“Uh, elder sister…… How did you……”

To ask how the daughter-in-law of the Dien family came to the Dien family’s residence.

Flabbergasted, I opened my mouth sarcastically.

“What a ridiculous question. Is there really a place you can go that I cannot?”

“…That, that’s not what I meant……”

Berita, seemingly cowed by my sharp remark, quietly lowered her eyes.

I smiled crookedly and nodded towards the room she had come out of.

“Is Devon in there?”

“Yes……”

“Well, that’s perfect. Shall we go in together?”

As I headed towards the room, Berita followed with a puzzled expression.

I opened the door and entered directly, turning my head before Berita crossed the threshold. Reading my gaze that seemed to say ‘this is as far as you can intrude,’ Berita hesitated.

Leaving the door slightly ajar so she could hear, I stepped inside and burst out laughing in disbelief.

Devon was lying face down on the bed, asleep with an ice pack on his waist.

‘Sleeping so comfortably at a time like this? How ridiculous.’

I approached the bedside, folded my arms, and looked Devon up and down with narrowed eyes. Then, with all my strength, I kicked Devon’s waist, rolling him off the bed.

“Ugh!”

Devon, rudely awakened from his light sleep, clutched his waist and sat up. He stared stupidly at the opposite side of the bed with blazing eyes.

“Who is it!”

“It’s me, you fool.”

I smiled sweetly and waved my hand in greeting.

Devon’s face, when he finally met my gaze, was miserable. Seeing the bluish bruises around his eyes, I couldn’t help but snicker with satisfaction.

Devon, who had been glaring at me, snorted derisively.

“I guess you’re here because you’re getting nervous about the lawsuit?”

“How dare you sue Duke Mifidian, do you want to die in your sleep without even a chance to scream?”

“Ha, trying to seduce that young lady? If you were going to reveal it, you would have done so already. The reason you haven’t said anything until now is because you’re afraid of Duke Mifidian.”

I nearly furrowed my brow at Devon’s words hitting a sore spot. Still, he’s not completely brainless, using his head a bit.

I struggled to maintain my cynical expression.

“So, you don’t care anymore?”

“Go ahead and talk if you want! I won’t die without a fight. I’ll make sure everyone in the Empire knows that the great duchess was one of the women I had an affair with! They’ll be making vulgar jokes about that woman without even trying!”

The smile I had been wearing disappeared completely at Devon’s words. Not content with kidnapping me and attempting to do horrible things, he now threatened to tarnish Lilien’s reputation who had done nothing wrong. Anger slowly crept up my spine to the crown of my head.

After quietly observing Devon, I took out an artifact from my bosom and threw it on the bed.

As red light emanated from the red ore that had landed right in front of him, Devon’s mouth fell open. Soon, the light projected a will authenticity certificate in the air.

The result of the handwriting analysis showed that the handwriting on the will I possessed matched that of Count Vuel.

In other words, what I held was clear evidence that the contents of the will Devon claimed were fabricated.

Devon craned his neck to read the certificate, then quickly reached for the artifact. I snatched it first and smiled coldly.

“Even you must think this certificate clearly shows that the will was forged, right?”

Devon growled, slamming his fist hard on the bed.

“Give it to me!”

“Even if you take this original, I can get another copy issued if I request it from the Mage Tower. Only I, as the party involved, can completely erase the certificate and transaction request records.”

“Ha, are you threatening me now?”

I smiled slightly and said.

“To be precise, I’m proposing a deal.”

“A deal?”

Devon’s response came immediately.

I continued speaking, suppressing a smirk that threatened to escape.

According to the original plan, I was supposed to blackmail him with the certificate to get a consensual divorce. But judging by his reckless attitude of daring to file a lawsuit against Edmond, blackmail wouldn’t work. In that case…

“Yes, a deal. As you said, I haven’t been able to tell Duke Mifidian the truth until now because I was afraid. And I won’t be able to in the future either. But to think you even got sued because of me… I feel terrible about being indebted to you.”

Devon opened his mouth with a wary look.

“So?”

“If you withdraw the lawsuit and quietly sign the consensual divorce papers, I’ll turn a blind eye to all your criminal acts.”

“Then the will authenticity certificate……”

“Yes, I’ll have the request records erased so no one can access them. This artifact too. I’ll even speak to His Majesty the Emperor to silence the staff involved. Then no one will know that you forged your father’s will and deceived everyone.”

Devon’s eyelids trembled. He seemed lost in thought for a moment, then as if something occurred to him, he blurted out.

“So you’re saying I should agree to a consensual divorce without a penny to my name?! I can’t do that! We should at least divide the assets!”

Ha, my lips curved into a slash-like smile.

“How can we divide assets when all of the Vuel family’s property is tied up by the Imperial family due to your tax evasion charges?”

“Once the investigation is over and taxes are paid—!”

“And when do you think that will be finished? Tomorrow? The day after? The day after that?”

Devon could only press his lips tightly shut and glare at me with blazing eyes.

“Let me be clear, I have no intention of making a deal with you if not now. I’ll take this will certificate to His Majesty the Emperor, plead pitifully, and reveal all your misdeeds throughout our married life.”

At the mention of the Emperor, cold sweat finally trickled down Devon’s temples. Seeing his pupils shake uneasily, apparently afraid of power, I smirked.

“Ah, I heard that you recklessly tried to break a treaty that had been maintained for years during the Lebron contract meeting. I heard the upper management was quite troubled, worried about antagonizing the Imperial family due to your high-handedness…”

I looked Devon up and down with a contemptuous gaze.

“Is it a family trait to do only things that make people hate you?”

“You……”

Devon rolled his eyes and exhaled hot breath through his nose. But despite his sharp gaze, his momentum was fading.

“What’s your scheme? I thought you’d hold a grudge for kidnapping you… How can I trust such a simple offer of a contract?”

His now calmer voice revealed room for resignation and compromise. After weighing his options, he seemed to judge that my proposal wasn’t bad. To think such a simple matter ended up causing such a fuss. It was somewhat exasperating and a little disappointing.

I took out a small box from my bosom.

“This is an expression of my determination to keep my deal with you.”

Devon snatched it away and opened the box to find a bright blue pebble engraved with magical inscriptions.

Recognizing the pebble, Devon’s eyes widened like saucers.

The Oath Stone was a life-pledged trade guarantee item sold at a magic item shop run by an eccentric wizard who had been expelled from the Mage Tower.

For the ritual, a single drop of blood from only two subjects is required. Then the stone glows white, and when the spell and oath are spoken, it turns bright red, completing the contract.

If the promise or contract is broken before death, one’s internal organs rupture, leading to death. It was a kind of malicious magical tool, also known as a curse.

At the time of its release, it caused various controversies for being an inhumane magical item.

Currently, the Imperial family has completely banned its sale, so it is illegally distributed to guilds and criminal organizations and maliciously misused. Or it was used privately in civilian business and transactions like this that required resolution.

Most people would think no one in their right mind would curse themselves, but for those who needed an oath they must keep even at the cost of their lives, there was no better guarantee.

“Wh-where did you get this?”

“That’s none of your business.”

I had bought it at a high price from the same place where I purchased the oblivion drug before coming here. Because of that, I had to sell the pearl earrings Lilien had bought me, which I wore at the banquet.

I smiled bitterly, silently apologizing in my heart, and stared at the pale-faced Devon.

“Is this, genuine?”

I showed Devon the authenticity certificate issued by the guild as he doubted, tapping the Oath Stone. Only then did he seem to believe it, sitting on the bed clutching his waist. I took out a folding knife and handed it to him.

Devon hesitated, chewing his lips without taking the knife. Glancing down, I could see his hand holding the box trembling slightly.

He must be scared of pledging his ‘life’ as collateral for the oath. Anyway.

I sat on the bed opposite Devon and whispered softly.

“You just need to promise to sign the divorce papers and withdraw the lawsuit, then execute it immediately. Then you’ll have kept the oath, so your life won’t be in danger.”

“……”

“After all the transactions are done, go to Viscount Dien and beg him to let you inherit the title again. We’ll both make a fresh start.”

At these coaxing words, Devon, his guard lowered a bit, stared at me with wavering eyes.

“You go first, drop a drop of blood and I’ll do the rest.”

“……”

“Are you scared? Should I go first then?”

I snatched the box as if to show I didn’t care who went first, trying to lower his guard.

“Fi-fine!”

As if his pride was hurt, Devon snatched the box back.

I smiled briefly, then erased it, leaning back and straightening my posture.

Devon pointed at me, opening his lips dry with tension.

“If you deceive me—!”

“As you know, this is a life-or-death deal.”

No matter how much I hate living with you, would I bet my life on it? I’d rather file for divorce.

As I muttered quietly, Devon seemed to understand and nodded, taking the knife. His resolute expression was amusing.