Chapter 4
Alistair came in person to the Chancellor's Estate.
He didn't come bearing any apology or remorse.
Instead, he showed up with his guards, blocking the entrance with an intimidating air, demanding to see me.
I stood by the window on the upper floor, my gaze icy as I looked down at the Duke.
He looked worn out, his eyes bloodshot. Clearly, he hadn't slept all night.
But his innate arrogance remained, completely undiminished.
"Father, Brother, let me handle this myself," I turned to them as I spoke.
They exchanged a glance and nodded.
I adjusted my outfit and descended the stairs, step by step.
Sia followed behind me, carrying a brocade box.
Once again, the gates of the Chancellor's Estate slowly opened.
When Alistair saw me, his eyes flashed with mixed feelings, but that quickly turned into cold, burning anger.
"Elsie, are you done making a scene?" he snapped.
The front gates of the Chancellor's Estate were packed with curious onlookers.
Everyone was dying to see how this royal scandal, which had shaken the whole city, would finally play out.
I stood at the top of the steps, looking down at Alistair with a cold, commanding gaze.
He was dressed in fine clothes, his face twisted with anger, and behind him stood a squad of his guards, all looking menacing and ready for trouble.
If you didn't know any better, you'd think he was here to storm the estate.
"Me? Stirring things up?" I said, my voice calm but clear enough for everyone to hear.
"On the Duke's wedding day, just to please his beloved, he put a sword to my neck and forced me to accept a dancer into the household, making her my equal," I said, my tone icy. "So tell me, who's the real troublemaker here?"
As soon as I finished speaking, the crowd broke out in murmurs and whispers.
"Turns out the rumors were true!" someone exclaimed.
"Geez, the Duke really spoils that Alana, huh?" another person gasped.
"All that for a dancer? He actually humiliated the Chancellor's own daughter. He's lost it!" someone else blurted out.
Alistair's face twisted with embarrassment and anger.
He never expected me to expose everything in public, leaving him utterly disgraced with no way to save face.
"This is a private matter between us! Why must you make it everyone's business?" he hissed under his breath.
"A private matter?" Elsie scoffed, as if she'd just heard the world's biggest joke. "Have you forgotten? My dowry was sent back already. I haven't even stepped into your estate yet. So tell me, what family? We're not even a real family."
"You!" Alistair was left speechless, his handsome face turning livid with rage and humiliation.
He took a deep breath, trying hard to rein in his fury.
"Elsie, I'm here today to give you one last chance," Alistair said.
He stood there with an air of superiority, acting like he was the only one in charge.
"If you come back with me now and fulfill your duties as the Duchess, I'll let bygones be bygones and act like yesterday never happened," he said. "As for Alana, I'll make her my side consort, but she'll never outrank you."
He thought he was granting me the greatest favor imaginable.
He thought I couldn't possibly live without him.
The crowd was holding their breath, waiting for my answer.
In their eyes, the Duke had shown up himself and even offered a compromise, so as his future Duchess, I should take what I could get and call it quits while I'm ahead.
I looked at him, and a cold smile suddenly appeared on my lips.
There was not a hint of warmth in that smile.
"Your generosity is noted," I said. "But as for the Duchess, whoever wants the title can have it. It means nothing to me."
I turned to Sia and said, "Bring it out."
Sia stepped forward and opened the brocade box she was holding.
Inside was a single scroll, resting quietly.
"What is this?" Alistair asked, frowning.
"Why don't you open it and see for yourself, the Duke?" I replied.
Alistair eyed me warily, then took the box and unrolled the scroll.
With just one glance, his pupils contracted sharply.
There, written in bold, elegant calligraphy, were the words "Divorce Decree".
Below that was my own signature and handprint.
"You... How dare you!" Alistair's hand shook so hard his grip on the paper nearly slipped.
His face went from shock, to fury, and then turned downright savage.
"Elsie, you want to divorce me? Don't even think about it!" he snarled.
He ripped the Divorce Decree to pieces in a sudden burst of rage.
Shreds of paper scattered, falling like a hopeless blizzard.
"Let me make this clear. The King arranged this marriage. You want a divorce? Over my dead body!" Alistair roared.
He was completely hysterical, shouting like a madman.
I watched him lose it, my gaze steady and unflinching.
"Ripping it up won't do you any good, the Duke," I said. "I've written a hundred more just like it.
"Even if you show up every day to tear one apart, you'll have enough to keep you busy for three months."
"You!" Alistair was trembling with fury, pointing at me, utterly speechless.
This was the worst humiliation he'd ever suffered in his life.