Although I had anticipated it, the news of my impending divorce made it into the papers. There was less than a month left until my court appearance.

Honestly, I had expected rumors to spread sooner, so it was actually surprising that the secret held until now. Besides people like Theodore and the bishop, the court officials and high-ranking members of the Imperial Palace and Vatican were bound to know.

“At least the article was fairly sympathetic.”

At my words, Joyce, who was reading the newspaper, started tearing up. Unlike her, Jane and Greta were rather calm. Joyce buried her face in the paper and began to sob, her shoulders shaking. When I placed a hand on her shoulder, she burst into tears and said,

“Why do you have to be the one to get divorced?”

“Joyce…”

“What’s the point of all this praise? Why should you be the only one to sacrifice?”

“The story in the article is just the official reason. You know the real reason I’m getting divorced…”

I tried to comfort her. The article included part of the divorce statement that Theodore and I had written together. The reporter, informed by an anonymous source eager to share my noble sacrifice, said I had chosen divorce for the Keppel family’s heirs, calling it an unparalleled act of selflessness. Theodore’s writing must have come across as very convincing.

“Are you really getting divorced because you want to? Liv, is this truly what you want?”

“Yes.”

I answered calmly. Joyce sniffled with a hardened expression and stood up.

“I think it’s time for me to go home.”

I was taken aback by her sudden decision. She had even chosen a room in the new house, planning to move with me.

“I need to start preparing for childbirth soon, and my in-laws are probably anxious enough by now. That guy, Louis, is practically begging me to come back, so it seems like the right time to return.”

“Joyce…”

“I’m also starting to make a little income, so I won’t need to rely on you as much.”

Though I was suspicious, I nodded silently.

“All right.”

Greta would see Joyce off. Alone in the room with Jane, I quietly said to her,

“I think she believes I’m envious.”

“Of the baby?”

“Yes…”

“Couldn’t you tell her you aren’t?”

With a sigh, I replied, “I don’t think she’d believe me.”

“Considering Lady Molly’s reputation, it might actually be wise to send her back now.”

“Yes, you’re right.”

It made sense. If the baby wasn’t born near the Mollys, there’d surely be gossip. After getting dressed in my indoor gown, I headed down the stairs, hearing commotion in the lobby. It seemed Ian, who had gone to work at the official residence, had hurried back on horseback.

“Liv.”

He called my name in a subdued voice, his blue eyes clouded with fear. Was he afraid I might be angry again? Or that I’d collapse? Hoping to reassure him, I smiled.

“You’re back?”

“I’ve had all copies of the newspaper recalled and the reporter arrested. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure everything is silenced…”

He was so tense that he didn’t even notice my expression. Gently, I spoke in a calm, soft tone.

“There’s no need. We expected this.”

“…”

“There’s no reason for you to apologize either.”

Descending the last few steps, I straightened Ian’s disheveled collar, and he flinched.

“Ian, let the reporter go. They did it to honor me.”

“But…”

“I don’t want to hear that the Keppel family is suppressing the press. If you don’t release them, I’ll have to write another petition to His Majesty. That would just be more work for me.”

Sometimes, one has to act magnanimously. Reluctantly, Ian nodded, looking like a child forced to hold back his frustration.

“Good boy.”

I patted his back like praising a child. Then, as though handing him a treat, I said,

“No need to punish them in our name. Theodore must be upset about the interruption, too. He’d be thrilled if you helped him out, wouldn’t he?”

In the past, I might have let this slide, and honestly, I wasn’t that angry because I’d anticipated it, but this time, I decided not to overlook it. At the very least, they needed to see me as someone they shouldn’t provoke lightly.

In any case, the number of letters I received surged after the article was published. Not only fan letters, but also notes of support from elderly noblewomen I hardly knew.

Some praised my choice, saying they respected it, while others admonished me, claiming divorce was not the answer. Yet the common theme was that everyone seemed supportive of me. I never imagined I’d have a day where I was so popular in my life.

An even bigger surprise was that, upon the news of my divorce, some people started openly courting me.

“Is this all…?”

“Yes, Lady. For convenience, I organized them by priority. Nobles are on top, followed by gentry and bourgeoisie, and here, separated, are the knights.”

“Even knights?”

Curious as to why knights would write to me, I picked up one of their letters.

“Surely it’s not a duel challenge, right?”

It was a joke, but Vanon didn’t laugh. As I unfolded the letter, I saw the reason.

“Oh my…”

I quickly covered my mouth, shocked at the unrefined exclamation that had slipped out. Vanon looked on with an understanding expression. The letter expressed a desire to pledge knightly allegiance to me.

The writer wanted to protect me, now that I was soon to be alone after the divorce? Stunned, I set the letter down and grabbed another one at random.

In it, the parents of a poor young man on his deathbed were pleading for me to meet him, just once. Frightened that someone might see it, I quickly stuffed the letter back in the box and asked Vanon.

“Did you…see that?”

“I swear I didn’t. I could only guess based on the types of letters arriving. There are some who insist on delivering them directly, and some who are practically camping outside the main gate.”

I had no idea. The Keppel estate was a good distance from the gate, far enough that we could cultivate a small forest in the garden.

“Vanon, you must’ve had a hard time dealing with all this. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologize, madam,” he replied politely, though somehow he seemed displeased. From his perspective, as a loyal attendant, the mistress of the household wasn’t even officially divorced, yet the estate was being disrespected like this. Naturally, it bothered him, and I was at a loss.

“What if Ian finds out?”

Vanon hesitated slightly before answering.

“The master is already aware.”

I was startled; if Ian knew, I had expected an uproar.

“Really? Hasn’t he said anything?”

“To be honest, madam, it’s only possible because he’s tacitly permitting it. If he were to respond to even one of these letters, the situation would immediately quiet down. Shall I speak to him on your behalf?”

“…No,” I replied, my voice shaking.

“I’ll talk to him myself, Vanon.”

I was determined, but when I finally faced Ian at dinner, I found myself at a loss for words. Asking him directly felt too much like questioning why he wasn’t jealous. What was I even supposed to say? Ian, why aren’t you upset? You used to duel over things like this; why are you letting everything slide now?

“Did you have something to say?”

“Huh?”

“It just seems like you do.”

Ian wasn’t oblivious—he just didn’t pay attention unless he wanted to. When he did decide to notice, his intuition was almost frighteningly accurate. So, I had no choice but to answer.

“I’ve been receiving…some unusual letters lately…”

Ian listened intently, his expression serious, which made me feel awkward. I would have preferred to brush it off as trivial. Smiling awkwardly, I continued.

“It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I’m experiencing the popularity you once mentioned.”

“I see.”

…I see?

“There’s quite a pile of letters coming in every day, and I feel bad for the staff who have to deal with them.”

“Understood.”

That’s it?

“Vanon mentioned there are even people waiting outside the main gate.”

“I know.”

…He knows? I was dumbfounded.

“So…are you okay with this?”

“Excuse me?”

Do you really like me? How can you be so calm about this? I couldn’t believe it.

“We aren’t divorced yet, and there are people openly courting me. In a way, it’s disrespectful to the Keppel estate, so maybe you should…”

My voice trailed off, my face heating up. I took a gulp of cold water to cover my embarrassment. Ian, with a faintly bitter smile, responded.

“I’ve told you not to worry about the estate’s honor. But if I’m being honest, until the divorce is finalized, I’d prefer you didn’t meet anyone else. I meant it when I said I wanted you to love someone else, but I still need time to accept it…”

With that, he looked down. I let out a sigh of relief.

“I don’t plan on meeting anyone. I’m more uncomfortable with all this attention, actually.”

“Is it exhausting?”

I appreciated his choice of words.

“Yes, that’s exactly it. It’s incredibly exhausting.”

“Silencing them wouldn’t be difficult, but if I intervene now, it might look like I’m meddling even after the divorce. Are you okay with that?”

“Most of these people don’t actually care about me anyway. They’re after the fame and popularity; some might even be eyeing my pension, and the knights probably just need someone to serve. It’s nothing more than that.”

Ian looked at me for a moment, then smiled, almost as if in resignation.

“Why are you smiling?”

“Oh, just realizing that your coldness isn’t directed at only me.”

“Coldness? I’m just being realistic.”

“Should I be glad about that…?”

What’s that supposed to mean? Are you happy or unhappy about it? I held back my urge to ask. It felt strange to be curious about his feelings when we were on the brink of divorce.