CWMBR 137

Chapter 137

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***

Ultimately, Bridget achieved her goal.

Although the process differed from her expectations, she had nonetheless greeted the local figures she had researched beforehand and established some casual acquaintances. She had stumbled a bit, being unfamiliar with such gatherings, but this outcome exceeded her expectations.

As time passed, Bridget even forgot that Ain was at the party. Since Ain hadn't approached her or spoken to her in the first place, forgetting his presence wasn't difficult. The men who had been pestering her when she first entered the party had all vanished at some point, allowing her to converse comfortably with others.

Fundamentally, however, Bridget wasn't the type to enjoy such boisterous parties. By the time she was ready to leave, her energy was completely drained.

"It's nice to experience such a lively atmosphere again after so long."

Wayna, who had attended the party as Bridget's companion, said with a slightly flushed face as she climbed into the carriage. As an outsider, she seemed quite pleased to have made new acquaintances at this party.

"Are you used to these kinds of gatherings, Wayna?"

"Well, I often had to attend them when I was in school. My parents dragged me to quite a few when they were actively searching for a match for me."

Come to think of it, Wayna, being from a noble family, had surely faced marriage pressures too. Considering the typical marriage age for noblewomen, Wayna was somewhat late.

Bridget widened her eyes and looked at Wayna. Seeing that gaze, Wayna responded with a cheerful laugh.

"Just give up on that now and focus on making a living. I won't suddenly quit my job to get married, so don't worry."

"I'm not worried. If you do get married, I'll congratulate you. It's a happy occasion, after all."

"Oh, I saw someone... ………."

"......Hmm, even I think that wasn't very convincing."

Bridget laughed awkwardly. After all, it was nonsense for someone who'd divorced after an unhappy marriage to spout nonsense about 'marriage being a happy occasion'. Seeing Bridget, Wayna shrugged and laughed.

"By the way, did you get to meet all sorts of people like you wanted? Since you asked me beforehand, I didn't stop anyone from approaching you."

"Yes, at first there were some... people I couldn't quite understand, but overall it was a good gathering."

"At first, ah. Those men who were hitting on you."

Wayna nodded as if she understood. Worried Wayna might feel bad about not stopping them, Bridget quickly added.

"Seeing how they dropped out so fast, they probably weren't worth your trouble anyway."

Wayna replied firmly, her expression showing agreement.

"We need to weed out those spineless jerks from the start."

"Spineless?"

"Ah, that was just me talking to myself! More importantly, I'm relieved you're okay."

Wayna casually changed the subject and clapped her hands. Listening to her rapid-fire words, it seemed she was genuinely worried about being cooped up in the mansion. Lawsuits, complaints—it seemed her rare outings were almost always entangled in troublesome affairs, which had caused her concern. Ultimately, hearing that she had worried was a welcome sentiment for Bridget.

"But I can't come out often. Parties just aren't my thing, I suppose."

"Haha, moderation is best in all things. But today, while chatting with people, I heard something rather curious. About... your divorce, ma'am."

Wayna, who had picked up Jane's habit of casually calling Bridget "ma'am," wore a deliberately meaningful expression. Seeing this, Bridget rubbed her forehead and glanced out the window.

Outside the carriage, which had begun moving slowly, the party venue was still brightly lit. Even as night deepened, they laughed and chattered without a trace of weariness. Among the bustling black shadows, one figure stood out, abruptly protruding like a sharp point. Bridget frowned at the shadow, then withdrew her gaze and murmured to herself.

"I really should look at the last newspaper. Something... feels off about people’s reaction."

"At least it doesn't seem like it's bad news for you, Miss?"

"Because today's party host was someone who favors me."

The friends Eris introduced were more polite than she had expected. No one probed into the details of her divorce or brought up related topics. Though that was probably just them reading Eris's cues.

Only occasionally would Eris herself badmouth her ex-husband, subtly slipping Ain into the conversation. To Bridget, that seemed quite strange and curious. Eris wasn't someone who didn't know what the Wise family was like. Yet she boldly insulted Ain Wise, and what's more, no one else stopped her.

"Anyway, I need to get my hands on a newspaper……"

While she'd been cut off from outside news, something else she didn't know about had undoubtedly happened. Something Ain had undoubtedly done.

***

The news of the Wise couple's divorce would reignite the articles that had been forcibly suppressed by the royal announcement.

Ain had no intention of letting that foreseeable situation play out. He couldn't just let Bridget be torn apart by reporters, not once, but twice. At least, not if he felt any responsibility for their past.

The flood of stories released alongside the divorce announcement was entirely Ain's doing. And the resulting backlash unfolded exactly as he'd anticipated. Frankly, he hadn't bothered to find out the specifics of what people were saying. He didn't need to make the effort anyway, thanks to the person beside him who was busily spreading the gossip without him having to ask.

"Well, I don't know. What's the latest rumor this time?"

Declan, busy running between Glynford Town Hall and the district court preparing for Bridget’s lawsuit and meeting countless people, delivered news faster than the papers. Just like today.

“They say you’re collecting corpses in the mansion basement. Miss Pennington found out and claims she was persecuted by you!”

Ain glanced at Declan, then withdrew his gaze with an indifferent expression. Despite his lack of concern, Declan was thoroughly excited and made a big fuss.

"Good heavens, corpses! Isn't that absolutely dreadful? Even if you've resolved to take all the world's abuse, don't you think you ought to explain this?"

"What exactly?"

"………………Well, you ask, and I have no answer. With your image already wallowing in the mud these days, how much good would an explanation even do?"

Declan replied curtly, then sighed and plopped down into a chair. Slumping his shoulders, he flung the file he was holding onto the desk and began in a discontented voice.

"Honestly, if it were just you being trash, I wouldn't care."

Declan, who had been glancing at Ain with a pout, quickly averted his gaze and sighed.

"Birds of a feather flock together, they say. Now even I'm under suspicion of being trash these days!"

"Oh dear. That's unfortunate. Deny it."

Declan stiffened at Ain’s response, which mirrored his own words from moments before.

“Oh dear, how did I end up calling that sort of person a friend?”

Declan complained loudly enough for Ain to hear, but Ain remained indifferent. Then again, if he were the type to care about such things, he wouldn’t have provoked this situation in the first place.

Declan, who had been licking his lips and pulling out a cigarette, couldn't let it go and spoke again.

"Still, blowing that photo up... wasn't that a bit too impulsive?"

Ain, who had been letting Declan's words go in one ear and out the other, lifted his eyes to look at him. Seeing the dark, sinking look in his eyes, Declan quietly averted his gaze.

"Donna Green is light years away from my personal taste. But because of you, I'm getting accused of messing around with that woman too. I really don't want that misunderstanding!"

"Explain yourself."

"Damn, you're really nitpicking. How petty!"

Declan raised his voice sharply, crossed his arms, and leaned back against the chair.

"If your tastes and private life keep getting blown up like this, all messy and bizarre, I'm afraid marriage proposals will dry up completely. And then the Wise family line would end, wouldn't it?"

"Is that what matters?"

"Then is it not important? Did I mention you intend to cut off the family line? Is that something your parents agreed to?"

Though Ain wasn't particularly close with his parents, he couldn't deny being bound to them by blood. At least on paper. To Declan's feigned concern, Ain replied in an indifferent tone.

"If that mattered, I wouldn't be the only one bearing the Wise surname. I was the child they wanted to erase from the start. Why would they care?"

The moment he finished speaking, Iliont, who had been sitting in the office with a low presence, interjected in a dignified voice.

"The main house has contacted us again."

"Yeah, they're really concerned, aren't they?"

Declan muttered with a hollow laugh, glancing at Ain as if to say, 'See?' Ain shot Iliont a annoyed look before snapping back irritably.

"They'll shut up soon enough."