4.
The guard stationed outside the study spoke stiffly, showing no intention of passing word to the Duke.
“I’m sorry, Milady, but His Grace is occupied with important work and has ordered that he not be disturbed under any circumstances.”
After several rounds of back-and-forth, it became clear that unless she tried to force her way in, the door to the study would remain impenetrable.
“Milady, please… let’s just come back later…”
“It’s fine.
This much, I can endure.”
Turning back to see Marsha fretting anxiously behind her, Nina forced a smile.
It wasn’t as though she hadn’t expected this.
If her husband’s precious face had been so easy to see, her past self would never have resorted to loan-sharking and stalking him.
“Then I’ll just wait here.”
“As you wish.”
The attendant answered curtly, holding his head high with stiff pride.
“Th-that insolent…!”
Marsha clenched her fists, ready to grab at him, unable to stomach such disrespect toward the Duchess.
Nina swallowed a bitter smile and gently cautioned her in a low voice.
“Marsha.”
“But, Milady, after what he just—!”
“Enough.
I don’t want a commotion right before an important conversation.”
“…….”
Marsha bit her lip in frustration.
Of course Nina understood her tiny, loyal little chihuahua’s heart—always ready to leap to her defense no matter the cost.
But since today’s conversation with her husband would be about divorce, she could not allow even the smallest disturbance.
“Marsha, once I’ve finished speaking with the Duke, I’ll want to rest properly.
Prepare a bath for me.”
“Milady…”
“Hurry along.”
Marsha clearly wanted to stay by her side, but Nina didn’t wish to show such a pitiful face to her only ally.
When she pressed her maid with a firm look, Marsha reluctantly withdrew.
“…….”
Left alone to face the attendant, Nina straightened her back and waited for the door to open.
No doubt he thinks I’m here to scold my husband for being away these past few days.
He was probably assuming she would lose her temper, cause a scene, and storm off afterward.
After all, that had been the routine for two long years.
Though she tried to appear composed, Nina felt utterly miserable.
The attendant’s mocking “wait all you like” expression and the stares of servants passing through the corridor stabbed into her like needles.
Most of those people had either witnessed her drunken outbursts or heard the rumors secondhand.
Her face burned with humiliation, and she felt as if she might die of shame—yet Nina forced herself to repeat the words in her mind like a mantra.
I’m fine.
I’m fine.
I’m fine…
Once she divorced, time would pass and people would eventually forget about her.
So let them sneer, let them point fingers—it doesn’t matter.
Swallowing hard, she lifted her chin with dignity and stood motionless like a statue.
Ten minutes, twenty, thirty…
As time dragged on, cold sweat trickled down her back.
Her body was still far from fully healed.
The bruises covering her body had not yet faded, and standing for so long left her back and knees aching.
She even felt a fever rising—or perhaps it was only her imagination.
How long had she been waiting like that?
Creaaak.
The study door, shut tight until now, finally opened.
Her ex-husband—no, her current husband, she corrected herself.
Nearly 190 centimeters tall, with black hair slicked neatly back, a clean, noble forehead, a strikingly straight nose, and deep gray eyes.
Like a sculpted leading man from a bygone century of world cinema, the man looked at her and immediately frowned
—as if to say, You’re still here?
“By now, the divorce petition will have been delivered to your family estate.”
“Honey, what on earth are you talking about all of a sudden…?”
“If you want to file a reply within the deadline, you’d best depart immediately.”
“What are you saying?
Divorce?
If my grandfather hears of this—!”
“You needn’t worry about him.
Just a few days ago, I personally saw to his downfall.”
“No… no, that can’t be, it’s impossible…!”
“Did you truly think I intended to spend the rest of my life with you?”
Even on the day he had served her with divorce papers, he looked at her with the same contempt—as if she were nothing.
For a moment, it felt as though time had rewound to that day—future from this point in time, but past for her.
He clicked his tongue, looking at her like one might at a crawling insect, and moved to walk past.
Snapping out of her daze, Nina hastily grabbed his arm.
“W-wait, please…!”
Smack!
“Ah!”
He struck her hand away with brutal finality.
His face twisted as if something filthy had touched him—an expression of pure disgust.
…She was hurt, of course, but she understood.
He must hate it.
Her very existence must be unbearable to him.
How could she not understand his feelings?
Still, she couldn’t let him walk away like this.
There were things she needed to finish—things she wanted resolved as soon as possible.
Nina stepped quickly in front of him, blocking his path so he couldn’t pass as if she were an invisible presence to him.
“Wait—just talk to me for a moment.”
Her husband tilted his head slightly.
“What is it?”
A man so tall she had to crane her neck to meet his gaze looked down only with his eyes, unwilling even to lower his head the slightest bit.
Anyone else might have bristled at such open contempt, but Nina felt only a strange gratitude—that he was at least speaking to her at all.
He looks absolutely murderous up close.
Her chest rose and fell as she steadied her breath, lips trembling as she forced a smile.
Meeting her husband’s cold gaze again after so long made her heart pound wildly.
His eyes alone looked sharp enough to kill.
What on earth had possessed her to stalk a man like this?
She must truly have been insane.
With her mouth dry, she forced the words out.
“…I have something important to say.
I only need a little of your time.”
He drew a pocket watch from his coat—as though he had been about to go out—glanced at the time, and replied indifferently.
“Make it quick.
Straight to the point.”
“It’s… a little difficult to speak of here.
Could we move to your study instead?”
A short,
derisive snort.
“I thought I explained myself clearly enough last time.
Was I not?”
“…What?”
“If your plan is to barge into my study and throw yourself at me again, I’ll decline.
My body didn’t stir then, and I can’t imagine it would now.”
Heat rushed to her face.
Nina stammered, cheeks burning at his words dredging up her most humiliating memory.
“Th-that’s not it.
I really do have something important to tell you.
Once I’ve said it, I won’t trouble you again—just give me a moment of your time.”
“…….”
“Please.”
Ash gazed quietly at Nina, who showed no sign of moving aside.
Please…
Never had he expected to hear that word from his shameless, unreasonable wife.
Her voice, stripped of venom, trembled with urgency.
Her eyes wavered desperately.
Her attire was uncharacteristically plain.
So unlike her usual self.
Intrigued by the change, he thought he might as well hear what she had to say.
“Five minutes.”
“Thank you.”
The Duchess of Bayern herself, lighting up with gratitude at being granted a mere five minutes—?
She did say she hit her head… has something gone wrong with her mind?
Back in his study, Ash regarded Nina with suspicion as he sat down on the sofa.
“What is it you want?”
Nina fidgeted with her fingertips before cautiously beginning.
“First… I want to apologize for all the wrongs I’ve done to you.
I’m sorry.
I’ve treated you in ways I never should have.”
“……”
Ash’s long, narrow eyes narrowed even further.
What trick was this supposed to be now?
“Do you think I spared time out of my day to listen to an apology?”
When Ash glanced down at his watch, as if her words were a waste of his time, Nina drew a deep breath.
Yes… to him, what mattered wasn’t her apology, but ending this hellish marriage.
Divorce.
If she asked for a divorce, wouldn’t he smile at last—as though it were the words he’d been waiting for?
Even without what had happened ten days ago, he would have recoiled from her all the same.
Clenching and unclenching her cold hands, she finally said,
“Let’s get a divorce.”
Nina waited for his reply.
She had thought he would welcome the words he’d been waiting for, but instead his gaze only grew colder, sinking into silence.
Had he not heard her?
“As you wish… let’s get a divorce.”
This time, she spoke clearly, with firm emphasis so he could not mistake her meaning.
At that, he let out a sharp, mirthless laugh.
“Did you just say… divorce?”
What…?
Why was he reacting like this?
Nina’s eyes widened in bewilderment.
Wasn’t it common sense that when the obsessive wife proposed divorce, the husband would make her sign that she wouldn’t take it back, then smile in satisfaction?
And yet—his eyes now were as deadly as they had been the day she had blackmailed him into marriage.