The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 132.1

“….”

Grace stepped out of her room, the pendulum clasped tightly in her hand. The moment she crossed the threshold, the unpleasant mist that clung low to the floor began to recede.

It’s reacting the same way as the previous one.

She hadn’t expected her guess to be this accurate.

If the stone inside the pendulum truly possessed properties similar to a mana stone drained of magic, then what exactly caused divine power and mana to clash? Judging by the pendulum alone, divine power seemed to amplify it rather than destroy it.

Then maybe mana and divine power operate on similar principles? Like magnetic poles?

Like poles repel. She had assumed similar forces would harmonize. But perhaps they were too similar, unable to mix because of that very likeness.

There had been no explanation of such a relationship in the original novel, nor in her memories. If someone had researched and uncovered the connection, surely something in the world would have shifted.

After all, divine power damaging magic tools must be tied to this phenomenon.

But most people can’t see these forces with their eyes. They wouldn’t know.

Aria had seemed capable of perceiving it to some degree, but she had never explained it in detail.

I did make it obvious that I felt uncomfortable discussing divine power and the saintess…

For a moment, Grace wondered whether pushing that conversation further might have yielded clues.

But she dismissed the thought.

If Aria had known something helpful, she would have shared it. That was simply the kind of person she was.

Stop overthinking. Just go to the tea room.

The oppressive aura had thinned compared to before, but there was still a long way to go. Reaching the fireplace would require more effort.

Sally, noticing Grace heading toward the tea room, hurried after her.

“Shall I prepare tea for you?”

“I can manage. Just bring me hot water.”

“What about cake or biscuits to go with it—”

“That won’t be necessary.”

Grace refused again. Sally hid her disappointment well. It had been months since Grace had touched sweets. She had hoped perhaps today would be different.

Several months had passed already. Which meant the divorce mediation period was nearing its end.

Yet nearly every servant in the manor was convinced the Duke and Duchess of Felton would not divorce.

Grace was brighter now. More active. She left the estate more often. Everyone wished for her to live more comfortably than before.

They’re wrong.

For Grace, the road ahead was still long.

Too many things had diverged from the original story. She couldn’t predict what would happen next. And though the novel’s timeline suggested there was still time before the ‘ending’, she was acutely aware that she could die at any moment before that.

If Benjamin had been the one after my life, divorce would have solved everything. But since it’s an outside force… I don’t even know what they want.

If she at least knew why they were targeting her, she might have devised a countermeasure. But she didn’t. In the original story and in real life alike, Grace Felton—formerly of Linden—had lived quietly.

And more importantly, even before Grace had possessed this body, the original Grace had shown aptitude as a saintess.

The Empire supposedly had only one saintess at a time. But perhaps this time was different.

The temple knows. They know I have divine power.

That was why the temple had slipped the enhancement component into the medicine.

Grace recalled the common knowledge of this world: mana existed in everyone, but divine power did not. Those born with it were rare—and typically belonged to the temple.

Grace didn’t want to join the temple. But neither did it make sense for the temple to secretly attempt to eliminate someone with divine power.

If it doesn’t make sense… then I’m looking at it from the wrong angle.

In other words, her death must benefit them. From an ordinary imperial citizen’s perspective, that logic was incomprehensible. But people did not always choose what was righteous.

Boris said it was for the sake of the world. But if my existence truly posed a threat, the temple would have declared it formally and acted openly.

…Wouldn’t they? Grace clung to that thought. If she didn’t rationalize it somehow, she feared she wouldn’t endure.

Reaching the tea room, Grace examined the furniture.

At this rate, how long will it take? If only I could purify everything at once…

Why was her power still so weak? Grace attributed even this to the depression she still carried. She was freer now—clearer in thought, more active—but that did not mean the depression was gone.

Like the mist, it lingered quietly around her.

“Don’t think about anything else.”

Sally returned with the pot, arranging the table before retreating. Grace placed her palm over the tea table and closed her eyes.