Let's Divorce
Night gave way to morning, and when sunlight spilled across the room, Zach opened his eyes with a smile. He had Yuria curled up in his arms. Forced to remarry after her death, he had never once forgotten her.
They had spent the night together once more, and the satisfaction of beginning the day pulled a tear from the corner of his eye, which he forced down.
“I have to go to work today.”
Zach placed his hand on Yuria’s shoulder. In sleep, her body felt cool.
“Haha….”
An involuntary smile formed.
Cool skin? The Yuria who had been on the brink of death always radiated heat. It had been so intense that one might have feared burning a hand placed upon it.
‘That’s all in the past now. The resurrected Yuria is healthy.’
He shook her gently to wake her. The figure rising from the grave had always appeared in perfect health.
“Good morning….”
Yuria’s eyes opened slowly under his touch. She pretended to yawn as if checking whether she had any sleep crusted at the corners.
“There was something to do today. The research institute?”
“Yeah. I have to go and handle business there.”
The research institute. Zach’s mention of the institute brought a familiar unease to mind. If he went there, he would see Evelyn again, wouldn’t he?
As that thought took shape, the incident from the previous night resurfaced. The mysterious incurable disease that had once tormented him had ultimately led to death. One year after his passing he had remarried, and six years later he had been resurrected.
The events of the previous day had been too numerous, and the atmosphere had not seemed right for such a question, so he had held back. Yet one thing had remained odd.
“Right. But you were using separate rooms with Evelyn. Why?”
For Zach, the topic was uncomfortable, but he had to address it. He had clearly stated that his remarriage was for the sake of an heir.
Separate rooms, though?
“At first we shared a room. We needed to create an heir. But from the honeymoon period, Evelyn suddenly began to grow as a mage far faster than even her time at magic school. It’s almost unbelievable.”
“What? She was already the successor candidate for Grand Mage, wasn’t she? Coming from a commoner background, her talent was clear from the start.”
“Yeah. She was outstanding even before we married, but after that she took off. I delayed things a bit because pregnancy would have stopped her growth. Both of us are healthy, so having a child was always a possibility whenever we wanted.”
“Ahh. I see.”
Evelyn understood Zach’s words and realized that her wishful thinking had been absurd.
Seeing them use separate rooms, she had briefly hoped they had never even consummated their marriage. But that hope was no more than a foolish wish.
This was bitter. They had believed they were each other’s first and last. That belief had shattered.
Evelyn feigned indifference, acting as though she had simply been curious.
“Okay. I’ll wait here until you return from the institute. Come back right away when you’re finished.”
“Thank you.”
Zach turned his head to check the clock. It was time to go to work. He dressed while skipping breakfast.
Yuria watched Zach sway slightly as he left in a half-awake state from their brief exchange. She recalled the conversation from the previous night.
“I was happy for the first time ever since you died. Without you, there won’t be happiness in my life.”
The words Zach had spoken the night before. Her heart raced. They were sweetly intoxicating.
“Ahaha. How am I supposed to believe that?”
It sounded good to hear. But it ended there.
No matter what circumstances had arisen, no matter how much pain he had endured—still!
Zach had met another woman just one year after his death and had eventually remarried. He knew that the woman he truly loved was only her. But would that last forever?
“I wish it would.”
The love he held for her remained unchanged, yet it had nothing to do with belief.
#
I headed toward my research institute. The Magic Crystal Engineering research institute inherited from my father was renowned across the empire for its quality. Magic Crystal Engineering was a technology that maximized the power of mana beyond its quantity, and it was essential in every area of the magic field gaining popularity.
It was required not only for individual mages but also in magic towers that cast large spells and workshops that crafted artifacts.
My research institute, though limited in size, generated income far superior to the taxes collected from most manors.
“Good morning, Master. I heard your wife had a sharp glint in her eyes this morning. Is something troubling the family?”
“Nothing to worry about. Pay it no mind.”
Lena took a great interest in other people’s affairs. Especially since I was the head, she wondered what might be happening between my wife and me.
“And you’re looking bright. Is there something good?”
“No. Not much good, actually. My results lately aren’t anything special, but I have to smile anyway or I’ll get scolded for slacking off.”
“Soon there will be good results.”
“Yes. Thank you for the encouragement.”
After a brief exchange, I sat at my desk and began flipping through a bundle of papers. These were my duties. Real-world or field work was handled by Evelyn, so I rarely left this position.
As I flipped through the documents and toyed with the pen, time passed slowly. Thanks to Evelyn’s extreme workaholism, I had been spared having to handle tasks that should have been mine.
‘Doesn’t she have only twenty-four hours in a day?’
She was also passionate about increasing the number of circles in her own heart. As a mage, I respected her. There was no doubt she was an extraordinary mage, regardless of her personality or character.
I had just finished eating lunch when the papers and pen continued to occupy me.
“Master! Master, Master. Here’s Madam. Madam is coming this way.”
Lena gave me urgent signals. Following her lead, Evelyn was approaching. I was the head of this institute, yet in reality Evelyn held all power.
I had authority to decide policy, but the most brilliant mage in the institute was Evelyn. In fact, it was a shame she was not part of the Magic Tower, as her talent was that great.
Genius.
Starting from a disadvantageous commoner background, she had graduated top of her class at magic school and had followed a path brighter than anyone else’s. At twenty she had won the Alcaide Prize with a paper on curse removal using magic. She had more than enough reason to be called a genius. Always one or two circles ahead of her peers. Her talent was overwhelming.
Sixth Circle mage.
That was her current level. When we married she had been a fifth circle mage, one step above me, but she had soared in spectacular growth and reached sixth circle in her late twenties.
Having reached sixth circle around the same time as the current Grand Mage Alcaide, she was also called a candidate for the next Grand Mage.
On top of that, as the head’s wife she held influence over appointments. Everyone in the institute had no choice but to watch her every move.
She approached me and whispered close to my ear.
“Did you sleep well last night? Normally you’d have dark circles down to your cheekbones in the morning, but today your face is clear. Did something good happen last night?”
“I slept well. So what is it? You don’t usually come here.”
“I came because I was worried about going home today and who-knows-what you might be doing with another woman. Is it a bad time?”
“No. It’s fine.”
“Your answer is short. Your expression too. Why are you acting like this? You should be the one apologizing first since you were the one who messed up, right?”
“I’m really sorry.”
“You’re getting on your knees to receive it. Good. So what’s the compensation?”
“I don’t know if you’ll believe this, but I’ve never once spread my legs for anyone else. Not even a single drink or meal with anyone else. While you were playing around in my thighs like that. Even among nobles, you know this is enough reason for divorce.”
Evelyn poured out her words like a machine gun, as if emptying a prepared bundle. I listened carefully to every syllable and nodded.
“So what should I use for compensation?”
“Anything. Whatever you want.”
Evelyn crossed her arms and looked down at me. Her brows furrowed and her lips pressed together, overflowing with dissatisfaction over the current situation.
“Don’t answer vaguely. Be specific. Anything? If I asked you to hand over this institute, would you do it?”
“Yes. I will. This one would do?”
“What? You just thought of that and answered?”
“I didn’t know what to give you, so I’m giving whatever you ask. If there’s anything else you need, tell me. It’s my family’s property—you already know that. So ask for whatever you want. Things owned by the family can’t be given, but everything else I can give.”
Upon hearing my words, Evelyn blinked twice. Her lips parted slightly. She dropped her arms and tensed her shoulders. Her brows twitched.
“What kind of talk is that? Are you playing a joke on me? You don’t know the situation?”
“I’ve never once played a joke on you. Everything I said is sincere. In exchange, there’s just one thing I ask. If you’ll accept this, I’ll give you anything else.”
I took a deep breath and said,
“Let’s divorce.”
