This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 133

After the boisterous welcome party ended, Elaina’s group’s luggage was moved directly into Diane’s home. The house, with a small space for conducting experiments, was just as cozy and lovely as Diane had described.

“It won’t be nearly as comfortable as the Grant mansion, but make yourself at home.”

“Hmm? Not at all. It’s not uncomfortable. But Diane, you’ve been standing for too long. Sit down right now. I heard absolute rest is best during pregnancy.”

Elaina pulled a soft cushion from her luggage pile and set it on the chair. She also began organizing the room with various items she had purchased in the capital after hearing they were good for pregnant women.

“Keeping your body warm is important. This is a blanket, and these are slippers made from wool. And this is tea that’s good for your health.”

“Oh my. Baby socks? But I don’t need these yet.”

“Hmm? No. This is a gift wishing for the baby to be born healthy. They say if a close friend gives them, the baby will be born healthy. I made them myself.”

The tiny socks clearly showed Elaina’s lack of skill.

“I wish I had done a better job, but I couldn’t really ask Sarah for help with this…”

When Diane, holding the uneven socks, said nothing, Elaina grew flustered and explained herself.

“You’re not disappointed, are you?”

But Diane, who remained silent, shook her head vigorously as if to say she was anything but disappointed. At that moment, tears began to fall from her eyes.

“D-Diane? Why are you crying all of a sudden?”

“Sniff… I-I’m just so grateful.”

“Don’t cry. If you cry, I’ll end up crying too.”

Before they knew it, Elaina’s eyes were filled with tears as well. She hugged Diane tightly. To Elaina, who had grown up an only child, Leo was like a friend and a brother, while Diane was like another sister.

“You have to make one for me too, okay? You know I can’t ask Leo for that.”

Still sobbing, Diane nodded. She even managed a joke, saying she’d make one far better than this. And so the day passed, turning from tears to laughter.

***

Life in Hennet was peaceful. Unlike the capital, there was no time for dramatic events in the quiet countryside.

The local children were fascinated by Knox, who had come from the big city. Soon, they became friends, forgetting the gap between nobility and commoners, and roamed the mountains and rivers together every day. As a result, Knox’s once pale skin turned a roasted potato brown in the winter sun.

Elaina spent her days chatting with Diane. They talked endlessly about what to do when the baby arrived, discussed possible names—trivial things that made the days fly by.

“It’s so peaceful.”

Elaina mumbled as she lazed on the bed, gazing out the window. At her words, Lyle, who was changing clothes, let out a soft laugh.

“So, do you dislike it?”

“No, I like it… but it’s only now that I realize I’m a city person. There’s always some kind of incident or crisis happening back there, right?”

“So you’re saying you want something to happen.”

“Not exactly, but maybe something a little out of the ordinary…”

Lyle gently smoothed her tangled hair. “Apparently there’s going to be a wedding in a few days.”

“A wedding? Oh…!”

Elaina’s eyes sparkled. She finally remembered hearing that one of the girls Knox had grown close to had an older sister getting married.

“It’ll be my first time seeing a local wedding—it should be fun, right?”

“You’re right. It’ll be interesting!”

Elaina nodded eagerly. It wasn’t often she had the chance to see a commoner’s wedding, and from what Diane had told her, weddings here were like village festivals.

Lyle chuckled at Elaina’s renewed energy. If she wanted something out of the ordinary, she could always return to the capital, but it seemed Elaina had no such intention.

The wedding was set for three days later. As Lyle lay beside her, he placed a kiss on Elaina’s round forehead.

But the “unusual event” came even sooner than the country girl’s wedding.

***

“W-what is this supposed to mean…?”

Elaina’s voice trembled as she read the letter delivered by the mailman. Her face pale with shock, she read the letter once, twice, three times—but the content, which she had hoped was a mistake, remained unchanged.

“Lyle! Explain this. What is this supposed to mean?”

“…I’d forgotten all about it.”

Lyle pressed his fingers to his temple as if he had a headache. Knox, who had been watching silently, glanced at the letter in Elaina’s hand.

「We hereby inform you that your divorce has been finalized following the expiration of the adjustment period.」

“D-Divorce?”

Knox unconsciously read the word aloud. Shocked, he looked back and forth between his brother and sister-in-law.

“Divorce? Brother! What does this mean?!”

Elaina shut her eyes tightly. Sure, she had said she wanted something exciting to happen—but she hadn’t meant this kind of dramatic incident…!

This is how the whole incident began.

Due to the Archduchess’s abduction incident, Lyle had been pressured by the Marquis to submit divorce papers. As the situation rapidly escalated, the matter slipped everyone’s mind. During that time, the window for canceling the divorce passed, and by the time the temple reviewed the documents, the divorce had already been granted.

“W-what are we supposed to do now?”

Elaina stared at Lyle with a dazed expression. Divorce—never in her wildest dreams had she imagined such a ridiculous situation. In Lyle’s place, the Lord of Hennet let out a deliberate cough.

“If I may speak without offense…”

“Ah. My brother majored in law.”

At Nathan’s words, Elaina turned to the lord with a pleading look. The lord avoided her gaze as he opened his mouth.

“Regrettably, your marriage has now been officially annulled.”

“What? But…!”

“The temple gives a generous window to cancel divorce applications. The failure to act within that period clearly puts the responsibility on both parties.”

Elaina felt her mind go blank. “Divorce… then that means…”

The lord, seeming to already know what she was about to say, shook his head. “According to marriage law, remarriage with a former spouse is not permitted. Cases like this are rare, but no exceptions have ever been granted.”

Elaina collapsed into her seat, stunned. Beside her, Lyle turned a serious gaze on the lord.

“There’s really no way?”

“Ahem. In your case, there may be a possibility.”

“What is it? Huh? Tell us!”

Elaina jumped to her feet and shouted. Startled by her reaction, the lord flinched.

“Normally, the temple holds three mediation sessions before approving a divorce to hear both sides. But in your case, none of that happened.”

“Exactly!”

“I suggest filing a formal objection on that basis. If both parties failed in procedural duties, an amicable resolution might be possible.”

Elaina’s face lit up. She and Lyle began packing immediately. Though it was a shame to leave Hennet, solving this crisis took priority.

“I’ll contact you once things are settled, Diane.”

To Diane, who blamed herself for drawing them away from the capital, Elaina offered a bright smile. Her heart was burning with anxiety, but she couldn’t let Diane, pregnant with child, worry any further.

The carriage sped toward the capital. Upon arrival, the two went straight to the temple. It was as if they were expected—the high priest was already waiting.

“Unfortunately, the temple’s decision is final. We cannot consider your circumstances.”

The high priest was rigid. Lyle began calmly pointing out, one by one, the procedural errors in accordance with the lord’s advice. The high priest, flustered by Lyle’s unexpected legal knowledge, stood firm nonetheless.

“We admit to the oversight. However, you too failed to submit a cancellation. In fact, the processing was delayed far longer than usual. That more than compensates for the temple’s mistake.”

Elaina slammed her fist on the table. Startled by the Archduchess’s bold move, the priest’s eyes widened.

“Then what are we supposed to do? Just accept the divorce?”

The priest wanted to say the divorce had already been finalized, but couldn’t bring himself to speak with Elaina’s fiery glare fixed on him.

“Ahem.”

“Surely God would not wish for such an unreasonable divorce. You know very well what I went through.”

Of course he did. Who in the capital didn’t know about that incident?

“If God truly opposes this divorce, then a miracle will occur.”

“…A miracle?”

“According to legend, God has shown various miracles to enlighten ignorant humans. If He truly disapproves of your divorce, then surely a miracle will happen. And when it does, even the temple will have to admit the divorce was a mistake.”

Expecting Elaina to lash out again, the high priest braced himself. But Elaina stood with pride, as if she had complete confidence in something.

“You’d better not forget what you just said. Understood?”

Wearing a triumphant smile, she pulled Lyle by the arm. Lyle smiled back knowingly, as if he too had something in mind. Only the priest, unaware of their intentions, looked on in baffled silence.