This Villain Is Mine Now

Chapter 98

“…Lies,” Elaina murmured in a daze, unable to believe what she had just heard.

“You want to believe it’s a lie, but it’s the truth. I truly hold no meaning in the time I spent with you.”

His expression remained indifferent, his tone emotionless. Elaina bit down hard on her lip, fearing that she would burst into tears at any moment.

She turned away. “I understand. Thank you for answering. Staying in the same house any longer would be uncomfortable, so I will move out today. Pass my regards to Knox. You can handle the paperwork.”

“You didn’t write an alimony amount on the documents.”

“I don’t need it.”

Elaina clenched her teeth before continuing, “I don’t want to receive anything from you.”

With those final words, Elaina left the study.

Yet, even as she stood before the closed door, she hesitated for a moment, lingering with futile hope. But just like the day before, Lyle did not come after her.

In the end, Elaina had to accept it.

Just as unexpectedly as it had begun, her marriage had come to an abrupt end.

***

Without any explanation, Elaina took Sarah and headed to the Winchester estate. Soon, news of her departure spread like wildfire among the nobility in the capital.

Many were desperate to uncover the true reason behind this sudden turn of events, but both Elaina and Lyle remained silent about their private affairs. As a result, all sorts of plausible rumors began to circulate.

“It must be because of that incident. The one at the opera house!”

“That’s right! Who could live with someone who resorts to violence? It’s barbaric.”

“No, I think there’s another reason. What if Archduke Grant is planning to take a wife from the northern nobility?”

“Well, the Archduchess is from the capital. She might not have wanted to live in the North. There’s nothing to see or do there—it’s a barren land.”

Some speculated that Elaina had been disappointed by Lyle’s violent tendencies, while others believed their separation stemmed from their different upbringings—Lyle, a Northerner, and Elaina, raised in the capital, simply could not overcome their differences.

“So, have the divorce papers been filed yet?”

“Not yet.”

Gossipers gathered daily in front of the temple, hoping to catch sight of either Elaina or Lyle submitting the divorce petition. However, the papers had yet to be officially filed.

“Maybe it’s just a temporary visit. It’s not unusual for a married woman to visit her parents for a while.”

Some scoffed at the rumors, dismissing them as exaggerated nonsense.

“Nonsense? You wouldn’t say that if you saw how Duke Winchester treats Archduke Grant in the Council.”

“Oh? Really?”

“The tension is unbearable. I’ve never seen Duke Winchester so furious.”

Though the Duke remained polite toward Lyle, the warmth he once showed as family had completely vanished. Instead, he treated Lyle with the cold distance reserved for mere acquaintances. The chilling air between them was enough to make onlookers shudder.

One thing was certain—the rift between the Winchesters and Grants was now irreparable.

***

As the capital remained abuzz with speculation over the Grant couple’s separation, an entirely different piece of news swept through the city. This astonishing report came from a remote countryside region—Hennet.

「“Hennet’s agricultural output increased fifteenfold! Nathan Hennet succeeds in developing a new medicinal compound!”」

Thanks to the newly perfected drug, crop yields had skyrocketed. Nathan, once an obscure academic researcher, had suddenly become one of the most sought-after figures in the empire.

And among those eager to meet him was none other than Marquis Redwood. The moment the article was published, he sent people to Hennet, along with a letter summoning Diane—whom he had never once called home since her marriage.

“Oh! Nathan, it’s been far too long!”

Greeting Nathan as he stepped down from the carriage, Marquis Redwood burst into hearty laughter and extended his hand.

Nathan smiled warmly and grasped his hand. “I hope you’ve been well.”

“Oh, I have! What could possibly trouble me? Hah!”

Then, without hesitation, the Marquis pulled Diane into a tight embrace as she exited the carriage.

“Welcome home, Diane. Really, you should visit more often when you come to the capital. Must I always send you an invitation before you return?”

Seeing her father burst into laughter, claiming he was disappointed, Diane felt a chill run down her spine. The Marchioness of Redwood, who had been smiling warmly beside him, also embraced Diane with affectionate arms.

“Come in, Diane. We’ve missed you so much! Look at you—you seem to be doing well. You’ve gained a little weight, just the right amount. You must be living quite happily.”

“M-Mother…”

“Come inside quickly. Your father has been eagerly awaiting your arrival. The head chef has been sweating in the kitchen all morning preparing a feast.”

Hearing that the meal had been specially prepared with Diane’s favorite dishes, Nathan beamed with pride.

A mere second son of a viscount, unable to inherit a title, and the treasured daughter of a marquis.

The disparity in their backgrounds had always weighed on Nathan’s heart. He suspected it was one of the reasons Diane stayed at the archducal residence instead of his family home whenever she visited the capital.

For Nathan, the Redwood family’s warm welcome was a delight. But for Diane, the unease caused by their almost storybook-like display of familial affection was suffocating.

Upon entering the dining room, Diane was further taken aback. Even her half-brothers, the marchioness’s children, were present. After marrying, they had all moved into their own estates, making such a full gathering highly unusual.

“Diane, come here.”

“Was the journey too tiring? Sit here.”

The same people who once sneered at her as the maid’s daughter now spoke to her as if they were close siblings.

“I didn’t expect to see my brothers here. It’s been so long…”

Dinner proceeded in a lively and cheerful atmosphere. The Marquis lavished Nathan with praise, exalting his recent achievements. He commended him for his breakthrough, emphasizing how his new medicinal compound would alleviate suffering for countless impoverished citizens.

Nathan’s face reddened with embarrassment. “It’s really nothing extraordinary. I wasn’t the only one involved.”

“Nonsense! Do you know how many people are desperate to meet you? The number of requests I’ve received is overwhelming.”

“O-oh, really?”

Nathan scratched his neck, embarrassed. The Marquis scrutinized him closely.

‘I really did make the right choice by marrying Diane off to this fool.’

At the time, he had merely been looking to rid himself of Diane without spending a fortune on a dowry after her failed engagement to Lyle Grant. But the world was unpredictable and full of surprises.

Who would have thought that the insignificant man he had deemed the least costly choice would turn into such a valuable asset?

Marquis Redwood licked his dry lips. Nathan Hennet was nothing short of a stroke of fortune—one that had provided exactly what he needed at the most opportune moment.

“As you know, the northern territories I manage are struggling immensely. Many regions are unable to pay their taxes properly.”

His voice took on a sorrowful note as if the matter weighed heavily on him. Nathan, ever kind-hearted, fidgeted uncomfortably. Seeing this, the Marquis chuckled inwardly.

He had lost access to his main sources of wealth, causing his business ventures to falter one by one. The mounting debts were pressing down on him like a noose tightening around his neck. Though he didn’t have definitive proof, he was convinced that Lyle was behind his misfortune.

‘That damned brat only wants one thing.’

The Deftia villa. Lyle was undoubtedly trying to drive him into financial ruin to force him into surrendering it.

But just as he had been fortunate ten years ago, fate was on his side once more. No matter how brilliant Lyle Grant thought he was, there was no way he could have predicted that Nathan Hennet would develop such an invaluable drug. And more importantly, that Nathan happened to be his son-in-law.

‘It’ll be easy to manipulate someone like him.’

Nathan’s gentle demeanor resembled Diane’s in many ways. With a beaming smile, the Marquis propped his chin on his hand and addressed Nathan.

“So, Nathan, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Yes, of course, Marquis.”

“Marquis? No, no. Call me Father. We’re family, after all. There’s no need for such formality.”

“Ah… Haha. Yes, of course, Father.”

Only then did the Marquis nod in satisfaction, his face glowing with approval.

“It’s a simple matter. Our family’s financial situation has become a bit difficult. We owe a substantial amount, and the only way to resolve it is to collect higher taxes. So, I was wondering… Would you be willing to grant me the exclusive rights to distribute the drug you developed?”

His tone made it clear—he had no doubt that Nathan would comply.