HBL 15

Chapter 15

For a moment, silence fell over the hall. The air itself seemed to freeze. But only for a moment.

“D-Did Lady Lois just say… divorce?”
“Did I mishear that?”
“No, I definitely heard it too!”

The banquet hall erupted into a wave of shocked murmurs.

As the expressions around her shifted from disbelief to confusion, Saronne smiled calmly. She found it almost entertaining—the way Diego and Vivian’s faces changed as they turned to look at her. Especially Diego Lois, whose face was gradually hardening into stone.

“You always threatened me with divorce, but never once did you truly intend to go through with it.”

In her past life, before her death, she had once answered his threat with resignation: “Fine, then.” She had reached her limit—unable to endure the constant torment from Vivian, or to bear watching the child who should have been hers grow into the family heir.

But what had he done back then?

‘He could’ve simply cast me aside with a divorce, but instead, he chose the crueler path—killing me outright.’

That man never wanted divorce. Even if it meant killing her—he wouldn’t divorce her.

Beside her, Leobint spoke up, his tone light as if to break the heavy atmosphere.

“I guess I was lucky. I’d always wished for it, but this was the first time I found the courage to ask—and it actually turned out this way.”

Leobint smiled as though he had just won a great prize. It was a smile that stopped people in their tracks and caused gasps to echo throughout the hall.

Only then, drawn in by his radiant grin, did the surrounding guests realise the true meaning of his words.

A wave of shock rippled through the hall. For a moment, even Saronne’s utterance of the word ‘divorce’ was almost forgotten.

“You’ve always longed for it… May I ask what you mean by that?”

Everyone seemed too caught up in curiosity to even close their mouths. Leobint’s remark that he was “lucky” even came across as a provocation directed at Diego, who had conveniently vanished.

Tilting his head innocently at the crowd’s stunned reaction, Leobint replied.

“Why is everyone so surprised? I meant it quite literally.”

“Until now, hadn’t you always declined to take a partner and only accompanied Princess Rebecca?”

“Ah.”

He let out a soft exclamation, as if realizing something among the disbelieving stares, and gave a gentle smile.

“The person I truly wanted as my partner… always had someone else.”

Naturally, everyone’s gaze shifted to the woman standing beside him: Saronne. Despite her recent disgrace as the wife and mistress of a noble household, she still held a quiet, luminous beauty as she smiled.

Those who had once looked at her with pity suddenly found themselves looking at her with envy.

At least among many of the ladies.

After all, the ever-untouchable Prince Leobint had never before brought another woman to an official event.

“No way. Could it be that Lady Lois used some trick on Sir Hethrian? I’ve heard she has quite the sinister streak…”

“Maybe she’s got some dirt on him? Though, for that, he’s smiling far too brightly…”

“He must be indulging in one of his more peculiar pastimes.” Wasn’t it Lady Lois who tried to ruin her husband’s first love because she was obsessed? It seems she’s moved on to a new target. But really, Sir Hethrian, to involve himself like this…”

While some of the ladies whispered with thinly veiled jealousy—

“P-Pastime? Is that truly what everyone thinks this is? It feels… strange, don’t you think?”

“Yes, especially considering Sir Hethrian is…”

Those who knew Leobint well had gone pale.

As Saronne watched the commotion unfold, she truly realised just how much influence Leobint held in this kingdom.

The louder the uproar became, the darker the expressions of the two people watching from afar grew.

‘I’ve done them the favor of pushing toward divorce, so I don’t know why Vivian Benit looks like that.’

She mused with a smile, turning her gaze away from them.

‘It’d be troublesome if they snapped out of it and started meddling.’

Just then, someone pushed their way through the crowd towards them. It was a woman with sharp blue eyes and a polite smile, her golden hair sparkling like starlight under the chandelier.

“I asked you to come early, and yet you’re so late. Surely it wasn’t Lady Lois’s fault—she’s always punctual. So the problem must have been with you, Sir Leobint?”

It was Princess Rebecca.

Saronne offered a graceful bow and greeted her,

“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Your Highness Princess Rebecca.”

Meanwhile, despite the princess’s chiding, Leobint simply grinned and took the blame without hesitation.

“How could I possibly show up looking anything less than perfect when I finally get to attend with my dream partner? I had to look like the most handsome man in the world.”

There was a hint of boyish shyness beneath his bright smile.

Saronne, who had been watching Rebecca, glanced at him sideways.

‘Is he acting…?’

Leobint looked far too cheerful—so much so that he seemed ready to start humming a tune.

‘Why is he so good at this? The way he keeps casually throwing out those flirty remarks… even I’m getting thrown off.’

The stunned expressions spreading across the surrounding guests mirrored Saronne’s own inner reaction.

It seemed the role of the lovestruck man trailing after the one he adored suited Leobint perfectly.

“But I’ve displeased Your Highness the Princess, so I must at least appear repentant.”

He said this with an utterly unapologetic expression.

Then he turned his gaze to Saronne.

Just as she stole a quiet glance at him, their eyes met.

The gleeful light on Leobint’s face softened in that moment, settling into a more composed expression.

He dazzled when he smiled brightly, but with that calm smile, even Saronne found herself momentarily dazed.

“I’m sorry for making you take the blame for my tardiness, my lady. But as an apology, may I have this dance? It might help us take responsibility for the disruption—and perhaps restore a bit of grace to the hall.”

“…Shall we?”

Saronne, momentarily stunned, gave her answer a beat too late. And as if he had been waiting for that very moment, Leobint swiftly led her toward the center of the hall.

Watching them, Rebecca gave a signal to the orchestra, requesting a change in music.

“You say you’ll take responsibility for the stirred-up atmosphere? Let’s see it then. Besides, His Majesty the King appears to be watching as well.”

With a fan concealing her smile, Rebecca casually stepped in to clear the floor, guiding onlookers back.

It was Saronne who was caught off guard by her words. The royal couple—who usually just offered greetings and left were staying for the entire banquet tonight.

‘It’s one thing to hear rumors from afar, but witnessing them firsthand is entirely different…’

Somewhat flustered, Saronne looked up at Leobint, who now stood before her. Just then, the orchestra began to play. Leobint gently placed his hand around her waist.

“The King and Queen are watching. Are you alright with this?”

“We’ll need the world to believe we’re lovers if you want this divorce to go through. You pulled me into this, didn’t you? Using the royal family’s presence as a way to push for it?”

She didn’t recall explaining her strategy for the divorce to him in such detail. But then again… maybe it was only natural that he understood.

Saronne let out a soft breath and gave a faint smirk.

“…You said you’d only act like you were chasing after me. But now you’re casually calling us lovers?”

“It’s not a problem to speak of a destined future as if it were already true.”

Leobint smiled again—that same insufferably charming smile as before.

“Don’t worry.”

He whispered, pulling her a little closer under the pretense of leading her through the next steps of the dance.

“I get the feeling you’re worried this connection will grow too deep, especially with the royal family involved so early. But I already have everything planned.”

“Plans? Will you share them with me?”

“That’s a secret.”

Saronne gave him a look, clearly skeptical.

‘Is it a secret because he doesn’t think he needs to share the burden with me?’

Leobint led the dance, and the two of them spun around together in a graceful turn. Suddenly, Saronne’s gaze shifted and she spotted Diego standing across the hall, watching them. The expression on his face, which she caught out of the corner of her eye, was grim.

Before she could smirk or throw a provocative glance in his direction, her vision shifted again.

Then she felt Leobint pull her closer, his arm wrapping more firmly around her waist. With another elegant spin, her gaze returned to Diego.

This time, her husband was glaring at Leobint — his eyes were so intense that it looked as though he might hurl curses at any moment.

His whole stance trembled with rage.

Before she had the chance to process that strange impression, the music came to an end.