45 — Permission Is Granted To Dissolve The Marriage

The reception room of House de Broy.

“Ah, don’t be so tense. I’ve brought good news today.”

Appearing before Lucien and Marguerite, Noel spoke the same line as before, wearing his usual smile.

However, behind him stood several times more attendants than usual, lined up with stern expressions like knights.

“In fact, a peace treaty has just been concluded with our neighboring country. No, honestly, I never imagined this matter would be resolved in less than half a year.”

Even spoken in such a cheerful tone, what Isabella—smiling even more broadly than Noel beside him—had brought carried nothing but a sense of impending upheaval, and Lucien and Marguerite could not hide their tense expressions.

Isabella smirked at the sight of the two of them.

“All of this was possible because House de Broy and House Clavel accepted the royal family’s wishes and cooperated. Truly, thank you.”

“You honor us far too much.”

“No, no. Now that the threat has passed, thinking back on it, it was a cruel affair. Everything happened far too suddenly.”

Noel gave a wry smile to Lucien and Marguerite as they bowed their heads.

Then his expression hardened into something dignified.

“House de Broy and House Clavel fulfilled every one of the royal family’s requests, and the Queen herself and I are deeply grateful.”

“We merely did what was expected of us as your subjects.”

“In order to reward the loyalty of both houses, the royal family will withdraw from this matter.”

“…?”

Before they could respond, not yet grasping his intent, Noel continued calmly.

“In other words, the marriage between the two houses is no longer being enforced. If the two of you feel uncomfortable with your current positions, I believe it may be dissolved.”

“…!?”

“The royal family grants permission for this marriage to be dissolved. Of course, it will be treated as if there were no marriage history. This will not be a divorce—it will be as though it never existed from the start.”

Noel spoke in a gentle tone, yet it was impossible to discern what kind of emotion lay hidden in the depths of his eyes.

Marguerite looked at Lucien with a stiff expression. Lucien, too, had gone pale.

“Of course, if both houses wish to continue associating as relatives, the royal family would welcome that. However, there is no need to force yourselves. After all—”

Noel turned toward Isabella standing behind him.

Isabella, who had been listening to Noel’s words with bored indifference, brightened as if her turn had finally come and stepped forward.

“This young Lady Isabella here has repeatedly insisted that her elder sister is being bullied—subjected to treatment so cruel it is hard to listen to.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Her smile vanished, and Isabella lowered her head, nodding in a weak voice.

“Despite the royal command, the people of House de Broy have neglected my sister, made her live in a storage-like room, treated her like a servant while hurling abusive words, and only dressed her up when she went out or met others…”

A small scream nearly escaped her, and Marguerite hurriedly covered her mouth.

She should have conveyed that this would amount to false testimony before the royal family. Yet Isabella had not changed her behavior—worse, she had spoken of it directly before Noel.

Even more troubling was the fact that it was only half a lie.

Until Lucien corrected Marguerite’s treatment, the people of House de Broy had indeed treated her with malice.

Casting a gentle smile toward the trembling Marguerite, Noel leaned closer to peer into her face.

“It seems there’s something you recognize in that, isn’t there?”

“No…”

“From what I’ve seen of the two of you so far, I had thought there was no issue. But if Lady Isabella insists this strongly, I must investigate once more.”

As Marguerite shook her head, Noel spoke calmly, each word tightening around her throat like soft cotton being drawn closed.

“In the name of the royal family, I will likely have to summon the members of House de Broy. Including the servants.”

Leaving aside the Duke of de Broy and Lady Yumila, the servants would not be able to endure it. It would be exposed that, under Lady Yumila’s orders, they had treated Marguerite harshly.

And if that happened—

For defying a royal command, the downfall of House de Broy would be unavoidable.

Her heart pounded as if it were breaking. Struggling desperately to keep her fading consciousness, Marguerite frantically searched for words that might serve as a defense.

Peering into her sister’s face as if clinging to Noel, Isabella whispered happily.

“See, Sister? It was hard, wasn’t it? You can come back to House Clavel. Father and I don’t intend to make a big issue of it, so long as House de Broy admits fault and releases you.”

“Isabella—”

“I spoke about it with Lord Noel as well. If the marriage itself is treated as never having existed, then House de Broy’s offense will be lighter.”

Ah— a small groan escaped Marguerite’s lips.

The fact that it would be considered a crime was already decided.

She was too afraid to look up and see the expression on Lucien’s face beside her.

So it was as she had thought.

Happiness was never meant for her. She could only ever become a burden to House de Broy.

“Lucien-sama.”

Holding back her tears, Marguerite pleaded in a trembling voice.

“Please… dissolve the marriage with me.”