Chapter 50

* * *

Lariana woke up with a start, dreaming about the nightmarish days of the past. She rubbed her eyes as she pressed the blue bonnet tightly and waited for the carriage in front of the mansion’s porch. In her view, another carriage came rushing towards the main entrance of the Duke mansion.

“Damn it,” she inadvertently muttered. The owner of the carriage was her mother-in-law, Marcella.

Although it had been quite some time since she had forgotten about the monotonous days that seemed indistinguishable from one another, today was the day of the tea party. The event where Lariana Delacroix would always be mocked and tormented. 

After using her illness as an excuse to avoid attending a few times, it was difficult to use sickness as an excuse again.

“Mother.”

Lariana gathered her hands and meekly lowered her head. Marcella was not the only one who got off the carriage. Evita was with her. Lariana forced a smile and exchanged a forced eye contact with Evita.

“Lariana, you seem to be feeling better today. But where are you going?”

Marcella’s questioning gaze seemed to imply, ‘Where are you trying to escape to?’

“I have an appointment with Madam Deryl, the Marchioness.”

“Did you forget that there is a tea party today?”

“Mother, Lariana hasn’t been feeling well and couldn’t even go out. Please allow her.”

Evita intervened on behalf of Lariana. Even during the three years since Lariana married Cain, Evita remained unmarried. She continued to go through engagements and broken engagements. 

Evita no longer had any negative feelings towards her, or perhaps she had changed her tactics. However, she had gone as far as to support Lariana and treat her well.

“Mother, I was trapped in the room before…”

“Lariana, go. I will allow your outing. But please go quietly.”

That incident became Marcella’s weakness, when she tried to kill her daughter-in-law. She didn’t want to show the cruelty and brutality she showed to her in front of her niece. So she waved her hand, urging her to go out, without even showing the slightest hint of ill will.

Although it was widely known that the relationship between Marcella and Lariana was not good, the difference between tormenting and attempting to kill someone was on a different level. 

That was why Lariana occasionally brought up the nightmare-like incident she didn’t want to remember. Unfortunately, she couldn’t use that incident as a shield every time. After all, occasionally resorting to threats had its problem.

“Then, I’ll be going.”

* * *

The Deryls were a Marquisate family, but not as wealthy as the Duke of Delacroix. Although that was the case, Marina’s father-in-law, the first Marquess of Deryl, was a famous figure in the history of the Cardenia, amassing vast wealth.

The only places where Lariana, currently confined within the Delacroix mansion, would go out were either the Marquess Deryl’s mansion or the high-end dressing room of the Deryl family.

The top floor of the grand mansion was used as a salon, and Marina, who was lounging on the sofa, got up as soon as she saw Lariana. At one end of the salon, Marina smoked a thin pipe and stared at the exotic trees from the eastern part of the continent.

“Lari!”

Lariana and a female doctor, Marquess Deryl’s personal physician, came closer to her.

“I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, for the love of the goddess Vuerin! Please, no.”

As if she had heard words she shouldn’t have heard, Marina covered her ears and then escorted the attending physician, who looked puzzled. She called for the butler to hand over the money and locked the salon door.

“Lari, what are you going to do now?”

“I have to get a divorce.”

“What would the Duke of Delacroix do?”

Lariana placed her hand somewhere between her waist and stomach, where it was swollen. She had let go of the lingering attachment and looked at her friend with a calm and free face.

“Even if it means dying, I have to get a divorce. I’ve already gone crazy like Cain, but I can’t make the innocent child like that.”

“Lari, what are you talking about? You’re fine. You just need to get a divorce. The problem is that there’s no way to get a divorce.”

“No, there is a way. I just have to ask for a divorce when he’s crazy.”

After the miscarriage, Lariana poured everything out to Marina and Jena.

“What?”

Lariana smiled brightly as she held Marina’s trembling hand. Tears streamed down her cheeks, overflowing unnaturally from her overly wide smile.

“The crazy Cain hates me.”

Preventing a divorce also required love. With his madness in full swing, Cain, who had nothing but hatred, wouldn’t refuse a divorce.

Lariana had been unable to mention a divorce until now. She had hoped that he would ask for a divorce, but deep down, she didn’t want to actually get divorced.

It was because of her lingering feelings for him. But her feelings towards Cain were not important anymore. Now, she had to get a divorce to protect the child.

Lariana quickly wiped away her tears. It was foolish to cry after making a decision. She needed to move quickly. 

She asked Marina to prepare a carriage. If she left riding the Delacroix family’s carriage, there was a concern that Cain would find her later.

She had already decided on a destination long ago when she made up her mind to get a divorce. The destination was Orlin, the capital of Davask, where her relatives lived. After relying on her aunt for a while, she planned to disappear with her child once she was ready to be independent.

Davask, which was in a cold war state with Martenssen, was a suitable place to hide from Cain. It was also outside the influence of the Delacroix family.

“I’ll assign knights from the Deryl or Beckdel family to make it difficult for the Duke to find you later. I’ll arrange for skilled mercenaries to escort you until dawn.”

“Thank you. When I settle down in Davask, I will definitely repay the debt.”

“Don’t talk about debts. When I think about what my father did to you, I can’t face you. If it weren’t for that… you wouldn’t have married the Duke.”

“Mari, don’t say that. I didn’t marry because of that. It was my choice. I was foolish to fall in love with Cain at first sight.”

“When we arrive in Davask, you have to send a letter. There is a textile merchant who deals with the Deryl family in the Serren Kingdom. I’ll give you the address there. Send the letter there.”

“Okay. Marina, take care of yourself until we meet again.”

If it weren’t for Marina, she wouldn’t live until now. Marina and Jena were the only ones who would consider her a human in this world.

The two embraced each other passionately. Tears poured endlessly. They promised to meet again, but they couldn’t guarantee when they would see each other again.

Wearing a sky-blue cloak over her aqua dress, Lariana left the salon. At the last sight of her friend, Marina collapsed and buried her face in her hands.

As Lariana headed to the Duke’s study, she was worried that her heart might burst. Her forehead and hands were covered in sweat. Luckily, Cain was inside the mansion, as she asked the doorman beforehand.

Lariana felt like she would faint or collapse any moment as she made her way to the bedroom. However, she didn’t have time to rest. She had to ask for a divorce from Cain as soon as possible.

“Madam, should I prepare a bath for you?”

Jena picked up Lariana’s fallen bonnet from the bed.

“Jena, I’m leaving at dawn.”

“What? Where are you going?”

“I’m planning to get a divorce and go to my aunt in Davask.”

Ignoring Jena’s surprise, Larianai pulled off the light blue cloak.

“Madam. No, Lady Lariana. Why don’t you go to the hospital or call your doctor first to make sure you’re not pregnant?”

Jena, who had been waiting in the dressing room instead of entering the salon, didn’t know that her mistress had received a medical examination from a doctor.

“Jena, whether I’m pregnant or not doesn’t matter. What matters is that I chose to get a divorce.”

“But what if the master locks you up again? What will we do?”

“This time it won’t happen.”

Lariana was more energetic and lively than ever before. She started rummaging under the bed, pulling out the suitcase she always kept prepared.

“Lady, I’ll take care of it. Just stay put.”

“You… go back to Heline.”

“What are you talking about?”

Lariana approached the dressing table. There were several jewels in the drawer, which she had possessed even before getting married. She lifted two red velvet boxes containing jewels. Underneath them were a few sheets of paper.

“Quickly put these jewels in your bag.”

“Lady, why are you suddenly doing this? Are you trying to abandon me?”

Jena choked up.

“Jena, you’re at the age to get married too. How long will you keep trailing behind me? You should get married and start a family.”

There were jewels she had possessed even before getting married. Compared to the jewels Cain had given her after becoming the Duchess, they were insignificant, but still not worthless. With this amount, commoners could afford to buy a house.

“Put this on too.”

Lariana put a thin silver ring that she had been wearing since her marriage on Jena’s finger.

“This is your favorite ring. I don’t want it.”

“Jena! Listen to me! I’m… I’m sorry for everything you’ve suffered because of me…”

“Lady… I don’t know what you’re talking about…”

“If you weren’t my maid, you could have met someone you love in Heline and lived happily after getting married. Because of someone like me, you left your hometown and have been unhappy. Jena… If you follow me and suffer in Davask, I would feel guilty. Now live your own life.”

“No… I don’t want to… Your life is my life. I only know you. My family is dead, and I only have relatives. Why are you trying to abandon me, even though you know me best?”

“Jena, please don’t cry. It upsets me when you cry. Stop crying… wipe away your tears… pack your things and wait a little. I’ll talk to the Duke and come back.”

Lariana held the paper that was laid out in the velvet box and left the bedroom. Since getting married, she could count on one hand the number of times she had met Cain in a sound state of mind. The moon in the night sky, reflected in the hallway window leading to his study, was small.

“Cain, it’s Lariana. I’m coming in.”

Read ahead here.