After the Wicked Wife Leaves

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

Translated by: Sienna

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

 

In the silent office of the emperor, a middle-aged platinum-haired man with a weary expression closed his eyes.

 

On his desk, the deeds of Duke Blant were meticulously recorded.

 

‘He’s becoming more and more troublesome.’

 

If things continued this way, it would become increasingly difficult to control Duke Blant. In the worst-case scenario, if he harbored resentment, it might be challenging for Crown Prince Fritz to handle.

 

Lost in contemplation, the emperor was approached by a courtier, who placed a letter on his golden tray.

 

The Emperor’s eyes widened as he stared at the letter’s seal.

 

It bore the emblem of the Duke of Blant and the imperial emblem.

 

“It’s that child.”

 

The Emperor remarked nonchalantly.

 

Certainly, he allowed the marriage under the pretext of being the watchman of the duke, but there was nothing noteworthy in the reports and daily letters sent by Cornelia all this time.

 

‘I suppose it will be the same this time.’

 

Even as he thought this, the emperor opened the letter.

 

“Open it.”

 

After carefully unsealing the letter with a paper knife, the courtier politely handed it to the Emperor.

 

The emperor’s violet eyes slowly darted from side to side, and for a moment, his eyes were fixed on a particular sentence.

 

[… Thus, I intend to inform Your Majesty of Duke Blant’s weaknesses, in line with the purpose of your sending me into a marital alliance with the Blant family.]

 

He thought it was another failure, but it turned out to be a success.

 

A flicker of interest flashed across his dull eyes.

 

“Quite audacious.”

 

The emperor looked at the courtier.

 

“Convey to the Princess. Tell her to come to the palace next week.”

 

Leaving the emperor’s chamber, the chamberlain spoke to the princess’s slave, who was waiting.

 

“The Emperor has asked the princess to enter the palace in a week.”

 

“Understood.”

 

After bowing respectfully, Sardin left the room.

 

The maidservant, who had been discreetly eavesdropping behind a pillar, hurriedly went somewhere after the conversation ended.

 

Soon, she entered the ornate chamber and told her master what she had seen.

 

“His Majesty the Emperor has asked the Duchess of Blant to enter the palace in a week’s time.”

 

In response, a middle-aged woman with silver hair elegantly raised her eyebrows upon hearing the news.

 

“How fortunate. I was just about to summon her, and she’s coming to the palace on her own. It seems things are falling into place nicely. Isn’t that right, Medaline?”

 

Subsequently, a woman on the other side lowered the teacup she was holding. She resembled the middle-aged woman like she was her daughter.

 

“It’s all thanks to Her Majesty’s usual kindness and favor.”

 

The Empress smiled pleasantly at her niece’s pleasant words, then sighed.

 

“How I wish you were my daughter, not that raven thing.”

 

Hearing that, Medaline’s green eyes lit up with delight.

 

She soon responded with a smile, speaking gently and warmly.

 

“I’m afraid my aunt always overestimates me, but Cornelia is a good daughter, isn’t she?”

 

The Empress laughed wryly.

 

“Yes, she certainly has her uses in times like these.”

 

 

2. 𝓦𝓪𝓼 𝓘 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝔂?

 

I prepared to go out at an early hour.

 

‘Finally, the day of reckoning has come.’

 

Given the authoritative nature of the Emperor, being late would surely cause a commotion.

 

Therefore, I made all preparations to arrive at the palace an hour earlier than the appointed time.

 

The issue was the sudden interest from the servants, who had previously ignored me.

 

“Madam, where are you going at such an early hour?”

 

‘You’ve been ignoring me the entire time, and now you’re curious about my destination?’

 

A few days ago, there was a commotion because no one knew where I went when I left the house.

 

In other words, their actions were likely to monitor me as per Erich’s orders.

 

“I don’t know if they’re trying to make amends or if they’re up to something.”

 

Ignoring the servants following me, I headed towards the carriage.

 

Then, someone hurriedly followed me and blocked my path.

 

“Duchess!”

 

My eyes narrowed as I realized who he was.

 

“Landon, what is it?”

 

My voice was cold.

 

Landon had never considered me as the Duchess of this mansion and I had no memory of him being respectful to me.

 

When I heard that Landon had been demoted from steward to a common servant, it felt like poetic justice.

 

He’s probably going to grab me by the tail, snitch on Erich, and work his way back up to Butler.

 

Still, Landon’s tone was polite, as if he knew better.

 

“Are you going out early?”

 

“What concern is it of yours when I go out? Besides, aren’t you no longer a butler?”

 

“Yes, but I still think it’s my duty to see you off when you go out…….”

 

I couldn’t help but twist my lips.

 

“Well, then, you haven’t exactly been fulfilling that duty. Haven’t you?”

 

I thought that would make him back off.

 

But what’s this? Landon knelt before me.

 

The problem was, it was in front of the carriage.

 

“Step aside.”

 

“I have been foolish and disrespectful to you, Duchess, and have failed to show proper courtesy. Please allow me to make amends.”

 

‘He never paid me any mind before, so why is he doing this now?’

 

Already agitated due to the significance of the occasion, my ire intensifies as this unsightly individual obstructs my path. 

 

“Move!”

 

The moment I raised my voice,

 

“Cornelia.”

 

Erich had approached beside me.

 

‘So much for trying to leave quickly; this is getting annoying.’

 

He looked at the carriage, then at me.

 

“Where are you going at this early hour?”

 

I furrowed my brow.

 

‘Now openly trying to control my actions?’

 

However, unlike Landon, he wasn’t someone who would back down easily, and delaying the meeting with the Emperor would be unfavorable for me.

 

“To the palace.”

 

In response to my answer, he signaled four knights.

 

“Escort the Duchess.”

 

Being openly monitored, even on a visit to my family home, was quite intrusive. In my heart, I wanted to put an end to it all.

 

But I had to get to the palace first.

 

As I was about to sigh and board the carriage…

 

“Hold on.”

 

He extended his gloved hand again, wearing an expression of discontent, as if he didn’t want to do it.

 

Ignoring his hand, I got into the carriage.

 

Though he let out a wry smile, I didn’t pay it any mind.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The servants all bowed their heads.

 

“Duchess, please take care on your journey.”

 

I used to love hearing that.

 

But now, I feel surprisingly indifferent.

 

‘Yes, now I am not the Duchess but just Cornelia.’

 

Lost in these thoughts for a moment, I suddenly realized that the scenery outside the carriage window had changed.

 

The carriage rolled smoothly through the gates of the palace.

 

‘This place is still the same.’

 

Normally, one would think of home as a cozy place to lean on and escape to at any time.

 

But even though I was born and raised here, this vast space has never felt like home to me.

 

After a few moments of gazing out the carriage window at the familiar but uncomfortable landscape, the carriage door opened.

 

“Welcome, Duchess of Blant. Let me show you around.”

 

The welcoming gesture, treating me as an outsider rather than a member of the royal family, clearly highlighted my position.

 

Finally, I let out a wry smile.

 

‘After all, I was the one who made myself valued like this.’

 

A foolish princess, blinded by affection and obsessed with the objects.

 

That’s probably why the Emperor saw me from childhood as a tool of his machinations, not a member of his family.

 

And I took advantage of that to win the position of Duchess of Blant.

 

‘It was foolish to work so hard to obtain such a trivial position.’

 

“Oh my God, look who it is, Cory!”

 

Hearing the unwelcome nickname, I turned my head.

 

There stood Medaline, beaming brightly, and the expressionless Empress.

 

For a moment, memories of past events flashed through my mind.

 

<I thought I told you clearly, stay out of my sight!>

 

I remembered how the Empress used to ignore me or get annoyed whenever I greeted her by calling her mother.

 

‘She wouldn’t like it if I greeted her anyway..’

 

There stood Medaline, beaming brightly, and the expressionless Empress.

 

‘There’s no point in approaching her if she doesn’t call my name first.’

 

While I had approached her first due to our family relationship, traditionally in the palace, it was considered impolite for a subordinate to speak before being spoken to by a superior unless initiated by the higher-ranking individual.

 

‘Well, very few humans have ever stood in my way.’

 

Medaline was one of them.

 

She always called me ‘Cory’ first, in a friendly way, but I hated the nickname, with its raven connotations.

 

Yet she always deliberately called me that first in crowded places, pretending as if she had forgotten my status as a princess.

 

“At first, I thought she didn’t know and asked her not to use that strange nickname, but it was futile.”

 

I glanced at Medaline, and for a moment, I could see the Empress giving me a disapproving look.

 

‘I’d better get going.’

 

I bowed slightly and walked past the Empress.

 

 

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊