Karina and Jeremiah went to the podium where the Emperor was. The foreign envoys were just leaving after greeting the Emperor.
'You came just in time.'
Karina smiled naturally. The attendant who was guiding the guests in order approached and announced their turn. Karina and Jeremiah went to the Emperor and bowed.
"Grand Duke Colesberg. Welcome. It's been a while."
The Emperor smiled generously and acted as if the meeting in the throne room had never happened. The same was true of Margrave Millainer, who was standing next to the Emperor.
"I think it is the first time since their marriage, Your Majesty. My son-in-law and daughter have come to greet you, so please look upon them kindly."
The Marquis raised his voice even higher, emphasizing the word 'son-in-law' as if to make sure all the surrounding nobles could hear.
"Aren't you a really well-matched couple? Maybe because you're newlyweds, you both look so smart."
The reason the Marquis was talking like that was to show that the Grand Duke of Colesberg, the master of the North, could no longer ignore his influence. Since Karina, the daughter of the Marquis of Millainer, became the Grand Duchess of Colesberg, the fact that her relationship with Jeremiah was solid alone made the Marquis of Millainer consider his power to be equal to that of the Grand Duke of Colesberg. The reason he kept emphasizing the word son-in-law was because he wanted to show off that he was an elder as the Grand Duke in-law.
'That's a funny thought.'
Karina looked at the Marquis of Milliner, who was acting the same as before and made a pitiful expression. In the past, Karina had suffered greatly because of the Marquis's actions of talking nonsense without any consideration for Karina's situation, which was entangled in malicious rumors. Not only did he tarnish the name of the Grand Duke's family, but he also had to be called a shameless and shameless person who was trying to enjoy the same prestige as the Grand Duke of Colesberg while revealing his low level.
However, there was another reason why Karina remembered this moment more specifically. Karina knew what question the Emperor would ask her later. In the past, she had been greatly shocked by Jeremiah's answer to the Emperor's question.
"The Marquis is right. So, is there any good news between you two?"
The Emperor asked. Karina clenched her fists so that they could not be seen. 'at las!'
Karina had been waiting for this question. Every time the Marquis saw her, he would pester her about whether there was any news of the child. The Marquis must have heard this from the Emperor because during the New Year's greetings, the Emperor asked them if there was any news of the child. Karina thought back to Jeremiah's answer in the past.
"None, Your Majesty."
Karina repeated Jeremiah's answer in a calm yet very determined voice.
"And there will never be another one."
"...!"
The Emperor and the Marquis looked at Karina with puzzled expressions at her answer. Even the nobles and envoys surrounding her focused their gaze on Karina.
"What do you mean, there won't be any more?"
The Emperor asked back in a low voice. Karina felt certain that this was her chance After a moment of hesitation, Karina answered calmly but clearly so that everyone could hear.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. I cannot continue the lineage of the Grand Duke."
The atmosphere around them suddenly became cold as if they had been splashed with cold water. Some people who understood Karina's words gasped in surprise. Marquis Milliner trembled with a pale expression as if he would faint at any moment.
***
"What did you just say...?"
"If you say you can't be an heir, doesn't that mean you can't have children?"
"Oh my God, then the Grand Duchess is Infertile..."
"That's why she said there won't be any in the future either..."
The people in the banquet hall were shocked and started to murmur. Words like 'infertile', 'defective', and 'stupid woman' were heard intermittently among them. Karina laughed inwardly as she watched their reactions, which were not at all different from what she had expected.
'Is that all you can say?'
But now it didn't matter what they said. She could finally get a divorce. That was the most important thing to Karina. Karina continued, her expression unfazed.
"So, Your Majesty..."
However, Jeremiah cut off Karina midway through her request for divorce.
"Your Majesty, we have not yet had a first night."
Karina opened her eyes wide and looked at Jeremiah.
"Since there has never been a first night, it is natural that there can be no successor."
As soon as he finished speaking, silence fell again in the banquet hall. Karina looked at Jeremiah with a surprised expression. It was so absurd that she momentarily failed to realize that this situation was real.
"Then what do you mean there won't be any in the future?"
The Emperor asked again with a puzzled expression.
"I think the Grand Duchess misunderstood what I said when I said that the North was not a good environment for raising children."
"...!"
Karina glared at Jeremiah with her eyes wide open. Karina, who suddenly came to her senses, began to boil with anger at Jeremiah's actions. She wanted to ask him what he was doing. It was a situation where all she had to do was ask for a divorce in that situation.
'Even if you sprinkle ashes on cooked rice, it's still a waste of money!!'
"Oh, I see."
But the Emperor just seemed to understand with a look of disappointment on his face, asking if that was what he meant.
"No, Your Majesty!"
Karina denied it hastily.
"We no longer want to be together as a couple! Please give us a divorce!"
Karina shouted loudly.
"Divorce...?"
The Emperor furrowed his brow at the mention of divorce.
"Ahahahahaha. I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I think my daughter is very heartbroken because she's married but hasn't been able to unite yet."
Marquis Milliner, who was standing next to him, tried to lighten the mood by laughing heartily.
"No! We're really getting a divorce... !"
Although Karina continued to deny it, Marquis Milliner would not leave her alone.
"Oh my, Karina! This is in front of His Majesty the Emperor! How reckless are you going to be!"
"It's okay, Marquis."
The Emperor raised his hand to stop the Marquis of Millainer.
"The Grand Duchess must be so angry that she's talking about divorce. It's understandable, considering they've been married for quite some time."
"...!"
Karina felt as if her heart was bursting with frustration at their attitude, which treated her divorce request as the tantrum of a newlywed.
"Grand Duke. Protecting the North is important, but aren't you too caught up in work? I can't believe you haven't even spent your first night with your wife."
The Emperor clicked his tongue as he spoke to Jeremiah.
"Your Majesty, wouldn't it be a good idea to allow the two of you to spend their first night together now?"
The Emperor accepted the Marquis' words, saying that they were a good idea.
"Yeah. It's probably because they're still awkward with each other since they've only been married for a short time. Once they get married, their feelings will change."
The Marquis and the Emperor were dead set on killing each other. Karina's face hardened. She couldn't let it go like this.
"I am sorry, Your Majesty. My will to divorce is firm."
The Emperor scolded Karina as if he was scolding her.
"Your Highness. Marriage and divorce are not child's play."
"I am not saying this lightly as a joke. I want to divorce His Highness the Grand Duke."
'Divorce! Divorce! Divorce me!'
Karina screamed inwardly. She had absolutely no intention of backing down.
"Hmm..."
When Karina persisted in her stubbornness in the presence of many nobles and even foreign envoys, the Emperor's eyes narrowed in displeasure.
"What do you think, Grand Duke? Do you think the same as the Grand Duchess?"
The Emperor asked Jeremiah.
"I am..."
Everyone in the banquet hall was focused on Jeremiah's next answer. After hesitating for a while, Jeremiah spoke in a firm voice.
"I don't want a divorce."
'What...?'
Jeremiah's answer felt like a blow to Karina's head.
"What are you talking about!"
Eventually, Karina forgot that she was standing before the Emperor and shouted at Jeremiah. Jeremiah then faced Karina and repeated what he had said.
"I don't want to divorce you."
Karina looked at Jeremiah in astonishment.
'Why are you suddenly doing this? Are you crazy...?'
She was speechless with shock. Karina had never dreamed that Jeremiah would ruin her plans. She had no idea why he was doing this now. At that time.
"Hahahahahaha!"
The Emperor laughed out loud as if he found it amusing.
"Yes. The Grand Duchess wants a divorce, and the Grand Duke doesn't want a divorce..."
The Emperor's expression turned cold in an instant as if his laughter just now had been a lie.
"This is so much fun."
The Emperor's cold gaze fell on Marquis Millainer. The Marquis flinched at the sight, then quickly bowed his head and apologized.
"I am sorry that my daughter has shown such an embarrassing appearance, Your Majesty. I will take her and explain to her well so that she will understand."
"Okay. I don't think it's something that can be solved just by telling her."
The Emperor turned his gaze to Karina and Jeremiah, seemed to think for a moment, and then proposed a mediation plan.
"Let's do this. The two of you work hard together as a couple for the next three months. Then, won't things change? If the Grand Duchess still wants a divorce after that period, then I will also seriously consider getting a divorce."
'3 months.'
The typical divorce deliberation period for a nobleman was at most two weeks. In this ridiculously long period, Karina realized that the Emperor was determined never to grant their divorce.
'And what? Trying hard as a couple?'
What kind of effort was I supposed to make?
It was impossible even after three years of hanging on. Judging from the conditions the Emperor set, it was clear that he had another plan. Still, since he had already announced it in front of so many people, he couldn't back down. And at the moment, there was no other way but to accept the Emperor's mediation. If he held out any longer, he might even find it offensive and make that proposal seem like it never happened.
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty."
Karina lowered her head and answered with her teeth clenched. She wasn't satisfied, but she thought it would be best to leave for now. Karina and Jeremiah finished their greetings and immediately left the banquet hall. Everyone in the banquet hall was focused on them until they disappeared from sight. Even after the two had completely left, the conversation about them continued in the banquet hall. Meanwhile, there was someone in the banquet hall who was watching Jeremiah and Karina with a slightly different interest.
'That's interesting.'
Crown Prince David smiled meaningfully.
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