Chapter 1 – Divorce Notification  

“Would you consider a divorce?”  

For the first time today, Briony faced her husband.  

Keith Dalmore, Earl of Ebony, was a busy man. He stayed home about one day a week, and on other days, it was considered frequent if he showed his face in the morning or evening. Though not as busy as the Earl, the Countess had her own schedule, keeping herself occupied all day. When summoned by her husband, she sat across from him, only to hear those words immediately.  

‘Divorce.’  

She repeated the word internally.  

It wasn’t a misheard statement. The moment she grasped its meaning, her mind went blank. Reflexively, she blinked and stared at her husband’s face across from her.  

The study’s lighting was dim. Keith sat with his back to the light. His ash-colored hair appeared almost brown, and his eye color seemed darker than usual. Yet, his expression was cold enough for Briony to realize this wasn’t a joke.  

Even so, it didn’t make sense. After steadying her breath, she asked,  

“Can I ask the reason?”  

It was a political marriage anyway.  

Three years ago, Briony’s father, eager to connect with a prestigious family, rushed to debut his daughter in society upon her twentieth birthday.  

A young Earl from the renowned Dalmore family in the kingdom proposed to the only daughter of a rural Baronet—a girl with neither charm, eloquence, musical talent, nor dancing skills. The ladies of the social circle unanimously agreed that the Earl was as sharp in judgment as he appeared. And the Baronet’s daughter came with a substantial dowry.  

Briony consoled herself, thinking it was better than having no dowry at all. A marriage devoid of affection or warmth had continued peacefully for three years. But now…  

‘Divorce?’  

Keith’s response was concise.  

“I don’t think we can continue this marriage anymore.”  

“Did I do something wrong?”  

“No.”  

Keith answered immediately.  

“You’re young.”  

“Are you saying we can’t continue because I’m young?”  

Keith seemed to choose his words carefully. Though he called her young, he himself was only twenty-five—a young man. And, if one were to describe him, he was mature beyond his age. Briony knew very few men—her husband and father were the only ones—but…  

‘No, can I even say I know this man…?’  

They had lived together as husband and wife under one roof for three years.  

Yet, he felt incredibly unfamiliar. Their marital relationship was distant and formal, and Keith was polite, rational, and predictable—traits that made him easy to interact with. Briony had considered him a good person.  

The stability she enjoyed in Ebony, which she couldn’t find in her own family, Arlington, contributed to her judgment. But now Keith was about to shatter that stability.  

So easily, with just one word: ‘Divorce.’  

Briony was confused. She became even more so when Keith, after a long pause, finally said,  

“This marriage holds no meaning anymore.”  

“We didn’t marry expecting meaning, did we?”  

Though unintended, her words hinted at the dowry. Then what would happen to the substantial dowry she brought into Dalmore? If she returned to her family without it, her father wouldn’t accept her.  

Since Keith was unilaterally notifying her of the divorce, she could demand a significant portion of it as alimony. However, she worried about the impact this would have on Dalmore’s territory, Ebony. Briony liked living in Ebony.  

‘I can’t ask to continue living in Ebony, can I?’  

Sudden as it was, if Keith had brought up divorce first, it meant he had already made up his mind. Despite his courteous demeanor, he was decisive and quick in executing decisions. Briony wasn’t tactless enough to plead with him to reconsider.  

Perhaps due to her heavy heart, Keith’s voice sounded heavier than usual.  

“This isn’t the life I envisioned when I married.”  

“Am I not the kind of wife you desire?”  

“Briony.”  

His tone softened. The gentler he became, the stiffer Briony felt. They were a couple who had only held hands a few times, yet the mention of divorce made her chest feel cold—it was strange. They had merely played the part of a couple on the surface.  

She gently placed a hand on her chest. At first, she thought her heart had stopped, but it was beating slightly faster than usual, functioning properly. She slowly took a breath, low enough for Keith not to notice. Deep breaths made it easier to accept unpleasant situations.  

During this time, Keith continued trying to persuade her.  

“You’re young. You deserve a better marriage than this.”  

“I’m not the one who said we couldn’t continue this marriage.”  

As she was about to demand an explanation, she suddenly realized something.  

“Do you want children?”  

Children—heirs—were vital to any family. Especially for Dalmore, where descendants were scarce. The previous Earl of Dalmore was an only son, and though he had two children, one of them—Keith’s younger sister—had passed away a few years ago due to an unfortunate accident.  

If that was the reason, Keith’s request for divorce was somewhat understandable. Their marriage was strictly contractual, and it lacked the typical expectations of similar unions. Most importantly, as Countess, Briony had never attempted to fulfill her primary duty.  

‘Honestly, I don’t want to have children, but…’  

If Keith had expressed his intentions, she might have found a compromise. Adoption was also an option.  

Keith shook his head.  

“It’s not because of children.”  

“Then that’s a relief. I’m quite content with my current life.”  

“…”  

“But it seems you’re not.”  

Even as she spoke, she was relieved her voice didn’t tremble.  

Briony genuinely didn’t know. If she had known, she would have tried harder. She didn’t know what specifically to do to satisfy a husband unhappy with their marriage, but she would have tried something.  

Keith was a busy and polite husband, mostly indifferent to her. He always told her to speak up if she needed anything, but thanks to her dowry, their life was affluent, and Briony didn’t desire anything more. She thought an emotionless marriage was typical for nobles. Since he left her alone, she left him alone too.  

‘Why didn’t you tell me before asking for a divorce?’  

She didn’t ask that. Briony had her pride. It wasn’t the pride of a woman who brought a massive dowry into a poor Earldom. That money wasn’t hers but her father’s, and it was her father’s decision to provide it and marry her off to Keith.  

Her pride was more about not wanting to cling to decisions that had already been made, not wanting to be misunderstood as having special feelings for him when their relationship was merely one of mutual respect.  

At the same time, she resigned herself.  

Briony always resigned herself quickly.  

However, she didn’t know what reaction would be appropriate for a Countess. From her debut in society for marriage three years ago to her husband’s divorce request moments ago, it seemed there had rarely been events she could handle skillfully. She didn’t even have a female friend of her age, as most noblewomen did, to seek advice on how to deal with her husband’s sudden change of attitude.  

‘Even if I knew, I wouldn’t try.’  

Keith was waiting for her answer. She could now meet her husband’s gaze. At least he didn’t hurt her with a mean attitude. Even if she were at fault, he didn’t raise his voice to blame her. He would likely try to return her dowry in full. He was a decent husband.  

Looking at his shadowed face, she couldn’t help but recall the events of three years ago.  

‘I plan to marry you to the highest-ranking unmarried noble.’  

Her father had said that, and she had resolved to endure as long as it wasn’t an older man widowed or, worse, one who had killed his wife with his own hands.  

The man who appeared before her was far more respectable than she had imagined.  

Far, far more respectable.  

…My husband, Lord of Ebony, Earl Keith Dalmore.  

Briony opened her mouth.  

“…Alright then.”  

Dryly, with dignity befitting a Countess.  

With strength in her voice.  

“I will divorce you, as you wish.”