How To End This Marriage-Chapter 47: Unraveling Conspiracies

"Madam, you have called?" I was still awaiting his arrival when he abruptly entered the study, an air of tension clinging to him as if something significant had transpired.

"Yes, I did. You don’t have to breathe as though I’m going to steal your oxygen. I only wish to discuss matters concerning our relationship and some information about the mansion," I remarked casually, sipping from the cup of coffee placed before me. The aroma wafted through the room, filling the silence that lingered between us.

"Ah, yes. You can inquire about anything; I’m ready to answer," he replied, his demeanor appearing somewhat calmer, though I couldn’t be certain.

"Here are the contract papers," I stated, sliding the documents across the table towards him. His expression shifted, and he regarded me with eyes filled with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. Pity, perhaps? But why pity when I was freeing him from this unwanted bond? Why?

"Madam, as I’ve said before, can we not dwell on this topic?" he implored, repeating the same plea as before, his voice laced with a hint of desperation.

"No, Duke. This conversation must take place. Whether you desire it or not, it’s necessary. I don’t wish for a marriage that exists in name alone, and I believe you don’t either," I asserted, my gaze averted. Deep down, I did wish for a different outcome, but how could I admit that?

"I understand you’re in love with Vix. It must be difficult for you, given her commoner status. But I assure you, I can speak to my father about this. He has the power to elevate her to nobility, even to the extent of adopting her as his daughter," I offered, my hand clenching into a fist as I swallowed my own pain. This was the most painful part, acknowledging his love for another woman.

"Madam, this isn’t about her," he responded, his tone revealing that there were deeper layers to this issue, layers I was yet to uncover.

"I know you’re concerned about my father’s promise, aren’t you?" I continued.

"I know you to be a man of your word, and the entire kingdom knows this about you, Duke," I acknowledged, my voice holding a trace of admiration for the honor he had always upheld.

"However, you needn’t worry about that promise. Promises are made to be broken. It won’t be a problem, and you’re free to break it at any time. Nevertheless, I’m still giving you a year. I’m confident my younger brother will be a suitable Marquis by then, and the burden on my father will diminish. Hence, the promise will become unnecessary," I explained, flipping through the contract papers before me.

"You should examine the clauses too. If there’s anything else you’d like to add, I can summon the attorney for further adjustments," I offered, my voice tinged with a hint of vulnerability, belying the strength I was trying to project.

He remained silent, his attention focused on the papers. It wasn’t until he reached the section about investigation that he spoke up.

"Madam, what do you want to investigate?" he inquired, puzzled by this new clause.

"Yes, this could greatly benefit you. You’ve been searching for your parents’ killer, haven’t you? I can assist you in this matter, so consider it a business arrangement," I proposed, a small smile playing at my lips.

"Madam, this isn’t a child’s play," he cautioned, his protective instincts surfacing.

"I’m well aware of what I’m doing. I understand it’s not child’s play, which is precisely why I’m extending my hand to help you find the murderer. You’ve been unable to do so for years, which speaks to your inability to resolve this matter," I asserted, my gaze fixed on him, searching for his true motivations.

"Do you think His Majesty, the Emperor, is inept?" he countered, defending the empire’s leader.

"Or what if he isn’t? If he is capable, then where is the killer? Did the sky whisk them away, or did the earth swallow them whole? That’s implausible, isn’t it? So where is the killer? Doesn’t this indicate that he’s simply not making an effort to apprehend a mere criminal?" I questioned, my frustration mounting as I pounded the table before me. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Some things are elusive," he defended the emperor, showing loyalty to the throne.

"Is that so? Duke, sometimes, with enough effort, even the gods themselves may reveal their presence. Nothing is truly beyond reach," I stated, drawing upon my own experiences, despite my resentment towards the divine.

"What are you suggesting?" he asked, a quizzical expression gracing his features.

"Duke, have you considered the possibility that the Emperor isn’t even trying to find the murderer? Could he be simply waiting, hoping that you’ll eventually forget about the matter?" I posited, unveiling the unsettling notion that had taken root in my mind.

"Why would you think that?" he inquired, his interest piqued.

"Duke, do you remember that the previous Duchess was one of the leading candidates to become Empress among the Emperor’s children?" I asked, to which he nodded in acknowledgment.

"Then doesn’t it strike you as odd that the Duchess, with such a strong claim to the throne, suddenly accepted the title of Duchess instead of pursuing the title of Empress? Doesn’t that seem suspicious to you?" I pressed further.

"Are you suggesting..." he began but trailed off, clearly grasping the implication.

"It must have been a conspiracy, an elaborate scheme to remove her from the line of succession," I concluded, laying out the theory plainly.

"Madam, speaking this way is dangerous," he cautioned, concern evident in his tone.

"Ha ha, Duke, I believe I’m the most dangerous one here," I laughed in response to his warning, a bitter smile gracing my lips as the weight of my revelation settled upon us both.

Yes, I will be the one who poses the greatest danger to anyone who seeks to harm me. I will make them realize that the person they thought they had killed is no more. I am no longer the person they believe me to be.