The Divorced Duchess

A solemn night, withered petals gently fluttered in the eddies of wind. Two hearts meant to meet but never fated to be. Torn into pieces, trampled little by little, trust and sacrifice drawn in vain. "You mean the world to me, but your heart belongs to her. I wish… I had never met you because you were the reason for my pain." The Duchess, Thalia Chauverthier elegance, silhouetted against the mellow and radiant moonlight. Her sparkling ocean-like eyes speak of a thousand heartbreaking messages. “Forgive me…” Thalia faintly smiled as she heard those bittersweet phrases from her unrequited love. Though, she knows it was all empty words to keep the promise as her childhood friend. After three years of marriage, one-sided love wasn't enough to stay beside her beloved husband. Right before her very eyes, a warm red fluid embraced every inch of her. With the were set, the spectacle was filled with resignation. A peaceful night had changed. Birds began to sing a mournful song, the unseen butterflies at night flitting around, and even the thousand fireflies shined to witness the night full of remorse, sorrow, and unrequited love. There she was, lying cold on her husband's lap and those muscular arms that not even once embraced her like the way he embraces the woman he adores. Even in her last breath, her beloved husband never shed tears, and the victory smile of his lover lingered as she closed her eyes. 'Oh goddess, my beloved mother of the empire and goddess of revenge and wisdom, please hear my plea, Enah.' 'I, Thalia Psycheberg, will come back, and vengeance is my justice!' **** "Do you, Thalia Psycheberg, take Duke Noxton Zion Chauverthier to be your lawful husband? Do you promise to be faithful, to love him, and to honor him all the days of your life?" "I －I d－do." The new bride, Thalia, couldn't utter the right words, as if something had blocked her throat. Her whole limbs trembled, and those lifeless eyes moist, not because of joy, but because, for the second time around, she would marry the man who broke her heart. She barely concealed her emotion and abruptly questioned herself. Can she survive if she tosses away her love for him? Duke Noxton Zion Chauverthier is indignantly standing before her, trying to read her facial expression. He was handsome in his pitch-black aristocratic military robe. Beyond his perfect features lies his indifference to her. Thalia only sees hatred and resentment in his hazel-green eyes. It was the year 589 of the Empire Claverence. Thalia came back in time. She was back. However, something was strange. Didn't she die right in front of her husband because of his lover's wishful command? Before the wedding ceremony started, she looked at her reflection in the mirror wearing her wedding robe when her father entered the room. Like a proud father, Thalia could see her father's relief in his face. Count Darvan couldn't contain his happiness. Finally, his only precious daughter would marry his best friend's son. He looked at his daughter with nothing but pure love, like a father. She looks like her mother. A beautiful maiden. He could now peacefully leave the world because he knew that his daughter was in good hands. "How are you, my sweet Thally?" he said. Only Count Darvan and his brother Aston called her Thally as an endearment. She misses them. Thalia stared at her father for a couple of seconds before answering him, "Can I hug you, father?" "Oh my sweet Thalia, this old man will miss his precious daughter." Truthfully, Thalia had a second chance to change her fate, as she could run away from the marriage, yet she couldn't betray the first man she loved, her father. Thalia had to marry the duke at the age of twenty, five years older than her. It was an arranged marriage between two noble families, but theirs differed. It was a matrimonial promise between the Duke's father and her father. Her father and the former Duke were soul brothers. Since her father had a brother complex with the Duke's father, he always told her how satisfying their relationship was as friends, including their time at the academy. "I hope you will understand that I made the right choice, Thally." His decision to make his daughter happy was beyond her understanding. After Thalia married the Duke, their father died in a horrendous accident in her past life. From then on, Noxton unveiled his affair with a commoner woman, and in less than a year, she conceived the heir of the Chauverthier. Thalia's broken heart arises with hope because of the little child in her womb. When she informed Noxton of the news, she thought he would eventually reciprocate her love, but it was only wishful thinking. She became devastated until the unfortunate event transpired. Her beautiful angel perished without seeing the world; thus, it broke her heart into pieces as if she was tormented little by little. Every night she was mourning inside the dark, cold room filled with sorrow. The holy matrimony of Duke Noxton Zion Chauvethier has come to an end. Their guests and families congratulated them. Some wish them a happy marriage, and some say Thalia was lucky to marry the duke. Little did they know, she was already tortured by her husband's rejection. She remembered again the melancholy night she suffered from emotional anxiety and mental exhaustion while her husband was on his mistress's lap. Hence, all the awful memories kept rushing back to her. She stared at the man she had once loved before. Nothing has changed like in the past—a cold shoulder and the intimidating gaze she received from her frigid husband. A few steps away, she saw the woman who caused her pain through her peripheral vision. What an uninvited visitor! She felt a pang in her heart, though she still managed to smile in front of the guests. Behind her sweet smile, there was hidden grief. "Congratulations, your grace. My wife and I wish you the best marriage," the middle-aged nobleman genuinely said. "We appreciate your presence, Marques Vestiar," Thalia commented back; however, her mind still wandered to the uninvited woman. Where did she get an invitation? Invitations were exclusively sent to all nobles and royal families? It seemed like there was a familiar emotion arising inside her. Who could that be? There is a possibility that Noxton sent her invitation on purpose. And all the places she has to be! AT HER WEDDING. "Where is his grace?" the Marchioness asked. Thalia bit her lips, "hmm…" To begin with, she didn't know how to answer the couple. Or she didn't want to think her husband prioritized another woman on their wedding day. "He was maybe outside for fresh air." "Maybe?" the Marquess's wife hesitantly asked. Oh gracious! She made a slip of the tongue, but the Marchioness' punctilious eyes hadn't left her sight. "Is my wife tired?" Noxton approached them wearing his infamous facade. He looked at the old couple; then, his gaze shifted at Thalia with a cold smug of superiority. How dare he have the confidence to pretend that he was a perfect husband. In front of other nobility, he was playing a friendly and faultless husband. "Congratulations, your grace. I wish for prosperity and abundance of the Dukedom," the Marquess said, but Noxton didn't pay attention; instead, he was looking for a way to excuse himself. "My wife looks exhausted from the long preparation. We will be heading back first." "As you please, your grace, after all, the Duchess needs stamina for your first night," the couple giggled as if they knew that the Duke had an ounce of care for his wife. They walked together along the wide palace corridor, keeping a one-meter distance from each other. A cold and awkward atmosphere filled the gap between them. No one bothered to talk. One stood silent; others felt distressed. They were both complicated. "Go ahead. I don't have to take you to your room. You are on your own, but I'll ask Simone to hire a lady-in-waiting. So you don't need to feel that you are not the lady of the house. I hope you understand that we aren't in a phase of being as close as before. I have important things to do." Thalia was aware of her husband's indifference, but what he said was like a needle deeply piercing her. Noxton was about to take his leave, but Thalia stopped him. "Nox? Can we－ "You don't have to act like my wife in front of me, and we will not cross each other's lines." "Then listen to my only desire." "Desire? How can you say 'your desire' if you have already broken my trust in you? Are we not friends?" Noxton emphasized his bitterness. "We were friends, but now I'm your wife," though Thalia didn't want to show her weakness, tears kept on falling on her cheeks. Noxton and Thalia were childhood friends, but she broke her promise. To not fall in love with him because he wouldn't repay it with love. Thalia wiped her tears, then leisurely turned around and went inside her chamber. She doesn't know why she cried; her love for him had vanished when she came back from the past. On the other hand, Noxton followed her reluctantly and sat in one of the expensive chairs in the room. Noxton once said that they had to sleep separately, no intimate relationship except outside the mansion, for the sake of titles. From then on, they acted as if they were strangers. He waited for Thalia until he saw her with a piece of paper and a pen. She handed it to Noxton, who was perplexed by her intention. "I know we are husband and wife in the paper and with other people, I will grant your wish that I won't become a hindrance. I would act like a perfect lady in this house if you decided to continue your play. Then, should I also ask one thing about myself?" Noxton frowned because, a moment ago, Thalia was crying, but now, she had become a different person. Whatever he said was in his mind. However, does a lady ask extravagantly? There was no problem if she asked for wealth, tons of jewelry, or even a piece of land. She had to name it, and he would give everything wholeheartedly as long as she behaved well as his wife. "Your grace, that paper is a contract agreement." "What?" "That paper will act as our agreement in this loveless marriage." He was confused and didn't know what the duchess was thinking. "So, you came prepared. Didn't you?" Noxton read the contents of the paper. There were only two agreements, but he knew it would merit him a lot. [EXCLUSIVE CONTRACT BETWEEN DUKE NOXTON ZION CHAUVERTHIER AND THALIA CHAUVERTHIER] 1. No interfering with each other's private lives. 2. If both parties have come to find a significant other, then both parties will settle for divorce. (I) Hereby enclosed the contract if (we) both parties agreed upon the mentioned above. Signed by : Thalia Chauverthier Signed by : Noxton Zion Chauverthier Upon reading the contract, Noxton suddenly burst out in roaring laughter. He couldn't believe the woman who professed her love to him two weeks ago would present a divorce contract. Thalia looked at him with a deserted gaze. She set an example. Thinking about everything that happened in the past should stay in the past. "If you have an additional request, you can add them," she said. "This benefits me a lot, but how about you? Don't you want to include conjugal wealth…hmm?" "There's no need to do that. My family didn't push me to marry someone just for wealth, and our fathers' promise was the only thing in this marriage." Noxton made no answer. "One more thing… I don't love you anymore, your grace." The Duke was slightly taken aback by what he had heard from his wife. Her brazenness made him speechless. Does she unlove him? Well, it doesn't matter because that was what he wanted. "I didn't know someone who was in love and had confessed her feelings would suddenly fall out of love. That's a miracle!" he said with thick sarcasm. He didn't know if his words wrongfully came out. Well, I guess people change, and the same goes with love. I think after we got married I regretted it. It doesn't mean that if you are in love, you have set your eyes on them. And sorry to say, but I only felt infatuated with you." Noxton was speechless, thinking how bold the Duchess was. The only thing he remembered was the timid and aloof lady, but now, her eyes were devoid of emotions. He can't name it; was it hatred? Bitterness? Wrath? But to whom? He shrugged off those thoughts. After they acknowledged the contract, they stamped it with their fingerprints. Tucking the valued contract into an envelope, he sealed it with the Chauverthier emblem. It could be the best for them. She was suffering in a futile relationship. One-sided love was never an option to let her heart suffer again. She must have buried her feelings for him, like lost memories swept away by the breeze of a zephyr.