Chapter 5 (Part 8) 

Jeremy couldn’t understand why Therese wanted a divorce, nor did he want to.  

There had never been a divorce in the Richard family, and for various reasons, he didn’t want to let Therese go.  

“I do not agree to the divorce.”  

At Jeremy’s refusal, Therese responded with a cold tone.  

“I think this is the best decision for both of us.”  

“Is it because I’m not your type?”  

“…Ha. My type.”  

Therese shook her head at his sudden mention of “type.”  

She knew that people didn’t have just one face, but Duke Richard confused her too much.  

“It’s not about your appearance…”  

“Then you do like my face.”  

Jeremy’s previously gloomy face brightened instantly. He ran his left hand through his golden hair, emphasizing his striking appearance as he looked at Therese.  

“Even if we get divorced, you’ll have to marry someone else. That’s the fate of nobles.”  

“…We’ll see.”  

The Duke’s words were half right and half wrong.  

Maria Richard would undoubtedly arrange his remarriage with Lady Volez immediately, but Baron Demori wouldn’t do the same for her.  

‘Baron Demori only formed ties with the Richard family to expand his business.’  

‘Buying a son-in-law with money—what a money-obsessed man.’  

The gossip spread by the people of the Empire, who didn’t know the truth, was entirely false.  

The dowry Therese brought to the Richard family was average. In fact, the gifts Duke Richard had sent to the Demori family were more extravagant.  

‘Father just wanted to pair me with the most outstanding man in the Empire.’  

Although it was a simple thought that didn’t consider their feelings, Therese couldn’t blindly criticize her father for it.  

“If you abandon me…”  

The Duke hesitated, his desperate gaze meeting hers, and at that moment, the rattling carriage came to a stop.  

Therese, feeling uncomfortable with the awkward atmosphere, seized the opportunity to prepare to disembark.  

The door opened, and beyond the falling rain, someone bowed deeply to Therese.  

“Master. Welcome back.”  

“…Roshan.”  

Holding a large umbrella, Roshan was waiting for her.  

For a moment, she was glad to see Roshan after so long, but that quickly gave way to confusion.  

‘I told him not to come to the office until I contacted him.’  

She had conveyed her intentions clearly.  

Given his severe injuries, she had essentially granted him a vacation. So why was he here?  

His burning red eyes flickered intensely as they turned toward Therese.  

“You’re getting wet. Please, come this way.”  

Caught off guard, Therese took Roshan’s outstretched hand and stepped out of the carriage, standing under the umbrella with him.  

Raindrops pounded on the umbrella above them, snapping Therese out of her daze.  

“Who told you to wander around? Did you get permission from the doctor?”  

Through Victor, she had heard about Roshan’s condition—how his wounds had worsened and caused him great pain.  

“I’m fine, Master.”  

Roshan’s face, as he looked down at Therese, appeared completely unbothered. But Therese wasn’t foolish enough to fall for his lies.  

“Give me the umbrella. And get inside immediately! It’s cold and raining—what if you catch a cold?”  

Roshan resisted, trying to keep the umbrella, but Therese wouldn’t back down. Noticing his wet shoulders, she raised her voice again.  

“Look at this! Your shoulders are soaked. What if your wounds get worse?”  

Despite her constant nagging, Roshan just smiled.  

“My apologies, Master.”  

His gaze, fixed on Therese, was deeper than ever before.  

“Apologies, my foot! Just get inside! That’s an order!”  

“…Understood.”  

Roshan stepped out from under the umbrella and quickly walked ahead with his long strides, taking shelter under the building’s eaves.  

Left holding the umbrella alone, Therese gripped the handle tightly and hurried after him.  

“Wait! We’re supposed to go together! If you go alone, you’ll get soaked!”  

“Hand me the umbrella.”  

Roshan, who had been waiting under the eaves, naturally took the umbrella from her and adjusted it.  

Then, as he calmly swept his wet curly hair back, his eyes met someone still sitting in the carriage.  

Pretending he hadn’t seen the person, Roshan coughed awkwardly.  

“See? Are you catching a cold?”  

“After being in the rain, I do feel a little chilly.”  

“How foolish…”  

When Roshan slightly shivered his shoulders, a startled Therese took off her cloak and draped it over him.  

“Let’s get inside quickly. A warm cup of tea should help.”  

“…Yes.”  

Practically pushed along by her hands, Roshan entered the building, but not before turning his body at the last moment to glance at someone.  

Meanwhile, Jeremy, still sitting in the carriage and frozen in shock, had gone pale.  

“…Ha?”  

Jeremy, gripping the handle attached to the corner of the carriage, had veins bulging on his forehead.  

“That bastard… he’s doing this on purpose, isn’t he?”  

The gaze of that Pasa man was brimming with mockery directed at him. No, it wasn’t just mockery—it was outright provocation.  

But what frustrated him the most was Therese’s attitude.  

“No. Your husband hasn’t even stepped out of the carriage yet.”  

Therese acted as though only she and the slave existed in this space.  

“I’m right here…”  

The mix of shock and fury swirling inside Jeremy left him incapable of forming a coherent thought.  

“This is just…”  

Looking down at his still-bandaged arm, a feeling of desolation washed over him.  

His chest churned with emotions he had never felt before in his life.  

“I need to go and reclaim what’s mine immediately.”  

Jeremy had no intention of sharing what belonged to him with anyone else.  

He stepped into the pouring rain, his body quickly becoming drenched. But Jeremy’s heated body steamed as he moved.  

* * *

Duke Richard stomped up to the second floor and burst through the office door with loud, heavy steps.  

Having walked through the rain without an umbrella, his appearance was a mess.  

“…Ha.”  

But what truly infuriated him was what he saw next—Therese was seated in front of the fireplace, drying the slave’s hair.  

‘What on earth is she doing in front of me?’  

When he slammed the door shut as if to break it, Therese finally stopped what she was doing and looked back at him.  

“…Oh.”  

“…Oh?”  

From her short exclamation, Jeremy was certain that she had completely forgotten about him.  

‘Not just any man, but me—the most handsome and popular man in the Empire.’  

Utterly dumbfounded, he stood frozen, swallowing his frustration.  

Roshan, still seated in the chair, lowered his head slightly.  

“Your Grace, I apologize for not rising to greet you due to my discomfort.”  

“…Hmm.”  

For a mere slave to remain seated while greeting a Duke of the Empire was unthinkable.  

For Jeremy Richard, who valued proper etiquette, it was even more unacceptable.  

But he felt that if he opened his mouth now, he might say something that would tarnish his dignity.  

So, Jeremy clenched his fist and tapped his thigh a few times to hold himself back.  

Meanwhile, water from the Duke’s soaked cloak and pants dripped onto the carpet, forming round puddles.  

‘I’m just as drenched as he is…’  

Even so, Therese remained busy drying the slave’s hair.  

“Roshan, your shirt is completely wet. The water might have gotten into your wounds.”  

Therese stood by the slave’s side, fussing over him like a mother bird.  

‘Just how injured is he that she’s ignoring her husband to fuss over him like this?’  

Jeremy discreetly moved behind Roshan and examined him.  

“…”  

Underneath the wet shirt, a bandage soaked with blood wrapped around his back. Even at a glance, it was clear how severe his injuries were. His entire back looked as if it had been slashed to shreds by a blade.  

“…Damn it.”  

Jeremy looked down at his healing right arm and frowned deeply.  

‘Even his injuries are worse than mine.’  

The humiliation stung more than he could bear.  

But if he had been the type to retreat in the face of such humiliation, he wouldn’t have extended his good arm in that early-morning duel.  

Jeremy deliberately moved closer to them and plopped himself down on the floor with a loud splash.  

“Your Grace, why are you sitting on the floor? There are plenty of chairs.”  

“My hair is soaked as well.”  

As Jeremy shook his golden hair, water droplets scattered onto the floor.  

His blatant gesture, clearly asking for his hair to be dried, made Therese furrow her brows.  

“Isn’t it time to remove the bandages?”  

Though not fully healed, his arm was no longer so injured that he couldn’t lift it.  

“My arm still hurts, so I don’t think I can manage that yet.”  

Therese glared at him sharply, but he continued to act shamelessly.  

Though his intentions were obvious, Therese couldn’t afford to make a fool of herself in front of Roshan.  

So, she fetched a fresh towel and silently began drying Jeremy’s wet hair.  

The two of them seemed quite accustomed to this routine, which had been repeated for the past two weeks.  

When Therese dried the left side, Jeremy tilted his head slightly.  

When her hand reached the top of his head, he lowered it just enough for her to reach.  

“Cough, cough.”  

At that moment, Roshan coughed from behind them, and Therese immediately tossed aside the towel she was using on the Duke.  

“See? I told you you’d catch a cold.”  

“My apologies, Master.”  

She draped a quilted shawl over Roshan’s shoulders and spoke to him gently.  

“Wait just a moment.”  

Therese quickly fetched some milk and warmed it over the kettle hanging above the fireplace.  

She poured a bit of tea into the milk, then dropped in a sugar cube.  

Once it was ready, she carefully transferred it to a white mug and placed it on a tray.  

“Roshan, try drinking this.”  

“I often thought about the milk tea you made for me while I was lying down.”  

“Stop talking and drink it already.”  

The two exchanged warm words as Roshan blew on the milk tea and sipped it.  

Jeremy’s eyes burned with jealousy as he watched from the side, feeling left out yet again.  

‘Am I invisible to her?’  

Earlier, he had excused her inattentiveness because of the rain.  

But now, they were all in the same small office, and she still acted as though he wasn’t there.  

“Madame.”  

Though upset, Jeremy swallowed his feelings and called out to her.  

But Therese was too preoccupied with tending to Roshan.  

Left with no choice, Jeremy cleared his throat loudly.  

“Why are you coughing?”  

When Roshan coughed, she acted as though the world was ending.  

But when Jeremy coughed, Therese responded with irritation.  

Trying not to show how hurt he was, Jeremy cleared his throat again and spoke.  

“I’d like some of that as well…”  

“Pardon?”  

When Therese asked him to repeat himself, he spoke louder this time.  

“The milk tea, I mean.”  

Hearing this, Therese placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head.  

“But Your Grace, you hate sweet things.”  

Having spent the past month essentially acting as the Duke’s caretaker, Therese had learned much about him.  

Jeremy had a very small appetite and ate very little. Although he looked like he could tear into raw meat, he would eat beef but never touch pork. On top of that, he hated all kinds of desserts.  

“This is sweeter than macarons, so it probably won’t suit your taste.”  

When Therese refused to give it to him, Jeremy became stubborn.  

“I will drink it, no matter what.”  

Even though he disliked sweet things, he was determined to taste something Therese had made.  

‘Even the slave gets to have it, so why won’t she give it to me?’  

When the Duke insisted, Therese shrugged her shoulders and brought him a freshly made cup.  

“…Hmm.”  

The warmth spread through his cold hands, and the sweet aroma tickled his nose.  

Noticing Roshan watching him, Jeremy deliberately lifted his chin in pride.  

‘I am a knight of the Empire who slays monsters. I don’t sip daintily like others.’  

Jeremy gulped down the hot tea in one go, only to feel the burning pain in his throat a moment later.  

“…Ugh.”  

“You’re supposed to blow on it before drinking…”  

As the Duke scratched at his throat in pain from burning his tongue, Therese barely managed to hold back her laughter.