how to divorce the male lead - chapter 26

The final match lacked tension.

It was because the opponent who had just received the knight's accolade forfeited.

As the knight, with a flushed face, tremblingly lowered his lance, the crowd jeered at him. The nobles, who were wasting their magic in preservation spells for fear of snowflakes dirtying their coats, jeered the loudest.

Seeing their disdainful behavior, Yuliana inwardly chuckled at their barbaric mannerisms.

On the other hand, Anna stomped her foot in anger.

"How expensive must these seats be! Shouldn't that knight compensate for them?"

"I've already paid for your seat."

"Oh, I see. Well, that's true, then. Your Grace."

Anna sulkily finished her juice.

While disappointed people expressed their frustration, Yuliana felt much lighter. At least she could watch this final match without worrying. She clasped her hands over her chest, calming her pounding heart.

"All right. It's fine. I can just go home now. I'll have to lecture Evan a bit. I'll pave my own way forward."

His method of forcibly detaching followers trailing after his wife, as if she were a disobedient child, was too extreme. Yuliana sighed, expressing a bit of condolence for the deceased as she did so.

"But it seems I really was reincarnated here. Even in the face of death, I feel indifferent."

Feeling a slight pang of guilt, Yuliana shook it off and grinned to herself.

There were often disputes with barbarians at such events, even involving mages.

Although in the past, Yuliana had refrained from participating due to physical concerns (half of which were excuses, and half were true—Yuliana's reputation for being out of shape was well known), she was still a mage. And not just any mage, but one with a terrifying talent for fire magic.

Was that why?

Yuliana couldn't shake the strange feeling that, unlike Isian in her past life, who abhorred killing, the current Yuliana Ovon seemed to think nothing of it.

Trying to shake off that odd feeling, Yuliana addressed Anna, who was purposefully gulping down her juice.

"I'll be back in a moment."

"Oh! Your Grace! I'll accompany you!"

"It's fine. It's close by."

With only those words, Yuliana quickly stood up and left, lightly ignoring Anna, who was following her, murmuring "Your Grace! Your Grace!" behind her.

Before the announcer came out to announce the winners or whatever, she wanted to meet Evan.

He hadn't returned home for the past two days, citing knight duties as an excuse.

There was no difference between going back home to lecture him and doing it now. Mustering her resolve, Yuliana wandered around, searching for the tent, and finally spotted Evan entering it.

"Evan!"

Although she called out to him loudly, either he didn't hear or ignored her, as her husband walked silently into the waiting room.

As she followed him, Yuliana was surprised to see the suspicious guards surrounding the tent.

One of the guards approached her as she neared.

"His Majesty is currently discussing matters with the Duchess."

"His, His Majesty?"

Yuliana nodded in astonishment.

"...Yes. Then I'll come back later."

Just as the guard was about to agree with Yuliana's words, a lively voice came from behind the thin tent.

"Has the Duchess arrived?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Oh. So the famous Duchess has come to see her husband. Evan, may I greet the Duchess?"

His voice was like that of a boy. Yuliana quickly recalled the information she had about the emperor.

"...Well. I heard he's deeply interested in martial arts and supports the campaign to eradicate barbarians. His voice sounds cheerful."

Tensing up with nervousness, Yuliana stood frozen.

Evan, still without a reply, had entered the waiting room. Since he didn't indicate for her to answer before meeting the emperor, Yuliana endured the difficult silence.

Before the awkward moment could pass, Evan, who had risen from his seat, lifted Yuliana's bowed posture.

"Is this really okay?"

As she looked bewildered, Evan, clutching her shoulders, looked at the Emperor and said, "Bad habits die hard, Your Majesty. Lift your head—Is that too difficult for you?"

It was a rude tone to use towards the Emperor. However, the Emperor, wearing a cheerful smile befitting his fair cheeks, showed no sign of being offended and replied, "Your beauty, Duchess, is so dazzling that it momentarily blinded me. Ah, Duchess. May I speak a little more comfortably? I'm not fond of the formal language used in the palace."

Coming from someone who had lived their whole life in the palace, Julia hastily nodded and said, "As you wish, Your Majesty."

"Indeed. I detest long-winded speeches about trivial matters. Anyway, have you heard the news?"

At the Emperor's words, Evan clicked his tongue. Julia, looking puzzled at her openly frowning husband, asked, "Yes?"

But the Emperor didn't immediately satisfy Julia's curiosity. He abruptly changed the subject, saying he suddenly felt hungry while melting cold hands over the campfire.

At his words, attendants standing by disappeared outside the tent and quickly returned with various snacks. Among them was the mulberry juice Anna had brought.

Handing mulberry juice to Julia and Evan, the Emperor casually remarked, "I intend to participate in the finals as well. Preserving the culture of our ancestors is important, you see."

"...What?"

The Emperor participating in the finals? Julia froze, not even touching the mulberry juice in her hand.

Meanwhile, the Emperor, happily sipping his juice, smirked and said, "Of course, the Duchess will cheer for her husband. Nevertheless, I'll turn a blind eye, so don't worry."

***

Thus, the awards ceremony was disrupted by the Emperor's sudden participation.

Since the Emperor and Empress, who came to watch the finals, found out that the finals weren't happening, they used it as an excuse to cancel the ceremony.

On the way back with Evan for once, Julia finally vented her suppressed feelings in the empty carriage.

"What on earth is going on?!"

Demanding an answer with fiery eyes, Julia, Evan pondered for a moment before replying, "It's the Emperor's habit. Checking loyalty in such a childish manner."

"Loyalty? Why would His Majesty do such a thing? Our family is loyal to the imperial family."

"Hmm... How can you understand the thoughts of rulers?"

"Just forfeit!"

Thud!

Just then, as if passing a rock, the carriage jolted roughly. Thanks to that, Julia had to grip the cushion tightly and exert force on her toes to avoid tumbling forward.

In that moment, Evan added more words as if shooting arrows. Listening to Julia's words, Evan grinned knowingly.

"If I forfeit, His Majesty will rightfully refuse to fight because he's the Emperor. Setting a precedent in this way is undesirable. Or if I win, it'll be a problem. If I harm the Emperor, I'll be a traitor. But, if I lose lightly, that would be seen as contemptuous. Lucian Majesty thought ahead."

"Do you happen to know why the Emperor is doing this?"

"The young Emperor wants to cut off the heads of the nobles whenever he thinks they're getting too big. Maybe he doesn't like seeing the Duke of Helchen and the Viscount of Oven getting too close. Perhaps he thinks I've been too prominent in the campaign against the rebels and wants to curb my influence."

"That's ridiculous."

Julia frowned gloomily.

"I'm not interested in Blue Roses or fencing tournaments. I wasn't interested in places where fanatics worship me strangely or where you intervened. Didn't I say? I'll handle it myself. I was going to find a way to deal with those fanatics somehow."

As Julia murmured gloomily, Evan paused for a moment as if choosing his words carefully before gently replying

"If I were to make excuses, I wanted to be of some help to you in this way. And for a more certain excuse... I wanted to kill those bastards. That's all. I couldn't stand those disgusting guys who follow you just to catch your eye, even though I participated in the competition."

Julia, who had been holding onto the cushion tightly until then, finally buried her head. Evan said to his wife, who was hunched over as if she could see the furnace, "Julia."

"...Yes?"

"Don't worry. I'll try to understand the childish intentions of His Majesty."

Looking up at her casually speaking husband, Julia said, "How can you understand? I don't want you to get hurt. Can't you just forfeit? You could have just had a tantrum as you said. What's the point of bothering His Majesty?"

Tears welled up in Julia's beautiful bronze eyes. The tears falling down her white cheeks disappeared as she wiped them away with her fingertips.

She raised her head after making a puzzled expression, as if the tears flowing down her face belonged to someone else. Promise not to cry, Evan said as he wiped away tears with his fingertips.

Firmly, Julia said to Evan, who was about to say something.

"No! Don't answer. I may not know politics or mind games, but I know Lucian Bu Ariaque is a brat! If you want to give roses to the Empress, go ahead and give them! If you want to crush the nobles' spirits, go ahead and do it! I just... I just don't want you to get hurt by your foolish actions."

Julia bit her lip.

Anxiety and anger surged together. Before becoming aware of her past life, Julia Oben might have been familiar with this world, but now it was different.

Her common sense, oddly attached to the ego, made Julia Oben feel uncomfortable. At this moment, it felt like speaking through the mouth of her past life, Isian.

"Say something! You damn protagonist!"

Julia hastily wiped away tears from her awkwardness. Even though she begged, there was no response. Quietly, Evan said,

"Are you worried about me?"

"Well, you could say that."

Why, why did he look so unwell?