After the Wicked Wife Leaves

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Translated by: Alina

Edited by: Vcubed

✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧

 

The warning-like words that came out and Reinhardt’s expression were quite stern.

 

However, Erich looked at Reinhardt with a mocking expression instead.

 

“Why should I follow your words, Duke Tarant?”

 

“It’s not polite to hold a lady’s hand without permission.”

 

Erich’s blue eyes narrowed sharply at his words.

 

“It seems like you’re overstepping your bounds, aren’t we a married couple?”

 

Thinking I would leave at this point, I was surprised when Reinhardt unexpectedly agreed with him.

 

“Yes, indeed, the Duke is the husband of Her Highness. But what about it? Her Highness suggested that we return together.”

 

Then Erich stared at me with cold, piercing eyes.

 

“Is that so?”

 

Was it because I had been criticized for a long time?

 

The moment his eyes met mine, my heart fluttered.

 

‘Is he reproaching me?’

 

Honestly, it wasn’t strange for Erich to act like this.

 

A married woman riding in a carriage with a man who isn’t her husband is enough to cause quite a scandal.

 

But now, I don’t care about such scandals anymore.

 

‘You have no right to be angry with me for being with another man, do you?’

 

I wanted to make him feel something similar to what I was feeling, even if it wasn’t as painful as mine.

 

With that resentment swirling inside me, I nodded my head.

 

“Yes, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the Duke. I thought we could have a brief chat.”

 

Eventually, I looked at him with determination.

 

“By the way, Your Grace, it seems you left something in the garden.”

 

In other words, it was a message about his lover, Medelin, to leave.

 

But Erich shamelessly replied, “I didn’t leave anything in the garden.”

 

“Yes, of course.”

 

She must have gone somewhere else by now.

 

For a moment, I stopped laughing and spoke seriously.

 

“I’d appreciate it if you let go of my hand now. I need to get on the carriage.”

 

Suddenly, Erich’s grip loosened.

 

Thinking it was my chance, I tried to pull my hand away.

 

But then, Erich tightly grasped my hand again.

 

“In that case, I’ll join you.”

 

For a moment, I was bewildered by the unexpected answer.

 

“We wouldn’t want any weird rumors circulating.”

 

With that, I stared at Erich.

 

‘You’re consistent, aren’t you?’

 

Once again, he’s trying to monitor and control me because of his reputation.

 

‘But this time, I won’t let you control me as you please.’

 

With that determination, I was about to express my refusal to him. But at that moment…

 

“Very well. Let’s get in.”

 

Kind-hearted Reinhardt answered first.

 

I glared at Reinhardt and thought to myself. There’s a reason why I don’t like you the way others do.

 

‘You’re still clueless.’

 

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After getting into the carriage, I sat there awkwardly.

 

Between Reinhardt, who observed me as if scrutinizing, and Erich, who watched me as if monitoring me.

 

‘Ah, if I knew this would happen, I should have just gone to the Emperor.’

 

It was already too late, but I couldn’t help but continue to regret it.

 

‘By the way, is Sardin doing well with what I asked him to do?’

 

Then, someone broke the silence.

 

“Your Highness, do you still like playing chess these days?”

 

“What’s it to you…”

 

Trying to ignore Reinhardt’s sudden question, I noticed Erich looking at me with a suspicious expression.

 

‘Oh, I shouldn’t have said I had something to talk about…!’

 

In an attempt to cover up my past mistake, I reluctantly accepted his annoying question.

 

“To be honest, it was fun when I was young, but I’m not really interested these days.”

 

“Is that so? But I remember you were very good at swordplay.”

 

“I didn’t like it, I was just good at it.”

 

“Hahaha, I see. Then, what hobbies do you have these days?”

 

“Well, I don’t really have any hobbies.”

 

“Still, you must have something you enjoy when you want to pass the time, right?”

 

Honestly, I used to have something like that not too long ago.

 

Activities like spying on Erich or causing trouble for the women hanging around him.

 

‘But I can’t say that out loud.’

 

When I hesitated to answer, Reinhardt changed the subject.

 

“It seems my question was impolite. By the way, do you still like peaches?”

 

I nodded.

 

“Well, they’re delicious, like you’d expect from an expensive fruit.”

 

Reinhardt smiled and blushed slightly.

 

“You’re still as charming as ever…”

 

“What?”

 

As I couldn’t quite catch the murmured words, Erich suddenly interjected when I asked.

 

“Madam, you mentioned you liked jade not too long ago, didn’t you?”

 

“Yes, but why do you ask?”

 

“We’ve recently discovered a special piece of jade, and I’d like to present it to you.”

 

Honestly, I didn’t really want to accept anything from him, but on the other hand, was there really a need to refuse what he was willing to give?

 

‘Well, I didn’t ask for it in the first place, he offered.’

 

Honestly, considering the fact that he deceived me by hiding his relationship with Medelin and went as far as to marry me, I felt justified in accepting this modest dowry.

 

So, I nodded readily.

 

“Yes, understood. Please, go ahead and give it to me.”

 

Could it be that he wanted me to express gratitude and run around thanking him?

 

Erich’s expression seemed somewhat offended for some reason.

 

‘Honestly, I’m the one who’s more offended right now, since you’re cheating on me in public.’

 

As an awkward silence fell in the carriage, I tried to ignore Erich and looked out the window.

 

Then, Reinhardt broke the silence.

 

“Oh dear, it seems the Duke has been one-upped. I was going to give you a gift to commemorate our reunion, but…”

 

“A gift? What is it?”

 

“Although it’s not the right season, I apologize, but I’d like to present you with peach trees from our estate on the outskirts.”

 

Even though it wasn’t the harvesting season and the fruits wouldn’t be ripe, imperial peaches were known for their high sweetness and juiciness, but they were difficult to cultivate and considered expensive fruits only nobles could afford.

 

Even if he just gave me a basket of peaches during the harvest season, it would be appreciated, so I was pleased but also genuinely puzzled.

 

“Why would you give me a gift? We don’t usually interact.”

 

At my question, he smiled gently.

 

“Well, we used to see each other often when we were younger, didn’t we? And perhaps I see some hope in this.”

 

Hope? I was puzzled by his words, and Reinhardt added.

 

“In any case, it’s just a small thing for me, so please don’t feel burdened and accept it.”

 

Well, it was just a single tree, so it didn’t seem like a big deal.

 

“Alright, I’ll graciously accept it.”

 

Then Reinhardt burst into laughter.

 

“Hahaha, it makes me happy to see you smile at such a small gift…”

 

Before he could finish his sentence, Erich spoke up.

 

“A mine.”

 

Suddenly, Erich mentioned a mine out of nowhere, furrowing my brows.

 

‘Why is he interrupting someone else’s conversation so rudely?’

 

But when I heard his following words, I widened my eyes.

 

“I’ll give you a jade mine.”

 

Although the value of jade wasn’t particularly high at the moment, it was still a mine.

 

Moreover, wasn’t that jade mine supposed to be a tribute for the contract with Marquis Arzen?

 

‘If that’s the case, the contract must have fallen through or the conditions changed…’

 

In any case, there seemed to be a problem with the contract with Marquis Arzen, and Erich seemed to be trying to pass on the troublemaker, the jade mine, to me.

 

‘So, this is all because he thinks little of jade. Fool.’

 

Even as I inwardly mocked him, I was engulfed in a feeling of immense happiness.

 

‘Thanks to this, I’ll be able to mine jade until the plan is executed! And I won’t have to see the friendly relationship between Erich and Marquis Arzen family’

 

If I show too much joy, he might cancel the gift.

 

So, after suppressing the urge to burst into laughter, I nodded indifferently.

 

“Yes, let’s go home and draft the transfer contract for the mine…”

 

Just as I was about to answer like that, I glanced out the window and realized we were already close to the Duke’s estate.

 

Creak-.

 

As the carriage slowed down and eventually stopped, Reinhardt got off first and offered me his hand.

 

“It was a pleasure to see you again after so long, Your Highness. Until next time.”

 

Honestly, because of this clueless guy, it wasn’t enjoyable, but since I had decided to accept the gift, I accepted his farewell as a gesture of forgiveness.

 

I grabbed his hand and replied.

 

“Yes, remember not to forget my gift when you come next time.”

 

“Of course.”

 

Eventually, he looked at Erich and smiled.

 

“I won’t miss the chance that comes my way.”

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊