All I Wanted Was the Alimony - Chapter 18

But the maid, shrinking back, said something shocking.

Lucienne had sent Mary away.

The maid raised her voice. “The flustered owner of Colte’s Boutique clung to her twice. Then the Grand Duchess lifted a marble table as if it were paper!”

In truth, this was what the maid had wanted to say all along.

The Grand Duchess, a mixed-blood demon, had acted frighteningly and intimidated the capital’s top boutique owner, offending even the Empress Dowager’s generous goodwill.

Paello’s pupils trembled.

“Is that… true?”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

The maid nodded fervently.

‘My goodness, it’s the first time I’ve seen His Grace’s expression change!’

Seeing such an openly emotional reaction from the usually poker-faced Paello confirmed that this was indeed serious. She also felt glad she had reported it.

At the same time, Paello felt a heavy pressure in his chest lift.

He put the blank check away.

“I see. Thank you.”

***

“Your Grace? Are you all right?”

Sebastian’s cautious question pulled Paello out of his thoughts.

Lucienne had already walked far away and now looked no bigger than a bean.

She went off alone without even a single maid. Though a married woman doesn’t need a chaperone, it was customary to attend social events with a partner or at least accompanied by a maid.

‘The noble ladies will surely gossip.’

Since she was from the Demon Kingdom, it was natural that she would be unfamiliar with the Holy Empire’s social customs.

Suddenly, he felt remorseful.

In truth, he didn’t love Lucienne. He had accepted the proposal for a political marriage because of his own origins.

Paello’s father, Basar, had been a complete orphan.

He had been abandoned at a nearby orphanage at birth, but by luck, was adopted into the Ronatere grand ducal family, becoming a noble with a new name, Basar, and eventually the heir.

That was why his father often reminded him:

“Paello, the thing you must love is the Ronatere territory.”

He was told not to spare himself for the honor and glory of the house and the peace of the people, above personal desire or happiness.

Even if it cost him his life.

That was the reason for their existence, saved from wretched poverty.

His father’s sincerity was etched into Paello’s young heart like a brand, and love became an unnecessary thing in his life.

What mattered to him was fulfilling the duties of a grand duke and producing an heir.

So when the late emperor proposed a political marriage between the Holy Empire and the Demon Kingdom, Paello did not refuse.

Though the vassals of the territory opposed it, using various pretexts once they learned that the only daughter of the infamous Demon Duke Dylan Pietro was adopted.

To him, it didn’t matter who the bride was, so long as she could bear an heir, and the Ronatere territory, located on the border, was a perfect symbol of unity.

‘But what about her?’

Come to think of it, she had come alone and entered into a political marriage with a man who didn’t love her.

Though she held the title of Grand Duchess, she was from the Demon Kingdom and thus not even invited to the capital’s social gatherings.

The vassals avoided Lucienne unless it was for official functions.

In truth, Paello himself was simply not afraid of her. To most imperial citizens, demons—even half-bloods—were something to fear.

In such circumstances, the Empress Dowager extended her goodwill. Whatever the reason, it was a huge opportunity for Lucienne.

If she accepted it gratefully, she could secure a political foothold in the Holy Empire and easily gain allies.

The boutique owner seeking Lucienne rather than Paello must have been part of the Grand Empress Dowager’s plan.

If she involved Lucienne, Paello would naturally be included as her husband.

‘Given all that, it couldn’t have been easy to reject the Empress Dowager’s temptation.’

Lucienne had abandoned her desires and advantages, opting instead for a firm refusal that brooked no discussion.

‘Why?’

Paello’s question didn’t linger long. The reason wasn’t anything grand.

Because they were husband and wife.

A husband follows his wife’s will, and a wife follows her husband’s.

Even if the marriage was loveless, that was the proper way. And yesterday, Lucienne had done her part as a wife.

‘If the wife is fulfilling her duty, then what am I, the husband, doing now?’

With this thought, he began to feel ashamed. Beyond regret, he felt guilty.

Love might be absent. But in a marriage that lasts a lifetime, there should at least be a sense of duty.

And Lucienne had upheld that duty.

She had even stepped in during a confrontation with a demon at the level of a swordmaster and brought about peace.

Then now wasn’t the time to stay idle. Paello had to fulfill his duty by supporting his wife’s will.

Paello rose from his seat.

“Sebastian, prepare for an outing.”

***

The blue sky, the warm sunlight, the brightly colored flowers and butterflies.

Beyond the calm lake was a clear view of the refreshing sea.

The capital’s climate was on a different level from the Ronatere territory, which felt like early spring even in summer. It wasn’t scorching hot either.

There was no need for a parasol, and though it was the seaside, the weather was pleasant and not humid.

It was perfect weather for boating.

At the dock, rows of colorful recreational boats were neatly lined up.

Some people were already aboard, paddling slowly across the shimmering lake.

On the nearby flatland, several large gazebos had been set up.

Beneath the flower-decorated gazebos, nobles gathered.

All dolled up, they gently waved their fans as they enjoyed refreshments and pleasant conversation.

The largest gazebo among them was designated for members of the imperial family.

Lucienne squinted to see those in the distance.

For ordinary people, it would’ve been impossible to distinguish faces at that distance, but Lucienne was different. With her eyesight capable of seeing as clearly as daylight even at night, the women’s appearances were clearly visible to her.

The elderly woman sitting in the seat of honor and being attended by several others appeared to be the Empress Dowager, at least from Lucienne’s perspective.

The Empress Dowager had an aura of dignity and a benevolent expression. Despite her age, her face had few deep wrinkles, and her elegantly styled white hair was thick.

The young woman beside her, likely around Lucienne’s age, was probably the heroine, Verdi.

As described in the original novel, Verdi’s soft gray hair was neatly combed, and even from afar, she looked serene.

Leaning back on the beanbag beside Verdi and being attended by a maid was a middle-aged woman with chestnut-brown hair, likely the Empress.

‘So this is an outdoor party straight out of a romance fantasy novel.’

The more she looked around, the more Lucienne’s eyes sparkled with innocent wonder.

Seeing the imperial family in person made everything feel even more real.

‘They’re all so beautiful.’

But Lucienne only allowed her expression to relax when no one was looking at her.

As she approached the entrance path guarded by ceremonial attendants and imperial knights, Lucienne began managing her expression again.

She was going to enjoy the boat ride, but she also planned to accumulate grounds for divorce whenever the opportunity arose.

Especially with Verdi present, it seemed even easier to create a pretext.

Soon, the ceremonial attendant who checked Lucienne’s invitation handed her a pale blue ticket.

“Pale blue boat number six will be prepared.”

The ceremonial attendant who escorted Lucienne straightened his posture and declared in a loud voice, “Presenting Her Grace the Grand Duchess Lucienne Ronatere, from the northern Ronatere territory!”

The previously cheerful party atmosphere fell silent, and everyone’s attention turned to Lucienne.

Lucienne pretended to be unfazed as she walked forward, but inwardly, she was flustered.

She had expected some attention due to her status as a grand duchess, but honestly hadn’t anticipated the level of silence and intense focus.

Regardless, now that she had arrived, her plan of action was clear.

‘Greet the Empress Dowager. Skip conversation as much as possible. Go boating. That’s it.’

Truthfully, she had also wanted to sit and relax under the gazebo.

Since the Empress Dowager had earnestly sent her an invitation, surely there would be a seat reserved for Lucienne, but she decided to forego it.

She wanted to experience boating, not get entangled with nobles.

As Lucienne was making her way toward the Empress Dowager, a knight passing beside her shouted into the air.

“Green boat number three is ready!”

Moments later, a noble couple walked out calmly from the other side. The woman held a green ticket in her hand.

As she walked a bit farther, she overheard noble ladies seated beneath a gazebo enjoying tea.

“Really? Her Highness the Princess?”

“Yes, Her Highness said she saw it in a dream, so I checked my horse’s reins, and just as she said, they were about to snap.”

“Heavens, what if you had ridden without knowing?”

“I know, it was terrifying. Thanks to her, I avoided an accident.”

“Oh my, how mysterious. Actually, thanks to a dream Her Highness told me about two weeks ago, I stopped a thief from stealing my parrot.”

“That’s really amazing.”

Though they spoke quietly, Lucienne—whose physical abilities included hearing as sharp as her night vision—could hear them as clearly as if she stood beside them.

The topic was mostly about Verdi’s impressive feats. But there was something Lucienne didn’t recognize.

‘Huh? Verdi, through dreams? Saving other ladies from danger?’

No matter how she thought about it, that wasn’t in the original novel.