I Am Trying to Divorce My Villain Husband, But We Had a Child - chapter 36

Chapter 36

“Madam, a letter has arrived from Viscount Arden.”

It was the butler, Grayson.

A flush spread across Elisa’s face at the mention of that name.

Anne, instead of Elisa, received the letter and brought it to her.

As she opened the letter, along with it came a postcard depicting the scenery of the seaside villa.

[Dear friend, Elisa.

Everything you asked for is ready. The villa was repaired last week, and the attached postcard is the result of asking the painter to depict your villa.

It’s even more beautiful in person, I’m sure you’ll love it.

Let me know the date you want, and I’ll send someone over. See you in Sorrenti soon.

Wishing for everything you desire to come true.

From Sorrenti, Ancel.]

Ancel, who was quiet and introverted in her childhood, had now become a capable businessman and inherited the viscountcy, residing on the eastern coast.

Being able to purchase the Roengreen artist’s villa, which had passed into someone else’s hands, was thanks to him.

Elisa examined the enclosed postcard.

A small villa was depicted against a backdrop of the sea on the postcard. It was a beautiful scene, with the azure sea and the pristine white villa blending together, even in the form of a painting.

“It’s beautiful….”

Elisa thought as she rested her hand on the boat.

‘I need to hurry with the preparations.’

Before the boat arrives.

At that moment, there was another knock on the door.

“Elisa.”

It was Richard.

Elisa tilted her head at the unexpected voice. It wasn’t time for him to be here yet.

“Come in.”

Elisa greeted Richard as she set down Ancel’s letter and postcard.

He was dressed as if he had just returned from an outing, still wearing his casual clothes.

“You’re early today?”

“I finished work early, so I thought we could have dinner together.”

“Ah….”

“You usually eat in your room every day, are you having proper meals?”

Elisa felt sheepish.

She had been eating in her room all along, afraid of being caught by others.

Although Richard usually left the mansion early in the morning, she thought he wouldn’t notice. But it seemed that the butler or other servants had mentioned it.

Elisa mumbled vaguely, “I, I just didn’t feel like going to the dining hall. Since I’m eating alone anyway.”

“Then let’s eat together today.”

Elisa’s expression turned contemplative at Richard’s response.

She didn’t mind his suggestion, but right now, she was in no condition to eat anything.

If he noticed her lack of appetite, he might suspect something. She had to somehow avoid having a meal with him.

After a moment of consideration, Elisa came up with a plan.

“Um, alright then? Why don’t you freshen up and come back.

Let’s have dinner.”

After sending Richard away, Elisa immediately planned to go to bed. Surely he wouldn’t wake a sleeping person to have dinner.

Unaware of Elisa’s true feelings, Richard turned to leave the room.

At that moment, the postcard and letter lying on the table caught his eye.

Richard glanced briefly at the postcard depicting the seaside villa before leaving the room.

A few days later, after investigating the Loheas artist, Richard found the owner of the badge.

The badge’s owner was Philip Loheas, the illegitimate son and heir of the Loheas artist.

“Oh, Father! Father said that if Father succeeds in this matter, he will allow me to inherit his title! I don’t even know what happened there. I just followed Father’s orders!”

Having extracted Philip’s confession, Richard set out with the Soulstone of the Devil to find the Emperor.

It had been exactly 8 years since they last met.

Eight years ago, on the day he went off to war, was the last time he saw him.

In the past 8 years, Richard had grown from a fifteen-year-old boy into a mature adult of twenty-three, while the Emperor had become a middle-aged man with graying hair.

Seeing the approaching Richard, the Emperor felt a sense of crisis.

The mature Richard felt like he was becoming more and more like a threat, like a miniature version of Rubellin gaining influence.

He greeted Richard with a composed expression.

“This is indeed rare. Marquis. No, that’s not it. I should call you Duke now.”

“I greet the fiery flames of Arensia.”

Richard bowed respectfully to the Emperor.

The Emperor looked down at Richard and asked.

“You didn’t even come when I said I was preparing a banquet to honor your achievements, what’s the matter?”

Despite his offer to honor his contributions right after the war, Richard’s return to Rubellin didn’t sit well with the Emperor.

But Richard brushed it off casually.

“There was almost an incident that would have brought danger to Arensia, so I felt it necessary to report to Your Majesty.”

“Danger? What danger?”

“Do you remember the contaminated land to the northwest of Rubellin, sealed by the predecessors?”

“I recall. What about it? Is there a problem there?”

“Recently, the monsters near the territory have become more aggressive. Upon investigation, traces were found indicating that someone had infused the monsters with the Soulstone of the Devil. And the soldiers guarding the ravine were also under attack.”

“Oh, this is outrageous. Crossing the ravine.

Have you identified the culprit?”

“It seems we’re close.”

Richard looked directly at the ‘mastermind’ in front of him.

Yet, with an expression that seemed to imply ignorance, the Emperor casually asked, which was repulsive.

He must have suspected that Richard already knew the truth.

No, he probably never intended to hide it. He knew he couldn’t directly deal with the Emperor even if he knew the truth.

“I understand the Marquis’s concern, but it would be best not to blow this matter out of proportion. It might only exacerbate the anxiety of the people in Rubellin.”

“This could also be used to our advantage.”

Richard said coolly, looking up at the Emperor.

‘’Rubellin is so threatening and powerful that someone would attempt such a clumsy scheme to discredit it.”

“….”

“So fear and admire Rubellin.”

The Emperor’s expression stiffened at Richard’s words.

‘Someone attempting such a clumsy scheme to discredit’ referred directly to the Emperor himself.

Richard looked at the Emperor, who had frozen, without a hint of hesitation.

“Then, once we find the mastermind, I will punish them in the name of Rubellin.”

The Emperor couldn’t be punished, but his henchmen could be severed.

The Emperor just stared down at Richard without saying a word.

Richard looked at him with indifferent eyes, then turned and left the audience chamber, having paid his respects.

At that moment, he felt a piercing pain in his back.

‘…What’s this?’

However, as he entertained the doubt, the pain that had briefly been felt disappeared.

Richard paused for a moment, but soon brushed it off as inconsequential.

Having left early in the morning to meet the Emperor, Richard didn’t return to the mansion until late at night.

The servants and staff of Rubellin greeted their master respectfully.

“Welcome back, Your Grace.”

Richard nodded dryly and headed straight to his bedroom.

A servant followed him, taking his coat and leather gloves.

As Richard strode with long strides, he suddenly halted in front of his room.

The servant following him almost collided with his broad back.

Looking up at Richard with a puzzled expression, the servant realized Richard’s gaze was directed toward Elisa standing in front of him.

“You’re still awake.”

“I have something to discuss.”

“What is it?”

Instead of answering Richard’s question directly, Elisa looked at the servant standing behind him.

Understanding the meaning of her gaze, the servant quickly bowed and withdrew.

“Please have a peaceful night, both of you.”

The two entered Richard’s room.

As they entered the room illuminated by light from the dim corridor, Elisa’s silhouette in her thin nightwear was clearly visible.

Seeing her, Richard frowned slightly and averted his gaze.

“It’s quite late. How about we sleep now and discuss it again tomorrow morning?”

“You’re never there in the morning. And when you come back, it’s always late at night.”

Richard couldn’t say anything in response to Elisa’s words. They were not wrong.

But Elisa’s voice, saying so, was calm without any hint of resentment or reproach. It wasn’t his fault that he was busy.

But that wasn’t the most important thing right now.

“I feel like we need to talk as soon as possible. You should prepare yourself too.”

Elisa looked at him with a determined expression.

“Let’s divorce now, Richard.”

After 8 years of marriage, she spoke of the plan she had been preparing for almost 8 years.

With his child in her womb.