Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 12

In fact, Berenice was also a privileged member of the aristocracy, and she had a part to play in an unfair world.

That’s why she was fully aware that criticizing the current situation would amount to nothing but spitting on her own face.

After understanding Berenice’s words, Roberto sighed briefly and asked,

“Do you have your guards with you?”

“I’ve increased the number of guards to three.”

Berenice gestured with her eyes towards several men inside the banquet hall.

Following her gaze, Roberto examined the sturdy knights and nodded in agreement.

It seemed unlikely that they would allow Berenice to be subjected to something oppressive like before.

Although he was too busy to pay attention to Berenice, he continued to remember that such an incident had occurred.

Roberto’s sense of justice would not allow him to simply forget about it.

The fact that Roberto remembered Berenice perfectly, even though he couldn’t remember the people he was doing business with, was evidence of that.

“…I’m glad.”

Fortunately, the atmosphere between the two of them was harmonious.

Which was surprising to others.

That day, Berenice confirmed the character of her potential husband.

Although he’s blunt and cold, he’s a person with a sense of justice.

Considering that he watched Berenice until she returned home, he must be a responsible person with razor-sharp judgment, considering how he refuses things decisively.

His business ability is unquestionable.

And it didn’t seem like she would be ensnared by issues about women after their marriage.

And if you ask whether Roberto’s appearance was superior to Cornell’s—it was, he’s not worse than Cornell.

Roberto was a moral and strict person who wouldn’t do the things he did.

He was truly satisfying.

***

Berenice investigated Roberto in detail after returning home

She refused to meet another man like Cornel, even if she had to test every bridge before crossing it.

Besides, in order to make a successful and stable contract, she needed to understand the environment he was in and what was necessary, as well as the moves she could propose.

Isn’t there also a saying that to win a war, one must know the enemy?

The documents that the aide thoroughly investigated, organized, and brought were handed to Berenice.

Roberto Cyrilov’s name was written on top of it.

“Hmm.”

As soon as she read the first line, she involuntarily let out a sigh.

The Cyrilov family had suffered a near-fatal incident 12 years ago, and the key figures had gone missing.

And this case remained the same until now.

Unsolved.

Originally, if a noble family had no successor and their property was abandoned, it would be confiscated by the state within 10 years. However, just before that could happen, Roberto appeared like a comet.

After 7 years without a successor. Roberto returned only 5 years ago. After taking his seat as head of the family, Roberto dealt with the piled-up taxes and regained his rank and property.

Instead of fading into the shadow of its former glory, House Cyrilov welcomed a new start.

The emperor confirmed that Roberto was of the Cyrilov lineage.

That’s how Roberto became the master of Cyrilov.

“It must not have been an easy life….”

Still the subject of an unsolved case.

It occurred to her that maybe his seemingly fierce personality came from that incident. To Berenice, they were strangers, but to Roberto, those missing people were his family.

Moreover, House Cyrilov was not in a financially prosperous situation because they had to pay seven years’ worth of taxes at once, and many properties were lost due to negligence while the position of head of the family was vacant.

Of course, comparing it to before Roberto’s return, the difference would have been like heaven and earth.

‘This person is like climbing a mountain after a mountain¹.’

He would need a considerable amount of money to properly establish his power, as the territories were not being managed effectively and required appropriate maintenance. He managed to maintain his position in Cyrilov, but it seemed that he needed a lot of money to truly establish his influence.

Fortunately.

Berenice had assets that would not disappear, no matter how many generations passed.

Berenice absentmindedly tapped her fingernails on the desk.

There seemed to be no better suitable marriage partner than him.

Perhaps he had some weaknesses that Berenice could exploit.

And what about Roberto’s seven-year-old son, whom he was raising?

As the house’s mistress, Berenice could promise full support for that child.

After reading the documents several times, Berenice finally lifted her head.

A bright smile appeared on Berenice’s face, who had been suffering and in pain after dealing with Livio.

She was almost one hundred percent certain.

That day, Berenice sent a letter to Cyrilolf’s mansion in the capital, in the name of the marchantry.

‘I would like to make a deal.’

The letter said something like that.

***

Roberto carefully read Berenice’s letter.

The main point was that she was proposing a deal that could determine Roberto’s fate.

In fact, Berenice, whom Roberto had personally met, was a reasonable and logical person.

Besides, the letter officially arrived under the name of the merchantry of Valencia.

There was no reason to refuse Berenice’s request.

For that reason, Roberto and Berenice’s meeting came to be.

Berenice, who set foot in the Cyrilov Mansion for the first time, looked around politely before saying a word.

“It’s a splendid mansion. It’s very well managed.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

The servants were excitedly preparing for the arrival of Berenice, who was the first young lady to enter the mansion since Roberto became head of the family.

Guests were rare, and to think it was a female guest!

Therefore, they took out a teacup—the one with small engraved flower petals, not a rough teacup—from the deepest part of the cupboard.

They brewed a fresh and soft tea—not the heavy, cool, and flavorful types that Roberto usually enjoyed.

Although the scent rising from the teacup made Roberto wrinkle his nose, he did not ask why the tea was different from what he was used to.

Because, unlike Roberto, Berenice seemed to like the tea.

She kept tilting the teacup with a gentle smile on her face.

“This tea is excellent. You can’t find such a good tea anywhere. It seems like the chef’s taste is very sophisticated.”

“Thank you for the compliment, my lady.”

The butler, who was carrying the tray behind him, smiled with satisfaction.

Her moderate praise, without exaggeration, made him feel good.

After all, the lady had been well educated, so she knew how to be gracious and polite without any shortcomings.

And her appearance was elegant, quite fitting for the position of Duchess of Cyrilov…

Roberto interrupted the butler, who was getting ahead in his thoughts.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s not often that we get to entertain guests, please understand if we are lacking in some areas.”

“No, it’s the opposite. I’m grateful for accepting my invitation and welcoming me like this.”

Berenice gently placed the teacup down.

Roberto matched her pace and set his teacup down as well.

“Now, let’s get to the main point.”

Although it was an offhand remark, Berenice was more pleased with Roberto’s words.

It was nice of him to make the first move.

So it wasn’t hard for Berenice to get the words out.

“I came to propose a deal.”

“I want to know what kind of deal it is. You said it should be explained in person, not in writing.”

Berenice thought that if she sent a letter, Roberto might reject it before listening to the whole story.

So, she chose to be vague rather than write something in the letter.

It’s better to explain it face-to-face.

“Yes. I think it’s better to talk in person because misunderstandings may happen.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Before that…”

Berenice gestured towards where the butler was.

Having noticed that, Roberto gave the butler an order.

“Please wait outside for a moment.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Berenice waited for the butler to close the door before opening her mouth.

“I want to propose a once-in-a-lifetime deal that could cost us our lives.”

“Yes.”

Putting the moderate silence behind them, Berenice opened her lips.

“Let’s get married. Of course, not for real, just on paper.”

Berenice smiled a smile that was appropriate for the current situation.

A gentle one.

***

“Where did Berenice go?”

At that moment, Viscount Dante, who had come to find Berenice, asked Selphine.

“Well…”

“Well?”

Instead of answering immediately, Selphine uncharacteristically hesitated, surprising Viscount Dante.

“To get married….”

“What?”

Viscount Dante raised his head, surprised.

Berenice getting married without Viscount Dante’s knowledge?

“No, it’s not that… to propose….”

“What are you talking about? Explain properly!”

“Soon… she’ll come back soon. It would be better for you to hear it directly from her.”

Viscount Dante was taken aback, but he nodded.

What is going on, exactly?

Livio has been directly approaching Berenice to ask her opinion about marriage.

Since Viscount Dante was in charge of managing the letters coming from Cornell, he would know about it before the news reached Berenice.

But when he heard words like marriage or proposal, his heart sank.

He was worried that this child, who doesn’t like to rely on others even in normal circumstances, went willingly to the Cornell family.

Due to the pressure imposed by Livio this time, he was already in a state of great distress over the problems that arose with their business partners.

In this situation, Berenice, who couldn’t overcome her guilt, might stamp the marriage certificate again, just as Livio Cornell wanted.

‘I can’t allow that….’

Viscount Dante’s self-doubt sat down with a gloomy face.