The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce – Chapter 13

Author: isuzuuy

“Would you believe it? Hans didn’t even bat an eye when they dragged him away! And it was all because of that woman!”

At the maid’s brazen remark, everyone grew indignant.

“Good heavens! How could she do something like that? What a heartless woman!”

“Poor Hans.”

“What an outrageous thing to happen.”

The atmosphere quickly heated with anger.

Everyone began whispering among themselves, condemning Ines.

“I knew it! That woman is definitely a witch!”

They were biased in favor of their own. Hans’s actions became nothing more than a “minor mistake,” while Ines’s actions were labeled “vicious cruelty.”

In truth, most of the people gathered here didn’t even know the full story behind the incident. They had simply been swept up in the atmosphere and joined in criticizing Ines.

They had disliked her from the start. Now that they had been given what they considered the legitimate “right to badmouth her,” they felt no need to hold back.

Just then, someone shouted enthusiastically.

“We have to teach that woman a lesson!”

It was the maid who had spoken first.

At her words, everyone turned to look at her.

I have to play my cards right from here on out.

The maid’s name was Yulia.

She was the secret spy the former head maid had left behind in the castle before being expelled.

Although Yulia had been the former head maid’s right-hand woman, she had carefully concealed their relationship. Instead, she had taken the lead in reporting other disloyal maids, making herself appear to be the only one truly loyal to the ducal family.

That was how she had managed to escape suspicion when everyone else was being dismissed one after another.

This plan has to succeed so that Lady Selena will have time to make her move.

For Yulia, this was about more than simply being loyal to Selena.

Some of the goods the former head maid had embezzled had passed through Yulia’s hands. If the accounts were investigated thoroughly, she would be in trouble, too.

Selena had to regain her power, at least until the ledgers could be destroyed and the evidence of Yulia’s involvement erased.

To make that happen, they needed a bigger incident—one that would keep Zecard too occupied to investigate Selena.

What perfect timing.

The moment Yulia heard about the incident earlier that day, she had immediately devised a plan.

She would stir up discontent among the servants and drive Ines out of the castle.

I have to finish this before His Grace becomes familiar with the atmosphere inside the castle.

After all, the two of them had only known each other in any meaningful sense for a few days.

They could hardly have fallen in love, let alone developed any real affection for each other.

If I can rally the knights, the vassals, and the servants against her, that woman won’t be able to endure it.

This was the magnificent first step toward expelling the wicked witch, Ines Chartier!

Steeling herself, Yulia beckoned the others closer.

Then, lowering her voice conspiratorially, she said, “Now, everyone, listen to my plan.”

Ines was alone in her room, counting her money.

All she had was a small pouch.

Even after adding up all her emergency savings, this was barely anything.

With this amount, I wonder how many days I could last, let alone become independent…

Based on what she had roughly gathered from her conversation with Leo earlier, a single meal for a commoner cost ten coppers.

A seat in a shared carriage to the capital cost ten silvers.

Rent for a decent house on the outskirts cost thirty silvers a month.

Compared to those expenses, the money she had on hand was nowhere near enough.

At this rate, when will I ever be able to live on my own?

She sighed.

She still had an incredibly long way to go.

Of course, there was plenty of money she could access under her title as the duchess.

Zecard had allocated those funds as soon as he returned, telling her to use them to maintain her dignity and cover her official duties.

But I can’t touch that money.

Zecard had presumably given it to her expecting her to carry out her duties as the duchess. That was part of their contract, after all.

Using that money to support herself after their divorce didn’t feel right.

Actually, I’d be lucky if it were merely inappropriate. One wrong move, and it could be embezzlement.

Why hadn’t she started saving money earlier?

Strictly speaking, even the money she had now wasn’t really savings. It was simply what remained after she had spent what she had.

For the past five years, Ines had managed to survive on the personal wealth she had brought into the marriage.

And all that remained was this pitiful little pouch.

I should have decided to leave long ago.

She bitterly regretted how foolish she had been in the past.

Though regretting it now would accomplish nothing.

As Ines sat there worrying about one thing after another—

Knock, knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

Who could it be?

Since she had deliberately sent the maid away, Ines got up and opened the door herself.

“Oh.”

Zecard stood outside.

When their eyes met, he smiled warmly.

“I came to give you something.”

“…To me?”

Zecard held out a bouquet of flowers to the tense Ines.

The blossoms were vibrant and fresh.

“Oh…”

Ines felt relieved inwardly.

I thought he’d come because of what happened this afternoon, but I guess he isn’t going to bring it up.

Ash must have considered the matter for a while but ultimately decided not to say anything in particular.

“Thank you. They’re really beautiful.”

Ines offered her thanks shyly.

Zecard watched her face brighten for a moment before speaking.

“May I come in for a moment?”

“Oh, yes. Of course.”

Ines ushered Zecard into her room.

They sat facing each other across the table.

“Actually, there was something I wanted to discuss with you. I was wondering whether I should come see you myself, so I’m glad you came.”

“With me?”

Ines nodded and took out the documents she had prepared.

“I’d like to agree to extending the contract.”

The document she presented this time wasn’t a divorce agreement, but a contract.

Zecard gazed at it quietly.

Ines couldn’t tell what he was thinking.

“I drafted it in much the same way as the original contract we signed five years ago. Please read it over, and if there’s anything you think is odd, let me know. I’ll make the necessary changes.”

With a hint of nervousness, Ines waited for Zecard’s response.

…I wrote it properly, didn’t I?

During her training as a candidate for Saintess, she had learned to handle various kinds of paperwork. Still, this was her first time drafting a contract of this nature, so she couldn’t help worrying.

Zecard reached out and picked up the document.

“One year.”

His voice was low.

“Exactly one year.”

Is there something wrong with it?

But before Ines could ask, Zecard set the document down again. He picked up a quill and signed it without hesitation.

“Thank you. You’ve drafted it so well, My Lady, that I don’t think anything needs to be changed.”

Zecard smiled.

What a relief.

Only then did Ines relax, her expression brightening slightly.

Once Ines had signed it as well, the contract was finally complete.

“Then I look forward to working with you over the next year.”

Even though she had grown used to the arrangement, it was still a strange contract.

She was to be a duchess for just one year.

Perhaps that’s what Zecard’s reaction earlier meant.

Still, if she thought of it as something they needed purely out of necessity, there was nothing particularly incomprehensible about it. It was practically an employment contract, after all.

After gazing at Ines in silence for a moment, Zecard spoke.

“That’s good timing. I’ve prepared something, too.”

“Pardon?”

This time, he took something out and placed it on the table.

What’s that…?

It was a small, square box.

Inside lay an elegant, antique ring.

“These are our wedding rings.”

Ines had heard that the Evanhardt family possessed a ring passed down through generations to the duchesses.

But the one Zecard had brought looked different from the one she had heard about.

Well, I suppose it would be a little much to give something so precious to a contractual wife.

Even so, the ring Zecard had prepared was by no means inferior.

If anything, it looked like the most precious gemstone Ines had ever seen in her life.

…What kind of gemstone is that?

A jewel of an unusual hue gleamed brilliantly at the center of the ring.

For some reason, however, she couldn’t identify it.

Surely a gemstone that magnificent had to have a name…

“Allow me to put it on you.”

At Zecard’s words, Ines cautiously held out her left hand.

But the moment their skin touched—

Smack!

Ines instinctively slapped his hand away.

“Ah.”

She was startled by her own reaction.

Why did I do that?

Ines hurriedly apologized.

“I’m sorry. It’s just… I’m not used to touching other people, so I must have reacted without thinking.”

She waited anxiously for Zecard’s response, afraid he might become angry.

But—

“…”

Zecard said nothing.

He merely gazed at Ines’s pale hand, his eyes dark and solemn.

Only after a long silence did he speak again.

“It’s all right. I understand.”

Then he held his hand out to her once more.

Afraid she might offend him again, Ines tensed her fingers and carefully placed her hand in his. Fortunately, this time, her hand didn’t move on its own.

Zecard slipped the ring onto her finger.

The ring, set with a red gemstone, gleamed beautifully on the ring finger of her left hand.

That night—

In the deep darkness, while everyone else slept, Ines lay awake, lost in thought.

She kept remembering the rude way she had treated Zecard earlier.

Yet what lingered in her mind wasn’t her own behavior, but the expression on his face immediately afterward.

Why did he look like that?

His expression had stiffened.

But rather than looking frightening, he had seemed somehow sad.

Sad? …Why?

It was strange.

He had every reason to be angry, if anything. There was no reason for him to be sad.