I'm Terminal Anyway, No Regrets - Chapter 15

The Olan family matter was resolved as if nothing had happened by the King’s order.

For the two days until that decision was made, Madam Olan and Elena had to stay in prison.

When a noble committed a crime, they were confined in a noble prison, a place decorated like a room, but their crime was assault on royalty.

Fortunately it wasn’t winter, but they were released after staying in a dirty common prison infested with rats and insects, damp and smelly, without proper food.

After that, they did not come out of the mansion.

Jeffrey told people that he was bedridden due to severe shock. He claimed innocence, saying that if the assault had really happened, they wouldn’t have been released like this.

But the reason Madam Olan and Elena secluded themselves was because of Jeffrey.

“Going out! Do you know how much people are cursing the Olan family now! If you’ve made things like this, you should at least pretend to be sick from suffering in prison and restrain yourself.”

“That’s why we need to show people that we’re confident! What did we do wrong to stay at home?”

“That’s right, Jeffrey. This is all Ormia’s fault, we’re innocent. That woman set a trap knowing what would happen in advance.”

“Yes, you were there too. She’s so scary and vicious that even God has abandoned her!”

“Jeffrey, she doesn’t even appreciate the favor of you marrying her!”

“Anyway, don’t go out!”

Jeffrey also believed it was because of Ormia. He was angry but couldn’t allow Madam Olan and Elena to go out.

Most people agreed that it was the Olan family’s fault.

At the beginning of the incident, there were rumors that it was a denial of God and because the royal family was incompetent, the Olan family must have suffered all this time.

Jeffrey affirmed their words and went around saying it was a false accusation.

However, as the story of what happened at the tea party that day and the attempt to frame it as hysteria spread quickly among the ladies, people started to defend Ormia.

People began to curse the Olan family as if someone was helping Ormia behind the scenes, even though she shouldn’t have any public support.

Given Madam Olan’s personality, could she really endure hearing such words?

With her quarrelsome nature and feelings of inferiority towards the nobles, she was sure to fight.

‘Those bastards who talk behind our backs about how vulgar the Olan family is whenever we attend a banquet.’

Seeing this, people would gossip more and curse the Olan family, only lowering their reputation.

Jeffrey decided to no longer care about people cursing the Olan family.

When time passes and Ormia returns, everything will go back to normal.

“The problem is now.”

Jeffrey nervously bit his nails.

Duke Haiman had said he would entrust part of the horse business to Jeffrey. When he went there for that matter, he couldn’t even see the Duke’s face and only met with an aide.

“The Duke was greatly concerned about how to entrust business to someone whose household is in disarray.”

“You should control your household first.”

The aide looked at Jeffrey as if he were looking at an insect.

With eyes that viewed him as a worthless, incompetent, annoying parasite.

Bang! Jeffrey slammed his fist on the desk.

“Damn it, Ormia!”

Two weeks had passed since Madam Olan was released from prison, but Ormia had not returned to the mansion.

Of course, Jeffrey had gone to the royal palace.

It was a show to demonstrate how he was trying to reconcile with Ormia.

Ormia refused the meeting.

The longer it took, the more disadvantageous it became. People said the princess had good reason to demand a divorce.

Although the King had covered up the Olan family’s incident as if nothing had happened, so he wouldn’t allow a divorce for the sake of face, Jeffrey was anxious.

“She changed suddenly.”

Princess Ormia, who used to be timid and only watch his mood. The blind gaze that craved affection had changed recently.

Indifference.

As she started looking at Jeffrey with an expression that made it impossible to know what she was thinking, as her affection coldly disappeared, the things he had been enjoying became precarious one by one.

Even at the sound of knocking, Jeffrey didn’t lift his head, clutching it. The butler limped into the study.

“Master, the madam has arrived.”

“What? Ormia?”

Jeffrey jumped up and ran out of the study. He could see Ormia standing at the end of the corridor in the lobby.

“Ormia! Princess!”

‘How dare they cause such a shameful incident in the Olan family! I’ll teach them a lesson!’

As he entered the lobby, panting and coming out of the corridor, Jeffrey stopped in his tracks.

The first Prince Caland, who is in charge of proceeding with my divorce, issued the King’s order to the herald.

I said I would go to the Olan house to get my belongings, but only the herald came out.

“What about the knight and the maid to help with the luggage?”

“What knight? We’re going to deliver divorce papers.”

“You’re sending a victim of assault to meet her attackers without even providing a knight?”

I informed Caland that he wasn’t taking care of what should be done.

“…Fine.”

“And a maid too. What if the Olan family tries to use my belongings as hostage to call me back?”

“You, causing all this trouble and still being so brazen.”

He’s the type of person who would be displeased even if I made donations and did relief work.

Suddenly, I saw Leticia behind Caland. I pointed to Leticia, who was looking this way curiously but unable to intervene.

“If you don’t trust me that much, send Princess Leticia along. You trust Princess Leticia, right?”

Curious Leticia approached with shining eyes.

“I’d like to go if I can be of help to the Princess.”

“I told you to call me sister. You really…”

Caland’s expression softened.

Since she was going with me, he provided a maid and a knight as well.

Leticia seemed excited as we left the castle, trying to talk to me while looking out of the carriage. When I didn’t answer, she soon focused on sightseeing.

For those who value royal dignity and prestige like their lives, public attention is the most effective method of intimidation.

‘I was stupid.’

In my first life, I was foolish and dull.

If I had just changed my thinking a little, I could have lived comfortably.

Like an adventurer crossing a desert who would give up all his fortune for a few sips of water, I was starved for affection.

I clung to them, craving attention and affection. I bowed as low as possible, trying not to be hated by people who avoided me, calling me a denial of God and ominous.

The King and the royal family who had to keep me as royalty because of public gaze, while criticizing everything about me.

I could have used those things, but I was too desperate for immediate affection to see anything else.

Like a beast that can’t leave its cage even when the door is open, I was intimidated and tamed by violence.

I just had to give up.

“We have arrived.”

The Olan house after two weeks.

How excited I was when I first entered the Olan house after marriage.

I dreamed a false dream that I had gained a family that would love me.

Thinking that if only I did well, if only I tried hard, it would be okay.

When I came with the herald, the butler was flustered and hurriedly ran to the study. A person who had been fine was now limping.

He must have been beaten by Jeffrey, but I didn’t feel particularly sorry for him.

“Ormia! Princess!”

With a shout, Jeffrey came running with an angry face.

Realizing I wasn’t alone, Jeffrey quickly stopped.

“Pack everything from the room. The royal family will sort out what to throw away.”

“Yes.”

“Guide the Princess to her room.”

The royal maids, led by the duke’s maid, went up to the 2nd floor where my room was.

Seeing this, I turned my gaze to Jeffrey.

“O-Ormia…”

Jeffrey looked at the royal herald standing next to me in confusion. Soon he approached with a gloomy expression.

The knight standing behind the herald pushed his sword between Jeffrey and me. Though the sword was still sheathed, Jeffrey was startled and jumped back.

“Please maintain your distance.”

“I am the Princess’s husband! Get that away!”

“It’s for the Princess’s safety.”

“You think I would use violence against the Princess? Me, a duke? Don’t you trust me!”

At Jeffrey’s shout, the herald hesitated, wondering if he should withdraw the knight.

There was no need for me to step in.

Hearing the news of my arrival, Madam Olan and Elena came running down from the 2nd floor in their robes.

They must have scolded the servants to inform them of any incident in the house after the previous event, as their appearance was quick.

Their hair was disheveled and their faces were flushed from drinking.

“The Princess is here?”

“You bitch! I won’t let you off this time!”

“If you came, you should be on your knees apologizing and repenting! How dare you stand there so proudly!”

I heard they had been staying in and reflecting. Given their personalities, it was obvious they would resent me.

Not thinking about their own faults.

“You!”

“Ormia!”

They came running like demons with their nails out.

“Stop!”

The knight blocked in front of me. Unable to touch the noble ladies, he blocked them with his body.

Surprised, Madam Olan and Elena clutched their robes. Elena blushed, glancing at the young knight’s face.

“I have orders from Prince Caland to not hesitate even with nobles if they harm the Princess. Summary execution is possible.”

“S-summary execution?”

“You’re going to kill us?”

“What?”

Jeffrey pulled the two back, separating them from me.

“Please behave yourselves when we have guests! Why are you acting so rashly!”

“Je-Jeffrey… that bitch…”

Jeffrey warned in a low voice while grabbing the shoulder of Madam Olan, who was glaring at me without grasping the situation.

“The herald and knight are watching.”

It was all audible.

The herald pretended not to hear, and the knight frowned. He didn’t intervene.

“If you’re going to cause a commotion, please return to your room, I beg you.”

Gritting his teeth, Jeffrey pushed Madam Olan and Elena’s backs. As Madam Olan turned her back, unable to resist Jeffrey’s force while glaring at me, I called out to them.

“Listen to His Majesty’s order and leave.”

“His Majesty’s?”

Jeffrey’s face contorted.

At that moment, Leticia entered through the front door.

“Sister, I didn’t see the earrings in the carriage. I’m sorry.”

“Why is Princess Leticia here…”

Jeffrey hurriedly touched the cravat around his neck, conscious of Leticia. The herald cleared his throat.

“Ahem, His Majesty Bernard Gale Beltoa, the Sun of Glishia, has granted permission for the divorce of Jeffrey Olan and Ormia Olan. The Princess has returned as Ormia Beltoa.”

“Divorce?”

“Did you say divorce?”

The faces of the Olan family members turned pale. The King’s order was not the end of it.

The herald dropped a bomb on the Olan family.

“And.”