CWMBR 94

Chapter 94

***

Sponsored by Elisa. Thank you ❤️(10/10)

***

Maybe it's better to just get up now. Eating more will probably make me sick.

Just as she was pondering this, the doorbell rang again, perfectly timed.

Ding-dong.

Jane, who hadn't even sat down yet and had been awkwardly looking around, brightened up and hurried to the front door.

"The doorbell sure is busy today. Hope it doesn't break."

Jane muttered to herself for no reason as she flung open the door. But this time, it wasn't a familiar face. A look of puzzlement crossed Jane's face.

"Hello."

The four people gathered around the dining table simultaneously turned their gaze toward the entrance. Startled by the unexpected voice, Bridget hurried toward the front door.

She hadn't believed it could be her just from the voice, but it really was Sanne.

"Ah, Mrs. Wise. My apologies for the early hour. I urgently need your assistance with something."

"Ah, please come in."

Bridget gladly opened the door for Sanne. As Sanne entered the mansion, murmuring her thanks, Bridget quickly asked,

"Do you like pancakes? If you haven't eaten yet, would you like to join us?"

Sanne's eyes widened slightly at Bridget's offer, then she smiled faintly.

"Um... Thank you, Mrs. Wise."

At Bridget's nod, Jane quickly entered the dining room first. The clatter of dishes being brought out reached their ears. Following the sound, Sanne strolled leisurely until she stopped abruptly at the dining room entrance. She had caught the gaze of the three people seated around the table.

Sanne, staring at the three men with a dazed expression, gave an ambiguous smile.

"Since when did this place become a meeting room?"

Sanne sincerely marveled that even at the clock tower in front of Papeld Cathedral, they wouldn't have been able to meet all at once like this.

"And oh, a very... diverse composition."

Sanne seemed thoroughly intrigued by the situation. Gilum, slightly flustered by his boss's sudden appearance, straightened his posture. Ain glanced at Sanne briefly before losing interest. And Finn, his smile fading as if the new royal investigator's arrival made him distinctly uncomfortable, quietly sipped his drink.

Meanwhile, a place was set for Sanne at the table. She sat down without hesitation. For a guest who had suddenly joined the gathering, she seemed the most at ease of them all.

Bridget, who had been staring blankly at this scene, was suddenly seized by a premonition that the doorbell would ring again. Somehow, it felt like it would ring once more at this point...

Ding-dong!

"I'll get it."

Bridget stopped Jane from moving and headed for the front door.

Thud.

Opening the door, she saw someone lingering by the doorway, smiling warmly at her.

"Hahaha! Good morning, Mrs. Wise. I came to visit after hearing that Ain had arrived here. Is he inside, by any chance?"

Bridget stared blankly at Declan, who greeted her cheerfully, then glanced toward the dining room. Jane, standing at the dining room entrance and looking this way, offered a kind smile.

"Oh dear, I suppose I'll have to make more pancakes then………………."

"………………Thank you, Mrs. Ottertz."

After finishing their meal, squeezed so tightly around the table there was barely room, they split up between the sitting room and the dining room to drink tea for dessert.

When Bridget remarked how hard it must have been, Jane replied cheerfully that she actually enjoyed the house being bustling and filled with voices for once. Seeing her beaming despite the mountain of dishes piled up, it didn't seem like a complete lie.

After all, Jane had always worried about Bridget, who hardly interacted with anyone. She had once even expressed a wish for Bridget to become friends with Donna, who was her age, so you could imagine how deeply she felt about it. Regardless of the reasons, it seemed to Jane that this house, bustling in any way, was far preferable to its usual silence.

Bridget turned away with a hollow smile at Jane's seemingly cheerful expression. She saw Finn, who had quickly finished his tea, putting on his coat.

"I'm afraid today isn't the day. It would be better to arrange another time to meet. I'll send word by messenger."

His pale face seemed to say he couldn't endure this bustle any longer as he took his leave. Bridget had wanted to hear more about Donna from him, but... After checking the view from her mansion, she couldn't bring herself to call after Finn. Even she realized she couldn't comfortably have a private conversation with him while Ain, Gilum, Sanne, and Declan were waiting. Finn politely took his leave and quickly exited the mansion. Bridget, who had seen him off at the front door, let out a long sigh.

So now, who should she deal with first?

As she thought this and lifted her gaze, Bridget locked eyes with Ain. She couldn't tell how long he'd been watching her, but since their eyes met, she decided she should speak with him first. Since Sanne was also present, she could request that if he agreed to the divorce, it be processed immediately.

"Ain, let's talk in my room."

He rose without protest.

***

The day Ain was told about the divorce, he didn’t really remember how it passed. The next day was the same.

He couldn't do anything for nearly two days. It was the worst waste of time he'd ever experienced, something he'd never have again. After throwing those two days into the trash, the word "divorce" slowly began to sink into his mind.

Divorce?

He had imagined erasing Bridget completely from his life. Back then, when he believed he was helplessly entangled and toyed with by her, he had resolved to wipe every trace of her from his existence. His anger stemmed from her deception, so he considered it justified.

But if the investigation revealed no wrongdoing...

So, if it could be objectively confirmed that she hadn't deceived him. Then, since he hadn't been toyed with, wouldn't it be okay to accept this feeling a little?

So he told Sannae. If the marriage was legitimately established, he too would humbly accept the outcome and be faithful to the marriage.

The two conclusions Ain had been waiting for were these: either sever ties completely, or finally establish a normal relationship.

"Divorce?"

Ain let out a hollow laugh. To him, divorce was the least realistic conclusion.

Because divorce wouldn't bring a single benefit. Especially for Bridget.

With that mad uncle of hers glaring, ready to have her locked up in a mental hospital any moment now, how could she leave the husband who protected her from him? Right now, since Madame Wise was under the protection of Lord Wise, they couldn’t touch her lightly, but after a divorce, she'd just be Bridget Pennington. What strength would she have to stand against her uncle, who'd been stuffing money everywhere, if he conspired?

Moreover, she desperately wanted to save the Glynford Grand Theater. Wouldn't Lord Wise's money and prestige be useful for that? Now that their marriage had been confirmed as flawless, she could rightfully enjoy everything as Madame Wise. All that remained was to reap the rewards of her hardships, yet kicking this blessing away made no sense.

Having her name inscribed in the Wise family and the royal lineage of Alencia was an honor beyond compare. It was something even most nobles couldn't easily achieve. Moreover, since Ain was an only son, only Bridget could claim that honor.

But divorce?

Ain concluded she was acting out of resentment and frustration. But she wasn't a foolish woman; she'd soon come to her senses and realize what was in her best interest.

So if he waited, she would contact him. That's what Ain believed.

Two more days passed after reaching that conclusion. There was no word from Bridget.

Meanwhile, Declan left two damn copies of the Tervia Monthly on Ain's desk. Each copy had a specific page marked: one was the survey page about Lady Salvia, who sang endlessly about love. The other was a column page detailing the psychological stages of change after a breakup.

Ain tried to burn them right then and there, but Iliont, dead serious about how you couldn't get a Tervia Monthly even at a premium if you missed the release date, blocked him. If he'd known Iliont was such an avid reader of Tervia Monthly, he wouldn't have called him Glynford.

Ain, consumed by belated regret, suddenly felt irritated. Why had he ended up receiving such a worthless monthly magazine and becoming a laughingstock in the first place?

It was all because of Bridget's divorce notice.