My Husband Disappeared The Night I Was Thinking About Divorce

“Why? Why me?

Why did I decide to divorce in the first place?

He was a man who pretended to respect me as his wife but ignored me behind my back.

As the lord of Wayriver , he kept me away from all the estate matters.

While he lavished me with precious jewels and flowers, he seemed to have no intention of sharing the weighty responsibility of managing his achievements and domains with me.

“Keigan. It seems the Earl and Countess of Regen will also attend this ball. They insisted that you must come.”

“There’s no need for you to accompany me to such an event.”

“But I attended the Delephonia charity gala last time…”

“I can handle it alone, Rowan.”

He often bluntly refused my involvement, particularly in social or business matters.

Although tradition in Viechelle dictates that spouses are equal regardless of their pre-marital status, reality was different.

While Keigan did not assert his authority over me as a lord, in reality, he held a higher status and responsibility than me in every aspect, making it difficult for me to oppose his decisions.

At first, I didn’t think he was particularly strange either.

Perhaps it was the influence of the master that allowed me to understand the sentiments of employees who were reluctant to entrust tasks to me.
Even though he was the steward of the duke, wasn’t he just a newcomer from the countryside?

Moreover, it was only after coming to Wayriver that I, as a noble, received formal education.

The experience and dignity of participating in the family’s management were naturally lacking, and the authority given to me solely through ‘marriage’ was trivial.
I made efforts to learn and adapt more fiercely than others.

But it was strange that not even the opportunity was given. No matter how many times I tried to appeal to Keigan, it was in vain.
Not to mention that the conditions were not right for me to detain the busy lord for a long argument.

“I want to see the expenditure ledger and next month’s budget, Ben.”

I had requested it from Ben a month ago, determinedly. The confidence I gained from my home tutor, who reluctantly acknowledged that ‘this should be enough for you to see the practical work,’ was the background.

“Even small units are fine, whether it’s for the kitchen or the garden.”

Ben seemed hesitant, but when I explained that I had been recommended for data analysis by Lady Herbert, he soon brought me the documents. I analyzed the ledger and looked over the budget for the next month.

Since it was only for learning purposes and not for any immediate practical use, I felt comfortable making modifications and improvements. Then I asked Lady Herbert for a review.

“…Thank you for your hard work, Lady Duke.”

“I learned for the first time what kind of smile my governess had.

The mistress who married into the noble family without any education, initially seemed unapproachable, so at first, she couldn’t hide her wary gaze and exuded coldness.
But she, who was loyal to the lord of Wayriver, finally showed me a genuine smile.”

‘You should be grateful to heaven for the talent given to the mistress. Of course, I know best that the noblewoman has worked hard without a moment to rest. But you are showing results that cannot be achieved through effort alone.

You embarrass me every time with your worries and doubts.’

‘You flatter me, Lady Herbert.’

I felt like I might cry a little from her sincere encouragement.

‘Iwill work hard to become a reliable support for the lord as soon as possible. I know I still have a long way to go.’

‘You can already do enough.’

I couldn’t hide my joyous expression like a child.

Thank goodness. I’m really grateful. I hurried with light steps to the west wing. I wanted to brag to my husband, who would be working hard until late in the evening.

‘Just wait a little longer. I feel like I’ll be able to support you soon,’ I thought.

“ I passed through the gallery laid out along the long bridge over the beautiful River Livertain.

It was the end of summer, where I unknowingly ran happily, causing complaints from the residents about the unusually warm weather.”

“You handed the ledger to that woman?”

However, Keigan’s voice, which I accidentally overheard near the staircase next to the study, was completely different from the affectionate voice of the teacher who praised me.

“It’s pointless.”

The cold language felt like it was cutting through me.

“I distinctly told you. Don’t ask that woman to do anything.”

As if he didn’t want to say anything more, Keigan let out a heavy sigh and fell silent.

I was frozen in the silence that followed. The icy stillness pressed down on my shoulders.

Leaning against the staircase wall, I eventually heard the footsteps of the two men growing distant.

He called me that woman. He said I wouldn’t be able to do anything.
I witnessed a scene I had never imagined.

Keigan was always a respectful and courteous husband to me.

Yet, in my absence, and in front of his subordinate, he referred to me and evaluated me in such insulting terms.

“Pointless.”

“Don’t ask her to do anything.”

Was that why?

Every time I offered to take on tasks, he calmly said it was fine, take it slow, only to swiftly reject me and go his own way.
Was it because he actually disrespected me?

Shame and humiliation shook my arms as I felt a shock and betrayal unlike anything I experienced when people whispered behind my back, calling me a poor noble, an ignorant aristocrat, during my childhood.

I felt like a fool, unaware that I was being treated as worthless by my husband.

“Did you have a good day, Luan?”

“Yes.”

That night, I rejected him casually when he got into bed with me.

“Um, I’m tired today.”

“Is something wrong?”

“Just… I think I read too many books.”

My attempts to have a serious conversation with Keigan afterward didn’t go well.

His attitude seemed to avoid the topic altogether, adding to my meager pride and fear of experiencing further embarrassment. Various issues piled up, and time passed uncertainly.
It seemed like I would just live as a superficial hostess.

My husband continued to work alone, and he no longer showed me the account books.

If this was going to be the case, then why did he choose me as his wife?

I was also a noble. Even if I was a fallen aristocrat making a living by secretly selling embroidery, I had learned from my parents the attitude of a noble who should contribute much to the world. I never forgot my status.

“I wanted to live as someone who could be of help, even if I didn’t belong to a great and wealthy noble family.”

Living a life where I only receive care without being able to care for anyone else seemed fitting only for a child, not a noble.

So, I considered divorce. Because I needed to live as a true noble.

But…

‘Are you appointing me as the heir?’
Keigan nominated me as the heir.

‘Why me?’

It was an incomprehensible story.

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

The one who couldn’t even fulfill the duties of a host suddenly left a will for me to become a lord?

‘Madam!’ Milah suddenly popped her head in at the entrance.

‘I just escorted Lord Regan to the guest reception room in the west wing.
The Duchess seems busy these days, doesn’t she?

She was subtly rushing, wasn’t she?’
Oh, right. I had completely forgotten about the guest in my surprise over the contents of the will. Lord Regan was here.

He, who was currently the legal heir.

‘Are you alright, Your Grace?’

Ben’s eyes, asking me once again, seemed somewhat cunning.

“It was only now that I seemed to understand. He must have shown me Keigan’s will in a hurry.”

According to Keigan’s will, the Marquis of Regen is no longer the heir to Wayriver.

The Marquis has no authority. At least that was clear what Keigan wanted.

“I’m fine, Ben,” regardless of whether I accept or reject my husband’s wishes.

“I’ll leave now, Milah.”

I got up, covering my confused mind.
Let’s focus on the present. My husband is absent. Yes, just momentarily absent. From now on,

I have to entertain his guests. Not as a ‘heir’ in the event of similarity, but as an ordinary ‘guest’.

I walked down the long hallway leading to the west wing after a long time. The west wing was Keigan’s workspace, so I rarely had a reason to go there.

While other noble ladies might feel differently, that was the case for me.

Since the day I ran excitedly after receiving praise from Lady Herbert…

The green landscape outside the row of skylights along one side of the hallway was now tinged with red.

The seasons were changing rapidly.

The chilly scent of winter seemed to reach all the way from the distant clouds to the River Livertain.

I never thought I would see Wayriver’s winter.

It felt like autumn would disappear after a few breaths. The long and hot summer disappeared overnight like a dream.

“If only I could see inside your mind, Keigan…”

“Oh, don’t worry at all, Miss Lewan!”

The woman, holding my hands with a dazzling sparkle in her eyes, reassured me.

“Milah here will teach you everything. Just trust me.”

Milah, a sturdy woman with the name, said. She must be in her early thirties?
I’ve heard she’s been a companion since Keigan worked as a demon hunter in Nosca.

I wondered why they insisted on attaching a former hunter as my maid instead of a regular noble lady.

“Our dear little Miss. You must be happy.”

But I didn’t dislike her. Her large hands, holding mine tightly as if praying, were very warm.

“Actually, Milah is a bit worried. Will you be able to be happy tonight, Miss Lewan? No, I can’t guarantee that.”

“Why wouldn’t I be happy?”

Just now she said not to worry?

“Oh!”

Milah pretended to be startled, then suddenly grinned ominously.

“Miss Lewan, you’ve seen our Duke’s brave physique up close and haven’t been discouraged. Oh, good. You have a braver heart than you seem.”

“But you’re a polite gentleman.”

Milah shyly complimented Keigan, making her smile even longer.

“Such ignorance. You were truly naïve, weren’t you? Haha.”

“Ignorance…?”

It was true that there were many things I didn’t know.

After losing my parents at the age of fifteen, I lived alone for ten years.

I went to the local church every Sunday, and occasionally, there was a neighbor who would look out for me, but I didn’t have any close friends.

I was inadequate in socializing with other nobles, and I couldn’t cross the line they drew to mingle with commoners.
My hometown, Teseña, was a small and closed-off village.

“Oh, you innocent girl! Anyway, you’ll probably see some grim scenes, but don’t worry. That’s our job, the Duke’s and mine. But rest assured, Miss Lewan , you won’t face any serious crisis, as I’ve always taught our Duke well, even when he was a naïve boy.”

“Wow, so Milah even taught Keigan.”

I didn’t know what they were talking about, but she seemed even more impressive.

Wasn’t she a close aide who knew my husband well, whom I still didn’t know much about?

“That’s right. I was the only woman in our hunting team. Anyway, my educational method was purely about proper verbal education, you know, the kind where men are supposed to know everything and maintain proper demeanor, so don’t misunderstand.”

“I won’t misunderstand.”

I clung to Milah with both hands, needing support.

“Then remember, Miss. It might be difficult for you to handle the Duke at first, but you’ll gradually realize. Oh, it’ll make you the happiest person in the world.”

“The only giant around here is this giant, right?”

“Yes.”

I nodded vigorously.

Keigan is indeed big. He seemed to tower over 190cm, and his shoulders and chest were so broad that sometimes he seemed like a different race than me.

When I saw him riding a war horse at the morning assembly today, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed.

It was like the harmony of two different giants coming together. It somehow seemed magnificent and beautiful.

“Fortunately, there’s only one thing our lady should be careful about. The rest will be taken care of by the Duke. Pretty easy, right?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

It was time for me to get to know Keigan more deeply.

“Well then, first of all…”

Milah said, emphasizing the precautions.

“Don’t scream when the Duke takes off his pants.”

Finally, it was the day when I married Keigan and shared a bed with him for the first time.