I'm Divorcing My Tyrant Husband

"But, Your Highness, what could have happened to 30 slaves or to the royal palace? That would be an insult to the ancestors of the imperial family."

"You are so generous with a woman who is nothing but your own enemy, because the Queen's personality is truly wonderful."

The ladies admired Aisha's personality, but continued to gossip about Robelia.

Even if Aisha seemed to be getting serious, she pretended to stop her, but it was only natural that she would never firmly stop Robelia's gossip.

"Duke Schwartzkov, what do you think?"

"That's right. You didn't say anything from before."

The arrows of the ladies, who had become very emotional, returned to the man who had been sitting quietly.

Aisha also looked back.

Duke Norman Schwarzkopf. He was a handsome man with silver hair and red eyes, which was rare even in the Empire.

Even indoors, he fastened the buŧŧons of his undecorated black uniform to his neck, and his neatly combed hair did not fall apart.

He was a man who exuded a stoic atmosphere from head to toe, from his cool, sober eyes, to his tightly closed lips, to his impeccable attire.

Light from the chandelier draped over his long silver lashes, creating dark shadows.

He opened his mouth slowly.

"I was just listening."

"You can't just listen. Duke Schwarzkopf has been greatly favored by His Majesty the Emperor. But aren't you angry at the wrongdoings of the Empress?"

"So what you're saying is, you're telling me to put the blame on Her Majesty? Are you the same as everyone here?"

Direct words that were rarely heard in the social circles of nobles. The voice that spoke those words was very calm.

But the reaction of the listeners was not calm.

"Huh, that's gossip! Why are you talking like that? The conversations we've had so far have been just constructive criticisms of unjust behavior..."

The elegantly adorned lady's face became so red that it could not be seen anywhere. She was so shocked that she trembled in her voice and blood vessels around her neck.

The Duke of Schwarzkopf rose from his seat.

"I'll be on my way now. I don't think it's a place where you can have more fun because of me."

"Duke...!"

Duke Schwarzkopf looked at Aisha and said, as if no one in the room was interested.

"Your Highness, I am speaking with sincere loyalty, but there is a saying in the Eastern proverb, 'Keep silent and dark'. If you hang out with a bad group, what you see and hear is only wrong, so it means that you will learn from what is wrong."

"Ah, haha. Thank you for your kind words as always, Duke. I'll look into it."

"Then I'll get going."

Only after seeing Aisha's smile did the Duke Schwarzkopf leave. The tall man crossed the drawing room in just a few steps and exited the room where they were.

"What is it?"

"I can't believe it!"

"What a strange person!"

Only after he disappeared did the ladies complain all at once.

"Duke Schwarzkopf, I only thought you were a decent person, but I'm really disappointed. How could you leave without an apology after giving such an insult!"

"Isn't that why there is no one to talk to except Queen Aisha?"

Aisha didn't bother to stop them. Instead of calming the ladies who vehemently accuse the Duke, she touched the cat's soft fur.

'Duke Schwarzkopf, I thought he was a very stubborn man, but I don't think it would be this much.'

Under such a lovely face she thought.

'It would be better to moderate that stubbornness. In order to be useful in the future.'

*****

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty!"

I fell asleep studying tax law until late last night and didn't want to wake up.

"Um, five minutes... I know. Ten minutes..."

"Your Majesty, this is not the time to oversleep!"

"Please get up and read this newspaper!"

The moment I realized that crying was mixed in the voices of the maids who spoke like that, I opened my eyes.

"Why is your voice like that? Did you guys cry?"

When I rubbed my blurred eyes, I saw that the corners of their eyes were red.

"No, we didn't… I cried."

"You can't cry during working hours."

"You're not machines. Why don't you cry because of working hours? Did you cry?"

"Well, I'm not really. Please look at this newspaper, Your Highness."

The newspaper was pushed in front of me with those words, so I had no choice but to read it.

What the maid showed was the newspaper's private review section. The anonymous contributor, who identified himself as a nobleman, was starting writing with this sentence.

[ I condemn the misconduct of the Empress, who brought thirty pagan slaves into the Imperial Palace! This is disrespect for the ancestors of the royal family! ]

"This article..... It's not just one or two, Your Majesty."

"We checked all the newspapers in the capital, and there were seven newspapers with similar editorial reviews or articles."

"This is really ridiculous. Her Majesty has brought the slaves out of anger in the face of abuse, and you have a plan to make them all independent as free people a year later. But I can't believe people who don't even know what's going on criticize you like this..."

Having said that, the maid began to shed tears as if she had been overcome with emotion.

"Oh, I'm sorry. It's not polite to cry in front of the person you serve..."

To be honest, I was delighted the moment I saw the article criticizing me. Wasn't that the last time she was accused of going to Gray Market?

I don't know why such public opinion suddenly arose now, but it was good. The more criticized and the worse the perception of me, the more likely I am to get a divorce.

However...

'I'm really happy to be criticized, but it may be difficult for those who love me.'

I don't know why, but the maids really liked me. She seems to have followed Robelia well even before she was possessed, but not long ago, she even heard these words.

'I really like that your Majesty's personality has changed.'

'Really?'

'Yes. When Her Majesty was infinitely kind and merciful, no one thanked Her Majesty or ignored Her Majesty. Her Majesty's changed personality is really cool that I admire you.'

'But don't follow me recklessly. It will cause problems in your social life.'

'Ah, I know. It's something that only Empress Her Majesty can do. That's why it's cooler and they jealous. Everyone else said the same.'

They say, to their dismay, that after I became Robelia, they became more fond of Robelia now.

I didn't hate it, but I was ashamed and sorry. I'm only thinking of getting a divorce, and then I'll have to break up with them.

'I'd rather be at ease if these children hadn't really cared for me...'

But... it must have been a lot more lonely than I expected.

It was thanks to them that I was able to adapt quickly after falling into this unfamiliar world.

I sighed.

"I said, I'm doing these things to get a divorce. So I don't have to worry and be sad when I'm criticized. I'm glad I'm getting closer to my purpose when I'm criticized."

"But still... It breaks my heart when your Majesty is criticized by strangers. We know how great your Majesty is...."

"Your Majesty, can you not get divorced? Can't you live happily with His Majesty?"

Every corner of my heart was pounding at their sincere worries.

'Come to think of it, I've never been so worried.'

In my past life, my family was in a relationship that was no different, and I didn't have a proper friend or lover.

'That's how it felt... When someone else sincerely cares for me.'

But, even though my heart hurts so much. I had no choice but to say cruel things.

"I can never be happy with the Emperor's side."

"Why?"

"The Emperor's Majesty doesn't love me. He is only interested in the Queen and loves the Queen.'

"But that's not what we see at all. His Majesty the Emperor loves Her Majesty. There were times when he paid attention to the Queen, but now it's not like that at all. He's only sincerely polishing your Majesty."

But their words didn't make sense to me.

'You can say that because you haven't read the original.'

I thought with a bitter smile.

'Now he may be a bit of a whim, but in the end he's destined to fall in love with Aisha. Because he is the male protagonist of this novel, and Aisha is the female protagonist of this novel.'

When I did not answer, the maids said with sorrowful faces.

"Your Majesty, grant my one wish."

"What is it?"

"Even if you don't believe in His Majesty's heart now, if you are confident that His Majesty will continue to love Her Majesty only in the future... Please make up your mind to divorce at that time. Please don't push His Majesty away."

"It's a foolish wish. I can't be sure of that in the first place. Because he doesn't love me."

"If it's not going to happen anyway, I don't mind if you promise me. Please, Your Majesty. Promise me."

'This is the only thing I can do to please these children who are dedicated to me.'

Thinking so, I finally nodded.

"Yeah, I promise. I'll bet on Mestapo."

"Mestapo!"

"Really, your Majesty? That's how you do it, right?"

"Well... I bet you never bet on Mestapo."

At this one promise, the children burst into tears and smiles on their faces.

"We'll do our best, Your Majesty, so that Your Majesty can believe in His Majesty's sincerity."

"What can you do? Whatever. Do well on what I tell you to do."

"Of course, as I've always done, I'm doing well."

When the maids laughed softly, I was relieved. It was then that a natural smile appeared on my face.

'I'm glad it worked out. By the way... it's also strange. The public opinion about the sudden purchase of slaves in these days is rising.'

As the maids left the bedroom to bring breakfast, I thought with a cold face.

'It's also suspicious... It's Aisha.'

Recently, Aisha also attended the Friday dinner party.

Although she didn't say anything and didn't have a presence, it was expected how shocked Aisha must have been to see me and Alexander pretending to be closed.

She must have thought that something had to be done to restore Alexander's affection and influence within the imperial family.

'It's ironic. Aisha and I want the same thing.'

Then I remembered something from a while ago.

After the Friday dinner party, I heard that Aisha kept leaving her room, but when I moved from the concubine's palace to the Empress's palace, she greeted me.

'Your Majesty, are you going? Living under one roof was fun, but it's a pity that you left so early.'

Considering her fierce rejection when I first came to the Imperial Palace, it was a ridiculous empty talk.

'Don't say things that you don't mean. Aren't we not in a relationship where we exchange empty words? [We're one family.]'

It was a return to the words that Aisha provoked to me at a Friday dinner a long time ago.