Leave the Divorce to a Professional Lawyer

Carlos watched the scene briefly, his expression turning slightly disheartened.

“Seems like everyone’s really interested in divorce.”

“Aidan.”

Aidan, dressed sharply and holding a glass of wine, approached him. Though most were unaware, he was also one of the hidden main players.

Seeing him in a suit instead of his usual training attire was moving, especially from an older brother’s perspective.

“Brother, your expression, your expression!”

Aidan whispered urgently.

“I’ve told you before. When your emotions change, your face turns scary, so it’s best just to stay expressionless….”

“Ahem. I know. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Carlos adjusted his expression again.

“But if they want a consultation with Natasha, they can just make an appointment directly. So why all this fuss here?”

“Well, we live away from the center, so we don’t really know, but people from the capital are sensitive about these things.”

Aiden listed a few reasons in explanation.

“If you’re seen coming and going, rumors can spread. And consulting the family lawyer hurts their pride.”

Family lawyers were often young nobles themselves. Many nobles were ashamed to reveal their troubles to such people.

And confiding in commoners was out of the question. Natasha, however, fit the nobles’ needs perfectly.

“Even though she’s a commoner, Natasha is close to Madame Olga and has ties with the Petrov Duchy, making her a more approachable option.”

It was a time of transition.

As capitalism took over the country, the emerging merchant class was rising as the new power.

The old power of the nobility was weakening, and those who didn’t inherit titles were entering professional fields like law or medicine.

Nobles could no longer act as stiffly as they used to.

“The world is changing.”

Carlos keenly felt the weight of that fate. The unavoidable tide of the times sent a chill down his spine.

Just then, the next guests were announced.

“Entering now, the second son of the Petrov Dukedom, Lord Jerome Petrov, and his partner, Lady Estelle Blanche, the eldest daughter of Count Blanche!”

Ba-ba-bam!

The unexpected pairing made Natasha’s eyes widen.

Jerome and Estelle? Were they even acquaintances?

“What are you doing here?”

Natasha locked eyes with Jerome as he entered.

“Brother, am I really going alone~?”

“Go.”

“So many people asked to partner with you. Are you really not coming? Even if you say something now….”

“Just go….”

Jerome, lying on his bed, barely moved his hand. His voice was muffled, his face buried in his pillow.

Denis hummed softly, then casually dropped a bombshell.

“Natasha will be there too~.”

“…….”

“Who was it again? Duke Winchester? I heard she’s attending as his partner.”

“…….”

“Wow, are all Northerners that tall? Standing next to Natasha, their height difference looked just right.”

Jerome knew Denis was deliberately teasing him, but he still found himself wavering.

But how could he face Natasha after everything?

– You’re always like that. No matter what we do, even when it’s our fault, you’re always indifferent. Like it doesn’t matter either way…!

He shouldn’t have said that. Regret had haunted Jerome for a long time. Seeing Jerome’s gloomy expression, Denis sighed again.

“Mikhail still hasn’t pulled himself together, and now you’re acting like this too?”

“…….”

“When I saw Natasha recently, she seemed unbothered even when your name came up. I don’t know what happened, but you should try not to dwell on it too much.”

Of course, Jerome thought bitterly. As if Natasha would care about some conversation she had with him.

“She’s probably forgotten it all by now. Even if she hasn’t….”

What could he do about it, anyway?

“I’m off then. Make sure you have dinner.”

Click.

After Denis closed the door behind him, Jerome was left alone in the room.

Yeah, it was for the best. Seeing Natasha’s composed face would only stir him up more.

“Why is she so calm while I’m…? It feels like I’m losing.”

It hurt his pride. Sure, if Natasha had asked him first, he might’ve agreed to be her partner… but.

“Isn’t Duke Winchester the one whose fiancée left him, leaving him on the market like an unopened second-hand item?”

The absurd news had sparked several mocking nicknames for him in the capital.

Second-hand, never opened; a novice with experience; or an experienced beginner….

“Even if he’s a duke, how could a divorcee…? And why did Natasha accept? They weren’t even particularly close.”

They’d met a few times for business; that was all.

And as for the Duke, Jerome scoffed. Did he not realize the kind of rumors that would spread if he got involved with an unmarried woman like Natasha?

“Damn it.”

Jerome’s mind was fixated on the banquet hall, even though he wasn’t attending.

“That Duke better not be thinking of trying anything with Natasha.”

The sudden thought of the Duke intimidating a terrified Natasha flashed through Jerome’s mind.

“No, that’s not right.”

Even with rose-colored glasses, Natasha wasn’t the type to just take it. Jerome quickly adjusted his mental image to Natasha pulling out a dagger and fighting back.

“Yeah, that’s more like Natasha. But Duke Winchester is a knight; there’s no way Natasha could win….”

The scene shifted unfavorably for Natasha. The Duke, now with devilish horns and wings, deflected Natasha’s dagger effortlessly.

Jerome bolted upright from the bed.

“Housekeeper!”

When Jerome rang the bell by his bedside, the housekeeper rushed in.

“You called, sir?”

“Get ready. I’m going out.”

“Where would you like to go? I’ll prepare the carriage immediately.”

“I’m going to the Imperial Palace.”

The seasoned butler nodded without showing any sign of surprise.

“I’ll inform them that you intend to attend His Highness the Crown Prince’s wedding banquet.”

“We don’t have much time, so let’s just keep up appearances. It’s not like Mikhail’s here, and I doubt anyone will bother me. Maybe just a few ladies from families who’ve proposed marriage.”

The butler bowed deeply at his words.

“I’ll make the preparations right away.”

When he arrived hurriedly in front of the banquet hall, he noticed someone arguing with the guards.

Even from a distance, a woman with cotton candy-like hair stood out conspicuously.

Her pink hair was styled up, and she wore a cute, green dress.

It was Estelle Blanche.

“I just entered the country and came straight here, so I didn’t have time to find a partner!”

“I’m sorry, but His Highness the Crown Prince has decreed that no one can attend without a partner!”

“What, this is ridiculous! Where am I supposed to find a partner at this late hour? I just want to slip in, take a quick look, and then I’ll be out…!”

“It’s strictly prohibited.”

Hearing the conversation, Jerome suddenly remembered something he’d overlooked.

A partner! This banquet required a partner by the Crown Prince’s command, and entrance was impossible without one.

He should have arranged for a suitable lady to accompany him beforehand, but in his haste, he completely forgot.

“There’s no way I can find a partner now…”

Just then, Estelle glanced around and met eyes with Jerome, who was standing alone. The two exchanged quick glances.

Hey, you too?

The two linked arms awkwardly and spoke in low voices.

“Jerome Petrov, is it? I didn’t recognize you. I’m Estelle Blanche.”

“I know who you are.”

Jerome responded curtly. He had no intention of getting involved with this woman beyond being partners for the event.

“Huh? How do you… Oh.”

Estelle’s mouth shut as if she realized something. The Estelle that Jerome knew was notorious as the “poisonous mushroom” of high society.

‘Get mixed up with her, and it’s a nightmare waiting to happen.’

Everyone knew about her obsession with Duke Richard, whom she had stalked relentlessly. Although for some reason, she had divorced the duke she once couldn’t live without.

‘People don’t change that easily. Best to stay away.’

Jerome’s resolve was clear, and Estelle’s expression also turned stiff.

“Announcing the entrance of Jerome Petrov, the second son of the Duke of Petrov, and his partner, Lady Estelle Blanche, the eldest daughter of Count Blanche!”

Bam-bam-bam!

As they stepped forward to the entrance music, Jerome quickly scanned the hall to find Natasha.

Under the dazzling chandelier lights, Natasha’s lemon-blonde hair gleamed almost like platinum, making her easy to spot.

“…!”

For a moment, he felt his breath catch. Natasha looked stunning in her blue dress, so much so that he nearly stumbled but managed to regain his balance.

‘Where’s Duke Winchester?’

He’d heard they were partners, but they didn’t seem to be together. A quick glance revealed a tall man with dark hair, towering above the crowd.

‘They’re not sticking together.’

For some reason, he felt a wave of relief. After confirming their positions, Jerome turned back to Estelle.

“Lady Blanche, from here on, we should…”

But there was no one left in her place. Estelle had already left.

Feeling oddly rejected, Jerome scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

Estelle, too, quickly found the person she was looking for amidst the crowd.

He was chatting with a few people while sipping wine, but when Estelle appeared, his surprise was evident.

‘What a funny face.’

She couldn’t help but smile to herself.

Claude Richard handed his wine glass hastily to a nearby attendant and strode over, ignoring the bewildered look of his conversation partner.

Estelle also walked briskly toward him.

“…Estelle.”

“It’s been a while, Duke Richard.”

Estelle greeted him calmly, her formal address of “Duke Richard” making him flinch slightly.

“…I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I entered the country suddenly to attend His Highness’s wedding.”

Though that wasn’t her true purpose. She did want to see Claude, but more than that, she was eager to witness the wedding scene of the heroine, Lydia.

‘Seeing that scene will make it clearer.’

That this place was no longer the fictional world she’d read about, but reality.

A reality where terms like heroine, hero, or villainess had lost all meaning.