Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 44

“Both of you should reflect on this. I hope my wife will no longer be concerned about this matter. Stay clearheaded for a while.”

“Y-Your Grace! Please forgive us!”

“I have done wrong, Your Grace.”

Behave.

But Roberto paid no attention to their earnestness and hammered the nail in.

“I hope you reflect until the Duchess says otherwise.”

Unless there is a special reason, that statement almost sounded permanent. Despite being a count, if they got into the duke’s bad side, it would be difficult for them to manage the estate since it was in an outlying area adjacent to the duchy and not a neighborhood with special products or profitable assets.

That’s why they reached out, in order to somehow cling to Roberto, but Roberto coldly turned away.

“I think you have the wrong person to beg forgiveness from. Leave for now. If you cause any more trouble, I won’t stay quiet.”

At Roberto’s gesture, the knights half-dragged them out. Following them, the eldest daughter of Count Ehier wailed and chased after them.

Once they left, the disturbance was finally settled. Berenice approached Roberto and placed her hand on his arm. Roberto supported Berenice. There would be no one to dare disrespect Berenice anymore.

There was no one who wanted to leave Roberto’s sight.

People politely made way for Berenice and Roberto’s conversation.

Berenice hid her satisfaction and spoke.

“You don’t have to go that far.”

“Berenice. I think this is something that must be done. I don’t want you to be insulted. I don’t understand why someone who came this far for me should suffer such humiliation.”

Roberto responded earnestly. With a face that seemed like Berenice had experienced all the unfairness in the world, he protected her.

“If such a thing happens, never hesitate to speak up, Berenice.”

“…I promise.”

Only then did Roberto’s face soften at Berenice’s response. People watched closely. They confirmed with their own eyes how Roberto treated Berenice and how precious she was to him. They also saw the sole heir calling Berenice ‘mom’ and following her.

So they couldn’t help but realize.

The fact that turning against Berenice could turn Cyrilov’s duchy into an enemy.

“Well. And this is something that happened because of me. The Count and Countess Ehier wanted to make their daughter a duchess.”

“What? But…”

Berenice’s pupils widened.

It was too embarrassing a fact to shout out loud. Berenice lowered her voice as much as possible.

“That child is ten years younger than you, Roberto. I know she’s going to be an adult next year, but she’s still considered a minor…”

“I know that as well. Just receiving the proposal was humiliating.”

Roberto asserted.

“That couple who coveted that position must not be in their right minds…”

“Still, I’m sorry, Berenice. It feels like I caused this.”

“Not at all. This is something they should be ashamed of. Really. There is no reason for you to apologize at all. By the way, whether it’s you or me, we go through a lot because of crazy people.”

Berenice joked lightly.

But there was a sharp edge to her playful words. Berenice, because of Livio. And Roberto, because of their audacity to try to put their underage daughter to their lord.

Seeing Berenice trying to laugh off, Roberto who laughed along once again made a request.

“If something difficult happens, promise me again that you will tell me without hesitation, Berenice.”

“I promise, really.”

“We are in a contractual relationship, aren’t we?”

He meant that since they’re in an equal relationship, he won’t tolerate unfair treatment from the other party. But the word ‘contract’ made both Roberto and Berenice feel distant and hurt at the same time.

‘Ah, we were in a contractual relationship….’

It was a reminder of the fact they had forgotten.

The one promise between them kept bothering Roberto. His contract with Berenice was what was holding his heart back. On the other hand, Berenice herself was confusing his feelings.

‘Was I such an easy-going guy?’

Even though Livio was a shitty person, it hadn’t been that long ago that she thought she loved him. A new love? It seemed too soon.

Because of that, there was a moment of silence.

Those who had been watching them converse thought the atmosphere had relaxed and approached them cautiously. While Berenice responded with a smile to their words, she did not forget how they just stood by when Countess Ehier pressured Berenice.

After they left, the commotion finally subsided. Berenice approached Roberto and placed her hand on his arm. Roberto supported Berenice with strength. There would be no one left to recklessly slander Berenice anymore.

They raised their hand at Berenice, captivated by the honey in front of them, but he realized that these were people who could betray Berenice at any moment.

It was up to Berenice to find the hidden pearl among them.

Chapter 9. The Lady of House Cyrilov

After that day, Berenice’s formal social activities began.

As promised, she hosted a tea party, and there were those who did not attend despite being invited. In truth, if those ladies weren’t raising children around Terenzio’s age, they wouldn’t have been charmed by the card Berenice extended.

‘As expected…’

Berenice clicked her tongue after receiving a rejection. It’s not that she couldn’t understand their reasoning. After all, Berenice had been part of a more intense social circle in the capital for years. Even though Berenice was someone who didn’t go out much, she could vividly feel their own wars just from what she heard.

Compared to them, these people were mild.

Berenice was a remarried woman, and Roberto already had an heir. Some might shun Berenice, anticipating that she wouldn’t be given much power because of this.

The incident at the banquet hall would have already faded in their minds.

That’s why they say humans are creatures of forgetfulness.

Some might think, that no matter how well Roberto and Terenzio treat Berenice, it wouldn’t last long. People’s hearts are prone to change after all.

Among those who are favorable towards Berenice, there might be some who are considering the child she might bear in the future. That’s probably why the social circle is divided.

The somewhat good news is,

No one openly complains about Berenice, thanks to the still-rife rumors about the Count of Ehier being dragged out of the banquet hall.

Berenice felt she needed another way to win their hearts.

‘What could bring about the most noticeable change?’

Through her marriage with Livio, she realized the dangers of blindly trusting and relying on his support. Hence, she decided to make allies here at all costs.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Roberto. It was because Berenice had learned to distrust people. She could no longer fully trust human nature.

This was also why Berenice couldn’t accept her feelings that were leaning towards Roberto.

It wasn’t like this with Livio from the start.

To Berenice, Livio was her world, her family, and her love. Such betrayal might have broken a part of her heart.

Is that why?

She keeps comparing Livio and Roberto and finds relief in their differences. And she’s trying hard not to repeat her marriage life with Livio.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Selphine. What do you think is something House Cyrilov needs?”

“Well, I don’t know.”

“Then think about what was uncomfortable for you.”

“What was uncomfortable for me… Hmm. It felt like the roads were less maintained compared to the capital. It was uncomfortable riding a carriage.”

“Roads…?”

Berenice’s pupils dilated.

This was exactly the answer Berenice was looking for. Few things are as noticeable to people as roads, and road maintenance also requires a lot of manpower. Besides, that was also essential for the Valencia Merchantry to enter.

And even better,

This task is related to the merchantry’s business, so it would involve discussing with Roberto and even getting assistance from the Valencia Merchantry for road construction. The Cyrilov territory wasn’t in a position to undertake major road repairs yet.

“What do you think would be the benefits of fixing the roads?”

Berenice asked Selphine again. She wanted to know if others thought it was necessary too, not just her.

“If the roads are fixed, it would enhance communications with neighboring territories, and commerce could develop, benefiting the domain’s economy, right?”

Selphine worked for the Dante family for years and could talk about things ordinary servants couldn’t.

“That’s true. Plus, there will be ancillary rights…”

As with road construction, there would be many rights and money involved. And nobles have a keen nose for the smell of money.

The Valencia Merchantry would support the major road construction costs, and the main workers would be selected from the people in the Cyrilov territory to benefit the domain’s economy. Additionally, this is a project that needed the help of merchants.

The local market wouldn’t die out since it had regular customers; maintaining a symbiotic relationship was beneficial. Since the Valencia Merchantry hadn’t yet established a branch in the Cyrilov territory, they had to procure goods through them.

And for the vassals, it meant that they were partially entrusting them with tasks related to road construction.

Many would drool over the tremendous profits they could make from it.