Chapter 4 – Part 3

“My Lord, it’s getting dark, and I think you should rest.”

Leton, who was sitting across from Eli, spoke as he looked at the sky through the carriage window.

“Yeah.”

“Will you have a meal as soon as you arrive? Let me check the room first, and then we can deal with it briefly.”

Eli pressed his eyes as if tired.

“Yes.”

Leton explained the location of the lodging to the coachman.

***

“This is the best room.”

Eli carefully examined the room as he listened to Leton.

“It’s fine. Let’s take this one. Just change the bedding.”

“Yes, I’ve already arranged for someone to purchase new bedding in advance.”

Leton immediately went to the owner after giving the order.

“It’s three months’ worth of money. We’ll use about two months, and within that time, make sure no one else uses it.”

“Are you sure about that?”

The owner took the money with a contemplative face.

“Let us take care of changing the bedding ourselves.”

“Yes, of course.”

Long-term guests were wearing expensive clothes. The replacement bedding was undoubtedly better than what they were using now; it would not be bad at all.

After giving instructions even for changing the bedding, Leton turned to Eli.

“The conversation went well. The bedding change will be finished during dinner.”

“Good job.”

“But do you have a specific reason for changing the entire accommodation, including the villa?”

Leton asked cautiously. To him, it seemed like a waste of money.

“Do you think I’m wasting money?”

Eli asked as if he had read Leton’s thoughts.

“Not necessarily. I was just wondering if it was going too far.”

“Never mind.”

Despite his sensitive appearance, he gave a finite response.

“This will be the last, and I want to make this a memorable one.”

“…”

“Because last memories tend to last forever.”

Eli spoke as if murmuring to himself.

He spoke as if he’d been through it before, and Leton could only assume he was thinking of his father, who had died before him.

***

“How have you been?”

Ruby met Lynn, who embraced her as if she were glad to see her.

“Did you have a good trip?”

“Yeah. I even bought a gift.”

Lynn held Ruby’s hand and led her to the drawing room.

Not much time had passed since their honeymoon, and Lynn still looked excited.

“It’s a necklace made of gems only found in that region.”

The black gem Lynn handed over as a gift emitted a peculiar reddish light when the light reflected, possessing a strange charm.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect you to buy me a gift.”

Ruby carefully held Lynn’s gift.

“Now tell me about you.”

“Huh?”

“Rumors have it that you’ve become a beloved lady of the Grit estate?”

Lynn’s voice was full of expectation.

“It’s not like that.”

“Of course not. Rumor has it that the cold-hearted Marquis of Grit had his eyes fixed on your face the entire party.”

They’d just talked about divorce a few days earlier. Ruby laughed a little at the gap.
.
“You don’t have to be so modest.”

Lynn, laughing pleasantly, patted Ruby’s shoulder.

“Do you know how worried I was when you got married? Marquis Grit didn’t seem interested, and I thought you were the only one who liked him. But what did you do to make him so affectionate now?”

With a mischievous laugh, Lynn poked Ruby’s hand, urging her to quickly spill the secrets.

“We’re going to get a divorce.”

As Ruby spoke, avoiding eye contact, Lynn asked, “What?” looking surprised.

“Did you just say… getting a divorce?”

With a shocked expression, she asked Ruby again.

“Yes.”

Then Ruby nodded slightly, and Lynn’s face was filled with astonishment.

“Suddenly? Why? Weren’t you two getting along?”

“It turned out that way.”

Unable to explain everything, including the past that ended in an accident during the divorce, Ruby brushed it off.

“Could it be that Lord Grit is really having an affair?”

Upon hearing the sudden story from Lynn, Ruby blinked her eyes.

“Oh, no. He frequently appeared with Lady Miles in the parties before you came to the capital.”

Lynn quickly added, and her reassuring hands conveyed her surprised emotions.

“I mean…… I’m not saying it’s really true, but everyone who’s ever seen them together has said…..”

Lynn explained in a rush, sensing Ruby’s confusion.

“I’m not saying I believe it…”

“It’s okay. I know.”

“So, is the rumor true?”

“I don’t know if it’s true or not. But it’s not a reason for our divorce.”

“…Then?”

“I want to live my life on my own terms.”

Ruby smiled sadly. For someone claiming to live life as they pleased, she seemed to lack enthusiasm.

“Ruby…”

“You’re right, it’s hard to live with one-sided love. I thought my heart would never change, but… it was only to this extent.”

Her voice sounded like she had given up on everything, but she also sounded exhausted.

“What did the Marquis say?”

Putting her hand on Ruby’s, Lynn speculated about what might have happened during the unknown time.

“He said he would allow the divorce if that’s what I wanted. However, it might take some time for the divorce to be finalized.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It seems there’s a need for time to divide the assets. Even though I told him it’s okay if he doesn’t,”

Well, Lynn was somewhat skeptical of Ruby’s opinion. She probably knew little about the Marquis Grit, but it didn’t seem to be the real reason.

However, Lynn didn’t explicitly mention it. Ruby seemed to have already decided everything.

“You’re not saying anything?”

Ruby thought she might say it was a good decision or that it worked out well, but surprisingly, there was no comment.

Ruby was puzzled by the unexpected reaction.

“What can I say? You’ve made up your mind. Let me ask you a question instead.”

“Yeah?”

“Are you sure it’s okay?”

With a worried expression, Lynn’s question overlapped with the time when Ruby impulsively decided to marry Eli. She had asked the same question back then.

“I don’t know, to be honest.”

And just like back then, Ruby couldn’t give a clear answer. Even though it was clearly a divorce, she wanted it.

“I just know it’s the best I should do.”

“If you say so.”

Lynn gently patted her back, as if understanding the ambiguous answer to the emotions she couldn’t understand.

“Just let me know if you need anything or want to talk, I’ll be staying in the capital.”

“Yeah.”

It was a great comfort to Ruby just to be told that she understood without judgment.

***

“My Lady, it seems you can depart for the summer villa in two days.”

A few days after meeting Lynn, Damon cautiously informed Ruby.

“My Lady?”

“Eli…”

Eli still hadn’t come back to Grit Manor. Ruby, who was about to ask if he would come before they left for the cottage, guessed that Damon would have already told her if he would. Whether she couldn’t see him until the day of departure or he had no intention of telling her, either way, Ruby wouldn’t hear the answer she wanted.

“No, it’s okay.”

Ruby ultimately didn’t ask any further.

—

“Preparations are complete.”

Before getting on the carriage, Ruby looked back at Grit Manor.

Leaving the mansion on the day she had contemplated it with regret for a few days was a bit easier than she thought. As expected, Eli still hadn’t returned to the mansion.

It was when Ruby was about to get on the carriage, thinking that she wouldn’t see him until the day of departure.

The sound of hooves galloping energetically could be heard.

“I thought I was going to be late.”

Eli, who had just dismounted nearby, approached the carriage.

“I didn’t think I’d get to say goodbye to you either.”

Ruby mumbled, almost feeling hurt.

“It’s the last time we’re going to see each other.”

Eli said while keeping his gaze on Ruby. It was somewhat comforting that she seemed even a little regretful about parting ways.

“Still, seeing your face is enough.”

“Is seeing my face enough?”

With that, Eli boarded the carriage with Ruby.

“What…”

“I have to see you off.”

Even though Ruby said there was no need, Eli had no intention of moving.

“Will you say the heartless words, ‘Get off here’?”

Eli asked from within the moving carriage.

The carriage had pulled away while the two of them were fidgeting.

“At least get off at the next town and go back; what am I, a child?”

By this point, Ruby had given up a little. She still didn’t really want to go all the way to Devenshire with him.

“Sort of.”

“I’m not that immature.”

Ruby interpreted his words differently and mumbled quietly. Even her scolding seemed cute, and it was a big problem.

Eli genuinely smiled brightly for the first time in a long while.

“It’s because I’m not at ease, not because of you. So let me do this much. You should understand my feelings of not being able to see your face until the divorce.”

The sincerity in his playful addition left Ruby speechless.