Chapter 1: The Half-Duchess
“Get a divorce.”
“…”
Her mother-in-law’s eyes were so full of disgust, it was as if even speaking to Eleanor was repulsive. Eleanor nearly laughed at the absurdity of it all. No wonder the duchess suddenly invited her for tea — the sun must’ve risen from the west today.
“Why are you silent?”
She had only paused for a moment, but even that short silence seemed to annoy the duchess.
“It means you should leave my son. Isn’t ten years enough? You should be the one to end it.”
Ah, so this is how noble families handle divorce — giving the news when the spouse isn’t even present.
Eleanor calmly sipped her tea, unfazed.
The duchess bit her lip in frustration. Her cool response clearly made her furious.
“Say something. Are you planning to stay silent forever even in front of your elders?”
Finally, Eleanor looked up, adding a bright smile for good measure.
“Oh my, that was such a surprise, I thought I must be dreaming with my eyes open.”
“…”
She could hear her own family’s people behind her chuckling at the situation.
The duchess’s face twisted with anger and humiliation. The sight of Eleanor’s people filling the duke’s mansion showed just how much control the duke’s family had lost.
Yes, it must be a terrible feeling. Eleanor understood.
She responded kindly.
“Well… if that’s what you wish, I’ll have a careful conversation with my husband. Of course, when he returns home.”
“Hah! Careful conversation? Don’t be ridiculous.”
“It makes me sad when you laugh like that.”
The duchess mocked.
“Eleanor! Everyone knows you’re just your father’s puppet. I know exactly what you’re up to, staying in this marriage.”
Her voice sounded like a wounded animal.
“The day you became my daughter-in-law was the day my life became hell. You’ve already taken my husband’s life, my other son’s life—isn’t that enough? What more do you want?!”
“Oh dear, Mother, getting angry isn’t good for your health.”
The duchess’s eyes trembled with exhaustion, while Eleanor stayed calm.
“There’s no love in this marriage. Let him go. Haven’t you done enough?”
Eleanor finally put down her teacup and thought for a moment.
Divorce. Letting him go.
Was that truly the duchess’s idea, or had her husband also said something?
“Did he say… that I make him unhappy?”
Her soft question seemed to give the duchess confidence.
“Do you really need him to say it? If it weren’t for you, my son would’ve had a happy life with someone better.”
“So it wasn’t his decision then.”
“Everything I do is for my son!”
At that moment, Eleanor reached out and gently took the duchess’s trembling hand.
Ah, so this is what it’s really about.
She slowly blinked and looked at the young woman standing behind the duchess.
Pretty face, shy smile, round puppy-like eyes and chubby cheeks.
People called her the one who saved her husband’s life — the person he treasured most.
Meanwhile, Eleanor was labeled the villain who stole their happiness.
The mistress, Katrina.
But who here knew that this innocent-looking woman was actually controlling the duchess?
‘So they’re trying to get rid of me…’
Katrina likely convinced the duchess to stage this meeting.
Ten years is a long time, after all.
‘Her patience must’ve run out.’
Eleanor smiled beautifully — as she had done for the past ten years of marriage.
“No, Mother.”
The duchess raised an eyebrow.
“No to what?”
Eleanor blinked innocently, smiling like a harmless child.
The duchess looked ready to explode with rage.
But it really wasn’t time. Not yet. This kind of divorce — it wasn’t right.
“You said I’ve already taken everything. But there’s still one thing left.”
“What nonsense are you—”
“We haven’t completed the most important goal of this marriage. I still haven’t gotten it.”
“What…? You don’t mean…”
Eleanor looked straight at the duchess and gently touched her flat stomach.
“That’s right. I’ve never had his child.”
Gasps filled the room.
“You… how dare you…”
How amusing.
Eleanor laughed like she was watching a play.
“They say he’s the Empire’s strongest knight. Stronger than even the First Emperor’s sword. A child of someone like that…”
She looked directly into the duchess’s trembling face with cold eyes.
“That’s the one thing I never had.”
Her white teeth gleamed like a blade.
“You know that, right?”
Her red lips curled, and the room turned cold.
“Everyone mocked me for never carrying his child. That’s why I can’t get divorced.”
The duchess looked like she might faint.
But she had started this.
“But isn’t it strange, though? Both of us are healthy… yet there’s never been a child.”
Eleanor’s eyes shifted to Katrina.
The young woman blinked innocently behind the duchess.
What a fake. Always hiding behind others.
Eleanor’s lips twisted.
“Our relationship is passionate. Almost makes you wonder… if someone’s been secretly preventing a child.”
She smiled darkly.
“If so… who could it be?”
“Hah!”
Eleanor calmly smiled as she saw the duchess’s shoulders trembling. But the duchess could no longer hold in her anger and suddenly stood up.
“Shut your mouth!”
The chair fell over with a loud noise.
Seeing where Eleanor’s gaze had landed, the duchess quickly stepped in front of the young woman behind her, protecting her like she wasn’t her daughter-in-law, but a stranger.
“How dare you? Who are you blaming for not having a child? Everyone knows your marriage is worse than strangers!”
She spoke sharply, like a mother trying to protect her child.
“No one in this house is fooled by your tricks. How far do you plan to go with that poisonous tongue of yours?”
Eleanor raised her eyebrows, looking at the duchess as if she were pathetic.
“I haven’t even started yet.”
“So now you’re trying to stir trouble between me and this girl? Enough!”
“Oh, did it sound like that? I simply asked a reasonable question.”
The duchess screamed desperately, her neck veins bulging with fury.
“Say it right! It’s always you and your father playing games. And don’t pretend you ever wanted a child. Everyone knows you never meant it!”
Eleanor could’ve said something even harsher — but she paused.
Her mother-in-law was crying.
The duchess looked small today as she sobbed.
“I hate you. I hate seeing you next to my son!”
Of course Eleanor already knew that.
The duchess’s usual harshness had always been rooted in deep sadness.
Father… oh, dear Father… Eleanor sighed in her heart.
“Don’t think I don’t know. You and your father planned to crush our Duke’s family and leave when it suited you. Don’t think I don’t know how you used my son!”
“…”
“And now you dare talk about getting pregnant? Ten years! That’s long enough. Why won’t you just let him go?”
Sadly, the duchess wasn’t completely wrong.
It was her father’s plan — and the people standing behind Eleanor now were proof. Laughing quietly at the duchess’s breakdown, they had no care or respect for the family their daughter married into.
They never cared about what Eleanor had to endure because of that.
Why didn’t anyone see that she didn’t agree with her father?
Why did everyone assume she was the same as him…?
Then suddenly—
“My lady! Huff… the master—!”
A panicked butler rushed in. At the same time, the doors swung open.
And then came the voice:
“Enough.”
The atmosphere shifted.
It was like something heavy pressed down on the room. Everyone felt it.
Step. Step. Heavy footsteps.
“I return from a long campaign…”
A deep, heavy voice filled the room, like the sound echoing from a dark cave.
“…and this is how I’m welcomed?”
A sharp, icy gaze cut through the air.
It was Kylus, Eleanor’s husband.
“And I heard something interesting…”
His cold eyes shifted to the duchess — then to the woman behind her, with her innocent face.
“Divorce? That’s not something you discuss when I’m not here.”
The cold air in his voice didn’t feel like someone talking to a lover. It felt foreign.
But Eleanor didn’t allow herself any false hope. She knew exactly what kind of man he was — cold, harsh.
If he really hated someone, he would’ve thrown them away already.
So that woman *was* his mistress.
If he looked at both his mother and mistress that coldly… then what sort of cruelty would he throw at Eleanor?
She held her breath, like swallowing thorns.
Finally, his eyes landed on her.
Black hair neatly covering his forehead. Pale skin. Sharp, sculpted features.
And those violet eyes — like carved ice.
Eleanor wanted to step back, but held still.
Even the people who had been mocking the duchess behind her were now silent.
They stood hiding behind Eleanor, trembling.
How long did the silence last?
A minute?
Maybe more?
Then, finally, his voice came, filled with madness and cold.
“…”
“…”
Silence.
And then—he ignored her completely.
He said nothing.
Just cold silence.
Just complete disregard.
this story is so exciting!!! thanks so much for the translation! 💝
Your Welcome!💝