The Stand-In Villainess's Contract Marriage: I Was Divorced After a Year, But For Some Reason, My Ex-Husband Seems to Be Looking for Me - Chapter 31

“Lord Kararize,”

Having finally returned regularly to the estate, Kararize was working in his study when the butler, Felice, came to see him.

“What is it?” he asked, setting his work aside as Felice handed him a document and a letter.

“This is…”

It was a completed divorce agreement. As he looked at it, Kararize recalled Liana’s prayer from that day.

“Since it has now been a year, I asked her to sign the divorce papers and leave the estate within ten days. She seems to have left on the same day, leaving this letter behind in her room,” Felice explained.

“I see.”

Kararize took the letter. Immersed in work, time had slipped away, and it seemed Liana had quietly left, leaving the divorce papers behind. He’d considered going to visit her someday, believing she’d likely returned to the Karota family.

Upon opening the letter, he found words of gratitude for the past year, written in a polite hand, along with her wishes for his happiness going forward.

“By the way, to whom did she pay her remuneration?” Kararize asked as he tucked the letter away, inquiring about the question he’d been meaning to ask.

Felice paused briefly before explaining.

“The first recipient was a woman, receiving over half of the payment,” Felice explained.

“A woman? Who was she?” Kararize asked.

“After looking into it a bit to ensure the payment went through, I found she was a physician who treats nobles,” Felice answered.

“A physician?”

It seemed that Liana’s sister’s illness was indeed real, as over half the remuneration had gone towards what was likely an expensive treatment.

“And the others?”

“The second payment went to Viscount Hord. It appears he had taken on some of the debt of the Karota family, which she repaid.”

“I see… her sister’s fiancé, Naje, is from the Hord family, right?”

The debt taken on by the Hord family was likely related to the transfer of titles or land.

“The remaining amount was sent entirely to the Karota family, with a note saying it was a dowry and to be used as funds for the future.”

“…I see.”

Liana had used none of the funds for herself. The debt was solely left by her parents.

“Also, the dresses and accessories she received during the marriage contract, along with any other purchased items, were all left behind in her room,” Felice added.

Kararize had intended those items as part of her payment, so he wouldn’t have minded if she’d taken them with her. But Liana left without taking a single thing.

After checking the room, Kararize called in the maid who had attended Liana to ask her a few questions.

“She was always quiet, sitting by the window and working on her embroidery. She often said that just soup and bread were enough for her meals because she couldn’t eat much,” the maid explained apologetically, recalling times she’d forgotten to bring Liana meals altogether.

But Liana had never once complained. Felice had sternly reprimanded the maid, seeing it as a lapse in her duties.

Once the maid left, Kararize looked down at the divorce papers signed by Liana.

Thinking back, no matter how high the remuneration, he realized he had treated her rather harshly. He’d pushed her into the public eye, made her the target of gossip for a year, and never once met with her. He hadn’t shielded her from Valentina’s malice, and if the Third Princess Rosita hadn’t spoken up, everything would have fallen onto Liana.

Yet, instead of expressing resentment, she had offered a beautiful prayer for him.

Now, he felt he wanted to meet her.

Realizing he was being selfish for thinking this way now, he still couldn’t ignore the fact that the real Liana was entirely different from the notorious “Wicked Lana” of rumors.

He was curious to know which image was the real her—and what her true relationship was with Count Tweed.

Kararize contacted the Karota estate and arranged to visit during a break in his work the next day.

The Karota estate, small but warm, welcomed him. Liana’s elder sister, Esrie, and her fiancé, Naje, received him together.

“How is Liana?” Esri asked tearfully after their greetings.

“I’m worried about her after she got caught up in such trouble…”

After listening for a while, Kararize realized they were referring to the incident with the Third Princess. They had refrained from contacting Liana to avoid burdening her further, as Naje had advised.

Naje, concerned that Liana might be implicated, had suggested keeping their distance to avoid getting entangled in the matter.