Chapter 1

“Contact from the Ministry of Military Affairs. You need to depart now.”

At the aide’s urging, Carlisle put down the documents he was reviewing, took off his suit jacket, and draped the coat handed to him by his subordinate over his shoulders.

The medals attached to the top of his officer’s uniform reflected the sunlight, sparkling evenly. The deep navy uniform, fitted to his solid frame, made his dignified figure look even more impressive.

He always wore a suit for business, but on days like today, he donned his old military uniform as a sign of respect. His gaze returned to the documents.

Tap tap tap.

As the sound of heels grew closer in the hallway, the man’s brows twitched slightly.

“Um, Madam, right now, I…”

Behind the voice of the staff trying to stop someone, the door opened and a woman walked in. The office, with its gray tones and static atmosphere, was instantly infused with a faint floral scent as she entered, dressed in a bright pink silk dress.

There was no need to turn his head. The owner of the heels that barged into her husband’s company like this was obvious. There was nothing surprising, nor any reason to react.

Until a piece of paper suddenly entered his field of vision as he accepted the formal cap being handed to him.

“I don’t know what it is, but now is not a good time. I’m about to go out for an inspection.”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

His hand, about to sign absentmindedly, thinking it was just another party fund request, paused.

A surge of irritation rose up.

“It’s divorce papers. You just need to sign, nothing complicated.”

Carlisle finally lifted his languid gaze.

The woman before him, with skin so pale it made one wonder if she ever saw sunlight, and neatly arranged platinum hair, was an extraordinary beauty—enough that any man would follow her with a gaze like a fool.

Especially now, even without a smile, her water-colored eyes shone more subtly than any jewel when touched by light. Her upright posture was so impeccable that no one in society could find fault. Yet, for Carlisle, she had long become a troublesome, or even irritating, woman by name.

What kind of trick was this?

Yvonne Cellus.

His wife.

Yvonne met his gaze without avoiding it, looking even thinner than in his last memory of her.

When was the last time we faced each other properly?

A week ago, at the AKD 838 gunpowder test event? 

No, he hadn’t brought his wife there, so the memory went further back, but even so, he couldn’t recall a clear time. Not that it mattered.

He gave up on retracing meaningless past events, his sharp eyes quietly taking in his silent, doll-like wife. His indifferent pupils narrowed slightly, concluding it had been well over a month.

“Do as you wish.”

With that dry reply, the fountain pen that had paused over the approval documents moved to the divorce papers.

He signed in elegant cursive without hesitation, handing the papers to his wife and even making sure she had the pen. It was a sign not to forget her own signature, but Yvonne simply stared at his signed name.

As the signing dragged on, the momentary discomfort was covered by composure. Watching her clutch the pen, he let out a small laugh.

“Why aren’t you signing?”

“I’m about to.”

Soon, the empty space next to his signature was filled with hers.

Contrary to his expectations, Carlisle’s dark brows furrowed with displeasure.

“Leave the papers. I’ll have someone send them to the court.”

“No. I’ll do it myself.”

Her eyelids trembled slightly. Catching that subtle disturbance, the corner of his lips lifted loosely.

“Doing unnecessary things twice….”

Carlisle didn’t bother to hide his sneer. As expected. She was a woman who habitually lied to seek affection, so this was just another attempt to get his attention.

Coming all the way to his company with such a request meant she had no intention of actually getting divorced.

His wife had already done several odd things to seek his attention like this.

In their first year of marriage, she whispered love in a sickly sweet way. In their second year, she tried to get his attention through pointless actions and attended every official event, even those she didn’t need to, making him uncomfortable.

And in their third year, especially since half a year ago, she seemed to deliberately create countless scandals to provoke him.

But it made no difference; he could see right through her.

His wife, who benefited from the marriage and cared for her father, would never want a divorce. She certainly wouldn’t take the initiative to bring it up. So there was no reason for him to engage in this pointless battle.

It was just a show, after all.

Carlisle leaned back in his chair, sinking deep. The orange sunset cast shadows on his arrogant expression beneath his cropped black hair, making him look every bit the soldier as he muttered,

“Do as you wish.”

Of course, only if she really meant it. As soon as he finished, his wife turned with the papers in hand.

Her slender figure walked away with the proper bearing of the upper class.

Cellus Earldom’s precious only daughter.

The woman said to be the most beautiful in the Kingdom of Windfog paused at the doorway.

Wasn’t it too quick to change her mind?

With that thought, he was about to dismiss it as trivial, when his wife, without turning her head, quietly spoke.

“I won’t ask for much alimony. The townhouse on Cadney Road will suffice.”

“Is that enough? You should ask to split the Polshared family’s estate, castle, and even half of my shares in the Rein Kleint munitions company.”

At his sarcastic remark, her small head seemed to ponder before she replied,

“No. Even if I have your estate and company, what could I do? The townhouse is enough.”

With her final, one-sided demand, she grabbed the doorknob and turned it.

Finally, the door closed and the woman with the floral scent disappeared.

He ended up smirking.

His wife’s sly effort in preparing even the punctuation for their three years of marriage was so obvious and clumsy. He concluded it was just another attempt to test him, and continued getting ready to go out.

* * *

Bang, bang!

A series of gunshots echoed across the vast fields. The center of the round target was pierced, and the flagpole whipped backwards.

Carlisle watched the platoon’s shooting demonstration with sharp eyes, frowning as if dissatisfied. The platoon members selected for the demonstration were split into two groups: those with excellent shooting skills and those with average skills, but the results were not much different.

Today was the test day for the rifle developed by his company—a shooting demonstration.

“You’re here, Colonel.”

“What’s a colonel to a businessman?”

The major, once under his command, saluted sharply with one hand to his forehead, and Carlisle motioned for him to relax, then turned his gaze forward again.

Even while conversing, his intense focus was only on the trajectory. After another round of firing, he flicked his finger as if something was off.

“Bring it here.”

“Yes. Here it is.”

Though now the head of a company, the major handed over the rifle as if Carlisle were still an active colonel. Despite leaving the military, his legendary feat of quelling the civil war was still spoken of, and the members glanced at him with awe.

Carlisle took the rifle, pressed the b*tt to his shoulder, and narrowed his eyes as he aimed. As he squeezed the trigger, bang! The shot rang out, shaking the earth.

The center of the target, which had just been shredded by previous shots, was now cleanly pierced, with almost no movement of the flagpole. The soldiers silently admired the precise handling.

The newly developed rifle, designed with a shorter barrel to overcome the limitations of long muskets, boasted dramatically increased range and accuracy, allowing for precision shooting. Compared to traditional long-barreled firearms, it was much shorter and easier to handle, making it highly useful for sniping and reconnaissance.

“It must be a difference in proficiency. Even though the pointed bullet replaced the old round one, they probably used the same force as usual.”

“Even if it’s powerful, there’s no reason for the bullet to scatter like a blunderbuss.”

Muttering with concern, Carlisle examined the rifled part of the smooth barrel.

While he was pondering an effect he hadn’t noticed during the demonstration, his aide Henry approached.

“Um, Sir.”

The members, recognizing Henry as a former major before becoming an aide, saluted with discipline. He responded with a nod and carefully handed Carlisle a newspaper.

“What is it?”

“It’s a breaking news edition, you should check it.”

“Continue.”

Carlisle handed the rifle back to the major and took the newspaper article.

“Fire!”

At the heavy command, the platoon lined up, aimed their rifles, and pulled the triggers.

Despite the thunderous gunfire, Carlisle checked the just-issued newspaper.

[Duchess Polshared submits divorce papers to court.]

His gaze cooled instantly.

Just seven hours ago, his wife had visited his office to request a divorce, and now the news was front-page headline: she had submitted the papers to the court. More shocking than the irrevocable divorce filing was the reason she listed.

[Duchess Yvonne Polshared’s grounds for divorce: miscarriage caused by husband’s violence…]

His grip tightened, crumpling the newspaper.

At this moment, Carlisle could not smile at all.