The carriage of the Viscount Benjamin left the Count Braden’s residence and headed towards the trading company operated by Fredrick, cutting through the thick darkness. Despite the late hour, the entire building was brightly lit.
“Welcome back, sir.”
As Fredrick stepped out of the carriage, Robert, who had been waiting at the building’s entrance, greeted him with a deep bow. Fredrick, who received the greeting with a slight nod, went straight into the building. After confirming that no one was left in the carriage, his faithful assistant followed the director.
Although the lights were as bright as daylight, not a single employee was in sight. They had all finished their work and gone home for the day. Especially today, it was less busy than usual, and the day’s work was wrapped up even before sunset.
Nevertheless, the reason Fredrick returned to the trading company was simple. He didn’t want to go home. If he went home, he would have to listen to Samantha’s tearful pleas for hours about saving poor Brian as soon as possible, and he had no desire to do so.
Well, it seemed she had completely forgotten about the fact that Liliana had left the mansion because of that guy. If Liliana had also been involved, it would have been really tiring, so it was rather fortunate.
“Phew.”
Fredrick arrived at the director’s office and sat down in the chair, still wearing his coat. He took off his non-prescription glasses, placed them on the desk, and rubbed his face, which was full of fatigue. As Robert followed him in, he asked worriedly.
“Did the lady say she wouldn’t come back?”
This morning, Fredrick had gone to the sanitarium where Grace Benjamin was hospitalized, saying that he could no longer ignore Liliana’s runaway and had to bring her back.
However, no matter how long he waited, Liliana did not come. She used to visit her mother even in heavy rain and blizzards, so it was definitely strange for her to suddenly not show up.
“Shall I find out why the lady didn’t come?”
At Robert’s question, Fredrick thought for a moment and shook his head.
“No. I’ll find out myself.”
Who would have thought that meant directly going to the Count Braden’s residence?
Robert was greatly surprised by Fredrick’s unexpected move but did not stop him. It was clear that even if he tried to stop him, Fredrick wouldn’t listen anyway. Instead, he offered to go with him, but Fredrick firmly refused.
“I’ll take care of this matter, so don’t worry about it and go home for the day.”
How could he not worry when his superior, to whom he had pledged loyalty, was entering the tiger’s den alone without a single weapon? Robert wanted to see with his own eyes that Fredrick returned safely, so he didn’t go home and waited, sincerely hoping that he would be unharmed.
Fortunately, Robert’s wish was fulfilled, but it seemed Fredrick was not so lucky, as he returned alone. His expression was also quite dark.
Liliana not only learned the shocking truth that her husband was the one who had dug up her father’s grave, but her relationship with Herald had also deepened enough for her to stay at the Count Braden’s residence.
It wouldn’t be easy to bring back Liliana in such a situation. Robert thought that since Fredrick, who must have known that fact, had gone all the way to the Count Braden’s residence, he must have had some method. But it seemed that was not the case.
“…Heh heh heh.”
“D-Director?”
Robert, who was pondering how to console him, was startled when Fredrick suddenly burst into laughter and called out to him. However, Fredrick didn’t answer and just kept laughing. The sight of him guffawing, his shoulders shaking, seemed strange to Robert’s eyes.
After laughing for a while, Fredrick wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand and said to Robert.
“Sorry. I was in such a good mood that I couldn’t help but laugh.”
“You’re… in a good mood?”
Just a moment ago, he looked like a man bearing all the worries of the world, but now he said he was in a good mood, so Robert was even more puzzled and asked again. On the other hand, the dimples on Fredrick’s cheeks deepened even more.
“Yes. Things are going as I intended, so I’m in a very good mood.”
“…”
Even after hearing the answer, Robert only became more perplexed, so he remained silent for a moment before asking.
“Didn’t you go to the Count Braden’s residence to bring back the Viscountess?”
“I did.”
Fredrick smiled and rested his chin on his arm, which was propped up on the armrest of the chair.
“From the beginning, I didn’t expect it to succeed. Even putting aside that woman’s opinion, Count Braden would never let her go.”
Herald would have stopped Liliana by any means necessary, even if she wanted to return. He thought that Herald might not even let him meet Liliana in the first place, and his expectation was spot on. Despite being at the Count Braden’s residence for quite a long time, Fredrick didn’t even see a glimpse of Liliana.
Fredrick’s visit to the Count Braden’s residence, even though he knew it would not succeed, was a kind of gamble. It was better to do something rather than just sit and suck his fingers. If he was lucky enough to meet Liliana, he was going to find out what she wanted to do in the future, but unfortunately, he failed.
However, it wasn’t a complete failure. Fredrick had another plan. That’s why he was able to calmly respond to Herald’s accusations.
He didn’t expect them to bring up the topic of divorce first, though.
Fredrick pondered, tapping the armrest of the chair.
Although Liliana now had a reliable and excellent refuge in Herald Braden, Fredrick was convinced that she would not easily decide to divorce. She was an old-fashioned noble woman stuck in the framework of common sense and discipline.
He was certain that Liliana would have foolish thoughts like she was not suitable for a man like him, or that she could not dare to stand in the way of Herald’s future. On top of that, she was stubborn, so even Herald would have a hard time changing her mind.
That’s why Fredrick had prepared the divorce card. He would divorce her, but she had to pay a price for it. But unexpectedly, Herald mentioned it first, which was a bit disconcerting. Still, he quickly regained his composure and proposed a deal, but this was also flatly rejected.
Moreover, even when he said that the real culprit who set fire to the Benjamin Viscount’s residence and killed Madison Benjamin two years ago was the Second Prince, Herald was not surprised at all. At that time, he just thought that Herald already knew, but now that he thought about it, it was strange.
Why did Herald Braden know about what happened that day?
At that time, Herald was not in the capital, nor did he have any connection with the Benjamin Viscount’s residence or Madison Benjamin. According to what he had learned, he hadn’t known Liliana for long either.
Why would he investigate the fire incident at the Benjamin Viscount’s residence from two years ago?
It was already concluded as an accident, and unless one dug very deeply with determination, it would have been impossible to know that the Second Prince was the culprit…
“…Did he approach her on purpose?”
It might not have been a coincidence but a meticulous plan for Herald Braden and Liliana Benjamin to meet.
As the branches of thought extended that far, the corners of Fredrick’s lips tilted obliquely. He ordered Robert, who was still standing there as if he had no idea what was going on.
“Find out if Herald Braden has requested anything from the information guild, and if so, what he requested.”
[This is the timeline separator]Like a person who had been submerged in deep water for a long time and had come out, Liliana exhaled deeply and opened her eyes. After blinking a few times, her blurry vision became clear, and she saw the now-familiar ceiling. It was her bedroom in the Count Braden’s residence.
She wasn’t sure exactly what time it was, but judging by the bluish dawn filling the bedroom, she could tell it was early morning, just before sunrise.
It didn’t feel like she slept much, but she seemed to have slept longer than she thought. Her body felt as heavy and limp as water-soaked cotton, which also indicated that she had indeed slept for a long time.
Perhaps because of that, although she was awake, her mind was still hazy. Liliana, who had been staring blankly out the window where night and morning coexisted, turned her head when she felt a presence beside her.
“Y-you…!”
It was Herald. The moment she saw his face, her mind snapped awake as if she had been doused with cold water. Liliana’s upper body sprang up like a spring.
“Ugh…!”
But only for a moment, as her entire body throbbed as if it had been hit hard by something, and Liliana let out a small groan, bending her upper body forward.
“Don’t overdo it when you’re not feeling well.”
Herald approached her and set up the pillow so that Liliana could lean comfortably, then laid her body down. Liliana’s cheeks were slightly flushed as she faced him from a half-lying position.
“I’m sorry.”
“You should be sorry. How dare you get sick without my permission.”
Herald spoke playfully and closely examined her face. As he stared at her so intently that it was burdensome, Liliana’s face turned even redder.
“Your face is red. Are you getting a fever again?”
Thinking that it was because of a fever, Herald brought his hand to Liliana’s forehead. It was cool. The cool sensation that instantly cooled the heat that had risen to her face made the awkwardly stiffened corners of her mouth relax slightly.
“It doesn’t seem like you have a fever. Do you have any other pain?”
There were many places that hurt, but not wanting to worry him, Liliana shook her head. After looking at her face for a moment, Herald shrugged and turned around.
“You must be hungry since you haven’t eaten anything all day, so I’ll bring you something to eat.”
Liliana checked the window where the sun had not yet risen and shook her head.
“It’s fine. I’m not particularly hungry… I’ll wait until breakfast.”
“If you’re worried about waking up the servants, there’s no need. It’s their job anyway, and there are people on duty.”
“Still…”
When Liliana trailed off, showing her reluctance, Herald laughed as if he had no choice.
“Then I’ll go make something myself.”
“What?”
Why did the conversation turn out like that? Liliana tried to stop Herald in surprise, but before she could, he had already left the bedroom.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
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