I had a wonderfully deep sleep for the first time in ages. When I woke up the next morning, my skin felt so smooth that it almost seemed like it was glowing. Today was a day to meet friends, so I was glad to be feeling this good. As it got closer to tea time, my friends began to arrive one by one.

“Welcome, where are the kids?”

“I left them with the nanny.”

“How old is your oldest now? They must’ve grown so much.”

As we shared updates, it hit me—we’re all mothers now. I was the only one who didn’t have kids. My friends congratulated Joyce, who was starting to show. They looked a bit complex after hearing her story, but they seemed relieved that she was finally having a child, even if it was a bit late.

“And I’m getting divorced.”

But when I said I was getting a divorce, they were all shocked.

“…Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

Lily was the first among us to marry. She debuted at sixteen, got married immediately after, and had her first child the following year. Now, ten years later, she has four kids. Since her marriage has been smooth without major issues, she probably couldn’t understand me. With a startled look, Lily spoke up.

“But the Duke has only just started to love you, and you’re divorcing him?”

I nodded silently. I had debated whether to tell my friends, but it didn’t feel right to tell Joyce alone and keep it from the others. I didn’t want them to feel hurt if they found out later. Lily looked at me with a face full of concern.

“Olivia, I’m against it.”

“It’s already too late.”

“I know it might be overstepping for me to say this, but…”

“It’s not that. I mean, I’ve already filed the paperwork through a lawyer.”

I could feel the shock from my friends. Dale looked at me, clearly puzzled.

“But why? For what reason?”

I forced a smile.

“The most obvious reason is that I don’t have children, and I probably never will.”

I wanted to explain the real reason afterward, but they all looked so shocked that the timing slipped away. A brief silence fell, and then Sophia looked at me with tears welling in her large eyes.

“So, is it true, then? That you don’t have long to live…?”

I frowned. I hadn’t realized the rumors had spread so widely.

“How did you know? I haven’t told many people yet.”

“You collapsed at the New Year’s Ball. The Crown Princess of Laran said you might die if the protective magic on you fades.”

“Wait, Sophia, what are you talking about?”

Joyce, who hadn’t attended the ball, jumped in with a serious look.

“Liv, you didn’t tell me anything like that. You even asked me to live together with you… and now you’re saying you might die?”

Joyce’s voice was thick with betrayal. Feeling awkward, I tried to explain.

“No, listen, I’m not dying. It’s not some illness or anything. It’s just…”

I had no choice but to explain my condition in detail. That I was actually an unawakened magician, that I had used magic and lost consciousness due to a magical overload at the New Year’s Ball, and that Eloise cast a protective spell on my heart to stabilize my powers.

“So, what the Crown Princess said is true. You could die if you collapse again…”

“Liv, you weren’t in a position to care about me, were you?”

Joyce looked like she was about to cry. But it’s not like my condition started yesterday. At first, it was shocking, but I’ve adapted to it now. So, my friends’ intense reactions felt a bit overwhelming.

“Don’t worry too much, everyone. They say that if I’m careful, I could live a long life.”

“So that’s why you’re divorcing? Because you want to leave society?”

Sophia asked me, tears streaming down her face. I touched my cheek, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“That’s part of it, but the main reason is that, even if it’s now, I just want to live the way I want to.”

I must’ve triggered something because my friends all started searching for their handkerchiefs. Embarrassed, I stayed quiet. Joyce blew her nose loudly and then burst into tears.

“No wonder the servants in this mansion were particularly strict with me… I thought it was because of my pregnancy, but it turns out it was because of you.”

“They scolded you?”

“Yes. They kept telling me to walk slower, to speak softly, and only talk about cheerful things. Every time I went to see you, they’d give me a lecture once or twice. I thought it was because you told them to.”

“I never asked for that. I’m sorry if it made you uncomfortable.”

Joyce blew her nose again and said, “It wasn’t uncomfortable. Everyone treated me so well. They were so careful with their scolding… I thought it was normal to get such nagging when pregnant, so I pretended it was fine, but the maids must have been frustrated inside.”

“Please, don’t treat me like I’ll burst at a touch or die with a brush. Just relax around me.”

Joyce chuckled softly at my words but then started crying again. I sighed, feeling like I had ruined the atmosphere. Dale asked cautiously, “But do you really have to get a divorce? Living as the Duchess opens up so many more opportunities for you.”

I forced a bitter smile. Then Lily, the most mature among us, spoke up as if to scold Dale. “With a higher position comes greater responsibility. What do you think the two of them are going through?”

“Oh, I imagine they must be troubled.”

I widened my eyes, curious. I had some closeness to Ian and Cade, but I hadn’t heard much about them.

“Why are they troubled?”

“Liv, don’t you know? There are discussions about making Prince Benedict the Crown Prince.”

Oh dear. Prince Benedict is just a baby who has only just started walking. I was incredulous. It wasn’t entirely unexpected, but the timing seemed too soon.

“Is there already controversy over it?”

“Yes. It’s causing backlash because the Emperor implied that Prince Arthur was designated as the Crown Prince. It’s been a topic of discussion ever since the new prince was born, but just a few days ago, there was talk of appointing Prince Arthur as a Duke and sending him to the North, which made the Empress lose her appetite.”

“Still, with the Empress acting so dramatically, it should quiet down for now.”

Prince Arthur is only ten years old. Even as a mother, I would have staged a hunger strike over such a thing. I hadn’t known about this situation. But the imperial couple hadn’t given me any indication of it, and no one else told me about the changing political landscape either. News about the royal family isn’t reported in the newspapers. I sighed and muttered to myself.

“Should I go visit her, at least?”

Empress Celia, came to visit me personally when she was pregnant, so it would only be right for me to return the favor. It’s a frustrating reality that Prince Arthur, who is a spitting image of Cade, is treated as a bastard just because he was born out of wedlock.

Why is it that this novel has teleportation magic but no paternity-testing magic? Is it because the concept of genetics doesn’t exist yet? My musings were interrupted by Sophia’s cautious voice.

“Liv, I’ve been wondering… what’s your relationship with the Empress like?”

“Well, I don’t know. I think it’s pretty good.”

“Really? That’s a relief.”

Everyone looked relieved at my answer. I gave a wry smile.

“Everyone misunderstands, but my relationship with the Empress has been fine from the start.”

“…”

“We weren’t close, but it wasn’t bad, either…”

“So, have you completely given up on the Duke then?”

That’s right. This must be the crux of the matter. I found myself defending Ian without realizing it.

“Ian never had feelings for the Empress from the beginning.”

“What? But…”

“He knew Prince Arthur was the Empress’s blood. He was going to take him in. At that time, the Pleyton family was holding the position of Empress, so the current Empress was in a secluded position. Ian just wanted to help a friend’s son who was struggling.”

I felt embarrassed after fervently defending Ian without meaning to. My friends were all staring at me in a daze. I swallowed my embarrassment and added shamelessly, “Everyone knows the Keppel family has long been allies of the royal family, right?”

“…That’s true.”

“Right, that’s how it was.”

Even I found it hard to accept the truth, yet my friends understood quickly and nodded. I sighed in relief internally.

“If that’s the case, why didn’t you say so earlier? How could you have held that in all this time without telling anyone? You only mentioned it after deciding to get a divorce…”

“Yeah, Liv. That must have been hard for you.”

That’s true. I hadn’t realized it myself. Plus, although Ian had kept it hidden, it seems he had liked me for quite a while. I held back what I wanted to say, afraid of coming off as bragging. Regardless of my feelings, the mood among my friends felt heavy. Lily sighed and said,

“Life is truly ironic. I thought you were finally settling into society, but now that people are being more friendly, you’re in a situation where you need to get divorced for the sake of the Keppel family…”

“…Friendly?”

To be honest, I found it hard to believe. No matter how favorably the royal family treated me, people’s perceptions wouldn’t change overnight. Somehow sensing my skepticism, Lily gave a wry smile and said,

“You saved the Empress. And then you were unconscious for months, so everyone felt sympathy for you. The same thing happened while you were away recuperating. Of course, there are still some who want to criticize you, just like last time.”

“Nowadays, everyone’s criticizing Lady Avery.”

Dale chimed in.