After the Wicked Wife Leaves

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Translated by: Sienna

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“Madam, are you going home?”

 

I shook my head in response to the coachman’s question from outside the window.

 

“No, let’s go to the Alchemy Workshop District.”

 

Sardin, whom I brought along as a porter, asked with a puzzled expression.

 

“Weren’t you planning to go home, madam?”

 

“Oh, I thought I’d take care of some business while I was out.”

 

“Yes? But, madam, what business could you have at the alchemy workshop…”

 

For a moment, Sardin looked at me with a surprised expression.

 

“M-Madam, you wouldn’t be thinking of…”

 

Normally, when one thinks of alchemists, one thinks of potions or poisons.

 

So I could see what Sardin was worried about.

 

‘He probably thinks I’m planning to poison Erich or something.’

 

Despite my notorious reputation and deep resentment towards Erich, I had no intention of poisoning him.

 

‘Because if there’s any evidence, even if I were royalty, I wouldn’t be able to get away with it.’

 

Instead of answering, I put my index finger to my lips. With my other hand, I pointed to the coachman’s stone.

 

‘Have you forgotten that the coachman belongs to the Duke of Blant?’

 

Of course, unless the coachman is specially trained, he won’t be able to hear our conversation over the noise of the carriage.

 

But still, it wouldn’t hurt to be cautious.

 

‘I don’t trust anyone from the Duke of Blant.’

 

As Sardin closed his mouth, seeming to understand my intention, I spoke subtly.

 

“Alchemists don’t just make potions; there are many who make things that are useful to people.”

 

After a while, the carriage stopped, and the coachman opened the door for me.

 

“Madam, we have arrived at our destination.”

 

After getting off the carriage and looking at the signage for the workshops, I smiled.

 

[Miracle cosmetics created by an alchemist!

Say goodbye to wrinkles, spots, and blemishes!]

 

Rattle.

 

Entering the shabby workshop without a single customer, a cheerful attendant welcomed me.

 

“Welcome, Madam. What cosmetics are you looking for?”

 

She showed me a pamphlet and continued talking non-stop.

 

“For wrinkle improvement, we recommend the black bottle; for freckles and blemish improvement, the white bottle; and if you want firm skin, we suggest the green bottle! What would you like?”

 

In response, I raised the corner of my mouth and said,

 

“The red bottle.”

 

Then, she replied with a surprised expression, “Um? Madam, we don’t have anything like that in our workshop…”

 

“But you do. Red Flower.”

 

As I finished my sentence, she sighed nervously.

 

“You seem to know what you’re looking for.”

 

She went to the entrance, changed the sign to ‘our for a moment,’ and then looked at Sardin behind me.

 

“I apologize; my master only engages in one-on-one conversations with customers.”

 

At that, I nodded and turned to Sardin.

 

“Stay here and wait.”

 

Sardin nodded in response.

 

“Understood.”

 

Turning to the attendant, I said, “Lead the way. To your master.”

 

5. Uninvited Guests

 

Meanwhile, Erich was looking at the note Janet had sent him.

 

‘After jewelry shopping, it’s the one flower workshop. Is she going to buy cosmetics? Or perhaps…….’

 

The One Flower Workshop was different from other alchemy workshops that specialized in producing cosmetics. That was just a facade. There were separate items being researched there.

 

‘Of course, there’s no way she’d know about that.’

 

Gradually, his eyes darkened.

 

‘If she finds out that I secretly assigned guards, she’ll definitely throw a fit.’

 

He knew. What he was doing now was by no means normal.

 

‘But there’s no other choice. Her safety comes first.’

 

She doesn’t realize it, but there were too many potential dangers around her.

 

Just the uninvited guest who came to the mansion now was proof of that.

 

“Your Excellency, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, is looking for the Duchess…”

 

At those words, Erich rose to his feet and headed for the front door.

 

He caught sight of a young man running amok in the doorway.

 

It was the infamous Crown Prince Fritz.

 

Boom!

 

Fritz threw a piece of pottery he found in the entrance, looking defiant.

 

‘Yesterday, at the palace, that raven lady went as far as threatening me, but I just let it pass…’

 

Fritz had no intention of letting her off the hook, at least not today.

 

He knew that Cornelia had not only threatened him yesterday, but she had also seized a mine that was rightfully his.

 

“Cornelia, where are you hiding?”

 

Cornelia, who was six years older than him, was strong-willed and had a bad temper, but Fritz never lost a fight with her.

 

That was because even if Fritz destroyed something belonging to Cornelia, both his mother and father would subtly take his side.

 

‘She said she was pregnant this time, didn’t she?’

 

Fritz knew.

 

He knew that if he threatened her with the child, Cornelia would come crawling to him, apologize profusely, and eventually give him whatever he demanded.

 

“You fools, bring Cornelia before me at once!”

 

Fritz was calling for her in a furious voice.

 

“Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

The low voice calling out to him was polite on the surface, but the blue eyes staring back at him were murderous.

 

Fritz flinched involuntarily as he looked at the person who called him.

 

‘Duke Blant!’

 

Fritz, despite being a fearless troublemaker, felt a natural intimidation when facing Erich, who was tall with a robust figure.

 

Fritz denied this fact and tried to convince himself, ‘What’s a war hero compared to me? Sure, he’s a duke now, but I’m a crown prince, and he’s just a noble.’

 

Currently, Duke Blant is being openly challenged by the Emperor, and if he messes with him, he’ll be giving the Emperor an opening.

 

Moreover, being the husband of the seemingly insignificant Cornelia, he was confident that even the praised Duke Blant would not be able to do anything to him.

 

‘Oh, and he said he didn’t like the raven.’

 

From the beginning, the union between the troublesome princess and the distinguished war hero had been a topic of discussion.

 

In particular, it was a well-known story that the Duke refused to sleep with her and that the Duchess was vicious to any woman who dared to speak to him.

 

‘Well, I suppose he won’t interfere much with my intention to meet the raven.’

 

So Fritz leisurely replied.

 

“Who’s this? Isn’t it my excellent brother-in-law?”

 

“If you have something to say to my wife, don’t do it here. Please go to my office and wait.”

 

Rather than scolding, Erich calmly suggested moving to another place, which made Fritz chuckle.

 

‘Well, I guess that’s it. Acting all high and mighty doesn’t suit him.’

 

With that, Fritz smirked and followed Erich to his office.

 

“Hey, nice office.”

 

Fritz spontaneously took a seat at the table, even though Erich hadn’t invited him to sit down.

 

Fritz smirked at Erich, who still hadn’t said anything.

 

‘See, he can’t even say a word.’

 

“Your Highness, shall I prepare some tea for you?”

 

“Oh, I’d like milk tea…….”

 

As the servant asked carefully, Fritz was about to mention the tea he wanted to drink.

 

“There’s no need for tea. He will leave soon.”

 

Erich replied and closed the door behind him.

 

Fritz frowned, intending to express his dissatisfaction with Erich’s arbitrary actions.

 

“Hey, brother-in-law, who says I’ll leave soon? I need to see my sister’s face today, and…”

 

At that moment, Fritz stopped talking.

 

Erich had quietly approached him and was now pressing his shoulders with both hands.

 

Fritz screamed in pain at the sudden force on his shoulder.

 

Erich looked down at him and sneered.

 

“Your highness, is this really painful for you?”

 

“You, you bastard…… Ugh!”

 

He struggled, hoping to somehow escape this pain, but it was useless.

 

Erich’s grip was too strong.

 

At first, Fritz was angry at the sudden oppression, but after a while, he felt resentful.

 

“Why are you doing this to me…….?”

 

Erich’s mouth twitched as he asked in a trembling voice.

 

“You don’t know?”

 

The voice was extremely arrogant, clearly belonging to the one with the upper hand.

 

Fritz was furious, but he was powerless to do anything, so he had no choice but to listen to Erich’s words.

 

“You rampaged like a dog in someone else’s manor. You dared to touch my mansion, where not even the Emperor can touch you.”

 

Fritz shuddered at the words.

 

Although he was a troublemaker, no one had ever pointed out this fact to Fritz.

 

“How dare you do this and think you can get away with it…….”

 

“I’ll be fine.”

 

Just as Fritz was about to reply in disbelief, he met Erich’s gaze.

 

It was a sinister glare, akin to that of a wild beast.

 

‘What the hell, what are you looking at…….?’

 

Fritz flinched involuntarily as he was pushed off his feet, and Erich lifted the corner of his mouth.

 

“This is my mansion, and right now, there are only you and me in this room.”

 

A cold sneer tugged at the corners of Erich’s mouth.

 

“Who do you think people would believe—the foolish prince, or me, a war hero?”

 

Fritz may be foolish, but he’s got a good head on his shoulders.

 

So Fritz was aware that if he exposed Erich’s atrocities, he would be at a disadvantage.

 

But…….

 

“So, Your Highness, please don’t disturb my peace in the future and behave quietly in the palace. Do you understand?”

 

Upon hearing Erich’s words, which left no room for discussion, a glint of bloodlust appeared in Fritz’s eyes.

 

‘You bastard!’