Chapter 1

It was a weary walk back. She had refused the carriage her ex-husband offered to send, choosing instead to walk alone, and that helped suppress the fiery emotions rising inside her.

“Ha…….”

Her husband had neglected her, but at least he had not been unfaithful—until he finally brought his lover to the mansion. That was when she realized she had to leave. She had once thought that his heart would someday come to her, but now she understood that was just a foolish hope.

“Haa…….”

Her feet ached and throbbed in her flat shoes, but her heart hurt even more. Reinel slowly lowered her gaze to the cobblestones. As she bent down to pick up the divorce papers that had slipped from her hand—

“Excuse me. Be careful! Please step away from the center!”

The sound of hooves rang in her ears, and Reinel barely managed to stagger aside. In that instant, a horse brushed dangerously close to her, and she collapsed to the ground, drained of strength.

Soon, the horse’s owner dismounted from the stirrups. The shadow approaching Reinel, who was sitting on the ground, was tall and elongated.

“Lady, are you alright? It’s dangerous to walk absentmindedly on roads where horses often pass.”

“Yes. I’m fine. From now on… I’ll be more careful.”

It was a road mainly traveled by carriages and horses, so there were hardly any pedestrians. The horse’s owner looked Reinel over, then offered a hand to help her up.

“I don’t know where you’re headed, but would it be alright if I escorted you? I’d feel uneasy letting you go on your own when you look so weak.”

At those words, Reinel shook her head.

“No, it’s alright. I can go alone. If I walk just a bit more, I’ll reach where I’m going. But thank you for your offer.”

“Lady…….”

The horse’s owner looked at her with concern, then spoke as if making a decision.

“If you happen to be injured, please contact me here. I’ll come running to take responsibility.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. It’s my responsibility.”

With those words, the horse’s owner mounted again. Reinel accepted the crisp white business card and watched him ride away.

She carefully checked her surroundings to make sure no more horses or carriages were coming, then picked up the divorce papers. There were clear hoof marks on them, but not a single stain on the signature area—her ex-husband’s name was clearly visible. Of course, Reinel’s own signature was pristine beneath it.

Suddenly, tears welled up in Reinel’s eyes, and she wiped them away with the back of her hand. She thought she had let go of all lingering feelings for her ex-husband, but when hardship struck, she found herself crying. When she said, “Let’s divorce,” she felt nothing at all.

Sniffling, Reinel slowly began to walk again. She knew her face must be a mess, but she couldn’t stop the tears. After crying for a long time, her tears finally began to subside, but then the hiccups started, and Reinel had to walk for a while with hiccups.

She wiped away her ruined makeup with the sleeve of her dress and trudged along the road. Soon, the Estrid Earldom mansion appeared. With bloodshot eyes, Reinel stared at her family home and slowly approached.

The main gate was guarded by soldiers. Reinel pressed the sleeve of her dress firmly to erase the traces of her tears, then spoke.

“It’s me. Reinel Estrid. Open the gate.”

The guard didn’t seem too curious about the woman who had come on foot without a carriage, but when he looked closely at her face, his eyes widened.

“My Lady……! How did you end up walking here without a carriage?”

“……That’s none of your concern.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she said this, and the guard’s face twisted with sympathy.

“I’ll open it right away.”

Reinel watched as the gate opened. Though she had come to her family home without notice, it was certain that rumors would quickly spread in the Estrid Earldom, where there was great interest in a noble lady.

‘But I wanted to see my family’s faces.’

To quickly welcome the noble lady, the Head Maid and Head Butler rushed out together. Coming to the Estrid Earldom on foot and without notice meant something was wrong.

Though the weather was warm, it was obvious she had been exposed to the cold wind since she hadn’t come by carriage.

The Head Maid, carrying an outer garment for Reinel, hurriedly draped a shawl over her shoulders. Feeling its warmth and the relief of being home, Reinel slowly relaxed her shoulders.

“My goodness…… My Lady, are you alright?”

“I’m fine. Is Father in his office?”

“Yes. Shall I guide you after you freshen up?”

“Alright.”

Reinel smiled innocently. That expression seemed to hint that something had happened, and the Head Maid felt a pang in her heart. Everyone had tried to dissuade the kind and gentle Lady Reinel when she announced she would marry Earl Kaiden, who had shown her no interest.

Earl Kaiden, recently called the new power in the commercial world, was also a nouveau riche who had suddenly become wealthy.

There was no mother-in-law, but since Earl Kaiden had little interest in women, it was obvious that anyone who married him would be treated coldly.

Reinel was beautiful enough to be loved by anyone. Her misfortune was falling for Earl Kaiden at a ball after seeing him just once. She stubbornly insisted on marrying him, and although everyone tried to stop her, Reinel was firm. In the end, she married Earl Kaiden, and everyone could only wish her happiness and bless her.

Now, seeing Reinel with her makeup wiped away and walking without a carriage meant something had happened at Earl Kaiden’s mansion.

Receiving the maids’ service, Reinel soaked in a warm bath in silence. Then, saying she would handle the rest herself, Reinel sent the maids away. Unable to control her falling tears, she only covered her mouth and let them drop.

After her bath, Reinel was much calmer. The divorce papers she had brought bore a large hoof mark, but it faded somewhat when rubbed with a cloth.

“Father.”

“Oh, Reinel. Come in.”

Her father, Earl Lyle Estrid, was the one who had most strongly opposed his daughter’s marriage. He had tried to stop Reinel, who could have been loved by anyone, from marrying Earl Kaiden and enduring an unhappy marriage. Telling her father about the divorce turned out to be easier than expected.

But when Earl Estrid heard the news, his face grew red and blue as he began to rage, and Reinel grew frightened. The divorce was already finalized; she didn’t want anyone causing trouble at that house.

‘The divorce is already done…… I don’t want any more emotional turmoil…….’

“Father. I don’t want any more emotional turmoil.”

“But Reinel, that fool actually brought his lover into the house.”

“……”

“This is unacceptable. How could he bring a lover into the house when he has a wife? I’ll smash…….”

“Father.”

Reinel calmly took her father’s hand and added,

“Anyway, that’s a breach of contract, so he’ll have to pay alimony. So there’s nothing more you need to do.”

“Reinel……”

“I’ve given up all expectations for him. I don’t want to see his face again or waste any more emotions. I’m completely fed up.”

Lyle couldn’t answer. He simply held his youngest daughter’s hand warmly. Meeting her father’s respectful gaze, Reinel slowly squeezed his hand tightly.

“I agreed to receive three million gold as alimony. And I’ll also get back the merchant group I brought as a dowry when I married. So I won’t be unhappy because of the divorce.”

“Reinel……”

“If anything, if I’d divorced earlier, I wouldn’t have had so much heartache. I only regret that I divorced late.”

Hearing his youngest daughter speak so rationally, Lyle nodded.

“I understand. Then I’ll give up going to that house. But from now on, there will be no dealings with Earl Kaiden’s merchant group.”

“Yes. Please do. That’s what I want as well.”

After speaking, Reinel hid the surge of emotion inside herself. She didn’t want to show her father that she hadn’t fully sorted out her feelings yet.

Leaving her father’s office, Reinel returned to her old room. Even after she married, her room had been kept empty and cleaned regularly, so she could use it right away.

Surrounded by familiar tapestries, ceiling frescoes, and the cozy furniture filling the room, she sat quietly, lost in memories for a moment.

“I kept Neque Kaiden in my heart for far too long.”

As she spoke to herself, the truth weighed heavily on her tongue. But Reinel clasped her hands tightly and closed her eyes.

The familiar scent of sunlight in her room wrapped Reinel’s heart in warmth. Outside the window, the setting sun cast a warm light, dyeing Reinel’s hair orange.

“Now…… I’ll erase Neque Kaiden from my heart.”

She spoke her planned future quietly into the air.