Chapter 5

“Welcome, My Lord. Would you like to observe the rehearsal first, as usual?”
 
The theater manager approached Oscar as he entered the theater and asked gently.
 
Still reeling from his anger at the breakfast table, Oscar frowned and waved a hand.
 
“I’ll go straight to the office.”
 
“Yes! I’ll show you.”
 
“Do you take me for a fool who doesn’t know his way around? Utter another word like that, and I’ll rip out your tongue!”
 
Oscar snapped, an overreaction to an obvious kindness that he interpreted as malicious.
 
The manager slightly shrugged, but, familiar with such situations, he retreated with a submissive smile, bowing deeply.
 
Oscar, who usually maintained his dignity in front of other nobles, was accustomed to speaking harshly to commoners like the manager. Therefore, the manager wasn’t particularly offended.
 
In fact, Oscar couldn’t quite remember what insult he had hurled at the theater staff.
 
His reason for revealing his true colors only to members of the theater staff was simple: the contract.
 
Everyone who belongs to the Crestwell Theater Company signed a contract agreeing not to disclose internal affairs to outsiders.
 
Furthermore, even if they were to talk about his behavior inside the troupe, outsiders would assume it was all a conspiracy.
 
Duke Oscar Crestwell is an elegant gentleman who makes large donations to society.
 
He walked into his private study and office on the top floor of the theater and sank into an overstuffed chair.
 
His mind was racing.
 
‘First of all, I need to move Serwen right away.’
 
He hadn’t expected Merlena to know Serwen’s address so precisely.
 
Not that it didn’t strike him as a bit dangerous, but Oscar hadn’t the slightest intention of getting rid of her just yet. 
 
Perhaps because the sweet illusion had reared its ugly head.
 
‘Is there really a need for such great concern? She’s certainly stupid.’
 
Oscar lightly shook his head. Yesterday, he’d been too surprised to worry about anything.
 
He savored the memory of his conversation with Marlena this morning.
 
If she’d been any smarter, she’d have calculated that she had more to lose by messing with Oscar like this.
 
It was ridiculous that she hadn’t thought of that and that she was flailing around in panic.
 
‘I wish she had just listened when I gave her a chance.’
 
As she continued to dig her own grave…
 
It was clear that she had stumbled upon Serwen’s existence and address through sheer luck.
 
In the future, if he hid more thoroughly, nothing untoward would happen.
 
‘Yesterday, I was frightened too much for nothing.’
 
Oscar shook his head, his face burning. How could he feel such a sense of urgency against Marlena…….
 
Then he remembered this morning. The way she’d insulted him.
 
The thought sent another shiver of discomfort down his spine.
 
Unable to bear it, he immediately took out his portable communication device from the desk drawer.
 
He flipped the power switch, and a green lamp flickered to life. Two keystrokes later, he was connected to his butler.
 
“Yes, Your Grace. This is Albert.”
 
“Albert, how was she after I left?”
 
He asked the butler straightforwardly. Albert told the butler what he saw.
 
“She was so shocked that she wet her napkin and cried. She even grabbed me and begged me to convince His Excellency.”
 
“Really?”
 
A sly, satisfying smile flitted across Oscar’s lips.
 
It was an expression he’d been trying to correct since he was a child, but when he was in a terribly good mood, he couldn’t help but let it slip across his face.
 
“It seems she finally understands her position.”
 
“…What will you do?”
 
“Naturally, grant her a divorce ‘as she wishes.'”
 
Oscar sneered sarcastically.
 
“How dare you confront the Duke of Crestwell. Until now, she has been tolerable, groveling at my feet whenever I found her irritating. But the moment she starts to crawl up, it’s over.”
 
Whether he had completely forgotten about trying to kiss her last night or not, Oscar spoke to the butler with an arrogant attitude.
 
“Summon that woman to my theater. I’ll have the documents ready.”
 
The thought of seeing despair on her face when she saw the divorce papers filled him with cruel joy.
 
‘I’ll take her to the bottom of the pile.’
 
Then Marlena would have no choice but to leave the capital like an outcast, or take a lowly job like a commoner.
 
Either way, she would be utterly defeated.
 
Oscar rang the bell merrily, oblivious to Marlena’s laughter from above his head, and summoned his steward.
 
It was to send him on an errand to the government office.
 
* * *
“My Lady, His Grace requests your presence at the theater.”
 
As I was alone in the room, inspecting the jewelry boxes, Albert spoke from outside the door. I responded with an indifferent yet urgent voice.
 
“Oh, Albert!”
 
I quickly locked the safe and ran to open the door to my room. Of course, the moment I opened the door, my face immediately changed into a very piteous and pleading expression.
 
I must have looked so pitiful, as a startled expression flickered across Albert’s face.
 
“Has my husband called? Did you deliver my message accurately?”
 
In the morning, after Oscar left, I sobbed in front of Albert, my face full of regret.
 
I wasn’t worried that my actions might evoke sympathy from Albert, leading him to try to reconcile me with Oscar.
 
He is the butler of the family, but he is loyal to only one man, Oscar.
 
He must have heard the gross insults I hurled at Oscar, and I’m sure he was leaning toward sending me away.
 
I was right, and Albert didn’t try to reassure me with nice words. 
 
He simply said, with a polite, blunt expression.
 
“If you go to the theater, everything will be over.”
 
“My, it will end the way I want, right? ”
 
I said, and my voice puffed up with vain hope.
 
Hmm, I don’t think there’s a need to act this passionately. I’m getting carried away.
 
Albert must have gotten tired of me because he just repeated, like a parrot, that I should go to Oscar.
 
I pretended to be frightened, pretended to have forgotten to dress up, pretended to be in great urgency, and immediately hired a carriage to take me to Oscar’s theater.
 
Ah, but I did not forget to fill my handbag with the precious metals that were in the Duchess’s private safe.
 
If all went well, I would never return to this dreary ducal residence.
 
* * *
The ride from the mansion to the theater took about fifteen minutes. Stepping out of the carriage, I gazed at the beautiful building with its crimson facade.
 
The Crestwell Grand Theater.
 
Not only did it serve as a landmark for its excellent location and stunning exterior, but its performances were consistently sold out.
 
For any aspiring actor or dancer who had made their way to the capital, joining the Crestwell troupe was a shining dream.
 
I looked at the theater with a bit of wistfulness.
 
There was a time when I dreamed of co-managing the theater with my husband.
 
In my previous life, I always wanted to be involved in theater production. Although I chose acting as my major, I realized later that I was more interested in production.
 
I once worked up the courage to tell Oscar that I wanted to learn how to do theater, and he shot me down.
 
‘Don’t go out and mess things up, stay home and make yourself pretty, that’s all you know how to do.’
 
Oscar’s words echoed clearly in my mind today.
 
I’m glad I’ve gotten over the nasty remark.
 
‘Enough rambling.’
 
I shake my head to clear my mind and walk into the theater.
 
There is not a person in the capital who does not recognize the face of Duchess Marlena Crestwell.
 
Gorgeous beauty, foul temper, and frivolous behavior. Never before had there been such a holy trinity for attracting attention.
 
I could feel people’s eyes on me.
 
A staff member suddenly appeared, seemingly having heard some news about me.
 
“Your Grace, what are you doing here?”
 
I chuckled a little.
 
If Oscar and I were a normal couple, this employee wouldn’t have asked me what I was doing here.
 
It’s only natural for a wife to come to her husband’s place of business.
 
‘Oscar Crestwell, how dare you show that you despise your wife? ‘
 
I could sense the staff member trembling with fear at the thought of confronting me. He must think that if he let me in, Oscar would scold him severely.
 
While I, the Duchess and the city’s madwoman, was indeed intimidating, Oscar, the theater owner, was much scarier.
 
It was clear that he put Oscar above everything.
 
When I think about it again, divorce is really the answer, especially when I have nothing to lose.
 
Unfortunately, I didn’t have time today to point out and scold him for his behavior.
 
I kind of feel sorry for him, too.
 
I said, looking a little nervous, in keeping with the concept.
 
“I’ve been summoned by His Grace, and I’m going to his office.”
 
“Oh…….”
 
Just when the employee was a little embarrassed because he couldn’t confirm the truth of what I said, the manager came running down from the other side in a huff.
 
“Duchess, you’re here, His Grace is expecting you.”
 
Good timing, manager.
 
I looked even more uneasy and followed the manager up to Oscar’s office.
 
* * *
I trembled as I picked up the stiff, flat papers in front of me. Across from me, Oscar mocked me with a scowl.
 
“You came out without gloves, so undignified.”
 
I’m just thankful that he recognized the concept, which was so urgent that I couldn’t even wear gloves. But I had to do the opposite of what I thought.
 
I quickly touched my hand with a look on my face that caught me off guard. It’s embarrassing and shameful.
 
Oscar seemed satisfied with my reaction. He was smiling, leaning back in his easy chair with the languor of a well-fed animal.
 
His expression was relaxed and confident.
 
“Why aren’t you happy? This is the divorce you’ve always wanted.”
 
Despite the frenetic pace of
the morning, Oscar had managed to finalize almost perfect divorce papers in that short time. All I had to do was sign it.
 
As if on cue, Oscar dangled his fountain pen in front of me.
 
He spoke in a commanding tone.
 
“Sign.”