I'll Remarry You
Flustered, Tristan hurried toward the drawing room.
Unlike the lady who had dashed out like the tragic heroine of some romance novel, the one who had actually caused the whole mess sat on the sofa with an air of lofty composure.
“Y-Your Grace?”
“…….”
“W-Why did Her Ladyship run off like that? D-Did the talk go well?”
“We did talk.”
Herman evasively sidestepped the question. Growing even more anxious at the sight, Tristan fired off questions in rapid succession.
“Did Her Ladyship refuse you? Did she say she’d leave for the south at once…? Or—did she say she never wanted to see Your Grace’s face again?”
“Nothing that extreme.”
“Th-Then what on earth happened? She tore out of here in such a rush.”
“She said she needed a moment to think. She didn’t run away.”
To be precise, she was simply too flustered and needed time to calm down and think things through. Even so, Herman was already satisfied that she hadn’t rejected him outright from the start.
“The search party?”
“I dispatched them the moment you gave the order, but…”
Though he still couldn’t fully grasp the situation, a question had been asked, so Tristan gave the appropriate answer.
“I’ll confirm as soon as possible whether he’s still in the capital or has fled elsewhere. The tax evasion documents and the bribery list are ready in your study.”
In truth, Yosef Colin’s crimes weren’t limited to tax evasion. As a retainer aiding the head of the Aristocratic Faction, he had committed every manner of corruption, bribery solicitations, and illegal smuggling. He had stirred up the capital by committing every sin imaginable. If caught, he would almost certainly face the death penalty.
Yet as long as Riena was connected to someone who had committed such grave crimes, she could be in danger at any moment. Even if they struck at his base later, they first had to prove she had no connection to the incident.
“Prepare everything.”
There was no more time to delay.
Don’t push yourself too hard, Riena. It’s good that you’re working diligently, but you have to take care of your body too.
You can stop there for today. You’ve been staying late so often with all the work lately. The rough outline’s finished anyway, so go home early and get some rest.
Is anything bothering you? If something’s difficult, just say so right away.
Her old friend Yosef Colin had been a bit finicky, but he had been a warm-hearted man. After the contract marriage ended, when her family had taken every last coin and she had desperately needed a job, he was the one who had reached out a hand.
Of course, that didn’t mean she had ever thought of him as more than a close friend—never as a lover. But as they ran the merchant troupe together, he had been someone she could trust with her back. That was how much Riena had believed in and followed Yosef Colin.
…And yet.
You bastard!
How dare he run away?! And on top of that, commit tax evasion with counterfeit banknotes?
Crazy bastard.
Just wait until I get my hands on him!
She would have to confirm the details, but thanks to him, things had gotten thoroughly complicated.
“Haa…”
What should she do?
If she became the duchess again, she could certainly preserve her life. But the price was far too high. Becoming the duchess wouldn’t instantly clear her of suspicion. Until her innocence was proven, people would still see her as a criminal. In the end, wouldn’t that only bring harm to Herman?
“My lady…”
Just then, one of the maids who had been attending her entered cautiously. She gently set a cup of warm milk on the table and clasped her hands together.
“I added a little more sugar to make it sweeter.”
“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”
She had been craving something sweet anyway. Riena smiled faintly and lifted the cup. A moment later, sensing a gaze, she turned to the maid.
“Is there something you want to say?”
“Y-Yes?”
The maid’s eyes went round with obvious fluster. Riena set the cup down.
“It’s written all over your face that you want to talk.”
“I-I’m sorry, my lady.”
“It’s fine. That happens. If you have something to tell me, speak freely.”
“…….”
At Riena’s words, the maid finally managed to open her mouth with difficulty.
“After you left, the mansion was truly quiet. The head maid and the butler, and even His Grace… they all went back to the way they used to be.”
“The way they used to be?”
“Yes. He’s terribly taciturn, you know. When he was with you, he used to smile all the time.”
The mansion that had once filled with warmth had, from the moment Riena left, grown cold as midwinter frost. Everyone had missed their kind mistress, but they hadn’t dared show it.
“S-So… I hope you’ll stay here with us… I know it’s a selfish thought, but… everyone else missed you terribly too.”
“……Really?”
The maid nodded. That was when Riena’s expression grew complicated.
It was true—Bertis had been the warmest place she had ever lived. At first they had been wary of a stranger, but little by little they had accepted her. She had received more care and looking-after here than she ever had at home.
I hadn’t even contacted them because I didn’t want to worry them…
To think they had remembered her all this time.
Gazing quietly at the steaming milk, Riena spoke.
“I’m sorry, but could you step out for a bit?”
“I-I’m sorry, my lady. Just now I was far too forward…”
“No, I’m not chasing you out.”
Riena smiled faintly.
“I just want to think a little more seriously.”
.
.
.
That evening.
Herman had been reviewing reports in his study until the sun had fully set when he suddenly shot to his feet. Word had come that Riena was looking for him.
“You’re here?”
He hurried to the drawing room and found her already seated.
“Forgive me. I was just finishing some work.”
“No. I’m the one who’s sorry for interrupting when you’re busy.”
“……Have you thought it over?”
“Yes.”
Riena carefully opened her mouth.
“I…”
“I’ll follow Your Grace’s proposal.”
“!”
Herman’s face brightened in an instant. But the situation was still too precarious for him to show how pleased he was.
“……I’ve been thinking it over, and I couldn’t come up with anything better than the proposal you gave me.”
She had even considered fleeing in the dead of night. No matter how she looked at it, the wisest choice was to accept Herman’s offer. If she ran with nothing to her name, she would hit a wall soon enough. Once the royal army moved, she would be caught before she could escape abroad.
Besides, if she turned her back on everything and left like this, it would be as good as admitting she was an accomplice in this affair.
Why should I be the one to run?
She could tolerate many things, but not that.
“If Your Grace doesn’t mind… remarrying might be a good idea.”
“…….”
“Will you… remarry me…?”
“Haa…”
Herman lowered his head and let out a weary breath.
“Are you serious?”
“Pardon?”
“You really mean to marry me again?”
“Uh… yes, that’s right?”
She had already decided. She had no intention of going back on it.
“But I’d like us to draw up a contract. Like before. Is that all right?”
“That’s no trouble at all.”
They had already cleared the biggest hurdle; a contract was nothing. He could write as many pages as she wanted.
Suppressing the surge of emotion in his chest, Herman rose from his seat.
“Your Grace?”
In one smooth motion he moved to the opposite side and held out his hand.
Does he want me to take it?
Riena quietly placed her hand in his.
“……!”
A soft smack, and the slightly rough surface of his lips brushed across her skin.
“That bastard.”
“…….”
“I’ll catch him and bring him back for sure.”
So don’t worry, Herman added, tightly clasping her small hand.
“Shall we finish the details in the study?”
“……Y-Yes.”
Unable to endure the gaze that kept poking at her cheeks, Riena nodded.
“Th-That sounds good.”
The tips of her ears, hidden by her hair, flushed bright red.
Afterward, the two of them moved rooms and immediately began drafting the contract.
For Herman this remarriage was something he wanted; for her it was a means of protecting herself. Judging that it would be better for both of them to set down clear terms, Riena soon laid down her pen.
“Shall we go over the clauses we’ve each decided on?”
“I’d like you to speak first.”
“All right.”
The order didn’t particularly matter, so Riena went straight to the point.
“I’d like you to grant me the authority to investigate the case as well.”
“Very well.”
He intended to give her whatever she wanted, so Herman agreed without hesitation.
Beyond that, Riena requested permission to go out freely, to have an aide assigned to her again, and various other terms. Herman nodded to every one of them.
But then—
“……Divorce?”