Even Though I Defeated the Demon Lord, My Wife and Daughter Treat Me Like Trash ~ I Found Out My Wife's Child Isn't Mine, and When I Confronted Her, She Got Mad and I Was Exiled. The Country's in Trouble Because the Demon Lord Came Back? Sorry, I'm Getting Remarried to a Princess, So I Can't Help. - Chapter 27: The Discussion

Chapter 27: The Discussion

Standing around wasn’t getting us anywhere, so we moved to a room where we could talk things out. 

I sat down first. 

For some reason, Camilla sat in the seat next to me, so I quietly moved across the table to sit directly opposite her.

By the time Camilla got up to adjust, Mariabelle had already taken the seat beside me. 

Camilla looked noticeably displeased.

“Why are we sitting apart when we’re husband and wife?”

“It’s normal to sit across for a discussion, isn’t it? Also, we’re not married anymore.”

“What? Why would you say something like that?”

…Huh? Is she playing dumb or something?

I swallowed the unheroic words I wanted to blurt out and tried to stay calm as I replied.

“What do you mean…? I already sent you the divorce papers, didn’t I?”

Yes, while I was imprisoned, the papers should have been delivered through Camilla’s representative.

I was even paid off with twenty gold coins as part of the settlement.

“Oh, are you talking about this?”

Camilla pulled a document out of her pocket. 

It was indeed the divorce papers I had signed while in prison.

“And why didn’t you submit them?”

“No, I did—or rather, to be precise, they were submitted without my consent.”

“…?”

“Listen, Van. This is where the misunderstanding starts…”

“What exactly do you think I’m misunderstanding?”

“The man who visited you while you were imprisoned acted without my permission. It seems… he had feelings for me for a while, and when he heard rumors of your imprisonment, he took matters into his own hands.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He thought that if we got divorced, I’d turn my attention to him. So, I rushed to the church and retrieved these papers.”

“I see. Well, just submit them again, then. I guess we’re done here.”

“No, I won’t.”

“Why?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Van? I love you.”

Camilla clung to me with a look that resembled a tragic heroine.

This woman, after what she did with Albert, still has the nerve to say this…

I had been planning to take my revenge later, but maybe I should deal with her right here and now.

But, I couldn’t risk causing a scene in the Emperor’s secondary residence.

I decided to keep the conversation going a little longer.

“But I don’t love you anymore.”

“H-How could…”

“Stop it! You must know what I saw in the prince’s room, right? With my ‘Memory Probing’ spell, I saw everything—you and Albert… well, you know.”

Oh right… Mariabelle is sitting next to me. 

I was getting so frustrated, I almost forgot.

“I saw it, Camilla. You and Albert, betraying me and having fun together.”

“I’m sorry… I know it looks that way, but it’s all a misunderstanding…”

“No, after seeing how into it you were, there’s no room for misunderstanding…”

“I was being threatened! I had to act like I was enjoying it, or Albert said he’d tell you everything! I’ve been suffering all this time…”

This woman…

There’s no doubt she’s lying.

But even if I questioned her, she’d just continue playing dumb like this. 

My patience was nearly at its limit.

Just then, Mariabelle, who had been quiet until now, gently rang a small bell on the table.

“Now, now, both of you. Let’s not get too worked up… I’ll have some tea prepared for us.”

“Oh, uh… sure.”

“By the way, Lady Camilla, about what you were saying earlier—there’s no chance any of it is a lie, correct?”

“Of course not.”

“Then, can you swear to God, in the name of the Holy Maiden, that you haven’t told a single lie and won’t tell any during this conversation?”

“Yes, of course. I, Saint Camilla, swear before God that everything I say here will be the truth.”

“And if it turns out you lied, what will you do?”

“I will offer my life as penance.”

Hmm, was it just my imagination?

When Camilla made her vow, I could have sworn I saw Mariabelle flash a sly grin… But when I rubbed my eyes and looked again, there she was, smiling sweetly. 

Yeah, it must’ve been nothing.

“Then, I assume there’s no issue with using this?”

Mariabelle pulled out a contract from the desk drawer.

“I-Is that… a Contract of Oath?”

“Yes. It states: if you lie, you die… There shouldn’t be any problem with that, right?”

“Well, uh… isn’t it a bit unreasonable to use such an expensive item for a dispute between a husband and wife?”

Camilla wasn’t wrong here. 

A Contract of Oath is an artifact of lost magical technology—something that can’t be made in modern times. It’s occasionally found in dungeons and traded at extremely high prices. 

Typically, it’s used for diplomatic purposes in very special circumstances.

Even Albert must have gone to great lengths to secure one for our contract. 

Though, maybe he just dipped into the royal treasury for it.

“Don’t worry. The Empire has plenty of vow contracts in its possession. Using one or two isn’t an issue at all, so feel free.”

“B-But…”

As Camilla hesitated, Mariabelle cheerfully pressed on.

“And besides—it’s already been used.”

“Huh?”

At that moment, a servant entered from the next room, bringing tea and the now burnt remnants of the Contract of Oath.

“I apologize if this seems a bit presumptuous, but we had someone standing by in the next room who acted as an intermediary to carry out the contract. Camilla, you did make your vow a moment ago, didn’t you?”

“Ah…”

So that’s what the bell was for earlier—it was a signal to activate the contract.

Mariabelle had everything prepared in advance, with someone in the next room ready to execute the vow. She cleverly guided Camilla into making her declaration.

While Camilla began to sweat nervously, Mariabelle remained perfectly calm. She sipped her tea elegantly and gently set down the cup before speaking.

“Now then… how about we enjoy some tea and calm down a bit, and afterward—would you mind repeating your story for us, former wife?”