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"Hmm, was it? I must have been out of my mind for a moment."
Now that I think about it, I wonder if it was really love.
Maybe I was just trying to love him because it was a predetermined, smooth-sailing destiny.
"You... are you saying that sincerely?"
I spoke with more sincerity than ever, but Peydan didn't seem to believe me.
Well, I guess that's understandable.
Just a few days ago, I was still clinging to him even after my husband brought his mistress into the house where I live.
"Should I say it properly again?"
It was time to shatter his expectations.
"I don't love you."
"...What?"
At that moment, Peydan's face began to crumble.
I said it to provoke him, but seeing him get so upset was absurd.
'He even brought his mistress to the house where I live, and he still had some expectations of me?'
What kind of confidence is that?
Peydan, his face flushed with anger, let out a hollow laugh for a while before growling in a threatening tone.
"That statement will work against you. You won't be able to get a single penny in alimony with mutual adultery."
But for me, who had anticipated even this reaction, it was nothing more than a funny story, not a threat.
"Then forget the alimony, just sign the divorce papers and give me back the dowry I brought when I got married."
"Do you think that love will last forever? He's momentarily infatuated with your face, but he'll quickly get tired of your stiff and boring personality and fall off."
I almost burst out laughing.
Talking about love or forever is irrelevant to me.
After all, my relationship with Idris is just a business with a predetermined end.
"I'll take care of it then, so don't worry. Even if that happens, it's better than living in the same house with you for even a day longer."
"Well, you better think carefully. Will you be able to live properly in the system when that time comes?"
What nonsense is he talking about now?
As I looked at him suspiciously, Peydan gave a sly smile and continued.
"The land you walk on, the house you want to buy, the food you want to eat. I'll buy it all."
"..."
"I have the money and the power to do that. You don't."
Oh, so he's going to be this petty?
It was quite a harsh threat in its own way, but I just chuckled.
"That's only possible under the premise that you have more money and power than me."
Peydan looked at me as if I were stating the obvious.
Of course, he said that because it was an obvious story that didn't even need to be premised for him.
He's a Duke, and I'm just a mere Baron's daughter in comparison.
But.
"What if I have more money and power than you?"
From now on, our positions would be different.
Unlike before.
"Try it."
I smiled and added.
"If you can."
Then I opened the door, nodded, and pointed outside.
"I'd appreciate it if you could leave now. I'm a little tired."
Peydan glared at me as if he wanted to kill me before getting up.
'Hah, he's finally leaving.'
Just as I was sighing in relief at seeing Peydan leaving the room.
Suddenly, Peydan grabbed my wrist roughly and started dragging me out of the room.
"What are you doing?!"
"I think you're about to make the wrong choice out of a moment's emotion. It's better to be a divorcee than a mistress. Don't you think?"
"What...?"
"Stay quietly at home, get alimony after the founding festival, and get divorced. That's the best for you too."
I couldn't help but laugh.
This bastard is trying to take me away by force because he's afraid that his own scandal will harm him.
"Let go!"
I tried to pull my grabbed wrist away, but it only made my wrist hurt more.
'It seems like it will take a little more time for Erin to bring Wig. What should I do?'
As I was being dragged away helplessly, looking around, something shimmering caught my eye.
'That's...?'
The candlestick decorated on the hallway table was shining strangely.
Like when discerning valuable objects.
'In this situation, a candlestick being a valuable object means... I'm supposed to use it?'
But where?
Just before passing the candlestick, I realized its 'use' and quickly snatched it up.
And then...
"Let go, you trash!"
I whacked Peydan in the back with the candlestick!
"Ugh!"
Peydan groaned at the sudden attack and momentarily let go of my hand.
I didn't miss the gap and quickly tried to run back into the room.
"Ugh!"
Unfortunately, Peydan, who had regained his senses, was faster at grabbing my wrist.
"Letticia, are you really crazy? How dare you hit me?"
In Peydan's eyes, which were approaching menacingly, I glimpsed a hint of murderous intent.
I quickly looked around.
'Is there another object?'
Something that can get me out of this situation...
But there weren't many objects in the hotel hallway in the first place, and there were no shimmering objects either.
"Follow me when I'm being nice."
It was at that moment that Peydan was about to grab my wrist again.
"Why don't you let go of that hand when I'm being nice?"
A familiar voice.
Instinctively, I turned in the direction of the voice and widened my eyes in surprise.
Peydan, who also turned around, paused in surprise as well.
"...Duke Dellua?"
Idris was standing there.
Giving off a chilling atmosphere that made the bright hallway look dark.
While Peydan and I were frozen in surprise, Idris, with large strides, grabbed Peydan's wrist.
"I told you to let go of the hand."
"Ugh..."
Peydan's wrist, which was grabbed by Idris, turned white.
At the same time, Peydan's expression twisted painfully, and he soon let go of my hand.
Only then did Idris throw away Peydan's wrist as if throwing away something dirty.
Even though it was only a brief moment, there were clear handprints on his wrist.
Peydan clutched his wrist and glared at Idris with eyes full of hostility.
"What are you doing, Your Grace!"
"What exactly are you doing, Duke?"
"As you can see, I was trying to move to a place to talk to my wife. Don't interfere in matters between husband and wife."
"What if I can't do that?"
"No matter how much of a Duke you are, you have no right to interfere in the affairs of a couple!"
"She said she doesn't want to."
Idris cut him off before Peydan could finish his words.
"Letticia."
"So what does that have to do with—"
Idris blocked Peydan, who was charging in again, with his body. As if protecting me.
"It has something to do with it."
My vision was obscured by his broad back, and I could only hear his beautiful voice.
"I also don't want that uncultured hand to touch my lover."
The voice that came was so chilling that even I, who was behind him, could feel the coldness.
In the eyes of Peydan, who was facing such Idris, a primal fear flashed briefly.
Idris, who waited for a moment for the unresponsive Peydan, turned to me and held out his hand.
"Shall we go then? Letticia."
The chilling eyes that had been looking at Peydan a moment ago were gone, and he was smiling with his signature eye smile.
I stared blankly at the hand extended to me for a moment before taking it.
"Okay."
Just as I was about to return to the room with Idris, Peydan's heavily suppressed voice came from behind.
"You will regret leaving like this, Your Grace."
I was going to ignore whatever Peydan was babbling about.
"I'm going to go out and tell the reporters that Duke Dellua used violence to take away my wife."
The words that followed stopped me in my tracks.
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