Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 16
Just as Berenice and Roberto intended, rumors spread widely.
Sensationalized rumors hit the social scene—that the two of them went to an opera together, rented a box seat, and had the curtain closed throughout the performance.
Articles supporting this rumor adorned the headlines of weekly publications.
The attention of high society was particularly focused on Berenice. This was because it was easier to approach her than to approach Roberto.
Berenice received a flood of invitations from curious ladies.
“Wow. It’s like receiving a year’s worth of invitations all at once, isn’t it?”
“That’s right.”
“Will you be attending?”
“Of course. I went to the opera to receive this kind of attention.”
Berenice chose one invitation from among the numerous ones she received.
It was a carefully chosen invitation.
Through her experiences, she thoroughly understood the nature of the sender of the invitation and made her decision.
The sender of the invitation was someone light-hearted and with a matching level of sophistication.
She has to give more substance to the current rumor circulating in high society.
‘I can’t miss this opportunity.’
Berenice tapped her lips.
“Send a reply to this invitation. I will be attending it.”
“Yes, miss.”
The tea time was scheduled for the next afternoon.
It seemed that Berenice had been hastily added to the confirmed guest list.
To go to such lengths.
Berenice smiled warmly.
‘I must live up to expectations.’
Berenice instructed Selphine, who was organizing the invitations.
“We need to prepare a dress and accessories that will make my complexion look radiant. I’m currently deeply in love, after all.”
“Yes, miss. With your fair skin, you look especially beautiful in a light peach color. We have a peach-colored dress that was tailored for you the other day. Shall I prepare that? You could pair it with a white fur-trimmed cape.”
“Okay. Please make the arrangements.”
She’s going to need to make a good impression on all the loud-mouthed ladies that will be gathered at that tea party.
“Oh, and I should also inform Roberto about this news, shouldn’t I?”
She believed that since the deal was done between two people and not one, and for the sake of transparency, Berenice had an obligation to inform Roberto about her activities in high society.
“We’ve made a contract, after all.”
She needed to make it clear that she was absolutely not writing to Roberto out of self-interest.
In response to Berenice’s words, Selphine prepared new stationery.
“Yes, I know all about it, Miss.”
She said with a smiling face.
***
Berenice wore a peach-colored dress with a white fur-trimmed white cloak, just as she and Selphine had planned.
Being a classical beauty, to begin with, Berenice seemed to have gained a new vitality.
As though she was confirming the saying that a woman becomes more beautiful when she is loved.
“Thank you for inviting me like this.”
“On the contrary, I should be the one who’s grateful that you came. It is an honor to be with you, Lady Dante.”
They exchanged greetings here and there.
And naturally, people’s attention returned to Berenice, who was becoming a hot topic in society.
The organizer of this tea party was the one who took the lead.
“I’ve been hearing some delightful rumors lately. It seems that Dante’s businesses had a deal with Duke Cyrilov.”
There were many aspects to the deal, but only one was publicized.
From the moment of the contract, Berenice began to openly provide funds for the Cyrilov family. Although it was portrayed as a new deal to the public, no one believed that.
This was despite the fact that money was flowing back and forth.
People twisted the facts and fabricated a warm love affair.
People speculated that this investment was not an equal transaction, but rather that the Dante family had gone out of their way to bail out Cyrilov’s financial problems. The rumor even inflated to the point of suggesting that Berenice and Roberto’s marriage was imminent.
“Haha. Something like that happened.”
Berenice replied with a smile.
Sometimes silence is more helpful than words.
Besides that, there were dozens of questions thrown at Berenice to test her.
Berenice remained consistent.
“Nothing has been yet.”
Of course, that didn’t mean she had forgotten her purpose of coming to a tea party.
“I also have a personal friendship with Roberto. We often spend time together because we get along well.”
The eyes of the ladies surrounding Berenice gleamed, and their ears perked up.
Because of Berenice’s refusal to disclose detailed information, their thirst became unbearable.
And an incident that could quench their curiosity occurred at the height of their tea party.
An unexpected carriage arrived at the mansion.
It was a carriage from the florist’s.
“On what business?”
“I’ve come on behalf of His Grace, Duke Cyrilov’s errand.”
“An errand?”
Roberto?
Berenice, just like everyone else, set down the teacup, knowing he hadn’t sent any message.
The attention of the ladies once again turned to Berenice. It’s from Roberto!
So it seems the two of them are quite close, after all?
They must be getting married soon.
Such remarks popped up here and there.
While the messenger and the host of the mansion were engaged in conversation, Berenice pretended to eavesdrop.
“Yes. He said it’s to celebrate today’s meaningful gathering. May we bring the flowers inside?”
“Of course!”
The host clapped enthusiastically.
The flowers were brought for the host, but no one could guess who the real owner of those flowers was.
‘Was there also a romantic side to him?’
The more she learns, the more he surprises her.
Berenice unconsciously pursed her lips, hiding her emotions.
“Miss Berenice, that’s great.”
She shrugged her shoulders, pretending not to notice even when a hand gently poked her side.
“Flowers, you say? In this cold weather.”
Just as someone had said, it was still early in March for flowers to fully bloom. It would have cost a lot to obtain the fully blooming flowers brought in by the errand boy.
‘There are so many…?’
Even if everyone present took some, there would still be leftovers.
Berenice gently stroked her cheek.
‘He’s quite a surprise.’
She hadn’t expected something like this when she informed him about today’s social gathering.
Roberto’s actions fueled the legitimacy of their marriage.
Very romantic.
***
It was nearing the end of the tea party.
It was time for the ladies to leave the mansion with their parting gifts in hand.
There was a carriage parked in front of the mansion that was absolutely not supposed to be seen there.
“Roberto…?”
The man standing neatly in front of the carriage turned his head at Berenice’s call.
“Oh my!”
Without even looking at the bustling ladies, Roberto walked towards Berenice, step by step.
Roberto gradually approached Berenice.
Then he reached out his hand to her.
“What brings you here…?”
“I came to meet you. I wanted to take you to the mansion.”
Roberto replied, his face stern but his voice soft.
According to social customs, it was not common for a husband or lover to come to fetch someone like this.
But Roberto had broken that custom.
With such a handsome face!
Roberto had captured the hearts of the ladies who attended the tea party. Pushed by the bustling ladies, Berenice took Roberto’s hand.
The ladies stared enviously as they walked away.
Until they boarded the carriage, not much conversation took place between the two.
They had used today’s teatime to their advantage, and now all they had to do was set a wedding date without any theatrics.
That was beside the point.
‘Where did he learn this kind of thing?’
Berenice glanced at Roberto.
“Ahem ahem.”
Berenice cleared her throat to steer the conversation.
As intended by Berenice, Roberto’s gaze turned towards her.
“I have a question.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“The flowers you sent today.”
Berenice also held a certain amount of the flowers in her arms.
She smiled softly and gestured towards the flowers in her arms.
“Yes.”
“They are my favorite flowers. Did you happen to know that and send them? That I like these flowers?”
“Yes, I knew.”
“How did you know?”
Roberto replied with a serious face.
“You always have the same scent, Berenice. It’s the scent of those flowers.”
“Scent?”
Roberto nodded his head.
“Yes, my nose is a bit sensitive.”
So, you remembered that and sent these flowers?
“…You’re quite good at saying nice things in such a blunt way.”
“Was that impolite?”
“No, I’m complimenting you.”
Berenice put extra strength into her arms as she held the flowers.
It was the kind of light-hearted flirtation a gentleman might do.
He’s a sincere man, so he must be carrying on with the act even where people’s eyes don’t reach.
Yet, it still excites her.
‘It’s my heart that’s the problem.’
Berenice thought lightly, then posed another question.
“Why did you send so much?”
“…I thought if it was shared among people, there wouldn’t be much left for you, Berenice. After all, they are your favorite flowers.”
Berenice bit her lip.
At this moment, there was only one response Berenice could think of right now.
“Thank you.”
Regardless of his intention, the gift was always appreciated.
Translator
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