Divorce Manual

Chapter 76

"Are you sure you want to wear this?"

"Why? Is it strange?"

In front of the full-length mirror, I have on pants instead of a dress. I twist my upper body slightly and look around.

"I love it."

It's certainly not as comfortable as the spandex pants I wore in my previous life, but compared to lace dress, I feel light enough to fly away.

Undergarments and pants.

(T/N: Queen of relate-ability, out here sipping milk tea and thinking about stretchy, eating pants. Lmaooo)

How cool, comfortable, and happy I am with this simple outfit.

However—

"It's not strange."

"But?"

Pope, who is tilting her head back and forth at my appearance.

"It's awkward."

Soon after, she shares her feelings once she has sorted out what she wants to say.

"It's the first time I've seen a woman in pants."

Well, in this world, it's really rare for women to wear pants.

The only one who's wearing it—

"You're wearing it like Red-hair Ronnie."

Do I look like that wizard?

"Ah."

Pope then corrects herself.

"So, you are standing up to the nobles and saying that it's not only for a man."

"You understand me."

Ladies haven't worn pants other than their undergarments.

Even when I was riding a horse, I had to wear a thin dress.

There are no cases where women ride horses with pants. They get on a horse and sit with their legs slightly twisted to the side as it walks around.

"I want to try riding a horse."

"A horse?"

"Yes, a horse."

Pope tilts her head and replies to my self-talk that came out accidentally again.

"Haven't you always ridden it?"

What? When did I?

I could hardly understand her words.

"Do I ride horses?"

"Yes, on a carriage."

"Ah."

I thought I didn't remember what else I rode again.

"I was saying that I wanted to get on the horse, not the thing that the horse pulls."

"Ah, why would you do that?"

"Just because? It's my little dream."

Sometimes when I watch the Olympic games, riders jumped gracefully on a horse and crossed obstacles while they looked good in equestrian outfits.

So, I've been thinking about learning horseback riding for a while.

Previously, I couldn't even think about it because horseback riding was so expensive. It was a rich person's sport.

"... "

But I've become a noble with a lot of money, right?

"Ergel."

"Yes, Your Grace."

"I want to learn horseback riding."

Ergel, who's organizing the clothes that I've bought from the Wicking Wardrobe, turns her head in surprise.

"H-Horseback riding?"

I shamelessly ask again after seeing her troubled expression.

"Can't I?"

"I do not know."

However, Ergel licks her dry lips, and avoids my question.

"His Excellency would hate it."

"... "

I laugh awkwardly.

"Would he hate it?"

"Yes."

"Maybe he'd hate those pants too, Your Grace."

Pope adds to Ergel's assertion.

"Really?"

I look back at myself in the mirror. I mean, he might not like it.

Somehow, pants don't suit the lady's dignity, and horseback riding also—

At first glance, it doesn't seem like you're just going to give in.

"He won't like it, right?"

"...No."

This is what I was hoping for. Something that makes Charles hate me.

'You're always watching him.'

Leo's words suddenly come to mind—

"Wow!"

I shake my head like a shudder.

'Besides, His Excellency looks at you.'

"Stop."

I block my ears at a barrage of words that come to mind.

I'm not curious, I didn't ask.

Leo! You punk!

You only pick words that you know will make me uncomfortable and say it.

'You should have just said the bad things he said.'

I badly want to hear terrible things.

That way, I'll be able to leave quickly.

"Haiz."

I stop covering my ears.

"I need to learn."

I nod my head firmly.

Charles thinks that his wife shouldn't wear pants or ride horses.

Shall I start my plan off by wearing pants and riding horses?

"Who should I ask?"

"..."

Ergel blinks at my twinkling eyes.

"Are you really going to do it?"

"Yes."

I'm sure she doesn't want to tell me.

She was probably hoping that I'll become a duchess loved by Charles and recognized by my mother-in-law, Madame Erst. She's been working hard to support me.

However—

Sorry, Ergel, I hate love, and I hate recognition. I just want to live as me.

"Then, can I ask Curtis? No, I can learn horseback riding from one of the knights, so why don't I ask Sir Ledin?"

"Well, that's also your right—"

"Well, you don't have to worry about that!"

Because—

"Because His Excellency will tell me to do whatever I want to do."

I reuse that cheesy comment.

"So don't worry about that. Who should I ask?"

"... "

"No, who is the best rider? Is it Ledin?"

"Well, Your Grace—"

"If I want to learn from a person who's the best, I will also need to learn it safely and securely for the near future. Should I ask Lejan, who used to be in the Order—"

In between me talking to myself,

"Me."

I turn my head unconsciously to the intrusive voice.

"Me? Who—just cried out?"

I wanted to say, 'You are here,' but my embarrassed mouth said something strange instead. I bite my lips at unintelligible words I let slipped.

"I'll teach you horseback riding."

I wasn't sure when he got here, but Charles, who's laughing at me, leans his shoulders against the door frame.

Ah.

That's fine.

No, it's not okay. I'm not even going to let myself daydream about it at all.

"Oh, Your Grace, when did you get here?"

I correct my words.

"Just now."

"How much did you hear?"

"When you ask, 'Is Ledin the best horseman?'"

What the hell is that? Just now?

You're a liar.

I catch a glimpse of Ledin standing behind Charles.

"You don't have to worry about it."

"Why, you said it was your dream?"

Hey! Have you been listening since the beginning?

Liar.

I hope you don't take this lie too far.

"No, I just said it to say it. By the way, what are you doing here at this time?"

I awkwardly laugh.

"Well, I suddenly wanted to come and see you."

He walks closer to me, one step at a time.

The sight of him coming closer with an attractive smile makes me backtrack without realizing.

Like an herbivore running away from a predator.

"Is there a slope on the floor again?"

(T/N: meaning she's sliding back as he's sliding forward lmaooo)

Charles, who mentions what happened at the ranch a few days ago, laughs.

Don't laugh like that.

'Your Grace, do you like him?'

It's driving me crazy. Leo's voice pops up again in my head, warming up my face and neck.

"No, it's hot. I'm going to go to the window because it's too hot."

I turn around and try to fan myself with my hand.

"Pope, bring me a cold drink with ice."

"Yes."

"No, let's get some black tea and some ice. Oh, and lemons, too."

I'll make Pope run an errand for something cool to sober me up.

Whew—

I need to tell Leo to cover his ears or something or not to convey His Excellency's inner heart unless he's talking shit about me.

Yes, I should.

Otherwise, my unshakeable determination will be swayed.

"I'll have the same."

"Yes, Your Excellency."

"Ah, Pope?"

"Honey, too."

"Yes, thank you."

Let's take a breath and smile at Pope, who's understanding of his crazy demands.

"I'll show you how to ride a horse."

Charles' words quickly come back and make me stiffen.

"It's okay."

In the end, I give up and refuse.

"Why? You said you wanted to learn."

I want to learn, but not from you.

"I was just saying that."

"I don't think you just said it to say it."

Can't you just let it go?

In the end, due to his tenacity—

"I don't want to learn from His Grace."

I give him a direct answer even though I don't think it's right for me to say it so bluntly.

Why did you make me like this?

"Why?"

"Your Grace, haven't you heard anything like 'Don't learn from your family'?"

I often heard of couples having dog fights when it comes to teaching each other, especially about driving.

"Especially, it's good for couples to learn but do not teach—"

"I'm a pretty good teacher."

"Yes, I think so. But between a husband and wife—"

"I also taught Evangeline's horseback riding."

"Aha. I see."

I wasn't curious.

I am neither curious nor asked

"So it's better to learn from me than to learn from other people."

"... "

I think that if I talk to a pig headed person, they'll understand me better than His Excellency.

"Since we are family."

"We are not an ordinary family."

"... "

That's true. I would have been sad if I had expected kindness and affection from him.

Because we don't have anything like that.

But, honestly, this is just an excuse.

I don't want to go near him.

"Well, go ahead then."

He will leave for the capital in a few days and will be away for longer than 15 days. It'll take a month to travel back and forth, so I can just grab anyone and learn anything in that time. That way, when he returns—

I've learned it all.

I'll just say that since it'll be something that I did.

"So be it."

"... "

"I have a plan. That's great."

I put my foot in my mouth.

.

.

.

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T/N: FLeo is the VIP of this chapter because his arse isn't even here but he's constantly talking to her and like

He's the captain of our ship y'all~~~

Secondly, my girl bringing pants to ladies, pasteurized milk, milk tea and sanitary farm conditions? While Charles' getting bold and being blunt about his feelings for Abella?