TADQ 8

Chapter:8

“Madam. These are the mutual divorce agreement and the property relinquishment documents.”

Early in the morning, Rupert visited Roselyn once again.

“You must have worked hard since dawn, Rupert.”

Roselyn greeted him with a serene appearance that hardly suggested she had just woken up.

“All documents already bear the head of the house’s signature. Once you sign them, Madam, they can be sent immediately.”

“Rupert, one last request. Could you arrange for a courier who is not affiliated with the Nurenbern family?”

“I understand.”

With that reply, Rupert left the room.

After he was gone, Roselyn stared down at the documents laid out on the table.

“So… it ends this emptily.”

Her eyelashes trembled. She repeatedly tightened and loosened her grip on the pen Rupert had brought.

Knock, knock.

“Mother.”

As if she had sensed her feelings, Ludiana knocked on the door at just that moment.

Roselyn set the pen down and personally opened the door.

“Come in, Ludi.”

“Did Rupert come by?”

Ludiana stood in the hallway, her cheeks flushed and eyes shining.

“Yes.”

Roselyn smiled gently at her. Once inside, Ludiana’s gaze drifted to the table.

The divorce agreement lay there—but the space for Roselyn’s signature was still blank.

“Mother.”

Her eyes then moved to Roselyn’s hand, where the pen was clenched.

It’s been a while since Rupert left… Is she still afraid?

In truth, Ludiana had been awake even before Rupert arrived.

The thought of finally fastening the first button that would change their hellish lives had kept her from sleeping.

“Mother… are you hesitating?”

Ludiana stepped closer to the table as she asked.

“No. It’s just…”

Roselyn shook her head, smiling faintly.

“It feels a little unreal.”

That smile was so painful to see that Ludiana hugged her tightly.

Ludiana’s small frame couldn’t fully envelop her mother, but the embrace was warm enough for Roselyn.

“When did our Ludi grow up so much?”

Roselyn smiled as she stroked Ludiana’s soft black hair, then gently pulled away.

“I’ll finish this quickly. Please wait.”

Roselyn signed the documents on the table. It took less than ten seconds.
A neat, concise divorce agreement—completed without the husband even present.

“You did well.”

Ludiana sat across from her, smiling brightly. Roselyn’s smiling eyes hardened slightly.

“By the way, Ludi—you asked for an outside courier. Is that letter for Allen?”

“Yes. I was going to ask him to come pick us up today.”

“I see… so Allen really—”

Before Roselyn could finish, Rupert’s voice came from outside the door.

“Madam, I’ve brought the courier.”

Rupert entered with a young man dressed as a commoner.

“Submit these documents to the council. And please deliver this letter to Duke Pianus’s estate as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The courier took the documents and letter and hurried out.

“You’re leaving today, then…”

Rupert trailed off.

“You’re the only one who seems sad about it, Rupert.”

Roselyn laughed softly, covering her mouth.

“Although Lady Lea was the cause, I sincerely apologize that I failed to properly serve you and the two young ladies as a butler.”

Rupert bowed deeply, straight-backed, to Roselyn and Ludiana.

“Please don’t say that, Rupert.”

Ludiana comforted him with a sad yet clear voice.

“May the blessings of the Sun and Moon Gods always be with you.”

Rupert forced a smile in response.

After he left, Roselyn and Ludiana woke Irene—who was still half-asleep—and began packing.

Jonas hadn’t explicitly ordered them out immediately, but both mother and daughter wanted to leave Nurenbern as soon as possible.

“Yaaawn… Sister, this too…”

Still struggling to stay awake, Irene brought over her belongings.

Her luggage was so small it fit entirely in her arms.

“Okay, give it to me.”

Three small, flimsy bags—hardly what one would expect of three nobles.

So we really had nothing.

Ludiana’s eyes darkened as she looked at them. She turned toward Roselyn.

Roselyn seemed to be thinking the same thing; her expression wasn’t good.

The only one in the room who looked cheerful was—

“We’re going out? Are we seeing a festival?”

Still groggy, Irene kept asking the same question, excited at the thought of leaving the estate.

“Yes. We don’t have to stay here anymore.”

“Hehe…”

Ludiana sat on the bed and gently patted Irene’s nodding head.

Just then, someone burst into the room without the slightest hint of manners.

Lea walked down the annex corridor, her seductive, curly red hair and extravagant dress perfectly matching her flamboyant appearance.

“Hehe… Nartas, isn’t the weather wonderful today?”

Beside her stood Nartas, equally smug.

Despite his young age, he wore a fully tailored suit and strutted arrogantly.

“Yes, Mother.”

“In the end, those worthless leftovers are withdrawing on their own, just as they should.”

Lea’s rose-colored lips curled upward.

Reaching the shabby door to Roselyn’s room, Lea gestured with her chin for the maids behind her to open it.

When they did, they saw three small bags lined up—and the three women standing together.

“Have you packed everything?”

It had been worth dressing up early in the morning just to mock Roselyn as she fled Nurenbern penniless.

Seeing their pitiful luggage lifted Lea’s mood even higher.

“Hehe, guess there’s nothing worth taking anyway. Nobles in name only, with no property? Hah!”

She no longer bothered to maintain appearances, openly hurling insults.

“Lady Werther, please mind your dignity.”

Ludiana stepped in front of her, deliberately emphasizing the word Werther.

“What did you say?!”

“I asked that you maintain your dignity, Madam.”

Ludiana bowed politely once more.

“You—! You insolent girl who doesn’t know her place!”

Clench.

Lea’s hand rose, and Ludiana instinctively closed her eyes.

Calling her Werther outright… I should be prepared for at least a slap.

“…?”

But no pain came.

When Ludiana cautiously opened her eyes, she saw Roselyn standing before her—gripping Lea’s wrist.

“Stop it.”

Roselyn’s eyes flashed coldly as she stared Lea down.

“Ha! You divorced woman with no backing—let go of me!”

“My daughter didn’t say anything wrong.”

Lea’s shrill voice grated, but Roselyn’s was icy calm as she flung Lea’s arm aside.

Ludiana stared blankly, seeing this side of her mother for the first time.

“You wanted my position anyway, didn’t you? I don’t need it anymore—take it yourself.”

“How long will you keep pretending to be noble?! Hah! That kind of useless pride doesn’t work anymore. You’re leaving with nothing!”

Lea twisted her wrist exaggeratedly and laughed behind her hand.

“Just the Brno Trading Company? Hahahaha! How can someone be this clueless about the world?!”

Her shrill laughter filled the room.

“Heh, good luck surviving.”

After laughing for a long while, Lea cast snake-like eyes around the room.

Ludiana wanted to retort—but remembering her mother standing in front of her, she held back.

Getting hit doesn’t matter, but not in front of Mother.

There would be many clashes with Nurenbern in the future.

And in every one of them, Ludiana planned to step on Nurenbern and climb higher—slowly.

Just like Kalos in her previous life.

So for today, she would let Lea enjoy herself as much as she pleased.

“Madam, the carriage has arrived.”

At that moment, Rupert entered with the news, pushing through Lea’s maids.

“Yes. Let’s go, Rupert.”

Ludiana took Irene’s hand and headed outside.

“A carriage?”

Lea frowned and rushed to the terrace.

There stood a pristine white carriage emblazoned with the black eagle—the symbol of Duke Pianus’s house.

“Pianus?!”

Lea’s voice rose sharply, and Nartas ran over after hearing the commotion.

“AAAAAH!!”

She was about to be officially instated as the lawful wife—finally shedding the detestable Werther name and becoming a noble Nurenbern by blood.

But as long as Roselyn lived, Lea would always be second.

I tried everything to kill Roselyn…!!

If possible, she had intended to kill her daughters too.

Even though the heir was her son, the lawful wife’s daughters were always thorns in her side.

“Running to another man the moment she divorces—ha! Such a vulgar woman! Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

As long as Duke Pianus protected Roselyn, Lea couldn’t touch her.

Roselyn was no longer a discarded woman confined to the annex.

At Lea’s piercing screams, Nartas trembled in the corner, clutching his ears.