Lights placed here and there illuminated well-tended plants and elegant sculptures. The magical lights moved on their own, brightening the garden with various colors. It was a mysterious and beautiful sight.

“Ah, I feel better now.”

My steps along the walkway were light. It was a completely different gait from just moments ago.

As soon as we entered the garden, I quickly detached myself from Rashid’s arm. I wanted to tease those young ladies, and having achieved that goal, this was the natural thing to do.

“Why did you do that?”

“Do what?”

I answered while walking ahead of Rashid. After a few more steps, I didn’t hear him following.

When I turned back, Rashid was standing still, looking at me. As our eyes met, he gave a faint smile. I deliberately tilted my head exaggeratedly.

“What woman would be happy to see her husband flirting right in front of her?”

“I didn’t think you cared about such things, wife.”

“Is it surprising? You’re not denying that you were flirting.”

“I wasn’t.”

“Ah, I see.”

I closed the distance between us with quick steps.

Rashid, standing against the backdrop of the dark night sky, looked like the embodiment of the night itself. Cool, dark, beautiful… like a man destined to be Priscilla’s fated love, as if the scenery of the deep night had been molded into human form.

Yes, this is it.

I realized this was the most suitable moment to say what I wanted to say to him.

After taking a few deep breaths, I began to speak.

“Actually, there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell Your Grace for a while.”

“Please, speak.”

“I’ll tell you if you promise not to refuse.”

“Alright.”

“I want a divorce.”

“……”

“……”

I finally said it. The word ‘divorce’, which I had only thought about until now, flowed out more easily than I expected when I finally uttered it.

For a moment, silence fell between us.

In the quietness, I thought that the night was watching over him and me. The moonlight, wind, trees, flowers, even the insects… everything seemed to be waiting for his answer.

“…That’s not possible.”

His icy tone broke the silence. His expression, which had softened a bit, changed back, now with his brow finely furrowed. He was handsome even when frowning, but… what’s this? Is he upset because it was unexpected?

“You promised you wouldn’t refuse.”

“It’s not possible.”

“Your Grace is a liar then. You’re being excessively firm. Isn’t there room for consideration?”

“Alisa.”

As if to counter my calling his name earlier, he called mine. My name? Yes, it’s my name now.

I spoke as Alisa.

“I don’t see any meaning in continuing this marriage. I’ve been questioning it all along.”

“For what reason are you demanding a divorce?”

“There are plenty of reasons. You’re not devoted to our family.”

“I am a Penvernon, wife.”

“So what?”

“……”

“So what if you’re a Penvernon? Finish what you were saying.”

Rashid let out a long sigh.

If he meant to use the prestige of the ducal family as an excuse, he’s mistaken. The Penvernon ducal family might be great, but it’s not that important to me.

“…Wife. You have been an impeccably virtuous duchess.”

“Most other people are about this virtuous too.”

Look at him changing the subject. I pouted my lips.

“But lately, you seem like a completely different person. I mean… since your accident.”

Throb.

I was struck at the core in an instant. Did he notice that I’m not the real Alisa? No, that can’t be. It’s probably something he couldn’t even imagine.

I am Alisa, but not the Alisa you knew.

How could one understand this situation? Even in a world where magic exists, this was nonsensical. I didn’t know the reason either, it was a matter of accepting and adapting first.

I pressed down on my pounding heart to calm it. Then, trying to act as if nothing was wrong, I answered his question.

“That’s right. Because of that accident, I’ve been thinking a lot. This is the result of those thoughts. How could I be the same as before after going to the brink of life and death?”

Perfect. It’s a logic that could convince anyone. I felt proud inside.

“Well. Could it be that this is the real you?”

“……”

No, but yes. I’ve always been the real me, but from Alisa’s perspective, I’m not real.

There’s no longer an Alisa to tell me I’m not real. Her soul is probably sleeping in the deepest part of the Sehera River, in an infinitely deep abyss.

What would your reaction be if you knew? Father’s? Other people’s? When faced with the absence of the real Alisa, what expressions would they make… I was afraid to face that.

“Let’s say you wish for a divorce. But I have no intention of granting your wish.”

“Even though I no longer want this marriage with you?”

“…Even if I were to agree, the imperial family wouldn’t allow it.”

“Yes, the imperial family arranged our marriage.”

“……”

“But you know better than anyone that it doesn’t have to be me specifically. Right?”

Rashid didn’t answer. The silence was an affirmation.

“Then there’s no need to continue this marriage.”

He didn’t deny it either.

A cool silence that seemed endless lingered between us. It was an eternity in an instant.

On this fragrant night, a gentle breeze brushed past me. The scent of chrysanthemums lingered at the tip of my nose. The magical lights flickered softly as if alive, illuminating the space between him and me. The distant commotion of the party felt remote.

To think this surreal scene is my reality.

Suddenly, it felt incredibly strange that he and I were married. Until a month ago, he and I literally lived in ‘different dimensions’. He was merely a character in a book, and I was just a reader who knew his fate.

But he, Rashid Penvernon, exists before me at this moment as my husband.

Why, for what reason? What meaning and necessity caused this to happen? What principle and law mixed up the world and souls? What called me to this world, why do I have to be here like this?

Questions that I couldn’t ask anyone swirled inside me.

“…That’s all I wanted to say.”

I nodded as if I understood his feelings completely and headed towards the carriage. Although I had said it, his lack of denial somehow irritated me.

On the way back from the Chrysante mansion. In the suffocatingly awkward atmosphere inside the carriage, I pretended to sleep, trying not to make eye contact with him.

Fortunately, Rashid didn’t speak to me. But I couldn’t dare to open my eyes in case he was looking at me.

The clip-clop of the horses’ hooves, the sound of carriage wheels rolling on the road, the faint sound of breathing in the compartment. With my heightened sense of hearing, I just waited for the carriage to stop.

Finally, we arrived at the mansion. I quickly went inside, refusing even an escort.

In the lobby, Sylvester, the old butler of the ducal family, was waiting for Rashid and me.

“Butler.”

“Yes, my lady.”

Sylvester answered politely.

“Please prepare the divorce papers by tomorrow!”

I left only those words and rushed to my room.

* * *

Sylvester glanced once at the stairs where Alisa had disappeared, then looked discreetly at Rashid again. Usually, the madam was always modest and quiet, so this was quite perplexing.

Divorce papers? Did they have a marital fight? Even that was a first, and he was confused about how to react.

Sylvester Eddy, the butler of the Penvernon mansion, was a butler who had guarded the ducal family for a long time. Even during the incident a few years ago commonly called the ‘Camellia Civil War’, he remained Rashid’s loyal subordinate, adhering to the principle of obeying the King of Camellia.

But now, he had no idea how to behave. It was a bewildering situation even for him, with his long career of over 30 years as a servant.

No, perhaps His Grace had also spoken about it. That might be why she asked for it to be prepared.

If so, confirmation is needed.

Sylvester turned towards Rashid.

“Your Grace, regarding the papers…”

Rashid glared at him. His usually cool golden eyes now flashed as if on fire.

Sylvester hastily bowed his head at his gaze.

“I will not prepare them.”

* * *

The day after a grand banquet is tiring.

I woke up around midday. Perhaps because I went out after a long time, my body felt stiff with fatigue weighing down on my shoulders.

“My lady, how would you like your meal prepared?”