Divorce Begins with Remarriage - Chapter 52

In fact, Selphine was fully aware of it. Everyone who saw Berenice started whispering about her and Roberto, even the knights…

“Why are you like this too?”

“Me?”

Selphine’s eyes widened in surprise. Berenice’s unexpected reaction came back, even though she thought she would surely like it.

“Nevermind…”

Berenice shrugged and went into the bedroom.

As Selphine listened to Berenice’s sighs, she began to list in detail what rumors were circulating. Selphine hoped that Berenice wouldn’t suffer anymore from rumors of discord.

Although Berenice accepted it with a slightly different mindset.

‘I want to run away…’

It seemed necessary to hide in a place where no one was around and figure out why things had turned out this way. Berenice lay on the bed and flipped the blanket over.

“Madam?”

“I said leave me alone…”

She just wanted to be alone.

“Yes, rest.”

Selphine retreated, and finally, Berenice was left alone. She felt liberated after being tormented by rumors all day. Berenice buried her face in the pillow and sobbed.

“What’s going on…”

Emotions surged as unexpected events continued to unfold.

Roberto seemed unfazed…

‘Why is it only happening to me?’

Berenice pursed her lips and tightly closed her eyes. Her heart was pounding, unsure if she would fall asleep, but she needed to sleep before Roberto came.

That way, she could avoid all the situations and hope for a new day when people would forget all the rumors they had spread today as Berenice closed her eyes.

Although sleep didn’t come easily. Restless, thoughts of Roberto kept swirling in her mind. The fortunate thing was that Roberto had a lot of work to do, so he didn’t return.

***

Unfortunately for Berenice, rumors surrounding the young ducal couple engulfed the mansion for three days. Selphine was pleased, but for Berenice, it was the days when she couldn’t even show her face.

A somewhat fortunate thing amidst the misfortune was that Terenzio and the children were adapting well to Miss Janis’s lessons.

What added to Berenice’s daily routine was receiving reports about Terenzio from Janis.

“It seems that Count Cornell is facing financial difficulties after divorcing Berenice.”

Hearing Alfonso’s words, Roberto furrowed his brow. They say the rich bounce back even if they go bankrupt. Besides, wasn’t Count Cornell quite well-respected in society?

He couldn’t understand why he was facing financial troubles.

“His spending habits had grown while he was living off from the wealth of the Valencia Merchantry, and it seems he hasn’t reduced his expenses even after divorcing the madam.”

“…Truly pitiful.”

Roberto clicked his tongue.

Roberto, who saved Cyrilov from a crisis, truly despised narrow-minded people who relied on someone, just like Livio. People who didn’t know how to do anything and depended on others, like parasites.

To Roberto’s eyes, they looked like pests wasting food.

Alfonso glanced at Roberto and spoke.

“Moreover, it seems that the minor incidents caused by Count Cornell are affecting the Count.”

“Illegal?”

“Yes. It seems to involve embezzlement. The scale wasn’t that large, but since public funds were involved, it’s bound to come out.”

Sigh.

He doesn’t even know what more to curse. Roberto ran his hand through his hair. Despite Livio still obsessing over Berenice, he didn’t feel any hint of jealousy or revenge burning within him. Shouldn’t he feel those emotions, at least a little? But such feelings should be directed towards someone worthy…

Livio was too pathetic.

“Once we gather these minor things and expose them, it will likely impact the Cornell family.”

“But that’s not strong enough.”

“Hmm. Besides, although there were threats, it will be difficult to implicate mercenaries in treason.”

“I know.”

Treason was a serious crime that could lead to the highest punishment. They couldn’t use the imperial family for such trivial matters.

“Still, we might be able to deal a blow to the Cornell family.”

“Yes, that’s right. After all, since the isolation from the Dante family, the House Cornell has been struggling. Even a small pebble can shake them greatly. His purse will also be tightened.”

“It’s most satisfying to see the flow of his money blocked.”

Rather than engaging in useless activities, it seemed better to block his cash flow than to let unnecessary matters unfold.

Investors were especially sensitive to the flow of money, and if they found out that Livio was squandering money, there was a high chance they would withdraw the amounts they had invested.

“Choose the right time to expose it. It’s coming soon.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Alfonso nodded.

“And the next issue… Additional reports about Lord Therion have come in.”

“Therion?”

“For now, it seems that man is indeed Lord Therion, but he has disappeared since then and cannot be found.”

“Hmm. Why isn’t he coming back…”

Roberto clicked his tongue. Just thinking about Therion made him feel frustrated.

He still couldn’t grasp why Therion had left and not returned. Whether Therion had betrayed Cyrilov or not…

He still felt lost in a maze.

Stuck in the past without escaping, he clicked his tongue in frustration.

“…Tonight, I should have a drink. Will you join me?”

Alfonso withdrew his hand.

“I couldn’t leave work yesterday either. Today, I want to go home and stretch out my legs and sleep.”

His firm refusal made Roberto realize he couldn’t hold Alfonso any longer. After Alfonso left work, Roberto called Sebastian and asked for some light snacks and drinks.

Occasionally, on days when memories resurfaced, he would seek out alcohol that he didn’t drink well.

Sebastian quietly prepared a modest setup with just a few fruits and glasses of alcohol on the office table. Roberto’s shoulders seemed unusually heavy. Sebastian’s heart also weighed heavily.

Knock knock —

“Roberto.”

Roberto lifted his head in surprise. The pumpkin-colored liquid between his fingers in the glass shimmered brightly. Roberto’s gaze sank into a similar shade of gold in the glass.

“I…”

“No.”

Roberto, who set down his glass and stood up, opened the door himself. Leaning against the wall, Roberto opened the door to greet Berenice.

“Uh…?”

In a noticeably relaxed atmosphere, Berenice raised her head with a smile. She had brought some documents to show…

Berenice’s gaze shifted from the glass on the table to Sebastian, who was smiling awkwardly, and finally to the protagonist of the large shadow cast over her.

“Roberto…?”

Berenice blinked. Roberto’s eyes, darker than usual, pierced Berenice. Emotions swirled within them.

‘This person… seems to be going through a hard time.’

Berenice took Roberto’s arm.

“You seem like you need a drinking buddy.”

“Berenice?”

“I actually feel like having a drink too.”

Berenice confidently spoke and placed the documents on Roberto’s desk.

“Sebastian, will you prepare my glass too?”

“Yes, madam.”

Sebastian finally relaxed and smiled. It was much more pleasant to see the madam enjoying a drink with the spring-like atmosphere than watching the master leaning heavily with a burden while tilting a glass.

Berenice pulled Roberto to a seat and filled his glass.

“Roberto, if it’s because of me…”

“I wanted to drink too. There are times like this, right?”

Berenice smiled brightly, placing her index finger in front of her lips. Her deep green eyes sparkled.

“You don’t have to say anything.”

Those words brought great comfort to Roberto.

Roberto and Berenice tilted their glasses without any conversation. They simply exchanged jokes and laughter intermittently. As promised, Berenice didn’t ask anything.

Berenice’s warm consideration was a great comfort to Roberto.

When he usually thought of Therion, he would often dwell alone on the past and end up getting drunk, but not today.

It was possible because Berenice was there.

‘It’s strange.’

When Berenice smiles, even serious matters become trivial. Therion, who always seemed to stifle Roberto, was forgotten. He simply focused on Berenice’s breathing and laughter.

At that moment, it felt like all the world’s troubles were washing away.

Roberto’s gaze softened towards Berenice. The way she looked at him was sweet in itself, but ironically, he was unaware of how his own gaze towards her was.

Even Berenice noticed that gaze.