Please Divorce Me Villain, I’ll Raise the Child Alone

She clearly asked the Master to find out the weaknesses of the nobles for simple blackmail, but the exceptional Master was different. He found out all sorts of dirty secrets, not just about the nobles.

The report brought by the Master was filled with numerous secrets. The kind that were dirty and ugly.

In other words, there wasn’t a single person here without a skeleton in their closet.

“That’s right, rumors are just rumors.”

That included the Emperor and Empress sitting at the high table. How did the Master know all these extensive backstories? Even the secrets of the imperial family. These weren’t things you could know just because you wanted to. She didn’t even know them, despite having read the original work.

“Let’s see each other often in the future, Grand Duchess.”

“Yes, Empress.”

In the end, it was up to the Empress to handle the aftermath. The duchesses kept their mouths shut and pretended to be elsewhere. The instigator was someone else, that’s for sure.

“…….”

I don’t remember how the meal went after that. Everyone was too busy watching the Emperor and Empress, who were smiling stiffly. Of course, Raphael was the only one at ease, as usual. He always had a bit of a slow side.

“So, is the Grand Duke coming to tomorrow’s party?”

“I’ll think about it.”

The Founding Festival banquet doesn’t end in just one day. As you’d expect from nobles with time and money, it usually spans several days, but this time, the party is going on for an entire week. There’s no rule that you have to attend every date, but normally showing your face is standard.

But now Raphael was nonchalantly saying he’d think about it.

“It’s probably because of the distance from Siegfried territory to the capital?”

Did he forget what he said to the Emperor just now? He had threatened that it wouldn’t even take five minutes from Siegfried territory to the imperial palace. Saying it’s too far to come now is nonsensical.

“I guess I need to manage my stamina.”

It was almost like he was mocking the Emperor. If he just holed up in his territory again, she wouldn’t get what she wanted. Plus, she had to find out if there was something between Amelia and the Emperor.

“I’ll attend.”

“Wife?”

“I don’t know if I can attend all of them……, but I’ll try to be present as much as possible.”

Just this wasn’t enough to back down. It was just the beginning.

“I’m grateful that the Grand Duchess says so.”

“Not at all.”

Normally, she would have stayed quiet so as not to provoke Raphael.

“If you’re tired, you can stay in the imperial palace during the duration of the festival.”

“I don’t think that will be necessary.”

The Emperor backed down at Raphael’s cold tone. There was definitely a difference in how the Emperor treated her and Raphael. Not just being wary, but…….

“Amelia, are you mad?”

“Why?”

Suddenly, there was no one else between them. However, there were still many eyes watching from a distance.

“I won’t be coming back to the palace again.”

“Do as you please, Your Grace. I’ll attend.”

“Amelia.”

Even though he lowered his voice, seemingly afraid someone might hear, it was obvious they weren’t exchanging words of love. His expression was too fierce for that.

“You promised, didn’t you? That I’d be free to go out.”

“Do you not understand why I’m doing this?”

I understood he was trying not to be noticed by people… but his close presence and breath made it impossible not to tense up.

“The Emperor tried to harm you.”

Of course, he knew. He thought he hadn’t seen because he came in late… but the Emperor, with his plump body, was slow in his movements.

“And you expect me to send you off alone?”

“…”

“Is that what you’re saying?”

Amelia often felt bewildered when he acted like a man who had fallen in love, even though he wasn’t really in love with her. Right now, Raphael’s feelings were merely curiosity. If anything, it would extend to interest and possessiveness.

“It doesn’t matter, right?”

After all, even the Emperor couldn’t harm her in a place full of people. And her status was that of a grand duchess. She wasn’t someone who could be easily removed. That’s why the Emperor couldn’t do anything and only approached her closely.

There was a difference in how the Emperor looked at him and her. He tried not to show his feelings, but he couldn’t hide the disdain in his eyes. Like he was looking at an annoying bug. And she knew that look better than anyone.

“Even if I die, you wouldn’t blink an eye.”

It was a familiar look she had seen until not so long ago.

***

Contempt. That was the look Raphael had given her. It angered her that such a person would pretend to be affectionate now that his feelings had changed a bit. It was just whimsy. If his curiosity about her was satisfied, he would return to his original state.

Raphael Lloyd Siegfried didn’t know how to love. What he wanted was the power of his family and his first love who died when he was young.

There’s no way such a cold person could love.

“……”

Passing by a frozen Raphael, Amelia headed for the waiting room. He wouldn’t come as far as the ladies’ waiting room.

She might have been deluding herself into thinking he would come.

“You can’t say anything because I hit the nail on the head…”

The moment she saw Raphael’s shocked expression freeze upon hearing her words, she knew she didn’t need an answer.

“…… You could at least make an excuse.”

She resented him for not even making excuses. It really was just simple curiosity. She had anticipated all of this, so why did her heart ache so much? It felt as though someone was squeezing her heart tightly, causing pain. This pain must belong to the original Amelia, not her.

She wasn’t shaken at all.

“Amelia.”

Just as she was about to open the door to the waiting room, he approached at some point and grabbed her wrist. She almost faltered at his desperately pleading voice.

“Let go…”

“Look at me.”

“I don’t want to cause a scene here.”

There might be no one around, but there were still eyes watching them. Outrightly rejecting Raphael wouldn’t look good.

“I want to rest. Let me go.”

She thought he would let go by now, but Raphael still hadn’t released her wrist. She didn’t understand why someone who knew everything would do this.

“If you’re worried about people’s eyes, let’s go somewhere else.”

“That’s not what I mean…”

Knowing full well it wasn’t about avoiding people, Raphael still pulled her hand. Amelia found herself trapped in his embrace again and pounded on his chest with her fists, meaning to be let go.

“If you want to show people you’re crying, go ahead.”

Her body froze at the mention of crying. Crying? When she slightly pulled away, she saw the front of his formal attire was damp. She hadn’t even realized she was crying. She had felt her vision blur but didn’t know tears were falling.

Why am I crying? It’s not like I have a reason to cry; I knew everything, so there’s no sense of betrayal. While she was confused, Raphael carried her into a room.

“Let me go now.”

“……”

“There’s no need to hold me any longer.”

Even after entering the room, he didn’t release his arms around her. Amelia hit his forearm out loud. The more she hit him, the more her own fist hurt, but she didn’t care. She couldn’t understand why he was doing this after everything was revealed.

He always hugs people on a whim and does as he pleases.

“What excuse are you going to make now?”

The fact that she was crying and still unable to escape frustrated her. It hurt knowing she was in pain yet unable to stop herself.

“You’ll get hurt.”

“You don’t care if I die, but worry about me getting hurt?”

Her hand felt numb after hitting his solid body too much. If Raphael hadn’t grabbed it in time, she might have been seriously injured.

“Amelia.”

“How does it feel to have your true intentions revealed?”

“Amelia!”

It didn’t matter that the person in front of her was Raphael. She couldn’t help but be sarcastic.

He’s the one who’s waiting for her death more than anyone else, yet he worries about her dying by someone else’s hand.

“Yes, that’s right.”