The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce – Chapter 27

Author: isuzuuy

Helien Bron.

Ines clenched her hands without realizing it.

Her fingernails dug into her palms.

It’s okay.

She drew a slow breath.

Nothing has changed.

Until a moment ago, everything had gone according to plan.

Hans had been caught, and so had Yulia, the person who had lured him into the castle. Ash and the other knights were witnesses.

All she had to do was remain calm and handle the situation carefully.

…That was all she needed to do.

Helien surveyed the ritual markings spread across the floor, the dagger lying nearby, and Yulia, who was being held captive.

“I received a report that a heretical ritual was to take place here tonight.”

In her hand was the anonymous letter delivered to the temple delegation earlier that day.

“It didn’t say who sent it, but…”

Helien’s gaze settled on Yulia.

“High Priestess!”

Yulia suddenly shrieked.

She struggled to wrench herself free from the knight holding her.

“High Priestess, please save me! I’m begging you!”

“Stay still!”

The knight barked at her, but to no avail.

Yulia practically crawled across the floor as she stretched toward Helien.

“I told you before, didn’t I? There’s a witch in this castle!”

Ines’s fingertips twitched.

“I couldn’t tell you the truth back then because I was being threatened. But now I’ll tell you everything.”

Yulia’s finger pointed straight at Ines.

“That woman is the witch!”

In an instant, everyone’s attention turned toward Ines.

“……”

She had to refute the accusation. She had to tell them it was utter nonsense.

But Ines simply couldn’t bring herself to believe that anyone from the temple would take her side.

What if Helien sides with Yulia?

Rationally speaking, it was absurd even to consider such a possibility.

“Her Grace ordered me to obtain that item!”

Yulia’s voice sounded distant, as though it were coming from far away.

“I really only did what I was told! But Hans caught me, and he threatened me…”

“You crazy—!”

Hans flared up, but Ash held him down.

“Silence.”

“I know I was wrong. But I didn’t do any of it of my own free will!”

Yulia burst into tears.

“I was scared, too! I had no idea what Her Grace was planning to do!”

Ines’s lips pressed into a tight line.

That was when it happened.

“Ines.”

At the sound of that voice, Ines raised her head.

Ah.

There he was.

Zecard Evanhardt. Her husband.

Ash immediately bowed his head.

“Your Grace.”

The knights and servants nearby hurriedly paid their respects as well. Helien inclined her head slightly.

But Zecard’s gaze was fixed on only one person.

Ines.

His eyes swept over her in an instant, taking in her disheveled clothes, her slightly reddened wrist, and Hans, who was being pinned to the floor.

Zecard’s expression went utterly blank.

“Why is that man here?”

His voice was so low that it sent a chill down everyone’s spine.

“I’ll explain, Your Grace.”

Ash briefly reported everything that had happened.

When he finished, Zecard looked at Ines again.

“……”

Ines instinctively took a step backward.

At that moment, she remembered the dream she had had a few days ago.

〈Please believe me, Your Grace.〉

In the dream, Zecard hadn’t abandoned her.

Instead, he had tried to shoulder everything on her behalf.

But he hadn’t believed her.

Will he believe me?

Perhaps he would protect her, just as he had in the dream, while secretly harboring doubts about her.

The thought frightened her.

She was so afraid that she almost wished he would suspect her from the very beginning, just like everyone else.

…Then she wouldn’t have to hope for anything.

Before she realized it, the words had slipped from her lips.

“I didn’t do it.”

Her voice was so faint that it could hardly even be called a defense.

Yet Zecard didn’t hesitate for even a moment.

“I know.”

…Ah.

It was such a simple answer.

And yet, Ines found herself unable to say anything in response.

Only then did she realize that, deep down, she had been waiting for those exact words all along.

The tightness in her chest gradually eased.

Ines slowly exhaled.

“…Thank you for believing me.”

Zecard’s eyes wavered.

But before he could say anything, Ines stepped forward.

The tension that had stiffened her gaze moments ago had already settled into calm composure.

“This is an accusation without evidence. I see no reason why we should have to listen to her.”

Ines didn’t even bother addressing Yulia directly.

“If there are any questions, we can investigate them. There’s no reason to cause a scene here and entertain every word spoken by someone caught in the act.”

In her words, the tension in the air gradually began to dissipate.

With the exception of Helien and Zecard, who had arrived later, most of those present had witnessed how the incident unfolded from the very beginning.

Feeling the atmosphere shift against her, Yulia desperately clung to Helien.

“Please save me, High Priestess! You heard everything! I told you what happened! You know the truth!”

But Helien merely looked down at her with cold disdain, as though she were a worthless insect.

“…You insolent wretch. How dare you presume to touch the body of a High Priestess when you don’t even know your place?”

With those frigid words, Helien shook Yulia off.

She straightened her sleeve as though brushing away something filthy from her fingertips.

“And what you just said does not constitute testimony.”

Yulia froze.

“If you intend to accuse someone of heresy, bring forth evidence to support your claim. The temple does not declare someone a witch based solely on the suspicions of a mere maid.”

Helien lowered her gaze to the markings on the floor.

“These markings were drawn moments ago. The pigment used is nothing more than ordinary dye, and three parts of the ritual arrangement have been reversed. It has no actual effect whatsoever.”

Despair filled Yulia’s eyes as she was thrown back onto the floor.

Then a voice, cold and subdued, rang out.

“Ash.”

Zecard stared at the two criminals.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Lock them both in the dungeon.”

Hans’s eyes widened.

“What? Wait—!”

“Make sure they can’t contact anyone until the investigation is complete.”

His expression was devoid of emotion, making him all the more terrifying.

“Find everyone who had even the slightest involvement.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

“No, wait! Your Grace!”

“And I’ll conduct the interrogations myself.”

Yulia screamed.

“No! I really—!”

But no one listened to her.

“It wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! The Duchess is the witch!”

Yulia’s desperate screams echoed through the corridor as the knights dragged her away.

“High Priestess! Please, believe me! I’m begging you!”

Her voice gradually faded into the distance.

A short while later, silence finally returned.

“…Phew.”

Ines let out a brief sigh.

It was over.

Only then did the reality of it finally sink in.

It’s really over.

Her fingertips had gone cold. Apparently, she had been so tense that she hadn’t even noticed.

It would have been a lie to say she hadn’t been afraid.

At one point, it had genuinely felt as though she had been transported back to the past, unable even to breathe. Especially when Helien appeared—Ines had been convinced that she would side with Yulia and turn against her.

But in the end, Ines hadn’t run away.

She had recognized that something was wrong, set the trap, and held her ground until the very end.

I did it.

A sense of quiet triumph swelled in her chest.

And she hadn’t stopped this incident merely to clear her own name.

If Ines had truly been branded a witch, it would have given others grounds to attack Zecard as well for protecting and keeping a woman like her as his duchess.

She had prevented that.

This time, I was able to help him, too.

She had finally managed to give something back, even if only a little, to the man who had always been the one protecting her.

At the thought, a natural smile spread across Ines’s lips.

Just then, a large hand closed around her wrist.

Ines lifted her head.

“Zecard.”

Seeing his familiar face, she smiled brightly.

“Everything worked out.”

In particular, she owed a great deal to him for helping her see the situation through without giving up halfway.

Without him, Ines might have fallen apart completely.

“Thank you so much. I owe it to you.”