Chapter 24
“What?”
“No, you’re a thief. Everything you have was stolen from me.”
“What nonsense!”
I stepped right in front of Devon and glared at him.
“Do you think I wouldn’t find out that you forged the will?”
At my words, spoken through clenched anger, Devon’s face turned pale. His sharp, aggressive gaze wavered in shock.
“W-what are you talking about?”
“You don’t have to pretend. Soon, the whole empire will know.”
“You… that…!”
“How did I find out? Isn’t it strange? Until the day before he passed, my father held my hand tightly, worried about my marriage to you. And yet, he supposedly left his fortune to you instead of me?”
“Ugh… no way, the one who kept the will was—”
“That’s right. Once the truth comes out, you’re finished. I’m the only one who can save you.”
I smirked as my lips trembled with contained laughter.
“So just sign the divorce papers and bring them to me. Then I won’t send you to prison.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! I took care of the will myself! Do you think I don’t know when you’re bluffing? Even if it’s true, I won’t divorce you! I can’t! If I lose my title and wealth, I’ll be left with nothing. At the very least, I need a fair share of the assets!”
Well, you’re not getting anything. Rainbutton is already bribing the officials to investigate your tax evasion.
As I crossed my arms without a hint of hesitation, Devon licked his lips anxiously and spoke.
“T-then, at least I can sue for alimony—”
“How foolish.”
In the empire, the spouse at fault couldn’t claim alimony. That was the law.
“If anyone’s going to demand alimony, it should be me, not you. Do you still not understand your situation?”
I scoffed, and Devon’s face turned red with anger as he stepped closer.
“You…!”
I watched as his clenched fist trembled violently.
“What? Are you going to hit me? How typical. Cheaters like you always follow the same script. Pathetic.”
Devon, provoked, twisted his face into a furious grimace.
Smack!
Before I could react, Devon’s hand struck my face, whipping my head to the side.
Stunning from the impact, I instinctively cradled my cheek in disbelief.
‘Did he really just hit me? Me?’
It was strange how emotions work after spending so much time with someone.
Even though I knew Devon was trash beyond reason, I had assumed he wouldn’t actually lay a hand on me. I thought, at the very least, he would have enough decency to hold back.
But this was the result of that naive assumption.
Tears welled up in my eyes. Rage boiled inside me, burning all the way to the top of my head.
I turned my head and glared at Devon through my blurry vision.
‘That bastard…’
His lips curled up slightly as he bared his teeth, his expression twitching.
Just as Devon raised his hand again—
Bang!
The parlor door suddenly burst open, and Devon was sent flying.
He crashed onto a table, knocking over a cold cup of tea. Drenched, he gasped and coughed violently.
“W-who…?!”
Brushing back his wet hair, Devon squinted at the person who had just barged in. As soon as he recognized them, his face turned ashen.
The intruder stood protectively in front of me.
I knew who it was. Before meeting Devon, I had already told Rail that if the conversation got heated, he had permission to step in without hesitation.
Relieved, I was about to thank him when I looked up and froze.
Through the damp white shirt, I could see the outline of tense back muscles.
Silver hair tied low. A strong, masculine jawline.
“Count?”
Why are you here…?
Edmund exuded an icy aura as he glared coldly at Devon.
“Trash,” he muttered under his breath. Then, as if by accident, he turned his head slightly and his eyes widened.
Because his gaze met mine.
Tears clung to my lashes as I looked up at him, cradling my cheek.
Startled, I quickly averted my gaze, but as if perfectly timed, a clear teardrop fell.
Devon, who had barely managed to get up, shook off the tea soaking his shoulders and hair.
Edmund finally looked away from me, his face darkening further.
“What is this commotion in an empty mansion?”
“Ha! Obviously, I came to see my wife. But Count, aren’t you being reckless? Housing a married woman in your mansion without her husband’s permission?”
“The Countess of Buell’s decision to stay here has nothing to do with your permission.”
“I’m her husband! If you want to keep her here, at the very least— Ah.”
Devon sneered, his gaze darting between me and Edmund.
“I see. So that’s what this is! You two are involved!”
Edmund didn’t even find his words worth responding to. Instead, he turned to Rail, who stood at the entrance.
“Rail, throw him out.”
“Hah, embarrassed now that the truth is out? What exactly did you two do in this house while I was gone, huh?”
At that moment, the veins on Edmund’s forehead bulged, and with one hand, he grabbed Devon by the collar.
“C-Count?”
I hurried after them as Edmund dragged Devon outside.
“Let go! I said let go!”
Devon struggled, but every time Edmund’s muscles tensed, he was yanked forward like a ragdoll.
Edmund radiated such a terrifying presence that no one dared to intervene as they followed.
Devon, now pathetically being dragged across the floor, was finally tossed outside.
He tumbled down the mansion’s front steps, landing face-first.
“You—! Count Mipedian! Just because the world calls you a hero, you think you can look down on the Buell family? You have no right to—”
Devon, looking up at the steps, suddenly froze as if he had seen a monster. His face turned ghostly pale.
Even though I couldn’t see Edmund’s expression from behind, the sheer pressure of his presence was enough to make my skin crawl.
“I-I mean—”
Tension filled the air. Then, in a slow, deliberate motion, Edmund turned to Rail.
“Rail, it seems I made a mistake.”
Devon’s face immediately brightened.
“Yes! Now you’re finally—”
“If his wet clothes cause him to catch a cold, that would be disgraceful. Strip him and throw him out naked.”
“Understood.”
Rail, who had been standing stiffly, smirked and gestured to the servants.
Before Devon could react, his arms were restrained, and he was dragged away.
“W-wait! What kind of cruel behavior is this?! My wife! Say something! Tell them to stop!”
Ugh, who are you calling your wife? How disgusting.
I scoffed and looked up, only to meet Edmund’s gaze.
Realizing my mistake, I quickly lowered my head.
“I apologize for the trouble. I didn’t expect him to come all the way here—”
“Are you all right?”
I blinked in surprise at his unusually gentle voice.
His face was expressionless, but the sharp hostility from before had faded slightly.
I never thought the first thing Edmund would say to me would be out of concern.
‘Maybe, despite disliking me, he feels a bit of sympathy.’
I remembered that I had cried in front of him. Over someone like Devon. Embarrassed, I looked down.
“I’m fine.”
Despite my answer, Edmund instructed a servant to bring an ice pack.
When our eyes met again, he spoke.
“Why don’t you cool down in the garden for a bit?”
Pressing my warm cheek with the back of my hand, I nodded absentmindedly.
For some reason, his presence felt unexpectedly reassuring.
