“Wow!”

I didn’t see the children running out of the alley carrying toy models.

As I tried to dodge sideways and stumbled, Edmond grabbed my waist and pulled me inward. Our eyes met in the close proximity.

I gazed, entranced like the girl from earlier, at his golden eyes narrowly revealed beneath lowered eyelids.

I understood why one could recite lyrical poetry with all sorts of flowery words when praising him.

Because Edmond really looked like that. It seemed I too had sincerely thought so deep down.

My heart pounded strongly, either from the unexpected accident or from being stunned by his appearance.

As I swayed backward once more to regain balance, his bangs fell forward and poked his eyes. He closed one eye that had swallowed his hair.

I brushed back his hair for him since his hands were occupied holding my waist.

Edmond frowned as if displeased.

“What are you doing?”

“Ah, excuse me. It’s become a habit.”

“…You mean it’s a habit to brush back men’s hair?”

His tone was a bit strange.

“When you put it that way, it makes me sound like a strange person? I just meant that brushing back hair is a habit. As you can see, my hair is quite long.”

“…”

Edmond silently furrowed his brow, then abruptly let go of my waist and walked ahead.

He had treated me like a gentleman just moments ago, but now his attitude was dismissive.

“Be careful from now on.”

…How prickly.

I pouted my lips once in disappointment, then quickly followed after Edmond.

“Excuse me, Count. Perhaps you’ve taken a wrong turn… No, that can’t be.”

I hurriedly took back my words at his fierce gaze and stared at the building.

Cobwebs around the chimney and walls with scattered holes.

Rain Burton’s office in the two-story mansion structure was closer to a damp ruin.

‘This will require quite a substantial leasing fee.’

As I approached the arched red wooden door, Edmond leaned against the exterior wall with his arms crossed.

“I’ll wait here.”

“I’ll finish my business as quickly as possible.”

I bowed slightly before entering the office door.

I quickly climbed the stairs and looked down at his ash-gray hair through the landing window.

Edmond tilted his head diagonally upward.

Our eyes met for a moment, and I smiled gently as if asking him to watch over me, but he turned his head expressionlessly.

‘How embarrassing.’

I let out a shallow sigh and climbed the stairs holding my fan.

A small sign saying “Rain Burton’s Office” was attached to the worn mahogany door.

I knocked on the door and entered upon hearing a voice telling me to come in.

Contrary to expectations, the interior was neat.

Judging by the sofas neatly arranged in the center, that seemed to be where clients were consulted.

As I stood still with empty hands since there was no one to greet visitors, a door opened in the corner and a woman appeared.

The freckled woman with short brown hair passed by without looking at me, turning pages of a book with a cookie in her mouth.

“Mister, I’ll pay the rent tomorrow… Who are you?”

“Are you Attorney Rain Burton?”

“Yes, I am. And you are?”

“I came for a consultation.”

Rain Burton’s eyes widened, then she dropped her book.

Wack! She hopped around saying “Ow!” as it landed on her foot.

I rolled my eyes watching her antics.

In the original work, she was described as a loyal, indomitable lawyer who defended Edmond despite the disapproval of high nobles…

‘Is this really the Rain Burton who won the trial of the century…?’

Yes, it’s Rain Burton.

I set down my business card and gazed at her across from me with an artificial smile.

“I came today because I wanted to seek your advice, Ms. Rain Burton.”

“What kind of…?”

Her eyes widened as she ate cookies like a squirrel, saying she had a sensitive personality that couldn’t endure even a moment of hunger.

“Well, I want to get divorced. I’d like to hire you as my lawyer.”

“R-really? What about the fees? Will I be able to eat five meals a day?”

Rain Burton asked bluntly with cookie crumbs around her mouth.

‘So her standard is based on meal costs.’

I smiled faintly and explained the current situation.

After hearing everything, Rain Burton rubbed her chin with a serious expression.

“Hmm, so your husband has been continuously unfaithful, and your mother-in-law has verbally and physically abused you. Due to mutual tolerance, you haven’t been respected as a Countess and have become isolated… Is that correct?”

“That’s right.”

“You want an amicable divorce, but you don’t want to give your husband a penny of your assets, and you’d like Baroness Dien to be isolated from high society?”

“That’s correct too. I want to hire you as a legal advisor to avoid any legal issues in the process.”

Rain Burton stared at me intently before standing up abruptly. Her attitude was resolute, as if she didn’t need to hear any more.

“If that’s the case, I’ll have to decline. I’m an honest lawyer. Using me for mere revenge as a Countess−”

“I’ll ensure you don’t have to worry about food expenses for a year.”

“That scumbag…! How dare he deceive the Countess and have an affair! I never liked that bastard from the start!”

‘Hmm, she’s an honest person.’

I smiled pleasantly at her completely changed attitude.

I liked that she was simple in her desires.

At least it meant she wouldn’t backstab me or waste time while just taking the retainer fee.

Eventually, I listed the current situation and plans.

That Devon had forged the will, that I had the real will left by my father and planned to request authentication from the Magic Tower, and so on. It was a detailed plan.

“Once the will’s authenticity is confirmed, I plan to blackmail him into an amicable divorce. He won’t be able to deny it since it’ll be a fact certified by the Magic Tower.”

“Hmm, I see.”

Rain Burton, who had become almost like a loyal retainer due to a year’s worth of food expenses, nodded and listened attentively.

She scribbled something on the documents.

“I don’t intend to file adultery lawsuits against his affair partners. They were also deceived by Devon.”

“But… what if they file a lawsuit first and demand property division? Of course, inherited property isn’t subject to division under imperial law. However, assets acquired after marriage−”

“Yes, that. That’s what I need your help with, Ms. Rain Burton.”

This was also the main reason I sought out Rain Burton.

Currently, Devon is the head of the Vuel family’s Le Bron mining operations, but his poor management has drawn criticism from executives for the past four years.

‘No wonder, he’s only capable of seducing women in the first place.’

The problem is that thanks to my father, the family already has systematic distribution and stable mining operations in place, so the Vuel family’s assets are growing even if they just breathe.

Because of this, Devon has created private business connections behind the executives’ backs, giving the legal representative headaches.

‘He swore he wouldn’t do it again, but… I wonder.’

I snorted.

As far as I knew, Devon wasn’t the type to quit.

‘That’s why I want to drive him out with nothing even more.’

Thinking of the face of the man who would soon be my ex-husband made me nauseous.

As I clicked my tongue at the unpleasant thought, Rain Burton, who had been deep in thought rubbing her chin, smirked.

“There’s a way to prevent dividing not only the inherited property but also the marital assets.”

“What is it?”

“Has your husband ever committed any illegal acts?”

“If I remember correctly, the Vuel family lawyer once resolved Devon’s tax evasion suspicions.”

“Hmm, then we can use a legal loophole. All assets suspected of tax evasion or illegal accumulation are frozen by the imperial family for investigation. We’ll tie up the joint property with the imperial family to prevent property division before the divorce. After the divorce, you can prove your innocence and reclaim the assets, Countess.”

Oh ho. The corners of my mouth lifted involuntarily.

“I see there’s such a method. Will there be any issues with the family’s businesses?”

“If it’s personal tax evasion, it shouldn’t affect business operations. And before that, rumors of discord with your in-laws… It would be good to expose that to the media, do you think it’s possible?”

I smiled brightly at Rain Burton’s satisfactory advice.

“Of course.”

That’s easy. I was planning to generate sympathetic public opinion before the divorce anyway.

I just hadn’t set the timing yet, but I was going to spread rumors of discord gradually, as if draining blood.

Rain Burton nodded with a sly smile.

“That’s good then. I’ll bribe an official I know to encourage the investigation. It’ll be busy with cooperation because of that, but it should be resolved before the will certificate comes out.”

“Thank you. We can strike a blow before the divorce. Ah, I have separate thoughts about Baroness Dien. I’d like to resolve it within the bounds of the law, so I’ll seek your advice from time to time.”

“Come anytime, Countess. I’ll support you.”

You’re paying a whole year’s worth of food expenses after all. Rain Burton clenched her fist and shouted boldly.

“Destroy them!”

Oh my. I wrinkled my nose and smiled playfully.

“Among educated people, we call it revenge in a cultured way.”

“Right, revenge!”

Even though she should have felt a bit embarrassed by my reaction, Rain Burton didn’t care and raised her fist again.

I chuckled and spoke again.

“There are other tasks I’d like to request… if possible.”

Meanwhile, Rain Burton, who had been munching on snacks, brushed off the crumbs around her mouth and said shamelessly.

“Just say the word. I haven’t had clients since opening, but that doesn’t mean I lack ability.”

Ha, her bold personality made me laugh.

No wonder the Edmond in the original work entrusted her with the trial.

Rain Burton was the type of person I liked. I preferred confidence and guts to overflow rather than be lacking.

I smiled contentedly and offered a handshake.

“I’m counting on you, Ms. Rain Burton. When everything is over, I’ll pay enough in fees for you to relocate your office to a high-traffic area.”

“I’ll spend it all on food anyway, but thank you in advance.”

We shook hands up and down with bright smiles. The contract was successful, and my plan was just beginning.