Chapter 4: Let’s Get a Divorce
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 4: Let’s Get a Divorce
*
Veronica stared blankly at the man standing before her.
The man she believed was the once-in-a-lifetime love of her soul. The man she thought she would never regret devoting her entire life to.
The Marquis of the Empire, her husband, and the biological father of her precious daughter.
Yet, the eyes he turned toward her were as cold as a frozen wall of ice at the northern edge of the world.
Veronica opened her stiff lips and barely managed to speak.
“Are you back?”
“……Yes, Madam.”
“…….”
Cedric gave a curt nod, his demeanor radiating a blatant sense of obligation.
In the past, his half-hearted gestures had always made her anxious, but for some reason, her heart felt strangely calm now.
She had believed that one day, he would love her.
No, even if it wasn't love, she thought he would at least respect and rely on her as his wife.
‘Why did I ever harbor such futile hope?’
Veronica let out a small, inward smirk.
She had simply liked him from the very beginning.
It was at an Imperial Ball, a day when the intentions to blatantly pair her with Cedric were obvious to everyone.
Having no reason to refuse, Veronica had attended, adorned as magnificently as ever. She wanted to see for herself what this beautiful Marquis of rumored illegitimate birth was truly like.
‘I am Cedric Lionel.’
‘……!’
She prided herself on having seen countless beautiful men and women, but the man before her exceeded all imagination.
With mysterious silver hair reminiscent of an elf and purple eyes that sparkled like amethysts, he was, quite simply, a perfect man.
‘Might I see you again next time?’
‘I wonder.’
‘Pardon?’
‘If fate allows, we shall meet again.’
‘……!’
Furthermore, his attitude—so different from the others—intrigued her.
In all her years living as a Ducal Lady, Veronica had never met anyone who wasn't kind to her. Everyone loved her, the daughter of a Duke, and craved her affection. When she realized that their kindness was merely a mask, she had been deeply disappointed.
But Cedric was different. He was the only man who didn't treat her with pretense.
And so, she loved him. Even though he always wore a cold expression and treated her unkindly, Veronica fell for him helplessly.
At first, his ungentlemanly demeanor was novel, and his coldness piqued her curiosity. She wondered how happy she would be if such a man ever looked at her with eyes full of affection.
That brief dream had been as sweet as chocolate.
“I have something to say, Madam.”
“……Yes, go ahead.”
“…….”
Now fully awake from her dream, Veronica blinked and stared at Cedric.
Meeting Veronica’s clear red eyes, Cedric flinched for a moment. However, he soon spoke slowly.
“The person I mentioned before will be arriving at the mansion soon. The child will be with her as well.”
“…….”
“I would like you to welcome them.”
“…….”
Welcome them? Who, exactly?
The woman you loved before you lost your memory? And the child you had back then?
Why should I be the one to welcome them?
Veronica tilted her head, feeling a sense of bewilderment.
“Their arrival at this mansion has nothing to do with me.”
“What do you mean, nothing to do with you? You are the mistress of this house, are you not?”
“Ah, that’s right.”
At Cedric’s words, Veronica gave a thin smile.
The mistress. She was this man’s wife and the other master of this Marquis mansion.
But hearing those words from him was laughable. It was absurd how he only brought that up when it suited him, after treating her with utter indifference for so long.
Suddenly, Veronica recalled the words spoken by her daughter, who was so precious she wouldn't hurt even if she were put in her eye.
‘Divorce Dad, Mom.’
That young thing. The words she had desperately squeezed out while suffering in silence were etched into Veronica's mind.
Veronica had tried her best to hide the truth because she didn't want Claudia to know, but of course, she hadn't succeeded.
Her heart felt like it was tearing apart when she thought about how much her daughter must have suffered while watching this miserable marriage.
She couldn't do this anymore.
For the sake of that child, she had to end this wretched connection now.
Having made her decision, Veronica raised her head and looked Cedric straight in the eye.
“Then let’s get a divorce.”
“……What did you say?”
“I said, let’s divorce. Let’s just become strangers and be done with it.”
“…….”
Cedric’s reaction was unexpected. His face turned pale as he stared at Veronica in disbelief.
“What… what are you talking about right now?”
“Did you suddenly develop a hearing problem? I said, let’s get a divorce.”
“…….”
Only after hearing it for the third time did Cedric manage to regain his senses.
Even so, he looked as if he couldn't believe it. Veronica curled the corners of her mouth as she watched him.
Yes, no matter how bad things got, he probably never imagined she would be the first to ask for a divorce.
That was how much she had loved him with all her heart. And he had been well aware of that fact.
‘Why did I love a man like this?’
A love where one only gives and never receives—she should never have started it in the first place.
Veronica turned away, her heart finally feeling refreshed.
“Do whatever you want after that. Whether you bring your first love into the mansion or the two of you get remarried.”
“W-Wait……!”
“Dia and I will be leaving the mansion first.”
“Wait a moment, Madam!”
Cedric hurriedly blocked Veronica’s path.
Veronica looked at the man blocking her way with an expression of annoyance. Cedric was simply bewildered by her sudden change in attitude.
“A divorce is out of the question, Madam.”
“And why is that?”
“……Was this not a marriage commanded by the Imperial Family? Surely you haven't forgotten.”
“…….”
Right. Cedric Lionel had married her by the command of that grand Imperial Family.
There was always a reason behind Cedric’s selfish behavior.
Because the Imperial Family ordered it, it was a marriage he entered against his will. Therefore, he spewed the incredibly selfish and nonsensical logic that it was okay for him to be unfaithful to his marriage.
And in the end, he was a man shameless enough to bring his first love and her child to live with them.
Veronica glared coldly at Cedric as he once again brought up that grand excuse.
“You seem to be forgetting something, Marquis Cedric Lionel. The Empire is monogamous.”
“What does that have to do with……”
“The cause of the breakdown of this marriage is clearly one person's fault. Do you really think I’m afraid of an Imperial command?”
“……!”
Of course, even if the Empire held monogamy as law, there were countless nobles, regardless of gender, who kept secret lovers and concubines.
Even the former Emperor, who was said to be devoted to the Empress, had a mistress. The only ones who vehemently supported and insisted on strict monogamy were those at the Temple.
But despite that, Veronica was confident.
Because she was a Winston. Even if her surname had changed after marriage, the fact that she was the precious, only daughter of the Duke Winston’s family remained unchanged.
‘In the first place, the only reason the Imperial Family arranged this marriage was because of me.’
The Imperial Family had always wanted the support of House Winston.
However, when the former Emperor and Empress passed away in an unexpected accident, the Imperial Family was thrown into chaos for a while.
The Empress Dowager seized power under the pretext that the Crown Prince was still young. She wanted to bring House Winston, which led the Council of Nobles, to her side.
That was why she pushed for the marriage between Cedric and herself.
Although her father, Duke Winston, had been greatly disappointed in her decision and hadn't even sent a greeting first during her five years of marriage, he would surely give her another chance if she said she was divorcing Cedric and returning home.
“I trust you won't act pathetically, Marquis Cedric Lionel.”
“…….”
Not long ago, Veronica had almost lost the most precious thing in her life.
When that small, young child was hovering between life and death, she could do nothing.
She had simply stayed by the side of the child, who was desperately breathing through a high fever, and offered prayers to the gods.
‘I will never do anything I’ll regret again.’
From now on, she would live solely for that child’s happiness. Nothing else mattered. Not even the man who was once more precious to her than her own life.
“Wait……!”
“……!”
“Do you think I’ll just let you go?”
Grabbing Veronica as she tried to leave the room, Cedric shouted, his purple eyes burning with intensity. Veronica looked at him, startled.
“What are you doing?”
“As long as I do not acknowledge it, you are the Marchioness of Lionel. Therefore, you cannot go anywhere!”
“……!”
Veronica was flabbergasted.
The man who insisted on bringing his first love as a concubine was now saying he wouldn't give her a divorce. That she couldn't even leave the mansion.
Could there be another person this selfish in the world? Veronica twisted the corners of her lips upward.
“Let go.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then I’ll make you let go.”
“……?”
And at that moment, a formless aura began to surge from Veronica.