C5
"Mmm. In other words, apart from family circumstances, there's nothing special that could compel my sister-in-law to change her mind," Leheim slowly stirred the contents of his teacup with a spoon.
"It's a bit bittersweet. They've been a couple for two years, but that's it."
Leheim stood up.
"Ugh. My brother will handle it, right? As my father said, I won't worry about it."
The Duke stated that the matter between the couple was private and locked himself in his study. Liena also recently left after having tea with him and consoling her older brother. Her likely destination was the imperial palace.
Apparently, she had gone to meet the Crown Prince, who had been flirting with Liena for several years.
"I have to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid," Leheim looked at his brother.
"And if?"
"What?"
"What will you do if my sister-in-law doesn't return?"
"I said she'll be back."
"She might be angry enough to ignore her family and everything else."
Leandro stared at the tea's still surface for a while. Then he said stubbornly, "No, Ethel isn't that kind of person. She will definitely come back."
"What do you base that on?"
"Well..."
Leandro seemed to be running out of things to say, so he gave a different answer than what he originally wanted to say.
"Liena also said our marriage will stay."
"Liena?"
"Yes, she said that before you arrived."
"Of course, she's been good at guessing things for a long time."
His younger sister had a strange side.
The usually innocent girl acted like an adult at the perfect moment.
There were times when she provided information that could be useful for the family, and there were times when she made comments that caught the other party off guard.
And surprisingly, Liena's words were exactly right.
If Liena had given that assurance, it was most likely that Leandro would never divorce.
After reaching that conclusion, Leheim left, feeling much lighter.
"Anyway, I'm leaving now."
After Leheim left, Leandro drank tea and waited for Ethel to return, just as he did when his brother was around.
Very slowly.
As he had said before, Ethel would have regained her senses by now. Maybe she's on her way back to this place. No, if you look at the time, she's definitely back. It wouldn't have taken her more than half a day to regret her foolish words and actions and change her decision.
"When my wife returns, I should welcome her instead of blaming her. Even when he thinks it over again, the comments like telling her to go to hell or making a fool of herself were quite insulting.
Leandro had never heard such humiliation in his life.
Because there was no one in Cassius's immediate lineage important enough to commit such rudeness. The words that slandered and politically criticized him were always wrapped in aristocratic language.
But he decided to endure it all. After all, isn't it true that he made a mistake with his wife?
... Although there were circumstances, it was obvious that they had not been able to enjoy a normal married life for the past two years.
So he should let this matter unfold smoothly. If he doesn't create a problem, there is no problem."
Leandro reflected for a long time on what kind words to greet Ethel, who would return hesitantly. When he finally came up with the right phrase, the sun had already set behind the mountain's peak.
"It's a bit late. Maybe she's just wandering around the mansion because she doesn't have the courage to see him." But the person Leandro was looking for didn't appear anywhere. Not even until the sun had completely set.
Early in the morning the next day.
Knock, knock.
"Young master. Are you awake?" The young butler in charge of the mansion called out to his door.
Leandro opened the door without delay and welcomed the butler. "What's going on?"
"Did something happen last night?"
"Nothing."
"Well, your complexion..."
"Just say what you need to say."
He can clearly guess it without even looking in the mirror. His face must be quite bad right now. In fact, he couldn't sleep at all.
Because Ethel hasn't returned yet!
On the surface, Leandro had dinner and took care of his affairs calmly, but in reality, he was nervous and irritable. It's no wonder he couldn't sleep. He's tired. Both mentally and physically.
Leandro, who had intended to quickly send the butler away and get some sleep for a moment, opened his eyes wide the next moment. When the butler finished his business, sleepiness suddenly evaporated.
"It's not a big deal, at the front door right now, the young lady..."
Needless to say, the term "young lady" was what the Cassius servants used to refer to Ethel.
"Oh, young master!" Leandro ran to the front door without even hearing the butler's words. He was in such a hurry that he almost lost his balance on the stairs and fell, but he was very excited.
"That's right!"
As expected, Ethel planned to return. Where else would she be if not here?
However.
"Eh, Leandro Cassius?"
The person waiting for him at the front door was not Ethel. It was a man who seemed to be a commoner, hesitating, overwhelmed by the grandeur of the Duke's residence.
"Who are you?" Leandro reacted sharply to the sensation of someone throwing cold water on him.
"I'm a messenger sent by someone named Ethel Wallace."
Messenger? From Ethel?
"What's going on with my wife?"
"Well, I was just asked to deliver this."
Before Leandro could ask more questions, the man handed him the envelope and quickly walked away.
He opened it as if he were opening a document envelope, and what came out was...