The reason I spoke this way was to remind Ethan of his treatment of Camille up to that point.
The meaning was clear: “Don't start doing things you've never done before.”
"Anyway, this is separate from our divorce conversation. What happened earlier was just a simple misunderstanding. So can you let go of my hand now?"
“……”
Ethan released the hand that was holding my wrist.
As he pulled away from me, the tension that had been gripping my body suddenly began to dissipate.
I turned my back to him, and without him noticing me, I pressed my hand to my chest. My heart was still beating fast.
I spoke in a voice that I tried to make sound calm: “When I saw my brother yesterday, his face looked paler than before. As you know, his illness is incurable. Now that he is older, it will only get worse. So, from now on, I want to be by his side.”
This was an excuse I made up after my first visit to Olivier.
I had not thought about it before because it was difficult for me to imagine living with my family until Olivier's last days.
But after meeting him in person, I realized that he is a good person who cares deeply about his younger sister. Even the servants seemed to be on my side, calling me “Our Lady.”
That's why I thought it wouldn't be so bad if I divorced Ethan and lived there.
At least I won't be fired after having an affair like in the original story, and Olivier won't be shocked to the point of collapse. Of course, there will still be some fears, but living together will alleviate them a little.
I turned to Ethan again and continued, "Please. My brother is my only family. I don't want to leave him alone when he's sick. Let's get a divorce."
Ethan stared at me for a long time, with an ambiguous expression, before suddenly uttering stuttering words: “Why does it have to end in divorce?”
"What?"
“What you mean is that you want to live with Count Chevelot. Does it really require a divorce?”
I frowned and asked him: “What do you mean?”
Although Olivier's health was not good, he was not about to die.
As long as he manages his health well, he will live another ten years or more. It was rare for a wife to leave her husband alone and away from home for so long, especially a duchess like me.
"Are you suggesting that I visit him every weekend or stay a week every month? That won't be enough. He's not far away, and what if my brother has an epileptic seizure while I'm gone?"
“That's not what I meant,” Ethan interrupted me.
“So what? Are you saying that it’s okay for me to be away from the Duchy for a long time, without knowing exactly how long?”
“No. What I’m saying is that if Count Chevelot brings us here, there is no reason for you to leave, and no reason for our divorce.”
“...what?”
"Let's bring your brother to the duchy. This way, you won't have to leave, and we won't have to divorce," Ethan spoke with an expressionless expression.
“……”
I stared at Ethan, my mouth slightly open.
I never imagined him saying something like that.
Due to the social structure and customs prevailing in this world, it was rare for a woman to bring her family into her husband’s home.
This might have been possible if the mother had been elderly, but Camille's brother, Olivier, is still in his forties.
“He can stay in the vacant southern annex. It's separate from the main house, so he won't feel disturbed, and it's much bigger and better than his current residence. It's okay if he brings all his servants with him.”
I listened to Ethan in amazement before quickly shaking my head.
“It's impossible”
“Why not?”
“Because my brother will definitely refuse. He does not want to cause trouble for the duchy. As the head of the Chevelot family, he does not deem it appropriate to leave his estate.”
“If so, I will meet him in person and convince him.”
I asked in surprise, “What? Are you going to do?”
“Why not? Is there a problem with that?”
“No, not exactly, but...”
“Okay, it's over. The conversation is over. Don't bring up the divorce again,” Ethan said coldly.
“What? Wait a minute...”
Without listening to my words, he opened the door and left.
I remained stunned, standing alone in his room.
***
Ethan walked aimlessly down the hallway.
Every maid he passed quickly lowered her head, unable to greet him properly. His aura was menacing. Even Ethan himself couldn't understand why he was so upset.
Was it because she was embarrassed by such a foolish assumption? Or because Camille suddenly changed her attitude, pretending as if nothing had happened? Perhaps it was simply because she returned to broaching the subject of divorce relentlessly.
With every thought that crossed his mind, his anger was rising.
It seemed like all of these reasons were the reason.
Although inviting Count Chevelot to the Duke's house was a spontaneous suggestion, after thinking, there was no reason why he should not.
The Dumont Dumont was capable of taking care of another person, and Olivier was not the type to go beyond his limits.
If this would prevent Camille from bringing up the subject of divorce again, it would allow Olivier to stay as long as necessary — decades, if necessary.
Divorce, divorce, every time.
Do you think I refuse to divorce because I am desperate?
Until the relationship between Camille and Gerard became clear, Ethan couldn't leave her. This was his only motivation from the beginning.
It was also clear that the talk about Olivier was just a pretext.
It effectively eliminated any room for Camille to argue. Now, he just had to wait and see what she would do next.
"Please. My brother is my only family. “I don’t want to leave him alone while he is sick anymore.”
Camille's pleading voice echoed in his mind.
So, only your brother is in the family, and I'm not?
A bitter smile appeared on Ethan's lips.
This bad mood showed no signs of fading, and he still didn't know why he felt this way.
***
The feast had passed midnight and was nearing its end. Nadia sat alone at a table, sipping wine.
Berenice and Marianne had already left—Bérénice because of her husband, and Marianne because, apparently, she had drunk too much.
Maybe they were just excuses, Nadia thought, fully aware that she had become nervous and irritable lately.
The reason was clear: Ethan's visit to Le Roy's house had shocked her.
She had always considered Ethan a cold man, aloof from everyone, even his wife.
She accepted his lack of interest in her because he seemed to treat everyone equally. But now, she could no longer deny the truth.
Nadia bit her lower lip.
“If the rumors are true, do you think my wife will still be by my side?”
Ethan's words echoed in her mind, yet she was convinced that Camille was having an affair with Liam Bernard.
She was so sure she would bet on it.
And so, I began discreetly searching for Liam's whereabouts.
If she could find him, she would have the evidence she needed to prove her truth. Ethan won't be able to protect Camille anymore, not after the truth is exposed. He was a man who had no mercy on those who betrayed him.
The problem is that Liam disappeared, and Nadia did not find any evidence indicating his whereabouts. But she was spending money in every direction, confident that she would find it in the end.
...Maybe I should leave now.
She may have been in a bad mood, but despite her heavy drinking, she didn't feel any drunk. As soon as she was about to stand up, she heard a voice from behind her.
“No matter how late it is, the ones who stay seem to be the gentlemen who lack manners. Leaving a lady to drink alone – what a shame!”