The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce Chapter 11

Holy power.

A special ability that only the chosen could wield.

In the Holy Empire of Ethila, holy power was a blessing from God and proof of divine miracles.

Contrary to what the public believed, Ines could use holy power, too.

…Though mine is a little different from everyone else’s.

Thanks to the various unique functions of her holy power, she had managed to overcome countless crises without incident.

And the most significant of those abilities was…

The ability to see other people’s malice.

Silence fell over the group.

“What… Did you just say?”

Ines replied calmly.

“I said I would stake my name on this as the Duchess.”

Her unexpectedly forceful response left everyone at a loss for words.

But Ines didn’t back down in the slightest.

That man had a black aura clinging to his body earlier.

A black aura.

Ines called it malice.

Depending on its nature, malice appeared in slightly different forms.

The aura she had seen around Hans earlier was a clear indication that he was lying.

If I leave him alone, he’ll cause even more trouble someday.

And there was a high probability that his malice would eventually be directed at Ines herself.

Over the past five years, she had sensed countless dangers in advance this way.

When she lacked the strength to fight back, she avoided them. When she couldn’t escape, she prepared as best she could.

It was one of the reasons she had managed to survive in a castle where she had not a single ally.

“N-no way!”

Hans suddenly shouted in a fit of panic.

“Sir Knight, I’m innocent! Why should I be investigated?”

When Ash, the one with the authority to decide, said nothing, Hans apparently took it as a sign that he still had a chance. He protested even more loudly.

“This is outrageous! Nothing like this would ever have happened when Lady Selena was here! And all because of one word from a woman like her…”

“Watch your mouth, Hans Ricker.”

Ash’s expression changed instantly.

No matter how much he disliked Ines, Hans had clearly crossed the line.

Startled by the cold warning, Hans clamped his mouth shut.

His attitude was the complete opposite of the disrespect he had shown Ines.

So he really doesn’t consider me a superior at all.

It wasn’t surprising.

“What are you going to do, Sir Ash?”

Meeting Ash Ranford’s eyes directly, she spoke clearly.

“Are you going to ignore the request of Ines Evanhardt, the lawful and only wife of the Duke of Evanhardt?”

A heavy silence settled over them.

Evanhardt.

In this castle, no name carried more absolute authority.

Ash pressed his lips together, furrowing his brow as though deep in thought.

“…Understood. I’ll follow your orders.”

His eventual answer was exactly what she had expected.

“Sir!”

Hans cried out in desperation.

The servants murmured among themselves, but Ash remained unmoved.

Even he can’t disregard Zecard, no matter how much he dislikes me.

If Ines hadn’t spoken as the Duchess, he would probably have ignored her until the very end.

In the end, there’s nothing I can resolve entirely through my own power within this castle.

Thinking bitterly, Ines spoke in a composed voice.

“Begin the investigation. Right now.”

It didn’t take long for the results to come in.

“No! I’m being framed!”

A large number of items, apparently stolen and secretly hidden by Hans over time, were discovered in his room.

Did he really think he’d never get caught?

Then again, why would he ever have suspected that anyone would turn their attention toward him?

Especially when the people accusing him were Ines and a little odd-job worker.

“I-I’m really innocent! That brat is framing me!”

Hans pointed at Leo and shouted at the top of his lungs.

Naturally, no one believed him.

“Shut up!”

The knights clicked their tongues in disgust, gave him a few rough knocks as though he were pathetic, and dragged him away.

The other servants watched and whispered among themselves.

“To think Hans was actually a thief…”

“I never would have expected that from him…”

As they spoke, they stole glances at someone nearby.

Ines was watching everything unfold with a composed expression.

Seeing her dignified yet resolute face gave Ash Ranford a splitting headache.

Was that woman really right all along?

Truthfully, Ash had never had a favorable impression of Ines.

Countless rumors circulated about Ines Chartier, the wife of the great war hero, Duke Evanhardt.

An enchantress with an innocent face.

A witch who bewitched men with her beauty and devoured them whole.

A jealous, wicked wife.

All kinds of filthy and disgraceful rumors about her had spread throughout the empire.

Of course, he hadn’t believed every single one.

But neither could he dismiss them all outright.

I actually heard things about her at the temple myself.

On their way back, before reaching the ducal domain, the Evanhardt Knights had briefly stopped in the imperial capital.

While there, Ash had heard malicious gossip about Ines at the temple.

The priests made no effort to hide their contempt for Ines, who had failed to awaken her holy power.

And then there was the Saintess, Elise…

Her beautiful face had twisted ever so slightly.

The Saintess was the most perfect woman Ash had ever seen in his life.

She was kindhearted, and every movement she made was so graceful that she seemed to have stepped out of a painting.

She truly embodied the description of someone loved by God.

Knowing that Ines had supposedly envied and resented the Saintess had made Ash even more prejudiced against her.

That was why he had treated Ines with hostility despite Zecard’s instructions to the contrary.

But still…

Just then, Ines suddenly turned her head.

“Sir Ash.”

At her call, Ash flinched.

But he knew that this was the moment when he should apologize.

Ash bowed his head respectfully.

“I apologize. My poor judgment has caused you trouble. I sincerely beg your forgiveness.”

Ines gazed steadily at him.

Just as I thought.

His manner had become more respectful than before, but it was nothing more than an acknowledgment that his judgment had been wrong.

He still didn’t truly recognize Ines as the Duchess or as his superior’s wife.

After thinking for a moment, Ines spoke.

“Report what happened to His Grace truthfully.”

Ash looked at her with some surprise.

“Tell him that Hans stole the items, that I requested an investigation, and that evidence was discovered as a result.”

“…Understood.”

“But there’s one thing you should keep in mind.”

Ines’s gaze was cold.

“I have no intention of raising a separate complaint about your disrespectful behavior today. However, that doesn’t mean I’ve forgiven you.”

Ash’s expression stiffened.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Exactly what I said. If I wanted to, I could make this incident into a much bigger issue. I could formally report to His Grace that you refused to follow my orders and even tried to make me take responsibility for them.”

Because of the succession proceedings, Zecard needed to demonstrate publicly that he was treating Ines as a proper duchess.

For that reason, if he learned what had happened today, he would never let it pass lightly.

He would probably make an example not only of Ash but of everyone present.

But what would that accomplish?

Ines spoke firmly.

“Your childish power struggle with me is nothing but a waste of time. It benefits no one.”

If she used Zecard’s authority to force Ash to his knees right now, it would certainly be satisfying.

But what would happen afterward?

It would only deepen the conflict.

It would also fuel the knights’ and servants’ resentment toward her.

They didn’t need to become friendly, but there was no point in making their relationship even worse.

After all, they would have to see each other for another year, one way or another.

“I believe today’s events should have given you a sufficient understanding of the kind of person I am. You’re free to judge me however you wish.”

Ines looked Ash straight in the eyes.

“But don’t let your personal judgment interfere with the duties you’re supposed to carry out. If something like this happens again, I won’t let it slide.”

Having said everything she needed to say, Ines turned and walked away.

Ash watched her retreating figure for a long time.

…

Something was strange.

That woman was undoubtedly that person from the rumors.

Ash’s expression subtly hardened.

His dark eyes held a confusion that had never surfaced in them before.

Deep in his heart, a strange, inexplicable feeling began to stir.