If You Wish For A Married Couple’s Duties - Chapter 94

Did she hear him wrongly?

Dooha stared blankly at her brother.

“What did you just say?”

“You heard me properly, but you’re pretending to not hear it.”

Nihir raised his head in a pompous manner.

“I said that I’ve come to ask for a divorce between you and the Duke of Esbaden.”

Dooha’s jaw dropped unknowingly.

She couldn’t even figure out how she should respond to such a ridiculous remark.

“What are you talking about?”

“When the chieftain changes, the tribe’s will will change as well.”

Nihir adopted a confident attitude throughout, as though he was claiming rights that naturally belonged to him.

“Since I’ve become the new chieftain, isn’t it natural that our tribe’s will is also renewed?”

“…Are you in your right mind?”

“I’m perfectly sane, Sister.”

Nihir observed his sister carefully, like he was appraising the value of goods.

“I’m not saying this because you’re my sister, but honestly speaking, you aren’t a bride that’ll fall short no matter where you go. Both your status, and your talent.”

He’s the person that used to swear that she’ll be lucky if she wasn’t beaten up by her husband.

Instead of answering, Dooha stared at her brother quietly.

“It’s such a waste for a princess of Bashal to marry the Empire’s duke.”

Since when has marriage been a light promise that can be taken back when someone regrets?

“So? You want me to divorce and remarry?”

“There’s nothing that can’t be done.”

“What?”

“You still don’t have children, do you?”

Dooha was rendered speechless instantly.

In Bashal, a married couple without children isn’t recognized as an officially married couple.

Of course, this custom only existed in the olden days when marriage by abduction still existed.

The problem was that this custom still existed in the empire.

“Nihir, I don’t think you fully understand the meaning of this marriage alliance.”

Dooha tried to remain calm as she opened her mouth.

“This marriage isn’t something that can be easily changed with a flip of your hand…”

“I’m just trying to place you back to where you belong.”

Nihir’s despicably raised eyes became even longer.

“It’s because the originally promised marriage was to the empire’s imperial family.”

Dooha gritted her teeth.

She could still vividly recall the hands of that d*mned fourth prince on her body.

Even the filthy sounds of his breathing as those lips as he made those dirty glances.

She would rather persuade the Duke to commit treason than marry the d*mn b*stard that killed two of his ex-wives.

“What’s the point of that now? It’s already over.”

“That’s what you think.”

Nihir continued with admiring eyes.

“Think carefully, I’m giving you a chance. The opportunity to become the empire’s empress in the future.”

“…what?”

“It’s such a relief. The fact that the prince still wants you.”

There was nothing more terrifying in this world than those words.

Dooha recalled the face of the Fourth Prince, who was shown to the door in front of everyone.

Has he not come to his senses yet, despite suffering the humiliation of being kicked out in front of everyone?

It’s not enough that he partnered with Nate and tried to harm the Duke, now he’s inciting her brother to do this.

In a certain sense, he’s such an incredible man.

“So you’re saying that I should shut up and accept it just because the prince is willing to marry me?”

“Why are you being so agitated again? This is all for your sake.”

Nihir brushed back his murky silvery hair.

“Actually, I didn’t intend to discuss such an important matter with you alone.”

He gritted his teeth, as though the thought of it made his anger rise.

“Your husband, that man, has always been someone that’s hard to communicate with. Still, you are his legal wife, so it will probably work if you step up to persuade him……”

“Wait a minute.”

Her brother’s words caused Dooha’s eyes to waver greatly.

“Did you meet Leonhart, no, the Duke?”

“I haven’t met him personally, but I’ve been sending him letters since a few days ago.”

Dooha became absent-minded, as though she was beaten in the back of her head by his answer.

Why didn’t Leonhart tell her about such an important matter?

Meanwhile, Nihir expressed his regret sincerely as he shook his head.

“But, it’s as expected. As expected of the notorious Duke of Esbaden, he definitely wouldn’t want to do anything that’ll put him in a disadvantage.”

Nihir recalled the reply he had received from the duke.

Although the reply conveyed that he never intended to divorce politely and concisely, he could sense a formless anger from the neat and sharp handwriting that made it unclear whether he was writing with a knife or a pen.

‘Could it be that he really refused because he needed a justification, and not because he didn’t have feelings for that lass? In that case, I should create a justification for him.’

For that reason, Nihir paid Dooha a visit personally before meeting the duke.

Rather than persuading the formidable Duke of Esbaden, it would be better to persuade his temperamental yet easy to control sister.

Nihir knew Dooha better than anyone else.

Even though she was rather stubborn for a girl, she’s the only one that would nonchalantly sacrifice her own body for Bashal’s sake.

“Sister, the fourth prince will soon become the crown prince. As I’ve mentioned before, you’ll become the empress if you remarry the fourth prince. That way, the alliance between Bashal and the Empire would become much stronger.”

The might of the Kingdom of Bashal was strong enough to threaten the empire, but its foundation wasn’t well established because it hasn’t been long since the five tribes established the kingdom together.

In that sense, the most important task was to further strengthen the alliance with the Empire.

“Aren’t you the one that’ll do anything for the sake of Bashal, and our tribe?

Just like how she chose to go to the Empire, where she didn’t have any connections.

Nihir rested his chin against the back of his hands and continued.

“Since you’ve decided to sacrifice yourself, why don’t you make a proper contribution to the tribe and kingdom?”

“…Nihir.”

Dooha, who had been quietly listening to him, finally opened her mouth.

“I’m not interested in the position of the empire’s empress. If you covet it so much, you can marry the fourth prince.”

She lifted the hem of her dress lightly and grinned.

“I think it’ll suit you quite well. You like this kind of silk clothes more than I do. Isn’t that so?”

“…does it look like I’m joking with you right now?”

“Then, do you think I’m joking right now?”

Dooha’s expression changed in an instant as she growled.

“I’ll be the one to decide how I look out for the tribe.”

Due to unavoidable restrictions, she was pushed to make an inevitable choice, but now she refused to do so.

Choosing this marriage because she couldn’t become the chief was neither done out of her own volition, nor was it out of obligation. But still, it was a decision she’d made on her own.

As such, Nihir’s proposal was all the more unacceptable to her.

“I’m not a horse that you’re raising, Nihir.”

Dooha got up from her seat unhesitatingly.

It’s because she didn’t even feel that dealing with him was worth it anymore.

“So if you’re here to persuade me to divorce for that reason, go back now. While I’m still treating you as a member of my family.”

“Are you confident that you won’t regret whatever that’ll happen to the Duke because of your choice?”

At that moment, Nihir’s words stopped her a moment before she turned around.

“Didn’t I tell you before? The one that wants you is a prince of this country. If you don’t get divorced, the duke will be in an unfavourable situation. Are you confident that the duke wouldn’t abandon you in such a situation?”

“An unfavourable situation?”

“Yes, even if the Duke of Esbaden is the emperor’s favoured vassal, and so even a prince cannot touch him recklessly. But how long do you think the current emperor will remain?”

The emperor was advanced in age. The only successors to the throne were the first princess and the fourth prince, of which the first princess was a wizard that’s called a genius.

However, due to her weak body, she rarely made public appearances, and her reputation amongst the conservative nobles has long since fallen to the ground.

“You’re someone with strong pride. Therefore, you’ll only be able to protect your dignity by abandoning him first, before you’re abandoned.”

Dooha stopped in front of the door.

She has already abandoned her pride a long time ago when it came to the duke, but there’s no need for her to come forward and resolve his misunderstanding.

However, the only thing she was worried about was…

‘Once again, because of me.’

Leonhart wasn’t the type of person that’ll abandon her just because he was at a disadvantage.

It would have been better if he kicked her out mercilessly.

It’s obvious that he’ll overdo it if he disregards his safety just to save her like what happened at the collapsing cliff.

Dooha recalled the moment they’d fallen off the cliff and he’d lost consciousness for a while.

The moment when she thought that Leonhart would never wake up.

‘…Will something like that happen again if I’m around?’

Dooha had the confidence to stand by him no matter what happened.

However, what should she do if the one that puts him in danger was none other than herself?

Danger would always surface faster and stronger than one anticipated.

If something similar to the events in Tochern Province occurs again, would she be able to protect the duke?

‘……Even then, Leonhart was the one that protected me.’

The hand, with scars hidden under silk gloves, balled into fists.

Instead of responding, her moment of hesitation lengthened, which was unlike her.

Creak.

At that moment, the door opened with a creak, breaking the silence in the room.

“A guest has arrived, without even giving notice to the master. My apologies for being late.”

Dressed in light and easy attire and with a sword in hand, Leonhart entered the dining hall.

“Leonhart?”

At this time, the knights haven’t finished training yet, so how?

Dooha looked at him with wide eyes.

However, Leonhart’s gaze remained on the flustered Nihir instead of her.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Leonhart von Esbaden.”

* * *