“I knew you disliked me, but I didn’t think you would go so far as to reject me like this. If you really don’t want it, let’s just void it…”
“No, no! Fine…just do it.”
How could she void it after hearing those words!
Furthermore, Walter’s expression had turned somewhat gloomy.
In the end, Odette gave in with both hands and feet.
At her declaration of surrender, Walter signed the document with a satisfied expression.
And then spun it around to place it in front of Odette, along with a pen.
“Sign here.”
“Are you… really okay with this condition?”
“So you do hate me?”
“That’s not it… No, never mind.”
Odette clenched her lips and signed the contract.
And with each taking a copy, their contract was completed.
‘It feels unreal.’
Rather, she felt stunned.
All the more because she had read a letter before coming to the Duke of Ertman’s residence today.
.
.
.
“Your Highness, you haven’t checked this letter? It’s been a while since it arrived.”
The letter she opened was from Louie.
It contained an apology for not being able to help, having left Xavier’s banquet early.
‘But there was no talk of meeting again.’
Simply put, she was brushed off.
Although it was predictable from his behavior at the banquet.
‘I thought he viewed me quite favorably, even considering marriage.’
For him to draw the line without even having a conversation felt embarrassingly bitter.
And again, she was reminded that Walter was the only option left for her.
And also how difficult it would have been without him.
Although it was fortunate, the problem lay ahead.
“Elly, is it really necessary to dress up this much just to go to the Duke of Ertman’s residence…?”
“What are you talking about! You’re going to the Duke of Ertman’s residence, so you must dress like this!”
Elly, brimming with enthusiasm, dressed Odette to the nines.
“Duke Ertman might be nice, but I don’t like you getting intimidated there. Best establish dominance now for a peaceful married life later!”
While there was nothing wrong with her logic.
“Suppressing rumors? Is it because you think I’ll be looked down upon by my servants?”
“No, of course it’s Duke Ertman! Who else marries and then later takes a mistress?”
“That may be true, but I don’t care about that part. It’s a marriage of convenience. I’ll meet someone I want.”
“Your Grace may think so, but will the woman who becomes the mistress think the same? She’ll surely try to push you away! And you’ll lose your standing!”
“…Where do you even learn this stuff? You don’t know anyone who’s married.”
“There’s a recently published novel called ‘The Duchess in Love Spends Every Night with her Knight’ so…”
“…”
Odette decided to abandon the thought.
“But Your Grace, I’m not just saying this because of novels. The way Duke Ertman looks at you is impure.”
“Don’t make such presumptuous remarks, Elly.”
“Of course, I know that. But I found it suspicious, so I looked into it.”
What Elly called ‘suspicious’ was none other than Elodie’s dress incident.
“If something like that happened, you usually get a refund, not keep it at home. There’s no other woman in Ertman’s household, and it’s not even tailored.”
“…Hmm, true.”
“Also, when you were getting dressed, lots of jewel ornaments came out.”
“Weren’t they things stored by the family?”
“No! I can guarantee it. Most of them were the latest designs.”
Recently, the trend of engraving metal parts on accessories is catching on, and most were made that way.
“And the topaz headpiece you were considering till the last moment was even advertised in the newspaper last month. I’m sure!”
Elly presented a few arguments she had observed with her own eyes, then continued.
“So while you were meeting with the Duke, I did some checking. As soon as the Duke returned, he started buying women’s items. What would he use them for?”
“…A lover?”
“Exactly! Or a future lover.”
Elly presented another reason to suspect Balter was up to no good.
No matter the reason, it was indeed suspicious that he made Elodie stay at the mansion.
“Have you seen smoke coming from a chimney for no reason? When there are so many secrets, there’s definitely something going on. I’ve felt it since Elodie Montouar.”
Elly then claimed that in such cases, it was one of two things.
“He’s either hiding another woman, or he has deviant tastes!”
For reference, the basis of her claim was last month’s popular book, “The Love Methods of the Bad-Tempered Emperor.”
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
