I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 33

Chapter 33

 

 

 

Dinner time.

 

 

 

Elisa was heading down to the dining room with a somewhat serious expression.

 

 

 

“Richard, earlier it seemed like you were avoiding me.”

 

 

 

She understood that sentiment.

 

 

 

Having done such a thing with someone she had considered a friend and family for 8 years made her feel ashamed and embarrassed about her impulsive behavior that night. Especially since he had been rejecting relationships, even pushing away the women Albert sent to him to avoid having children.

 

 

 

“He probably wants to pretend it didn’t happen.”

 

 

 

Elisa felt the same way. She simply thought of it as a one-night fling.

 

 

 

But no matter what, with 8 years of affection – albert mostly distant and only through exchanged letters – it felt cruel to be avoided like this, and she felt a bitter sense of heartache.

 

 

 

“Let’s just chalk it up to an accident. We’re a married couple, after all. It could happen.”

 

 

 

Despite being a soon-to-be-divorced couple, anyway.

 

 

 

Elisa wanted to somehow resolve this awkward relationship with him.

 

 

 

If she continued to spend their remaining time like this, it wouldn’t sit well with her.

 

 

 

But as they arrived at the entrance of the dining room, her heart began to race.

 

 

 

Just the thought of facing him brought back memories of that night. She needed time to compose herself.

 

 

 

Elisa urgently called Grayson, who was about to open the dining room door.

 

 

 

“Grayson, wait—”

 

 

 

“Yes?”

 

 

 

However, the dining room door had already opened. Yet, to her relief, Richard wasn’t there.

 

 

 

“He hasn’t arrived yet?”

 

 

 

Elisa sat down first, waiting for Richard.

 

 

 

After a while, the servants set the table and withdrew. There were no utensils set at his place.

 

 

 

Feeling puzzled, Elisa asked Grayson.

 

 

 

“Grayson, isn’t his highness joining us for dinner?”

 

 

 

“Oh, I forgot to mention.”

 

 

 

Grayson added apologetically.

 

 

 

“There are many malevolent beings on contaminated lands, and sometimes their negative energy can affect weaker individuals. Therefore, it’s been suggested that for the time being, we dine separately.”

 

 

 

Elisa didn’t doubt Grayson’s words. But given the timing, her suspicions about Richard didn’t fade.

 

 

 

“Understood.”

 

 

 

Elisa finally started her meal.

 

 

 

Having finished dinner in his study, Richard was handling estate matters before his departure.

 

 

 

Then, a knock sounded.

 

 

 

“Richard, are you in here?”

 

 

 

It was Elisa’s voice.

 

 

 

Instinctively, his heart skipped a beat at her clear voice, but then he remembered he shouldn’t approach her and suppressed it.

 

 

 

Putting down the documents he was reviewing, Richard answered.

 

 

 

“What is it?”

 

 

 

“I wanted to talk for a moment. Are you busy?”

 

 

 

“It’s fine. Go ahead.”

 

 

 

If he followed his heart, he would have wanted to talk to her face to face, but he couldn’t risk any chance of her being affected by malevolent energy.

 

 

 

Instead, he approached the door. He wanted to hear her voice up close, even if just a little.

 

 

 

Elisa, who was staring at the closed door, hesitated for a moment before speaking up.

 

 

 

“About that day… I want to talk…”

 

 

 

Richard’s steps toward the door halted.

 

 

 

It was a conversation he had wanted to have as soon as possible before going to the contaminated lands, but he hadn’t expected Elisa to bring it up first.

 

 

 

As she began to talk about ‘that day’, Richard’s ears turned red.

 

 

 

But Elisa’s next words shattered his heart.

 

 

 

“I can tell you’re still holding onto that day.”

 

 

 

“That day was just… an accident, I thought. Anyway, we’re a married couple, so it shouldn’t be a big deal…”

 

 

 

Richard’s eyes chilled at Elisa’s words.

 

 

 

An accident? Just because we’re a married couple?

 

 

 

Is she really considering that day to be just an accident because we’re married?

 

 

 

Really, can it be dismissed as something so insignificant? You…

 

 

 

“So I think we should just consider it as if it never happened and not dwell on it too much—”

 

 

 

Before Elisa could finish her sentence, Richard forcefully swung open the study door.

 

 

 

Elisa, who was standing in front of the door talking, looked up at him with startled eyes.

 

 

 

His gaze met hers, colder than she had ever seen.

 

 

 

“I don’t feel that way.”

 

 

 

Richard cut off Elisa’s words decisively, then realized his mistake and hesitated. Then, he closed the door again and said,

 

 

 

“Just go back, Elisa. It’s dangerous for you to come any closer for a while.”

 

 

 

There was no response from Elisa beyond the door. Without a response, he couldn’t tell if she understood his intention behind his words.

 

 

 

Her response came a beat later.

 

 

 

“Then… good night, Richard.”

 

 

 

As Elisa’s footsteps gradually faded away, they eventually became inaudible.

 

 

 

Richard Let out a sigh he had been holding back and nervously ran his hand through his hair.

 

 

 

When his surprised, widened eyes met her indifferent gaze, the bitterness he felt toward her vanished like melting snow. It felt unreal.

 

 

 

In front of her, his crumbling self-image seemed ridiculous like a sun melting before the sun.

 

 

 

“Pathetic fool…”

 

 

 

Even at this moment, Elisa’s face, seen up close for the first time in days, lingered in his mind.

 

 

 

She was so cruel to me.

 

 

 

Three days later, following Richard’s orders, members of the Rubellin Duchy headed to the estate.

 

 

 

Richard and Elisa rode in separate carriages.

 

 

 

Elisa looked at Richard and recalled his words from a few days ago.

 

 

 

“I don’t feel that way.”

 

 

 

The moment she heard those words, she briefly wondered, ‘Perhaps…?’ But it was fleeting.

 

 

 

Seeing Richard’s expression exuding a sharp coldness, she felt like he was more blaming himself for what he had done.

 

 

 

“Anyway, he’s the head of a villainous family, yet subtly moral.”

 

 

 

She admired that aspect of him, but it saddened her to see him investing emotions where it seemed unnecessary.

 

 

 

“Anyway… we’re soon to be divorced.”

 

 

 

While Elisa’s trip to the estate was partly due to Richard’s instructions, the bigger reason was the preparations for the divorce.

 

 

 

Upon arrival, Elisa intended to bring up the divorce and meet Ancel to discuss the villa.

 

 

 

Although her heart was heavy, being away from Rubellin for the first time in a while and heading to the warm south lifted her spirits.

 

 

 

But as time passed, the journey became increasingly arduous.

 

 

 

“My stomach feels unsettled…”

 

 

 

At first, she spent the boring carriage ride reading books or playing cards with Anne.

 

 

 

However, as they approached Akaroa, her nausea worsened, and she slept more.

 

 

 

On top of that, she felt a cold coming on, shivering even under multiple blankets.

 

 

 

Anne looked at Elisa with worried eyes.

 

 

 

“Madam, shall we take a break?”

 

 

 

“No, don’t worry. I’ll feel better if I sleep.”

 

 

 

Elisa dismissed Anne’s suggestion to talk to Richard about it; she didn’t want to cause trouble for the journey because of her own condition.

 

 

 

But despite Elisa’s protest, Anne informed Richard of Elisa’s condition as soon as she fell asleep.

 

 

 

Upon hearing the news, Richard immediately stopped the carriage and came over to Elisa’s.

 

 

 

“It’s been almost a month, so the malevolent energy should be gone by now.”

 

 

 

With a worried expression, Richard observed Elisa’s condition.

 

 

 

She looked pale, perhaps due to severe motion sickness. When he touched her forehead, he could feel a slight fever.

 

 

 

He wanted to show Elisa’s condition to a doctor right away, but the nearest village was a four-hour carriage ride away. It would be even more difficult for the sick Elisa to return.

 

 

 

Furrowing his brow, Richard instructed Ansgar.

 

 

 

“We’ll stay here for the night. Prepare for it.”

 

 

 

“Yes, Your Highness.”

 

 

 

The Rubellin estate personnel set up tents along the roadside for camping.

 

 

 

Richard carefully carried the sleeping Elisa into the tent and laid her on a makeshift bed.

 

 

 

Elisa, sensing his movements, struggled to open her eyes.

 

 

 

“…Richard?”

 

 

 

“I told you not to talk. Let’s rest for a while.”

 

 

 

“But I’ve been feeling nauseous, and I can’t just keep resting. I’ll be fine.”

 

 

 

Despite Elisa’s assurance, Richard’s expression was grim.

 

 

 

Just as Richard was about to say something, Anne’s voice came from outside the tent.

 

 

 

“Madam, I’ve brought dinner.”

 

 

 

“Come in.”

 

 

 

Anne approached with a tray of bread and potato soup for Elisa.

 

 

 

As Elisa, who was about to start eating, stood up, her expression turned pale.

 

 

 

Until the beginning of the journey, the potato soup had been delicious. But recently, her appetite had diminished, and today, it suddenly tastes revolting.

 

 

 

Richard, puzzled by Elisa’s pale expression, looked at her with a questioning gaze.

 

 

 

“Elisa?”

 

 

 

“I’m fine—ah!”

 

 

 

Elisa tried to pretend everything was normal with a forced smile, but she couldn’t hold back her nausea and rushed out of the tent.