When I Asked My Husband for a Divorce, He Said He’d Be Bringing Home a Young Woman, So I Left - 10
“That’s simply too much!! Doctor!! Please, my lady… my lady…!”
Fifteen years in this land, and my maid—who had stayed by my side all this time—clung desperately to the doctor. But the doctor only closed his eyes and shook his head.
Had I been alone, I surely would have done the same.
It’s true what they say—when someone else is more distraught than you are, fear and confusion somehow settle into calm.
I straightened my back and addressed the steward.
“I’ll send my husband a letter requesting a divorce. …As for the territory, I’ve been preparing little by little, so the transition shouldn’t require much more, right?”
“Thanks to the groundwork you’ve laid, my lady, the territory will be in good hands. …As for your illness, will you inform His Lordship?”
“Of course. Though not all of it. Doctor, how much longer will my body hold out? How much longer can I appear healthy?”
“Not… much longer, I’m afraid. Once you can no longer eat, your strength will fade rapidly, and you’ll be unable to rise from bed. Conversely, eating as much as you can and moving daily, even just a little, will be crucial.”
“I see. It’s hard to predict how my husband will react to the divorce. If he agrees immediately, I’ll simply leave. But if negotiations drag on, I’ll prioritize inspecting the territory for as long as I’m able. I want to see everyone’s faces one last time. And… I’d like to see my father and brothers again. And visit my mother’s grave.”
As I listed the things I wanted to do with my remaining time, the tension in my shoulders eased strangely.
“…I used to be terrified of what would happen to my consciousness after death. But now that it’s right before me, the thought of going where my mother is… doesn’t seem so bad.”
Besides, the reason I could accept this so calmly might be because I’d fought so hard to rebuild this land.
My marriage had been forced upon me by the emperor and my father, but Ixel and I had joined hands, faced the same direction, and run forward together—alongside the steward, the maids, the officials, and the people of the territory.
Even if Ixl’s hand lets go of mine, I still have everyone else.
I am not alone.
I have lived my life to the fullest.
That is the proof of my existence.
Seeing my peaceful expression, my maid stood, straightened her clothes, and bowed.
“Forgive me. …I will stay by your side until the end.”
Though she hadn’t fully steeled herself, seeing me accept my fate helped her regain her composure. She seemed to anticipate what I would say next.
The steward, too, straightened his back and waited for my words. Both of them were truly dependable.
“…If the divorce drags on and my body begins to fail, I’ll claim to have injured my leg and seclude myself in the manor. Only those who know the truth may visit. Ensure the staff are instructed accordingly.”
The steward and maid nodded. With these two in charge, I had no worries about the manor.
“As for the cause of death… let’s say… an infection from the leg injury took me swiftly. Or perhaps I lost my footing and fell down the stairs or from a balcony. I’ll leave the details to the circumstances. Doctor, I trust you’ll assist?”
“Leave it… to me.”
The doctor, understanding my intent, nodded weakly. Normally, falsifying records would be unthinkable for someone of his profession—but if the truth would only bring misery, he would play along in this farce. Especially since it would be a natural death with no suspicion of foul play.
“Claim I had blemishes or wounds on my face and bury me in a closed casket. The funeral must be swift. Do not allow my husband to arrive in time. I am to die suddenly.”
Illness leaves its mark on the face, and I didn’t want anyone to see me like that. If they did, rumors would spread—that my husband, who had the power to heal, had been with a younger woman instead, never even visiting his dying wife. That would be disastrous for his reputation. Even if people knew his power couldn’t be used selfishly, the world would still brand Ixel as heartless. And once he remarried—no matter how well it was hidden—everyone would learn of the woman he’d taken in. “Since when?” “Ah, just as we thought.”
A tarnished reputation for Ixel would directly undermine trust in the territory. That, above all, must be avoided.
“If the divorce happens while I’m still mobile, whatever becomes of me afterward will have little impact on the territory. People will assume I left heartbroken, traveling to mend my sorrow. No one will question it. …Doctor, may I spend my final days under your care?”
“Of course. Of course… my lady.”
“I’d like a room where I can smell flowers and feel the breeze. I don’t know if I’ll use it, but may I have the remote branch clinic prepared in advance? If the divorce is swift, I’ll tour the territory while I still can, return to my family home, travel a little, and then work at the orphanage attached to the clinic. I’ve always loved being around children.”
Children are life itself—the future.
Ensuring this land remained one where children could smile had been my creed, my pride.
The doctor fell to his knees, weeping.
Aren’t doctors supposed to be accustomed to life and death? Please, don’t cry so much.
“Well, the plan is set. Take these secrets to the grave—I’ll make sure your silence is well rewarded. Money is useless where I’m going, after all. Let’s see this through to the end, shall we?”
The steward bowed, covering his face as he murmured, “As you wish.”
The maid was already a wreck.
Everyone but me was crying. Somehow, I’d missed my chance to join in.
Well, I’ve cried enough already. It’s fine.