When My Contract with the Misanthropic Duke Ended, I Filed For Divorce, But My Husband's Obsession and Doting Became Unbearable - Chapter 9

“Ahahaha—! You finally came! All you criminals except Sharon—!”

“Reed… please, could you give the seat back…?”

“Huh? Did His Majesty say something?”

“Ah, never mind.”

“…”

When we arrived at the royal castle and were shown into the audience chamber, the first thing we saw was a scene straight out of a villain play: Second Prince Reed sitting on the throne laughing loudly, His Majesty the King kneeling on the floor to the left of the throne, and the Crown Prince standing to the right of the throne with a smile.

Not only I, but Duke Jean and the servants brought in with us froze, forgetting even to bow. My friend Reed always did wild things back at school, but this felt like too much.

Calling everyone except me “criminals” was going too far. That would include the duke too. More than that, I couldn’t understand why Reed—a prince—was allowed to sit on the throne while the king knelt and the crown prince stood. Why didn’t anyone stop him? Who were those knights around us who all looked away? Is this country really okay…? I couldn’t help worrying. And wasn’t the smiling Crown Prince looking creepy in this situation? Was I the only one who thought so?

“Ah, Sharon—since you came all this way, sorry for making you stand! I’ll get a chair ready, just wait a moment!”

“Eh?”

While I was still dazed, Reed made a ridiculous offer. Even though the king was kneeling and the crown prince was standing, Reed asked me to sit. In the audience hall.

“I’m used to standing, so use my chair if you like.”

“N-no, I’m standing too!”

He wanted me to sit in the Crown Prince’s chair…? Why didn’t the Crown Prince stop him…?

“This time the star is Sharon, so don’t be shy!”

“I—”

“No need to hold back!”

“I—”

“Seriously, don’t be shy!”

This wasn’t about being shy. And “star”? Yet the pressure was so strong that I knew I couldn’t refuse. Before I could even greet properly, I found myself sitting in the Crown Prince’s chair beside the throne.

Why was I now looking down at Duke Jean who had come with me…? And what on earth was Reed thinking? The only thing I did know was that when Reed did strange things like this, it meant he was very angry.

Reed hadn’t changed since school in that way, even though we were adults. But seeing the king and crown prince allow it seemed wrong. For the king, it looked more like he couldn’t oppose Reed than that he approved. Shouldn’t a king show some dignity? Kneeling on the floor like that… it felt off.

“…I apologize for the delayed greeting. As head of House Bandage, I have brought the prisoners as requested.”

While I still felt unsettled, Duke Jean managed to pull himself together and speak. He was the first to steady himself in that strange room—just like a head of house should.

“Good, good. I praise you for coming quickly. You may raise your head. You may speak.”

Reed smiled broadly as he spoke to the duke, but his tone felt condescending—like he was provoking him. The duke hesitated for a moment but then obeyed and raised his head.

“Thank you. I am ashamed of what happened and deeply regret it.”

“I see, I see. Regret is important.”

Reed kept smiling, but his answer showed he had no intention of accepting the duke’s words at face value. His mouth smiled, but his eyes did not. Duke Jean must have noticed that, but he did not change his expression.

Behind the duke, the servants and the former tutor—now bound by their arms—grew pale. Reed is cute, but when he gets angry, he has an overwhelming presence. I understood why they feared him. Facing him, Duke Jean still stood firm.

I thought the duke had shown more change in front of Tsong and me, but maybe that had been my wishful thinking. In this room, his seriousness did not break.

“…I have been told by my wife that the Second Prince recommended divorce. I will apologize fully and do whatever is needed, so please give me a chance.”

“Hey—actually, I was going to say that. Sharon already told me what was in the letter.”

“S-sorry… I’m bad at hiding things. But I only told part of it—”

“No, no, I’m not blaming Sharon! It’s fine—she would have said it anyway. I know she’s bad at lying.”

Even though Reed’s pressure did not lessen, his tone had that same kind kindness from school, and that made me breathe easier. Reed hadn’t changed in that way after three years. I wished he might change his chaotic side, but maybe that was asking too much.

Well, in another sense, he had changed—he was more extreme now. I had thought he would grow out of it, but with the king allowing this, maybe that part of him would never change.

When Reed got angry, he dragged others into it and caused chaos.