“So, if a spouse dies, does that mean you don’t actually have to get a divorce?”
As Calisten asked the question with a tilted head, Briseis stared at him, rendered speechless. The moment he felt her gaze, he shifted his eyes from Jeronis to her and smiled.
“Regrettably, when a spouse dies, a sense of loss often follows,” Jeronis began to explain, seemingly accustomed to this side of Calisten. “No matter how much hatred there was, if there was a period spent as a couple, memories tend to be beautified the moment one party dies.”
“What on earth are you talking about? I’ve seen people rejoice when someone they hated to death finally died.”
“That applies to strangers. For couples, it is quite often not the case.”
Calisten frowned silently at Jeronis’s words.
“What would happen if the Duke of Mayze were to die in an unfortunate accident or at someone’s hand?”
Briseis did not specifically deny the possibility. She couldn’t say for sure whether the lawyer’s words were right or wrong. At the same time, the thought crossed her mind that Calisten might actually be plotting to kill Damian.
“When a spouse dies, a sense of loss and belated love often take the place where hatred once resided.”
“Does that mean…”
“Yes. I hope you give this careful thought, Your Highness. You are a wise man, after all.”
Calisten stared intently at Briseis. When their eyes met, she looked away. For a moment, he truly felt that if the Duke of Mayze were to die, the hatred she currently held might fade away. On the battlefield, death was a constant. Every time someone died, regardless of who they were, people mourned them and chose to remember only the good memories.
“You have a point,” Calisten said, letting out a sigh. “Tell us about annulment as well. From what I’ve looked into, if the period of residence within the Empire is over three months, an annulment is impossible. I thought going for an annulment instead of a divorce might not be a bad idea.”
Briseis bit her lip for a moment, realizing Calisten had researched the same thing she had.
“That could also be a viable path,” Jeronis agreed. “However, to seek an annulment, simply bringing in a mistress is insufficient. It would be much easier if the other party had a sexual dysfunction or unusual fetishes. Or if they had deceived you about having a massive amount of debt.”
“There was quite a bit of debt. Though I paid it all off.”
“By my count, the Duke has been back in the Empire for nearly two months now,” Calisten remarked.
“Shall we proceed with the annulment first?” Jeronis asked Briseis.
“If the marriage is annulled, would I be legally ‘clean’?”
“Certainly. However, it is difficult to file for an annulment based solely on the grounds of him having a mistress.”
“What if we try for an annulment and, if that doesn’t work, proceed with a divorce?”
“Just get a divorce,” Calisten said bluntly. “Do you really think anyone would dare view it as a flaw if you become a divorcee?”
Briseis let out an involuntary sigh at his words. “Making it as if it never happened and living while covering up what did happen are two different things.”
Calisten nodded. In her life, the difference between Damian being erased entirely and leaving a trace was significant.
“Then we shall attempt the annulment first.”
“Very well.”
“Understood.”
“Your Grace, please gather evidence first. Regarding the debts as well. Oh, and if there is any proof that the mistress was known to the Duke before he met you, that would be helpful too.”
“Would that help?”
“Absolutely,” Jeronis replied. Seeing that Briseis wanted further explanation, he continued. “If he knew the mistress prior to the marriage, the application for annulment would hold more weight. Since your most vital clause was the one against having a mistress, it is even better if you can prove he married you while intentionally deceiving you on that point.”
As Briseis nodded, Calisten looked at her and said, “I’ll help you through this, Brie.”
Ignoring him, Briseis spoke to Jeronis. “I’ll be in your care, Count Abane.”
“The honor is mine.”
And with that, the consultation at Jeronis’s office came to a close.
❖ ❖ ❖
“Aren’t you busy?”
“Never too busy to take you home.”
Calisten was insisting on taking her back in his carriage. Briseis had intended to call a hackney carriage, but Calisten had been adamant. She didn’t want to argue, so she boarded his carriage. It would be troublesome if she were spotted in front of Jeronis Abane’s office anyway.
“How do you know Count Abane?”
He tried to slide an arm around her waist, but backed off slightly when she moved to push him away.
“If I tell you, can I hold you?”
“Tell me, but don’t hold me.”
“I’ll tell you if you let me hold you.”
“Then don’t tell me.”
As Briseis turned her gaze out the window, Calisten gently pulled her into an embrace. “I found out there was a loophole in how my father married the current Empress.”
“…What?”
“My father seems to love that madwoman far too much. So, I couldn’t just sit still.”
Briseis turned to look at him, shocked that he would reveal such a major secret so casually.
“I have to become Emperor to have you, don’t I?”
“If you say things like that, I might not help you.”
“Even if you hate me, you won’t be able to just let me die, will you?”
She remained silent. He wasn’t wrong. If Calisten failed to become Emperor, his life would be at risk. And the Calisten she knew from the original story was a man who overcame all obstacles to eventually take the throne. If everything followed the original plot, he would certainly become Emperor.
“What if I die?” Briseis asked, remembering her fate in the original story where she was brutally murdered by Damian.
“Then I’ll die too.”
“Don’t say such—”
“Ah, I can’t be the only one to die. I’ll kill everyone who caused your death, everyone who failed to save you, and then finally, I’ll take my own life.”
His tone was playful, but Briseis saw the sincerity in his eyes and fell silent.
“What value is there in my death?”
“In my world, it is the most valuable thing there is, Brie.”
It’ll just become boring once you have it. Briseis knew he only acted like a madman when he couldn’t have what he wanted. She sighed and tried to untangle his arms.
“Brie, you smell like peach blossoms.”
“Let go.”
“I love it so much, Brie.”
He trembled as if in pain, and though she tried to shake him off, she eventually just let him be. It was he who suffered the pain of the contact, after all.
“I… I hate that I have to act like I still love the Duke.”
“I hate it too,” Calisten replied with a smirk. His face was pale, but he looked genuinely happy. “Make sure you move the key from the second drawer to the first.”
“No.”
“Please.”
She sighed and didn’t answer. Eventually, they arrived at the estate.
“I have to get out. Let go.”
He breathed in her scent from her shoulder one last time before letting out a sigh. “I hope you dream of me.”
“No.”
“I hope you think of me a lot, too.”
She didn’t reply. He gave her one final, tight embrace before letting go. “See you tomorrow.”
She nodded and stepped down from the carriage.
❖ ❖ ❖
Briseis had to gather evidence. To do that, she had to make Damian lower his guard.
She loathed the fact that she had to pretend to still have feelings for him. She hated even more that this was likely the only way to secure a divorce—or better yet, an annulment.
That was why she was waiting in front of the main entrance for Damian to return. She had been studying in her room and came down just as he was expected.
Creak—
“Haha. And so, I…”
Delilah was being carried in Damian’s arms. Damian spotted Briseis as he walked in.
“What is it?”
Briseis wanted to turn around and run back to her room at the sight of the nauseating display, but she couldn’t.
“I missed you, so I was waiting.”
Damian’s eyes widened in surprise, and he set Delilah down.
“Demi?”
“What did you say?” Damian asked.
Delilah looked flustered, but Briseis walked up to Damian.
“I still hate that you brought a mistress. But… I’m going to try to understand.”
The words felt like a thorn in her throat. Curious about his expression, she lifted her head to look at him.
“Wife.”
As he moved to embrace her, she had to steel herself not to pull away.
“I’ll try, Darling. So please, try with me.”
Her voice trembled with hidden rage, but he believed it was the trembling of a woman summoning her courage.
“I knew you would eventually understand me, Wife. Because I trusted you, Brie.”
Damian pulled Briseis into an embrace, exhaling with relief. Delilah watched them with cold eyes, her expression blank as she glared at Briseis. Briseis, safely tucked in Damian’s arms, glared back at Delilah with pure contempt.