# 4
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“Huh...”
After looking through the documents again, I was able to breathe a little.
You will soon be able to get out of this stifling life.
“Divorce...”
Her husband had never brought up the issue of divorce before her. Maybe it was because he felt responsible. Chloe was convinced that was the only reason.
She believed that he had a constant sense of duty, which was why she had been able to hold out for so long.
If she was the one who brought the divorce papers...
He might sign with them right away.
He might be glad she brought it up in the first place.
Or he might get angry. After all, how much money has he spent on Chloe so far?
Whatever his reaction, Chloe will accept it all. Because she finally made her own decision.
She will be stubborn enough to see it through to the end.
He, who signed the marriage contract, fulfilled his minimum obligations as a husband, and she, who signed the same document, stubbornly wanted to fulfill her obligations as a wife.
Thus, the husband made his wife the mistress of the house and left her there.
Thus, the wife loved her husband without him reciprocating her feelings.
Such a false relationship can only be proven with one document.
That wasn't enough to bind them together.
Chloe laughed to herf.
“When I was in the academy... I don't think I would have done this.”
She didn't talk to Eric at the time, but rumor had it he wasn't a cruel man. At the very least, he was known for defending the weak and fighting the oppressive powerful. That's why he was so attractive in her eyes.
But after their marriage, she discovered that he was far from the image the rumors painted of him. He did not take care of Chloe, despite her difficult circumstances. Rather, he seemed to be treating her very harshly.
Is this my fault?
Her mother's words kept echoing in her ears.
Her husband not loving her is her fault...
Chloe shook her head.
She was already determined to get a divorce. But she still blamed herf.
At that moment, the locomotive slowed down.
The horse neighing was heard several times, and soon the locomotive stopped.
“Ma’am, we have arrived.”
The knight opened the door, and Chloe glanced at him before slowly walking out.
There was a man running madly in the distance. It was Daniel, Eric's assistant.
" my lady?"
His mouth was open wide as he stared at Chloe.
"Oh my God, it really is you, ma'am. I saw the carriage coming from the north, so I wondered who was coming. What brings you here, ma'am? Ah, no, no. This is not the time for niceties. Please come in. It is also late."
Daniel was a humble man. He was one of the few who spoke to Chloe without an obvious grudge.
But Chloe felt embarrassed by his kindness. This feeling stemmed from her sense of caution that she had acquired through living in the harsh society of the North.
When Chloe saw Daniel's friendly smile, she tucked her chin and looked away. Then she took his hand to lead her, and they walked slowly along the stone path.
The palace in the capital was simple. There were no knights guarding the gate, the brick walls were low, and the bushes were narrow.
Chloe looked up at the three-story building whose exterior walls were worn out.
impossible. This means he no longer has any money at all. Was this why he lived in such a shabby place?
Chloe sighed as she remembered the four million pounds that went to her family.
“I'm here to see my husband. Where is he?”
"Sorry?"
Daniel asked me in confusion, but he hid his features and opened the front door.
“The master is currently working on something. He is in the laboratory, and will not be out for a while.”
Chloe closed her eyes for a long moment, then slowly opened them again.
She arrived here without contacting her husband, and thought she might have met his mistress.
Her assumption may be correct.
She felt pain in part of her heart. She felt like her heart was being stabbed by endless needles, one after another.
Her face scrunched up, but she quickly gathered her composure. She took a deep breath and straightened her back.
“Take me there.”
"Sorry?"
Daniel's gaze twitched as he asked again, and at that, Chloe's eyes narrowed.
If it had been business as usual, she would have said she would wait until he finished his work. No, if it were business as usual, she wouldn't have come here in the first place.
But Chloe has changed from the past.
After it was announced that she was dead, she was determined to chart her own future, no matter how short it was. She no longer wants to live in silence.
“I want you to take me to where my husband is now.”
If he already has a girlfriend, Chloe wants to see her with her own eyes.
And…
“This way, we can break up sooner.”
She buried her feelings for her husband, even as her heart grew heavier.
“But, ma’am… it’s not a good place for you to go.”
“Are you waiting for me to search every corner of this house myf?”
Daniel's teeth gritted. A distinctive sound came from his clenched teeth.
“…Please allow me to guide you there.”
Daniel set off on his way and led her to her destination.
As she followed the assistant, Chloe felt her heartbeat quicken inside her chest.
Her heart was beating so erratically that she felt like it would burst from its cage and leap out of her throat.
It was the first time she had said something so firmly to another person, and the anxiety of seeing her husband's mistress was endlessly nerve-racking.
She took out a tissue with her gloved hand and wiped away her sweat.
The laboratory was located in the annex, which was connected to the main building by a short corridor.
They arrived shortly after, without having to walk long distances.
Daniel had been glancing at her on the way, still confused by her behavior, but now he turned to her completely. He held the door handle leading to the annex tightly.
“It's going to be a little hot.”
Then the door opened before she could say anything. At the same time, intense heat rushed across her face.
Chloe coughed a little. Her cheeks were burning.
“The heat from the coal is too strong. Master is developing something that looks like a portable stove. Oh my God, Master… it’s chaotic here again.”
Daniel continued to walk forward again, saying things that Chloe couldn't understand, so she stumbled after him.
The palace she saw from the outside was simple, and it seemed like there was nothing special about it. But he was different on the inside.
This place was really strange.
The walls were black, and the floor was covered in spots of mold and moss.
Chloe's chin twitched as she remembered her husband's usually elegant exterior.
Then, at that moment—
I heard a crash from the other side.
Chloe was convinced that this sound could not have come from her husband. Her husband always walked slowly and cautiously.
But…
“Daniel, you damned bastard! Why did you take so long?!”
It was Eric, her husband, who suddenly appeared.
However, Chloe couldn't recognize him right away.
Because he didn't look like his usual appearance at all.
Eric was always neat, with his hair combed back. Now, his hair is everywhere, tangled and flying in all directions.
He usually wore clean shirts and coats. But now he was wearing an old shirt that was missing some buttons. As for his shoes, they were so worn out that they had large holes in the front, revealing his socks.
Chloe stared at Eric in amazement, not realizing what she saw.
“How many times do I have to call you...my wife?”
Only then did Eric's eyes turn to her.
“…why are you here?”
His eyes behind those glasses were full of confusion, perfectly reflecting what Chloe was feeling as well.
“What are you doing here, wife?”
Eric's shouting tone disappeared in an instant, and was no longer the usual coldness he showed to Chloe all the time.
The glasses covering his eyes did not hide the intensity of his gaze. After being unable to speak for a moment, Chloe quickly regained consciousness.
“...I'm here to tell you something.”
Chloe lowered her gaze to the floor. She wasn't confident enough to see Eric's harsh expression.
She expected him to look at her with that look. She had come here alone for the first time in their five-year marriage, so she was hoping he would at least let her do this.
Besides, she didn't want to give in to futile hope again. She had already decided to divorce him, but sometimes, hope would resurface, as if she had never completely gotten rid of the thread that bound her to him.
And so, I sank into sadness. Yes, just like you do now.
“It is certainly a trivial matter.”
His cold whisper terrified her to the core.
Why was she still clinging to hope?
She already knew he would answer this way.
Eric has always been ruthless. She was always left in such misery.
She took off her gloves, exhaled lightly, and clasped her hands together.
You won't know if it's trivial...until you hear it. I will wait. I want to talk to you.
Eric raised an eyebrow.
He violently took off his glasses and pushed his hair back with one hand. Then he looked at her with an inquiring look.
Chloe looked up hesitantly and made eye contact with him.
He was wearing a different outfit than usual.
However, it remained the same.
Chloe regained her calm.
“There's soot on your face.”
She unconsciously extended her hand towards Eric. Her handkerchief had gotten dirty on the way here, so she used a glove instead.
"…Yes."
But Eric stepped back. Chloe's hand remained suspended in the air.
“Your gloves will get dirty.”
"decent."
“No, it's not.”
He frowned, ignoring Chloe's fallen hand.
Chloe pursed her lips and bowed her head.
He didn't even want her to touch him in any way. Or did he just hate getting his precious gloves dirty?
She thought it would be better if that were the case. It was awful to think that her kindness was cheaper than gloves.
Note:
Fun fact: Cars weren't common in the Victorian era, but what Chloe rode on her way to Eric's house was a combination of a carriage and a locomotive, both horse-drawn and powered by an engine. I'll be using the terms "locomotive" and "trolley" interchangeably throughout the series, so I hope that doesn't cause any confusion for you.