Prologue
Even though Winter left after the meal, Violet stood in the restaurant lobby for a while.
Then a woman wearing a wide-brimmed, gorgeous sky blue hat called her.
“Violet!”
Violet turned her head and saw her cousin, the most famous actress in the Larkround, Ariela Lawrence, standing there. Violet, who was pleased to have come across her here, smiled at her. She was delighted as they haven’t seen each other for a rather long time now.
“It’s been a long time, Ariela. You’re busy these days, aren’t you?”
“I am. But, aren’t you free? Come visit the capital often.”
“I’m afraid I will.”
Violet replied.
Ariela, upon hearing her reply, sighed.
“I envy you. I want to get married early and live with no worries like you.”
“I see.”
“That’s right. I often meet Lord Winter at the Kaistle Stadium. No matter what, I had to earn money since I was a kid, so we became close. You don’t like such barbaric sports, do you?”
“I don’t hate it because it’s barbaric. I’m not enjoying it because it’s unfamiliar to me.”
Actually, you didn’t have to earn money, but you ran out on your own feet saying you liked being free.
Violet held back what she wanted to say. Then, Ariela opened her eyes slightly and said,
“You always try to sound like an angel. It seems like Lord Winter deserves to feel stuffy.”
“Did he say I made him feel frustrated?”
“Yes.”
Violet smiled lonesomely at Ariela’s reply. My husband seemed to be really frustrated with me.
Three years ago, I never held back anything I wanted to say. At least, it was wise of me to ask Ariela why I should just listen to other people and my husband as they talked.
To avoid the loneliness and criticism of people, I kept holding back what I truly wanted to say.
Ariela looked at the clock tower located in the middle of the island and said in surprise,
“Oh my, I’ll be late for my appointment if I stay any longer. I’ll be leaving first.”
“I see. Goodbye.”
Violet said goodbye and went back to the carriage right away, as if she was in a hurry. Once she arrived in front of the carriage, Violet asked Lulu.
“Lulu, does Ariel stay at the Canic Hotel often?”
“Pardon?”
Lulu realized why she was asking such a question out of nowhere and immediately had a furious expression. Yes, she does stay often at that place. Ariela Lawrence loved the Canic Hotel run by Winter. No matter where her performance was located, she always stayed at the Canic Hotel. It was the same when she came to the capital.
This morning, Violet, who saw a variety of dresses brought in by Lulu, was surprised as if she had never seen so many clothes at once. How was he able to buy all those dresses in the first place?
“She does stay often….”
At Lulu’s sullen reply, Violet stayed still.
In the past three years, Winter has always been out there, but Violet only thought of ways on how to pay back the 24 million Laknes he offered for this marriage.
Now that I have enough power to say what I want to say, I won’t be a frustrating person any longer.
***
Winter was thinking of staying up all night at the Canic Hotel headquarters on the island, but he couldn’t say for long because of Violet, who was talking about the funeral.
He eventually returned to his bedroom in the hotel to work.
“I thought I’d rather die than live like this.”
My wife’s calm voice lingered in my mind.
At first, I thought she’d be the type of person who’d be overwhelmed by her emotions.
“I never wanted this. The only reason why I’m still alive even after I got married was because I felt a noble sense of duty to pay off my country’s debts.”
Why on earth would my wife have such a big heart?
Violet felt pathetic after she was used to pay off the debts of her country through marriage.
As I was in deep thought, I heard a knock.
“Winter.”
It was Violet’s voice. Winter put down the unread document and hurriedly went to open the door. When he opened the door, he stood close to Violet, which made her look up to talk to him. It was because the height difference was so significant that if she didn’t do so, she wouldn’t be able to see Winter’s face.
Violet looked at Winter in that way for a while.
Violet, who was staring at him as if she hadn’t met him for a long time after she fell asleep, opened her mouth first.
“I want to divorce you.”