Battle Divorce! - Chapter 5

Chapter 3.1

Lunchtime had arrived in the dining room of the Waldeck Grand Mansion.

“You’re a very lucky girl.”

And there it was, yet again. Another favorite lecture from the former grand duchess on just how “lucky” Daisy von Waldeck was.

Unfazed by the snide comments from across the table, Daisy took a bite of a perfectly sliced tenderloin, savoring each bite.

“I’ve heard that many commoners barely manage to find a meal. You were fortunate enough to find a father and marry into this family, so you’ll never have to worry about hunger again. If that’s not luck, I don’t know what is.”

“Indeed. I couldn’t be happier.”

Daisy agreed with a bright smile and a nod.

“I love meat more than anything, so I’m grateful I can eat as much as I want.”

Ah, so delicious. So juicy.

Daisy let the taste of the meat linger, smiling contentedly.

In any case, the former grand duchess wasn’t even her husband’s biological mother.

Maxim von Waldeck was the illegitimate son of a runaway princess. He’d been adopted by his late uncle, the former grand duke, who had since passed, leaving Maxim to inherit the title.

Since there hadn’t been an heir to the Waldeck family, without Maxim, the family line would have ended, and their fortune would have gone to distant relatives.

Naturally, the former grand duchess became his adoptive mother, but she was essentially as powerless as a toothless tiger, having to take in a soon-to-die illegitimate child as her son.

She didn’t even have the power to send Daisy away, so why bother making a fuss? To Daisy, she was nothing more than a housemate.

“If you continue eating so carelessly, your dress will burst.”

Daisy ignored the former grand duchess’s disapproving clicks of her tongue, calmly finishing the last bite of her steak.

“Don’t brush off my words and listen to me carefully. I’m saying this for your own good. Men don’t like women who waddle around because they’ve gained too much weight.”

“I understand. Thank you for the advice.”

“What will you do if your husband returns and doesn’t even recognize you because you’ve gotten fat?”

Well, that’d only be a problem if he comes back alive.

Daisy swallowed down the retort that she nearly let slip out.

“So, you should start eating less. Especially fatty foods.”

“Thank you for your concern, but does it really matter?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Well, I’ve only seen him once, so I suppose that’s why I don’t really remember his face. He probably wouldn’t recognize me either.”

Her brazen response left the former grand duchess speechless, a small, disbelieving huff escaping her lips.

Despite being told to eat less, Daisy finished her steak down to the last bite. As she set her fork and knife down, a maid brought a dessert plate.

Her face lit up at the sight of chocolate mousse.

“You’re truly impossible to talk to. Aren’t you too old to get excited over dessert?”

“Oh, but I’m thrilled. Chocolate mousse is my absolute favorite, Mother.”

“Suit yourself. Eat as much as you want.”

Visibly irritated, the former grand duchess tossed her napkin down and left the table first.

BANG!

The door slammed shut.

Now, only Daisy and the maid who had been attending her remained in the dining room.

A bit of sugar would cure that hysteria of hers right up.

Daisy thought whimsically, gazing at the lone chocolate mousse on her plate.

“…Excuse me.”

“Yes, Lady Therese.”

Technically, her title should have been “Your Highness,” but the servants called her “Lady Therese” instead. It was a clear act of disrespect since they acknowledged her as Count Therese’s illegitimate daughter, but refused to recognize her as the grand duchess.

But Daisy didn’t mind. As long as they did what she asked, who cared what they called her? She casually pointed to the untouched chocolate mousse on the other side of the table.

“Would you bring that over here as well?”

“Pardon?”

“No one’s touched it, and it’d be a shame to waste it. Wasting food is a sin, after all.”

Wearing an openly horrified expression, the maid sighed loud enough for Daisy to hear.

Whether or not the maid had rudely slammed the plate down didn’t bother Daisy at all. She happily finished both servings of chocolate mousse and left the dining room with a contented smile.

༺♰༻

Had she ever felt such peace before?

Daisy sprawled across her soft bed, taking in a deep breath.

“…Ah, I’m so happy. You’re really living the life, Daisy.”

And she meant it.

“Living like one of those stupid royalists isn’t so bad after all.”

Now that she was experiencing it firsthand, she could see why people fought tooth and nail to keep their privileges.

Life as Daisy von Waldeck was pretty satisfying.

Compared to her previous job as an agent, she could eat as much meat and dessert as she wanted. The bed was soft, too. Given that the world outside her room could be dangerous, she preferred spending most of her time in the comfort of her bed.

Did she care about the scorn from the people of Waldeck?

Not at all. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it.

With so many eyes on her, she stayed on constant alert, cautious not to reveal her true identity. Frankly, she wished they’d ignore her even more.

She had no real complaints. It wasn’t like she had married Maxim von Waldeck out of love, and she definitely hadn’t come here expecting to be treated like the lady of the house.

Her only goal was to complete her mission and secure the retirement funds that would soon be deposited into her account.

Whenever she felt a pang of loneliness, she would read the children’s letters Sister Sophia sent, over and over again.

[ Sister Daisy, how are you doing? I miss you so mush. ]

Mia still made the same spelling mistakes. Her crooked handwriting was adorable.

[ Sister, I grew a lot taller. Can I marry you if I get taller than you? ]

But I’m already a married woman, what to do?

She couldn’t help but smile at Oliver’s cute little proposal.

[ You’re still praying regularly, right, Daisy? Don’t think you can skip now that no one’s there to remind you! Remember, the Lord sees everything. ]

Of course not. I never skip my morning and night prayers.

She smiled. Sister Sophia hadn’t changed a bit, still nagging Daisy even from afar.

[ I’m only teasing. Health is the most important thing. It’s okay to miss a prayer, but don’t skip your meals. Make sure to eat well. ]

No problem there. Daisy was practically eating as much as Sister Sophia nagged her to.

[ Little Sean is growing up well. He’s even starting to toddle around now. I thought you’d want to know, so I’m sharing the news. ]

Sean had been a blessing.

Sister Sophia had named the baby that Daisy had rescued during her last mission. Hearing that he had already started walking tugged at her heartstrings.

“I’ll return with plenty of money, so I hope everyone stays safe and healthy until then.”

Staring blankly at the ceiling, Daisy picked up the picture frame on the nightstand beside her.

It was a portrait of her husband, Maxim von Waldeck.