The Regretful Villainess is Happily Divorced

Chapter 5

“Welcome, Director! Would you like to start by watching practice, as usual?” the theater manager asked as soon as Oscar walked through the door.

Oscar scowled and threw up a hand, still fuming about the conversation during breakfast. “I’m going to my office.”

“Yes, Director! Allow me to take you there.”

All of a sudden, Oscar shouted, “Do you think I’m a fool who doesn’t know the way to his own office?! Repeat that rubbish again, and I’ll rip your tongue out!”

It was a severe overreaction to what should have been common courtesy. The manager’s shoulders flinched a little, but he bowed. He gave an obsequious smile as if he was used to it before stepping back.

Oscar frequently lashed out at the theater manager, along with any other commoner. This was quite different from his behavior in front of other nobles, where he was always careful to maintain his dignity. Because of that, the theater manager didn’t even blink at the insult.

In fact, Oscar sometimes couldn’t even remember what he had said to the theater troupe. The contract they had all signed was the only reason why he showed his true colors in front of them. Every member of the Creedwell Theater Company had to sign an agreement stating that they would never reveal what happened inside. Even if someone tried to speak up, people outside the troupe would assume it was slander. After all, Oscar Creedwell was a gracious figure who donated large amounts of money to society.

Oscar entered his private office, which was on the topmost floor of the theater, and collapsed into a plush chair. He couldn’t think straight. I’ll have to move Serwen immediately, he thought. He never could have imagined that Marlena knew where she was, down to the very address.

Oscar wasn’t unaware that he was in danger, but he still had no intention of leaving Serwen. His sweet delusion was rearing its head.

What do I have to worry about? Marlena, that woman, is undoubtedly foolish. Oscar nodded to himself. He had been so taken aback yesterday that these useless worries had sprung up. He relished the conversation he had had with her this morning. Had she been a little smarter, she could have worked this situation to her advantage when she provoked him, but perhaps she hadn’t thought of it at all. The look of shock on her face had been laughable.

That was why you should’ve just accepted my concession. Instead, the stubborn woman had dug her own grave.

Oscar knew that Marlena was a simpleton. It was just a stroke of luck that she had discovered Serwen’s whereabouts. This wouldn’t happen again. He vowed to be more careful in the future.

I was worried about nothing yesterday. Oscar shook his head, his face burning. To think he felt so threatened by Marlena, of all people…

He recalled the events from this morning, how he had been insulted by her. His spine prickled with displeasure the more he thought about it.

Unable to stand it any longer, he immediately opened his desk drawer and took out a portable communication device. He flicked a switch, and a green light flickered on. He tapped the device a few times to connect to House Creedwell’s butler.

“Yes, Your Grace? This is Albert.”

“Albert, how did that woman react after I left?” Oscar asked straightforwardly.

The butler relayed exactly what he had seen. “She sobbed into her napkin until it was drenched. She even begged me to persuade you to change your mind, Your Grace.”

“Is that so?” Oscar’s lips curved into a nasty, satisfied smile. He had been trying to correct this expression since he was a young boy, but it was hard to control himself when he was in such a good mood. “So, she finally realized what position she is in.”

“What will you do, Your Grace?”

“I’ll give her what she wants, of course,” Oscar said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “She doesn’t know her place. How could she defy me, Duke Oscar Creedwell? She’s been annoying enough, but I left her alone because she was always groveling at my feet. However, it was over the moment she tried to defy me.” Oscar arrogantly declared these things to the butler as if he had forgotten how bewildered he had been last night when Marlena had rejected his kiss.

“Have her come to the theater,” Oscar ordered. “I’ll have the papers ready.” Pleasure rose in him as he imagined the despair on her face when he presented her with the divorce papers. I’ll show her what despair is. Marlena would have no choice but to leave the capital or live the life of a commoner. Either way, it would be a crushing defeat for her.

Completely unaware that Marlena had figured out his plan, Oscar smiled as he called the theater manager. He would have the man run some errands for him at the government office.

***

“His Grace requests your presence at the theater, Your Grace,” Albert said through the door as I was rummaging through my jewelry boxes.

I put on a hasty tone, though my face stayed neutral. “A-Albert!”

I quickly locked my strongbox and rushed to the door. Of course, I put on my saddest, most anxious face before I opened it. I must have looked pitiful because a troubled look flashed across Albert’s face.

“My husband called? Did you talk to him?” I asked.

After Oscar had left, I had wailed in front of Albert, telling him about my regrets. I wasn’t worried about the butler feeling sympathetic for me and trying to get us back together. While was the family’s butler, his loyalty lay with Oscar alone. He had seen the insults I had hurled toward my husband, so he probably thought that sending me away was best.

My assumption was correct, because Albert didn’t try to soothe me with kind words. He was polite enough, but spoke to me with a stoic look on his face. “Everything will be taken care of once you go to the theater.”

“Th-things will go my way, right?!” I asked, my voice full of hope. Hmm, I don’t think I need to be this enthusiastic, but I’m getting pretty immersed.

I didn’t know if Albert was annoyed with me, but he simply repeated what he just said like a parrot.

I quickly hailed a carriage to take me to Oscar’s theater. I left in a rush, pretending like I had forgotten to change in my haste. However, I hadn’t forgotten to pack my handbag full of the jewels I had found in the private strongbox reserved for the duchess. If things went well, I had no intention of coming back to this damn mansion.

***

It took me about fifteen minutes to get to the theater.

Upon exiting the carriage, I regarded the theater’s beautiful, pearlescent exterior. The Grand Creedwell Theater—it had become a landmark of the capital because of its prime location and stunning appearance, and its shows sold out day after day. It was the dream of any aspiring young actor and dancer who traveled to the capital to work full-time at the Grand Creedwell Theater.

With slightly wistful eyes, I looked at the theater. At one point in my “other” life, I had dreamed of one day managing a theater with my husband. I had majored in acting, but that was before I realized my passion was in production.

A few days ago, I had worked up the courage to tell Oscar that I was interested in working at the theater, but he had immediately refused. I could still clearly remember what he said.

“You don’t know how to do anything. You would ruin my work if you left the house, so just stay home. Don’t muck things up for me. Stay here and doll yourself up, that’s all you know how to do.”

Oscar’s sarcastic voice rang in my head all too clearly. Those words had pissed me off, so I had abandoned that dream.

No more of these distracting thoughts. I shook my head as if to get rid of them, then entered the theater.

There wasn’t a single person here who didn’t know what Marlena Creedwell looked like. She had a beautiful face, a nasty personality, and a quick temper, all of which were sure to draw attention.

I could feel people’s eyes on me. They must have already heard the news, because an employee darted out of nowhere. “Y-Your Grace. What brings you here?”

I almost laughed. If Oscar and I had been a normal couple, the troupe wouldn’t ask why I was here. After all, it’s only natural for a woman to visit her husband’s workplace. Did you tell everyone how much you despise your wife, Oscar Creedwell?

The employee’s nervousness was palpable. They seemed worried they would be yelled at for letting me inside the theater. They might have been scared of the mad duchess of the capital, but they were utterly terrified of Oscar Creedwell, the theater’s owner. I could see them thinking about him, not me.

No matter how much I thought about it, divorce really was the answer, especially in a situation like this where I had nothing to lose.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time to call the employee out for their rude behavior. I felt bad for them too.

I had a nervous look on my face, in line with the concept I was going for. “His Grace called me here. I’m going to his office,” I said.

“Oh…” The employee hesitated, unable to confirm my statement.

Just then, I heard the theater manager running toward us. “Your Grace! You’re here. The director is waiting.”

What perfect timing. I followed him to Oscar’s office, looking more anxious than ever.

***

I picked up the smooth, stiff documents with trembling hands. Oscar was sitting across from me with a sneer on his face. “You don’t even have your gloves on. How graceless,” he remarked.

I was thankful that he even noticed the missing gloves. It was all part of my plan. However, I had to act the opposite of what I was feeling. I clasped my hands together as if I had just noticed, and pretended to be embarrassed, even ashamed.

Oscar looked pleased by my reaction. He leaned back in his seat and smiled like a satiated beast. He seemed relaxed and confident. “Why aren’t you happy? This is what you wanted, isn’t it?” he asked.

Oscar must have been furious this morning. To think that he had the divorce papers ready in such a short amount of time… All I had to do was sign.

As if on cue, he placed a fountain pen in front of me. “Sign,” he ordered.