Why Are You Sorry, Darling?

Chapter 5

***

It had been days since I’d sent the letter. The sky had cleared up after pouring rain, and the generally calm and quiet Delov estate was bustling with activity.

Although the duke and I were married, we didn’t see each other often, given that he was hardly home. It wasn’t only because he spent so much time with his mistress, but because he was one of the busiest people in the empire even without that. It was just that he also spent all his spare time at Seira’s house. At this point, he might as well move there. Then again, seeing as he did crawl back in every morning, maybe this should be considered his workplace instead of the imperial palace. Anyway, I decided to let him do whatever he wanted and stopped paying attention to him.

After putting on a flowy dress, I took the pair of white gloves Rosa handed me and slipped them on. My gloved hands reminded me of Seira, who was as slender as this silhouette and whose hair was the same shade. “Rosa, have the figs and jewels I ordered arrived?"

“Yes, my lady. It was after you went out the day before yesterday.”

“Send them to Pavel.”

Rosa ducked her head in acknowledgment.

“Oh, and when you do, mention that it’s a gift the duke chose himself,” I added, then lifted my head and left the room. It didn’t take long to get to my destination by carriage.

It was my dream to be rich and not have to do any work, but contrary to my expectations, a duchess had quite a lot to do. For example, even the luncheon I was attending today at some county was work, not play. Occasions like these weren’t entirely fruitless, so I tried to keep my ears as open as I could whenever I attended one. After all, the people I’d met today would all be part of my audience one day.

“It was a pleasure to see you, Your Grace.”

“And you as well.”

“His Grace must be proud to have such a wonderful wife.”

I wasn’t so sure. My so-called “wonderful” husband had avoided this event and gone to see his mistress instead. I turned and looked at the many aristocratic couples in attendance, then smiled as if no offense had been given.

The count had spoken carelessly, but I had no bad blood with him, so there was no need to get angry. Seira could take my place here. In fact, I would be relieved if she attended such bothersome events for me. It was exhausting to put a fake smile on for all these people, and I’d never belonged here in the first place. In my previous life, I’d actually been a social outcast. If any misfit was thrown into a life-or-death crisis where they had to become a social butterfly or perish, they would be inexpressibly miserable. That was how I felt now.

“Where to, my lady?”

I glanced at the open carriage door and tapped my chin with my fan. “Home... No, wait.” I made up my mind. “To Lovrante Street.”

I had to finish what I’d started. From the moment I’d decided to survive, I didn’t want to drag this out. Life came at you fast, and I had to strike while the iron was hot. But I couldn’t rush, and I had to be as careful as possible. Haste makes waste—this held true for everything in life. My goal was to make this as short a battle as possible, but also to be meticulous in the process.

The objective was a safe divorce. Tying the knot for a couple of cheaters. After the duke split from me, he could live with her or not for all I cared. It wasn’t my problem. But since they were going to get their happily ever after anyway, I kind of hoped that they’d experience some sort of great humiliation in the process.

If it hadn’t been for me, Tareya would’ve died alone without having spoken a single word against the duke. The novel claimed that she died in a dispute, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if the actual cause of her death was stress. And as for me, I’d prefer neatly splitting from my husband than having to live with one who didn’t come home.

Neatly. That was the problem. Technically, the most convenient way to end this marriage would have been to go directly to the duke and declare, “Let’s get a divorce.” But Duke DeLov was a prideful man who had to be perfect in every single way. He may not have been more stubborn than me, but he wouldn’t allow any flaws to stain his reputation. Although from that perspective it did seem kind of odd that he would cheat on his wife...

Anyway! Duke DeLov wouldn’t willingly accept the divorce because he would want to protect his dignity and honor. Besides, I wasn’t really trying to do this peacefully either. Why should I play nice when he cheated on me? Even if I remained silent, my husband continued to push this divorce in my favor. I should actively utilize their love!

When the carriage arrived, I saw an unfamiliar building through the window, small but clean. Peering around the street, I noticed that the neighborhood looked safe as well. All the other buildings on the street were as orderly as this one. Even though I only had a glimpse of it, it seemed to be a good residential area. So this was Duke DeLov and Seira’s love nest, huh?

The coachman was quite the clever man. He’d brought me right to their doorstep. Honestly, it was a little ridiculous, since I’d asked him to go to Lovrante Street but hadn’t told him which house it was—yet he’d brought me so quickly to my destination. He’d clearly been here so many times that he was able to find it with his eyes closed now. When I looked up at the coachman, he quickly averted his gaze, as if he’d realized his mistake. Yes. Quite the misstep, wasn’t it? If I’d been the real duchess, I would’ve been furious, but I just let it slide. This was my stop anyway.

“Does that woman live on the second or third floor? You do know, don’t you?”

The coachman kept mum. Ah. So it was the entire building. I looked at the small three-story house. For reference, I compared it to the size of the DeLov estate. So this “coziness” was my husband’s taste. They wanted to live happily together here, did they?

I stepped out of the carriage in a lighter outfit than what I’d worn to the luncheon. With the help of a maid, I’d taken off the cumbersome dress and changed into something humbler that fit well with this street. I glanced back and noticed the coachman had covered up the DeLov crest on the carriage with a cloth. Now that was the kind of thoughtfulness I liked.

I ordered him to park the carriage out of sight, then entered the building. Fascinatingly enough, it was filled with a wonderful scent. After passing through a fragrant hall, I knocked on the door, and it swung open shortly.

“Welcome, darling.” Seira greeted warmly.

“Oh dear. How awkward. My husband isn’t here.” I beamed playfully and gently waved my hand.

She had flung open the door with a big smile, but her expression rapidly froze. “Y-Y-Your Grace?” She turned pale and started to stammer.

“Yes, it’s me. Long time no see.” I smiled at her pretty face today, just like I had when we’d first met. “Hmm. Let me see. It’s been a week, has it?”

“Wh-what... brings you here?” The beautiful pink flush on her cheeks was gone, and her hands trembled with nerves. Poor thing.

“Am I not supposed to be here?” I looked away from her quivering hands, and the corners of my mouth lifted upward.

Perhaps it was because I was confident. Seira’s eyes swam with anxiety. Right. It wasn’t that, was it? I wasn’t explicitly forbidden from coming to my husband and his mistress’s secret hideout, though surely the duchess wouldn’t even have thought of coming here. But I wasn’t her.

“Oh, I didn’t come empty-handed.”

Of course not. It wouldn’t be a mannerly thing to do. I wasn’t a cold-hearted person who visited other people’s homes without a gift. As if to prove this, I raised my hand and gave the bouquet I was holding a little shake. I was holding it myself because I’d sent all the maids who’d come with me back to the manor except for one, whom I’d left behind with the coachman.

Seira’s shoulders shook when she saw the bouquet.

“Perhaps this is a bit of a tired gift? I’m sure my husband must give you many flowers.”

I didn’t mean it sarcastically. I’d only gotten her flowers as a gift because I didn’t know what else to get. This wasn’t a housewarming party, but... I thought I should at least bring a gift for visiting her home. After all, it wasn’t like there was any detergent or toilet paper in this world, so I thought flowers were a pretty decent gift.

“I think these will look nice in the living room.” Along with the flowers, I handed her the beautifully wrapped scented candles I’d also gotten her and walked very confidently into the house.

“Oh, w-wait.”

Seira was so flustered that she couldn’t stop me from slipping past her. She seemed to have missed the chance because she was in a daze. Well, even if she had realized I was going to come in, she wouldn’t have been able to say anything.

Hmm, but... As soon as I walked inside, I immediately regretted it. So this was the source of the scent.

There were flowers lining every corner of the house.