Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 49

“Umm… Madam.”

Upon Selphine’s voice, Berenice lifted her head.

“Come in.”

“I have something to tell you…”

At Selphine’s request, Berenice stood up. Unless it was something important, Selphine wouldn’t disturb her while she was working. A deep trust had been built between Selphine and Berenice over the years they had been together.

“Just a moment.”

Berenice excused herself to Roberto and left the office.

Selphine was looking at Berenice with a pale face.

Selphine suddenly grabbed Berenice’s hand.

Berenice felt her heart grow heavy, not expecting such rudeness from Selphine.

“What’s the matter?”

“Madam…”

Selphine’s eyes welled up with tears.

***

Livio, reeking of alcohol and with glazed eyes, flung open the door to the bedroom where Berenice had stayed.

There sat Anna, the maid Berenice left at the Cornell house, crossing her legs.

“You’ve arrived, Count?”

Anna, who followed the noble Berenice.

Yet unlike other maids who pretended to be noble following Berenice, Anna was vulgar. She easily fell for Livio’s seduction and lifted her skirt without any loyalty to her own master.

That’s why he was attracted…

“Why haven’t you been looking for me lately? Now I can love you whenever, Count.”

Anna asked with her round, expectant eyes. After Berenice left, Livio lost interest in Anna and kept his distance. Livio squinted his eyes and glared at Anna.

“Berenice left because of you… Do you have no loyalty? Aren’t you sorry for me? Huh?”

Livio naturally shifted the blame.

‘Ah, what a pathetic man.’

I came here looking for more to gain, only for him to speak like this. No wonder he was abandoned by Berenice.

She fell for Livio simply because she coveted the wealth before her eyes.

Berenice was a kind and fair master. That meant she couldn’t earn something extra. Livio provided Anna with such additional earnings.

Rings, earrings, necklaces.

Things Anna could never afford in her lifetime.

She was thrilled to know these came from Berenice’s vault. Wearing them made her feel like she had become Berenice.

But once Berenice found out, her dream-like deviation was utterly destroyed.

Anna wanted that dream back.

That’s why she came here after finding out Livio visited Berenice’s bedroom every night. Anna boldly untied her maid uniform.

“What does that matter, Count. It’s night now.”

In Berenice’s bedroom was Anna.

Feeling unfaithful for the first time in a while, Livio climbed onto the bed reeking of alcohol.

“That’s right. What you said is correct.”

Livio caught Anna’s ankle as she playfully tried to escape. His hand pulling her down was rough.

‘Tsk. What will I get today?’

Anna’s eyes sparkled brightly.

***

The reason Selphine came to Berenice was none other than the rumors circulating around the mansion.

Selphine felt a deep sense of guilt about Berenice’s failed marriage with Livio. She had been unaware of the rumors in the Cornell mansion until it was too late, not knowing that Livio and the ungrateful Anna had committed adultery in the same mansion they lived in.

Perhaps if Selphine had been more observant, Berenice might have been less humiliated.

That was Selphine’s guilt.

That’s why, after coming to Cyrilov, Selphine had been extra vigilant about all rumors. She had never paid attention to mansion rumors before, but this time she actively sought them out and asked around.

Then she came across a rumor saying, ‘even though the duke and duchess married for love, they don’t seem very passionate at night.’

To Selphine, this seemed like a serious issue. Although Berenice and Roberto’s marriage was contractual, they were pretending it was a love marriage. This was to ward off Livio and for various other benefits.

What if the truth between the two is revealed here?

‘No! This must be stopped!’

She couldn’t burden Berenice with another hardship after all she had been through. Berenice should only be happy now.

Berenice, with a worried face, clasped Selphine’s hand.

“What’s wrong?”

Instead of shaking off, Selphine’s eyes reddened at the warm hand that grasped hers even tighter.

Because she’s such a good person.

“There’s a serious rumor going around the mansion right now.”

“Hm?”

Berenice tilted her head.

“It seems there are those who doubt you and His Grace.”

Berenice raised her eyebrows.

‘Doubt?’

What are they doubting?

“They say that for a couple who had a love marriage, you seem to spend pure nights.”

“What?”

“This is not the time for such rumors to spread, Madam. It’s time to take the initiative, but a rumor of discord! That will surely make you look foolish to the people in society. And if the secret is revealed…”

Selphine shook her head at the terrible thought. Although Berenice didn’t find the topic that serious, she nodded in agreement because Selphine seemed so concerned. Selphine was worried, but House Cyrilov was completely different from Cornell.

It didn’t seem like the courtiers were involved in politics, and they respected Berenice.

Such mischievous rumors were unavoidable, but they were not people who would doubt and belittle Berenice.

The only concern was, as Selphine said, if the secret was revealed.

If the contract marriage was revealed…

The face that came to mind was Livio’s, of course. That damned man wouldn’t just sit still.

Is it because he hates to have it but he thought it would be a waste to lose?

Berenice was shuddering at Livio’s persistent obsession. So, Berenice decided to somewhat agree with Selphine.

“So, what should we do?”

“Your face doesn’t look good right now. You seem so tired lately… Are you sleeping well?”

“You know I’m busy.”

“Still, you should sleep in late tomorrow. And get his consent too.”

“Why?”

“Usually, newlyweds in love don’t leave their bedroom early in the morning. They tend to linger in bed as long as possible.”

Ah, so that’s the plan.

Berenice nodded.

“But won’t the cleaning maids notice?”

With a grave face, Selphine took out an egg and perfume oil from her pocket.

“What are you going to do with those?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll handle it properly.”

Selphine grinned slyly.

Berenice barely held back a bursting laugh. She wanted to dissuade Selphine from worrying for no reason but also wanted to let her be.

Because Selphine wouldn’t do anything to trouble Berenice.

And as Selphine said, it might not be bad to secure Roberto and Berenice’s relationship this time.

A small spark can ignite an entire haystack.

Berenice nodded.

“Okay. Selphine, I’m counting on you.”

Of course, bringing this up with Roberto was worrisome.

Berenice cleared her throat and returned to the office. Behind her, Selphine clenched her fists and cheered for Berenice.

“Madam, be strong!”

What exactly does she need to be strong for. Berenice smiled awkwardly.

Berenice entered the office alone.

Roberto was still holding onto the documents.

‘How should I bring it up.’

But Berenice’s worries were needless. Roberto was a wolf beastman with excellent hearing and had unavoidably heard the entire conversation between Berenice and Selphine. Roberto bowed his head, careful not to make a sound as he laughed.

It was funny to know how serious Selphine was, but Berenice accepting it and worrying about it was cute.

By now, Berenice would be wondering how to bring it up. Just saying ‘let’s start tomorrow morning late’ would do.

Roberto casually mentioned,

“Speaking of which, I’m tired. Shall we go to bed?”

Tired.

Berenice was startled at that word since she had been thinking of saying something similar.

‘Aren’t you tired? It might be good to go to bed early.’

Berenice’s cheeks reddened. Roberto’s laughter deepened at the sight of Berenice.

“Should we do that…?”

Berenice felt relieved that Roberto had suggested it, perhaps because her conversation with Selphine kept making her cheeks burn.

Berenice began to tidy up.

It would be easier to find things later if she organized them herself. Roberto helped Berenice tidy up and added another comment.

“How about we sleep in a bit late tomorrow?”

“Sleep in…?”

That was exactly what Berenice had been about to say. Suggesting they laze around a bit tomorrow.

Isn’t that a bit strange?

Realizing the conversation was flowing exactly as it had with Selphine, Berenice’s head shot up. Come to think of it, Roberto was a wolf beastman,

Hearing, smell, sight.

It was likely that these senses were highly developed. Although Berenice and Selphine had spoken quietly, he might have heard them. Berenice bit her lip and glared at Roberto.

“You heard, didn’t you?”

“Huh?”

Roberto feigned ignorance with a shrug.

By now, the two of them had grown close enough to comfortably tease each other.

“You heard it, right?”

Pressed by Berenice, Roberto smiled.

“I heard it. My ears are a bit sharp.”