After Declaring Divorce, My Husband Became Lewd - CHAPTER 8_ Love And Hate (Part 3)

The snow that had begun to fall suddenly a few days earlier had continued to fall steadily for two days, covering the entire city in white.

The mansion’s garden was no exception. Everywhere, from the trees surrounding it to the statue in the center, was thickly covered in snow. Everything touched by the gaze of snow turned incredibly white.

During the time the snow piled up like this, she hadn’t bumped into Richt. Perhaps due to the last fight, he continued to sneak into the mansion only on the nights when Isabelle was asleep.

Sometimes she would wake up in the morning and find his scent lingering faintly in her room. If she wondered if she was mistaken, she would ask Mrs. Mason, and she would be told that Richt had been there. In a way, she was glad she did not have to face him because of Mia’s accusations.

‘As far as I can see, you still love the Duke.’

‘It’s not that you don’t want to admit it?’

The words Mia had spat out that day kept echoing in Isabelle’s mind, haunting her, a discomfort that was hard to shake off, distancing her away from Mia.

For over a week, Isabelle hadn’t initiated any personal conversations with Mia. She didn’t even want to receive her daily reports, but to do that, she would have to call other servants to her, which she didn’t want to do.

Despite Isabelle’s coldness, Mia silently carried out her duties. She busied herself with helping Isabelle with her clothes and hair, changing the sheets, and sweeping the rugs. Occasionally, their eyes would meet, but Isabelle pretended not to notice the awkward glances.

Mrs. Mason took over Mia’s role as Isabelle’s companion. They had only known each other for a short time, but Mrs. Mason had a knack for making people feel comfortable while maintaining a proper distance.

It was a good thing, too, Mrs. Mason didn’t know much about Isabelle’s relationship with Richt; chatting with her passed the time and eased the awkwardness a little.

Today, Isabelle sat at the table on the terrace once again. Whenever she sat there, Mrs. Mason would automatically prepare a simple refreshment.

“I’ve tried a different way of baking.”

Mrs. Mason set down a plum pie and a pot of tea.

“I’m looking forward to it.”

The well-baked filling boasted a smooth gloss. Even at first glance, it was more appetizing than the last time she’d made it. In response to Mrs. Mason’s dedication, Isabelle offered a faint smile.

Mrs. Mason poured warm tea into the teacups. As Isabelle gazed at the steam rising like mist, she gestured for Mrs. Mason to sit opposite her. She hesitated for a moment but eventually took a seat.

“Am I still making you uncomfortable?”

“You are not uncomfortable, my lady.”

“Alright then.”

Isabelle cut the large pie into triangles and scooped them onto a small platter, then used a fork to cut off a corner and taste it.

“Your skills must be appreciated. It gets more delicious as time goes by.”

“I’m glad.”

“You should receive a higher salary than the head chefs of other families.”

Isabelle offered Mrs. Mason a piece of pie, her lips curling up in a cool smile, but the woman always responded with a smile without eating. Isabelle didn’t press further and sipped her hot tea.

“You seem to be feeling a little better today.”

“Did I look bad?”

“You’ve seemed a little down lately.”

After exchanging such a conversation with Mia, Isabelle’s mood wasn’t good and it must have shown on her face. She was not the type to hide her emotions well. No matter how hard she tried not to show it, people always noticed. Putting down her teacup, Isabelle shifted her gaze outside, steering the conversation in a different direction.

“It’s snowing a lot.”

“Do you like the snow?”

“To see it, yes. It’s beautiful, isn’t it? In Dranselle, Barsk, where I lived, it didn’t snow much to pile up on the ground.”

“I heard it’s less cold compared to Vechilin. I’ve never been there, though.”

Mrs. Mason, who was born in Vechilin and has never left the city, was envious of Isabelle’s travels to different parts of the country. However, Isabelle didn’t have very fond memories of Dranselle, Barsk, except for her childhood, when her mother was still alive.

“Yes, it is. In the summer, it gets much hotter, though. However, being near the beach makes it a great resort.”

“I’m glad to hear that the snow made you feel better, but I’m worried because the weather has suddenly become colder.”

“A little cold won’t be a big problem.”

Although it was an ordinary weather conversation, the fact that she was conversing with someone eased Isabelle’s mind.

“I’ve been careful to keep the heater in your room on all the time. If you catch a cold, it could be a big problem.”

“…A big problem?”

The corners of Isabelle’s eyes lifted slightly. Only now did the mystery unravel.

“So, it was you.”

“What?”

“When I wondered how Richt found out, it was you who noticed and told him, right?”

Having given birth, it shouldn’t have been too difficult for Mrs. Mason to recognize the symptoms of morning sickness at a glance.

“The fact that I was pregnant.”

Mrs. Mason’s face showed surprise.

“The truth is, Richt and I aren’t the perfect couple you think we are, and I can’t go into details, but we’ve had our problems, and that’s why I hid the pregnancy from him.”

“I must have spoken unnecessary things to the Duke without realizing. I was just trying to take better care of you…”

Mrs. Mason faltered at the end of her words, visibly distraught.

“What’s done is done, and you don’t have to worry about it.”

“I didn’t know at the time. In my eyes, the Duke seemed to cherish you a lot. Only recently did I start feeling that something was off.”

The atmosphere became awkward for a moment. Mrs. Mason seemed to be thinking about something, and then she spoke again.

“So that’s why you said you weren’t staying here long.”

Isabelle gave a small nod.

“That was the plan.”

A positive answer didn’t come easily.

How could I feel like this, when not so long ago I was so sure I wanted to leave?

Everything was a mess. Mia’s words, which she could just dismiss, kept lingering in her mind, and she couldn’t give a proper answer to Mrs. Mason’s questions either.

She couldn’t stay here indefinitely, but at the same time, she couldn’t bring herself to leave.

“In your opinion, do I seem like I’m waiting for Richt?”

“Well, I’m not in a position to infer your inner feelings. It hasn’t been long since I started serving you. However…”

Mrs. Mason mulled over the last part, and Isabelle waited.

“You seem lonely.”

“…”

“Since the Duke hasn’t been home much.”

She didn’t agree, but she couldn’t vehemently deny it like she did with Mia. The muscles around her mouth tightened, and her expression didn’t loosen. The conversation between the two came to a halt, and Isabelle turned her gaze back to the window.

Outside, the world was still white. A pure and dazzling landscape without a single blemish.