A Second Divorce is Difficult - ✿ dusk blossoms ✿

Chapter 6 – Part 4

Arlen attended the party with her father, the Duke of Miles, instead of her mother, who was at home with a headache.

She hadn’t been in the mood for long conversations lately, given her frequent headaches, but when she stepped away from the crowd.

“He wants to talk to you.”

A stealthy figure spoke to her as if in passing.

She wasn’t surprised by his behavior, but she gave him a knowing look and quietly left the party.

A carriage awaited her, and though she climbed into it with ease, she wondered if he had ever called for her so urgently before.

The carriage had arrived at a mansion on the outskirts of the capital. It was a secret location known only to the Emperor’s closest confidants.

There, the Emperor himself, Shannua, was waiting for her.

From a young age, he had always loved to roam the outdoors.

So, as soon as he had free access to his money, one of the first things he did was buy this mansion. So that he could get away from the palace whenever he wanted. It was a refuge for him, a place where no one would bother him.

But as more and more people focused their eyes on him, he visited it less and less often. Today, he hadn’t been here in a very long time.

Watching it all from the window until the carriage pulled up in front of the mansion, Shannua spotted Arlen disembarking and made her way to the first floor.

It didn’t take her long to reach the first floor, as the mansion was not large.

As soon as Arlen opened the door and stepped inside, Shannua tugged at her and pressed himself close to her. Their lips met as she felt the door close with a thud behind her.

He pressed her against him, kissing her as if to devour her.

Arlen winced slightly as she returned Shannua’s rough kiss. He didn’t flinch when she pushed away, out of breath. If anything, he pressed closer.

It was only when she relaxed her grip on his waist that he pulled away slowly, as if to give her time to breathe.

“I’ve heard rumors that ……you might be marrying the Marquis of Grit.”

The reason for the roughness in the kiss was perhaps because there were emotions different from usual.

“Why are you silent?”

When Arlen remained silent, his eyes fluttered uneasily.

“Aren’t you going to say no?”

The expression that Shannua was making right now was what Arlen loved the most. So instead of her answering, she hugged him and kissed him once more.

Shannua’s uneasiness at Arlen’s kiss quickly disappeared behind closed eyelids.

Perhaps it was a long-acquired resignation. Because in his relationship with Arlen, Shannua was always the weak one.

“Shannua, I must marry now.”

The sweet gift was followed by a cruel reality.

‘My lover, who had just kissed my lips, turned to me, his eyes burning with heat, his words saying something other than his face.’

“It was you who rejected my marriage proposal, Arlen.”

“…….”

“You’re the one who made me such a jerk.”

The voice was reproachful.

He knew it wouldn’t work, but he was an asshole for wanting it so badly that he couldn’t let go.

Because even in this moment, his first and last love, Arlen, was insanely beautiful. She glowed, as she always did.

Shannua thought he must have been blinded by the light.

The thought that everyone at the party must have seen it made him jealous.

“Why did you reject me, yet Eli could be a possibility?”

Even though he thought it was childish jealousy, he couldn’t help it.

What was the reason that made him unworthy while Eli was? Even though he couldn’t let it go, he wanted to know what it was.

“It was your choice, Shannua, to marry the Marquis Tules’s daughter.”

“Then what more was I supposed to do?”

He picked up only the hateful words she said and was dragged around by her, unable to get rid of her every time she couldn’t get to him. Even though he couldn’t understand it, he just accepted it.

If she was going to love him so passionately, like a desperate lover, then why did she reject his proposal back then? Sometimes, he wondered if it was his fault for rushing into marriage without controlling his impulsive emotions.

“I’m not reproaching you; I’m just saying that it’s pointless to dwell on such matters.”

“…….”

“Just like how having a wife didn’t change anything between us, even if I have a husband, it won’t change anything between us. Anyway, I can’t stay unmarried forever.”

“……Do you like Eli?”

Shannua asked, hiding his obsessive nature, even though he knew nothing could hold her back.

At his question, Arlen laughed as if she’d heard something funny.

“Shannua, just because you are married to Lady Tules, does that make you in love with her?”

He knew he didn’t, and he couldn’t answer the question.

“It’s the same thing; my husband has to be the right man for the house, and Eli couldn’t be a better choice, could he?”

A close relationship since childhood, a matching family, a good man, and a good woman.

Their marriage was certainly a good fit.

“But Arlen, this marriage is a bad idea anyway.”

He looked down at her for a long moment, disagreeing with her.

Then Arlen’s eyebrows rose slightly.

Seeing that expression, Shannua felt his heart soften a little, so he tried to kiss her again, this time lightly.

She turned her head slightly, rejecting his lips.

“What are you talking about?”

Then she asked again.

“I’m asking you what you mean.”

She had that look on her face that she wore when faced with an unwanted reaction or situation.

“I’m saying there’s no way Eli is getting a divorce.”

“If it’s because of the disappearance of his wife, then it can happen without her. You know you can’t get away with neglecting your marital obligations.”

From the way she said it, it sounded like the marriage was something Arlen was working on with the Dowager Marchioness Grit.

“That’s not possible; Eli is with the Marchioness now.”

Shannua recalled Sorvan, who had come to see him a few days ago.

He’d asked him if he had told the Marquis of Grit everything, and it was his first time seeing Sorvan like that.

“…Where is she?”

“I’ll let you know when you’ve been punished for surprising me.”

“I want to know first.”

Shannua picked up Arlen and headed for the second floor.

He preferred to lose whenever possible, but not every time.

“The party will end late at night, so we’ll have plenty of time together.”

He had instructed Arlen to come back from the party early for this reason.

The door to the second floor they entered closed behind them.

* * *

“For some reason, you’ve come alone today.”

The Duke and Duchess of Miles were famous for their close relationship, and although they didn’t attend parties often, they usually attended them together when they did.

“Haha. My wife needs a break too.”

“Is that why you two get along so well?”

So on days like today, when they didn’t attend together, many people asked if they had fought as a joke.

“I didn’t know, but it seems so.”

Duke Miles replied with a light chuckle, his eyes following Lady Marie Grit as she headed toward the common room.

“If you’ll excuse me for a moment.”

Seeing Lady Marie heading to the lounge, he followed her.

“Excuse me.”

On the way to the common room, Duke Miles called a maid.

“I’ve noticed that the common room is running low on mirrors for our guests. Will you check and get more?”

“Yes, My Lord.”

The maid headed straight to the common room.

Meanwhile, the Duke waited nearby for her to finish checking.

“It seems that the lady doesn’t need more mirrors as she’s alone.”

“Ah, I see another maid has already brought it; save me the trouble.”

Taking advantage of the maid who had completed her unknown task disappearing, Duke Miles slipped into the lounge, where things were getting noisy.

“May I have a word with you for a moment, Lady Grit?”

“My goodness, Duke Miles.”

Marie, who had been alone, as the maid had said, rose from the couch to greet him.

“Do you intend to continue seeing Arlen?”

The Duke asked bluntly, cutting straight to the point.

“What do you mean?”

Marie’s smile subtly stiffened, but it was a change that wouldn’t be noticeable without a closer look.

“I’m sure you’re well aware of the rumors Arlen has been hearing since she has been with you.”

“…….”

“And that’s not a good rumor.”

He spoke without interruption.

“Arlen is such a good-natured girl; it’s understandable that she would want to help the Marquis of Grit. But shouldn’t you draw a line somewhere?”

“…….”

“If you have any other thoughts in mind, please give them up.”

He shot at the unresponsive Marie, not giving her any chance to say anything.

In fact, the duke was worried that just the two of them talking at this party would lead to rumors of a marriage between their families.

“Nothing you wish will happen while I am Duke of Miles.”

Marie’s smile was unwavering.

“If you really want to marry off your son, shouldn’t you sort out your noisy family affairs first?”

But at the mention of her family, a faint flicker of emotion crossed her face.

“The current situation seems to be contrary to propriety in either direction. It’s not just about our daughter.”

Having said his piece, the Duke of Miles turned to leave the common room but stopped short.

“By the way, the Marquis doesn’t seem to have any intention of divorcing……. You seem to be in a hurry, but don’t drag Arlen into this messy family quarrel. I won’t stand for it.”

As soon as Duke Miles left the common room, Marie’s face began to harden like a plaster statue.

Her fists clenched tightly; she glared at the door and threw the mirror on the table.

“Haa…….”

Looking into the shattered mirror, Marie put on her noble face again and ran a hand through her slightly disheveled hair, clearing her throat.

Though she suffered humiliation from Duke Mile, there was one silver lining. Arlen Miles had shown some positive intentions toward marrying Marquis Grit. While she was angry, the fact that she considered it wasn’t entirely bad.

And Duke Miles, on some level, didn’t think ill of the Marquis Grit either, so he recognized his own family’s situation.

So, she was saying that there was some possibility if the troublesome issue was resolved well.

With that comforting thought, Marie cooled her anger alone.