CH 3

Prologue

“I won’t beg for his love.” 

After saying that, Leilia took a pen and signed the divorce papers. Lucis sighed as he watched her move her hand without hesitation.

“The Emperor will do whatever he pleases. My husband must be hoping for a new wife, too, though since he was a person in the public eye, he couldn’t ask for a divorce from me easily.”

Knowing that her husband had a woman he loved before the marriage, she already thought that she would have to let him go someday. If he came back from the battlefield and wanted a divorce, she was willing to accept it at any time.

“Why don’t you reveal your identity? Let’s put it in the paper that the leader of the mysterious Hyllan merchants association who helped High Highness Cassel is Leilia.”

Lucis asked sincerely.

Her miserable life was so frustrating for him that he felt like he was going to explode.

“I don’t want that.”

Hyllan merchants association. It was a colossal, transnational association where the headquarters was based in the Roten Empire. Because of its influence, that was why the Empire could not act recklessly.

As her mother, the former leader, and Leilia, the current leader, had been operating in secret for several decades, the association leader of Hyllan has never appeared in the public eyes. Therefore, people did not know much about the Hyllan association.

Of course, Cassel, who was sponsored by Leilia, found out about her identity by chance.

“I’ll never reveal my identity.”

After saying that, Leilia raised one corner of her lips as she stared at the divorce papers.

“…Oh, I feel bad about getting a divorce.”

She was always a stranger among people.

Even though she did not want to part with her husband, whom she wanted to be by his side, but because she did not want to beg for love, she tried to let him go. Still, somehow, she could not help but feel the bitterness in her heart.

Of course, when she spent her first night with him, she vowed she would let Cassel go.

…That was why she signed the divorce papers.

Nevertheless, this was still not a good feeling because it was not something she wanted to do of her own will though pressure from the outside forced her to divorce sooner than expected. Regardless, Leilia did not express her feelings on the outside but quietly leaned back on a chair, gazing at the divorce papers.

“I see. I didn’t know because you signed it without hesitation like that.”

Lucis replied sarcastically, but he soon shook his head and held out what he had prepared instead.

“Here’s the new dress catalogue.”

“How expensive?”

Turning her chair, Leilia scanned the booklet that Lucis had brought. Whenever she was stressed, she would vent her anger by buying a wide variety of things, always choosing the most expensive things when she was spending.

“The most expensive dress is cheaper than I thought.”

“That’s Lady Leilia’s standard.”

“Right.”

“It’s a wonderful life, everyone should know that Lady Leilia lives like this.”

“It doesn’t matter if they don’t know.”

After saying that, she placed the papers in an envelope and sealed it.

Then, she sent the divorce papers to her husband, Cassel.

ﾟ· : * ✧ * :· ﾟ

The wind on the battlefield was bleak and desolate.

At the wind, Lucis glanced up at the castle gate. After the recent war was completely over, high-ranking nobles were coming and going to negotiate a war between the Empire and the Kingdom of Seitria. Therefore, it was not unusual for someone to visit this place through the warp.*

[ T/N: An added explanation just in case! In other words, distorting space-time in a wormhole which is a method to travel a long distance in a short time — AKA, teleporting! ]

Feeling the dry air, Lucis clenched the divorce papers in his hand.

As he was in charge of the headquarters of the Hyllan merchant association, he was able to minimize the necessary inspection required upon entry, so Leilia’s documents could arrive quickly.

Striding to the checking point, he showed his identification. Since they also already knew his face, the examination procedure was formal.

“Huu…”

The wind was dry.

Lucis stared at Rutelia Castle, which was a fortress where Cassel was. Perhaps, he was in the office where he had always stayed.

As he walked down the hallway, he could not hide his heavy heart. He could tell even if no one told him that his own expression had stiffened. Standing in front of the office, he sighed and turned the handle on the door.

The door opened with a slight sound.