IELNDMH - Chapter 9 < Breath Between Lips And Fingers >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
"...Uh?"
Mina's eyes widened as she looked over my shoulder without thinking.
When I turned my head to follow her gaze, my eyes immediately met the blue eyes that were watching me.
"... Cedric?"
At his sudden appearance, Mina hurriedly lowered her head and retreated to the side at a distance. Even though she was looking at Cedric with awe in her eyes, she didn't even dare to mix her words with him.
'Of course, it might be because he is the head of a mixed-race demon... '
Cedric's intimidation is enormous.
I nodded slowly and looked up at Cedric again. He was wearing a wine-colored velvet coat and holding a document envelope in one hand. A carriage was seen slowly passing behind Cedric, who was facing him.
'It looks like you're on your way there.'
But why did you bother to stop and tell me?
"Oh, why did you pass by without saying hello?"
That's right, Cedric still didn't say hello and he just quietly looked down at me. Cedric, with the languid afternoon sunlight behind him. I looked up at him and suddenly thought.
'Now that I think about it, is this the first time I've met Cedric in the middle of the day?'
Elegant light and shade intertwined with sharp eyes and a high bridge of the nose. Is it because of that? Cedric's unique languid yet relaxed impression became even more attractive.
We just looked at each other for a while. Feeling awkward due to the excessively long silence, I was the first to open my mouth.
"It looks like you had plans to go out in the morning."
Cedric's eyebrows, who were still looking down at me, arched high. He looked as if he had been swept away by a wave of thoughts and had finally returned to reality.
"There was a meeting at the imperial palace."
"I see."
".... I thought I would somehow research it in advance if it was my schedule. Wasn't it?"
His words reminded me of the task list that was on my nightstand every morning.
'I was wondering why there were so many documents when there was no work for the Grand Duchess.'
It seems like everything except the first page was a list of Cedric's work. That's amazing, Rebecca.
Surprised again by her obsession, I let out a deep sigh.
"I will tell the person in charge not to do anything like that anymore. I haven't looked at the schedule list lately, so I forgot to give them instructions."
"You don't look at the schedule list?"
Although this was said as an excuse, Cedric asked back with an expression of disbelief. Oh, no matter what, I'm still the Grand Duchess, Isn't this it?
I quickly threw up my hand.
"It's not that I don't see it, it's that I only see it roughly. Honestly, just between us...I don't really have a schedule."
"......."
"If you don't even check my schedule, there's no reason to keep track of your schedule anymore."
Then Cedric slowly nodded his head with a thoughtful expression on his face.
"... Probably so. Because you have no affection left for that."
I couldn't believe my ears but soon became convinced that I must have misheard the word 'schedule'. Not only was it because Cedric spoke softly as if he was reciting. There's no way Cedric, who always maintains a businesslike and cool demeanor toward me, would say something like that.
"That's right, I guess it doesn't exist at all."
At my words, Cedric's blue gaze fell on my face again. I hope so for a while. He took a long breath and looked over my shoulder as if trying to clear his mind.
"Is this the way out of the dark mansion?"
"Yes, I will be staying there for the next six months. I think it would be a good idea to go and see it in advance."
Of course, Mina was already standing at a distance so as not to disturb the conversation between the Grand Duke and his wife. Still, I didn't mention the word 'divorce' just in case.
Even so, there's no way he didn't understand what I said, but for some reason, Cedric looked a little confused.
Did you really not understand?'
I walked a little closer to Cedric, covered his mouth, and whispered softly.
"We'll sign the divorce papers tomorrow."
However, Cedric just quietly looked down at my lips that were pressing the word 'divorce'.
"...It looks like you've really made up your mind."
"Sure. I told you not to worry. I will immediately leave for the dark mansion so that you will never see my face again."
"....."
"It will be completely sorted out tomorrow. Just what you always wanted."
And just as I wanted.
Since one dead flag would be cleared tomorrow, I raised the corners of my mouth with a relieved expression.
Cedric, looking at me like that, blinked with a subtle expression. Then he looked down at the document envelope in his hand and muttered lowly.
"Just as I wanted..."
I'm sure he's still doubting my sincerity. I opened my mouth again to convince him.
"As promised, let's meet at the glass garden tomorrow at 3pm. Don't forget to bring divorce papers, just in case."
At my calm words, a small ripple appeared in Cedric's blue eyes.
***
Next day.
For some reason, the maids who dressed me were busier than usual. It was like watching beauty salon employees carefully decorating a customer who had been invited to her ex-boyfriend's wedding. I was secretly worried that someone might have found out that I was divorcing Cedric.
'What a thorough person Cedric is.'
There's absolutely no way I can watch the divorce go wrong because my conditions are wrong. I thought about telling the maids to do it in moderation, but I quickly stopped. What day is today?
It was a festive day for me, with not only a dead flag disappearing, but also the promise of a huge amount of compensation.
'Well then. In times like this, you should have the taste of decorating more extravagantly.'
At the time I was thinking about having a champagne toast when I got back. The long period of dressing up finally came to an end with me wearing pink diamond earrings that matched my red hair. At that time, while I was admiring my beautiful appearance in front of the mirror, Mina came into the dressing room.
"Your Highness, the reception room is perfectly prepared."
As usual, Mina's face was very flushed, as if she had worked particularly hard today.
"Yes, you had a hard time."
The eyes of the maids around me widened at what I said as usual. It was as if they had no idea that crazy dog Rebecca would say such a thing to a mere maid.
Mina smiled shyly and said.
'See, didn't I tell you that?'
She looked at the maids with an expression of interest. I smiled while looking at Mina like that, then walked up to her and whispered softly.
"I think I'll go for a walk for a while."
"Now... Would you like to take a walk?"
Mina tilted her head with an expression of uncertainty. Then, she met my direct gaze and continued speaking.
"Then I'll prepare for you to leave right away."
"No, I'm going alone today."
I was thinking of heading to the glass garden, pretending to go for a walk. The divorce had to be kept a complete secret for the time being, so no matter how much Mina was, I couldn't keep her around.
When I checked the grandfather clock in the corner of the dressing room, it was already 30 minutes before the appointed time.
'It's better to arrive a little early anyway!'
As I left the dressing room and reached the central stairs, Mina followed behind me with a worried expression.
"Your Highness, really... Are you really coming back soon?"
Mina's overly worried reaction was a little strange, but I just ignored it.
"Don't worry. I will finish it perfectly and come back soon."
Then I patted Mina's shoulder and walked down the stairs with a brisk walk.
***
The glass garden, the meeting place, was behind the twin mansion. Due to the nature of the cold northern weather, plants and flower gifts that are sensitive to cold were tended in glass gardens.
How long did I walk along the brick road between the Mansion of Light and the Mansion of Darkness?
The brick road soon led to a path and I arrived at the forest garden at the very back of the castle. And soon, a large statue in the center of the forest garden came into view.
'It's the famous twin statue.'
Twin brothers are the progenitors of not only the Twins family but also the mixed-race demons. It was a statue erected to commemorate them. The twins in the statue were each stretching their fingers in the direction of the Mansion of Light and Darkness. To see a statue I've only seen in novels in real life.
The moment I stopped in amazement and looked up at the bronze statue.
"Are you throwing curses at me again?"
A charming bass sound came from behind me. When I turned my head, I immediately made eye contact with Cedric, who was looking at me.
'I couldn't even hear the footsteps...When did he appear?'
As I was thinking about that, Cedric's steps slowly stopped next to me.
"Why do I curse the statue?"
As I scolded him and slightly glanced at him, one corner of Cedric's mouth turned up.
"But, it wasn't just a curse. You also poured alcohol on it."
"Alcohol?"
"The night you came into my bedroom while drunk about three years ago. That day when you got angry and ran away when I refused."
"...."
"... You're acting like someone who can't remember again. Or you thought I wouldn't know if yiu did it secretly at night."
I curled my lips and slowly closed my eyes.
'Rebecca, you did something like that...'
Even if he were a half-blood demon, I really think he would want to kill you...
Pouring alcohol along with a curse on the statue of an ancestor of a family, or even a nation.
Even though I didn't do anything, my face felt hot.
"For a while, I had a hard time pretending not to notice that the vassals were going on a rampage, saying they had to find the culprit."
I felt my head pounding and let out a long sigh.
"That will never happen in the future. Especially when I find myself in your bedroom drunk."
As I spoke through gritted teeth, I could briefly hear a low laugh.
"That would be a good idea. After divorce, there is no reason for me to cover up your faults..."
"Shh! We decided to keep it a secret!"
I hastily covered Cedric's mouth with my palm. It was only for a moment that I gave Cedric a warning look. Eventually, I realized that the distance between us was too close. And the fact that something soft and gentle brushing against my palm was Cedric's lips.
"Ah..."
The wind blew through the dense trees and the clear sound of birds. And the fresh scent of the forest. Standing on a quiet path leading to a vast forest, we looked closely into each other's eyes. Our eye contact continued for a long time and neither of us avoided the other's gaze.
Eventually, I could once again feel Cedric's breath and its warmth between my fingers.
'Ah... Cedric would be displeased, but I was too absorbed in it.'
Cedric had already roughly ripped my hand away and scolded me coldly. But why...!
It was a moment when a faint curiosity was blooming.
"Rebecca."
His lips moved softly and brushed my palm. His indifferent yet captivating gaze was still fixed on me. And then a very polite yet soft question, uncharacteristic of Cedric, followed.
"Now... Are you going to let me go?"
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