The End of a Fake Marriage

Lantier carefully took out another dress from the trunk and held it up. It was a sleeveless, gold-colored dress adorned with small, shimmering crystals. The base was made of silk, flowing gracefully along the silhouette of the body and ending just around the calves.

“This is…”

Renee looked at Lantier in confusion. It was a dress with a rather unconventional design, but it was not a design she had never seen before.

She had read in articles that this style of dress was trending among the victorious countries, like Aiel, Rochzendirk, and Ferna. The style was straight-lined yet bold, luxurious yet free-spirited.

“Do you think it might be a bit too daring for Mrs. Chambler?”

A considerable amount of her shoulders and ankles were exposed, but her back was not cut out.

The design was clearly a bit out of place in Leverd’s conservative social circle. But it wasn’t a dress she couldn’t wear. Most importantly, Renee liked that it didn’t emphasize her bust or waist. No tight corsets, no drawing attention to the cleavage.

After a long moment, Renee stretched her lips into a smile and looked back at Lantier.

“Why not give it a try?”

***

6:27 PM.

As a sleek black car pulled up in front of 7th Avenue, Liv Hill, all eyes turned toward it. This was an era where carriages and automobiles still coexisted, though carriages were far more familiar.

However, even those who don’t drive a car couldn’t help but notice the beautiful black vehicle.

‘The Generous T’.

It was reserved for royalty, high nobility, and the most famous people in the country.

The most powerful and wealthy families in Kaliba tried to get their hands on it, but no one would sell or give it to them. And it wasn’t only Kaliba; even Aiel’s president, Rochzendirk’s prime minister, and Ferna’s crown prince cherished and loved the car. Needless to say, the Queen of Leverd also adored it.

This rare car, a frequent adornment of magazines and newspapers, had appeared before Liv Hill, so it was impossible for people not to stare. Who was it? Whose car was this?

On this idle weekday afternoon, a ripple of excitement swept through the café where writers and artists were gathered, chatting leisurely. The wave of murmuring voices finally reached the door of a stopped car. As if in response, the car door opened softly.

Everyone had expected someone to step out first and open the back door, but unexpectedly, the person inside opened the door themselves and got up on their own.

The tall man stepped outside and scanned his surroundings, causing several of the people sitting on the cafeteria terrace to open their mouths and widen their eyes.

…Alexander Chambler!

Those who worked in printing houses or newspapers murmured excitedly, their voices rising at the appearance of a celebrity they saw more often than their own faces. Around the time a whisper circulated about someone having seen Mrs. Chambler nearby, Alexander’s blue eyes fell upon the chattering crowd.

“…!”

The ladies shook their hands in surprise, and the gentlemen waved their hats, hoping to show him a little bit of their acquaintance.

Alexander gave them a consistent smile and turned around. As soon as he entered the lobby, he saw a wide staircase leading up to the second floor.

Her office was the third office on the second floor, the brightest and most pleasant. Room 203. Pearl de Hazel.
Standing outside her door, Alexander glanced out the windows lining the corridor, taking in the quiet street, patrolling officers passing at scheduled intervals, and the lamplighter riding by on his bicycle to illuminate the streetlights. From here, he could also see the bustling café patrons chatting away as they watched the lobby entrance where he had disappeared.

A moderately peaceful, slightly lively area with a secure, reassuring calmness.

…It was worth the careful selection.

Satisfied, he raised his hand to press the bell, but just as he was about to, the door opened as if someone had been waiting for him. Before him stood a woman, unfamiliar yet strangely recognizable, holding a small evening bag and looking directly at him.

“…”

Her hair, a shimmering cascade of blonde, was adorned with a headband. A somewhat exotic, rustling dress accompanied her every movement.

And it was my wife, who is doing it perfectly. Renee Chambler.

A warm summer breeze drifted through the open window, lightly tousling Renee’s hair. Her sweet, fresh scent, like she’d just stepped out of a bath, mingled with the warm air. Alexander couldn’t help but let out a silent chuckle.

‘Ah, you unpredictable Whitehall troublemaker. You always manage to catch me off guard, striking at unexpected moments.’

A silent tension hung between them.

“…Does it look strange?”

Renee asked, her expression slightly tense as she met Alexander’s unblinking gaze. Her face revealed a hint of worry, wondering if her bold dress choice might be a source of embarrassment or tarnish his reputation.

Alexander gazed at Renee, then slowly reached out to brush a stray strand of hair from her cheek. His fingers lightly grazed her earlobe.

“If anyone dares whisper that you look strange…”

He lowered his hand and took hold of Renee’s hand, tightly gripping her evening bag. Slowly guiding her hand onto his arm, he smiled, the corners of his lips lifting slightly as he whispered,

“That person will soon be broke. With such poor judgment, they’re likely to ruin their own family.”

“Is that a compliment or not?” Renee responded with a wry smile, uncertain about the ambiguous praise. Observing her expression, he offered a clearer statement.

“You’re beautiful, Renee.”

The tips of her feet that were reaching down the stairs stopped in midair.

Leaning closer to Renee’s ear, Alexander added in a slightly longer, more deliberate tone, “You’re probably the most beautiful person in Kaliba tonight.”

She thought it wasn’t bad, but not that good. She would have preferred a playful argument. Receiving such praise from him left her completely flustered, unsure how to act or respond. Her face and body creaked awkwardly, like a hinge needing oil. To hide her embarrassment, Renee retorted with a deliberately sharp tone, “You’re inflating my confidence a bit too much, Mr. Chambler.”

“I’m simply stating a fact, Mrs. Chambler.”

“Well, I’m glad my partner is pleased. Let’s go.”

Trying not to let her unease show, Renee tugged at his arm, hurrying down the stairs. She couldn’t shake the odd feeling that his gaze was still on her.

As the two appeared, Louis, who had been waiting for them in the lobby, quickly opened the car door and greeted Renee.

“Wow! You look absolutely stunning tonight, Mrs. Chambler.”

“Thank you, Louis. And you’re looking quite sharp in that fedora tonight.”
(A fedora is a soft felt hat with a creased crown and a curled brim.)

“Haha! You’ve got a great eye as always!”

Rene got into the car with a smile and stroked his ticklish earlobe, taking in the scenery passing by through the car window.

In the space between their seats, Alexander’s large hand and Renee’s small one rested close together, almost touching.

Tap—

The smoothly driving car hit a rock, causing a jolt, and their fingertips, which had been close, naturally touched.

“…”

“…”

As the smoothly gliding car jolted over a small bump in the road, their fingers, which had been slightly apart, naturally came together.

“…”

“…”

Both kept their gazes fixed out their respective windows, acting as if nothing had happened. Despite a few more bumps along the way, their barely touching fingertips remained in place, lingering until they arrived at the Ministry of Finance.

***

“Aaahhh!”

Burying her face in the mountain of pillows, Nina let out a series of harsh cries until her throat grew hoarse.

Fearing that some of the sound might escape, Melinda locked the door tightly and kept a close watch.

Nina, who was not usually gentle, but not violent either. However, there were times when she would suddenly explode like this. And whenever that happened, something had gone terribly wrong.

It was Melinda’s job to keep her in check and it earned her a considerable sum from Meggie Chambler.

“This is so annoying! Aaahhh! That damn bitch! She comes out of nowhere and takes everything I should have had!”

Nina ran wild, throwing everything she could get her hands on and kicking everything she could touch.

The sharp cracking sound continued for a while and then gradually stopped.

Holding onto the closed door, Melinda waited for Nina to calm down. Once Nina’s breathing had somewhat subsided, Melinda rushed to her side, offering a sweet, cool drink.

“Oh dear! Miss, what will you do if you hurt your hands like this? You need to calm down, or you’ll just get wrinkles on that pretty face of yours,” Melinda said in a voice full of concern, soothing Nina as best she could.
“…Melinda, Melinda! Huuuuh!” Nina cried out, throwing herself into Melinda’s arms like a child, unable to hold back her tears. In the warm embrace of her maid, Nina gradually found solace.

“…I am a Chamblor. I’m a legitimate member of this family. I even got burned because of Alexander! But, but how could he do this to me? How could he treat me like this, all for some sly fox?”

“Exactly. The Marquis, of all people, shouldn’t be doing this to you. After everything you’ve suffered because of him.”

“That’s right!”

Nina burst out crying again, unable to hold back her anger.

“This is not acceptable. I have to call Mom!”

Melinda flew ahead and opened the door that had been closed. The Chambler mansion had six telephones in total: one on each floor’s hallway, one in Alexander’s private study, and one in the annex where Josie Chambler resided. Nina grabbed the phone in the central hallway on the second floor and immediately called Maggie in Reinerbell estate.