Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 41

Usually, Roberto handled paperwork related to the territory, knight training, inspections, and other duties. Even amidst such a busy schedule, Roberto made efforts to keep his promise to Berenice.

Just like now.

“Oh, oh. Am I very late?”

Terenzio, who had been poking his fork in and out of his mouth for an hour, suddenly turned his head. While he understood that Roberto was busy, he didn’t like Roberto not being in the mansion. To Terenzio, Roberto was his best friend.

Berenice carefully observed Terenzio’s appearance and greeted Roberto.

“You’ve worked hard. You must have traveled quite far today.”

“Yes. Since there were some outdated facilities, I had to inspect and call in experts for repairs, so I ended up late. I’m sorry. Terenzio, I’m sorry.”

“Dad is always late!”

Roberto gently patted Terenzio’s head.

“Roberto.”

Berenice subtly brought up a topic to Roberto.

“I think Terenzio needs a playmate. Activities like playing with toys and reading fairy tales are fine, but it seems difficult for me to bond with him like a real friend.”

“If it’s a friend…”

Terenzio gazed at Berenice with a smile.

In Berenice’s view, Terenzio’s heightened attachment to her and Roberto seemed to stem from his lack of appropriate friends at his age.

“I’m planning to recruit children of nobles to the estate and provide daily education activities suitable for their ages. I will also hire specialized play teachers. I want to broaden Terenzio’s world. What do you think?”

“It seems like your idea is right, Berenice. Thank you for paying attention to areas I couldn’t.”

Roberto said with a tired face.

He always felt indebted to Berenice. Especially regarding Terenzio. The child’s face would light up before even asking questions. While there were children he met periodically in the capital, it had been nonexistent since they came to the estate.

Berenice smiled brightly and turned her gaze to Terenzio.

“Terenzio, what do you think?”

“I like it! Mom, I really like it! Will I learn swords with friends? And go on picnics too? My friends in the capital used to boast about that.”

The excited Terenzio forgot his grudge against Roberto and nestled in his arms. Roberto sat down while embracing Terenzio’s body.

“If Terenzio wants it, anytime is fine. Going on a picnic sounds good too. Besides that, is there anything else you’d like to try?”

“Camping!”

Terenzio kicked his feet joyfully.

“When I was in the capital, Troy used to boast about it every day! He said he went camping with friends he studied with!”

Terenzio’s face sparkled as he remembered the memory with excitement. At this point, it seemed that even Terenzio agreed.

Berenice tilted her head, lost in thought.

Tomorrow was the day when the duke’s vassals would gather. After that, she planned to select appropriate individuals and hold a tea party to discuss this. Usually, when doing such things, they would take turns visiting each estate, but when it came to playing with the vassals’ children, those from prestigious families usually took responsibility for everything.

‘About one or three……’

Cyrilov, or rather, Berenice, had the ability to handle all of that. Besides, if it was a family raising children of Terenzio’s age, there was a high probability of anyone willing to participate. Because it was about the children’s future.

“Then I’ll take care of this myself. Leave it to me.”

“But Berenice, you must be busy too……”

That was true. Berenice had been entrusted with establishing the Cyrilov branch and had taken over the responsibilities of the duchy’s internal affairs from Sebastian.

Managing the finances of the entire territory was handled by the accounting team, so Roberto was in charge of that.  

However, the private areas, such as paying salaries to employees who were hired at the duchy and having authority over the personnel, fell under Berenice’s jurisdiction. In fact, Berenice was just as busy as Roberto.

That’s why, even though they lay in bed, far apart from each other to avoid accidentally touching hands, they fell asleep quickly. They were just too tired.

However, when it came to entrusting matters related to Terenzio to Berenice, Roberto’s conscience did not allow it. Berenice lightly teased Roberto with a smile on her face.

“Roberto, do you think you can do as well as me?”

“…No.”

“Then do you have the same attention to detail in choosing people as I do?”

“No.”

“A playmate is also important. Can Roberto choose people well?”

“…I can’t say for sure.”

It was Berenice’s perfect victory.

“Then I’ll do it since I’m good at it. I’ll gladly do it for Terenzio’s sake. Right, Terenzio?”

“Thank you, Mom! Mom, I love you!”

He’s so affectionate and full of charm.

Watching Terenzio, it seemed like all the fatigue of the day melted away. Moreover, he would gently rub her shoulders with his hands once evening came. Mom, today was hard, right? Here, here? How could she not love him?

‘If I had a child, is this how it would feel?’

Feeling sentimental, Berenice bit her lip.

“I love you too, Terenzio.”

With a child, emotions shouldn’t be stifled. It was a phrase she had read in books while preparing for pregnancy. Expressing it in words deepened her affection for Terenzio.

Meanwhile, as he watched Terenzio and Berenice, Roberto’s heart swelled with emotion.

Berenice had promised Roberto that she would do her best with respect and she kept that promise. Especially when it came to Terenzio, she sometimes showed a better side than Roberto.

That was something he both appreciated and regretted…

‘I want to do more than what Berenice is striving for. How can I express this feeling? I probably need to seek advice from Alfonso.’

And as Terenzio watched Roberto and Berenice, he gained tips for survival.

‘Ah. Dad can’t beat Mom!’

The unchanging truth in Cyrilov.

***

The first banquet Berenice prepared was about to begin.

Roberto had said he would handle it this time, but Berenice didn’t even dream of it. Private matters like this in the duchy were all under the hostess.

The preparations were perfect, but the problem was that Berenice was nervous.

Roberto comforted Berenice, who had already sighed twelve times.

“No matter how distant they are as my relatives, they are still subordinates. You can relax.”

“They are good people! Really.”

Even with Terenzio joining in, they couldn’t ease Berenice’s tension. In fact, Livio had said that his family members were good people. But even if they were good people to Livio, they were not to Berenice.

‘The problem started with my husband.’

So she wasn’t particularly hopeful.

The weather was nice, as she checked the outdoor banquet venue in the garden several times. She didn’t want anything to go wrong for them.

“What do you think of these flowers?”

“They complement the atmosphere of the banquet venue well. Berenice’s eye has always been excellent, so I think it will be the same this time.”

“Don’t just say it’s good. Tell me properly.”

At Berenice’s words, Roberto’s face became very serious.

“How should I say it when they’re really good? I think my lack of expression may lead to misunderstandings on your part. I always speak sincerely. If what I say is false, I would give up on this duchy.”

Oh my god.

 Is he really that serious?

After listening quietly to Roberto’s words, Berenice burst into laughter. It was just something she said out of impatience, but now she’s getting this huge ducal mansion for free. 

Seeing Berenice’s smiling face, Roberto’s face also relaxed.

At that moment, the door of the ducal house opened. The first guest was passing through the main door.

“It’s starting. Roberto, I’m counting on you today.”

“I’m counting on you too.”

Berenice nodded.

Soon after, the outdoor party venue was filled.

With the presence of families related to the Cyrilov family and those who wanted to establish connections with the main family, it was more crowded than expected. Fortunately, Roberto and Berenice adapted well to this situation.

Berenice’s expertise, which she gained from learning about company etiquette and her experiences in social circles, especially allowed her to speak skillfully.

Furthermore, the Valencia Merchantry was famous even within the Cyrilov duchy. Wasn’t it practically the largest merchantry in the Raivan Empire? Because of this, the noblewomen easily showed favor towards Berenice, who came from the Dante family.

“What’s currently trending in the capital in terms of style? My cousin mentioned that light pink or blue is in fashion. They said dresses in those colors were popular in Valencia. So, I’d like to ask for your advice.”

“The primary color being emphasized by Valencia Merchantry currently is lilac. It maximizes femininity and it adds a charming feeling.”

“Oh… I see.”

The gazes of the gathered noblewomen were focused on Berenice’s lavender dress. The noblewomen’s favorability towards Berenice rose sharply.

The noblewomen decided to choose lavender as the color for their new dresses when they returned home that evening.

“And what else?”