Chapter 7 – Shaken Trust (Part 2)

With Emily’s help, Sophia prepared to go out and got into the carriage. Thanks to Emily sharing funny stories she had experienced, the journey to the village wasn’t boring.

When the carriage stopped at the entrance of the festival, the loud voices of street vendors trying to attract attention echoed through the crowd.

As Emily said, the festival, with its lively atmosphere and the sound of people chatting, wasn’t much different from the last one.

Escaping her worries, the vibrant world she hadn’t felt in a while seemed dreamlike. The cheerful festival atmosphere especially lifted Sophia’s spirits.

An excited Emily chattered about her past festival experiences, and her stories were so amusing that Sophia laughed brightly like a carefree girl.

Amidst the bustling crowd, memories of her time with Killian naturally came to mind. Every time she visited a shop she had enjoyed with Killian, she felt an illusion of his silhouette.

Though our time together wasn’t long, when did he come to occupy such a deep place in my heart?

Recalling memories with Killian alongside Emily made the day seem to pass quickly. 

As night fell, the festival organizers lit bonfires throughout the area, and people, captivated by the massive flames, began to gather around them. 

Sophia, too, found herself standing in front of a bonfire with Emily, captivated by the blazing flames. As she stared blankly at the burning fire, Emily spoke.

“Let’s make a wish.”

“A wish?”

“Yes. They say if you make a wish when the bonfire burns the highest, it will come true.”

Just like how couples who watch fireworks together on a boat are said to maintain their love forever, here was another wish…

Though it seemed like another superstition, Sophia felt an urge to make a wish.

“Now!”

At Emily’s prompt, she hurriedly made her wish. She wished for Killian to return safely, to not be swayed by those around her, and most importantly, not to divorce Killian.

There were many things she wished for, but at this moment, what Sophia desired most was not to divorce Killian. 

She wasn’t sure when her feelings had grown so much, but as she made her wish, she realized her feelings for Killian. All she could do was hope for his quick return.

After thoroughly enjoying the festival and returning to the mansion, Sophia saw Victor waiting for her.

“Did you have a good time?”

Seeing her face, which had softened considerably, he looked relieved.

“Was there any trouble while I was away?”

“Lady Dveshi visited briefly.”

“My sister?”

“Yes.”

Why would she visit when I wasn’t even here? 

Sophia wondered.

“Did she leave any message for me?”

“No, she didn’t. Oh, come to think of it, I told her to wait in the parlor, but she insisted on waiting in the bedroom.”

“The bedroom?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, a foreboding thought crossed her mind. The smile that had been on Sophia’s face vanished instantly.

Could my sister have been trying to find Killian’s weakness?

Sophia hurried to the bedroom. When she opened the door, she saw signs that someone had searched through the room.

“Surely not…”

Sophia quickly headed to the drawer where she had placed the contract Duke Loden had given her. Hoping it was still there, she opened the drawer only to find it disorganized and the contract missing.

Not wanting to believe it, she checked every item inside, thinking it might have slipped to the back, but the contract was nowhere to be found.

“Did Annette take it? How did she know?”

Seeing that she visited suddenly right after Sophia went out, it seemed someone working at the mansion informed Annette that Sophia had left. And while she was away, Annette must have come to find evidence for a divorce.

Surely she didn’t hand the contract over to Father immediately, did she?

Though resentment towards Annette welled up, since it wasn’t certain she had taken the contract yet, Sophia suppressed her feelings and hurriedly got into the carriage.

She needed to meet them before Duke Dveshi signed the contract. No, she needed to meet Annette before she gave the contract to Father. She needed to honestly express her feelings to her.

She had only told her mother that she didn’t want a divorce, but now she needed to tell her other family members and ask for their help.

“Where are you going at this late hour?”

But Emily stopped her.

“It’s urgent. I need to see Father immediately.”

“It’s dangerous to go at this hour. How about going early tomorrow morning instead?”

“I have to go now.”

“I don’t know what’s going on, but you can’t. It’s too dark, and you’re too agitated. I’ll prepare some tea for you. Calm down and leave in the morning.”

Emily tried to stop her at all costs, and in the end, Sophia had to give up on going to the Dveshi estate late at night. However, her heart remained anxious, making it difficult for her to fall asleep that night.

* * *

As soon as dawn broke the next day, Sophia headed straight to the Dveshi estate. Thanks to Emily stopping her the previous night, she was able to meet her parents in a calm state.

However, as soon as she entered the mansion and saw Duke Dveshi’s stern expression, Sophia realized he had already read the contract.

“Sophie, you came just in time. We were about to visit you, and we might have missed each other.”

Unlike the Duke, the Duchess welcomed her with a smile.

“Follow me to the study. I intend to speak with Sophie alone, so you stay out.”

The Duke ordered Sophia to follow him to the study and gestured to the Duchess not to come along. It seemed he realized she had been siding with Sophia all along.

The Duke strode into his study first, and Sophia followed closely behind him.

“Why did you hide such an important fact from me?”

As soon as the study door closed, he reprimanded Sophia with an expression of disbelief.

“Did Annette give you the contract?”

“Yes. So tell me honestly, why did you hide the contract that Duke Loden gave you?”

As expected, Annette had stolen the contract and handed it over to Duke Dveshi. It wasn’t surprising since she had anticipated it, but she couldn’t help feeling disappointed in Annette.

“Because I don’t want a divorce.”

Not wanting to hide her true feelings any longer, Sophia candidly revealed her thoughts.

“You didn’t want a divorce last time, and you still feel the same way?”

Though she spoke boldly, it seemed Duke Dveshi had already anticipated her response.

“Yes. So please, can’t we decide after Killian returns? I need to talk to him too.”

“It’s too late. The contract signed yesterday has already been given to His Majesty.”

Hearing that the contract was already in the King’s hands made her heart sink.

“Already? Why push for a divorce now, especially when Killian isn’t here?”

“Because the Loden family moved first. Despite being the ones at fault, they tried to proceed with the divorce faster than our plan! I want to sever ties with such a contemptible family completely.”

“Even if I don’t want it?”

“Yes.”

“What did His Majesty say? Didn’t he say anything?”

Sophia wanted to find a glimmer of hope in the King’s response. She thought the King, who had wanted a child so much that he even resorted to potions, wouldn’t easily accept the contract.

“He said he would consider it positively. It’s not a bad condition, so he will likely accept it.”

But Duke Dveshi’s words were entirely unexpected, leaving Sophia feeling as if she’d been struck from behind.

“That’s ridiculous! How could His Majesty do that? If so, he shouldn’t have proceeded with the marriage in the first place.”

She couldn’t understand how the King, who had ordered the marriage, could be so indifferent about the divorce.

Did he think it was fine as long as there was no conflict? Or was it because he could gain the wealth of both families even if there was a conflict?

Whatever the reason, it was disappointing. 

If that were the case, he shouldn’t have used potions from the start!

“I, too, resent His Majesty for suddenly changing his stance, but there’s nothing we can do. Accept it, as it’s all for your own good.”

Seeing Sophia’s devastated expression, Duke Dveshi tried to console her.

“For my own good? I said I don’t want a divorce.”

“It was a marriage you didn’t want from the beginning. Even if your feelings have changed, it’s only temporary. We’re trying to help you.”

“I don’t know why you think that, but it’s not a temporary feeling. So I will meet His Majesty right now and honestly tell him how I feel.”

As Sophia attempted to leave the study, Duke Dveshi stopped her.

“It won’t make any difference, even if you say something.”

“No. Even if my opinion wasn’t considered in the marriage, it will be different for the divorce. His Majesty won’t want our divorce either.”

“No. The divorce is almost certain.”

“His Majesty said he would consider it positively, not that it was confirmed.”

“The Loden family is secretly pushing for a marriage alliance with the Aeri family. They will use any means necessary to ensure you and that son of theirs divorce.”