Sudden Divorce

"Since I not only have evidence against your grace and lack of commitment toward me your partner in this marriage but also evidence of your negligence, lack of respect, emotional abuse, and mental damage, I believe that I should be compensated generously"

"Most especially since the former Duke and your vessels take a huge advantage of my family's power and influence to develop your territory to this extent I believe that I shouldn't be at a disadvantage, your grace"

Even though all Leonard acts is to get Vivian to divorce him, he can't help but feel shocked when she finally decides to divorce him, he thinks that he will have to act a bit more repulsive for her to finally let go of her obsession because he knows how obsessed Vivian is with him because it has been like that since they are young.

Although he did not like her as a wife but that doesn't mean that he hates her in fact he likes her a lot, to him Vivian is like a sweet little sister, she is so beautiful and sweet that someone can't help but like her.

Vivian is like a little sun, wherever she is, her alone smile is enough to light up the room so he can't help but feel guilty that he is the source of sadness for such an amazing woman, but he just can't bring himself to love her or forgive her for deciding his fate on a whine.

The idea of her wanting to leave all of a sudden and the hatred he sees in her eyes doesn't sit well with him even though the only reason why he treated her so harshly was that he was hoping that she would get fed up with him and divorce him alone since he can't divorce her, he can't help but want to cover those eyes that once look at him with so much love but now looking at him as if they are enemies, his heart can't bear the hatred.

He can't help but think to himself "I'm more than willing to give up the dukedom if she wants it as long as there is no hatred towards him in those eyes" Even though he never admits it to anyone, Vivian is the most beautiful woman he has ever led his eyes on and she has been a good and obedient wife so far, it hard to see a noblewoman especially a high ranking one like Vivian that's is has humble and obedient as she is.

Even though he had always wanted her to be out of his life and now she is finally asking for a divorce, the idea doesn't sit well with him, he felt fear for the first time, like he was about to lose something valuable to him and that makes his heart ache so badly, he can't even understand why he is feeling like that when that is what he has always wanted.

"And as for lady Isla, since I promise to grant your wish, I believe it only proper if I allow you to know the candidate I have in mind, the candidate is no other than my husband or should I say ex-husband to be, and official you can move into the dukedom as his sponsor after our divorce," Vivian said grinning like a child who just gives a brilliant idea.

She watches Isla widen her eyes in shock, although Duke Leo seems to be standing emotionless, there is still a subtle frown on his face for a second, the nobles were murmuring among themselves in confusion trying to make a head or tail out of Vivian's action.

Her husband cheated on her with a woman of lower status and still disgraced her at her own birthday ball for his mistress and instead of dealing with the mistress harshly as she threatened, she decides to help them get together instead and leave her husband for the mistress.

While the guests engaged in a serious decision among themselves, Vivian just watched everything calmly with a smirk and disdain on her face and it was then that the guest started to feel like something was wrong, Isla started to have a bad feeling about the so-called help that the Duchess is giving.

Vivian raises her hand gracefully and makes eye contact with both the butler and the head maid from across the room. She signals with a subtle gesture of her hand for them to approach, their plain dress was different from the rest of the guests in the ballroom making it obvious their status.

The middle-aged butler stands poised in his formal attire: a tailored black tailcoat with sharp lapels over a crisp white shirt and a neatly tied gray cravat, complemented by a matching waistcoat with polished buttons, sharply pressed black trousers, and immaculately shined black leather shoes, while a discreet pocket watch chain glints at his waist, and white gloves are tucked neatly into his pocket, completing his dignified and professional appearance.

His name is Edward Jameson, the current butler of the Valerion family, he has been the butler since the former Duke was officially appointed as the Duke of the Valerion family, their family has a long tradition of serving the duke family and they have always been loyal to them.

Next to him was the middle-aged head maid stands tall in her traditional attire: a long, dark black cotton dress with a high buttoned collar and fitted bodice, accentuated by a crisp white apron tied neatly at the back, its bib front framing her chest, while a lace-trimmed cap rests snugly over her neatly pinned hair, and sturdy black leather shoes peek out from beneath the hem of her modestly flared skirt.

She is none other than Agatha Merriweather, who is also Edward's junior sister, she is married to a merchant, can't be called one of the wealthiest in the empire but he's quite influential, their family has always been in charge of taking care of the Duke household and almost all the important posts in the Duke's household are held by the people in their family.

The trust between the two families has been built for years making the master and servant bond between them stronger than most other noble families, according to history, the Jameson family ancestor once saved the Valerion family ancestor, and as a reward, the Valerion family ancestor offered him a job as his butler and since then their family have been serving the Valerion family.