Chapter 2

Reinel lay on the bed, soaked in exhaustion. On the first day after her divorce, fatigue drenched her body. Realizing that tears were once again welling up, she raised her arm to cover her face.

The love she had protected felt so futile. Up until the wedding, she had indulged in happy imaginings about her future.

But after that, all that awaited Reinel was despair.

Reinel wiped her tears and sobbed quietly. Though she was now divorced, she hadn’t yet sorted out her feelings about her married life. What stung her heart even more was having devoted herself to Neque Kaiden, only to hear the words “let’s divorce” directly from him.

She was sure she hadn’t acted like this in front of him and had tried to remain composed. Yet Reinel couldn’t hold back her overflowing tears. She just sobbed quietly, and then, along with the sound of a knock, a voice came from outside the door.

“My Lady, are you alright? The Lord has asked if you’d like to dine together. Will you be able to come out to the dining room?”

The maid surely hadn’t heard her crying, yet she didn’t forget to show consideration. Reinel wiped her tears and steadied her voice. Lying on her side, she slowly raised her upper body.

“Yes. Please wait. I’ll eat with Father.”

“Understood.”

Reinel mustered her strength and got up. She was dressed in comfortable indoor clothes, but with all the frills on her sleeves, the fact that she’d wiped her tears wouldn’t show on the outside. When she looked in the mirror, her face was pale and her eyes were red, betraying the signs of crying, but out of consideration for Reinel, no one would ask if she’d been crying.

When she stepped outside, the maid waiting for her followed behind. Reinel walked steadily down to the dining room on the first floor. The delicious aroma stirred her appetite, and she felt as though her stomach might rumble any moment.

“Father, is work alright?”

Then Lyle Estrid, who had arrived first and was seated, replied.

“No matter how busy I am, I must make time to eat with my youngest daughter. Come, have a seat.”

“Thank you… Father…”

Her father’s warm words pierced her heart, and Reinel felt tears threatening to rise again, but she clenched and unclenched her hands, holding them back. As she sat, the dishes began to be placed on the table in order.

Picking up her fork and knife, Reinel quietly focused on her meal. Her father kept asking about her mood and whether she was alright, and she kept answering that she was fine, continuing her meal.

But watching Reinel like this made her father’s heart feel as if it were being torn apart. Although the Earl Kaiden had a terrible reputation, he had given permission for the marriage because he couldn’t overcome Reinel’s stubbornness, and now he regretted it—but it was already too late.

Remembering how his youngest daughter used to shine so brightly and be so lovable, the contrast with the current Reinel, who seemed like a blade of grass swept away by a storm, was painfully clear. Yet, not wanting to make his daughter cry at the dinner table, Lyle Estrid refrained from asking about the divorce and only inquired about her surroundings.

After the meal, when dessert was served, the atmosphere softened. Dining with her kind father brought Reinel a sense of peace. Feeling grateful that her father didn’t pry into her divorce, Reinel enjoyed the affogato that was served for dessert.

After finishing her dessert, Reinel stood up from her seat. Just as she was about to head to her room, the dining room door opened and her second brother entered, saying, “Is Reinel and Father here?”

“Reinel! Father!”

Calling out to both of them, his stride into the dining room showed no hesitation. Reinel’s eyes widened. Her second brother, who should have been at the border to fend off the Empire’s monster wave, had suddenly appeared at the Estrid mansion.

“Reinel, are you alright?”

“Kayden, Brother…”

Kayden gripped Reinel’s shoulders and looked her up and down from head to toe. His piercing gaze swept over her, checking for any sign of harm, and Reinel couldn’t contain the surge of relief at his unchanged demeanor.

“It’s been a while…”

She hesitated, her voice trembling, and her eyes grew hot again. Not wanting to cry in front of the two watching her, Reinel swallowed her tears and hugged him. Kayden hugged his youngest sister tightly as well.

“There’s nowhere you’re hurt, right? That bastard brought his lover, I hear. I’ll make sure to…”

At those words, Reinel grabbed her second brother’s sleeve.

“I’ve already arranged to receive more alimony. It’s their fault, after all. So there’s no need for you to go.”

“But…!”

“I don’t want to waste any more emotions on something that’s already over. Father also said he won’t associate with the Kaiden merchant group anymore, so that’s enough.”

“Reinel…”

At the sound of her name spoken so tenderly, Reinel managed a smile.

It looked as if someone had drawn on a pale canvas with crayons, but Kayden’s mind flashed with the thought that he shouldn’t provoke her any further.

Kayden volunteered to escort Reinel to her room. Although he hadn’t been home in a while, as her older brother, he wanted to talk more with his youngest sister.

In the letter sent by their father’s messenger bird, it was written that the Earl Kaiden had brought his lover even though his legal wife was still present, so Kayden had been grinding his teeth, determined not to let it slide.

However, since Reinel told him not to get involved, he couldn’t take revenge any further. Still, Kayden’s anger didn’t subside, and he resolved never to have anything to do with the Kaiden Earldom again.

After her brother’s farewell, Reinel collapsed onto her bed. Though he didn’t want to leave his exhausted youngest sister alone, Reinel refused any further conversation, saying she was tired. Even if others worried for her, it was meaningless unless she overcame it herself.

After Kayden left, Reinel lay facedown and trembled. There was nothing she could do about the tears that came at any moment. When memories of how deeply she had loved and devoted herself to Earl Kaiden resurfaced, she felt so utterly pathetic.

She clenched the sheets tightly and then released them repeatedly, and before she knew it, midnight was near. Exhausted from crying, Reinel slowly got up. It was time to change into her nightgown and sleep.

She rang the bell and, with the help of the maids, changed her clothes. Afterwards, she lay facedown on the bed. After dismissing everyone, the now quiet room was filled only with the sound of her sobs.

‘I’ll drive Neque Kaiden out of my heart.’

With that resolve, Reinel stifled her crying. She knew that her eyes would be swollen in the morning, but with every tear shed, it felt as if her lingering feelings for her marriage were being washed away. Clenching and unclenching her fists, turning from side to side, Reinel closed her eyes.

***

At the beginning of her marriage with Neque Kaiden, Reinel had been filled with hope. If she had known that her married life with him would be so miserable, she would never have married him.

But Reinel was a bride floating on dreams, and Neque Kaiden left her mistaken hopes untouched. His indifference lasted for five years, and gradually the servants began to ignore her.

And when that disregard reached its peak, it was when her husband brought his lover directly into the residence.

Until then, she had thought her husband was simply blunt and awkward at expressing himself, never imagining he actually kept a mistress.

But her husband brought his lover into the mansion, and from the moment Reinel faced him and his mistress, all she could feel was the sensation of despair breaking through the floor.

***

When she opened her eyes, she could feel the bright morning sunlight. Waking from a nightmare, Reinel wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and raised her upper body from the bed.

She couldn’t remember exactly, but she thought she’d dreamed of the day her husband brought his mistress.

It was an unpleasant memory. From that day, Reinel was thoroughly ignored by the servants and had to endure ridicule from the mistress.

‘I couldn’t take it anymore and told him it was a breach of contract…….’

Her husband, with an indifferent face, told her if the marriage contract was a problem, they should divorce. With that calm face, he spoke without a trace of emotion, and Reinel realized—

Her husband had never loved her, not even for a moment.

And so, she understood that she was the one who had to leave.

Enduring the mistress’s ridicule, Reinel lay facedown on her bed, covering her mouth to keep from making a sound as she quietly shed tears.

Her indifferent husband, unaware of Reinel’s state, calmly dined with his mistress in the dining room. Reinel, who had always joined him for dinner once a day, felt her heart break as she watched them.

She tried to endure him being with his mistress, but no matter how hard she tried, the mistress mocked her.

“Really, you don’t even know who you’re looking at. Isn’t that right?”

Not only did she act cute in front of Reinel’s husband, but she also sat on his lap and looked at Reinel as if to ask if she was jealous.

“Guess you don’t have eyes. Hehe.”

“A woman like you who can’t even act cute, there’s no need to pay attention.”

Their flirting continued everywhere.

Eventually, Reinel had no choice but to give up.

“Let’s divorce.”

Reinel was the one who called for the lawyer to draw up the divorce papers.

And up until then, Reinel and the mistress had lived under the same roof.