Chapter 34: Diverging Paths

‘Good.

I slipped out without anyone noticing.’

In town, Fine studied the long-distance stagecoach schedule.

‘Let’s see, the one to Laketown…’

She pulled a pocket watch from her bag.

The departure was in thirty minutes.

Sitting on a bench, she watched people pass by.

Then, a conversation between two middle-aged women caught her ear, making her heart skip.

“My relative at the castle said they’re planning some kind of celebration soon.

The lord himself is overseeing it.”

“Oh?

That’s exciting.

What’s it for?”

Fine glanced at the women as they walked away, chatting merrily.

‘A celebration?

I hadn’t heard…’

Frankly, she was shocked.

As Hawk’s wife and the Rosaider Margravine, she should know about such plans, yet she’d heard nothing.

‘A secret celebration?’

Her first thought was a reveal for Sherry’s baby.

If Sherry was Hawk’s beloved, the child would carry his blood, possibly becoming the next margrave.

A grand celebration for such a child made sense.

‘Leaving today was the right choice.’

If Hawk told her tonight about the child and a grand celebration for it, she wasn’t sure she could stay calm.

She might even cry pathetically in front of him.

“Laketown departure, boarding now!”

A young coachman’s call startled her.

“I’m boarding.”

“Go ahead.

Three minutes to departure.”

“Thank you.”

As Fine moved to board, she instinctively extended her right hand for an escort, then retracted it, realizing no one was there.

‘I need to get used to this.’

The stagecoach had three other passengers.

Fine took an empty seat.

As the coach started, familiar scenery drifted past.

*

Meanwhile, Hawk was busy working at the mansion.

“The well maintenance in the western region is progressing smoothly.

Completion is set for two months from now, and they’d like you and the lady to attend the ceremony.”

“Two months?

That’s before the dry season.

Good.

We’ll both attend.

Finalize the schedule.”

“Understood.”

The clerk bowed and left.

Another entered immediately.

“The necklace you commissioned is complete, my lord.”

Behind him stood the jeweler.

“Show me.”

“Here it is.”

The jeweler placed a small box in Hawk’s hand.

Opening it revealed a stunning necklace adorned with multiple diamonds.

“Better than I imagined.”

“I’m delighted you approve.”

The jeweler smiled bashfully.

“We used the finest diamonds.

It’s a one-of-a-kind piece.”

“I see.

Thank you for your excellent work.”

“Your kind words are appreciated.”

The jeweler bowed and left.

Hawk gazed at the necklace.

‘Will Fine like it?’

Today marked the end of their two-year agreement.

From the day Fine proposed the vow, Hawk knew she planned to seek a divorce after two years.

But the more he learned about her, the more he couldn’t resist his growing feelings.

Letting her go was unthinkable.

Tonight, he planned to propose again.

Unless he was mistaken, Fine loved him too.