The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce Chapter 28

“…Why?”

Ines blinked in confusion.

After silently looking down at her for a long moment, Zecard finally spoke.

“Why did you do it?”

He was clenching his teeth so tightly that his jaw was tense. He looked as though he were struggling to suppress his anger.

“I’m asking why you would do something like this.”

Why?

Because I wanted to be of help to you…

She had seen Ash reporting to Zecard privately a little earlier. By now, Zecard must have learned that Ines had deliberately orchestrated the incident from the beginning.

Then he should understand why I did it, too.

She couldn’t help feeling a little hurt that he didn’t seem to understand her intentions.

But in the next moment, Ines found herself unable to say anything.

He was clearly angry.

And yet, strangely, the emotions in his eyes were nothing like anger.

That can’t be.

If he were angry, she could understand. After all, she had put herself in danger without even consulting him.

But there was no reason for him to look like that, was there?

“…I thought something like this was bound to happen eventually.”

Ines’s lips moved slightly as she spoke.

“They would definitely have made a move sooner or later. And if we stopped them this time, we wouldn’t know what they might try next. So I thought it would be better to draw them into a situation we could anticipate…”

“That’s not what I’m asking you!”

Zecard raised his voice.

When Ines flinched, his expression stiffened.

“…I’m sorry.”

He ran a hand through his hair and sighed.

A brief silence fell between them.

“Ines.”

At last, Zecard spoke in a low voice.

“I’m asking why you didn’t leave it to me.”

That was obvious, wasn’t it?

“How could I do that?”

Ines replied calmly.

“This is my problem. I’m the one they’re targeting, so I should be the one to deal with it.”

If she acted on her own and things went wrong, she could take full responsibility for the consequences. At the very least, no one could suspect that Zecard had ordered her to do it.

“I’m sorry I went ahead with it despite knowing you would object. But I thought this would be better for everyone.”

…Besides, if she had told him beforehand, he would never have allowed it in the first place.

Ines swallowed those words.

“In the end, everything worked out. At least for the time being, the people stirring up trouble inside the castle won’t be able to act so recklessly.”

It was already clear that Yulia was connected to Selena.

All that remained was to uncover the full extent of their plans.

“If we continue the investigation, we should be able to identify the people connected to Selena, too. We might even be able to root out all the forces that have been operating in secret until now.”

In that case, they had achieved almost everything they wanted.

After finishing her explanation, Ines paused before adding quietly,

“…Still, now that I think about it, I was being far too reckless.”

She hadn’t known exactly what Hans might have prepared.

If even one small thing had gone wrong, the situation could have turned much worse.

“I won’t make decisions about something this serious on my own again. I promise.”

Ines offered a sincere apology.

“I’m truly sorry.”

Now that she thought about it, there was another reason she had insisted on handling everything alone.

She hadn’t been able to trust Zecard completely.

She hadn’t been certain he would help her, nor had she been confident that he would believe her if something went wrong.

But…

He believed me earlier.

Without doubting her for even a moment.

If that was the case, then from now on, the least she could do was consult him before acting.

“If you’re still angry with me, I’ll apologize once more. I’ll accept any responsibility for what I did wrong…”

But the moment Ines looked at Zecard’s face, she could no longer continue.

Why…?

Why was he looking at her like that?

The anger he had barely been suppressing moments ago had vanished from his face.

He simply gazed at her in silence.

Bitterness and loneliness.

As she met his quietly subdued eyes, an inexplicable discomfort stirred deep in her chest.

It would have been better if he had gotten angry.

If he had scolded her for acting without permission, or demanded to know what she would have done if things had gone wrong, she would have felt much more at ease.

I’m used to that, after all.

But why…?

“…Ines.”

After a long silence, Zecard finally spoke.

“I’m sorry for getting angry.”

Ines hurriedly replied,

“No. You don’t need to apologize to me. It was only natural for you to be upset earlier…”

But Zecard didn’t let her finish.

Instead, he silently removed his cloak and draped it around her shoulders.

The warmth still lingering in the fabric passed directly to her.

“It’s late.”

His voice was low and subdued.

“I’ll take care of everything that remains. You should get some rest tonight. Ash will escort you back.”

“Zecard…”

He didn’t answer.

Soon, she saw him turn away and walk off.

Ines instinctively took a step forward, as though she wanted to follow him, but stopped herself.

She didn’t know what to say.

For some reason…

She couldn’t bring herself to stop him.

In the end, that was how the incident came to a close.

“It seems the full details haven’t spread throughout the castle.”

It was late morning, and May was helping Ines get ready as she spoke.

“I heard that the deputy commander is personally making sure no one talks about it. Perhaps it’s because the guests are still staying at the castle?”

After thinking for a moment, Ines asked,

“Have you heard how the banquet ended last night?”

“Oh, yes. Apparently, nothing particularly significant happened. It was already late, and the banquet was nearly over anyway.”

“What did they say about my absence?”

“His Grace explained that you weren’t feeling well and had retired early.”

Fortunately, everyone seemed to have accepted her absence without much trouble.

Even so, Ines couldn’t shake the uneasiness in her heart.

…Could he be avoiding me?

Truthfully, things had felt a little strange since that morning.

Ines hadn’t given it much thought when she first woke up, washed, and changed her clothes.

But when May brought her breakfast, she had absentmindedly glanced toward the door.

“…?”

May tilted her head.

“Is something wrong, My Lady?”

“It’s nothing.”

Even as she answered, Ines briefly lowered her gaze to the table.

There was only one place setting.

Only then did she realize that, over the past several days, someone had always been sitting across from her.

The man who nagged her for not eating enough, served food onto her plate, and pointlessly asked how she was feeling that day.

…It’s quiet.

She had always been accustomed to eating alone.

That was how things had been for five years.

And yet, strangely, the table seemed far too large today.

She had thought such meals were nothing special.

So why does it feel so empty?

Ines idly fiddled with her teacup and gazed out the window.

Rationally, she knew it was only natural that he hadn’t come.

The incident happened just last night.

Zecard had suggested that she remain in her room, saying she needed time to recover and regain her composure.

Besides, as the head of the family, he had a duty to attend to his guests properly. His conduct would also affect his reputation.

He was so busy that missing a single meal together shouldn’t have meant anything.

Yes, that had to be all there was to it…

Just then—

Knock, knock.

The sound of someone knocking on the door pulled Ines from her thoughts.

May hurried toward it.

“Who is it?”

A maid’s voice came from the other side.

“My Lady, you have a visitor.”

At this hour?

Puzzled, Ines asked,

“Who is it?”

After a brief pause, the maid answered.

“Lady Helien Bron.”

“……”

Without thinking, Ines gripped the hem of her skirt tightly.