it fails?”
“Yeah.”
Mary’s next words were a little unexpected.
“Then I’d do it.”
“Even if failure means death?”
“You said she’ll die anyway if she doesn’t divorce, right?”
Thwack.
I heard the loud snap of Mary spreading the blanket.
“If you’ll die either way, it’s better to try something.”
Right.
That simple, clear answer made all my previous fretting feel utterly foolish.
“I don’t understand it fully, but whatever choice you make, I’ll support you.”
Mary grinned at me.
Moments later, my eyes went wide.
…How did she know it was me?
Taking Mary’s advice, the first thing I did was contact Blake.
[My lady, what’s up?]
“I need you to find some information for me.”
[That’s my specialty. What info?]
“About a banquet that Miss Adrina Lizen will be attending.”
‘Adrina Lizen.’
She was the heroine in the original story.
[……Adrina Lizen? The Lizen family is a duke’s house, right? Why is she suddenly attending?]
“Nothing special. Can you find it?”
[Hmm, that’s not too hard. Fine, I’ll tell you as a special service.]
I blinked at Blake’s words.
“…Why are you being so generous?”
[You risked yourself to save me back then. I was moved. Consider it payment for your life.]
Seems a little cheap for the price of my life.
[Is it urgent?]
“Kind of…”
I didn’t know how to explain it, but Blake cheerfully said:
[Then I’ll tell you the next banquet soonest. Looks like she’ll attend one at the palace in a week.]
Already?
“…You already know?”
[She’s a duke’s daughter. I always know the info about major figures in the Empire.]
This insanely capable guy!
Now I was really curious what Blake does exactly.
[Oh, I also have info about you, my lady. Want it cheap?]
“…No.”
I had a bad feeling about that info.
No reason to pay for info about myself.
As I was about to end the call, I remembered a previous bet with Blake.
I muttered in a grim voice.
“And Blake, about that bet we made before.”
[Hm?]
“There’s as much chance that Siderion will like me as you becoming a chaebol. So don’t spout nonsense again!”
I shouted and hung up the call.
Thinking about the humiliation I almost suffered, I felt Blake deserved it.
Buzz. Buzz.
The comms kept ringing.
I pouted and turned my head sharply.
‘Hmph! That’s punishment for messing with my feelings.’
My plan was complicated yet simple.
If Siderion doesn’t see the need for a divorce, I’d give him a reason.
How?
By making him meet Adrina!
No matter how the original story changed, the secondary male lead falling for the heroine probably hasn’t changed.
But…
‘What if it fails?’
Then I… die?
Even though I planned boldly, my heart thumped nervously every moment.
Do I really have to go this far?
I’ve considered just abandoning everything and running away dozens of times.
Who would care if an unimportant Grand Duchess disappeared one day?
The only reason I couldn’t consider escaping was one thing.
‘I can’t leave all my money behind!’
Of course, if someone held a sword to my neck, that’s different, but I couldn’t imagine life without money now.
‘I guess I really am a capitalist to the bone…’
So, the neatest thing would be to get divorced, receive my share of the settlement, and walk away.
But this plan required Siderion’s agreement first.
‘The first banquet I attended seven years ago didn’t end well.’
I swallowed hard and waited for Siderion to speak.
He parted his lips with a reluctant expression.
“A banquet…”
As expected, his expression wasn’t good.
“Is… that a problem?”
The determination to persuade him melted away like snow.
‘Living long is important, but my life comes first.’
Just as I awkwardly smiled and turned, he spoke.
“Alright.”
“Huh?”
“Since we’re in the Empire, we might as well visit the palace at least once.”
Siderion looked at me and grinned.
“If you want.”
Just like that?
The guy who always refused my requests easily agreed, and it gave me a strange feeling.
He flipped some documents casually and asked as if it were nothing:
“So when’s the banquet?”
“In… a week.”
“Not much time left. I’ll prepare.”
Why is he only agreeable at times like this?
‘Feels a little off.’
A week passed faster than I expected.
“My lady! You look stunning!”
Mary gushed beside me at my brightly adorned appearance.
Part of it was flattery, but it still felt nice to hear.
I scratched my cheek at my awkwardly transformed reflection in the mirror.
‘A banquet…’
Seventh year since being reincarnated into a fantasy novel, with exactly one banquet experience.
I felt a little proud of myself.
‘Hopefully nothing like last time happens.’
Of course, Siderion’s reputation had changed 180 degrees since then, so no one would treat me recklessly like before.
‘Everything will be fine. Don’t worry too much.’
I descended the stairs with a mix of excitement and anxiety.
Approaching the carriage, I saw a familiar yet unfamiliar man standing at the entrance.
Siderion.
