"Oh, come to think of it. You must have seen it if you checked to see if it was worn. On which finger did Karina put the ring?"
Mikhail asked with an expression of open anticipation.
"Tell me quickly."
Max answered Mikhail's question without further explanation.
"Her neck."
"..."
Mikhail glared at Max with a look of discontent at his unexpected answer.
"Would you like to put a ring on your neck too?"
Max flinched at Mikhail's harsh words. Then he quickly explained the situation in simple terms. After listening to the explanation, Mikhail frowned as if he was displeased.
"So you just came back...?"
"Yes."
"... The biggest bug is right next to you... and you just came back?"
Max objected, realizing who Mikhail was talking about as the biggest bug.
"You seem to have forgotten, but the Grand Duke and his wife's divorce was definitely a mess..."
"No, I need to be more specific."
Mikhail cut off Max mid-sentence.
"It's not a delay, it's a delay. It's just a delay of three months. It's just a little bit delayed."
Mikhail said decisively. Max, who was about to say that he would say something else if things got better between the couple, quietly closed his mouth. It was because Mikhail's aura was ominous as if he was telling him to say one more thing. Although It was faint, he could feel the life in him, and he had a gut feeling that if he touched him wrong, something big would happen.
"Go back right now."
"Yes...?"
Max was in an awkward position.
'Even if I go back, I won't be able to say a word in crow form.'
How else could he tell her to take the ring off and put it back on her finger? If the Grand Duchess fainted in surprise because the crow spoke, it would definitely be his fault.
'And what should I do if the person who received the ring wants to wear it around their neck?'
Max protested hard in his mind, but he couldn't get a single word out.
"..."
The moment of silence felt like an eternity. Max was sweating profusely and couldn't do anything. Then, the bracelet Max was wearing on his wrist began to glow and buzz.
"...!"
It was Pavel's call to come to the lab because he had something to do. It was the call he was most grateful for at this moment.
"The Lord of the Tower is calling! I have to go, so I'll be off now!"
Max ran away from the place in a hurry, making excuses to call.
***
"You're going alone?"
On the day Jeremiah entered the palace to answer the Emperor's orders, Jeremiah said he wanted to see the Emperor alone and prevented Karina from going.
"Why? Are you going to refuse to go alone and say you can't do it without me?"
Karina asked with a suspicious expression. But Jeremiah's words were completely different.
"No. I will tell you that I will follow orders."
"Yes?"
Karina was a little embarrassed.
"I have told you many times before. I intend to make every effort not to divorce you. If I do, I must follow His Majesty's orders."
"..."
Karina was confused. It didn't seem like he was lying to pass the buck. She doubted whether it was right to send him away alone, but he wasn't the type to say two things. She didn't know what he wanted from her. After all the effort, the Emperor said he would consider a divorce if she wanted one.
'If I say I want a divorce, this marriage will end, even if you don't want it.'
Karina made a strange expression, hiding her true feelings.
"Yes. Be sure to keep that promise."
She doesn't know what Jeremiah is thinking, but she decides not to care. And if at all, If it really becomes a situation where they really have to merge, Karina gritted her teeth. She hates it so much, but if she has to, then she has to.
'It's just a merger, I just have to endure it for three months.'
Even if it came to a situation where she had to actually marry him, her heart would never change. If she just endured for three months, she could be free for life. There was no need to worry. Even if it meant actually marrying him, she would definitely get Emperor's permission for the divorce. Karina's determination deepened.
"Have a nice trip."
"... I'll be back."
So Karina sent Jeremiah away. And after Jeremiah left, she immediately got ready to go out. She had planned to visit her mother and nanny's graves today. But as she was finishing her preparations and going out, an unexpected guest showed up.
***
"His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Nice to meet you, Your Highness."
Originally, Jeremiah was supposed to greet choice but to take his place.
"Your Highness, why have you come all the way here without any notice?"
David came to the mansion dressed in simple attire and with a small number of people as if he were not the Crown Prince. Karina asked with a puzzled expression.
"I have come to see the Grand Duke of Colesberg."
"Yes?"
Karina was taken aback by his answer.
'Surely Jeremiah went to the palace?'
Karina didn't quite understand why the Crown Prince, who lived in the palace, came looking for Jeremiah without knowing about it.
"I'm sorry, but the Grand Duke is not at the mansion right now as he has entered the palace to see His Majesty."
Karina carefully told the truth. Then David opened his eyes slightly wide as if he were hearing the truth for the first time and smiled awkwardly.
"Oh, is that so? Oh no, I guess I got the timing wrong."
The fact that the Crown Prince did not know the Emperor's schedule meant that he was either too stupid to care about it or that he did not have the Emperor's favor or trust. However, she had no intention of bringing up that part without being tactful. Karina thought that he would return to the palace right away.
"If you don't mind, may I wait for the Grand Duke at the mansion?"
It was as disconcerting a statement as the unexpected visit.
"Yes? If you go to the palace, you will be able to meet His Highness the Grand Duke right away."
Karina's words were valid. If it were the Crown Prince, it would have been quicker to return to the palace and call Jeremiah, who had finished his meeting with the Emperor, rather than waiting for Jeremiah here. However, David seemed to have no such intention.
"I want to meet him at the Grand Duke's residence, not the palace. I came unofficially."
David whispered the words. Hearing them explained why the Crown Prince had come here with only two escorts and dressed in a simple manner that did not seem like royalty.
"And to be honest...I wanted to have a calm conversation with the Grand Duchess."
"With me?"
"Yes. If you don't mind, would you be my conversation partner?"
David was smiling softly as he spoke.
"Ah... yes."
Karina accepted, even though she didn't know what to say. If the Crown Prince didn't want to return to the palace and wanted to wait in the mansion, she couldn't stop him. Then, it was also proper etiquette for Karina to spend time with the guest, keeping him from getting bored until Jeremiah returned.
"Yes, let's go inside."
David entered the mansion under Karina's guidance. Karina led David and his escorts into the reception room, then instructed her servant to bring out some tea.
"I asked to bring out my favorite tea, but I am not sure if it will suit Your Highness the Crown Prince's taste."
"Don't worry about the tea, any tea will do."
Karina and David continued their formal conversation. Silence soon fell on the room, as there was nothing to say. David's escorts stood like statues right behind where he sat.
"Oh, by the way."
David broke the silence and spoke.
"You wish to divorce the Grand Duke of Colesberg?"
"..."
Karina was a bit shaken by the sudden mention of divorce, but she didn't show any sign of discomfort. After all, it was probably the hottest topic on everyone's lips these days. She just thought that the Crown Prince was just like everyone else who liked gossip.
"Yes, that's right."
Karina answered calmly without changing her expression. In the meantime, a servant came in, placed a cup of tea in front of Karina and David, and left.
"Can I ask why you are seeking a divorce?"
Karina picked up the teacup in front of her and took a sip.
"As Your Highness already knows, this was not a marriage of love."
"Didn't you truly love the Duke of Colesberg?"
"..."
Karina studied David's expression for a moment, not knowing why he was asking such a question.
'I'm sure you said I looked so happy at the wedding before.'
Karina thought back over the things he had said to her before.
'You seemed very interested in married life.'
That's why she thought he was asking. To be honest, she didn't want to talk about the time when she only looked at Jeremiah and blindly desired his love. No, if she could, she wanted to erase that time altogether. But the truth is the truth.
"Phew."
Karina took a deep breath, calming down her emotions. Then she slowly answered David, who was waiting for an answer.
"I was in love, but not His Highness the Grand Duke."
"It is impossible to have a happy marriage with only one side's unrequited love."
David hesitated for a moment and then asked cautiously.
"I know this may seem extremely rude, but isn't it too soon to give up? It's only been two months."
"..."
'Isn't it too soon to give up?'
It was the first time in her life that she had heard such words. Karina looked blank for a moment at his words, but then she laughed softly as if she was disappointed.
"Ahahahaha..."
It had been three whole years. Because she couldn't give up, she was dragged around, suffering all kinds of hardships, humiliation, and insults. Even while hearing people call her crazy, she hung on to him like a beggar on the street, begging him to please look at her just once. Even when the feeling called love was twisted and distorted into hatred and anger, she couldn't give up. She was far from the saying that she gave up easily, but she was so far from it. That's why she was even more so.
His words felt really fresh to Karina. Karina, who had only heard that she was foolishly relentless, actually liked those words. The afterimage of a smile filled with various emotions lingered on Karina's face.
"..."
David quietly watched Karina's face. Karina suddenly came to her senses as she felt his gaze.
"Ah, I'm sorry."
Since she didn't answer the question and just laughed out of nowhere, Karina felt like she had to explain that she wasn't laughing at his question.
"Hmm."
Karina, who had been fiddling with the corners of her mouth and choosing her words for a moment, opened her mouth.
"From my experience, the faster you give up, the better."
Karina smiled faintly, her expression showing that she had no regrets. Then, David's expression as he looked at her became mysterious.
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