The Returning Husband Refuses to Divorce Chapter 6

“I have two things to discuss with you. The first is purification. You may have heard me mention it earlier, but I believe I can purify you, Your Grace.”

“Ah, yes. Purification.”

Zecard’s reaction, however, was rather lukewarm.

“Of course, I would gladly accept, but there’s no need to push yourself. I’m in no particular hurry, either.”

Ines was quite taken aback.

Huh?

She had actually thought this would make a good bargaining chip.

Yet, for some reason, Zecard showed no interest in purification. He didn’t even seem impressed by the fact that she possessed holy power.

“More importantly, I assume your second matter is the one that truly concerns you. If you don’t mind, I’d like to hear that first.”

Ines collected herself.

Right. What does it matter? If I don’t have to use my holy power, that’s even better for me.

However, Zecard’s next words were just as bewildering.

“I’m looking forward to hearing what you have to say. I’ve always been the one to seek you out, after all. This is the first time you’ve come looking for me, Ines.”

“…Pardon?”

Always?

She couldn’t understand what he meant. Was he referring to the time before he left for the front lines?

I don’t remember us interacting all that much back then, either…

If she really thought about it, there had been only one occasion when Ines had sought him out, and that was to ask a question about their wedding arrangements.

In other words, she had been the one to approach him.

…Did he mistake me for someone else?

If so, that person was most likely Elise.

Perhaps he was still exhausted from his long journey and had misspoken upon seeing Ines, Elise’s sister. After all, the two were related by blood and looked quite alike.

If he loves Elise that much, this should be easy.

She felt considerably more at ease.

Only then did Zecard’s friendly attitude begin to make sense to her.

Perhaps he was seeing Elise in Ines.

Or perhaps he was simply being kind to her because she was his lover’s older sister.

Even in a situation like this, she couldn’t escape the shadow of her younger sister. The realization left a bitter taste in her mouth, and her spirits sank, but Ines concealed her feelings and spoke brightly.

“Well… I’m a little worried that I might not live up to your expectations, but I don’t think what I have to say will be bad news for you. In fact, it might even be what you’ve been hoping to hear.”

“Your Grace?”

“Yes?”

“You’re calling me ‘Your Grace.’”

What was the problem now?

“Even though we haven’t seen each other for five years, we’re still husband and wife. Don’t you think that’s a rather cold way to address me?”

Zecard spoke playfully, a gentle smile resting on his lips.

But something in his persistent gaze told Ines instinctively that he wasn’t joking at all.

“…Then what should I call you?”

“Who knows? Perhaps you could give me a pet name while we’re at it.”

That was ridiculous.

“I’ll call you Zecard. Thank you for allowing me to use your name.”

Ines replied with impeccable politeness. They would be parting ways soon anyway. Honestly, even this much was more than she needed to offer.

Judging by his expression, he didn’t seem particularly satisfied. However, since she had drawn a clear line between them, Zecard didn’t press the matter any further.

“Anyway, you need to rest, so I’ll get straight to the point. Please take a look at this.”

Ines took out the document she had carefully tucked away inside her clothes and placed it on the table.

Zecard had been watching her with that same lingering gaze, as though waiting for her to ask him for something. Reluctantly, he finally lowered his eyes to the document at her urging.

“What is this?”

“I think it would be better for you to read it yourself rather than have me explain it.”

Zecard picked up the paper leisurely with his long fingers.

And the moment he finally saw what it contained, Ines spoke.

“You want a divorce, don’t you?”

Zecard paused.

Instead of answering, he simply stared intently at the divorce papers in his hand.

Contrary to her expectations, he didn’t respond right away. But Ines continued without letting that deter her.

“I heard the rumors. Apparently, you and the Saintess are lovers now.”

Two years ago, Elise had first been sent to the front lines as the new Saintess.

Said to possess the most powerful holy power of any Saintess in history, Elise had healed countless people on the battlefield, earning the support and admiration of the Empire’s people.

According to the rumors, Zecard had also suffered a severe injury and had barely survived after Elise healed him. And then, the two of them had fallen in love.

“Congratulations. I really hope you’ll be happy together. Oh, and I’m not being sarcastic. I mean it.”

It wasn’t as though she felt absolutely nothing about it.

But it wasn’t because of her husband, Zecard. It was because of Elise, the Saintess.

Ever since childhood, Ines had constantly been compared to her younger sister. As a result, she had always envied Elise and felt inferior to her.

〈…Give up. You’ll never measure up, big sister.〉

Those words from her younger sister still wounded Ines to this day.

Feeling the familiar ache in her heart, Ines continued in a calm voice.

“So, I’ve been thinking… Considering everything, I believe it would be best for me to step aside now.”

She didn’t want to become entangled in a romantic rivalry with her own younger sister over a man she didn’t even love. It would look terrible from the outside, and besides, she no longer had the strength to deal with such things.

At long last, Ines had fully acknowledged her defeat in the long-standing rivalry with her sister.

…This is the right thing to do.

Besides, now that Zecard, the lord of the domain, had returned, many changes would surely take place throughout the territory. Wouldn’t things run more smoothly if an outsider like her removed herself from the picture?

This was the only gift she could offer Zecard, the man who had once saved her.

“So, let’s get divorced. It would be better for both of us to part ways cleanly before it’s too late.”

Finally, Ines drove her point home.

“I’m ready to sign the papers right now.”

I finally said it.

Her heart was pounding.

She had rehearsed those words countless times in her mind, but actually saying them aloud still made her nervous and left her trembling.

Still, it feels like a weight has been lifted.

Ines waited for his response, feeling relieved.

But Zecard remained silent far longer than she had expected.

…Why? Was it too sudden?

Well, even if it was something he had wanted, receiving divorce papers the moment he returned home after five years away might come as a shock.

Only then did Ines begin to feel a little guilty.

Maybe I was only thinking about myself.

But she couldn’t help it.

This was her only chance.

He might be taken aback now, but once he had time to think it through, surely he would understand that this was the best path for everyone.

“Are you…”

At last, Zecard spoke.

“Are you perhaps making a complaint against me?”

“What?”

Ines had been so certain that he would respond positively that she had already begun to relax. His question startled her.

But Zecard gritted his teeth and spoke as though struggling to contain his anger.

“I’m asking whether you don’t genuinely want a divorce, but deliberately brought this up to protest those filthy rumors about me and the Saintess.”

“…What? No!”

Startled by his frightening expression, Ines hurriedly tried to explain herself.

“Of course not! How could I ever presume to do such a thing? I’m only a fake wife, aren’t I?”

Why is he angry?

Ines was bewildered.

“Of course, I know that my reputation isn’t good. So I understand if you… if Zecard has misunderstood me. But I truly don’t envy Elise. And I’m not throwing a tantrum now, either.”

Strictly speaking, she meant that she wasn’t jealous in this particular situation. When they were children, she had often envied Elise.

“Everything I’ve said is sincere. I wish you and Elise all the happiness in the world. That’s why I prepared the divorce papers in advance.”

Zecard silently glared at the divorce papers in his hand. He was gripping them so tightly that the paper had become badly crumpled.

“Ah, I see. So you don’t care who I live with, as long as I live with some woman other than you?”

“…That’s not quite how I would put it, but if you’re only looking at the conclusion, then yes, I suppose that’s what I’m saying.”

Zecard let out a hollow laugh, as though he couldn’t believe what he was hearing.

“Ha.”

Then he raised his head and looked at Ines.

His eyes were filled with a mixture of resentment and wounded indignation.

…Why?