The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce Chapter 25

Perhaps sensing her gaze, Zecard turned his head.

“Is something the matter?”

“Nothing.”

Ines quickly looked away.

It had simply occurred to her how remarkable he was.

Come to think of it… he really has everything.

Even from a distance, he was impossible to overlook.

His handsome face was framed by neatly groomed, dark hair. He was tall, with broad shoulders, and his solid physique was evident even beneath his formal uniform—a body befitting someone who had spent years wielding a sword on the battlefield.

And on top of that, he was the Grand Duke of Evanhardt.

Judging solely by the way he treated Ines, even his character seemed beyond reproach.

It’s no wonder women are so fond of him.

Ines knew that better than anyone.

If Zecard had even the slightest flaw, people would be whispering about her as a pitiful bride sold off to a monster instead of calling her a wicked wife.

The fact that they didn’t was not enough.

A bitter thought suddenly crossed her mind.

…I wish I could be someone who doesn’t tarnish his reputation, too.

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Ines’s reputation throughout the empire was abysmal.

And in a year, she would leave Zecard with a divorce on his record as well.

She wasn’t sure whether something like that would seriously tarnish the reputation of the great Grand Duke of Evanhardt, but still…

I should leave as quietly as possible.

Someday, Zecard would find someone truly suited to him.

When that happened, Ines didn’t want that woman to become the subject of unnecessary gossip because of her.

So she would disappear quietly.

As though she had never existed in the first place.

That was the best gift she could give him.

“My Lady…!”

A faint voice calling for her pulled Ines from her thoughts.

“May?”

The small maid stood before her.

Something was wrong.

May was usually shy around people, but she looked particularly unwell today. Her clasped hands trembled slightly, and her gaze kept darting nervously around the room.

“I… I’m sorry.”

May repeatedly bowed her head.

“Could you please step outside for a moment?”

Ines narrowed her eyes.

It was unusual enough for a maid to summon her mistress somewhere, but the fact that it was May made it even stranger.

May was normally so careful around Ines that she hesitated even to make casual conversation, let alone ask her for anything.

And they were in the middle of a banquet, no less.

“Is it urgent?”

“Yes…”

May’s eyes darted about anxiously as she trembled.

Ines appeared to consider it for a moment before turning to Zecard.

“Would it be all right if I stepped away for a moment? I’ll be back soon.”

Zecard silently looked down at May. The chill in his gaze made her flinch.

“I’ll accompany you. We don’t know what might happen.”

“No, you can’t. You’re the guest of honor today.”

It was unthinkable for Zecard, of all people, to leave the banquet.

“I’m sure it’s nothing serious. Isn’t that right, May?”

May glanced at him nervously before nodding emphatically.

“I’ll be back shortly. And if anything seems wrong, I’ll return immediately.”

Zecard seemed reluctant, but he eventually gave his permission.

“I’ll be waiting. However, if you’re gone too long, I’ll come looking for you myself.”

“That’s fine. I’ll be back soon.”

After obtaining his permission, Ines followed May out of the banquet hall.

And as she left, a furtive gaze followed her from behind.

Good.

In a corner of the banquet hall, Yulia’s eyes gleamed.

Even that stupid girl can be useful sometimes.

In truth, May’s sudden behavior had been entirely Yulia’s scheme.

〈If you do as I say, I’ll tell the priests about your hometown.〉

Yulia hadn’t missed the way May’s expression wavered at those words.

〈You said you were worried about the mysterious disease, didn’t you? Wouldn’t it be good if the temple sent someone to investigate properly?〉

But Yulia hadn’t offered only a carrot.

〈If you don’t want to, then forget it. But I’ll have to tell everyone the truth, too.〉

〈W-what truth?〉

〈That a girl from a village plagued by a mysterious disease is working at this castle. Do you think you’ll be allowed to stay here if the guests find out?〉

May’s face had gone deathly pale.

That alone had been enough, but Yulia had added one final blow.

〈It’s not as though you’ve been loyal to the Duchess from the very beginning.〉

With a smile, Yulia had driven the final nail into the coffin.

〈All I have to do is open my mouth, and everyone will find out what you used to say about Her Grace.〉

In the end, May had lowered her head in defeat.

And today, she had done exactly as Yulia instructed, luring Ines out of the banquet hall.

People really are easiest to control when you have something to hold over them.

Delighted, Yulia discreetly surveyed her surroundings before slipping out of the banquet hall.

Her destination was the eastern corridor, a place few people used.

For some reason, there was a slight gap in security there today.

Perhaps the guards’ shifts had gotten mixed up during the banquet preparations.

Luck is on my side, too.

Thanks to that, getting someone inside had proved much easier than expected.

When she rounded a corner, she spotted someone standing in the darkness.

“You’re late.”

A man with half his face covered spoke curtly.

“There’s still time.”

“Is everything ready?”

“Of course.”

The man lowered his mask slightly.

Hans Ricker.

He was one of the servants who had been driven out of the castle because of Ines.

“That damned woman. I’ll kill her.”

There was a reason Yulia had chosen him for this task.

Hans was strong, knew at least some of the castle’s inner workings, and—

Most importantly, he hated Ines.

He had been expelled as punishment for stealing.

And since he has no direct connection to me, it’ll be easy to cut him loose later.

Yulia had offered him a little money and the chance to get revenge. He hadn’t hesitated for a moment.

“Come on. Let’s get inside.”

A symbol drawn in red pigment covered the floor of the abandoned prayer room.

It wasn’t an authentic heretical ritual. Yulia herself didn’t understand what the symbol meant. But it only needed to look suspicious enough to the temple’s people.

“When that woman gets here, put the dagger in her hand.”

Yulia gave Hans his instructions.

“Cut her palm and let the blood drip onto the symbol. If she dies, they’ll say she was corrupted by demonic energy during a heretical ritual. Even if she survives, she won’t be able to escape an investigation by the temple.”

When Hans tried to open his bag, Yulia hurriedly stopped him.

“Don’t take it out here.”

“Why not?”

“I told you it’s contaminated with demonic energy. If you touch it with your bare hands, who knows what might happen to you?”

Hans immediately withdrew his hand.

“What a rotten piece of luck.”

“That’s why I gave you gloves.”

It had been difficult to obtain the item through a wandering sorcerer.

A small dagger, so badly rusted that it looked horrifying.

Apparently, it had been used long ago in heretical rituals to curse people.

Ordinary people without holy power couldn’t see demonic energy. Even Yulia had needed to conduct a few little experiments before she was certain the dagger was genuine.

Still, it’s worth every penny I spent on it.

The temple’s people were here today.

Yulia had already sent an anonymous letter of accusation to the temple, informing them that a heretical ritual was going to take place and urging them to investigate during the banquet.

That way, the priests would witness it with their own eyes.

A corpse corrupted by demonic energy.

The Duchess was caught in an “accident” while performing a heretical ritual.

Once the temple gets involved, even the Grand Duke won’t be able to cover this up so easily.

Besides, rumors that Ines was a witch had already spread throughout the castle. That was all thanks to Yulia.

Her smile widened.

It was perfect.

Ines would die not as a noblewoman, but as a witch.

And Zecard Evanhardt, who had placed that witch in the position of Duchess and protected her, wouldn’t be able to walk away as though nothing had happened.

Just then—

At the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere nearby, Yulia and Hans fell silent simultaneously.

Two figures emerged in the distance beneath a faint light.

The foolish May.

And—

Ines Evanhardt.

Yulia’s heart began to race.

At last, May arrived.

“My Lady…”

Her voice trembled.

“Is this the place?”

“Yes…”

May had stopped in front of the abandoned prayer room at the end of the eastern corridor.

The door stood half open.

As her eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, Ines belatedly noticed the red symbol drawn on the floor.

A heretical ritual?

Before Ines could make sense of the situation, Hans lunged out of the darkness.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace.”

Before Ines could even turn around, a rough hand seized her arm.

“…!”

Hans shoved her against the wall.

Thud!

Her slender body slammed into it.

“Now I can finally get a good look at your face.”

A crooked smile spread across Hans’s face.

“Do you have any idea how miserably I’ve been living because of you?”

Ines’s eyes widened.

“…You?”

“So you do remember me.”

Hans laughed menacingly.

Hidden at a distance, Yulia clenched her fists.

Good.

All Hans had to do now was force the dagger into Ines’s hand and make her bleed.

The priests who had received the anonymous tip would arrive here soon.

What they would find was the Duchess lying in the middle of a heretical ritual.

But something was wrong.

Yulia’s brow furrowed slightly.

It’s too quiet.

Ines simply stood there with her arm in Hans’s grip, calmly looking at him.

As though she were checking something.

Hans sensed the strangeness as well and frowned.

“What the hell is with that look? Why are you staring at me like—”

At that very moment—

Clang!

A flash of silver gleamed in the darkness.

Before Hans could react, his arm was twisted violently in an instant.

“Gah!”

The dagger fell to the floor with a metallic clatter.

At the same time, Hans’s knees slammed into the ground.

A sharp blade stopped just short of his throat.

“Move, and I’ll cut you down.”

A man’s voice, familiar to them.

Yulia’s eyes flew wide open.

Ash emerged from the darkness.