# 24 -
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Yuan smiled contentedly as he watched Jeremy's stunned face.
It was worth the rush to get here, even if he had to breathe the early morning air because of it.
“Your Excellency, Duke... why here... how...?”
Jeremy stammered, his features still pale and devoid of understanding.
“Please sit first.”
Yuan said gently, pointing to the sofa.
Jeremy nodded confused and sat down. He kept blinking as he stared at Yuan sitting in front of him, unable to comprehend what was happening.
The person who bought the title document and house deed is Duke Frecktwister.
What on earth is going on?
“You seem surprised.”
"Yes."
Jeremy nodded in amazement, as if his soul had left his body.
Seret's phantom waved on his face for a moment, delighting Yuan inwardly.
Siblings stay siblings, he thought, smiling to himself. He found this man in front of him to be nice, despite all the chaos he had caused.
“I heard that the document for the title of Viscount Enohater was beginning to circulate, so I immediately ordered it to be secured.”
“Ah, yes.”
Jeremy nodded humorlessly, as if he hadn't yet realized what was happening.
Then he suddenly realized how lucky he was that the documents were in Yuan's hands and no one else's.
“Thank you, Your Excellency! Thank you very much!”
He said it with tears almost falling from his eyes.
He felt indescribable relief. Having the documents in the possession of Duke Frecktwister meant absolute security.
“I will return the title document.”
Yuan said, and the attendant next to him handed an envelope to Jeremy.
Jeremy quickly opened the envelope, and when he saw the document inside, he was almost overcome with tears. It was more precious than his father's life itself.
“Thank you... really, thank you.”
Jeremy mumbled, straining the words so his voice wouldn't break down into tears.
He put the document back in the envelope, then looked at the attendant nervously. There was something else that had yet to be delivered: the deed to the house.
He looked up anxiously, but Yuan's voice preceded him.
“There is something else.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. The house bond...”
Jeremy hesitated, anticipating his reaction.
“Do you mind if I bring it back later?”
"Excuse me? House deed?"
“I need him for something.”
Yuan's serious gaze sparkled.
He found the surest way to keep his runaway fiancée, the one who repeatedly insists on breaking off the engagement.
She was a woman who could refuse the emperor's own medal, but she would not dare refuse the document of title and the deed of the house.
"Need it? For what purpose?"
Jeremy asked him with apparent concern.
“Don't worry. I'll return it.”
“Of course, Your Excellency will return it.”
Jeremy nodded quickly, his eyes full of confidence, as if trying to convince himself of that.
“I would rather Miss Enohater not know I had anything to do with it.”
Yuan said calmly.
He already knew that Seret intended to stay in the palace because of the trouble caused by Jeremie.
He had heard the story from the coachman and servants at the gate—how Syrette, on her way out, had met Jeremy loitering in front of the palace, followed him after he had fled, and presented him with clothes and jewels before sending him back.
When a report arrived that the title document and the house deed were being traded in the market, it was not difficult for him to link the events together.
“You want to keep it a secret?”
Jeremy asked in surprise.
“I'll tell Miss Enohater myself.”
“Ah, yes, I understand.”
Jeremy nodded enthusiastically.
“Just tell her that you got the title document back, but the deed to the house still hasn’t been returned.”
“Yes, Seret only gave this to me so I could get the title document back, so you won’t expect the bond to come back either.”
Jeremy looked at the box next to him.
"What is this?"
Yuan asked, knowing exactly what was inside, but he feigned ignorance.
“Ah, this… clothes and a necklace and some things… she, I mean…”
Jeremy stammered as he watched Yuan's reaction.
Those things were expensive, and they couldn't be Seret's. Certainly from Yuan's own purchases. Jeremy felt like he was sitting over hot coals accepting her.
“Did Miss Enohater give you this?”
“She was in a hurry, so she did. She was in a hurry... It's my fault. If that crook hadn't tricked me...”
Jeremy bit his lip as he defended Syrett.
Yuan tried to suppress his laughter as he saw his face wet with tears.
He found something beautiful in Seret, who was quick to give up her fiancé's gifts to solve the problem.
He wasn't angry with her at all, but rather felt proud that she used it well.
“I'll take this.”
“Of course, take it.”
Jeremy quickly placed the box on the table.
“I was hoping we could eat together, but I don’t have time today. Let’s postpone it for next time.”
Yuan said as he got up.
“Yes, Your Excellency. Thank you very much.”
Jeremy said as he stood and bowed very respectfully.
Yuan received his thanks with a calm smile, and thought to himself:
Rather, I am the one who should thank you.
***
Siret smiled weakly at Lawyer Delibain's scrutinizing gaze.
She gently put the coffee cup down, then said after clearing her throat:
“I know it is strange for an unmarried girl to come and ask how much alimony she can get after divorce.”
The lawyer was silent for a while, then an embarrassed smile appeared on her face.
When Seret realized this, she took another sip to break the tension.
“But it is very important to me.”
“Well, Miss Enohater must have her reasons.”
Delipin smiled understandingly.
“Yes, circumstances occurred that made it necessary.”
“My only worry is that Miss Enohater will fall into a marriage she doesn't want.”
“That won't happen now.”
Seret said with a sad look.
She knew Yuan's intentions well, and she would never fall into his trap again.
All she had to do was not give birth. In her previous life, when she gave birth, he killed her.
If she does not give birth this time, her life will not be in danger.
“Isn’t a marriage in which one thinks about divorce before it happens a marriage doomed to unhappiness?”
“Not getting married would be more miserable.”
Siret was well aware of her situation.
If she broke off her engagement to Yuan before she regained her father's title or house, she would lose the protection she had.
In the worst case, she may be forced to marry another man and the commodity is sold.
The only realistic option was to marry Yuan and later divorce him.
The only source of money she can rely on is the Freaktwister family.
Once she became a duchess, she could collect a reasonable amount even if it was not enough to pay off all the debt.
That alone would be enough to show her intention to pay, and prevent the family title and house from being lost.
Her plan was simple: pay off the debt with the alimony she would receive after the divorce.
“Well, I respect Miss Enohater's opinion. I'm always on the side of the women.”
Delipin smiled, which made Seret feel relieved.
“The first thing you need to know is that it is not the alimony itself that is important, but the division of property.”
“Division of property?”
“The alimony is never large. The maximum is ten thousand rubles, whether the marriage is for a year or ten, regardless of the fault of the other party.”
“Ten thousand?”
Seret said clearly disappointed. A small amount like that wouldn't save her family.
“But in dividing property, the situation is different. You can get from a tenth to a half.”
“Half?”
Her eyes widened in astonishment. Half of Freaktwister's fortune?
Dilipin laughed gently and said:
“Half is usually for those who have lived together for more than thirty years.”
Seret shook her head disgustedly. To live with Yuan for thirty years? impossible.
She won't even live that long, as he will kill her before that.
“The minimum is enough for me.”
She said firmly. A tenth of Frecktwister's wealth is enough for her to pay off the debt and increase it.
It will not matter to her that she is known as the “ex-wife of the Duke,” as she will not marry again.
She will be content to live quietly with her father in Moshili.
“But to be entitled to tithe, the marriage must last at least a year, and the husband’s fault must be clearly proven.”
“Clearly wrong?”
“For example, he has an illegal relationship... or engages in violence, for example.”
Delibain paused for a moment, and looked at Seret with a questioning look:
Would Duke Freaktwister really do something like this?
She wanted to tell him that he had done worse—poisoning his ex-wife, for example—but she held back her words and merely nodded.
After the meeting ended, Seret returned to the palace with her decision made.
You will get married first.
The division does not take place until after a year of marriage, so it is necessary to start now, no matter how much you hate it.
When I arrived at the palace, I asked the butler about Yuan.
“He just came back, and he's in his office.”
The man said, so I went straight there.
Before she knocked on the door, the driver quickly left, and when he saw her, he bowed down and disappeared immediately.
She wondered to herself about his strange behavior, then entered.
Yuan was standing at the window, and when he turned to her, there was a mocking gleam in his eyes that upset her.
But she held herself together, walked forward with firm steps, and said without any preamble:
“I want to get married. As soon as possible.”
I have to get my old life back at any cost, Yuan Freaktwister.