“What— a divorce cooling-off period?”

Siliar repeated Martiana’s words and frowned, his face clearly showing his disbelief.

It was only natural that he would react that way. After all, she was asking for time to reconsider the divorce, whereas he was trying to convince her not to get divorced at all.

Besides, something like that was unheard of. No one in the kingdom paused to reconsider a divorce. Once the decision was made, it was final. What was there left to think about? Matters like that were meant to be resolved long before the word “divorce” was ever spoken aloud.

Above all, he had no intention of divorcing her, so what exactly was he supposed to deliberate on?

To him, what she was really saying sounded like this.

“So in the end, you’re set on divorcing me?”

Siliar looked Martiana over with suffocating frustration in his eyes.

“You said you would.”

“I said I wouldn’t.”

“Then are we supposed to keep living like this?”

Martiana met his gaze directly as she answered. She was just as stifled as he was. She had already declared her intention to divorce him. Yet now he was acting as though she were the unreasonable one, despite having refused to accept it immediately.

This was the only compromise she could come up with.

‘My heart won’t change anyway.’

“So why suggest this at all?”

“Because you can’t accept it. That’s why I’m saying we should take some time.”

Even as she said it, her words were laced with blame. Truth be told, she was being selfish.

To confirm her identity as Licorice, she would have to return to Duke Vandyk’s estate. But she didn’t want to go back entirely.

This was a solution that reflected her conflicting feelings. Or perhaps it was better described as her own proposal.

As she had said, Siliar seemed to need time as well.

“Say something that makes sense. Do I look like I need time?”

“Don’t you? Then should we just part like this? At the very least, shouldn’t we end things on good terms?”

“Stop talking about parting. I told you, I have no intention of doing that.”

“I do.”

“Martiana!”

Frustration surged through him, causing him to raise his voice. Siliar clenched his fists on the table, glaring at her and biting down on his lip.

It would not have been an exaggeration to say that he was glaring at her. His eyes were filled with smoldering anger and resentment.

Yet Martiana remained upright and unyielding. She flinched beneath her husband’s gaze for a moment, but then steadied herself. Her resolve was clear.

No matter the situation, she trusted that her husband would never treat her roughly.

It was laughable to hold on to that belief while trying to destroy their marriage.

“I know you’re startled. It happened so suddenly. Of course you’d be shocked. But, Siliar…”

“….”

“Since we married, how long have we truly been happy?”

“….”

In response to her quiet, measured question, Siliar fell silent. Even viewed objectively, there had not been many happy days during their seven years of marriage.

Seven years of marriage. Of those, perhaps only one year had been happy. No — until Licorice turned one, they had been a harmonious family. So at least two years had been good.

It was after that that things began to unravel. The remaining five years — more than half of their marriage — had been tense and uncertain.

He had to admit it. He had no choice but to admit it. It was the truth. But still—

“It wasn’t because we wanted things to turn out this way.”

If only they had not lost their daughter, everything would still be normal. If she had stayed with them, they would still be smiling now.

They would not have cried.

They would not have felt neglected.

They would not have blamed themselves.

They would not have endured countless days of quiet agony. Conversations like this one would never have happened, and days like today would never have occurred.

“…Do you truly want this?”

With his head lowered, Siliar’s face contorted. This was so unlike him; he looked as though he might burst into tears at any moment.

Seeing this, Martiana averted her gaze.

“Yes.”

“There’s… no hope of things improving?”

His question, drained of force, still echoed heavily within the narrow interrogation room.

Martiana answered without lifting her eyes.

“No.”

Heavy. The questions and answers passing between them were unbearably heavy.

There might be a way somewhere. If they found their daughter—if the child at Duke Vandyk’s estate truly was Licorice—

‘Things might change.’

After all, it all began with the disappearance of their daughter. But would it really be that simple?

No matter how much one wished for something, life did not always bend to desire. Martiana did not want to speak such cold words if she could help it.

What satisfaction was there in speaking those words so lightly? There had been a time when she hadn’t wanted a divorce either.

But what if the child at the ducal estate was not their daughter? If she returned to the manor, she would be suffocated by that life once again, with no idea when it might end. Perhaps forever.

That was why she made this proposal. It would be fair to them both.

A cooling-off period before the divorce would also give Siliar time to reflect.

‘And I won’t have to remain there the entire time.’

If something happened, she could simply endure the period and then leave.

“Let’s make it three months.”

Martiana turned to face Siliar again as she spoke. She felt that this was the right amount of time — enough to confirm the child’s identity and, if possible, reclaim her daughter.

But it was clearly not enough for him.

“That’s too short.”

Siliar lifted his gaze and looked at her. He, too, had been deep in thought.

How much of what she had asked was he supposed to accept?

After listening to her carefully, he realized she was right. There was not a word of falsehood in her speech. She truly wanted a divorce, and her resolve was firm.

Even if he tried to hold on to her now, there was no guarantee that their relationship would improve.

In that case—

“Extend it.”

Granting her request would necessitate negotiation. From the moment Martiana spoke, Siliar was the weaker party. There was little he could do but follow her lead.

However—

“Why? Three months is enough. I won’t ask for alimony or anything else. I’m the one who proposed this.”

“Why shouldn’t you?”

He felt a pang of spite at how easily he had given in. From the outset, their desires had been different.

“If the Vandyk ducal house divorces, why would you not receive alimony?”

“That’s because I—”

“Whether you proposed it or not, we have our dignity. You’ll take it.”

“….”

“And the period will be six months.”

Siliar folded his arms and tilted his head slightly. The man who had faltered earlier was nowhere to be seen. Instead, he now resembled a merchant seated at a negotiation table.

Martiana pressed her lips together as she looked at him.

“That’s too long. What’s the reason?”

“I was going to say one year. I shortened it.”

“That’s not what I asked. What’s the reason?”

“You haven’t done anything as the Duchess.”

Leaning forward across the table, Siliar lowered his voice.

“For the past five years, you’ve shut yourself away. During that time, my mother has been handling everything at the estate. Isn’t that right?”

“What does that have to do with this? We’re talking about separation, so why are you bringing that up now?”

“It’s a cooling-off period, isn’t it? We haven’t properly lived as husband and wife all this time. Shouldn’t we at least try again before making a decision?”

“So what you’re saying now is—”

“Let’s start living properly as a married couple. If you still feel the same way afterwards, tell me.”

Siliar adjusted his posture and raised an eyebrow. His gesture carried a hint of provocation, as if to say that this was only reasonable.

Facing him, Martiana felt her irritation flare up. His demeanor seemed almost arrogant.

Of course, that was not what Siliar intended. In his own way, he was trying to coax her.

He would accept her proposal. With her being so unyielding, meeting force with force would achieve nothing.

However, he had no intention of surrendering control.

‘I’ll buy time—and within that time, I’ll turn your heart back to me.’

‘Divorce?’

As if he would allow that.

Siliar’s eyes sharpened. He had said it before—he was not a man who let go easily.

***

“So… did you finish your discussion?”

As soon as they stepped out of the interrogation room, Martiana was approached by Melissa, who had been waiting outside.

They must have been in there longer than expected. The sun had already begun to set.

Martiana nodded, looking faintly weary.

“Yes. It’s settled.”

The subject had only been briefly mentioned. However, the details had not been negotiated.

Her duties as Duchess. The matters she would need to oversee from now on. Although she had performed these duties before, she had never laid them out one by one like this. Her head was throbbing.

It was no wonder they had ended up drafting a contract — otherwise she could not trust herself to remember everything.

“I didn’t realize divorce would be this troublesome.”

Martiana stepped out of the guard office, giving a bitter smile. It felt as though all the strength had drained from her body.

If she had had time, she would have liked to rest nearby before moving on again.

But her heart was too restless.

She had to go and confirm it — her daughter.

That single purpose was why she had started all of this.

“Melissa.”

Martiana called to the guard following behind her. She was about to ask for a carriage at once—

“Ah!”

Suddenly, a problem arose.