C60
The next morning, I headed to the Town Hall early. I met Duke Cassius, who was waiting for me in front of the town hall, drawing everyone's attention.
He spoke with a slightly gloomy expression.
"Kyaden returned safely. I have no intention of forcing him to come back in the future, so you don't have to worry."
"I see."
"... I told him that I also wanted to apologize to Joshua, and he said he would ask carefully after the child's symptoms improved."
Joshua would never have wanted to see the duke again, or he might have wanted to receive an apology in person. The victim's own will was the most important.
"How did this happen? I feel like I've forgotten something important for a long time."
"Ah, I see. But please sign here."
Sorry, but I was not remotely interested in the duke's repentance. I had no intention of trapping him and scolding him.
"Done."
As soon as the Duke signed the agreement on behalf of Leandro as the patriarch of the family, I handed the paper to the clerk.
"Here you go!"
"Oh yes..."
The clerk was dumbfounded but did his job.
"The divorce agreement between Leandro Cassius and Ethel Cassius has been successfully received."
Yes! I clenched both fists.
How much I wished to hear this. I waited a long time for this moment.
"Then I will guide you through the follow-up procedures. Please note that your divorce will be officially approved only after all the procedures have been completed."
... Although it was not a complete divorce.
"Still, it's okay!"
Even if it's a follow-up procedure, it's only annoying, not difficult or unlikely.
Perhaps because I felt like I was flying, even the murmurs as they looked at us sounded like a fairy tale.
"Divorce agreement? Did Cassius just say that?"
"Yes, it's definitely Duke Cassius. The young lady next to him is Ethel Cassius."
"It's like a newspaper portrait!"
"No, that doesn't make sense. The divorce suit between the young Duke Cassius and his wife is in progress."
"That's right. They said the trial would also take place today."
"Are you saying they divorced amicably?"
Yes, that's correct. However, there is no law anywhere in the empire that prohibits divorce by agreement while the divorce process is ongoing.
Having submitted the divorce agreement, the trial is temporarily suspended and ends once the divorce is officially approved.
"Is it that good?"
The Duke asked me as we exited the Town Hall.
"Of course! But your son doesn't seem convinced. Since the Duke came in his place."
"That guy is still the same. He kept insisting that he couldn't do it until the end, so I left him at home and came back."
What a frightening family. That also made me happy today.
"Even Liena begged me to think again. Both of them are strangely obsessed with you."
The Duke seemed to feel the same as expected. At first, I thought it was just for the mine, but as time passed, I began to feel there was another reason.
"I'm very glad that the duke hasn't changed his mind after hearing the words of his beloved daughter."
Duke Cassius seemed to have perceived the truth in my words and responded apologetically.
"From the beginning, I thought there was no need to cling to someone who doesn't like you."
"I know. You didn't even care about me all this time."
"Are you criticizing me?"
"I am telling the truth. Even after becoming Ethel Cassius, you always called me Ethel Wallace."
"... That's right. I wasn't interested in you. You were just the woman who married Leandro, that's all."
The Duke stood upright in front of the Town Hall's main entrance.
"It's a bit disappointing. Thanks to you, I was able to find my wife's letter and apologize to Kayden. The end of a relationship is when I finally wonder what kind of person you are."
"Do you regret it?"
"It seems so."
"Then please be kind to the next woman your son marries."
That was all I had to say.
"No. If your son continues like this all his life, just don't let him marry, live with him for the rest of his life. Don't let other people become like me."
"... I'll keep that in mind. For me, this kind of chaos is no longer acceptable."
With this conversation, I parted ways with Duke Cassius.
"Come in, Ethel Wallace."
Duke Cassius called me Ethel Wallace until the end. But would it be strange if this time it sounded like a congratulation for my divorce?
"Eh?"
I rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand.
The Duke's blue eyes bidding me farewell as I boarded the carriage seemed somewhat different from usual. They might be a little, just a little, clearer.
-------------------
A few days later.
As expected, day after day, the world became noisy with the news of my divorce.
It looked like a fierce and murky fight, but did they dramatically manage to divorce by mutual agreement? It was only natural that it ended in a way that surpassed everyone's expectations.
Most people interested in this topic were dying of curiosity.
So, what is the truth about the young Duke Cassius, who was said to have a serious problem in producing an heir?
But our trial halted, and I kept silent, so they had no way to respond to their questions. It could be said that it was the worst ending for those who had planned to enjoy the misfortune of others.
"I don't care what happens to Leandro, but I have no intention of becoming a spectacle for everyone."
Of course, there were people who genuinely pitied and encouraged me, but most just enjoyed watching us quarrel and criticize each other. The emperor pushed for this trial because he found Cassius's humiliating death amusing.
"Ethel, you were here."
When I heard the calling voice, I turned around and saw Diana entering the garden.
Yes. Her former name was Anna, her current name is Diana. The daughter of Ambassador Leok, found thanks to me.
I was currently staying at Ambassador Leok's residence after leaving Terence's villa.
"Have you had any problems?"
"Not at all. In fact, the hospitality was undeserved."
"Even if I give Ethel hundreds of millions of gold, it's not too much. Think of it as your home and stay comfortably."
Diana laughed and said, "Actually, I still can't get used to the fact that this palace is my home."
The day I submitted the divorce agreement, Diana proposed it to me for the first time when I passed by the embassy residence to thank her. She asked if it would be better for me to stay here for a while.
After thinking about it, I accepted the favor. I couldn't be in debt to Terence forever.
His villa was a secret villa. A place where he hides from the world to be at peace.
However, lately, more and more journalists were following me. Everyone was eager to somehow get information about the divorce.
"If it had continued like this, the existence of the secret villa would have been exposed because of me."
I decided to leave the villa because I couldn't repay Terence's kindness with trouble. It was an absolutely correct decision.
It must have been the right decision...
"Why don't I feel so good?"
I thought about Terence, the last person I saw. When I first told him that I thought I would have to move out of the villa, he nodded calmly.
"That would be better. Ambassador Leok's residence has strict security measures, so you don't have to worry about flies catching you."
It was as he said. Besides, I could announce to the world that Ambassador Leok and I have an unbreakably friendly relationship, so it was a win-win situation for everyone.
Indeed, although I lost my support as Cassius, the media noticed and refrained to some extent from reporting provocative stories about me.
But what is this feeling? I don't exactly know what to say, but it's quite sweet.
I told Terence that I was leaving, and he didn't seem very sad about it. On the contrary, he recommended that it was better for me. I'm a little sad...
Wow, I surprised myself with what I thought.
"What are you saying now? Are you upset? Wake up!"
I slapped myself on both cheeks.
"Why, why are you doing that?!"
Diana, who was about to sit next to the bench I was sitting on, startled and stopped me.
"Hahaha... I feel a bit pathetic about myself."
"What? Why?"
"There's something like that.
I didn't know, but there was a part of me that was quite ungrateful.
What do you mean by feeling regretful?
Terence was now facing the most important event of his life.
The moment the emperor decided to announce the existence of his other son to the world was getting closer. As a result, Terence's schedule became very busy.
At first glance, it seems that Terence is busy meeting with some nobles who are supposed to support him in advance.
Among the nobles, they were the closest and most loyal to the emperor, and they even knew in advance the ultra-secret information about Terence's imminent consecration.
"So we haven't had a long conversation since the day of the trial."
He also said that he would have to move his lodging to the embassy residence when I passed by the villa to get something for a while.
Still, when the conversation with Cassius went well and when I presented the divorce agreement. Terence was as happy as everyone else and congratulated me.
It doesn't make sense to be angry with someone I'm so grateful for something like this.
I got rid of unwanted feelings and focused on my conversation with Diana.
"So why don't we celebrate the celebration party here?"
By celebration party, she referred to a party celebrating my divorce.
"I feel like I'm too much in debt to you."
"It can't be! Compared to the grace I received from Ethel, this is nothing."
"If you say so, it's fine. But I don't know exactly when I'll get a response from the temple."
Now the only thing left in the divorce process was the approval of the divorce by the temple. Fortunately, Leandro and I had no children, and I didn't ask for a division of assets or any alimony, so the process was quick.
"Except that Duke Cassius told me to take something because I had suffered."
The emperor was not very happy, but he allowed our divorce and was now waiting for the temple's response.
"Wouldn't it be fine to decide approximately? Anyway, the response will come within a week."
Well, that's right. Who would dare to stop Duke Cassius after he changed his mind and requested the divorce?
But there was someone. A person who dared to stop him."