Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 50

Berenice’s ears turned red. She breathed in short, trembling breaths, frustrated and annoyed that Roberto had teased her knowing everything.

“What difference does it make!”

“It’s very different since I didn’t listen on purpose.”

For the first time, Berenice found Roberto’s serious look annoying.

Berenice roughly sorted through the papers.

“Then cooperate, Roberto!”

A slightly sharp voice escaped her. Surprised by her own voice, Berenice clamped her mouth shut.

“Yes. So, we should sleep early if we’re tired, and wake up late if we’re tired?”

“Is that what we’re going to do?”

Roberto handed the organized papers back to Berenice. Their hands brushed during the process, but Berenice, distracted elsewhere, didn’t notice. It was Roberto who retracted his fingers and inhaled sharply.

Roberto was already sensitive to all five senses.

Roberto felt every bit of warmth that touched his fingertips.

He clenched and unclenched his fist in embarrassment.

“Roberto?”

Berenice called out to him, but he didn’t hear her until she tapped on the desk. Then Roberto came back to his senses.

“As you’ve heard, it’s Selphine’s suggestion.”

“Yes.”

“Selphine said she would take care of the rest. So…”

Berenice hesitated. It was hard to find the words to smoothly transition without it being awkward. Berenice swallowed hard.

“So…”

Noticing Berenice’s discomfort, Roberto licked his lips.

“We don’t need to fake any evidence; we can just do it for real. We are a married couple, after all.”

Of course, this was also a joke from Roberto, an attempt to lighten the suddenly stiff atmosphere. But it seemed Roberto’s choice was wrong this time. Berenice’s face turned white, then red.

“Uh, uh…”

Roberto’s face also reddened.

He was more embarrassed because he expected Berenice to respond with a joke, but she didn’t. The atmosphere, that had been somewhat relaxed until just before, froze instantly.

Roberto awkwardly laughed out loud, ha-ha-ha, thinking he wanted to punch himself in the mouth.

“No, it was a joke.”

“I-Is it?”

Berenice barely played along.

“Ah, it’s hot.”

Fanning her face, Berenice swallowed dryly.

Roberto continued to laugh awkwardly. He thought it was fortunate that Berenice let it slide, but strangely…

‘I regret it.’

Roberto, are you crazy?

Roberto chastised himself and tapped his cheek. What an unhealthy thought.

The two hastily finished organizing the documents without looking at each other and stood up abruptly.

“Let’s go to sleep!”

“Let’s go to bed!”

Oh my god.

It’s not like a war broke out. Why are you so sad, Berenice!

Berenice buried her face in her palms and fled the office.

Roberto followed behind slowly, rubbing his face furiously.

***

“Hmph.”

Terenzio, with drooping eyelids, stomped his feet.

Marie didn’t budge, even as Terenzio gnawed at the dining table in rebellion.

“Please sit down and eat.”

“Where are mom and dad?”

“They will have breakfast late.”

“Then I want to eat late too!”

“Children who skip meals don’t grow tall.”

At Marie’s words, Terenzio made a sad face. He hated not growing tall and also disliked eating breakfast alone. Terenzio lifted his head hesitantly.

“Then I want to sleep with Mom and Dad too!”

Marie gave him a stern look.

“Young master.”

“Huh?”

“Weren’t you envious of Emmett?”

Terenzio nodded.

“Emmett ate breakfast alone and slept alone, which is why he got many siblings.”

“Why?”

Marie was at a loss for words. Why indeed. Lately, Terenzio had been deep into asking ‘why’ in every situation. His curiosity had peaked, sometimes putting her in a difficult position. Marie chose her words carefully.

“It’s because that’s something that needs to be done secretly.”

“Ah.”

Terenzio looked dejected and nodded.

Fortunately.

So far, her Emmett tactic has worked.

Marie’s eyes turned towards the upstairs bedroom. The mansion was abuzz with a pink atmosphere thanks to the couple not waking up until past 10 AM.

‘Hmm. Fighting!’

Whether it was encouragement towards something or not, Marie cheered anyway.

***

As Selphine intended, the rumor spread smoothly the next day. The duke and duchess had breakfast in their bedroom after waking up late at 11 AM.

Whether they were really tired or not, the two fell asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow, and thanks to that, the subtle atmosphere from yesterday had lightened significantly.

“Sleeping well means no stiffness.”

Berenice said contentedly as she chewed on a croissant. The sweet crust crumbled, revealing the soft inside that tantalized her taste buds. She had felt her appetite decrease due to fatigue, but now it had improved significantly.

Roberto scooped a soft-boiled egg onto Berenice’s plate.

“It has cooled down just right.”

“Thank you, Roberto.”

Berenice cut the egg into small pieces and ate it. It was savory and light, whatever it was seasoned with. When Berenice and Roberto were affectionately continuing their breakfast,

Knock-knock-

“Yes.”

“Your Grace, it’s Alfonso.”

This time, it was Alfonso who had come to see the two. Roberto got up from his seat after asking Berenice for permission.

Berenice puffed her cheeks as she watched Roberto leave and close the door behind him.

Berenice knew everything, but Roberto would keep it a secret.

Even with such spiteful thoughts, she chewed on the orange that Roberto had cut for her. The salad mixed with the freshly burst orange was really delicious.

It was a pleasant morning.

***

Meanwhile, Roberto was receiving rather unpleasant news from Alfonso.

“The ones we were monitoring have moved.”

Roberto’s mood instantly darkened. His eyes turned as cold as frozen metal.

“He can’t stay still for a moment.”

“Exactly.”

Alfonso also sighed.

He had been happy for a moment when he arrived on time for work and heard that Roberto and Berenice had not yet woken up. He thought maybe a baby was finally on its way in this mansion.

But it’s no help.

‘Damn Cornell.’

Roberto and Alfonso thought at the same time.

“We must catch them.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The ones Roberto was watching were mercenaries hired by Livio. Somehow hearing about the road construction Berenice was planning, Livio had sent mercenaries to disrupt the work. They moved in guerrilla fashion, calculating when the duke’s knights would move, but Roberto, already monitoring Livio’s movements, had easily figured out the mercenaries’ routes.

He was sick of Livio showing up every so often, trying to stir Berenice.

How much more does he have to torment Berenice to be satisfied?

Roberto sighed deeply.

***

Chang-

The clash of weapons rang out. Even though the ducal knights were enough for the job, Roberto joined in. He wanted to make sure of it himself. Roberto gripped his sword tightly.

“Kuhup!”

Compared to the properly trained people of the duchy, these were just a rabble. The Knights of Cyrilov were well-trained through rigorous practice.

Moreover, Roberto was of direct descent from a lineage of wolf beastmen.

His gold eyes shone fiercely beneath his raised brows.

A mercenary hit by Roberto’s sword trembled in his arms, his face gone blank with shock at Roberto’s incredible strength.

“Damn, it was a trap…”

Roberto struck down the mercenary’s head with his other hand.

Leaving the fallen mercenary behind, Roberto moved towards his next target.

Capturing them alive was more difficult than killing them. One by one, the mercenaries were hit in their vital spots using Roberto and the ducal knights’ swords and then passed out.

A mercenary trying to flee after throwing away his weapon was caught by Roberto. With the sword in hand, Roberto held onto the mercenary’s back, causing the sharp blue blade to sway dangerously close to the mercenary’s face.

“Ah, waaaah! Please spare me!”

Roberto frowned.

“Who sent you?”

“We’re just thieves! We came only to steal money!”

“You don’t seem to understand the situation. Hey, do you know what you were trying to mess with?”

Roberto gestured towards the carriage that the mercenaries had stopped.

The mercenaries had attacked the carriage to disrupt the construction, but unfortunately…

“That carriage was heading to the imperial palace. It was carrying tributes for the imperial family. You could be charged with treason if you’re not careful. Think carefully.”

The face of the mercenary turned pale at Roberto’s growling.

“Treason?”

The word was too grave for them, who were involved in petty crimes for money. The mercenary screamed, rolling his eyes back.

With a sigh, Roberto delivered the final blow to the mercenary’s neck with the blade of his sword.

“Hoo.”

Roberto sheathed his sword after checking the situation.

“We have captured them all, Your Grace.”

“Good. Joseph, search the area and check if there is anyone remaining.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Three of you remain, including Joseph. And the rest return to thoroughly investigate their backers.”

“Yes! Your Grace!”

Roberto gave an order. The knights loaded the prisoners onto the wagons they had brought. With the addition of Roberto to the duke’s knights, the situation was resolved in less than an hour.

Roberto fully proved the reputation of Cyrilov.

It was a clean victory.