“What?”

“No, you’re a thief. Everything you have, you’ve stolen from me.”

“What nonsense are you spouting!”

I stepped closer to Devon, glaring into his eyes.

“You think I don’t know about the will manipulation?”

My words, filled with suppressed anger, drained the color from Devon’s face. His eyes, once filled with menace, now widened in astonishment.

“What, what are you talking about?”

“No need to pretend, everyone in the empire will soon know.”

“You, you knew…!”

“How? It’s strange. The day before my father passed, he held my hand, worrying about my marriage to you, and yet he left his estate to you.”

“Uh… could it be the will you’ve been holding?”

“Yes, that’s right. Once everything comes to light, it’s over for you. I’m the only one who can save you now.”

I concealed a sneer behind trembling lips.

“So, sign the divorce agreement willingly and bring it to me. I won’t send you to prison then.”

“Stop joking, I took care of the will! You think I don’t know about bluffs? Even if it’s true, I can’t divorce! I won’t! If I lose the title and property to you, I’ll be left with nothing, I’d at least need a settlement!”

There’s no share for you. Rainbutton is smoothly managing to investigate tax evasion traces.

As I crossed my arms nonchalantly, Devon licked his lips anxiously and spoke.

“That, that’s not it, then alimony.”

“How foolish.”

In the empire, the at-fault spouse couldn’t claim alimony. That was the law.

“If anyone should claim alimony, it should be me. You still don’t understand the situation?”

My mocking words inflamed Devon, who advanced towards me, his face turning red.

“You…!”

Seeing Devon’s fist trembling, I chuckled.

“What, going to hit me? How typical of cheaters like you, disgraceful.”

Devon’s face contorted in anger, and his eyes clouded.

Slap!

Devon’s hand struck my face, turning my head.

As I regained balance, I blankly touched my cheek.

‘He really hit me?’

It’s strange to feel affectionate towards such a person.

Despite knowing Devon was beyond decency, I had somehow hoped he wouldn’t stoop so low.

It was truly a bottom-of-the-barrel act. I thought he might feel some remorse.

Tears welled up. Overwhelmed with indignation, heat rose to the top of my head.

Turning my head, I glared at Devon through blurred vision.

‘This bastard…’

Gritting his teeth, Devon’s lips trembled with fury.

As Devon raised his hand again,

Bang!

Suddenly, the door to the drawing room burst open, and Devon was sent flying by the intruder.

Collapsing with the table, Devon was drenched in cold tea, coughing and disoriented.

“Who, who…!”

Wiping his wet hair and squinting, Devon was shocked to see who it was.

The intruder stood protectively in front of me.

I knew who it was. Before the conversation with Devon began, I had told Rainbutton to barge in without hesitation if voices were raised.

Relieved, I looked up to thank the person, but froze.

The contours of the angry muscles under the white shirt were visible.

The tied silver hair and prominent male jaw.

“Lord Edmond?”

Why are you here…

Edmond, surrounded by a calm chill, stared coldly at Devon.

“Trash.” Muttering lowly, he turned his head and saw me, with tears in my eyes, looking up at him.

Startled, I quickly looked away, but not before a transparent tear fell.
Limping to his feet, Devon shook off the tea-soaked water from his shoulders and hair. Only then did Edmond, who had been even more ferocious than before, take his gaze off me.

“What’s all this commotion in a house with no master?”

“Ha, of course, I came looking for my wife. You, Lord Edmond, are being reckless. How could you allow a married woman into your mansion without even seeking permission from her husband!”

“What does your permission have to do with a decision made after consulting the Countess of Buel?”

“Am I not her husband! At least… Aha.”

Devon, grinning unpleasantly, pointed accusingly between Edmond and me.

“Now I see! You two are in that kind of relationship!”

Edmond, finding no more value in listening, turned to Rail, who was standing at the entrance of the drawing room.

“Rail, escort this man out.”

“Ah, embarrassed after being caught in the act? What did you two do in this mansion while I was away, eh?”

That’s when it happened. Edmond’s forehead tensed with anger, and he grabbed Devon by the scruff of the neck with one hand.

“Lord Edmond?”

I hurriedly followed them as they disappeared outside.

“Let go of me!”

Despite Devon’s protests, he was dragged away helplessly, like a paper doll, each twitch of Edmond’s muscular arm pulling him further.

Nobody dared to intervene as Edmond, with veins bulging on his forehead, exuded a fierce aura.

Devon, thrown down at the entrance stairs, yelled with a flushed face.

“Look here! Lord Mipidian! You think you can belittle the Buel family just because you’re hailed as a hero? You have no right to.”

Suddenly looking up, Devon’s face turned pale as if facing a monstrous beast.

“Wait, I mean.”

In the tense atmosphere, Edmond casually turned to Rail.

“Rail, it seems I’ve made a grave mistake based on his claims.”

Devon’s face lit up briefly.

“That’s right, now you’re making sense.”

“Since he might catch a cold in wet clothes, strip him and send him out.”

“Yes, understood.”

Rail, with a triumphant smile, signaled the servants.

Devon, quickly bound and dragged away, had no time to resist.

“Just wait…! This is absurd! My lady…! Lady, say something!”

I snorted disdainfully at Devon’s call.

Looking at him with a sneer, I suddenly caught Edmond’s persistent gaze.

“Sorry for the trouble. I never thought he’d come here.”

“Are you all right?”

His unexpectedly gentle tone caught me off guard. His expression was still impassive, but the sharpness had softened.

‘Maybe he feels a bit of compassion for me because of this incident.’

Perhaps that’s why the softness he usually reserved for Lirien was momentarily directed at me.

‘And to think I cried in front of this man because of someone like Devon.’

Embarrassed, I looked down.

“I’m fine.”

Despite my assurance, Edmond continued to scrutinize my cheek and ordered a servant to bring an ice pack.

Glancing at him, our eyes met again.

“How about cooling off in the garden for a while?”

I touched my warm cheek, nodding absentmindedly. His cold demeanor suddenly seemed reassuring.

Receiving the ice pack from a servant, Edmond headed towards the garden.
Crossing the garden, Edmond found Etrisha lost in thought in front of a vibrant flower bed. Unlike her usual playful demeanor, her eyes seemed empty, not focusing on anything in particular.

Edmond recalled the recent events.

After receiving Rail’s report, he had arrived late in the drawing room, where he heard scuffling sounds. Bursting in, he found Etrisha, her cheek cupped in her hand, frozen in shock.

After subduing Devon, who was about to raise his hand again, he turned to look at her.

When their eyes met, she trembled with peridot-colored eyes, then, ashamed, bit her lip and turned her head away.

Soon after, she let fall transparent tears.

There was no sign of her usual bright eyes or teasing, relaxed lips.

The stark contrast to the Etrisha he knew was so shocking it was as if she was a completely different person.

After asking for a conversation with Etrisha, Rail had reported additional findings.

“Countess Buel’s statements in the dining room last time were true. Contrary to her public appearance, she seems to have been exhausted by the harsh life with the Countess of Dien. But about the Count of Buel…”

After dismissing Rail, who bore an ambiguous smile, Edmond’s steps towards the garden felt strangely heavy.

It was when he was gripping the ice pack tightly.

“You’re here?”

Etrisha, shaking off her dazed expression, approached him. Edmond saw her lips trembling but deliberately pretended not to notice and handed her the ice pack.

“Put this on your cheek.”