Chapter 13

“But Teacher, no one understands when I tell them the monster in my dream is really scary.”

Leblanc was now complaining that lately she’d been having nightmares about a frightening monster. She raised her index finger above her head and tried to make the scariest face possible.

“It has long horns on its head and whiskers under its nose like a cat.”

Yvonne, with practiced hands, took a thin brush, dipped it in paint from the palette, and began drawing on a white canvas. Following Leblanc’s description, the gentle strokes formed the outline, and Leblanc’s eyes grew round as she peeked at it.

“Hmm. Does it look like this?”

“It has horns on its head. And wings this big on its back.”

“Then maybe it looks like this?”

With just a few brushstrokes, the shape gradually took form, and the princess’s eyes grew wider.

“Teacher, did you look inside my head?”

“Of course not. Princess, you explained it so well.”

As she added colors to the nearly finished outline, the painting quickly matched the princess’s description. Leblanc grinned, saying she would show it to Lady Catherine, who never believed her stories.

“Shall we start the lesson now?”

“Yes.”

Remembering to resume the lesson, Leblanc eagerly nodded and found her seat.

The lesson proceeded as usual in a pleasant atmosphere.

The princess was still young and fortunately unaware of the rumors circulating. It was obvious what the palace staff had whispered as Yvonne made her way to this room.

It was probably the gossip about her from the past few weeks.

Just then, a maid entered quietly and announced a visitor. When Yvonne saw who entered through the open door, she was startled and hurriedly stood up.

“Mother!”

Leblanc, who had been focused on a still-life of apples, jumped off her chair and ran toward Queen Louise.

Just as she was about to throw herself into her mother’s arms, the queen stepped back slightly.

“Leblanc, haven’t you been taught that royals shouldn’t embrace people so freely?”

“Ah…yes, Mother.”

At the queen’s cold remark, Leblanc’s face fell.

“I greet you, Your Majesty Queen Louise de Windfog.”

Yvonne bowed with proper etiquette.

After collapsing four years ago, Queen Louise was known to have grown frail and stayed secluded in the queen’s palace. She had never attended the princess’s lessons before, so her sudden visit seemed strange.

“Sit down.”

The queen took a seat on the sofa and gestured for Lady Catherine to take Leblanc away for a moment.

As Leblanc was led out by the head lady-in-waiting, a peculiar silence settled.

The queen’s impression, thin to the point of frailty, looked even sharper than before. As soon as Yvonne quietly sat across from her, the queen spoke.

“You’re divorcing Duke Polshared.”

“……!”

Yvonne couldn’t hide her surprise at the unexpected topic.

Queen Louise, once the first princess of the Benoit Kingdom, had fainted upon hearing the news that the royal family lost their lives during the civil war four years ago.

Her parents, who had abdicated, and even her younger brother who succeeded the throne, were executed at the guillotine. Shocked, she fell ill and couldn’t move for four years, and the king summoned the best doctors to treat her, which became widely known.

When Yvonne first began teaching the princess, she had only managed to greet the queen in bed. Now, seeing the queen looking healthier and asking questions, Yvonne answered politely.

“Yes. I submitted the divorce papers, so it’ll be settled soon. I’m no longer the Duchess, so I think it’ll be difficult to continue teaching the princess…”

“What does it matter? Honestly, it feels like a relief.”

Queen Louise cut Yvonne off without emotion.

“You made the right decision. No one should share a bed with a devil like him.”

“……”

The queen’s open hostility made Yvonne swallow dryly.

Yvonne had heard that the citizen army used Rein Kleint’s weap*ns during the Benoit civil war.

Could the queen still resent Carlisle because of that?

Rather than respond, Yvonne waited calmly for the next words. The queen lifted her gaze slightly.

“Leblanc’s education. Please take care of it. Let’s meet often from now on.”

Without even glancing at her daughter’s painting, the queen stood and left the room.

Yvonne, who had planned to stop teaching the princess today, felt complicated for a different reason.

* * *

Having unexpectedly spoken alone with the queen, Yvonne left the princess’s palace and headed toward the carriage station. In the distance, she saw a sleek car heading toward the main palace.

Is that the King?

She thought so, but the car suddenly changed direction and drove toward her.

Yvonne’s eyes trembled slightly as the car smoothly stopped in front of her. Henry, who got out from the passenger seat, bowed to her.

“Greetings, Madam. Please get in.”

“I don’t think I have any reason to get in. And Sir Schubelia, since I’ll soon be an outsider, ‘Madam’ isn’t the right title.”

When Yvonne clarified she was no longer part of the Polshared family, Henry’s expression hardened, as cold as Carlisle’s own.

Just then, the back door swung open and a tall man stepped out.

Yvonne’s gaze naturally rose, meeting Carlisle’s chilly face. Wearing a dark charcoal frock coat, he motioned toward the inside of the car.

“Get in. I’ll take you.”

“…I came by carriage.”

“Get in while I’m being polite. Unless you want a scene.”

As his commanding tone made Yvonne try to walk past him, Carlisle stretched his long legs and closed the distance, grabbing her wrist. Suddenly facing his fierce gaze, Yvonne froze.

“You’d better get in. I don’t want to make a fuss here.”

* * *

Unable to resist Carlisle’s pressure, Yvonne got in his car and stared out the window until they left the palace.

The seat was soft and the ride comfortable, but her heart was uneasy.

Come to think of it, this was the first time she’d ridden in his car. For official events, they always left separately, and when busy with work, he often left her alone at the ballroom.

So, despite three years as his wife, she’d never ridden in his car.

The fact that the first time Carlisle came to pick her up was right after their divorce was bittersweet.

“I finally get to ride in your car—after we’re divorced.”

Carlisle answered her sarcastic comment by stating their destination.

“Interesting. This time it’s quite refreshing. You made our divorce public just to catch a man, didn’t you?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I should be asking you. What are you trying to do?”

His gray eyes burned as he turned to Yvonne.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I want to hear why you chose that man.”

Only then did Yvonne realize the intent behind his question. As the scenery sped past outside the window, her gaze grew distant, as if looking at a lover. She had hoped that, even if not passionate love, her feelings would be recognized after marriage.

In this bleak world, always threatened by war, she wanted to hold his hand and be his strength. But the man who confirmed all those wishes were futile was reflected in the window, and warmth drained from Yvonne’s eyes.

“Do I need an ex-husband’s permission to meet someone after we’ve separated?”

Her head, turned toward the window, was forcibly turned toward him. Carlisle twisted his lips as he held her chin.

“If you think you’re being clever, you’re wrong. Did you think I wouldn’t know what you’re plotting with that b*stard?”

Carlisle’s warnings hadn’t changed. His cold gaze that didn’t care about her, his arrogant attitude that wouldn’t allow her to act against him rather than ask the reason.

“Do you hate every man I meet?”

“If you’re trying to ruin my work again like six months ago, you’re mistaken.”

“Have you said everything you needed to?”

His thick eyebrows twitched. They’d lived almost as strangers since that incident, but Yvonne had never been this indifferent.

“How long do I have to put up with you?”

“I’d like to ask if you ever looked at me even once.”

“Is that supposed to be an answer?”

He’d kept her by his side despite her tormenting him throughout the marriage, creating scandals and sabotaging his business, causing huge losses.

It wasn’t hard to guess what Yvonne was thinking, always acting on her own whims.

“Yvonne, I think you’re mistaken. We’re still legally married.”