Chapter 5
“I’m definitely going to divorce you.”
Rebecca’s tone was calm, even leisurely.
Her expression was indifferent as always.
She looked like someone who had not even a sliver of emotion left for him—be it love or obsession.
Cedric had fully expected her to do everything in her power to stop the divorce. He thought she would throw a fit, beg, or cling to him.
But it turned out he was completely wrong.
“Oh, but there is one condition.”
…Of course.
Cedric let out an exasperated sigh through his lips.
“If it’s something absurd like ‘you can’t divorce me until you give me all of the Grand Duchy’s wealth,’ forget it. I’m sick of hearing the same nonsense over and over.”
“Oh, that’s fine. I mean, it’s the prestigious Twinse Grand Duchy—we’ll arrange for a house and a bit of living expenses as alimony. You can manage that, right?”
She spoke with such a light and easy tone that it was obvious she had no interest in his fortune.
Cedric blinked slowly, trying to mask his confusion.
“…If that’s really all you want.”
“Yes, we can calculate the alimony later. Let’s start with the terms of the divorce. If you agree to my condition, I’ll sign the papers immediately.”
“And what’s this grand condition?”
Now he was genuinely curious.
At his question, Rebecca’s indifferent lips curled ever so slightly.
“Keep our divorce a secret from everyone—including the staff—for six months after it’s finalized.”
Cedric’s brows slowly furrowed.
“That’s it? That’s your condition?”
“That’s it? You say that as if it isn’t something people could risk their lives over.”
Rebecca murmured softly, like someone gripped by fear.
But Cedric didn’t dwell on her words about risking her life.
He had no room for that—he was too busy trying to figure out what her angle was.
‘Is she really serious?’
Habitual suspicion crept in.
First, he needed to verify if Rebecca was telling the truth.
Then a good idea struck him, and a relaxed smirk spread across his lips.
“If we’re keeping the divorce secret for six months, then you’ll have to stay in my estate during that time.”
“That’s the idea. Is that a problem?”
“Not at all. I endured five years—if you’re really going to divorce me, half a year is nothing.”
And he meant it.
“But if we’re divorced, living in the same house would be… difficult. So, how about…”
Cedric slowly blinked his blue eyes.
“You stay in the ‘Shadow Mansion’ for that time?”
“The Shadow Mansion… You mean the empty estate next to this one?”
“Yes.”
He chuckled dryly.
Surely, her little act would crumble now. He knew her well—Rebecca had always been unable to bear being apart from him, not even for a minute.
She’d lose her mind if she had to live separated from him for half a year.
‘Even her exceptional acting won’t hold up under that.’
This time, he’d see her true colors.
As he watched her brow start to furrow, Cedric thought, I knew it.
“Is it clean over there?”
“…Clean?”
“It’s been empty for a long time, hasn’t it?”
“Of course it’s clean.”
“And the fireplace works fine?”
“It does.”
“No rats or bats or anything?”
Cedric replied sincerely—Probably not—but inside, he was confused.
Rebecca only nodded after asking whether she’d still be served meals properly.
“I like it. Let’s go ahead with the divorce contract.”
She sounded just like someone signing a lease.
She even smiled sweetly as she said she liked it.
Cedric was momentarily at a loss for words.
“…Are you serious right now?”
The words slipped out before he realized it.
Was she going to lose her mind living there?
At this rate, Cedric was the one starting to worry.
But Rebecca remained utterly composed.
“Of course. It actually sounds more comfortable.”
“……”
“Should I sign the divorce papers now? I should probably move in tomorrow morning, right?”
She pulled a fountain pen from a drawer beneath the table as she asked.
As if she were ready to move into the Shadow Mansion at any moment.
Cedric stared at her in a daze before finally collecting himself.
“…I need time to draw up a separate confidentiality agreement. We’ll finalize it together with the divorce papers.”
“Oh, right. Of course.”
She looked genuinely disappointed as she fiddled with her pen.
Cedric found her… strangely unfamiliar.
“We’ll sign everything at the Glass Garden. Two days from now, 3 p.m.”
“Okay.”
Her easy agreement made him almost laugh.
Normally, their conversations began with her clinging, continued with his cold refusals, and ended in endless repetition.
It had always felt like being trapped in a muddy swamp, fighting a war that never ended.
Cedric had grown suffocated by the cycle.
…And yet here they were, conversing this easily.
He felt a strange mix of emptiness and unease.
‘There’s no way this is really it. She’ll try to persuade me again soon, no doubt…’
As Cedric lifted his teacup, lost in thought—
Yaaawn.
Rebecca caught his eye and smiled softly.
“Oh, sorry. I took a bath, and now I’m sleepy. Anyway, Cedric…”
Of course. She wouldn’t just end things like that.
‘I should’ve left the moment things started to wrap up.’
Cedric regretted staying.
“Aren’t you leaving?”
Rebecca blinked her red eyes as she asked.
“I told you my condition. We’ve reached a conclusion. We picked a date to sign the divorce papers. We’ve said everything there is to say.”
“……”
“And it’s… well, normally, I’d be asleep by now.”
Her tone implied he was inconveniencing her.
For the first time, Rebecca was asking him to leave.
She even looked at him like an unwanted guest.
Cedric tried to shake off the strange feeling and stood.
“…I’ve overstayed. I’ll be going, then.”
“Alright. Take care, Cedric.”
She stood without hesitation and gave him a polite farewell.
Take care?
She used to cling to him, beg him not to leave, and throw a fit when he did.
Now, she even followed him to the bedroom door as if to see him off.
Why is she acting like this all of a sudden?
It was too cheerful to be her usual self.
Cedric couldn’t shake the awkwardness and turned to glance back.
At that exact moment, Rebecca, who had been calmly walking behind him, suddenly stumbled.
“See you on the agreed date… Oh? Ah—!”
She’d apparently stepped on the long sash of her robe without realizing it.
“Ah!”
In a split second, she was about to fall flat on her face.
“Rebecca!”
Instinctively, Cedric rushed forward and caught her just in time.
“…Haa.”
He let out a breath of relief.
Squish.
A strange sensation pressed against his firm abs.
When he realized what it was, his entire body went stiff.
.
.
.
“……”
He didn’t ignore me, nor did he push me away.
We froze there, pressed together.
And then—thump—the sash fell to the floor, loosening her robe.
It started to open slowly, barely held in place.
If either of us moved, bare skin would be revealed.
Ugh, this is so embarrassing.
The clean, subtle scent of Cedric began to fill my nose.
Trying to keep from fainting, I widened my eyes.
But what I saw was the thick, throbbing vein on his neck.
…I’m losing it.
I had tried to act aloof, determined to escape from the role of “Standby Team Rebecca”—
But Cedric was devastatingly attractive.
The very man I had dreamed of in novels.
In this kind of close contact, staying sane was next to impossible.
I could feel Cedric’s rock-hard abs through the thin fabric, and the steady beat of his heart where his chest touched my ear matched my own.
My breathing grew warmer as I realized it.
“Rebecca.”
His deep, magnetic voice echoed.
When I slowly lifted my head, I met his piercing blue eyes.
Dark hair like the night sky, thick brows, and mysterious blue pupils.
A sharp jawline and a high nose bridge. Faintly red lips.
That dangerously sexy man was looking directly at me.
My heart felt like it might burst. I couldn’t stop staring at his lips.
Just as I was entranced by his beautiful face—
“So this was your plan. To make me let my guard down and seduce me again.”
Cedric murmured, looking down at me.
This man—how could someone so perfectly built and gorgeous also have a voice like that?
I know it’s a novel, but this should be illegal.
And I was just starting to understand why Rebecca had been so obsessed with him.
“To think you’re resorting to seduction again just to stop the divorce. I’m honestly disappointed by your lack of growth.”
His voice, cold like a winter wind, snapped me back to reality.
Cedric had only grown colder the more Rebecca clung to him.
I couldn’t let him keep misunderstanding.
“Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m still going to divorce you.”
His eyebrows shot up.
He fell silent for a moment, looking deep in thought.
And then—he began to grip my waist tighter.
“Aha… Now I understand. You’re more cunning than I thought.”
He chuckled darkly and twisted the corner of his mouth.
“Even if we divorce… ‘that’ won’t be erased.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You know very well what I mean. After all, you’re the one aiming for it.”
“…?”
“If we sleep together even once more—then even after the divorce…”
Cedric trailed off, gently tilting my chin up.
As his icy gaze met mine, my whole body froze.
“I won’t be able to last a single day without you.”
