The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce – Chapter 14

Author: isuzuuy

“My Lady, it’s time to wake up.”

At the voice rousing her from sleep, Ines slowly blinked her eyes.

Ah.

It was morning again.

Warm sunlight streamed through the window, gently enveloping her in its embrace.

After enjoying the peaceful warmth for a moment, Ines slowly sat up.

Beside her stood May, the personal maid assigned to her for the first time just a few days ago. May bowed respectfully.

“I’ll prepare your washing water. Please wait a moment.”

Ines awkwardly accepted May’s assistance. It had been a long time since anyone had helped her with such things, and the experience felt unfamiliar.

“I’ll go have breakfast. You can rest here.”

May quietly replied that she would.

Her manner was so formal that it almost felt cold. Ines studied her personal maid for a moment before heading outside.

His Grace will already be there, won’t he?

It had been a week since she started having meals with Zecard.

They had agreed on a fixed time for breakfast, yet, strangely enough, Zecard always arrived before Ines.

He insisted that he didn’t mind waiting, but seeing him there early inevitably made her hurry, too.

At last, Ines arrived at the dining room.

“There you are.”

Zecard smiled warmly when he spotted her.

Ines flinched slightly.

She had involuntarily remembered how rudely she had behaved the previous day.

…Why on earth did I do that?

Even if they were strangers to each other, they were still husband and wife. It wasn’t as though touching hands was such a big deal.

Feeling a little dejected, Ines greeted him quietly.

“Good morning.”

But Zecard spoke to her affectionately, his expression no different from usual, as though nothing had ever happened.

“You don’t look well. Did you have trouble sleeping last night?”

“Oh… No, nothing like that. Thank you for your concern.”

Watching him warily, Ines accepted the bread he offered and ate it.

Does he really not mind what happened?

Then again, perhaps Ines was simply too timid and prone to worrying. Usually, once people apologized to each other, that was the end of the matter.

However, when breakfast was nearly over, Ines suddenly realized something.

Zecard was being extremely careful not to let his body touch hers.

“Is something wrong?”

Noticing her hesitation, Zecard asked with a puzzled expression.

“It’s nothing.”

Ines forced a smile and chewed on the last piece of bread.

I really should apologize one more time…

She felt awkward, weighed down by an unnecessary sense of guilt.

“Do you have any other plans for today?”

Zecard’s question pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Not particularly.”

“I see.”

Zecard’s expression brightened in a subtle but noticeable way.

“Then, would you spare some time for me?”

“…Pardon?”

When Ines reacted with surprise to his unexpected request, his expression immediately fell again.

“I’m sorry. That was too sudden. I didn’t take your feelings sufficiently into consideration.”

“N-no, it’s all right. I was just thinking for a moment.”

Ines hurried to reassure him.

“I don’t usually have anything to do in this castle, anyway. If there’s something you need me for, please feel free to tell me.”

For an instant, Zecard’s gaze sharpened.

“Come to think of it, I should gradually hand over the duties of the lady of the house to you. I haven’t given that proper consideration. I’ll arrange for someone to guide you through them soon.”

“The duties… of the lady of the house?”

Ines was taken aback.

He’s planning to entrust those to me?

Even if she was the duchess, she would only hold the position for a year.

…Wasn’t it inappropriate to entrust something as important as the castle’s internal affairs to a temporary resident like her?

“It’s only natural. If not the duchess, then who else would handle those duties? You should be the one to do them, Ines.”

The way he deliberately used her name made it difficult for her to refuse.

“But I…”

“You are my wife, aren’t you?”

Ines nearly replied, No, this is just a contract, isn’t it? But when she noticed the servants nearby, she kept her mouth shut.

Zecard gazed at her with a smile.

“I trust you.”

His words left her speechless.

“…All right. I’ll do my best.”

It seemed he took their contract far more seriously than she had expected.

I suppose I can’t blame him, considering his title is at stake.

Even so, she honestly couldn’t understand why he would entrust such an important position to a woman he barely knew.

“By the way, why did you want me to make time for you today?”

“Ah, there are some people I’d like to introduce you to.”

“Introduce me…?”

For some reason, Ines couldn’t shake the ominous feeling that crept over her as she repeated the words.

And, sure enough—

“Allow me to introduce him properly. This is my adjutant and the deputy commander of the knights, Ash Ranford.”

The situation Ines found herself facing a little later was nothing short of despair.

He looks just as uncomfortable as I feel…

If only this had happened before the incident with the thief a few days ago. But given what had happened, Ash seemed just as flustered, unsure of how he ought to treat her.

“…It’s a pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I’m Ash Ranford. I look forward to working with you.”

The fact that he bowed politely was probably because Zecard was standing right there.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. I look forward to working with you.”

After the two exchanged awkward greetings, Zecard smiled with satisfaction.

“Now, let me introduce you to the other members of the knights.”

And he really did begin introducing Ines to every single member of the order, one by one.

Is he seriously planning to introduce me to every last one of them?

Unable to bear it any longer, Ines timidly protested.

“Couldn’t we all greet one another together?”

“No.”

Zecard’s response was strangely firm.

“Everyone needs to know exactly who the Duchess of Evanhardt is.”

Only then did Ines realize the true purpose behind this exhausting exercise.

He’s trying to look out for me.

The others had done their best to conceal their resentment, but it seemed Zecard had noticed it anyway.

This was certainly important.

If Zecard Evanhardt, the lord who commanded everyone’s respect and trust, personally vouched for Ines, then even those who harbored grievances against her would have little choice but to accept her, at least outwardly.

However, the more people she greeted, the more clearly Ines could see it.

…Black wisps were rising from people’s hearts.

“That should be enough introductions for now.”

After making sure Ines had greeted every knight present, Zecard finally left the training grounds with her.

The two strolled through the castle, talking as they went.

“It won’t be easy at first. We’ll start with some simple duties.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“Once you’ve settled in, I’ll gradually grant you the authority to participate in the administration of the domain as well.”

“…I’ll do my best with that, too.”

The more she listened, the stranger it sounded.

Why is he planning to entrust the domain to me?

Zecard’s plans seemed to go far beyond the castle itself. It was almost as though he intended to hand over control of the entire northern region to her.

This might have been presumptuous of her to say, but… shouldn’t a lord know better than to do that?

Since I’m leaving in a year anyway, he must simply be trying to preserve my dignity.

After all, their contract would expire before she could even properly take on those responsibilities.

…Right?

Ines tried to ignore the lingering unease in her heart.

“I have other engagements today, so I’ll have to leave you here. It’s a shame, though. There are still many places I haven’t introduced you to.”

“Oh, that’s all right. Please go ahead.”

“I’ll make time to show you the other places as soon as possible.”

There was no need to rush…

But Zecard looked so solemn that he might as well have been carrying out a sacred duty.

“I’ll do my very best.”

For some reason, his expression amused her, and Ines found herself smiling without meaning to.