Managing the Divorce
The afternoon lecture ran over its scheduled end time.
The moment I stepped into the classroom, Riel Ignis had once again returned to that familiar state: expressionless and silent, the same quiet girl I had come to know. Beside her, the air between her and Liliana felt oddly awkward.
In the end, that day ended with neither Riel nor Liliana uttering a single word to me during class.
**That night**
**Aurum Hall dormitory of Gransen Academy**
Inside my private room, reserved for nobles of count rank and above, I lay sprawled across the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The day had been far too complicated.
It had been nearly ten years since I had parted ways with Liliana… Liliana. And she had been the one to request the divorce.
Yet less than an hour after that separation had been finalized, I had learned the true self of Duchess’s daughter Riel Ignis, and I had become her friend.
The farewell from the one I loved.
The appearance of Riel that had differed greatly from the original novel’s depiction.
Those two events alone were still leaving my mind in a complete tangle.
At least the silver lining was that the negative thoughts born after the divorce had, for the most part, sunk to the depths of my consciousness through conversation with Riel.
After mulling over tomorrow’s situation, drowsiness finally overtook me.
Ah… I had forgotten to inform Father that Liliana had requested the divorce.
My cluttered mind had somehow caused me to forget the simple act of delivering the message.
No choice. Tomorrow I would have to ask the maid to send the letter instead.
**The next day**
I explained the situation to the exclusive maid who had brought breakfast.
She looked slightly startled by the news that Liliana had requested the divorce, then nodded obediently after I told her to write the letter and deliver it to the Count’s residence.
After handing her the letter, I left the room and headed for the dormitory exit.
Because I had stayed behind to write it, it was already late. Most of the other students had already left the dorm.
As I stepped out, the women’s dormitory of Aurum Hall stood on the opposite side.
And there, right in front of it, I spotted a flash of crimson hair.
The girl who came running straight toward me was Riel Ignis.
“Kyou, hello!”
“Y-Yeah… hello, Riel.”
Because no one was around, Riel’s expression was bright and colorful—the same vibrant one I had seen on the rooftop yesterday.
“Usually you leave later than this, don’t you?”
“N-No, there was something I had to do today… Were you waiting for me?”
A faint blush colored Riel’s cheeks.
“Since the dorm is close anyway, I thought it might be nice if friends went to class together.”
She looked up at me with those eyes, asking in a voice that said, “Is that all right?”
Honestly, who in their right mind would turn down a smile like that coming from a beautiful girl like her?
The Count’s house and the Duke’s house both resided in Aurum Hall, which was near the academy. As for Liliana, a baron’s daughter who was only minor nobility, she lived in the more distant Argen Hall.
My father was a knight, but since the title was not hereditary, he was treated as a commoner like Alan. The rest of the commoners lived in Cupr Hall down in the lower town.
The lower the dormitory rank, the farther it was from the academy, so students of Aurum Hall rarely arrived late even if they started a bit late.
So, seeing the person waiting in front of the academy gate, I addressed Riel.
“You should start leaving a little earlier from now on.”
Riel noticed who I was looking at, of course. Her expression instantly darkened.
“Indeed.”
She turned her head, flashed a bright smile, and came running straight toward me.
It was Alan Ludwig.
“Riel! You’re late today!”
Riel returned to her usual expressionless face.
“I was worried when I saw you weren’t in the classroom. Why did you come all the way late?”
“……”
She immediately fell silent and turned her head.
…It was clear to me now, after hearing it directly.
Riel truly hated Alan.
Alan himself seemed completely unaware of it.
To stand there with such a stiff expression while still sticking to her like nothing was wrong was truly impressive.
“Come on, let’s head to the classroom quickly! Everyone’s waiting!”
Alan reached out to grab Riel’s hand without her permission, intending to take her by the arm.
This was a nobleman’s behavior that could not be praised—unlawfully holding a woman’s hand, even if she was neither a lover nor even a close friend.
But to Alan, Riel was already a close childhood friend. And Alan was not even a nobleman to begin with.
Still, I tried to stop him with a single word.
**Slap!**
Riel slapped the hand Alan was extending toward her.
Then, in a flash, she darted behind me and hid.
Alan’s gaze turned toward me.
Ah, he’d taken the bait.
“You…?”
But hadn’t he been standing right beside Riel all this time? How had he only just noticed my presence?
What a narrow field of vision this guy had.
“Kyou Ventus.”
The words came out a little stiff from my lips.
Honestly, my impression of Alan Ludwig wasn’t all that bad.
On the contrary, before I came here, as a fan of the original novel, I had liked him for the simple reason that he was the protagonist.
But now that I was Kyou Ventus, this man was, by any measure, close to an enemy.
“You can’t just grab a woman’s hand like you own it. This can’t be allowed. Alan Ludwig.”
“You have nothing to do with this.”
“I’m the king’s subject. I can’t just watch this kind of nonsense happen right in front of me.”
Alan gave me a look that seemed faintly displeased.
Of course he would. Alan disliked arrogant nobles above all else.
He certainly didn’t think I was arrogant, but how would he know what kind of person I was?
“There are no nobles or commoners in the academy.”
“That’s not an excuse to ignore manners. It’s an order not to discriminate by social rank.”
I glared sharply at Alan.
Honestly, I couldn’t deny that a little emotion had slipped into my voice.
“Well, since you’re not a noble, talking about manners probably won’t do you any good.”
“You little—”
Alan slid his hand toward the sword at his waist.
“Are you trying to draw it? I recommend you think twice before you do. There are people around.”
“……”
The two guards stationed at the academy gate had already raised their weapons and were giving Alan a warning glare.
The academy guards never intervened in student fights. They only stepped in when a fair duel escalated into something violent.
And in this case, Alan was the one unilaterally dragging the situation into violence.
The guards’ warning was more than enough.
**Tsk.**
Alan withdrew his hand.
No matter how much he hated the noble who was provoking him, he wasn’t the kind of single-minded idiot who would draw his sword against the guards or the academy itself.
“Riel, come on. Let’s go to the classroom.”
Alan tried to approach Riel again, intending to take her with him.
But Riel had clung tightly to my back and refused to move.
“Riel!!”
“Shouting at a woman! Have you even tasted proper manners?”
“Stay out of this!!”
“N-No, I can’t just stand by like that.”
Protecting her, I stepped back with Riel.
“As her friend, I can’t just watch this situation unfold, regardless of whether you’re a noble or not.”
“What did you say?”
“Are you deaf? I said I can’t stand by as her friend.”
“Don’t make me laugh! You little—”
Alan stopped himself from shouting, but it was already too late.
There were spectators now, even if it was late. Anyone walking past the gate would have stopped to watch.
And the scene was clear: a single girl hiding behind a boy’s back while another boy yelled.
Even if Alan was popular among the students, his image was already ruined.
“…Damn it.”
The spectators’ eyes were bothering him. Alan stared at Riel for a moment longer, then turned and left.
As one side vanished, the crowd began to disperse a little.
“Riel.”
“……”
“Are you all right?”
Riel nodded with obvious effort.
Her body was trembling. It was the kind of reaction you see when someone faces something truly terrifying. It wasn’t normal.
“Good. Then let’s go to the classroom.”
“……”
Without realizing it, I reached out my hand.
Riel looked at my hand for a second, then took it firmly.
Her face remained expressionless, but a small smile lingered at the corner of her mouth.
That day, the academy classes passed without any further incidents.
The only difference was that Liliana, who I had always spent time with, had joined the group surrounding Alan.
There was still some lingering attachment, so it hurt. But it was over.
I needed to shake that feeling off quickly.
During break time, Alan kept trying to chat with Riel behind him, but Riel ignored him to the very end.
And the moment the morning lecture ended, Riel fled the classroom like she was running away.
Alan called after her from behind, but she never looked back.
Since tomorrow was a holiday and today’s session was the last of the morning, Riel would not be returning.
But when I also stepped out of the academy heading back to the dorm, I saw that same familiar flash of red hair again.
“Kyou!”
“Riel, were you waiting for me?”
“Since you’re my friend, of course!”
Riel’s mood seemed a little lighter.
“Let’s hurry! Before that guy catches up!”
“Got it.”
After the morning lecture, we still had plenty of time left. Riel clearly wanted to go somewhere to play, but that was out of the question given her anxiety in crowded places.
In the end, the place we headed was the academy’s main library.
It wasn’t exam season, and students rarely came to the library this early.
To Riel, it was like a safe haven. She often came here to study after class to avoid Alan.
While we were studying together, Riel finally spoke up.
“Kyou, about Liliana… it’s okay, right?”
“…Yeah.”
Of course. Riel had watched Liliana cling to Alan the entire morning.
It had to be bothering her.
“It’s not nothing, but I should shake it off quickly.”
“Yeah. I was probably overstepping by asking.”
“No, it’s fine.”
I realized I had forgotten the letter I had asked Phyllis to send to the Count’s residence this morning.
I wondered if it had arrived safely.
As the sun began to set, I headed back to the dorm, worried that Alan might be looking for Riel. But it didn’t seem like he was.
After seeing Riel off in front of Aurum Hall, I returned to my room.
“Kyou-dore-nim.”
The moment I stepped inside, the exclusive maid entered the room as if she had been waiting.
Normally, the exclusive attendants lived in a private room in the corner of the dormitory and only came out when their master returned to serve them.
She usually arrived within three minutes after sensing her master’s return, but she had finished in under a minute.
Even after years as my exclusive attendant, she was still impressive.
After I changed into my indoor clothes and sipped the tea she had prepared, I asked her the question.
“Did you send the letter?”
“Yes. I used the express delivery, so I believe it should arrive at the Count’s residence sometime tonight.”
“I see.”
I set the teacup down.
The thought had suddenly struck me while I was pondering the divorce.
“Phyllis.”
“Yes, Master.”
“After this divorce… do you think the Edwin Baron’s family will be able to pay the compensation?”
The one who had requested the divorce was, after all, Liliana. And the reason was her change of heart.
In the end, the full responsibility would fall on the Edwin Baron’s family…
Phyllis paused for a moment before speaking.
“It might be difficult.”
**END OF CHAPTER**