Episode 38

Episode 38. Let’s Get a Divorce

“Cedric?”

Flustered, I called out to him again.

Maybe he hadn’t heard me?

But—

Rustle, rustle!

His steps actually sped up noticeably.

What in the world? Was he… avoiding me?

I didn’t know why he would want to avoid me, but at this rate, I was afraid I’d lose him for good.

What should I do?

Catching up with him on foot was impossible given my pitiful stamina.

I was the sort who needed a four-horse carriage just to visit the neighbors—hardly fit to chase down a mage who’d spent years trekking through forests and swamps.

In the end, I resorted to my last option.

“Ah!”

I let out an exaggerated groan and collapsed to the ground.

“Ahh, I’m so dizzy…!”

If it had to come to this, I’d use every ounce of my energy to put on my best “sick” act.

The maids had said he’d turned pale as a sheet when I actually collapsed. Maybe if I did this, he’d come back.

That was the hope behind my clumsy little performance—

…Ah.

The problem was my acting skills.

Last time, I’d actually been poisoned, so it had looked convincing. But trying to fake it while perfectly healthy was embarrassingly unconvincing.

I mean, I once dreamed of being an actress. And now? A performance this wooden?

Even I thought it was awful.

Who in their right mind would fall for this?

“Y-Your Majesty! Are you all right?”

Oh. You would.

Cedric sprinted over in an instant.

He was so alarmed, his hands trembled as he held me.

Seeing him so flustered actually reassured me.

Good. So he wasn’t avoiding me out of dislike.

“Can you see me? Do you know who I am?”

Yes. I could see him very clearly.

Watching him sweat in panic, I felt a pang of guilt.

Why… did I try to trick someone this earnest?

My conscience pricked at me.

But right now, the important thing was that I’d managed to stop him.

“Got you.”

“…?”

“You’re not going to run away anymore, right?”

“…Was that… acting?”

“I’m sorry, but yes.”

I hurriedly apologized.

“But I had to do it. I didn’t think you’d talk to me otherwise.”

“…”

I studied his face carefully.

“Cedric. Why were you avoiding me?”

“…I wasn’t.”

“Really?”

He stayed silent.

When I asked again, he didn’t deny it.

“Can I know why?”

Cedric didn’t answer immediately.

“It’s okay if it’s hard to say. But the reason I stopped you like this is because there’s something I absolutely had to tell you.”

I met his gaze.

“Thank you.”

“…!”

His eyes wavered.

“If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been able to clear my name.”

“No. I… I don’t deserve to hear that.”

His head drooped so low it was painful to watch.

“Because of me… Your Majesty collapsed.”

That’s what he’s been worrying about?

“You’re still thinking about that? It wasn’t your fault. I asked you to make that poison in the first place.”

Cedric shook his head.

“I tried to tell myself that too. That I’d just done what you asked. But…”

His voice trailed off.

He let out a long sigh before continuing.

“But I keep regretting it.”

His voice trembled.

“I knew exactly what would happen. But when you actually collapsed in front of me… my mind went completely blank.”

He finally let out what he’d been holding in.

“If only I had some other skill instead.”

His eyes turned red with unshed tears.

“I hated myself for knowing how to make poison. I hated these hands that delivered it to you.”

A clear droplet slid down his cheek.

Watching that, I quietly took out my handkerchief.

I gently wiped his tears.

“Cedric. I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry.”

I spoke with complete sincerity.

I’d assumed that if I was fine, he would be too.

But that had been arrogant of me.

So focused on clearing my name, I’d ended up leaving a deep wound in his heart.

“I’m truly sorry for asking you to do something like that.”

“Your Majesty…”

“You really suffered because of me. It’s all my fault, for forcing that burden onto you.”

I gave him a small smile.

“I won’t ever do that again. So please—can you forgive me?”

The next day.

I practically ran to Jerome’s office at dawn.

In one hand, I held a document stamped with the Empress’s seal.

My heart pounded wildly—not out of fear.

Today’s the day.

The day I’d dreamed of ever since waking up in Helena’s body.

The day I would finally demand a divorce from Jerome.

Hah. I can’t believe this day actually came.

I’d honestly thought it never would.

It wasn’t like I’d been plotting divorce from the start.

For a little while, I’d even entertained fantasies of enjoying the imperial lifestyle.

Who cares if she’s a villainess? As long as I don’t do anything evil, it’s fine.

That had been my naive thinking.

But the “Villainess Clocking Out” plan had failed spectacularly for many reasons.

The cherry on top had been the mess spiraling further out of control no matter how hard I tried to do nothing.

Divorce had become the only way out.

But in the Empire, divorce wasn’t something you could do just because you wanted to.

And the person most tightly bound by imperial law was, of course, the Empress herself.

Poor Helena—so inconveniently noble that even divorce required a complex process and justification.

God. Why did I have to end up in the Empress’s body of all people?

If I’d possessed one of the maids like Countess Chloe or Mary instead, I could’ve just quit and lived the free life of an unemployed noble.

But enough about the sad, unfair past!

Now I finally had what I’d never been able to get before.

Justification.

The trial accusing me of poisoning the imperial concubine—that was my ticket out.

Hauling the Empress into court.

For the nobility, so obsessed with honor, there was nothing more humiliating.

Accusing someone without clear evidence? That was plenty of reason for me to say: I refuse to be Empress anymore.

Goodbye, wretched palace life.

Even just imagining divorce made my heart race with excitement.

Of course, I’d get alimony too, right?

I’d use that money to find some place with clean air and water and build my own little home sweet home.

Yes. Time to become a rich, carefree retiree!

“I have something to say.”

I burst into Jerome’s office and spoke confidently.

Though truth be told, I was still nervous.

Especially when faced with Jerome’s cold, expressionless stare.

He simply looked at me without saying anything.

“This might seem sudden… but it’s something I’ve thought about for a long time.”

Please don’t freak out, Male Lead.

“We’ve had a lot of conflict between us. I know you’ve been trying to put up with it. Honestly, I have too. But I’m exhausted.”

“…”

“When you started controlling the Empress’s Palace and hauled me into that trial, I realized I couldn’t do this anymore.”

I lifted my chin.

“Let’s get a divorce.”

I thrust the divorce papers at him.

Jerome dropped his gaze to the document.

Come on, just stamp it already.

I was certain he’d accept it.

Why wouldn’t he?

He already had someone he loved.

If I disappeared, he could finally make Fay the Empress just as he wanted.

He had all the justification he needed.

Honestly, he should be grateful I was doing this first.

This is best for both of us.

“I refuse.”

“What?”

I blinked in shock.

“…You refuse? Why?”

“That’s what I want to ask you.”

Jerome’s mouth curved into a cold, twisted smile.

And then, in a flash—

Riiip—

He tore the divorce papers to shreds without hesitation.

My bright, hopeful future turned into nothing but fluttering scraps of paper.

As I stared dumbly at the ruined pieces, his cold voice cut through the air.

“Divorce? Says who.”

His eyes flashed dangerously.

He bit off the words like a threat.

“I won’t allow it. Ever.”