The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 10

Episode 10. I Want a Divorce

“I only delayed it a little.”

“A little?”

At her brazen reply, Louid let out a scoff. She had tried to run away because she didn’t want to marry him, but now that it seemed she had more to gain from the marriage, she had decided to stay.

“I have no intention of accepting you as my partner.”

At his words, Emilia’s expression darkened, and her blue eyes instantly welled up. But perhaps it was just his imagination, because she quickly smiled brightly. That fresh, morning-sunshine-like smile left him frozen once again.

“Understood. However…”

“However?”

Louid’s eyebrow lifted slightly. What was the foxlike granddaughter of Duke Berthe really after? His life, which the Duke had tried so hard to eliminate? His wealth? Or was she hoping to share in his power too?

“Would you allow me to stay by Your Highness’s side for just one year? If you do, I will fulfill all the duties of the Grand Duchess.”

What on earth was she saying? A newlywed bride asking to stay with him for only one year?

“That’s all you want?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Louid looked at Emilia as if she were a strange creature.

‘She must really be mentally unstable. They said she was injured, maybe that made her even stranger.’

Louid glanced at the blue bruise on Emilia’s forehead, then stared intently at her face again. Just his gaze alone would make ordinary people tremble, but the woman before him didn’t. On the contrary, she was confidently trying to negotiate with him.

All sorts of women in the empire had tried to marry him for his status and wealth. Yet Emilia, who had actually become his wife, was asking to stay with him for just a year. Louid couldn’t believe her words, for one reason only. Because she was the granddaughter of Duke Berthe.

“And after a year?”

“I want a divorce.”

Emilia looked him straight in the eye as she spoke. Her gaze was firm, unwavering, as if she had made a resolute decision. In the Richert Empire, whether noble or commoner, one could only divorce after a year of marriage. It was what he had hoped for, yet Louid felt deeply displeased.

“Do you even know what the duties of the Grand Duchess are?”

“……”

“The duty of the Grand Duchess is to bear an heir. Many, in fact.”

“……”

Seeing Emilia fall silent as if she had swallowed honey, Louid scoffed. Her face was gradually turning red.

“Seems like you don’t have the confidence. Then let’s forget about this divorce nonsense…”

It was contradictory to say he wouldn’t accept her as a partner but also refuse a divorce, yet Louid had no intention of granting her wish so easily. For one reason only, because he was irritated. He found it extremely displeasing that she had brought up divorce first.

“I-I’ll do it.”

Before he could finish speaking, Emilia hurriedly cut in.

“…What?”

“I’ll do my best to fulfill the duties of the Grand Duchess.”

Emilia emphasized the words “do my best.”

“……”

Louid’s red eyes grew darker. As he glared at her, Emilia’s heart pounded as if it might burst.

‘H-he’s terrifying. But I can’t back down now.’

Emilia swallowed nervously and opened her mouth with great effort, hiding her trembling.

“Since it’s only for a year, I may not be able to bear many heirs, but I’ll do my best.”

“Let’s pretend this conversation never happened.”

Louid spoke through clenched teeth, suppressing the rage that was about to erupt.

“May I ask why?”

“I have no intention of getting divorced.”

He cut her off coldly, as if spitting out bitter medicine, and turned his head to look out the window. The thought of having an heir with someone from the Berthe bloodline made her seem either a fool or a lunatic.

***

As the sun began to set, they arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence located on the outskirts of the capital.

‘So this is the Grand Duke’s manor.’

Pulling back the curtain, Emilia gazed in awe at the manor. From a distance, the manor had looked like a cute little castle from a fairy tale, but the closer they got, the more massive and majestic it became, leaving her speechless. It was much larger and more beautiful than the ducal estate.

The carriage passed through the grand arched gate and rolled through a wide, beautifully maintained garden that stretched out on both sides. Behind the manor lay vast fields and gentle hills, with a calm river flowing between them. The scenery was so stunning, it felt like stepping into a painting.

“Wow. It’s beautiful.”

Emilia forgot all about Louid’s foul mood and gasped in admiration.

Louid looked at her curiously. She had seemed downcast after he rejected her request for a divorce, but now she looked cheerful again. Even the smallest sights outside the carriage delighted her. Considering there wasn’t much difference between the ducal estate and this place, it was surprising that the duke’s daughter was so impressed.

After a long ride past the gates, the carriage finally stopped in front of a refined stone building.

“Get out.”

Louid, who had gotten off first, reached out his hand to her. But then, frowning, he lowered his arm.

“Take your time.”

Emilia had instinctively reached out her hand, but when Louid turned and walked away, she stood there dumbfounded.

“Your Highness, allow me to assist you.”

“Thank you.”

Still staring at Louid’s retreating figure, she took the coachman’s hand and stepped down from the carriage. Louid was already striding up the front steps of the manor.

Emilia held up the hem of her dress and slowly ascended the stairs. All the staff of the Grand Duke’s manor had gathered in the lobby to welcome the newlywed couple.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. I am Kevin, the head butler of the manor.”

A middle-aged gentleman who stood at the front of the line of servants approached her and greeted her. He had a slightly slender build and a kind impression.

“Pleased to meet you, Kevin.”

As she exchanged greetings with Kevin and glanced toward Louid, he was already striding across the large lobby and heading up the central staircase.

‘Is he mad…? What’s with him?’

There had been no issues during their conversation in the carriage. He had sealed his lips after saying he wouldn’t agree to a divorce, but no matter how she thought about it, it didn’t seem like he was angry.

‘Ah! He does hate me.’

Today, she had come to understand clearly that he disliked her. Saying he couldn’t accept her as a partner meant he hadn’t married her out of affection.

‘Then what does it mean that he won’t divorce me even though he doesn’t like me?’

No matter how much she thought, she couldn’t understand what he felt.

“Would you follow me, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”

While she was lost in thought, Kevin approached her with a kind face and spoke. Emilia looked once more in the direction Louid had disappeared, then followed the head butler.

“This is your bedroom.”

Kevin led her to a bedroom on the third floor. It was equipped with a dressing room, a bathroom, and a living room.

“What is that door?”

Emilia pointed to a door Kevin hadn’t mentioned. It was an inner door that connected to the adjacent room.

“It connects to His Highness the Grand Duke’s bedroom.”

“…I see.”

Though she was surprised to learn that Louid’s bedroom was right next door, Emilia answered calmly.

“Then please rest, Your Highness.”

Not long after Kevin left, a maid in her mid-twenties entered carrying a tray. She had brown hair and brown eyes.

“Hello, Your Highness. I am Lucy, your personal maid. I’ve brought you tea.”

Emilia had been worried since her maid from the palace, Rosie, hadn’t followed her, but it was a relief that she had a dedicated maid here.

“Thank you, Lucy.”

“Shall I help you undress?”

She had changed into another outfit at the palace before getting into the carriage, but the dress she was wearing now was also difficult to take off alone.

“I’d appreciate that.”

With Lucy’s help, Emilia changed into her indoor clothes.

“If you need anything, just pull the cord, Your Highness.”

Lucy showed her the bell cord beside the bed and left the room.

Left alone in the room, Emilia began to think about what to do going forward. Louid had said he wouldn’t divorce her, but she still intended to persuade him. And if she did manage to get divorced, the Duke of Berthe would not let her go easily, so afterward, she would have to run away to a place where the Duke couldn’t find her.

“I have to earn money too, since I’ll need to survive.”

She sighed and murmured to herself. Since she knew nothing about the world outside the tower, she had to figure out how to live on her own.

‘I need to find something I can do within a year.’

And she needed to get her weak body into good health first. Only then could she run away or earn money.

Having thought that far, she sat down at the table and eagerly ate the tea and refreshments. Perhaps because the day had been so exhausting, she was extremely hungry.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

“Your Highness, shall I bring your meal?”

As the sun set, Lucy returned to the bedroom and asked.

“Yes, I’m hungry.”

She had eaten some biscuits from the tea tray, so she wasn’t very hungry, but she felt she shouldn’t skip meals for the sake of her health.

“Please wait a moment.”

Meanwhile, there was still no word from Louid. It was their first meal after the wedding, but it seemed he had no intention of eating with her.

“Hoo…”

Letting out a deep sigh, she decided that it couldn’t be helped. More important than sharing a meal with him was earning his favor so she could get his promise of divorce.

A short while later, Lucy brought in a trolley loaded with food and set a hearty spread on the table. Emilia had no appetite, but she forced herself to eat everything Lucy had brought. First and foremost, eating well would help her regain her strength.

“Lucy, where is His Highness the Grand Duke?”

After the meal, Emilia asked Lucy what she had been curious about.

“His Highness is probably in his office.”

Lucy also seemed unsure of Louid’s whereabouts and hesitated before answering.

“Alright, I see.”

Soon after Lucy left, the maids came in to help her bathe. Emilia still felt awkward and embarrassed being bathed by others. But having just gone through a wedding with her frail body, she didn’t even have the strength left to move her fingers, so she didn’t refuse their help.

After the bath, the maids dressed her in a thin slip and nightgown and then withdrew.

Emilia sat in an armchair in front of the fireplace. Suddenly, she recalled the words Duke Berthe had whispered as he grabbed her arm before she got into the carriage.

“Emilia, you must conceive the Grand Duke’s child as soon as possible. Do you understand?”

Emilia had unconsciously nodded.

“Once you have his child, you’ll have the world. Start trying from today.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Faced with Duke Berthe’s unrelenting nagging, Emilia had responded halfheartedly.

‘It’s not like I can have a child on my own.’

She doubted a man who didn’t consider her his partner would spend the night with her.

The firewood in the fireplace crackled as it burned. The crimson flames reminded her of someone’s eyes. Lost in thoughts of Louid, Emilia dozed off and eventually fell asleep.

When she opened her eyes again, she was alone in the room. Outside the window, darkness had completely fallen, and though it was late at night, Louid still hadn’t come.

‘I guess he’s not coming.’

It was their wedding night, and yet the groom hadn’t shown up. She was somewhat relieved, but a part of her still felt disappointed.

Perhaps because too much had happened in one day, fatigue began to take over. With a heavy body, she staggered over to the bed and lay down. Soon, steady breathing filled the bedroom.

Dong, dong.

As the clock struck midnight, the inner door opened, and a broad-shouldered man strode into the bedroom.