The Full Story of an Incomplete Divorce - Chapter 15

So, it meant that her fiancé was a man who had his younger brother write it for him and couldn’t even be bothered to take the minimal effort to transcribe it into his own handwriting.
She had no intention of disrespecting the deceased now, but anyway, to her, this confession letter was essentially received from Lucius.
‘Back then, I thought I would be happy if I married Lucius.’
Truly, life is unpredictable.

Snapping out of her thoughts, Charlotte buried the letter deep inside the drawer.

***

After the first act, which was quite impulsive. The questions still remained unresolved. However, one thing became clear: Lucius would faithfully follow the program’s contents during the one-month cooling-off period before divorce. As evidence of this, dates continued—the kind that only close lovers would do, something they had never even tried during their engagement.

One quiet afternoon, Charlotte was strolling along a riverside path glittering with sunlit dew, horseback riding with Lucius.
“I want to try going a bit faster.”
At Charlotte’s words, Lucius showed a reluctant expression.
“Isn’t today your first time horseback riding? It’s dangerous.”
“Since I’m with you, it should be fine, right? I’ll tell you if I get really scared.”
His straight eyebrows rose sharply. It was a habit of his when he was troubled. But after repeated pleas, Lucius ultimately couldn’t refuse and increased the speed.

As they began to gallop in earnest, the slowly flowing scenery whizzed past before their eyes. Between the winds that filled their lungs, the scent of flowers blooming along the riverbank and the moisture-laden air mingled pleasantly. The successive sounds of the strong wind whipping past their ears and the powerful galloping of the horse’s hooves made her feel as if her chest had been wide opened.
“Aren’t you scared?”
“Not at all!”

Although she had often ridden in carriages when traveling, this was her first time properly riding a horse. Even though she had started horseback riding half in fear and half in curiosity, not even knowing how to hold the reins, once they began to run, she wasn’t scared at all.

Lucius’s solid embrace felt against her back, the warm body heat from where they touched, and the large hand overlapping on the back of her hand holding the reins gave Charlotte a sense of relief. Thanks to that, Charlotte was able to fully enjoy the pleasure of horseback riding.
“It’s so much fun!”

In the refreshing mood she hadn’t felt in a long time, Charlotte turned her head and beamed at Lucius, a bright smile spreading across her flushed face.

Hesitation—Lucius’s body stiffened, and his hand gripping the reins tightened. His eyes, which should have been looking forward, were fixed solely on Charlotte as if he had forgotten, shimmering with a strange light. Suddenly slowing down, he got off the horse and, holding the reins, began walking a little ahead.

Between glimpses of his profile, his ears appeared tinged redder than usual.
“Lucius?”

After a brief silence, Lucius tilted his head slightly and spoke. For some reason, his voice was low and subdued.
“Next time… I will teach you how to ride a horse. You’ll probably learn quickly.”

It was a statement that seemed to promise a future. Lucius… does he believe that this married life won’t end, that even after a month passes, they will still be together? Is he sincerely hoping for that?

For a long time as they retraced their path, no conversation passed between them.

Returning to the mansion to rest, Charlotte headed toward Lucius’s study around dusk, expecting him to be there.
“Lucius?”

It was time for him to be working, so she naturally assumed he would be there, but for some reason, the study was empty. Inside the dark room, only a chilly coldness lingered. Puzzled, Charlotte easily turned her steps away. After all, the places where Lucius could be were limited to here or there.

Charlotte, who had gone up the stairs to the third floor where the study was located, pressed her ear against the firmly closed door. Judging by the faint signs of movement, it seemed he was working in the study today. Just as she was about to knock without much thought, she hesitated for a moment and withdrew her hand. She felt an indescribable, peculiar premonition.