The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce Chapter 18

“Could it be……?”

Did you run all the way here?

Ines had been about to ask, but she pressed her lips together.

As if that would happen.

No, even if he had rushed over, it probably didn’t mean anything. He must have spotted her stumbling from a distance and panicked.

After all, Ines had to remain alive and well for him to inherit the ducal title without a hitch.

“I’m fine, Your Grace. Thank you for helping me.”

Ines placed her hand over Zecard’s large hand, which was holding her steady.

“I must have had a brief bout of anemia. I can stand on my own now.”

It was her roundabout way of asking him to let go.

Yet, for some reason, Zecard didn’t move at all.

Instead, as though he were under a spell, he only tightened his grip on her shoulder.

“Ah……”

Unable to bear it any longer, Ines let out a faint groan.

At that, Zecard seemed to snap out of a trance and regain his senses.

“……I’m sorry.”

Ines had instinctively been about to reassure him, as she usually did, but she hesitated.

His face looked unbearably pained, and for some reason, she felt as though she shouldn’t casually reach out to him.

While she hesitated, Zecard had already returned to his usual self.

“Enrique, what are you doing here?”

His expression was relaxed, but his gaze was so indifferent that it bordered on coldness.

“I was greeting Her Grace.”

“I believe I told you to head home for the day.”

“I happened to run into her on my way out. Wouldn’t it have been rude to simply walk past?”

Zecard was a man whose very presence was intimidating.

But considering how Enrique didn’t back down even a single step in front of him, he seemed to have quite a formidable personality himself.

“Fine. Now leave. You don’t start work until next week.”

“……Work?”

Unable to contain herself, Ines interjected, and Enrique answered without the slightest hesitation.

“Yes. I’ve been appointed to oversee Your Grace’s education from now on.”

“Do you mean lessons on managing the domain?”

Ines was startled.

Zecard had mentioned that she would receive training, but she had assumed it would be little more than a formality.

Was he really taking this seriously enough to assign me one of his vassals?

Seizing the opportunity, Zecard’s eyes gleamed.

“If you’re dissatisfied with him, I’ll replace him immediately.”

“N-no, that’s not it.”

“Then are you pleased with him?”

“That’s……”

Ines nearly nodded without thinking, but quickly pressed her lips together.

There was something suspicious about the look in Zecard’s eyes.

She had a feeling that if she said yes, something terrible would happen……

“……There’s no need to change an appointment that’s already been made. It would be troublesome for you to find someone new.”

Perhaps that was the right answer, because the tension around his mouth eased.

“You needn’t worry about inconveniencing me. If you need anything, please let me know at any time.”

Having watched the entire exchange from the side, Enrique looked away as though he were bored.

“Do you have something to say?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then leave.”

Enrique seemed to have been waiting for those words. He bowed, then departed at a leisurely pace.

Now only Ines and Zecard remained in front of the Kallia tree.

After watching him cautiously for a moment, Ines asked awkwardly, “Have you finished all your work for today? I thought I heard that you had a lot to do earlier.”

“I’ve nearly finished. You needn’t worry.”

If he said so, then that must be the case.

Maybe it’s not as difficult as I thought……

She had assumed he would be busy, considering how little time had passed since his return and how much there was to sort out within the domain. Apparently, that wasn’t necessarily true.

“Oh, there’s something I wanted to ask you about Viscount Orche.”

“What is it?”

“He seemed different from the Viscount I knew. When did that change happen?”

“It hasn’t been long. The previous Viscount Orche was found to have colluded with the former Duchess to embezzle taxes over the past five years. He is currently in custody.”

Zecard answered as though it were nothing particularly significant.

“Enrique Orche is his second son and the rightful heir. He will be taking over the Orche family from now on. His Majesty the Emperor approved the succession today.”

Ines found it astonishing.

When did he manage to do all that?

Ever since his return, Zecard had always made sure to look after her.

He had taken care of not only her meals but also the smallest details of her daily life.

She was always grateful to him, but separate from that gratitude, she couldn’t help wondering about one thing.

How had he managed to look after her while handling so many other matters at the same time?

It’s almost as if he’d planned everything he would do the moment he returned……

Zecard’s words pulled her out of her thoughts.

“Enrique is young, but his abilities are widely recognized. I chose him because I believe he’ll be of help to you in many ways.”

“Oh, I see.”

“However, he doesn’t have the best temperament. If he says or does anything rude, please tell me immediately.”

Ines smiled awkwardly.

So I was right.

Apart from the absence of that black aura, there was something strangely distant about Enrique. Even his smile couldn’t conceal the chill in his demeanor.

It probably didn’t matter much, since they weren’t likely to become close anyway.

“Oh, by the way, about this tree……”

Just then, someone appeared in the distance.

“Your Grace!”

Both of them turned toward the voice at the same time.

“Huff, huff…… I’m sorry. But you suddenly left in the middle of the meeting……”

It was Finn Delane, Zecard’s adjutant.

“If it wouldn’t be too much trouble…… could I ask you to return……”

He darted his eyes back and forth, looking so hesitant that Ines almost felt sorry for him.

Hadn’t Zecard said he’d finished all his work?

She glanced at him discreetly, only to find that he wasn’t even looking at his adjutant. His attention remained fixed on Ines.

“What were you saying just now?”

“Oh…… It’s nothing.”

She had been about to discuss what should be done about the Kallia tree, but it wasn’t urgent. There was no need to bring it up now.

“Please go ahead. I’m going back to my room, too.”

“Are you sure you’re all right? What if you collapse again……”

“I only stumbled a little earlier. I’m really fine.”

Even so, Zecard’s expression remained tense.

“I’ll see you at dinner.”

Only then did Zecard reluctantly nod.

“I’ll call a maid for you, so please wait here for a moment.”

He repeatedly reminded her not to go anywhere alone, insisting on it several times. Only after she assured him that she would wait did he finally leave.

“Phew.”

For some reason, Ines felt completely drained and let out a faint sigh.

Behind her, the branches of the Kallia tree swayed gently in the breeze.

It was the season when icy winds howled relentlessly.

The weather was so brutal that anyone born and raised in the North would never dream of venturing outside.

While everyone else barred their doors and waited for the cursed blizzard to pass……

A woman ran outside barefoot.

〈Please believe me, Your Grace. I’m begging you.〉

Her voice trembled faintly.

〈I-I didn’t do it. I swear I didn’t.〉

Dressed in nothing but a thin set of indoor clothes, the woman shivered as she pleaded again and again.

Her eyes were filled with desperation and earnestness.

〈I truly never tried to poison the Saintess.〉

And standing before her was a man.

A man as imposing as a towering mountain, so strong and steadfast that he seemed incapable of being brought down by any hardship.

〈I understand.〉

The man gave a brief reply, then draped his cloak over his wife’s shoulders.

〈It’s cold outside. I’ll take care of this, so please go back inside.〉

But she knew the truth.

He didn’t believe in his wife’s innocence.

From the very beginning, the woman had sensed that cruel, dreadful truth.

〈……I see.〉

The woman lowered her head, her eyes vacant, and released the hand clutching at him.

That was the end of it.

Now free, the man looked down at her for a moment before turning and walking away without hesitation.

It wasn’t anyone’s fault.

The woman understood that he couldn’t bring himself to believe her.

The circumstances, all the evidence, pointed to her as the culprit.

And yet, he was foolishly trying to shoulder everything himself in order to save his wife.

It was something she should be grateful for.

Without him, she would die a criminal.

But even so……

〈……I really didn’t do it.〉

Watching her husband’s retreating figure, Ines felt an unbearable loneliness.

……

“……Ah.”

Ines’s eyes flew open.

Cold sweat covered her body, and her heart was pounding rapidly.

It seemed she’d had a nightmare.

Lying in bed, Ines blinked blankly for a while before finally coming to her senses.

What kind of ridiculous dream was that?