Chapter 38. Let’s Get a Divorce
“Cedric?”
Startled, I called him once more.
Did he not hear my voice?
But…
Swish!
Instead, his pace visibly quickened.
What? Is he really avoiding me?
I didn’t know why Cedric was avoiding me, but at this rate, I felt like I would lose him forever.
What should I do?
With my poor stamina, catching up to him was impossible.
This was a society where even visiting a neighbor’s house required at least a grand carriage, an unnecessarily noble status.
I wasn’t trained enough to chase after a magician who had strengthened himself by trekking through forests and swamps.
In the end, I resorted to my last option.
“Ah!”
With an exaggerated groan, I collapsed onto the ground.
“Ahh, suddenly… I feel dizzy…!”
If it has come to this, I’ll put all my effort into acting sick.
The last time, he had been so shocked when I truly collapsed that his face turned pale. So maybe, just maybe, he would come back if I did this?
That was my hope when I put on my act, but…
‘Oh no.’
The problem was my acting skills.
Last time, I was genuinely poisoned, so it had been natural, but pretending to be sick with a perfectly healthy body—anyone could see how fake it was.
No, I once dreamed of being an actress, and now I’m giving a terrible performance?
Even I thought it was a disaster.
Who would fall for such a sloppy act? I thought…
“Y-Your Majesty the Empress, are you all right?”
So it was you.
Cedric had rushed to me in an instant.
He was so shaken that his hands trembled as he held me.
Seeing his flustered state, I felt a strange sense of relief.
Thank goodness. He wasn’t avoiding me because he hated me.
“Can you see me? Do you recognize who I am?”
Yes, I can see you too well, and I know exactly who you are.
As I watched him fidget, sweating in distress, I started to regret my actions.
‘Why… did I try to deceive such an innocent person?’
My conscience pricked at me.
But right now, what mattered was that I had caught up to him.
“Got you.”
“…?”
“You won’t run away now, right?”
“…Was this… an act?”
“Sorry, but yes.”
I hurriedly apologized.
“But if I didn’t do this, I felt like I would never get the chance to talk to you.”
“…….”
I looked straight into his eyes and asked.
“Cedric, why were you avoiding me?”
“…I wasn’t avoiding you.”
“Really?”
“…….”
When I asked again, he didn’t deny it.
“Can you tell me why?”
Cedric remained silent.
“Hmm, if it’s hard to say, that’s okay. But the reason I held onto you like this is because I have something I must tell you.”
I looked into his eyes and continued.
“Thank you.”
“……!”
Cedric’s eyes wavered.
“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to clear my name.”
“No. I… I don’t deserve to hear such words.”
Cedric’s head drooped sorrowfully.
“Because of me, Your Majesty… collapsed.”
That’s what he was worried about?
“You’re still thinking about that? It wasn’t your fault, Cedric. The poison was something I asked for in the first place, wasn’t it?”
Cedric shook his head.
“I tried to think that way. That I was simply doing what Your Majesty wanted. But…”
He trailed off.
Letting out a deep sigh, he finally continued.
“But I keep regretting it.”
His voice trembled.
“I knew what would happen. But when I saw Your Majesty collapse before my eyes, my mind went completely blank.”
He finally revealed what he had been holding back.
“If only I had another talent…”
His eyes turned red.
“I hated myself for knowing how to make poison. I hated my own hands that gave it to Your Majesty.”
Drip.
Clear tears rolled down his cheeks.
Seeing this, I took out my handkerchief.
Then, I gently wiped away his tears.
“Cedric. I should be the one apologizing to you. I’m sorry.”
I sincerely apologized.
Because I was fine, I assumed he would be fine too.
But that was my arrogance.
I had been so focused on clearing my name that I hadn’t realized I had deeply hurt him.
“I’m truly sorry for asking you to do that, Cedric.”
“Your Majesty…”
“You must have suffered a lot because of me. It’s all my fault. I forced you to bear such a burden.”
I smiled.
“I won’t do that again. So, will you forgive me?”
***
The next day.
At the crack of dawn, I headed straight to Jerome’s office.
In one hand, I held a document stamped with the Empress’ seal.
Thump, thump.
My heart was pounding rapidly.
Not out of fear.
‘The day has finally come.’
The day I had dreamed of since I possessed Helena’s body.
The day I would demand a divorce from Jerome!
‘Hah, this day really came.’
I thought it would never arrive.
Of course, I hadn’t planned for divorce from the beginning.
For a few days, I had even entertained the idea of enjoying the luxurious imperial life.
So what if I was the villainess?
As long as I didn’t do anything bad, it would be fine.
That was my naïve thinking at first.
But for many reasons, the “Villainess Retires” plan failed.
Even though I did nothing, the situation kept growing more dire.
So, I had no choice but to long for a divorce.
However, the Empire had strict imperial laws. Divorce wasn’t something that could be done simply because I wanted it.
And the one most bound by those imperial laws was the Empress herself.
As if being a troublesome villainess wasn’t enough, Helena’s unnecessary nobility made even divorce a complicated process requiring justification.
Ah. Why did I have to possess the Empress and suffer like this?
If I had possessed someone like Countess Chloe or a maid like Marie, I could have just submitted a resignation letter and enjoyed a happy, carefree life.
But goodbye to my sorrowful and unjust past!
The justification I had never been able to obtain before was finally in my grasp.
The trial where I was accused of poisoning the Imperial Consort. That very trial was my justification for divorce.
Putting the Empress on trial?
For the noble class, nothing was more disgraceful than that.
Falsely accusing someone without clear evidence?
Now, I could finally declare that I was done being the Empress out of sheer disgust and injustice!
‘This wretched Imperial Palace… I’m finally saying goodbye to it.’
Just the thought of divorce made my heart race with excitement.
And of course, I would get alimony, right?
With that money, I would go somewhere with clear air and fresh water and build my own little home sweet home(!).
Here I come, a wealthy, carefree life!
“I have something to say.”
I burst into the office and confidently spoke to Jerome.
Of course, now that I was about to say it, my nerves couldn’t be helped.
Especially when I faced Jerome’s unreadable, expressionless face.
He silently stared at me.
“This may seem sudden… but it’s something I’ve been contemplating for a long time.”
Ahem, don’t be too shocked, dear male lead.
“We’ve had frequent conflicts, haven’t we? I know. I know that Your Majesty has been enduring a lot. To be honest, I’ve also been struggling.”
“…….”
“But I’m truly exhausted now. The moment you seized control of the Empress’ Palace and put me on trial… I realized I couldn’t do this anymore.”
I lifted my chin.
“Let’s get a divorce.”
I held out the divorce papers to him.
Jerome lowered his gaze to look at them.
Now, hurry up and stamp it.
I assumed Jerome would accept the divorce without resistance.
Honestly, wouldn’t he?
From his perspective, he had no reason to refuse.
He already had the woman he loved by his side.
Once I was gone, he could finally place Fay in the Empress’ seat, as he had desperately wished.
The justification was more than sufficient.
In fact, I was making things easier for him. He should be grateful.
Yes. Let’s just go our separate ways.
Wouldn’t that be best for both of us?
“I refuse.”
“What?”
I was stunned.
“…You refuse? Why?”
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
A cold smirk twisted Jerome’s lips.
And in an instant—
Rip—
He mercilessly tore the divorce papers in half.
Just like that, my hopeful dream turned into mere scraps of paper.
As I stared blankly at the fluttering fragments, Jerome’s indifferent voice rang out.
“Divorce? Who said you could?”
His eyes burned fiercely.
Like he was crushing the words in his mouth, he spat them out.
“I will never allow it.”
—
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