Battle Divorce! - Chapter 18
Chapter 9.2
Even if she was set up as Count Therese’s illegitimate child or supposed real daughter, being married made her situation anything but normal.
“Let’s just go tomorrow. We haven’t given them any notice, and you’ve had some wine…”
“That’s why I’m saying we should go now. It’ll help me sober up a bit.”
She hadn’t actually meant she wanted to go right now, but when she tried to convince him otherwise, Maxim remained adamant.
“Even so…”
“If we head straight to the bedroom like this, I’m not sure I’ll be able to restrain myself. Are you fine with that?”
“…”
He was disturbingly skilled at being intimidating.
Fine, if she had to go to Therese’s mansion with this walking human weapon, it might actually be safer while he was still a bit drunk.
And so, reluctantly, she ended up here.
“Izzy really wanted to see you, Count. That’s why we’re here.”
“Oh, is that so?”
Count Therese turned to Daisy, staring at her with an overly sweet expression.
“You must have missed your father, my dear.”
…Is he smiling?
After everything I’ve suffered because of you, you’re smiling?
The bullsh*t spewing out of his mouth was making her blood boil.
Daisy usually wasn’t one to curse, but her boss was such an a** that she found herself swearing more often. She wanted to let him have it, but she held back.
Since she had said she wanted to come, she had to play along.
“Yes, Father. I missed you so much.”
Daisy forced a smile, clenching her jaw.
Inwardly, she may have been grinding her teeth, but outwardly, she appeared like a pitiful woman desperate for her family’s affection.
With Maxim von Waldeck’s triumphant return, Count Therese’s reputation within the kingdom had skyrocketed. He went from being the cold-hearted man who sold off his daughter to a doomed soldier to a lucky man who’d hit the jackpot and turned his life around.
Either way, it was just the kind of juicy gossip that people loved, with plenty of sarcasm mixed in.
Daisy continued to act like the fragile daughter and stole a quick glance at her husband to gauge his expression.
‘This isn’t quite the reaction I was expecting…’
She had worried her husband might act as he did at the Waldeck mansion, making an embarrassing display. Just imagining how Count Therese might tease her about it was exhausting. However, Maxim von Waldeck’s attitude toward his father-in-law was strangely distant.
‘Is he being cautious?’
Even though she’d tried to convince him to let her go alone, he had stubbornly insisted on coming along.
This man, who usually acted overly familiar with her, was now staying silent, speaking only when necessary.
“Please, have a seat. These new tea leaves from the East have a wonderful fragrance to them.”
“I apologize, but I’m not particularly fond of tea.”
“Oh, then shall I prepare something else for you?”
“No need.”
His response was curt.
So he is being cautious. The more she observed him, the more Daisy’s suspicions were confirmed.
‘I just can’t figure him out.’
Although he had only recently returned, she felt that no matter how long she observed him, she might never fully understand this baffling man.
“…”
“…”
“…”
An uncomfortable silence settled over the parlor.
Trickleee—
Other than the soft sound of Therese’s butler pouring tea, the room was steeped in silence.
‘How should I do this? I need to speak with that a*swipe Therese alone.’
Daisy’s business today was something she could never discuss in front of her husband. After a brief moment of contemplation, she cautiously spoke up.
“Um… Max?”
“Yes, Izzy?”
When she finally mustered the courage to use his nickname, Maxim’s face lit up.
“The rose garden here at Therese Mansion is beautiful. Would you like to take a walk there?”
“The rose garden?”
“Yes. It’s one of my favorite places, and I thought you might like to see it.”
She gently suggested, sneaking a quick glance at Count Therese.
“This gentleman here will guide you.”
The count added, and the butler, who had been serving the tea, bowed respectfully upon his master’s command.
“Will you be coming too, Izzy?”
Is he truly this oblivious, or just pretending to be?
Since nobles usually communicated indirectly, she had tried hinting at him. But it seemed that approach didn’t work on Maxim von Waldeck.
“I have something to discuss with my father. This is my first time seeing him since the wedding.”
“Then maybe we could all—”
“The butler here will be your guide. Go on and take a walk.”
Daisy cut him off firmly. Then, as if granting him a favor, she leaned over and whispered a “magic word” just for him.
“…Darling.”
Maxim von Waldeck’s once stoic expression immediately flushed.
“I’ll go take a look around. I hope you and your father enjoy some quality time together.”
Maxim sprang to his feet, and just as he was about to leave, he leaned down to whisper in Daisy’s ear, making her face heat up.
“I’ll be back, darling.”
It was because of his parting words.
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