When the same answer came back, Meriel looked confused. Married for love, divorced for love. Could there be anything more contradictory? 

However, Meriel soon seemed to realize something and sighed.

“The Marquis Borde didn’t love you.”

“Right.”

“…”

Though I already knew this fact, hearing it from Meriel’s lips made it feel a bit more heartbreaking. Meriel seemed to struggle with what words of comfort to offer. 

Eventually, reaching a conclusion, Meriel pulled me into an embrace.

“You did well. You endured so much. Our Vel has the patience of a saint.”

Meriel held me tight and gently patted my back with careful touches. Being held in Meriel’s arms made heat rise around my eyes. Feeling like tears would burst out any moment, I deliberately buried my face in Meriel’s shoulder.

“What was so wrong with you that he didn’t like? What makes him think he’s so great?”

My tears soaked Meriel’s shoulder. Only then did Meriel seem to notice I was crying. 

Meriel raged passionately on my behalf. I was so grateful for that, tears burst out once more. When I quietly sobbed, Meriel ground her teeth and spoke in a murderous voice.

“Just forget that bastard. Think of it like stepping in dog sh*t on the street and move on. You can do that. You have every right to.”

These were the words I wanted to hear. Especially the part about having the right to do so—I desperately wanted to hear that. 

However, I probably would never be able to forget him for the rest of my life. My world had started moving because of him. 

When I pulled away from Meriel’s embrace, she pressed a handkerchief into my hand.

“Sniff… Thank you.”

After blowing my nose with the handkerchief Meriel gave me, my nose was so stuffy that my voice came out nasal. Meriel chuckled and offered me tea.

“Here’s some tea. It’ll help calm you down.”

Steam rose from the teacup since the tea had been poured not long ago. It was tea that helped with nervous stability and tension relief. 

The tea was called jasmine, which didn’t grow in the empire and had to be purchased from eastern countries. This was tea that only someone deeply interested in tea would know about. It seemed Meriel, who was very interested in tea, had personally acquired it.

I began to feel gradually calmer thanks to Meriel trying to comfort me and the unnamed maid who had thoughtfully prepared tea for our serious conversation. When I had settled down a bit, Meriel asked with a worried voice.

“Do you have somewhere to stay?”

“I’m staying at a hotel now. I plan to keep staying at the hotel for the time being until the divorce is finalized.”

“That’s fortunate, at least.”

Meriel let out a low sigh, then glanced at me before asking in a deliberately serious voice.

“What will you do now?”

“I don’t have any concrete plans yet. I’m thinking of finding work first. Since I’m the top graduate of the Imperial Academy, I should be able to find something.”

“That’s not what I mean. Will you really give up living as a noble?”

Living as a noble. Though I had properly become a noble through marriage to Karlien, I had never once entered high society. 

Even at the marquis residence, I was ignored by the servants for being lowborn and couldn’t enjoy the rights I should have had as a noble. 

The only thing I had done as a noble during all this time was handle the marquis residence’s affairs.

“I haven’t been in high society for three years. Could I really mix with them now?”

“Of course you can. You heard about all the events you needed to know through me. If there are any problems, I’ll solve them for you. It’s too wasteful to abandon noble life without even trying.”

Meriel’s persuasion swayed me toward thinking it was proper to enter high society as a noble. However, I still had doubts. If I entered high society, I would surely be caught up in scandals with Karlien.

“Would it be okay for me to come forward…?”

“Of course. You also received the barony from His Imperial Majesty, so you’re a legitimate noble.”

“What about other scandals…”

“We can think about that when the time comes.”

Baroness Risto. The surname and title granted by His Imperial Majesty when I graduated at the top of the Imperial Academy.

When Meriel spoke soothingly, the worries that had been tormenting me just moments before suddenly quieted. I even felt like I could confidently enter high society. 

Carried by that feeling, I resolved to enter high society. I also needed to show Karlien that I was doing well without him.

“Right. Let’s give it a try. Since when have I cared so much about scandals anyway?”

“I’ll give you some information that might help with your fresh start.”

When I spoke with determination, Meriel moved close beside me like she was proud and whispered secretively.

“You must have heard of Niger. The continent’s largest information broker. I’m only telling you this, but I know their hideout. Their hideout is…”

Meriel had no reason to lie to me. Even if it were a lie, it didn’t matter. Information was desperately needed for me who wanted to enter high society. In this situation, an information broker was like sweet rain falling on barren land. 

Moreover, it was not just any small information broker, but the continent’s largest information broker. I needed to meet the Guild Master by any means necessary.

After finishing our not-so-short tea time, when I was about to leave the Limpio Marquis Residence, Meriel spoke like she was making a request.

“If you have nowhere to go, you must contact me. I’ll solve everything for you.”

Those were grateful words. I started the carriage with a heart that had grown warm.

* * *

Inside a shabby tavern where an ornate chandelier looked out of place. A suspicious woman in a black robe entered through the creaking door.

“We’re not open yet. Please leave.”

A rough-looking man who seemed to be the shop owner stopped wiping a cup with a dry towel and spoke dryly, so the woman answered.

“I’ve come to see the Guild Master.”

Her voice showed not a tremor of hesitation, like she had expected to be turned away. When the woman removed the hood she had been wearing, silver hair that sparkled brilliantly like it held water was fully revealed under the lighting. 

Additionally, seeing violet eyes that flashed like dawn light, the man could immediately guess the woman’s identity. Veloena Borde, the mistress of the Borde marquis house.

At the unexpected visitor, the man’s mind raced. However, since an information broker was a place where you had to pretend not to know even when you knew, and pretend to know even when you didn’t, the man calmly pointed to the stairs leading underground.

“Please go ahead. He mentioned he would be stopping by here.”

It was tacit permission to let her meet the Guild Master.

Veloena didn’t completely trust the man. She kept open the possibility that his words might be a trap, but there was nothing Veloena could do about it. Since she was the one in need right now, she followed the man’s words without complaint. 

Not long after Veloena went down to the basement, a man wearing a black mask entered with creaking sounds.

“I hear you were looking for me.”

Confirming the man had entered, Veloena got straight to the point.

“I’m looking for someone to be my eyes and ears. I need someone who knows in detail what has happened in noble houses over the past three years. Also, please investigate the girl who’s currently assisting me.”

Veloena trusted no one. Not even someone who assisted her closely. She naturally didn’t trust the man before her either. At Veloena’s guarded appearance, the man’s eyes sparkled with interest as he approached. Finally reaching right in front of Veloena, the man asked.

“I’ll give you what you want. Then what can you offer me in return?”

Through the mask, his captivating coral-colored eyes seemed to surge with anticipation and excitement. That expression somewhat resembled that of an innocent child.

Seemingly entranced, Veloena asked back.

“How much do you want?”

“What if I want something other than money?”

The man brought his face close and smiled mischievously. The man’s eyes, full of interest, shone like they were illuminating the darkness. He seemed to be testing Veloena. 

Hesitating at the man’s gaze, Veloena soon steeled her resolve and spoke.

“I’ll hand over the internal confidential information of the Borde marquis house that I discovered over the past three years.”

Veloena hadn’t spent the past three years idly. Questioning Karlien’s actions that restricted her external activities, she had gradually uncovered the family’s confidential information in preparation for any situation. Understanding the political situation within the marquis house had become a habit.

Seemingly impressed by Veloena’s firm voice, the man clapped a few times, then spoke regretfully.

“What if that’s not what I want?”

His red lips curved in a crooked smile as he lifted Veloena’s chin with his index finger. Veloena then shook off that touch with all her strength, finding it unpleasant, and spoke warningly.

“I’m not here to play games. I intend to pay a price and buy information.”

“What if I say I won’t sell information? Why are you so confident?”

“Then I’ll have to find another information broker.”

Though Veloena was clearly in a disadvantageous situation, she actually looked more confident. Secretly admiring that attitude, the man soon spoke kindly.

“I heard you’re in the middle of a divorce. What I want is something you can obtain after you divorce. Completely abandon the Borde marquis surname and come find me again. Not here, but at 6 Okasus Street. We’ll talk again then.”