Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: The Competent Lawyer

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Olivia was in a bind.

The woman still hadn't noticed her, so if she quietly retraced her steps and left, nothing would happen. She didn't want to bump into her again and end up hurting or getting hurt.

But despite that, why was she out here all alone? Her friends had been dining at Grand Blue. A flicker of curious wonder stirred within her.

Between her tightly clenched fists, a white handkerchief peeked out. It stood out even more against her deep navy skirt.

She was crying.

Olivia decided to let her curiosity end there. Yesterday's events nagged at her. Her own revelation must have played a part. With that thought, guilt rooted her feet in place.

"Miss."

Anne whispered to Olivia. Even Anne's eyes seemed to urge her to turn back.

It was just as Olivia and Anne were killing their footsteps to turn away.

"Had your fill of the amusing spectacle?"

The two froze like guilty children and slowly turned toward the woman. Their eyes met hers—she was holding her head high, staring right at them.

Olivia took a short breath and approached the bench.

The woman's pursed lips, looking up at Olivia, were red and swollen. Her eyes were puffy around the edges, like someone who'd sobbed while biting back tears. Her glaring eyelids twitched faintly.

"Hello."

"Do I look like I'm saying hello?"

"……."

It was a foolish opening line.

"Feels good, doesn't it?"

Olivia quietly took the woman's retort.

"It's a common trick in our circles. Today, it was just my chair that was missing."

The woman spoke in an angry voice. Olivia recalled the women laughing and chatting on the Grand Blue terrace.

"Thanks to you."

The woman trembled, desperately holding back tears. Olivia felt no pity, separate from her remorse.

"Thanks to you all. I was always the one without a seat."

Olivia looked down at her with emotionless eyes as she spoke.

The woman moved her lips as if to retort, but silence stretched between them for a while. The wind rustled the branches, sending light and shadows dancing erratically.

Their locked gazes pulled taut like a stretched thread.

"You've changed."

Elaine's sharp gaze softened in defeat, and she let out a small chuckle.

"How did you know that necklace was fake?"

"I've seen the real one."

"……It's at the ducal house. I got fooled like an idiot again."

Elaine snorted loudly through her nose. The sharp tip was bright red.

"He sold the land my great-uncle left me behind my back. When I confronted him, he couldn't say a word. I'd suspected he had another woman for a while, but I didn't want to believe it. Denial of reality, you know? That scary thing."

Elaine wet her lips with the tip of her tongue, held her breath, then inhaled again.

"Then on our anniversary, he gave me that necklace. Said he sold the land for it. My incapable husband, eyes all teary. Ha!"

Elaine wiped her nose again.

"Before we married, he'd always say he wanted it. He remembered. I was so touched. How much they must have laughed at me... not knowing I'd filled another woman's pockets."

"The deceiver is the bad one."

"The deceived is bad too. I should have verified it. An appraisal would've been simple. I was scared. If I learned the truth, I couldn't keep the marriage going. I just ran away like a coward. Never imagining I'd face it like this."

"For that, ……I'm sorry."

"Don't apologize. I won't either."

A faint smile, restraining her emotions, tugged at the corners of her lips.

"Instead, introduce me?"

"Pardon?"

Olivia blinked in surprise.

"That competent lawyer."

Elaine's eyes sparkled as she looked straight at Olivia.

"……."

Olivia fell silent for a moment. Then, as if realizing, she sighed a beat late.

"Ah!"

'If you ever need a competent lawyer, just contact me. I'll introduce you. You never know with life.'

It was just something she'd said to avoid being overwhelmed, but Elaine had taken it to heart.

Olivia stared at her wordlessly, her face bewildered for a while.

Truth be told, there was no competent lawyer.

From the start, all Olivia wanted was the divorce. She had to exit the stage quietly before Johann Leopold met Clara.

Olivia had been gripped by anxiety that Johann might not let her go. As these stories often went, what if he became obsessed?

But he released her without hesitation, even adding generous alimony that surprised her. Officially for his reputation, of course.

"Actually……."

Olivia hesitated, searching for words.

"There is no competent lawyer."

"What do you mean, none?"

"Exactly that. There isn't."

Elaine looked incredulous. Her large eyes blinked rapidly before she shot up from her seat and linked arms with Olivia.

"Forget this, let's go inside somewhere and have tea. I have too many questions—I can't hold back."

Elaine was serious about the divorce. The advice from an experienced divorcee like her was far more valuable than the incompetent Rondo lawyers who'd taken huge fees for meager alimony.

Especially from Olivia Blanchett, who'd walked away with an absurd amount of compensation.

The three emerged from the path and entered the first teahouse that caught their eye. A piano melody flowed from the gramophone in the quiet tearoom.

The conversation paused as the server brought their ordered tea. Once the server set down the black tea and left, Elaine raised an eyebrow.

"I saw in the papers you got massive alimony and the Le Mont villa. Walked in with nothing and left a rich woman. Ah! That's just quoting the article, so don't take it personally."

"Even that made the papers. I had no idea."

"Good heavens. Your divorce was such big news. They even reported the bag brand you carried leaving Great Hill that day. You didn't see the newspapers?"

"I wasn't interested."

Olivia smiled faintly. She'd been too focused on leaving Johann Leopold's side.

After deciding on Britt Kingdom as her new home, she'd been busy selling the villa, preparing to leave, and researching the place.

"You really didn't hire a lawyer?"

"……Yes."

"So you got the assets split without a fight, all thanks to your great husband."

For Olivia, since she hadn't done anything for the divorce, that was about right.

"I was hoping for your lawyer."

"Wouldn't a trial work in your favor?"

"Judges are men too. Probably keeping two or three mistresses. It's just how things are."

Wealthy men keeping women beyond their wives was an open secret. In men's worlds, it was another display of wealth.

"It's unfair."

"Eh, not really. We could keep mistresses too if we wanted. As long as we don't get caught."

Olivia found it hard to grasp.

"So when a wife demands divorce first, she needs a skilled lawyer. Or her husband must have some fatal fault beyond infidelity."

Elaine stirred sugar into her teacup, dissolved it, then added more, repeating the motion as she spoke.

Olivia watched her quietly, lost in thought. As the piano melody ended, a cello's timbre glided over the lazy afternoon sunlight.

"Then, how about making your husband want the divorce first?"

Olivia ventured carefully, and Elaine looked up from idly stirring her tea.

"Him?"

"Yes."

Elaine frowned.

"Are you telling me to get divorced? Do you know what that means?"

Elaine's voice rose in agitation.

"Of course. But you can't agree to the divorce, Miss Elaine."

"……."

"Hold out until he offers the alimony you want. Then he'll file for divorce in court."

"……."

"All you have to do in court is show what a wise, merciful wife you are."

"What do you——"

"Despite his affair, you still love him unchanged and want to protect your precious family. You'll wait for him to return someday. Move the judge. The better your acting, the worse a villain your husband becomes, and the judge will grant the divorce with generous alimony."

A spark lit in Elaine's eyes.

"I can make that bastard say he wants the divorce."

Every time she'd worn the fake necklace to balls and boasted to acquaintances, what had her husband been thinking, standing beside her? The betrayal and humiliation made her seethe.

Was it just the necklace that was fake?

No. From the day he'd come home reeking of unfamiliar perfume, everything he'd given her might be fake. Even his heart.

That scum.

She tried to hold back, but she couldn't. Not at all.

Her stomach churned. Tears welled up again.

"When the divorce succeeds, let's have a party."

Elaine's lips, gritted to hold back tears, curved into a brilliant smile.

Duke Johann Leopold's day began as always, early in the morning.

Even on the weekend, he handled work in his study, substituting a cup of strong coffee for breakfast.

His expressionless face signed documents indifferently, and in the afternoon, he took a lap around the estate grounds on his beloved Alexander.

Then he changed into attire fitting for dinner and attended the invited banquet.

His life seemed unchanged from before the divorce, as if it had always been this way. If anything differed, it was the absence of a companion for social gatherings.

Diane Brooke found that fact immensely satisfying.

The illegitimate daughter's presence had been utterly negligible. Olivia Blanchett, less than dust in the air, had left no trace on the noble man's steadfast life.

Diane Brooke smoothed her outfit in front of Johann's study. Pressing her trembling chest lightly, she knocked. His alluring baritone called her in from within.

The former duchess's secretary, Diane, opened the firmly shut study door without hesitation.