The Crown Prince and Rosia were now speechless.

30 million gold?

Of course, it’s not a small amount.

That is, by commoner standards.

But who is she? Someone who has never done hard work in her life and doesn’t know the ways of the world, a person who has lived as a noble her entire life.

30 million was, as she said, an amount that would require living frugally in a shabby house for a lifetime.

‘…It seems Marquis Lavernia was angrier than I thought.’

Because he rarely shows any change in expression and is generally gentle, even the Crown Prince didn’t know.

‘They say that when people who’s usually gentle get angry, they’re even scarier. It seems he’s made up his mind.’

To completely erase the existence of Serena Lavernia from the family, that is.

Well, the Marquis of Lavernia had suffered many humiliations due to the troubles she had caused.

He heard that starting from family management, even the reputation of the name ‘Lavernia’ had fallen, causing problems in business dealings.

Even the Crown Prince’s heart still sinks when he thinks of the time Rosia was poisoned, so he understood that feeling.

‘I understand, but…’

Is it really okay to send away the woman in front of him?

“Since we agreed to send me off quickly, if you process the paperwork, I’d like to proceed and settle it right away.”

“…I see.”

The Crown Prince nodded, seeing her unwavering gaze as if she had already made up her mind.

Honestly, he was a bit surprised.

He thought she might want to vaguely mention it and later let it fizzle out as if nothing happened.

‘She really wants to handle this quickly.’

It’s an impossible thought without truly repenting.

‘How can she be so upright and firm?’

It was surprising that he hadn’t noticed this side of her before.

The Crown Prince eventually nodded at her serious face.

It was his principle to face people who confront him honestly with the same honesty, to the best of his ability.

“Alright, if you write up the documents now, I’ll approve them immediately with my authority as the Emperor’s proxy.”

Since the Crown Prince was handling state affairs in place of the incapacitated Emperor, his permission was equivalent to the Emperor’s.

“Really? Thank you.”

Serena smiled brightly.

Because things were going better than expected.

Receiving money but giving something in return too late was an element that made her uncomfortable.

She had a personality that couldn’t live feeling indebted.

Rosia and the Crown Prince’s eyes widened as they looked at her.

It was because they saw Serena’s genuine smile for the first time, not a sneer or a smile that was unpleasant just to look at or seemed to look down on others.

And that smile was quite…

‘Ordinarily pretty…’

Rosia thought absentmindedly.

Until now, she had been beautiful but with a feeling like a rose with thorns, but now it was like… looking at a wildflower blooming by the roadside.

And that’s right.

Originally, Serena was an ordinary citizen with the tenacity of a weed rooted to her core.

“Ah, and if possible, could you process the divorce papers quickly as well?”

At those words, Magnus, who had been sitting quietly and listening, tensed up.

“…The divorce papers too? That’s currently on hold for a cooling-off period…”

“You!”

Magnus raised his voice, unable to bear watching Serena continue speaking as if she was quite pleased.

Serena opened her eyes wide in surprise.

“I can understand about the family, but if you finish the divorce papers too, are you thinking of leaving right away?”

“That’s what I’m thinking.”

“…What?”

“Since the divorce is already confirmed, there’s really no need for a cooling-off period. That’s only necessary for people who still have some affection left for each other.”

Serena waved her hand dismissively.

Her face, which smiled with a hint of disbelief, seemed to have not even a speck of lingering attachment.

It was Magnus who felt both his pride and mood hurt by this.

He couldn’t understand why he ended up in this clinging position.

‘I should just not care about it.’

It’s not right to cling like this to someone who is rejecting so strongly.

“…Right, that’s true.”

Magnus clenched his fist and turned his head abruptly.

It was because he was feeling quite upset.

And Serena, who was quite sensitive to others’ mood changes, felt it too.

That’s because a dark atmosphere was emanating from him.

“Why are you angry? It’s good for you too if I leave quickly.”

Why get angry when it’s good for both of us?

“Is it because you have to pay alimony? You don’t have to pay right away, you can pay as you gather the money…”

“……”

Magnus became even more displeased at those words.

He decided to just keep his mouth shut. It would be better for both of them if he just turned off his attention to her.

“Magnus?”

“……”

Magnus remained silent.

He didn’t even make eye contact.

This time it was Serena who was confused by the sudden change in attitude and the atmosphere that was not just cold, but like a north wind blowing.

After all, the person she had made up with and improved the mood with suddenly got angry and then clammed up.

‘…Could this be a death flag too?’

Serena tensed up at Magnus’s sudden change.

‘Why is he angry?’

She wanted to minimize risk factors and variables.

She racked her brains as much as possible. After thinking for a long time about why he might be angry, she finally recalled a line written in the contract.

“Is there anything left that I need to do as the Duchess? Like something that’s already been scheduled… Of course, if it’s something that would be troublesome if I suddenly dropped out, we should maintain the cooling-off period.”

“……”

Magnus now had to control his anger. Because it felt like the bubbling lava was about to burst out.

‘Hmm…’

The Crown Prince, who had been watching the two, tilted his head with his arms crossed.

‘Umm…’

Rosia, who was beside him, also tilted her head with her hands modestly placed on her knees.

‘Something…’

‘The atmosphere is different.’

The two had been in love for a long time.

They had also been in many relationships.

After all, they had been popular since childhood, and the Crown Prince had many opportunities to meet young ladies.

So they read such currents well.

A soft current.

A fluffy current.

In other words, a romantic current.

And now the two were reading that current. More precisely, it was a one-way current flowing only from one side, but still.

“There’s no need to argue about it. The cooling-off period is mandatory anyway, so I can’t process it quickly even with my authority.”

It was a complete lie.

However, the Crown Prince was an experienced monarch.

He was willing to help his friend and loyal subordinate, and he was natural at lying as he had done it so often.

“Is… that so?”

But Serena was no pushover either.

She too had been through all sorts of lies.

So she looked at the Crown Prince with eyes full of distrust.

The Crown Prince also understood the meaning of that gaze.

“Yes, Father used to part with Mother like that in the past and made it mandatory to maintain it.”

So he sold the Emperor out.

Of course, the Emperor hadn’t actually said such a thing.

Because he was just forcibly maintaining this due to the previous Emperor.

“Ah…”

The Crown Prince’s sudden betrayal of the Emperor also seemed a bit suspicious.

But once the Emperor’s name was mentioned, there was nothing she could do.

“That’s right, I’ve heard about it too, Serena.”

The quick-witted Rosia also chimed in.

By this point, even Serena became uncertain.

“I understand… Then there’s no helping it.”

Serena acquiesced readily. Because Magnus seemed to be in a bad mood anyway.

“Here, the documents are here.”

The Crown Prince quickly handed her the family disownment papers.

It was to change the subject.

“Ah, thank you.”

And Serena gladly accepted the documents in front of her.

“If you need any help, just let me know anytime.”

The Crown Prince spoke with rare sincerity.

“Not seeing each other is the best help.”

She, having achieved her goal, stood up from her seat.

“I’ll live quietly so that you won’t hear any news about me. Well, it seems we won’t be meeting again, so I hope you become a wise ruler.”

She bowed neatly as she gave her farewell.

She seemed to have no lingering attachment or regret, but rather looked refreshed and relieved.

“……”

“……”

Of course, the two didn’t have much lingering attachment either.

‘But somehow the feeling is a bit…’

The Crown Prince and Rosia reflexively looked at Magnus.

“…Ah.”

“Ah.”

The two let out exclamations as if they had realized something.

Magnus was sneering at them with a triumphant expression, as if to say ‘See?’, as he stood up from his seat.