Chapter 25

"……Even if you formally propose marriage… haven’t we already been married, my lord?"

Opal managed to speak, and her words were reasonable.

In response, Hubert’s face turned even redder as he pleaded further.

“It’s just a formality. I… when we first got married, I treated you terribly. I can’t even use it as an excuse, but back then, I was so preoccupied with the debt and Stella that I don’t know what I was thinking. Still, from the first time we danced ten years ago, I was drawn to you. When we ended up getting married in that manner, my pride was hurt, and I foolishly took it out on you. I’m truly sorry.”

“That’s all right… I also did the worst thing by deceiving you and taking the land.”

“No, that’s fine. It woke me up. Of course, at first, I resented you, but eventually, I understood why you acted that way. My world was too narrow. When I realized that, I understood how wonderful you are, and that my attraction to you from the first dance wasn’t a mistake. However, I didn’t feel I had the right to confess to you anymore. That’s why when I bought back all the land, I decided to propose to you again.”

Upon hearing Hubert’s confession, Opal understood why he had been so eager to buy the Mantes land, but she also regretted it.

If she hadn’t been so arrogant as to test Hubert and had supported him from the beginning, they wouldn’t have had to cross such a dangerous bridge.

Back then, Hubert had mentioned living with Stella, so Opal concluded that he must have been involved with Stella.

Thinking about it, that was when things had failed, and she recalled Stella now.

“I thought… my lord, you liked Stella…”

“Stella? No way! Stella is like a sister to me!”

Seeing Opal’s surprise, Hubert’s face turned red again as he explained hurriedly.

“Of course, I have affection for Stella, but it’s the kind for family, not like the feelings I have for you. I… for a while, I foolishly thought you might be jealous of Stella.”

“Is that so…”

“Yes. I like you—Opal. Please, will you marry me again?”

Hearing Hubert’s first proposal, Opal, who was stunned, looked at him kneeling at her feet.

She had dreamed of this scene long ago.

But now, everything was too late.

Her resolve from seven years ago had not changed.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I cannot accept.”

Hearing Opal’s refusal, Hubert looked as if he couldn’t believe it.

Still, Opal continued calmly.

“Seven years ago, when I deceived you and took the land and the house, I decided that if you bought back half of the stolen property, I would return everything and ask for a divorce.”

“That’s not necessary. I’ll buy it back properly. So—”

“Please, my lord, grant me a divorce. Please set me free.”

“Free…? Why? Why…?”

“To be honest, I was also very attracted to you when we first danced. If you had proposed then, I would have been overjoyed. But after that, I got caught up in a scandal. Even though nothing happened, society wouldn’t forgive me. So, I pretended to enjoy myself in social settings, no matter how much lies were spread or how much gossip there was.”

This time, Hubert seemed surprised by Opal’s confession.

Opal also thought she had been foolish back then.

In the end, they were both young and foolish.

“When I turned twenty, I would become independent from my father and could freely use my grandmother’s inheritance. I was thinking of enduring until then, and then living peacefully in the countryside, when I was ordered to marry you. I was angry and quite rebellious after that.”

“That’s not true. I should have acted more maturely back then. Despite the great kindness you and your father showed me, I— we treated you terribly.”

Seeing Hubert begging for forgiveness, Opal gave a sad smile and stood up.

“Opal?”

“My lord, please sit down. Could you wait a moment?”

Opal went to the room she had been assigned and returned to the living room.

She then placed the documents she was holding on the table.

Hubert looked at the documents with a puzzled expression and then widened his eyes.

“I intended to give this to you after today’s ceremony. The money you paid to buy back the land has been invested—in Mantes. As I mentioned earlier, I promise to return it all. So, please, sign this divorce document.”

Hubert stared at the divorce document placed next to the documents he had been deceived into signing, dumbfounded.

Opal added with a wry smile.

“Of course, please read it thoroughly before signing. You should be able to tell it’s just a divorce document.”

“Can’t… can’t we start over?”

“…You said Stella is like a sister to you, right? I’ve also thought of you… as family for a long time. So, I can’t see you as a romantic partner anymore. However, the decision to divorce is yours. If you refuse, I understand. You need an heir, so I—”

“Enough! …Please, don’t say any more.”

Hubert, looking completely exhausted, interrupted Opal.

Opal, though hesitant, had thought of Hubert as a troublesome younger brother since she had deceived him of his property.

She had been driven by a strange sense of mission to make this temperamental younger brother a proper duke.

Four years ago, she had been disappointed but couldn’t abandon him, and this time, she had decided to ask for a divorce.

She had also asked her agent to keep an eye on the duchy’s developments in case of the worst.

However, it was natural that Hubert needed an heir, and if he insisted, she was prepared to accept it.

She hadn’t expected that he would have romantic feelings for her, so she had also considered the worst-case scenario regarding children.

—Being forced to produce an heir in place of Stella, who couldn’t have children.

“I’m sorry, Opal. I’m too tired today to read the documents. Can I give you an answer tomorrow?”

“—Of course.”

To Hubert’s painful question, Opal answered clearly and then stood up gently.

She left the living room and returned to her room, leaving Hubert with his head down.

She didn’t say anything, thinking it was for the best.

She called a maid to remove her makeup. Although she wanted to take a bath, she changed into her nightgown and got into bed.

She was so tired that she thought she would fall asleep immediately, but the faint sounds from the living room kept her awake.

Still, Opal must have fallen asleep at some point.

The next morning, when she woke up to the sunlight, it was already late, and the maid informed her that Hubert had already left the hotel.

Moreover, Hubert had left something with the maid.

When Opal opened the large envelope handed to her, it contained the signed divorce document.

There was nothing else.

No documents from when she had taken the land, no letter from Hubert.

Opal took a deep breath, got ready, and had a hearty breakfast before leaving the hotel.

Her destination was the ducal mansion in the capital.

To put a final touch on things, Opal, instead of taking the train, decided to travel by carriage, determined.

Honestly, she was uncomfortable about seeing Hubert again, but there was something she needed to do before formally submitting the divorce document.

A few days later, when Opal arrived at the ducal mansion, she felt relieved and slightly worried to hear that Hubert had not returned yet.

But Hubert was a grown man now.

Opal told herself it wasn’t her place to worry and instructed the butler, who was surprised by her sudden return, to gather all the servants.

Stella, pushed in a wheelchair by Beth, appeared with Lady Northam and Romit, glaring at Opal.

“Why did you come back so suddenly?”

“Hello, Stella. It’s been a long time. You look very well.”

“Unfortunately, Hubert isn’t here.”

“The medicine seems to be working. That’s good.”

Opal and Stella continued their mismatched conversation, leaving Beth and Romit dumbfounded.

They probably hadn’t seen such a harsh attitude from Stella before.

“Stella, stop it! That’s impolite!”

“Oh, it’s fine. But why are you all here together?”

“Well, we are staying here for Stella’s monthly check-up with the doctor…”

“Oh, I see. Stay as long as you like.”

Lady Northam scolded Stella, who seemed to be pampered as usual, but Opal felt only pity for her.

Stella would have to cling to Hubert for the rest of her life.

The butler returned with the servants.

“Madam, I’ve gathered everyone who is in the house…”

“Thank you.”

Opal thanked the puzzled butler with a smile and slowly looked around at the servants.

She was disappointed not to see Kave, the coachman, but perhaps they would meet again someday.

“Thank you all for gathering. I’m sorry I can’t say goodbye to everyone, but I’m here to say farewell today.”

The people present gasped at Opal’s words.

The older servants, in particular, looked frightened, apparently misunderstanding that they were being fired.

“Actually—”

“Stop it! Why are you doing such a cruel thing!?”

“…Cruel thing?”

“They’ve all served this house for so long! It’s cruel to fire them!”

“Miss Stella…”

Stella’s emotional words made Romit and the others tear up.

Opal thought Stella hadn’t learned her lesson, but the angel in the wheelchair no longer had the ethereal quality of the past.

Time had treated everyone equally.

Opal sighed deeply and spoke.

“It seems there’s a misunderstanding. I’m the one leaving.”

“…What?”

“I’m getting divorced from my lord. I’ve been patient for a long time, but now I can finally be free. So, please, celebrate with me.”

Opal, with a radiant smile she had never shown in this ducal mansion, announced to the shocked servants.

The new butler, who knew some of the circumstances, smiled and accepted it.

Opal looked at the open-mouthed Romit and Beth, then at Stella, and turned back to the servants, especially the older ones.

“My lord—no, Duke MacLeod will probably remarry soon, so please be kind and respectful to the new lady. She might be very young and inexperienced as a mistress.”

Although it felt mean, Opal thought she was allowed to say this much as a final jab.

She felt as if a long-held burden had been lifted.

“Thank you for the past seven years. It was quite fun. Goodbye!”

She said goodbye brightly to the shocked Stella, Romit, and the others, turned on her heel, and left the mansion.

The weather was pleasant, and Opal’s mood was good.

Of course, she had left no belongings in the house.

Opal walked down the stairs to her personal carriage, which was waiting, and looked back at the mansion one last time.

Lifting her head, she could see the small, dirty window of the attic where she had stubbornly stayed for a short time.

She felt a bit nostalgic, thinking about how young she had been back then, but quickly switched her mood and got into the carriage.

Her destination was the small house her grandmother had left her.

But before that, she planned to visit the duchy to say goodbye.

It was a place she could call home more than this mansion, and saying goodbye would be difficult.

Still, Opal felt refreshed and set out for a new life.