I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 20
Episode 20
#3. The Husband Who Returned as an Adult
“It’s late!”
Agile, the secretary of Rubelin, urged his steps towards the meeting room. He was late for the meeting where Rubelin’s attendants and lord were present.
Agile entered the meeting room hastily, not even catching his breath.
Most of those who had already arrived were seated in the meeting room.
And in the center of them all, Elisa, who had become the respectable mistress of Rubelin, was sitting.
Blinding golden hair that flowed down to her waist, refreshing emerald eyes, and lips as dark as flowers blooming on her milk-white, silky skin.
A person immersed in the spring light alone, from the snowy north.
As Agile, entering the meeting quietly, made eye contact with Elisa, she greeted him with a faint smile.
“Our mistress seems kind today as well.”
Agile sat hastily in his seat, trying to appear charming towards Elisa.
Elisa had a charm that made people feel good. Not only that, she also had an overwhelming dignity and authority that overwhelmed people with her petite and cute stature.
Everyone in Rubelin knew that she did not gain that power easily.
After Richard’s departure, Elisa worked hard and studied to prove her worth to Albert. At first, even the attendants who ignored the young mistress gradually recognized her abilities as she began to show competence in managing the territory. The knights, who initially had low expectations, now acknowledged her abilities and pledged loyalty to her.
As a result, Elisa became a capable talent in management, skilled enough to handle the territory in place of the bedridden Albert.
“Now that it seems everyone has gathered, let’s start the meeting.”
Aaron, Albert’s aide, announced the start of the meeting.
Elisa opened the documents she had prepared in advance regarding the agenda of the meeting.
The first item on the agenda was brought up by Antonio, who was in charge of the granary.
“As instructed by the mistress, I roughly measured the food in the granary, and at this rate, it seems that many people will go hungry in the coming spring.”
Although the north was barren, the food supply was not insufficient. However, due to a severe drought that occurred once every few decades this summer, the food became scarce.
“Hmm, as expected.”
Elisa nodded calmly, as if she had expected it. Then she presented an alternative that she had thought of in advance.
“I heard that the southern regions are suffering severe damage from pirate bands targeting food supplies. Contact them and offer to sell farming tools and weapons. Demand food in exchange for the value of gold coins.”
Iron ore from Rubelin was hard and coveted by many, and as many dealt with ore, there were those who preferred Rubelin-made weapons and farming tools.
Knowing that, Elisa, in the summer of this year, provided those who lost their jobs due to the drought with manual labor related to the chief tasks instead of the crops that were annually taxed as a tax. She also allowed the blacksmiths who originally did manual labor to teach the apprentices the chief tasks.
The original manual labor tasks were the apprentices’ responsibilities.
As a dangerous task performed up close, it was customary to learn by watching and experiencing it for several years.
The blacksmiths initially showed negative reactions to Elisa’s actions, but soon they believed in Elisa’s confident words and followed suit.
At first, the slow pace of teaching slowed down the work, but as time passed and the apprentices became somewhat proficient, the speed of making farming tools and weapons became incomparably faster than before.
As a result, the warehouses in Rubelin were filled with farming tools and weapons.
“From the perspective of the south, it’s more profitable to trade food than to be robbed of it by pirate bands. They will not refuse.”
The attendants marveled at the plan she presented, nodding their heads in admiration.
Originally, Rubelin and the southern regions were geographically distant, and there was almost no interaction. Moreover, the trade of farming tools, weapons, and food was something no one had ever thought of.
The attendants were satisfied, claiming that the matter had been resolved. However, Elisa was caught in contemplation.
“This year, we may overcome the crisis like this, but what about next time? This year, with the surplus food in the south due to a good harvest, trade might be established. But next time, the south might also face a drought.”
If someday the south experienced a drought, it would be natural for them to prioritize their own territory residents. A fundamental solution was needed.
“Greenhouses are too expensive for ordinary people to build… How about developing something like a vinyl house?”
As Elisa organized her thoughts and was about to move on to the next agenda, someone knocked on the door of the meeting room.
“Sorry to disturb you during the meeting, but there’s urgent news that needs to be conveyed.”
All eyes in the meeting room turned towards the door. Since it was difficult for anyone to enter during a meeting for trivial matters, someone coming before the meeting ended meant it was an urgent matter.
“Come in.”
With Elisa’s permission, a knight entered.
With a joyous expression, he delivered the news.
“The Imperial Army has achieved victory in the war, and the war has come to an end.”
—
A month after the victory announcement, near the hiding place of the remnants of the Piran Kingdom.
Richard’s subordinates were searching the forest, trying to find their missing lord.
After a while of searching, Thomson, Richard’s adjutant, caught his breath, grabbing onto a nearby tree trunk.
“Heh, heh… Where on earth did he go?”
Richard often acted unilaterally, sweeping into enemy territory without notice. Thomson, who was worried about Richard’s actions, always complained.
“Wherever you go, at least leave a message if you come back!”
After hearing this complaint dozens of times, Richard reluctantly left a note before disappearing.
Once Richard disappeared, it was the subordinates’ responsibility to find him.
By the time they barely reached the battlefield, the situation was usually already under control, and all that was left was the aftermath.
“Thomson, sir! A storm is forming over here!”
One of the subordinates, looking around, found something and shouted.
Thomson and his subordinates rushed in the direction where the wind was blowing.
Not far away, what seemed to be the hiding place of the Piran Kingdom remnants appeared.
Or rather, what looked like a place that used to be a hiding place.
In the center of it all, a giant storm was devouring everything mercilessly—people and objects alike.
It was an overwhelming force that took one’s breath away each time you saw it.
However, Richard’s figure was nowhere to be seen.
Thomson raised his right arm to stop his subordinates from advancing.
“Stop! It’s dangerous to get any closer!”
The subordinates immediately stepped back a few paces.
At that moment, the giant storm instantly ceased, and people and objects fell mercilessly from the sky.
In the midst of the screams and the shattering sounds, a familiar figure stood undisturbed in the center.
A man with jet-black hair and crimson eyes that seemed to be bathed in blood.
Despite the chaotic scene, he walked out effortlessly. His handsome face remained calm even amidst the chaos.
Thomson and his subordinates approached him.
“Lord Richard!”
“Why did you leave without saying anything? Let’s go together!”
As Thomson lectured Richard, Richard raised one eyebrow as if annoyed.
“You guys are too slow.”
“Come on, isn’t it a bit shameless to hope for a civilian walking at a regular pace to have a similar speed to a flying warhorse?”
As Richard and Thomson bickered, a subordinate intervened before Thomson’s complaints could escalate, bringing news.
“Sir, a person from the capital has arrived. They bring a letter from the Emperor.”
“Understood. Let’s go see them.”
Richard swiftly flew towards the camp as soon as the subordinate finished speaking.
Watching Richard disappear in a blink of an eye, Thomson sighed in disappointment.
—
“Sir Duke, a messenger from the Emperor is waiting.”
Returning to the Imperial camp, Richard’s subordinates guided him into the tent where Imperial soldiers, Richard’s knights who had followed him to the battlefield, and individuals who seemed to be messengers from the Emperor were already present.
“You must have suffered a lot on your long journey.”
“The efforts you have taken for Duke Solon are beyond compare.”
They bowed to Richard, expressing their respect. Then, they handed Richard the letter from the Emperor, delivering the message.
“His Majesty wishes to organize a grand celebration for the victory, to honor both the contributions of Rubelin and the Imperial forces. Additionally, if there’s anything personal you’d like to request, His Majesty is open to hearing it.”
“Anything I’d like to request, huh…”
“Please tell us anything.”
Richard chuckled wryly.
It was amusing that the Emperor, who was once so annoyed with him that he couldn’t kill him, now wanted to hold a grand celebration in his honor.
Richard absentmindedly reached for his neck, where a ruby pendant had hung without being removed for seven years.
He touched the gem and responded.
“I want to go home.”
“What?”
“I want to go back home.”
Laughing bitterly, Richard wondered if it was not amusing that the Emperor, who couldn’t kill him, was now planning a grand celebration.