Please Provide Compensation Through Divorce-Chapter 35

“But why are you here at this hour? And alone?”

“Believe it or not, I was out for a walk.”

“I’ve never seen anyone get stranded during a walk.”

He took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. It smelled fresh and clean.

“Why are you always lightly dressed when it rains?”

“I have no idea. Thank you.”

I pulled the collar of the coat tighter. I was cold, after all.

Our eyes met.

“……”

“……”

Awkward silence ensued. I looked away from him.

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Of course, the events of last night came to mind—the feel of his lips, his touch.

‘…It’s still embarrassing. That’s why I’ve been avoiding him.’

I glanced at him. He seemed to be in a similar state.

Let’s get to the point.

“I heard the meeting went well. There are rumors all over the palace.”

“Calling Farahm was very effective. The proposal was excellent too. It’s all thanks to you.”

“You’ll be busy from now on.”

“Tell me if you need anything. It’ll make things less hectic.”

Another silence.

Do we have to wait like this until Yuton returns? I actually have something to say to him.

I watched the falling raindrops and spoke,

“I overheard something the other day.”

“What?”

“That you wanted me to consider the palace as my home.”

“…Have you developed a hobby of eavesdropping? Like now.”

He turned his head, looking embarrassed. His ears seemed to turn pink.

“Thank you.”

“……”

“I know that Your Majesty is very considerate of me.”

He looked at me silently. His face seemed a bit red.

“Do you understand?”

I nodded.

“I haven’t really felt like I have a home. But knowing someone is making an effort for me makes me feel like this place could be home.”

“……”

“Of course, I still intend to divorce. Don’t get me wrong.”

He just stared at me, showing no sign of disappointment at the mention of divorce.

“I don’t have no feelings for Your Majesty. I do feel a sense of camaraderie.”

I knew it sounded absurd after we had kissed. But I meant it.

“So, I wanted to say thank you. If I don’t say it now, I might never get the chance.”

“Camaraderie?”

He repeated the word, as if finding it interesting.

“Yes, camaraderie.”

A mysterious smile spread across his face. Why was he smiling?

Then a drop of water fell on Leto’s shoulder. It seemed to have collected on a leaf. His shoulder and neck got wet.

“Hold on. There’s a handkerchief in the coat, right? Just a moment.”

I took the handkerchief from the coat’s pocket and gently dabbed his wet neck.

“Your Majesty always seems to get your shirt wet when it rains.”

It was a joke. He didn’t laugh.

“You did the same in front of the chapel yesterday.”

“What?”

“It annoys me a lot when you touch me without knowing anything.”

It seemed like he was about to say something serious. Just as I was about to pull my hand away, he grabbed it.

“If you knew what I was thinking at times like this, you’d never talk about camaraderie.”

He leaned in again. Normally, I would have been flustered. But now I was a bit curious.

“What are you thinking?”

“I want to return what I received in front of the chapel. For starters.”

He meant he wanted to kiss me.

“And since it’s raining, you can’t run away today.”

“You’re wicked.”

“I told you, I’m not a good person.”

“……”

“To be honest, I established the medical bureau for my own benefit.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I feel good when you’re happy.”

So it was for my sake. My feelings affect Leto too.

That was both romantic and direct. It suited Leto.

“How are you so sure I’ll be happy?”

“You’re happiest when you talk about medicine.”

I was genuinely surprised. Because it was true.

“How did you know?”

“How could I not? It’s written all over your face.”

“People say I’m expressionless. That they can’t read me.”

Leto chuckled.

“Well, it must be visible only to me.”

We heard footsteps approaching. Looking back, I saw Yuton running towards us.

Yuton’s eyes widened when he saw me.

“Your Majesty the Empress? How did you…?”

“I got stranded.”

“Stranded?”

He looked puzzled. Then he seemed to realize something.

“Oh, what should I do? I only brought one umbrella.”

“We can share it. Give it to me.”

At Leto’s words, Yuton handed him the umbrella. Leto opened it forcefully.

“Let’s go.”

He put his arm around my shoulders. We stepped under the umbrella together. He glanced down at me.

“You’re shivering. Are you sensitive to the cold?”

“Yes. I am.”

Actually, it wasn’t just that. The tension and excitement had hit me late.

We walked into the imperial palace. He escorted me to my bedroom.

“I’ll tell the attendants to bring you a warm drink. Drink it before you sleep.”

“Thank you. Have a good night.”

As he was leaving, a thought crossed my mind.

‘I’ve been in the imperial palace for over a month, haven’t I?’

“Your Majesty.”

“Hmm?”

Leto turned around.

“I think it’s time for me to move to the Empress’s Palace.”

“Ah. Right.”

“I should start moving.”

“No.”

He said firmly.

“What?”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Just no.”

“At least give me a reason—”

“It’s under construction.”

“What kind of construction?”

“I can’t tell you. Anyway, no.”

What kind of stubbornness was this?

“It’s not like we won’t see each other if I move to the Empress’s Palace.”

“I know. But you need to stay in the imperial palace for now. You can move once the construction is done.”

What kind of construction requires this? Are they rebuilding it? This is absurd.

Leto spoke as if finalizing the matter.

“Access to the Empress’s Palace is also forbidden.”

“What the hell is going on?”

The high priest threw the paper aside. The imperial seal fluttered in the air.

Dante deftly caught it.

The content was simple. ‘The result of the ministers’ agreement on the proposal for the establishment of the medical bureau.’

‘The imperial family is quite capable. How did they persuade the ministers?’

Dante’s gaze stopped at one part of the document.

“It seems they secretly created a cure for skin disease.”

“Yes. Who would have thought that the herbs taken from the ‘Forest of the Wizards’ would be the key ingredient.”

They had sent a spy to the imperial palace to find out about the herbs. But at some point, the herbs disappeared from the palace. And then Farahm appeared.

“Hah… Dante. This is no small matter.”

“Is that so?”

“Don’t play dumb. If the medicine is created, people will rely on it instead of the gods. Then our privileges will disappear.”

“If people live longer, the period they donate will also increase.”

“Foolish talk.”

The high priest sneered.

“The healthy are reluctant to part with a penny, but the sick don’t mind spending everything.”

“Ah, I see.”

Dante smiled faintly.

‘In the end, they want to make money off people’s illnesses.’

It was an overwhelming greed.

The high priest quickly emptied his glass of liquor.

“The problem is Livia. She made the medicine and wrote the proposal.”

“She must have written it well. The ministers were convinced.”

“The emperor’s actions are impossible without the empress. They need to be separated as soon as possible.”

Dante tilted his head.

“How?”

“The emperor’s birthday banquet is coming soon. Contact the Este family. Tell them to attend no matter what.”

The emperor’s birthday banquet was a significant event, attended by all the nobles of the capital.

“Send the highest-quality dressmaker to the Este family.”

“Yes, Your Holiness.”

“Now, go.”

“Yes. I need to get to work.”

Dante turned to leave when the high priest called out,

“Dante.”

“Yes.”

“Have you heard the goddess’s voice recently?”

“…No. She’s been silent.”

“I see. If you hear her, let me know immediately.”

“Of course.”

Dante left the high priest’s office. He looked around and then gagged.

“Ugh.”

It didn’t make him feel any better.

“Crazy old man. I can’t stand him more each day. Ha…”

Dante sat down in the corridor.

“…I’m getting tired of this life.”

It had been ten years since Dante joined the temple.

Dante was originally a vagrant. His innate divine power was just a nuisance. It didn’t bring him bread or soup.

Then the high priest found him. He had heard about Dante’s divine power. The high priest rescued Dante from the streets and gave him the surname Hamelson.

Dante felt he owed a debt.

He had been conveying the goddess’s voice to the high priest. The high priest then announced it to the world—floods, monster outbreaks in the north.

In return, Dante became the chief priest. He had no interest in power. He just liked living idly.

But he had reached his limit. The high priest’s fraud and greed were unbearable.

‘Ten years is enough to repay a debt. I’ll leave the temple soon.’

He was confident he could escape without a trace. But one thing bothered him.

The goddess’s voice and Livia’s existence.

‘Elisana is not allowed? Does that mean I should stop Meril? But why did the goddess’s voice reach Empress Livia?’

No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand.

“Forget it. Who cares about the imperial family?”

Dante stood up. He walked down the corridor without hesitation.

Moments later, he paused.

That evening, when he rushed to the imperial palace after hearing the goddess’s scream…

‘I almost got killed by the emperor.’

The emperor, whom he had only heard of in rumors, was truly formidable.

Dante was usually shameless. But in front of the emperor, he had no choice but to bow his head.

When the emperor’s sword was at his chin, he felt it.

‘He wasn’t just trying to scare me. He really intended to kill me.’

What saved him was Empress Livia. She made up excuses that wouldn’t work.

She could have been hated for it.

The emperor didn’t lower his sword because he believed those excuses.

Please.

‘It was her words and gaze that swayed him.’

“Hmm…”

In any case, he owed Empress Livia.

Dante sighed.

“Ha… I’m weak to people who are kind to me.”

It was a bit annoying, but his decision was made.

‘Still, I have to repay my debt.’