WARDV 00

CHAPTER 00

Revenge Is Paid in Cash

“I want a divorce, Leticia.”

Clink.

The teacup rattled lightly against the saucer.

Inside the sun-drenched greenhouse, Leticia looked between her husband, seated in front of her, and the delicate, demure-looking woman seated beside him.

The woman’s dress, her jewelry, even the perfume she wore—

“All of it,” Leticia realized, “was something I personally picked out at my husband Paydan’s request.”

“The marquess I’m working with now really dotes on his daughter. Could you pick out a gift for her? You know these things better—women always do.”

Leticia had chosen everything with care—only the finest—to avoid embarrassing her husband’s taste.

“I wasn’t going to say anything until after the Founding Festival, out of consideration for your reputation,” Paydan continued. “But time is short.”

“Paydan.”

The woman next to him, Elise, tried to stop him, gently clutching his hand.

But he just smiled reassuringly at her and broke the news.

“Elise is pregnant.”

The warm gaze he had given Elise turned instantly cold as he looked back at Leticia.

There wasn’t a shred of guilt in his eyes.

“You know how rare it is for a woman to want to walk down the aisle heavily pregnant, right?”

With those words, Paydan pushed a divorce agreement across the table and demanded her understanding and cooperation.

“I’ll make sure the alimony is generous, so take your time and get your thoughts in order before the festival. There’s no point dragging things out if we’re ending it anyway, right?”

Leticia stared blankly at the divorce papers pushed toward her. Then, she raised her hand.

Immediately, Paydan’s expression darkened as he instinctively moved to shield Elise.

“I told you, you need to fix that temper of yours—”

But Leticia’s hand wasn’t aimed at Elise.

Instead, she calmly pressed the golden call bell on the table.

Ding!

The pleasant chime echoed through the greenhouse, mocking him.

Moments later, Erin, Leticia’s personal maid, arrived.

“You rang, my lady?”

“Erin, bring me my fountain pen.”

It was Leticia’s first remark since receiving the divorce notice—and her expression had remained eerily calm the whole time.

“She’s accepting this… just like that?”

Paydan looked at her with suspicion.

The Leticia he knew would’ve either begged him in tears or tried to strike Elise.

Leticia had always been a woman who loved him obsessively.

But this Leticia was calm. No, more than calm—

There was a faint smile playing on her lips.

“No. There’s no way she’s letting this go so easily. She must be planning something.”

Every time she clung to him in tears, Paydan had felt a strange sense of superiority. Her indifference now irritated him deeply.

Erin soon returned with the pen.

Leticia took it and, contrary to Paydan’s expectations, simply signed the divorce papers without a word.

Then—

Clap. Clap. Clap.

“Congratulations on the pregnancy.”

She gave a round of loud applause, her face shining with a bright smile.

“Well then, if that’s all, I’ll be going first.”

“…What?”

Paydan looked up at her, stunned.

The woman he was certain would beg and cry was now getting up without a hint of regret.

“W-wait! Leticia!”

He scrambled to stand, but Leticia turned away and calmly walked back toward the mansion.

But someone was following her.

“Excuse me, madam…!”

A trembling, bird-like voice.

It was Elise.

“Do you need something?”

“I just wanted to talk… His Grace was worried, but I know you’re not the type of person to strike a pregnant woman.”

Right?

Elise gently caressed her still-flat stomach as if to show it off.

Her smile held a subtle superiority.

“You see, actually—”

But before she could finish her sentence—

Leticia, who had been staring at her indifferently, stepped in close and whispered softly into her ear.

So quietly that only Elise could hear.

“I hated you from the start.”

Cutting her off.

“……!”

Elise flinched and drew in a sharp breath.

“How… how did she know? Did she read my mind?”

Her eyes shook violently as she looked at Leticia.

“I lied about being pregnant. Just to get rid of you.”

“H-how could you…”

“Go ahead. Tell him. But who’s going to believe you?”

Leticia gave her a pleasant smile as Elise’s mouth opened and closed in silent shock.

“I already knew.”

“W-what…?”

“All of it.”

“What do you—”

“I know the future.”

Elise could only stare blankly, unable to process what Leticia was saying.

“Go ahead, tattle to Paydan. But who do you think will believe you?”

Leticia returned the very words Elise had once said to her, and then took a step back.

“Thanks. For taking out the trash for me.”

With a radiant smile, Leticia turned and walked away.

Click-clack.

Her footsteps were light.

Because today…

Was the day she had been waiting for.