I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 2

Episode 2

 

As Richard approached the bed to lie down, he was startled to see, as if emerging from the blanket, two eyes that glowed in the dim light. He froze in surprise.

 

In his own room, which he had assumed would be empty as usual, someone was present.

 

With eyes that seemed ready to shut tight in fear at any moment, he stared at the unsettling presence.

 

In the brief silence, Richard with a displeased expression and a slight frown on his fine features, muttered in an annoyed tone, “Just a mouse’s droplet, and you’re practically invisible.”

 

Then he approached the door again and turned the doorknob.

 

Click.

 

However, the door was locked. The already cold expression on Richard’s face stiffened even more.

 

Click, click.

 

No matter how many times he turned it, the result was the same.

 

“Damn fools.”

 

Richard cursed as he slammed his fist down on the closed door.

 

“Ah!”

 

Elisa was startled by the loud noise.

 

It was only then that she realized he wasn’t a devil but rather the man who would be her husband.

 

And that this room was not hers but his.

 

It happened then.

 

“A wind…?”

 

A strong wind gathered around the bed.

 

Elisa looked around, thinking the window might be open. However, the window, though rattling in the wind, was firmly shut.

 

Seeing this, Elisa understood.

 

“That’s the power of Rubelline.”

 

The wind gathering around Richard was similar to the power used by the character Hanes in the novel.

 

Descendants who inherited Rubelline’s bloodline sometimes bore the family’s power. They could manipulate the wind freely and use magic based on it.

 

The title “Stormy Rubelline” referred to that power.

 

Richard and his son Hannes were among the descendants who inherited that power.

 

“Is he going to break the door?”

 

Elisa watched nervously, wondering what Richard might do with his power.

 

“…I’ll kill them.”

 

Richard muttered with a stern voice, but contrary to his words, he dispersed the wind.

 

Elisa, watching Richard move, was startled and hastily covered her face with the blanket, leaving only her eyes exposed.

 

Fortunately, Richard  chose to lie down on the sofa instead of the bed.

 

From Elisa’s perspective, she could only see his legs extending from the sofa. It seemed he had no intention of going to bed.

 

“Well, he’s my husband, so I should at least greet him, right?”

 

After observing Richard for a moment, Elisa cautiously sat up and greeted him.

 

“Um, hello, Lord Marquis?”

 

There was no response. Still, Elisa persisted.

 

“My name is Elisa Roengreen. And… as of today, I am Elisa Rubellin. Nice to meet you.”

 

Referring to herself as “Rubelline” was a way of saying, “I’m your wife; at least acknowledge me.”

 

However, Richard showed no reaction. He didn’t even glance in her direction. Despite presumably being awake, Elisa felt awkward looking at Richard’s legs protruding from the sofa.

 

Whether it was a case of bad attitude or ignorance, one thing was clear.

 

“He’s quite arrogant.”

 

Well, at fifteen, everyone probably carries a bit of a rebellious spirit in their hearts.

 

Elisa glanced at Richard’s legs, sighed, and lay down on the bed, marking the end of the first night.

 

*

The next morning, Richard barged into the Duke’s office.

 

Albert, who was casually setting fire to a cigar, greeted Richard with an indifferent look, not showing any surprise.

 

“I was just about to call you, and here you are right on time.”

 

“Cancel it.”

 

“What?”

 

He asked what word Richard had omitted, knowing it well, but still pretended not to.

 

Richard answered as if chewing the words, “Cancel this marriage.”

 

“The vow made in front of the goddess cannot be easily revoked.”

 

“I have never participated in that vow.”

 

“So, you want to revoke it?”

 

Richard affirmed his question with silence.

 

Albert, with an indifferent expression, took a drag from his cigar, exhaled the smoke after a pause, and then spoke slowly.

 

“Don’t you like the appearance of that child? I thought she had a pretty face, although still young. Doesn’t she catch your eye?”

 

ichard’s expression noticeably twisted at his words.

 

But Albert didn’t seem to mind.

 

“Or, is it that you, like your father, cannot marry someone you don’t love… Are you trying to express such sentimental feelings? The future owner of Rubelline?”

 

“…”

 

“Well, fine. That’s okay too. Stay together until she reaches adulthood. In the meantime, if you see a suitable woman, whether you bring her in as the mistress or wife -“

 

“That’s not the point!”

 

Richard’s voice rose, and a fierce wind gathered around him. The documents on the desk flew chaotically due to the wind.

 

Albert’s assistant nearby tried urgently to catch the papers, but handling it alone was challenging.

 

Despite the situation, Albert faced Richard without batting an eye.

 

Richard’s eyes, as red as blood, were so cold and indifferent that it was hard to think of them as eyes looking at his grandson.

 

“You are the sole heir of our family. You have the obligation to welcome a companion and carry on the lineage of this family.”

 

“…”

 

“Your position, everything you have now. All because you are my heir. If you don’t fulfill your duties as my heir, you don’t deserve to be there.”

 

Richard’s mouth twisted at the threatening tone of his words.

 

His grandfather regarded him not as a grandson but merely as a horse that would carry on the family’s lineage.

 

Richard glared at his grandfather with livid eyes and asked, “When have I ever desired this position?”

 

His voice carried intense anger and disdain towards him.

 

He had never wished to become the successor of Rubelline. If anything, he had hoped to be free of the power he inherited.

 

“With just a droplet of that mouse’s essence, you have no plans. Never enter my room again.”

 

Richard issued a warning, turned around, and forcefully opened the office door. Just as he was about to leave, his steps came to an abrupt halt.

 

Standing there, seemingly unnoticed until then, was Elisa.

 

‘She heard it.’

 

Richard looked at Elisa in front of him.

 

He didn’t know when she had started listening, but the conversation between Albert and himself was not something pleasant to hear.

 

After scrutinizing Elisa’s expression for a moment, Richard furrowed his brow and averted his gaze from her. In any case, it wasn’t something he cared about.

 

Elisa, who briefly stared at Richard with a surprised expression, curtsied and walked past him into the office.

 

“You called me?”

 

“Richard, you too, come in.”

 

Albert stopped Richard who was trying to leave.

 

Ignoring him and attempting to leave, Richard closed his eyes, sighed, and reluctantly stood next to Elisa.

 

Albert, with an indifferent look, opened his mouth while glancing at Elisa.

 

“I heard you didn’t attend the first meal together on your honeymoon.”

 

Instead of answering, Elisa avoided eye contact.

 

According to the maids, it was customary for newlyweds to greet the head of the family and have breakfast together on the first day of their marriage.

 

However, when Elisa woke up, Richard was already gone, and Albert was absent from the dining room. So, she thought Albert wouldn’t know, but it seemed he had heard everything.

 

Elisa sighed, preparing herself for a barrage of scolding.

 

However, contrary to expectations, Albert understood Elisa and Richard.

 

“Well, fine. Today, you barely had a chance to see each other’s faces. It’s forgivable.”

 

“…”

 

“If you live together in the same room for a while, you’ll naturally become accustomed to each other. Just gradually get closer like that.”

 

Richard spoke in a deeply irritated tone.

 

“I’ve clearly stated that we won’t be sharing the same room.”

 

“It’s natural for a married couple to share a bed. What’s the problem?”

 

Neither Albert nor Richard seemed willing to accept each other’s opinions.

 

Richard, glaring at Albert, left without a word. The door behind Elisa closed with a bang, raising a gust of rough wind.

 

Albert, casually gazing at the closed door, then turned his attention to Elisa.

 

“There happens to be something I want to convey to you. Aaron, fetch it.”

 

When he called his assistant, the assistant handed a book that had been prepared in advance to Elisa.

 

Elisa, without knowing what the book was about, accepted it haphazardly.

 

“Starting tomorrow, a tutor will come to teach you about this book. It would be helpful if you familiarize yourself with the contents in advance. Learn earnestly, so you can be a suitable future mistress.”

 

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

 

Elisa bowed to Albert and left the office. She looked down at the book she received.

 

“The Virtues of a Wife.”

 

The title seemed to contain a bunch of nauseating contents derived from patriarchal values.

 

Elisa sighed deeply and headed to her room.

 

That night, Elisa was once again sent to Richard’s room by the maids.

 

Upon entering, Elisa nervously surveyed the surroundings. However, Richard was nowhere to be seen.

 

‘Is he not here…?’ At that moment, something caught Elisa’s eye.