The Full Story of an Incomplete Divorce - Chapter 8

She had thought it would be simple counseling; she hadn’t expected they’d have to concurrently follow some unheard-of program. Pressing her fingers to her temples against the rising headache, Charlotte realized that eagerly accepting Lucius’s proposal—thinking that undergoing counseling during the mandatory cooling-off period wouldn’t be a big issue anyway—had been a mistake.

“Are you uncomfortable?” Lucius asked, his eyes fixed on her as if her turbulent emotions were plain on her face.

“If it’s because of the contents of the booklet, I hope you won’t feel burdened. I won’t do anything you dislike.”

“……”

Uncomfortable? Charlotte was the one who wanted to ask. The man she knew was someone who disliked straying from his established routine. The fact that a man who had stubbornly refused intimacy and lived a pure life like a devout clergyman was accepting such a sudden change so nonchalantly was hard for her to comprehend.

She looked at him, her eyes filled with questions, but Lucius, as always, remained quietly silent.

‘Is this really okay?’

Her mind was a tangled mess.

Contrary to her worries, life continued on as usual even after they began participating in the program, with no significant changes. At least, that was the case until Charlotte, wanting to relieve some of her built-up frustration, decided to go out for the first time in a while.

‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come.’
It was her first time attending a late-night gathering since getting married, and it felt a bit awkward. She couldn’t immerse herself in the lively atmosphere, feeling like an outsider. Instead of forcing herself to join the conversation, Charlotte quietly sipped her wine.

As she finished her glass without engaging in any talk, a whiskey being drunk at a table across the room caught her eye. It was the same kind Lucius occasionally had a glass or two of with dinner. Suddenly curious, she called a servant passing by and ordered the same drink.

She had never tried it before, but she knew it was a strong liquor. The moment she took a sip of the amber liquid swirling in the crystal glass, her throat burned fiercely. How could Lucius drink such a potent alcohol with such a nonchalant face?

Just as she was wrinkling her nose from the near-painful, pungent sensation and pushing the glass away, someone approached her familiarly.

“Isn’t that the Duchess Valentin? It’s been a long time.”

“Lord Clayden.”
He looked familiar, and she vaguely recalled crossing paths with him a few times at social gatherings. Wasn’t he engaged to Sienna from the Ennes family, with the wedding set for next year? She remembered hearing the news directly from Sienna at a garden party last month.

“I see your husband isn’t in attendance again tonight. The Duke Valentin must not be worried, sending his wife to a gathering alone like this,” the man said, subtly taking a seat beside her and pouring wine into an empty glass himself.

Ah, she remembered now. This man had persistently questioned her before about why she attended events alone. Instead of accepting the glass he offered, Charlotte picked up her water glass.

“He is a busy man.”

“My, you must be lonely.”
His tone was feigned with pity. From his sympathetic gaze, Charlotte could clearly see how she was being perceived. Well, it wasn’t exactly wrong. With a hint of self-mockery, she stared intently at the engagement ring glittering on the man’s left hand.

“And you, Lord Clayden, didn’t come with Miss Sienna, I see.”

“Haha, it would seem so. Ah, if you don’t mind me asking, might I seek some advice about married life? The praise for your wisdom is quite renowned in social circles.”

Advice… This confirmed her feeling that she shouldn’t have come.

Just then, a long, grey shadow fell across the floor, replacing the light from the chandelier. Looking up, she saw her husband, who should not have been here, looking down at her.

Lucius’s appearance, as he never showed his face outside of official functions, caused everyone to stop their conversations in surprise. His entrance instantly drew the attention of the entire room. Oblivious to the countless stares, Lucius’s eyes remained fixed solely on his wife.

“Charlotte.”