IELNDMH - Chapter 17 < Dude, I Like That >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
I looked at Cedric's eyes over the thin wall surrounding the training hall.
'Oh no, I was so surprised that I hid without realizing it!'
It was a night walk just to see the light of 'The Devil's Gift' again. But the light coming from the sponsored training center ignited my curiosity. I just came here without thinking much...
Cedric was swinging his wooden sword alone without a single thread on his upper body.
'Ha, I shouldn't come. Why am I so curious?'
I didn't know that if I happened to run into Cedric, he might get the misunderstanding that I was secretly following him. If it were the original Rebecca, that would have been enough. Then, the favorability that seemed to have slightly recovered will plummet again...
'No, that's absolutely not possible!'
I began to move little by little towards the entrance to the training ground a crouching position. It was a funny sight, but it was the only way to avoid being caught in Cedric's sight.
Was it when I barely walked five steps away?
"... You there."
Cedric's unique bass sound resonated throughout the large training hall.
'No way was I caught.... '
Is it?
Oh no.
Even if I get caught, he still won't know it's me.
The moment I was about to take another step with vain hope. The indifferent voice rang low in the huge training hall once again.
"I think it would be less embarrassing if you woke up now."
"..."
" ...Rebecca, you can really see everything."
I don't know if it was my imagination, but I sensed a hint of playfulness in Cedric's tone.
'You even knew it was me.'
I hesitantly licked my lips and then slowly stood up.
"Ha ha ha.... You haven't slept yet?"
When I made eye contact with Cedric, an awkward laugh came out. But Cedric just stared at me with his blue eyes.
"What are you doing here at night?"
He put on a nightgown and walked slowly towards me.
"Oh, well, I was out for a walk at night and saw the light coming out of this place...."
"Do you want it to leak?"
"I just came here to see it. Please don't misunderstand because I will never, ever secretly follow you or anything like that."
Cedric had come right in front of me and looked down at me in silence for a while. Until now, I haven't met Cedric alone very often. Usually, when we suddenly encountered each other like now, Cedric did not hide his wariness towards me. It was the same in his first meeting and in subsequent meetings as well.
'Ha.... You're probably going to glare at me again and spew harsh words at me, right?'
Is all the effort I've made so far to win Cedric's favor going to waste like this?
It was at that time that a new, empty sigh escaped his lips.
".... Are you going for a walk alone tonight?"
Cedric asked, staring at the entrance to the training ground. As if he were trying to check if someone was waiting there.
I slowly blinked at his unexpected reaction.
"What about tonight's walk?"
"When do you start talking like you saw me with someone?"
Cedric was silent for a while as if he had hit the nail on the head.
'This might be an opportunity.'
I took advantage of the moment Cedric stopped talking and took a step back.
"Anyway, it was really a 'coincidence' meeting, but it was nice to meet you, Cedric."
"......."
"Then... Bye."
And it was just as I turned around.
"Something pretty interesting happened at the Orangery."
"......."
"You sent all of Bianca's friends back to the capital?"
Oh my, are you trying to blame me for that?
There's no way it could go this easily.
"Cedric, before you get angry, listen to me first. That's a reasonable situation..."
It was when I sighed and turned my head towards Cedric again.
"Thank you."
"...Yes?"
What did I just hear?
I blinked rapidly and looked up at Cedric.
"Bianca said so. You protected her reliably in a difficult situation."
"..."
"I really appreciate it."
These were words I thought I would never hear from Cedric. I was amazed at the situation and looked at Cedric with wide eyes. As the time continued for quite some time, Cedric cleared his throat as if he was embarrassed.
"If it's okay, would you like to have a cup of tea with me?"
The place I headed with Cedric was on the upper floor of the training hall. The attic is located directly beneath the dome-shaped roof. This seemed to be a simple lounge where Cedric rested after training. Across from the small fireplace was a bed, sofa, and table, and on the table were simple biscuits and a teacup set to eat after training.
Cedric, who was sitting across from me at the table, was busy making tea himself.
"I guess I'm not good at making teas. I was teased by Bianca a few times."
Cedric said, carefully tipping the kettle onto my teacup. Finally, as I lifted the warm, steaming teacup, he looked at me with expectant eyes.
"How is it?"
"It's okay. You make tea well too."
"Be honest?"
".... It's extremely astringent and hot like lava."
Ugh. I quickly apologized and put the teacup down with a pained face.
"It's clear to me that you have no talent at all."
Cedric slightly scratched his eyebrows as if embarrassed. I looked at him and nodded my head seriously.
"Yes, completely, at all. If possible, let's go through the employee."
"..."
"At this level, I could die of shock while drinking tea. There's no need to bother poisoning it."
Cedric, who was looking at me pouring out negative reviews with a straight face, soon burst into laughter. Cedric is laughing like that in front of me.
Surprised, I stared at Cedric. When a handsome person smiles like that, it really seems like the whole world lights up. I don't know if it was because I got to know Cedric's seemingly perfect human side, or because I saw his bright smile. It was the first time I felt comfortable being with Cedric.
"It looks like you are disposing of artwork these days."
"That's right. How did you know?"
"From the dark mansion, works of art were taken out one after another, piled on white cloth. So I'm just guessing."
Cedric lowered his head for a moment and blinked slowly.
"If it's because there isn't enough alimony... No, it's not like that."
I denied it outright. Alimony that will be taken away by Duke Bold anyway. Cedric looked at me with a confused expression.
"Even though we are divorced, we are still together, so we can proceed with the alimony agreement again."
"..."
"It means you can ask me for help."
"You... You want to help me?"
After saying thank you, he even volunteered to help me. I was so surprised by Cedric's seemingly indifferent and friendly attitude that I could not easily continue speaking.
Cedric looked at me in silence for a while, and the corners of his lips gently curved up.
"Of course, we failed as a couple. Because you went too far and I was apathetic."
"..."
"But that's true,"
Cedric paused for a moment, then his soft gaze fell on me.
"It doesn't mean we'll fail as friends."
Eyes as clear as the deep blue sea. For the first time, I felt a slight warmth in those gazes that were always full of cynicism and coldness. Seeing Cedric like that, I was at a loss for words for a moment. I slowly raised the corner of his mouth.
"Dude, I like that."
A slight smile spread across Cedric's beautiful face as if he was satisfied with the answer. At the same time, I cleared my throat due to the slight excitement I felt.
"Hmm... I think it would be better to pretend that we are still a couple."
"..."
"Honestly, it will be known soon that we are separated, but if you treat me the way you have been, no one will suspect that our relationship has broken up, right?"
"... Maybe so. Let's try."
Cedric nodded his head with a serious expression.
"Then how about I tell you to celebrate that we are now friends? If alimony is not enough, then why are all the works of art being disposed of?"
"Oh, that's actually...."
"...?"
"I don't think I will ever get a single penny of divorce alimony."
"What does that mean? There's no way Duke Bold would do that."
Cedric's brow slowly furrowed.
"I thought you had a very special relationship with Duke Bold... Wasn't it?"
What is the special relationship?
I immediately shook my head.
"Not at all. It may seem that way on the outside, but my father has never truly cared for me. It's the same for my mother."
Although the story of the Bold family was not detailed in the original work, it was still something that could be guessed. Moreover, after meeting Duke Bold in person, that guess became closer to certainty.
"That can't be possible..."
Cedric muttered lowly. I don't know why, but he looked shocked.
"Is it really that surprising that I don't have a good relationship with my own father?"
At my question, Cedric raised his head again. with an expression that seemed to have finally come to his senses.
I smiled softly while looking at him.
"So, I plan to increase my personal assets as much as possible until the divorce is announced."
"..."
"No matter how much you are the head of the family, you cannot touch personal property that existed before the divorce."
Cedric, who was lost in thought, slowly parted his lips.
"For that reason, the alimony may be converted into personal property in advance."
"That's enough."
Cedric's eyebrows arched at my firm refusal. Cedric's offer was appreciated, but it was natural that Cedric's situation would be difficult if Duke Bold found out about it too late. He was the absolute presence of each family in the Western Empire. Therefore, it was an unwritten rule in aristocratic society that no matter how high-ranking a family was, it would not infringe upon the rights of other family heads.
'That old man will use that as an excuse to form a public opinion of criticism in aristocratic society. To get more from Cedric.'
I didn't want to cause so much trouble as I was leaving soon. After thinking about it, I shook my head.
"If you really want to help me, lower the alimony to the lowest level or shorten the payment period. Then I think my mind will be at ease."
But Cedric furrowed his brows as if he regretted the fact that he couldn't help.
"I can't help it. Then let's deal with that matter gradually... But how are you going to build personal wealth without my help?"
"I will invest in the demon world material futures trading market."
"In the futures market?"
Cedric asked back, unable to hide his surprised expression.
"I didn't know you had much interest in the economic field. I thought there was almost nothing I didn't know about you."
Cedric muttered lowly as if he was talking to himself. I let out a small laugh looking at him like that.
"You'll get used to it soon. Mina and Adrian were often surprised at first, but now they seem to have gotten used to it."
At that moment, for some reason, Cedric's expression began to subtly sink.
"If it's Adrian... Are you referring to the person who is currently staying with you in the dark mansion?"
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