I Failed to Divorce My Husband

The elders gathered all servants of the Lienster family.

They created a solemn atmosphere before beginning to speak gravely.

“The Duchess is currently under suspicion of attempting to murder the Duke and usurp control of the Lienster estate.”

Elder Diarn took the lead and explained the situation to the employees.

“It seems she has resorted to such extreme actions for fear of her crimes being uncovered.”

The elders had already reached a conclusion.

Why such deeds were committed was of no significance.

All that mattered was how the act appeared and how it could be utilized.

“The safety of the Duke, as well as the stability of the entire Lienster name, is now at risk.”

Their faces were etched with concern and seriousness.

“As elders, we cannot stand idly by in the face of this situation.”

Elder Diarn’s eyes widened, showing a firm determination.

“We have come to the decision that it is necessary for us to intervene for the sake of the Lienster family.”

It was as if he was saying their actions were purely out of a sense of duty to the family.

“…….”

However, none of the servants took the elders’ words at face value.

Their faces explicitly showed wariness towards the elders.

“From now on, we will make all the decisions.”
The elders were unilateral.

It was only natural for the butler, Felix leading the knights, and the employees to rebel.

“Even as elders, you have no authority to make decisions about the internal affairs of the Lienster household.”

Felix was the first to object strongly.

At that, Elder Diarn’s eyes narrowed sharply into a triangle shape.

“Who else but us can resolve this situation now?”
He was openly annoyed as he clicked his tongue.

“Do you have plans to handle it yourselves without even understanding your place?”

This was directed at the butler and Felix, who had been the core support for the employees.

“From this moment forward, the Council of Elders will make all decisions.”

It was essentially an act of seizing authority.

“But……!”

Felix opened his mouth, unwilling to give up.

“We will not listen to further objection. If you obstruct us now, we will take it as you have other motives!”

So it was essentially a threat that if they didn’t want to be unfairly accused, they had to remain silent.

The employees’ eyes were clearly rebellious, but no one dared to speak up or move easily.

The situation was such that there was no absolute being who could lead the employees as they had done before.

In the end, they had no choice but to be swayed by the elders.

The employees’ faces were contorted in various ways.

The elders, as if they had been waiting for this, began to rifle through the internal documents of the Lienster family.

“Bring the documents!”

“This is something that only the Duke himself can view.”

Felix stood his ground.

Then, Elder Tenern, who had been watching from the side, threw a thick book in Felix’s direction with a scowl.

Henry, who was standing beside Felix and looking distressed, quickly reached out to block the book flying straight toward Felix’s face.

“Elder! What are you doing?”

Henry raised his voice in protest. But all they did was snort in response.

“We are the ones who are replacing the Duke’s authority right now. And yet, you resist showing them, deserving a greater punishment.”

“We do not wish to waste more time. Bring them to us.”

“…I’m sorry.”

Felix bowed his head, showing no intention of moving.

“This is!”

Elder Diarn glared at Felix as if he wanted to kill him.

Then, he slowly turned his gaze towards Henry, who stood in a posture ready to block anything thrown their way.

“Lock Felix in the room.”

Elder Diarn commanded decisively.

“Considering that the Lienster family is in a state of emergency, and seeing that he obstructs everything, his motives are suspicious.”

Essentially, it was a way to show what happens to those who do not follow the elders’ words.

“Still, because he has served the Duke for a long time, we won’t send him to jail. Let him reflect on his wrongdoings in the room.”

Elder Diarn said this with a kind smile as if he were showing great mercy.

“What are you doing? What did I just say!”

The elder narrowed his eyes, putting pressure on Henry.

Henry swallowed a sigh and grabbed Felix’s arm.

“It seems best to comply for now.”

Eventually, as Felix was being led away, the elders let out a sneer.

They dared to obstruct us so insolently.
This was a crucial moment.

Like Felix, those inflexible and rigid individuals would be ousted, and one by one, people loyal to the elders would be placed in their stead.

By gradually taking over, the Lienster house would eventually become a puppet of the council of elders.

Ambition was written all over the elders’ faces.
After Felix and Henry left, only the elders remained in the office.

Then, after a brief silence, laughter erupted from one side.

“Ha-ha. Perhaps this is for the best.”

The voice sounded incredibly pleased and joyful.

“With the duchess crumbling on her own, our movements become all the more unobstructed, haven’t they?”

Elder Tenern said with a sly smile.

“But I’m still worried. Who knows what they’re thinking inside there.”

Elder Diarn tried to calm his excitement but could not shed his suspicion.

However, the other elders had different opinions.

“They’re likely trying to buy time because it’s disadvantageous for them now.”

“They must be dreaming a futile dream that they will regain their memories if left alone together.”

“Hahaha! No matter how hard they try, they won’t be able to remember.”

We were lucky this time.

“The medicine that Elder Diarn brought in last time was quite timely,” said Elder Tenern.

Elder Hunen nodded vigorously and added, “Indeed. We thought it was just a curiosity with no real value, but who would have known it could be so useful!”

Laughter erupted loudly.

What they were discussing was the medicine that the Diarn family had brought in by chance during their trade with a foreign country.

A drug that, if taken consistently, would gradually dull the mind and degrade memory.

Aiden had been taking the medicine since he woke up.

Since he had been unconscious for several days, the doctors’ actions were natural.

Mixing the drug in was not a difficult task for the elders.

‘I never thought it would be used in this way.’

Normally, the Duke of Lienster would never have been able to use it.

But it was useful now, given that some part of the brain was already damaged.

While he cannot take the medicine while inside the room, the amount he has already consumed is sufficient.

His memory will never return.

***

The door had already been closed for five days.
They almost wished that Erin and Aiden would not come out.

It was around this time that such thoughts naturally occurred to the elders.

“Someone has arrived!”

“Who do you say has come?”

“The two from the dukedom have just arrived…!”
In an instant, the faces of the elders hardened, and a tense atmosphere enveloped them.

They were there.

Another master who could step in at any time when the current duke and his wife failed to perform their roles.

Logan and Isabella had arrived at the Lienster House a step late.

The arrival of these two meant that the elders no longer had the pretext to meddle with the Lienster House.

Alarm and unease crept onto the elders’ faces.
Moreover, the elders had already been gradually transferring the Lienster House’s finances to their control.

Not only that, but they had also capriciously changed the employees and stirred things up.

It would be impossible for Logan and Isabella not to notice these changes with a little scrutiny.

“Let’s go to greet them, for now.”

Elder Diarn broke the silence and stood up.

The elders deeply sighed as they received the two people.

“We would have had to face this situation sooner or later. We have no choice but to subtly persuade them to return to their domain.”

With that, the elders took heavy steps forward.
Elder Diarn had his own thoughts.

He intended to emphasize the duchess’s misdeeds and magnify their seriousness to ensure they would be too preoccupied to look into anything else, preventing their attention from wandering.

***

As soon as Logan and Isabella arrived at the mansion, they found themselves standing in front of the door to the room where Erin and Aiden were, without even a moment’s rest.

It was a room they were both familiar with as well.

“Are they in there?” Logan asked, staring intently at the door.

“Yes. We don’t know what means she used, but the duchess has confined the duke inside and she herself is not coming out either.”

Elder Diarn stepped forward to explain Erin’s misdeeds.

“We’ve tried our best to communicate, but no matter what we do, there is no response.”

However, there was no significant change in expression on Logan and Isabella’s faces.

Isabella, who had been staring at the door, slowly began to speak.

“This room was made to withstand a crisis from any attack, whether from an external enemy or one within.”

“…?”

The elders looked puzzled as Isabella suddenly shared the original purpose of the room’s design.

“Being here doesn’t mean they’re confined.”

Isabella stated calmly.

“What are you talking about!”

“I understand that you both care for the duchess, but blindly taking her side is not going to solve the problem.”

Elder Diarn calmly yet sharply countered Isabella’s words.

But Isabella was unshaken, continuing even more calmly.

“They sought refuge because they were in crisis. And they were waiting.”

“…”

Isabella slowly opened her mouth toward the door.

Her voice was so soft that it was doubtful whether it could be heard through the door.

“Erin. Aiden. We are here.”

“I am here too.”

That was all Isabella and Logan said.

“But there has been no response. There is nothing we haven’t tried over the past few days…”
The elders were expressing their frustration.

The door, which seemed like it would never open.
It started to move bit by bit.

And then the firmly shut door opened completely.

“…!”

Erin emerged from inside with a meaningful smile, followed by the sight of Aiden.

“You were all gathered here.”

Erin spoke briskly towards everyone.

The elders’ eyes reddened.

“Duchess! What have you done? To commit such an atrocity, claiming the duke’s memory is not intact, this cannot be overlooked!”

It wasn’t Erin but Aiden who responded to the elders’ angry shouts.

“It seems you’ve taken good care of me in the meantime. I’m unsure how to thank you.”

Aiden’s meaningful greeting left the elders unable to hide their confusion.

“What in the world happened…?”

“Has… has your memory returned…?”

The elders couldn’t control their trembling voices.
“Fortunately, all my memories have returned.”

At Aiden’s cool response, the elders were taken aback.

“Seeing you all like this brings back different emotions.”

Aiden’s chill gaze was directed at the elders.