Chapter 23. Fortuitous Meeting (1)

Translator: Atlas / Editor: Scarlet

“I don’t think they can keep wallowing in this mansion for long.”

“I understand.”

“On the other hand, Margaret.”

Rihanna, still looking at the calendar, soon changed the subject.

“I think I need a doctor.”

“Doctor?”

“I haven’t menstruated for two months.”

“Now that I think about it, that’s true.”

“I thought it might come back last month, but strangely it hasn’t.”

“Maybe…” Margaret asked Rihanna cautiously. “Are you pregnant?”

“No way.”

Rihanna shook her head. As unfortunate as it was, she hadn’t had intercourse in the last three months to assume she was pregnant. Margaret changed the subject without asking any more questions.

“I’ll call the treating doctor as soon as possible.”

“…No.” Rihanna said after a moment’s reflection. “I cannot be examined by the treating doctor. I will go to the hospital personally.”

“You’ll go to the hospital personally? Why would you have…?”

“The treating doctor is known to the Royde family.” Rihanna said coldly. “My husband has betrayed me, I can’t easily trust people.”

“Ah…”

“I have to attend a party tomorrow, so I’ll go the day after tomorrow.”

“I recommend the hospital I’m going to. I could take you there.”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“Then go to bed early today. There’s a party tomorrow…and you don’t seem to be getting much sleep lately. If you’re under a lot of stress, you may not be able to menstruate.”

“Thank you.” Rihanna joked smiling. “You’re better than my husband.”

“Lady…”

Even though she said it without much thought, Margaret attached great importance to her words. She held Rihanna’s hand tightly with a heartbreaking expression.

Slightly overwhelmed by her sudden action, Rihanna asked, smiling nervously. “Why are you suddenly doing this?”

“I’m sure you’ll be happy.”

“The only happiness I have left is watching those two fall to hell.”

“No, besides that. I’m sure you’ll be able to start a family with someone better.”

“…I don’t even want that anymore, Margaret.”

“I’ll pray for you. That you might meet a better man.”

Margaret suggested to Rihanna an idea that suddenly occurred to her.

“How about dating someone else?”

Her unexpected words made Rihanna laugh.

“Forget it. That will be detrimental to the divorce.”

“Really…” Margaret said with a somber look. “I think it’s important for you to be happy. In the same way that those two become unhappy.”

“That’s true.” Rihanna said something that made Margaret feel a little relieved. “If they’re both unhappy, then I’ll reconsider my own happiness.”

***

The next day.

The welcome party for the new bureaucrats would be held in the morning, so Rihanna got up early. It had been a long time since she had attended an imperial banquet. Some maids, including Margaret, were tending to Rihanna.

Due to the circumstances, Rihanna was not thrilled to attend the party as George’s partner, but was willing to fulfill her wifely duties until the divorce.

“We’re done, Lady.”

Right on time. Rihanna stared at herself in the full-length mirror. Her nut-brown hair was perfectly coiffed and her golden eyes sparkled like amber stones. The pearl-colored dress she wore tight to her body reminded her of the tale of the goddess of beauty who was born from the foam of the sea.

Rihanna was beautiful. She looked the same as she did four years ago.

‘George cheated on me even though I was so beautiful…..’

Rihanna, who was immersed in her thoughts, shook her head.

‘There’s no point in thinking about it.’

Rihanna gave up on finding reasons to understand George’s infidelity. She wasn’t to blame for anything. Surely he would have cheated on her even if she had no flaws. That made her feel a little better.

“George.”

As she walked down to the second floor, she saw her husband. She thought nothing of it until Lisbeth appeared in the range of her vision.

“……”

When she was almost at the bottom of the stairs, Rihanna changed her mind and approached George with a smile.

“Am I late?”

Naturally, she linked arms with him. She did so with the intention that Lisbeth would see them.