How to Divorce the Male Lead - Chapter 46
Chapter 46
Around the time when the Duke and Duchess of Hilchen were dancing, Empress Ereina was running away from the nobles who would not stop following her.
Ereina was a little angry at herself for running away like that.
This was because even though they knew that she didn’t want to talk with them because of her stuttering, the nobles kept talking to her. They had no idea that she constantly lived with the desire to cut off her stiff tongue if only she could.
No, at some point, she thought, ‘Aren’t they doing that because they know?’ And finally, Ereina got herself together.
It was around the time she spoke, raising her trembling hand and spreading her fan open to pretend to be a cold lady.
“Empress.”
“Your, Your Majesty!”
At the sudden appearance of the Emperor, Ereina forgot what she wanted to say and blushed.
The Emperor, who said he would not be able to come to the Imperial Ball because he worked late last night, came to see her.
The nobles hastily knelt down before the Emperor. However, he waved his hand as if he was annoyed. And with a gentle smile, he said vulgarly, “Oh my, I guess you were bothering the Empress. Don’t you think so, Empress? You can tell them to bug off and leave you alone.”
“…Your, Your Majesty.”
Ereina shrugged her shoulders in amazement. They were on good terms now, but it was not necessary to say something like that so honestly.
But the nobles were not surprised by the emperor’s vulgar words, but rather fled in a hurry.
Lucian made a cold expression as he looked at their backs as they ran away, startled. But after a moment, he smiled brightly and turned his head towards his little Empress. He said affectionately, “For the future, this is how you handle it. By the way, you had a hard time hosting the Imperial Ball for the first time yourself, didn’t you? I came here because I was worried about whether you might need some help.”
Ereina looked at Lucian, who was laughing, and quickly fumbled.
Her husband with his fairy-like sparkling eyes was as fascinating as a siren. It was said about the sirens that when those mythical creatures laughed like that, they would bewitch the sailors who stopped at the sea to listen to their songs. Then they would eat the foolish sailors.
“It, it wasn’t hard. Oh, rather, I was worried that you wouldn’t come…”
It was the first time she had said that she was waiting for him on purpose.
Lucian, who had been looking at Ereina, who had gained confidence since the contest, said, “Didn’t you organize this ball to celebrate the Duchess’s complete recovery?”
“Ah, ah…”
Ereina was embarrassed for a moment.
Lucian called the servant on the other side to receive a glass of wine. And naturally, he handed the glass to Ereina.
“Ereina.”
“Yes…?”
Ereina raised her head in amazement. This was the first time he had ever called her by her name.
No, everything lately seemed like the first time. In fact, even before that time, he used to ask whether she was sleeping well and how she was doing.
However, it also seemed like a question to remind her of her position as a guest staying at the Imperial Palace. So it was like a dream, and it was heartbreaking to think that the current situation could be broken soon.
And now Lucian even called her by her name. At the same time as joy, fear gradually grew unaware of its limitations and seemed to eat her before long.
Ereina, who was handed wine, raised her glass to cover her trembling lips. Lucian, who stared at her brown eyes, continued.
“I want to warn you.”
“What?”
“You can’t be friends with the nobles. They’re like wolves trying to take your place. Did the wolf and the hunter become friends?”
“That, that’s true. But she, Duchess Juliana, she, she helped me…”
“What do you mean by her help? It was the strength of the Empress who showed her skills in the contest.”
“Ha, but…”
“Of course, I think you can get along with the Duchess. But you two can’t be friends.”
“Your, Your Majesty is also friends with the Duke.”
Lucian frowned.
It wasn’t that he was feeling bad or that he was saddened by that silly question, or that his expression gave that impression. Ereina couldn’t figure it out, so she looked at her husband for a while and realized then.
Ah.
He was feeling sorry for himself.
Why? I’m your wife. Why are you so sorry for yourself?
Ereina dipped her trembling lips in wine. Red drops of wine filled her mouth like a pitcher.
They were a couple who always lingered around each other like strangers. She thought she had finally reached him, but perhaps it was only visible on the outside.
It was unfair.
Why do you never show it to me? I’m always showing you my heart, and I am completely caught and played with in your grasp.
“I used to be friends with the Duke,” said Lucian, smiling bitterly at his wife, whose face was flushed.
“In the past.”
Unlike his bitter way of speaking, every word he said was hard-line. As if the relationship between them was never going to change.
Ereina glanced away at the dancing Ducal couple.
Lucian Vall Ariakne did not trust anyone. Not a friend, not a duke, not a friend’s wife. Maybe not even his own wife.
She was simultaneously sad and angry at the fact. Ereina swallowed the sweet wine that had been in her mouth. And she said impulsively before she ran out of alcohol.
“I’ll take care of it.”
A stutterer, Ereina Walter, spoke like herself from long ago, before she started to stutter.
Ereina was even more surprised than Lucian when she heard that, and her eyes widened. Before her husband could stop her and said something, she fled away in embarrassment.
Lucian, who was left alone, was dumbfounded and burst into laughter.
“Haha!”
The laughter continued without knowing the end and then broke off for a moment.
Lucian nervously looked around the whole fancy Imperial Ball. Like a scattering gaze, he became confused as if his mind was split.
His wife, whom he had left lonely for fear of breaking her, was gradually changing. It was certainly the right direction, but for the first time in his life, he was anxious about her stepping on an unfamiliar path.
He was afraid of his wife changing in a direction he didn’t know. He shook his head as he thought for a while that he would rather hold her tight and knock her down.
Then the little bird will not escape its cage and run away on its horse. Then the little bird with its wings cut off and left in the cage will die of loneliness.
His playful golden eyes hardened coldly. Looking through the transparent wine glass that his wife had left, Lucian looked at the dancing Duchess.
A more radiant beauty than the ballroom’s chandelier burst into laughter with her cheeks blushed.
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Translator – DrMementoTiramisu