Edwin stared at her, unable to understand what he had just heard.

“What do you mean by strange rumors?”

“I think rumors are spreading that you’ve gone insane. You’ve been acting strangely nonstop lately.”

“…Acting strangely?”

“You cry all the time, wander around barefoot looking for me, and look at you now. You can’t even eat properly.”

Edwin looked at her with an expression full of hurt disbelief.

As though he genuinely could not understand why anyone would think he was insane.

Richel spoke bluntly.

“So go back to acting the way you used to. Your uncle is obviously coming because of those rumors too.”

‘Act the way he used to.’

Edwin could not comprehend those words.

She was telling him to behave like he had back then, when he avoided her at every opportunity.

“You hated that, didn’t you? I don’t want to live like that anymore. Not again—”

“Edwin.”

Richel cut him off immediately.

“What I hate right now is becoming the subject of gossip. You know better than anyone how many rumors I suffered through while living with you.”

“……”

“And now I’m supposed to hear people say I divorced and abandoned my insane husband too?”

She was sick to death of becoming entangled in the rumors and judgments of high society.

Her voice turned firm and decisive.

“Act the way you used to. Then the rumors about you being insane will disappear naturally.”

A cold, distant couple who barely even spoke to each other.

That was the image most people had of the Count and Countess of Isle.

With a trembling voice, Edwin answered.

“There’s no need for that, though. It’s not as if people start strange rumors just because we get along well…”

“All of a sudden? Since when have we ever gotten along well?”

“We can start trying now. We can make things work from this point onward.”

“Edwin, I’m someone who wants to divorce you. I don’t want to ‘make things work.’”

Her words cut like blades.

Edwin’s face twisted with helpless anguish.

After finally finding her again, he could not believe they were about to part ways like this.

Tears spilled endlessly down his face.

“But… I never got the chance to do anything for you. I couldn’t do anything at all, and now I have to live without you again… ngh… hhk…”

“I already did everything I could. I waited longer than anyone else ever would have. Even you should know that, if you have any conscience left. What more do you expect me to do?”

“If you can stop expecting anything from me, then everything will be fine. I’ll do everything myself. Whatever it takes, I’ll—”

The begging began again.

Richel frowned deeply.

“You’ll do anything? Then stop crying like this. Eat properly too. Recover before your uncle arrives. Behave normally.”

“Hngh… hhk… ngh…”

“I said stop crying! How many times do I have to repeat myself?”

Edwin tried desperately to stop.

Tears streamed down his face and he wiped them on his trembling palms. He tried to calm himself, ragged breaths escaping as he did so.

After struggling for a long time, he pleaded again.

“I really… I really don’t want to divorce you. I’ll do anything else. Anything at all.”

“So when you said you’d do anything, what you really meant was that you’d do anything except agree to the divorce I want?”

He tried to answer, but he couldn’t find the words.

He simply could not explain it.

His current emotions stemmed from having lost Richel once before.

Fear did not come from the unknown.

It came from pain that had already been experienced.

That was why he could not bear the thought of divorce.

‘I’m afraid. Living without you again… I’m so terrified of it…’

It hurt.

But those feelings were impossible to explain.

In fact, they were feelings he didn’t want to talk about.

They stemmed from his cowardly and ugly side.

Richel spoke calmly.

“If you absolutely refuse to divorce, then fine. We can simply live separately. I’ll leave.”

If divorce was impossible, then there was no reason for them to carry on seeing each other.

No settlement.

No negotiations.

They could simply live apart.

They would still have to appear together at official functions occasionally, but even then, it would only happen a few times a year.

‘Just remaining tied together as husband and wife is already exhausting enough… but what else can I do?’

If he refused to grant the divorce, this was the next best option.

Her expression turned cold and resolute.

Edwin hurriedly spoke through his distorted, tear-streaked face.

If he continued to insist against the divorce, it felt as though Richel would leave immediately.

“No. I’ll try to do what you want. I’ll act the way I used to…”

The plea not to leave dissolved into broken sobs.

Richel rose from her seat.

“Then keep your promise. And don’t change your words later.”

His crying continued, but she walked out of the room without looking back.

There was no reason left for her to stay there any longer.

***

Not long afterwards, peace finally returned to the estate.

The butler reported that Edwin had started eating properly again, and the physician began visiting the kitchen regularly to oversee meal preparation personally. In order to help Edwin regain weight healthily, the menu was constantly changing.

Every three days, the doctor would visit Richel and proudly report on the newly prepared meals.

“…Pudding made from chicken feet? That’s actually good for the body?”

“It’s not made from chicken feet alone. We simmer the feet thoroughly, remove every bone, then mix in generous amounts of ground sesame before letting it set. For someone like the Count, whose cheeks have become gaunt and whose skin has noticeably deteriorated, it’s practically the perfect remedy.”

“But it sounds like it would taste awful.”

“The taste is terrible, yes. But he still has to eat it.”

The physician smiled brightly.

These days, Edwin ate whatever was placed in front of him.

Well—“ate” might have been an exaggeration.

Even while he was eating, he looked as though he might be sick at any moment.

The butler could not help but feel sorry for him.

However, the physician felt quite the opposite.

He remembered all too clearly how stubborn and difficult Edwin had been whenever food was brought to him in the past. Watching Edwin force himself to swallow the dreadful health concoctions made by the doctor melted all his frustration away.

Glowing with satisfaction, the physician cheerfully said.

“We’re serving practically everything we can think of that might be good for his health, including the chicken feet pudding. The goal is to improve his condition as much as possible before next week.”

There was not much time left before Edwin’s uncle arrived.

If they wanted to get through that period without incident, the first priority was improving Edwin’s appearance and condition.

Richel spoke.

“Isn’t there any way to reduce the emotional outbursts? He cries far too often.”

“That’s more of a psychological issue… For now, perhaps try mentioning the divorce less often. The Count reacts especially strongly whenever that topic comes up.”

Without realizing it, Richel’s expression hardened instantly.

The fact that divorce had become this difficult and the fact that she was the one who ultimately had to be careful, both irritated her deeply.

‘Honestly, it would’ve been better if I had gone insane first…’

The thought crossed her mind briefly before she immediately pushed it away.

Losing her mind because of Edwin would simply be too unfair.

She spoke to the physician again.

“Alright, you may go now. Let me know if anything unusual happens.”

“The Count’s condition improves day by day. Before long, you’ll be quite surprised.”

Mixing smugness with playful pride, the physician excused himself and left.

Richel leaned back into her chair and tilted her head slightly.

Perhaps because there were too many things to think about and worry over, the back of her neck ached.

“I just need to endure four more days somehow.”

Edwin’s uncle planned to stay for exactly four days.

Considering the long journey from the south, it was a surprisingly short visit.

At least that much was fortunate.

‘If Edwin behaves even somewhat properly, this situation could actually turn out in our favor…’

If those four days passed smoothly, then it would effectively become a public display proving that Edwin was perfectly fine.

If rumors about him being insane were already spreading everywhere, perhaps this visit would slow them down.

‘Let’s just believe things will work out. Edwin does seem to be trying, at least.’

A man who had always been notoriously fussy about food was now happily eating chicken feet pudding.

This alone was proof that he was making an effort.

Forcing herself to remain optimistic, Richel quietly gathered her thoughts.

Just then, a faint commotion could be heard outside, followed shortly by a knock at the door.

It was Hans, the captain of the guards.

“I came because there’s something I need to report.”

“To me? Not the butler?”

Ever since her injury, Richel had stepped away from her practical duties.

Consequently, the butler had been responsible for gathering and handling all internal and external reports.

Yet he had come directly to her.

Richel looked at him curiously.

“This is a matter that requires your personal judgment, Madam. It concerns the embankment that nearly gave way last time.”