The Only Way to Break the Curse is Through Contact with You - Chapter 30
* * *
I didn’t realize that I was locked in.
“This won’t work.”
“What do you mean?”
Lily, who was pouring warm water over my shoulders while I was soaking in a bathtub full of rose petals, looked up at me.
“I need something more certain.”
Just asking for a divorce was not enough to ease my anxiety. Come to think of it, whether it’s half a saint or half a devil, that crazy guy wouldn’t give a damn. If I made a mistake with Adelia, he’d probably look for trouble and cause a commotion, considering what kind of guy he is.
‘I need to block anything that could potentially lead to contact with Adelia.’
“What do you mean?”
Lily asked as she wiped my arm with a soft sponge. Suddenly, the thought came to me and I blurted it out.
“Yes, I need to leave this house!”
“What?!”
Lily was surprised and her sponge fell into the bathtub. I picked up the sponge and started wiping my own shoulders, lost in thought.
Nobles usually leave their residences in their territories and have separate townhouses in the capital. So, Diart also probably has a mansion that he uses when he stays in the capital.
I’ll move to the townhouse until the divorce is finalized. Then, Diart won’t be suspicious of me for no reason, and I won’t have to worry about running into Adelia while I’m out and about.
‘Plus, it’ll be easier for me to go on night outings with the crown prince.’
It was also uncomfortable to face each other at dinner every evening while I was trying to cheat.
‘Why didn’t I think of this sooner?’
Since I was not expecting any contact with Diart anyway, there was no need for us to live together.
Unlike my previous life, which was full of trivialities, I was now a wealthy woman and could enjoy the luxurious and leisurely independent life that I had only seen on social media or in videos.
“Madam…”
As I happily imagined my peaceful and wealthy independent life, Lily choked up.
“You’re not divorced yet.”
Lily took my hand.
“Why are you already trying to leave the mansion?”
In front of her innocent face, I couldn’t bring myself to say that I just wanted to go out and blow off some steam.
“There’s not much time left anyway.”
“Then I’ll go with you, Madam. You’re not feeling well, and I can’t just let you go alone.”
Lily said with a determined look on her face.
Since there would be Wheaton servants at the townhouse anyway, it should be okay for her to come along. I nodded my head.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Really?”
Lily’s face lit up. She took the sponge out of my hand and asked.
“Have you found a house?”
“Since there’s a townhouse in the capital, let’s stay there for now and slowly look into it.”
It would be even better if it’s completely my own home since I’m becoming independent, right? After the divorce, I’ll have to leave anyway. While I’m at it, I should buy a few more buildings in the capital. If Diart and Adelia are getting together sooner, that means land prices are going up sooner.
Feeling relieved to have one less worry, I hummed a tune happily.
‘Oh, I should send a message to the crown prince asking him to meet tonight.’
On the night of the masquerade, the crown prince, whom I reluctantly made a promise with, lectured me repeatedly on the importance of making a promise with the imperial family.
Of course, as he said, it should naturally prevent any treason charges, but it could become unnecessarily bothersome later on.
Originally, the appointment was supposed to be during the day, but if I wanted to help Diart and meet him, I had no choice but to postpone it to the night. Instead of the cafe we originally planned to go to, we should go to the night market which is perfect for building up a secret relationship.
‘But why is the crown prince so eager to help.’
It’s as if he feels some obligation towards my peaceful exit. I thought of the crown prince, who persistently made appointments with me, and nodded my head.
He wasn’t interested in me specifically, as the crown prince had an interest in every woman.
In the original work, he wasn’t like this towards Adelia, so he wouldn’t have any special feelings towards me. It’s just that he finds it interesting that a woman who was so obsessed with Diart is now going out and having affairs.
Well, in any case, it wouldn’t hurt to call it a ‘human meet-up.’
‘I just need to carefully select and omit information, right.’
I shrugged my shoulders and contemplated whether to send a letter to the crown prince and what to say.
* * *
“What can I help you with?”
The next day, I eagerly asked as I visited Diart’s office. Just tell me anything, and I’ll help you with everything. But in return, you must not forget my dedication in the future, alright?
As I stood up with clenched fists, Diart, who was looking at documents, slowly raised his head. With a slight furrow in his brows, as if asking what I was talking about, he handed me a book that was beside him.
‘Maybe it’s just any random book. Did you not even bother to look at the cover and just grabbed it carelessly, just now?’
“It would be nice if you could summarize it. As you can see, I’m busy and don’t have time to read.”
I accepted the book he was offering while thinking that it might be material about the Sau clan.
<Uncertain Times: The Ecosystem Paradigm Of Reading The Flow Of Politics And Economics>
“… …”
I refused to accept it in my mind from the title itself. Are you telling me to read this?
“I don’t think this is something I can help you with.”
I placed the book back on the desk. He looked up at me, glancing at the book.
“Didn’t you say you enjoy reading?”
“Yes, I like reading, but this is not my taste.”
“What’s your taste?”
“Well, I like smutty romance novels1it actually said 싯구 로설 and I don’t know what that means but based on my twitter search, I think it has something to do with smut the most… No, no, my taste isn’t important. I don’t know how this book is related to the gerastone.”
“If we can’t find the Sau clan, the gems are useless. Since we’re investing in something uncertain, it’s better to prepare in advance.”
What uncertain? It’s a certain investment! You will conquer the enemy with mana-filled gerastone and also conquer the aristocrats who raise their banners for you. Anyway, you will conquer everyone and become the best!
—is what I wanted to shout.
“Then why don’t you ask someone who is knowledgeable in this field instead of me? It seems like a specialist would be more helpful than an ordinary person like me. You’re the Duke, so you can even call the author of this book…”
“Come to think of it, you said you read about gerastone in a book called smut. Did you find it there?”
“……Yes?”
“Where’s that book? I should read it too.”
Diart, who was murmuring that he had never heard of smut before, seemed to be getting up from his seat as he grabbed his desk. In panic, I grabbed the book that was on the desk and shouted desperately.
“I’ll read this! Actually, I have a very broad taste, so I like this kind of book too. I’ll read it properly and summarize the key points accurately!”
“Okay then.”
Diart turned his body halfway as he got up. I let out a sigh of relief inwardly. I didn’t want to reveal my secret taste, and there couldn’t be any smut written about gerastone anyway. If Diart kept asking questions, I would have been sweating bullets.
“Then I’ll go back to my room.”
“Read it here.”
Why? Curiously, Diart held up a document for me to see.
“This is a document for purchasing a gerastone mine. It’s better if you stay close in case I have some questions.”
“….”
I was planning to pass it on to someone else, but I messed up, I messed up.
I walked wearily towards the sofa in the middle of the office, and from behind, Diart asked,
“Are you okay?”
“Yes…”
If he cared about my well-being, he shouldn’t have burdened me with this troublesome task. It’s going to stress me out! Sitting on the sofa, I resentfully looked down at the thick book in my hands.
‘Damn it. I didn’t even read books like this when I was in college.’
Taking a deep breath, I unfolded the cover and was reminded of another reason why I came to see Diart today.
“Ah, Duke.”
“Speak.”
Diart, who seemed completely absorbed in reading the document without even lifting his head, responded without looking at me.
“Can I use the townhouse in the capital?”
“What’s it for?”
“I’m thinking of moving out of the mansion.”
Diart’s pen, which was moving quickly, came to a sudden stop. He looked up at me intently.
“Since divorce is imminent, it won’t be a problem if we live separately. Anyway, I’ll have to leave when we get divorced, so I thought I’d take my time to find a place to stay in the capital.”
Isn’t that better for you too? You won’t have to see my annoying face and have dinner together every evening.
I smiled, thinking that Diart would naturally agree.
Translator
- 1it actually said 싯구 로설 and I don’t know what that means but based on my twitter search, I think it has something to do with smut