Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 11

She wasn’t the type of person he could bend to his will. Moreover, judging from how Mrs. Berner treated her, it appeared to be impossible to use the family’s safety as a threat and convince Rubica.

Edgar decided to use his experience of running his estate and numerous businesses to deal with Rubica as a negotiator. He was going to marry her, anyway.

“I have already gotten the special permission from the king. If I don’t marry you, I will get punished along with you for defying him.”

Rubica’s eyes slightly shook, and he could see his method was working.
“

I never accepted your proposal, so if you tell Your Majesty there has been a misunderstanding, he will not punish you.”

“But your uncle, his family and my messenger will be punished for lying. The messenger will have to be executed.”

Rubica’s uncle and his family were not enough to convince her, but the guilt of dragging an innocent man was.

“That’s, that’s too cruel. He was just fooled by my uncle.”

“He is guilty of not seeing you and asking your opinion. He cannot get away from that.”

“But… then why didn’t you follow the manners of proposing and came yourself? You could have avoided this…”

“I was busy,” Edgar firmly cut Rubica’s question and continued, “I was busy yesterday, I am busy today, and I will be busy tomorrow. I even have an emergency conference tomorrow. That is why the king quickly issued me the permission and I came to bring you to my mansion quicker than the promised date. Do you know how much it would cost the kingdom if my work is delayed just for a day?”

His forehead frowned because anger made him sensitive but when he showed his temper, he would look even better. Rubica couldn’t help but stare at him in a daze. He looked so handsome, even when he was mad!

If there was a god who created humans, he must have made Rubica carelessly with his feet and made Edgar with all the power he had.

“I don’t want to waste my time on writing a report to the king to explain, defending myself, and waiting for the trials.”

“… but.”

“Rubica, listen to me first.”

Edgar called her name without using words like chéri or fiancé to mock her. Unlike before, she could feel he was respecting her, although his attitude was businesslike. She closed her mouth and listened to him.

“Marry me for now. It will let both of us avoid troublesome matters, and we can get divorced after things get quiet.”

“… get divorced?”

“Yes, divorced.”

Even though he had said the word ‘divorce’ first, he raised one of his eyebrows as if he didn’t like it.

Rubica couldn’t understand why he was trying so hard to marry her. Nevertheless, she thought it was a pretty good idea. In fact, the offer was quite good for Rubica. She would be able to avoid the punishment of the king as long as they had a good reason for their divorce, and she could even get away from her uncle and aunt.

She didn’t know why he was giving her such a good offer, but she had to grab that chance.

“Okay then, how long should the marriage last? Would a year be enough?”

“No.”

“What?”

“A duke getting divorced a year after marrying a poor and lowly woman, what would the people think of me?”