Chapter 18

Unlike when I saw her on stage, she had a modest face without makeup, but I recognized her instantly.

Wasn’t she the prima donna of the Crestwell Grand Theatre? Although Nina Ford has been gaining popularity recently, it’s still rare to find such talent as Katharina.

Why would someone like her work as a server in a brunch restaurant? Did Oscar fire her?

If so, why on earth?

“Enjoy your meal.”

Setting aside my confusion, Katharina bid farewell with just a nod, having completed her role as a server, and left the hall.

Dumbfounded, I couldn’t take my eyes off her back for a moment.

“Do you know her?”

Roche asked cautiously, seeing my reaction.

I kept my gaze fixed on Katharina’s back for a moment longer before tearing it away and smiling at Roche.

“No, not at all.”

* * *
Two days have passed since then.

Marlena’s and Oscar’s divorce was finalized quickly.

Oscar sat in his study, signing the divorce decree.

This was the end of the marriage between Oscar and Marlena. The only thing left to do is to enforce the alimony that Oscar, the divorcee, owes Marlena.

Alimony.

It was bitter. To a woman like that… … .

Even now, she’s still in the middle of her own drama.

Over the past two days, he has instructed his men to tail Marlena.

Malena had spent the past two days in a hotel. That damned ‘bodyguard’ was with her, too.

Apparently, they had separate rooms. Should he be relieved?

She had been sightseeing, shopping, and visiting government offices and banks. Reports had come in constantly about her having that bodyguard by her side.

It irritated him deeply.

To be gallivanting around with another man even before the divorce proceedings were over… He couldn’t stand it.

“It’s sleazy and filthy…….”

Oscar gritted his teeth.

He scratched Marlena’s name on the divorce decree with the tip of his fingernail. Her name was scratched.

He consciously mocked Marlena.

“You’ll be frustrated when you realize that the key you think you hold won’t open any locks……..”

He assumed that Marlena firmly believed in Oscar’s weakness and in Serwen’s presence, and that was why she could afford to be so lenient.

When that belief crumbled, everything about Marlena would fall apart. That was clear.

The fact that Marlena had contacted the press today, the day the divorce was finalized, seemed to add credence to Oscar’s speculation.

She would have knocked on various doors with Serwen’s story. But no one would listen to Marlena’s story.

‘Revealing your strategy in advance. What a stupid woman… I’ve given her time to prepare.’

Oscar exerted more force with his fingernail.

‘Let her roll on the floor with that arrogant bodyguard. He wouldn’t care about a lowly thing like her without money and status.’

The memory of Marlena’s defense of the strange man gave Oscar an intense sense of discomfort. He tried not to think about it, but it kept coming back to him.

At this point, Oscar decided to stop instructing his men to stalk Marlena. It was somewhat humiliating to monitor her movements.

There was nothing left for her but to fall.

Although the alimony Oscar had to pay Marlena was a large sum, the government gave Oscar three months to execute it.

Three months without giving her a penny.

He remembered the contact he received from the bank. They said it wasn’t illegal but rather unethical for Marlena to take out loans in the family’s name.

This was just a little unethical, too.

Could she endure for three months?

Oscar thought Marlena would be trembling with fear.

Wouldn’t it be amusing to see her in such a state?

But, in truth, Marlena didn’t care about Oscar at all. Visiting the press wasn’t because of Serwen.

* * *
I don’t know how many times I’ve been turned away by the press.

I visited prestigious newspapers and magazines in the capital, but each time, I was politely shown the door.

At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but after I went to about five more, I had to figure out what was going on.

“It’s your ex-husband.”

Roche whispered next to me. I sighed heavily.

The events of the past few days have gone remarkably smoothly.

After leaving the brunch cafe where I saw Katharina Blanchette, aside from Rosce mentioning that someone seemed to be tailing me, there hadn’t been any obstacles.

The tail, which must have been Oscar’s, was indeed following me.

And as soon as I could inherit Count Balthus’ title, he disappeared.

I wondered if Oscar had really stopped paying attention to me now, which was good for me.

I made sure Roche, who followed me around like an imprinted chick, had everything he needed.

I’d bought him a neat, comfortable wardrobe, and I’d paid for a year’s rental of a safe deposit box to store his sword the day I’d gone to the bank to retrieve the will.

It was a great sword, no doubt, but she felt it was dangerous to carry it.

It was too much of a weapon to carry in the safe confines of the capital, and it would surely attract attention.

The 50 million acrons I had borrowed as Duchess of Crestwell to buy things for myself and Roche and to pay for the repairs to Count Balthus’s townhouse, were gone in less than a week.

However, as the inheritance of Count Balthus was completed as soon as the money ran out, there was no problem in managing my finances.

Perhaps because the author of 《Portrait of Watercolor Green》 introduced ‘K-Express’ in the worldview setting, the public servants’ work was done quite quickly considering the times.

The divorce and inheritance had been completed, and now it was time to prepare for a position in the capital. To do that, I first had to make my presence known.

I just wanted to let the capital’s social circles know that I was the new Countess Balthus.

And there’s no easier or faster way to do that than to place an ad in the newspapers, so I went to the press office.

But my story wasn’t heard at all, as if it had been promised not to be.

Really, I had no intention of mentioning Serwen’s story!

“Are you okay?”

Roche asks, looking slightly concerned. It seems he’s the only one who cares about me after all.

I straightened my shoulders and replied firmly.

“I’m fine. It doesn’t matter. Their actions are just temporary.”

It was clear that the odds were stacked against me, but I had to be strong. The last thing I wanted to do was cause Roche, who was still recovering physically and emotionally, another worry.

And just because I couldn’t talk to the press didn’t mean I couldn’t do something about it. It would be a bit more troublesome, though.

For now, there are two actions I could take in this situation.

First, host a social gathering as the hostess.

But I dismissed this idea as soon as it occurred to me.

Inviting guests to my home when it’s not even fully repaired would only expose my shabbiness. It would not be good for my image as Countess Balthus at all.

Second, I decided to attend the regular meetings of the social club to which Count Balthus belonged.

This was the most effective and realistic of my options.

I contacted the butler of Count Balthus’s estate and found out the name of the capital club to which he belonged. Not an individual, but a family club.

-“It’s Luces, My Lady.”

“Oh, really?”

My face lit up upon hearing the butler’s words.

The Luces were the largest club in the capital.

As Count Balthus’ stronghold was not currently in the capital, I was worried that he might belong to a social club with no influence. But if it was Luces, then it was more than okay. No, it wasn’t just okay, it was the perfect place for me.

I may not have been affiliated with any social clubs, let alone Luces, but I knew the list of its members. It was because it was a club where prominent figures joined.

And, of course, there’s…….

“Ugh.

Duke Oscar Crestwell is a member, and I can’t believe I have to see his face again.

Although I didn’t feel particularly good about it, I reminded myself that it was my fate to continue to encounter him in the narrow noble society.

Yes. The debut of the new Countess Balthus in the social circle would be at the regular Friday meeting of Lucerse.

A fine debut indeed.

* * *
It is widely known that the regular meeting of the social club Luces is held every Friday evening.

After finishing my preparations at the salon, I headed to the building owned by Luces.

It’s a strict membership club, so security was tight.

“Lady Marlena.”

As I tried to enter, a guard stopped me.

“It’s a members-only club, so only those with a membership card can enter.”

“I don’t have a membership card.”

“Then you’re not allowed in.”

I tipped my lips into a slight smile.

“But here, I have the seal of Count Balthus.”

The guard’s expression changed slightly at my words.

Even if Count Balthus hadn’t been to the capital in a long time, it was clear that he remembered the families who were members of the club. Typical of the picky Luces.

“A few days ago, I inherited Count Balthus’s title. If you don’t believe me, I’ll wait until you confirm.”

I showed him my Count Balthus signet ring.

The guards bustled back and forth, talking among themselves. They seemed to be trying to figure out what to do with me.

But it was obvious how it would end. I waited, relaxed and unhurried, for them to open the door for me.

I wonder how long I waited.

“It has been confirmed, Countess Balthus. You may enter.”

The guard, who had stopped me earlier, bowed to me apologetically and opened the door.

I smiled sheepishly and stepped through. My footsteps seemed to echo unusually loudly today.

“Countess Balthus is entering.”

As the announcement resounded throughout the hall, all eyes turned to me.

Including Oscar Crestwell, who was standing on one side, holding a champagne glass.