C19
After slightly breaking down the wall around my heart toward him, I asked a question with a relaxed heart.
"Then, why didn't you look so good?"
"Is that how my expression looked?"
"Yes. It seemed complex."
"Well, in reality, your ex-husband is better than I expected. I mean, on the outside."
...What does his bad mood have to do with Leandro looking good?
I didn't understand, but I replied appropriately.
"Oh, well, some people say he's handsome, but I'm not sure."
My sense of taste was extremely normal, but this level of lie for the future villain was easy.
"...Really?"
Likewise, though I didn't understand, he seemed delighted.
To gain momentum, I added compliments as well.
"Actually, Tay is much handsomer than Leandro."
"......"
He expressed his joy in silence. I felt a bit relieved.
By the way, I didn't know, Terence.
Could it be that he has the personality of not being able to tolerate handsome people other than himself?
"No."
"Yes?"
"For some reason, seeing your expression, it seems like you're thinking something absurd."
"Hey, I didn't think too much about it."
I waved him off. It's sharp.
"By the way, I started feeling it a while ago..."
He took a sip of the properly cooled medicinal tea.
"This tea seems to be much more effective than expected. I think that's why my mind has been particularly clear these past few days."
I paused for a moment. Because the other party brought up the topic I was wondering when to bring up first.
I pretended not to know it and hinted.
"I suppose you haven't been feeling well lately."
"In reality, I've suffered from migraines since I was young."
I clenched my fists under the table.
He finally mentioned the headache story!
Luck didn't end there.
"Then, if you don't mind, could you tell me the ingredients and the mixing ratio of the medicinal tea? I'd also like to boil it and drink it at home regularly."
The recipe for the medicinal tea and my divorce. All the conditions to exchange these two have been met.
"It's not that difficult. I can tell you whatever you want. But..."
I made eye contact as if I were a sincere friend, without appearing as calculating as possible.
"In exchange, could you do me a favor, Tay?"
"I'll do everything I can."
I took a deep breath, paused, and then spoke.
"Please cooperate with my divorce, Marquess Friheiden."
The faint smile that was still on the man's face disappeared without a trace.
Silence. The small tea shop where the owner was dozing off was filled with a quiet tension.
"How did you find out?"
From the mercenary Tay turned escort to Marquess Friheiden. The man gradually revealed a different face.
I quickly explained before he went into full alert mode.
"It was pure coincidence. The man who came to see you... I overheard him briefly calling you 'Marquess.'"
"Jack, you idiot."
Hearing the muttering, it seemed that the name of the servant who came to call Terence was Jack.
"Jack... I'm sorry."
My heart was filled with condolences for the servant who might be offended by his master because of me.
However, Terence was not convinced immediately.
"Just because of that? I shouldn't have heard which Marquess it was."
"Although I wasn't active in social circles, as the person who will be the next Duchess, I've memorized the personal information of most nobles."
Especially when it comes to a high-ranking noble like a Marquess.
"I met several Marquesses at my wedding and recognized the faces of other people I couldn't meet in person by looking at their portraits."
The excuse I had prepared in advance for this occasion came out quickly. I listed one by one the reasons why I had no choice but to recognize his identity.
"The Marquess, whose face I couldn't even recognize in the portraits. He's very young, and since he's here even before the official social season begins, it's highly likely that he's someone who always stays in the capital. Perhaps someone who doesn't own any territory."
Tara, tarak.
Terence drummed his fingers on the table and listened to my story. It was a habit he had when he had something to think about.
"Certainly, it seems that the only person who meets all these conditions is Marquess Friheiden."
Even so, he narrowed his eyes.
"You're very clever. I can't believe you came to that conclusion just because of my servant's mistake."
Do you think the situation is too complicated?
I smiled shyly, hoping to completely clear my doubts.
"In reality, I convinced myself a while ago."
His eyes widened. Then, the red eyes closed enough to be hidden by the cheeky smile that soon emerged.
"I had fun with this. It seemed like you were trying to catch me."
"It was a half-hearted bet. I could have misheard."
"If that were really the case, what were you planning to do?"
"Well, wouldn't that increase the embarrassment? And if I had asked him normally, I don't think the Marquess would have confirmed it so easily."
"That's right. It was very fun being an escort."