“Of… course.”

I quickly withdrew my hand from Cedric, trying to hide my flustered expression.

‘Did he have to say “take your hand off” in such a profound way? It’s just making me feel strange…’

With a subtle warmth creeping into my ears, I unconsciously bit my lip.

It felt as if the warmth of his lips still lingered on my palm.

I discreetly hid my hand behind my back and turned my head, pretending to look at the glass garden.

After taking several long breaths, I finally calmed down and glanced up at Cedric again.

Cedric was still just gazing down at me silently.

‘Does he… have something he wants to say?’

As soon as that thought crossed my mind, I shook my head.

It was clear that the only words Cedric would have for me now were thorny ones.

Someone who hated my touch more than death itself – I didn’t need to see it to know.

This won’t do. I should flee quickly before Cedric gets angry.

“Oh my! We’re almost at the glass garden.”

I made a fuss and hurried ahead.

“Let’s go quickly. It’s better for both of us to get this over with as fast as possible.”

How much distance had opened up between us by then?

Fortunately, I didn’t hear Cedric’s voice berating me until that point.

I could only hear the sound of his footsteps slowly following behind me.

* * *

Various trees and flowers were in full bloom throughout the garden, and a small coral-colored fountain was spouting water in the center.

I sat down first at the table prepared next to the fountain, and after a short while, Cedric sat across from me.

“Did you bring the documents?”

At my question, Cedric untied the string on the leather document pouch he had brought and took out the papers.

“This is the divorce agreement. And this is the confidentiality contract for six months after the divorce.”

Cedric said as he spread out the documents he had prepared on the table.

I looked over the confidentiality contract first.

Clauses stating that the fact of the divorce would not be disclosed for six months, and that during that time I would stay at the Dark Mansion under conditions befitting a duchess.

The contract was well organized.

“I like it.”

“Then let’s check the divorce terms as well.”

I then carefully examined the conditions in the divorce agreement that Cedric handed over.

“I intend to purchase a mansion for you within the amount specified in the document, wherever you want.”

The amount proposed for buying the mansion was substantial.

‘How many zeros are there?’

It seemed like enough to buy the mansion I wanted and then some.

“Good. I’d prefer a mansion near the seaside, if possible.”

“We’ll proceed with that.”

Now, how much was allocated for living expenses?

Of course, since I was the ex-wife he detested, he probably wouldn’t give too generously…

I expected Cedric to give at least about half of the budget I had been receiving so far.

‘Actually, even that amount would be more than enough to live alone.’

With a trembling heart, I turned the page.

And at that moment, when I confirmed the allocated amount.

“Is this… really true?”

I couldn’t believe my eyes.

But no matter how many times I rubbed my eyes and checked again, the amount remained the same.

“What are you talking about?”

Cedric asked indifferently.

He seemed to have no idea why I was surprised.

“You’re giving me… the entire budget allocated to the duchess?”

The Twins Duchy, rulers of the North.

The budget for the living expenses of its mistress, the duchess, was an enormous amount beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

‘And he’s going to pay that amount every year to his divorced ex-wife?’

Still unable to believe it, I counted the figures written on the document again and again.

Watching me, Cedric quietly asked.

“Are you not satisfied with the terms?”

“How could that be? It’s just… I didn’t expect you to give so much.”

At that, Cedric raised one eyebrow high.

His expression suggested that he was the one surprised instead.

“…You continue to show unexpected sides.”

He muttered, exhaling softly.

“You’ve always used two to three times the budget without any issues until now.”

“…”

“There’s simply no reason to cover those excess expenses anymore. I have both the will and the wealth to pay this much.”

The Twins family, who lost their status as human royalty since ancient times, had been hiding their existence in the human world along with other mixed-blood demon clans.

However, the Twins were originally an ancient and prestigious family dating back to ancient times.

It was only natural that their family fortune was very abundant.

Moreover, when they returned to the human world with the founding of the Western Empire, the Twins family gained even more powerful authority and inexhaustible wealth.

‘Even so, it’s certainly not a small amount to pay annually as alimony to a divorced ex-wife…’

As that thought occurred to me, I felt an inexplicable pity for Cedric.

I wondered how much he must have suffered from Rebecca to go this far.

‘He must have wanted to divorce quickly and without issues, even if it meant doing this.’

Considering that he had recoiled at the mere mention of marriage for a while after divorcing Rebecca, it was more than understandable.

‘I like the divorce terms, and since he’s offering, let’s get it done quickly.’

I hurriedly returned to the first page of the document.

As I looked at the imperial and papal seals stamped at the top, Cedric slowly spoke.

“I obtained permission in advance. To ensure there’s no problem maintaining our secret for half a year.”

Cedric had already signed his part of the signature line.

Noticing the significance, I nodded and picked up the fountain pen.

“So with just my signature, the divorce will be finalized?”

“…That’s right.”

He stared intently at my hand holding the fountain pen.

It seemed he couldn’t let his guard down until my signature was on the divorce papers.

‘There’s really no need for that, honestly…’

I slowly placed the pen tip on the blank space reserved for my signature.

.

.

.

Cedric, watching Rebecca’s hand holding the fountain pen, recalled when it had rested on his lips.

‘Is she… going to let me go now?’

Why did such a question arise?

As he followed behind Rebecca on the way to the glass garden, Cedric’s mind was filled with gray fog.

‘I suppose it’s natural to feel some unnecessary sentimentality when actually facing divorce.’

Even for a life that was utterly miserable, one tends to feel a hint of regret when facing death.

Although it was the end of a hellish married life, he could afford to feel this shallow sentiment.

Moreover, the belated thought that Rebecca might have truly loved him made his heart unnecessarily complicated.

If Rebecca’s feelings had been genuine…

Then the current situation might have been caused by his constant wariness of her.

However, there were still unclear aspects that made it difficult to fully believe in Rebecca’s sincerity.

‘If Rebecca had no intention of using me, why did she follow me all the way to Mount Manakin that night?’

As the cunning smile of Rebecca’s father, Duke Bold, came to mind next, his jaw clenched slightly.

At the same time, Cedric pushed away the unnecessary sentimentality he felt on the threshold of divorce with the power of reason.

‘This divorce must absolutely happen.’

It was then, as Cedric was steeling his resolve once more.

Scratch, scratch—

A soft sound was heard.

When he raised his head again, Rebecca had already finished signing everything.

Five years of marriage that had been like a nightmare.

All the pain of that time ended so easily it felt almost futile.

With just two signatures from Rebecca.

“Don’t hold back on my account. Feel free to rejoice as much as you want.”

Rebecca placed the fountain pen down on the table and lifted the corners of her mouth slightly.

Cedric, on the other hand, found the situation confusing.

He couldn’t even clearly identify what this emotion he was feeling was.

It should have been a moment to feel joy, and yet. All he felt now was an inexplicable emptiness.

“Cedric, you don’t quite feel it yet, do you?”

Following a soft laugh, a pale, delicate hand was suddenly extended in front of Cedric.

“A divorce contract is still a contract. Since we’ve wrapped it up well, let’s shake hands one last time, shall we?”

Cedric was shocked once again.

She had been the one who cried and clung to him every day, saying she couldn’t live a single moment apart from him.

Now that the divorce was decided, seeing Rebecca calmly offering a handshake was too unfamiliar.

“…Alright.”

As he slowly grasped Rebecca’s hand, he felt a different warmth than before.

As Cedric stared down at her small hand, it was then.

“You’ve been through a lot, because of me.”

A soft voice gently resonated through the air.

At that unfamiliar yet comfortable sound, Cedric slowly raised his head to look at Rebecca.

“I hope you won’t suffer for long from this failed marriage and the trauma it caused.”

“…”

“Of course, it’s shameless of me to say this, but… please forget our painful marriage soon.”

“…”

“And next time, I hope you meet a woman you truly love and live a really happy life.”

She continued in a low voice.

“I mean it.”

Eventually, a gentle smile like a lotus flower spread across Rebecca’s face.

It was a serene smile she had shown him for the first time in a long time, no, for the first time ever.

As he stared blankly at her as if seeing an illusion, it was then.

“Well then… take care, Cedric.”

With those quiet words, Rebecca let go of their clasped hands.

At that moment, all that remained with Cedric in place of her departed touch was just…

An unexpected sense of emptiness.

* * *

On the way back after signing the divorce papers.

My mind was filled with flowers.

‘A seaside mansion and massive living expenses on top of that…!’

The corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily at the thought of the luxurious and free life I would enjoy from now on.

And the more I thought about it, the more I resolved to avoid the death of Rebecca in the original story.

It would be such a waste to die without even getting to use all that alimony.

‘Alright, now that I’ve removed one death flag by divorcing Cedric…’

All that’s left is to turn the hearts of the mixed-blood demons.

‘Still, just in case, it would be good to take some mixed-blood demons with me for protection after six months. I’ll definitely take Mina with me… Ah, I should just tell Mina to bring a few more friends.’

From living together, I realized that Mina had an incredible network among the mixed-blood demons.

Plus, with her strength to easily lift anything and her ability to make all sorts of poisons and antidotes.

Luckily, such a child became my confidant, so if I work hard to build trust from now on, it would be as good as gaining an army.

‘Others say life gets tough when possessing a villainess, but am I allowed to have it this easy all by myself? Hah, really.’

I hummed a tune, marveling at my own plans.

Just as I was entering the corridor of the duchess’s quarters.

“Your Grace, why are you only coming now!”

Mina, who spotted me at the end of the corridor, started running over breathlessly.

“Oh, our Mina! Haha, I was enjoying my walk so much I lost track of time.”

I should start talking about preparing to move to the Dark Mansion soon.

I was having such carefree thoughts when.

For some reason, Mina’s face began to stiffen gradually.

“Your Grace… Did you really forget who was visiting today?”