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Blake remained resolute, saying, “Keeping her dowry would not be the act of a true man. I absolutely refuse. Dad, Benjamin, I’ll have to trouble you to invite the family heads from both sides tomorrow.
“I also need the matchmaker who arranged our marriage to be present. As for inviting neighbors, we can just pick a few families to make it official.”
“The matchmaker who arranged your marriage was Lady Avis.” Jonathan furrowed his brow. She’s Madam Devin’s cousin and Sophie’s maternal aunt.”
“Then, don’t invite her. Invite the matchmaker who originally delivered your proposal to the Devin family, the one from the western district,” Rebecca said.
Avis, who was in poor health, was a consort to a prince in the royal family named Yuvan. Even the management of Yuvan’s estate, which was supposed to be her responsibility, had been handed over to a secondary concubine. Although the Jaffe family did not fear an unfavored consort of a prince without children, they still tried to avoid conflicts with the royal family.
“I’ll leave it to you to decide everything, Mom. I’m going out for a bit,” Blake declared.
“It’s late. Where are you going?” Benjamin asked.
“Just out for a walk,” Blake replied as he strode out.
In actuality, he was going to see Freya to explain the situation to her. He knew she despised men who mistreated women, so he wanted to tell her he wasn’t purposely making life difficult for Sophie. He was simply frustrated with her ruthless actions.
This wasn’t the first time Blake had visited the Ernst family residence in the middle of the night.
Freya’s father, Tristan Ernst, had once been Hector’s comrade in arms. However, he had been injured in battle-losing a leg left him unable to return to the battlefield.
When Freya returned with her military achievements, Tristan was overjoyed. He was proud that there were still people from his family who were serving the country as capable warriors. He wasn’t entirely pleased about the marriage, but Freya convinced him that Sophie understood the situation and agreed with the match. So, he didn’t object further.
On the other hand, Freya’s mother was delighted with her daughter marrying into the Jaffe family. She made a big fuss about it and demanded a hefty sum of betrothal gifts.
A small pebble hit the window of Freya’s room. Shortly after, Freya quietly opened the door, allowing Blake to slip inside.
Weapons filled Freya’s chamber, though none were particularly valuable. She simply liked the atmosphere of lit lamps casting shadows of blades and swords around the room.
The couple embraced under the dim light of a small lamp.
“Why are you here so late?” Freya asked in a low voice.
The Ernst residence wasn’t large. It had a small hall flanked by two rooms and a small courtyard in the back where Freya’s elder brother and his wife lived. Hence, Freya didn’t dare speak loudly, fearing they might overhear.
“Freya.” Blake held her shoulders, his expression serious. “I intend to divorce Sophie. I hope you understand.”
“Divorce?” Freya was taken aback. “Why?”
“Tonight, Mom fell ill. I tried to summon Sebastian, but he refused to come.”
“Is your mother alright now?” Freya asked anxiously.
“She’s fine now. We managed to get a royal physician to treat her. But the physician said Mom’s heart condition can only be treated with Sebastian’s Snowdrop Pills. Sebastian is a close friend of the Marquis of Northwatch, so he listens to Sophie. If she tells him not to come, he won’t.”
Freya immediately understood. “So, she’s using your mother’s illness to force you not to marry me, right?”
“Exactly. Tonight, I made it clear that I intend to divorce her. But rest assured, I won’t take her dowry. I’m not mistreating her. It’s just that her actions have been too ruthless for me to overlook.”
Blake explained his reasons for wanting to divorce his wife, concerned that Freya might misunderstand and think he was heartless or someone who made a habit of mistreating women.
Also angry, Freya exclaimed, “Her behavior is unacceptable. This isn’t just about being respectful anymore. She’s wicked! She’s clearly plotting against your mother.” “So, you agree with me divorcing her, right?” Blake asked.
Freya pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in her mind.
Blake divorcing Sophie had more downsides than benefits. It wasn’t that Freya didn’t value the status of being Blake’s legal wife. It was just that divorcing Sophie could hinder their future prospects. Freya’s own future was equally important..
But then again, Sophie was the person in question. Freya couldn’t shake off the discomfort she felt from their first meeting. Sophie’s smile seemed to enchant everyone around her, making Freya fear that Blake might fall for his current wife’s charms again someday.
If Blake divorced Sophie, Freya would step in as the only rightful wife. Her father hadn’t initially favored this marriage because Blake already had a wife. Though Freya would be equal to her as a legal wife, it didn’t change that she was still essentially a concubine.
However, becoming Blake’s official, legal wife would give her father no reason to object Besides, who wouldn’t want to be a legitimate wife?
Initially, Freya had only reluctantly agreed to the prior arrangement because her relationship with Blake had started after his marriage. Luckily, he and Sophie had not consummated their union. Besides, Sophie was just a delicate and pampered lady of a noble family. Could she really handle herself? So what if she was the mistress of the household? Wasn’t she just tasked with tirelessly managing the family’s affairs for them?
That was how Freya previously thought. However, dealing with Sophie’s stubborn nature was proving difficult. Freya found herself agreeing with Blake’s decision to divorce her.
She nodded in agreement. “Sophie’s actions are despicable. I can’t tolerate it. Let’s proceed as you suggested. As for her dowry…”
She paused, considering her words carefully before continuing, “According to our laws, a divorced woman cannot take her dowry with her. If you allow her to take it, it shows your kindness. If not, there are legal precedents to follow. But I won’t comment further on that.”
“I don’t want her dowry,” Blake reaffirmed.
Freya gazed at him with admiration. “I know you have high moral standards. You wouldn’t stoop so low as to take her dowry. Besides, with how vast Valor Estate is, do we really need her meager dowry?” Hearing this from his lover filled Blake with joy
“Not only will I refuse her dowry, I’ll also refund what she contributed to my family over the past year,” he said.
Freya froze. “She provided financial support? She used her dowry to support your family and Valor Estate?”
“Mom has been taking expensive medicine from Sebastian for a long time, and the total income from my family and the estate hasn’t been making ends meet. So, after Sophie married me, she’s been using her dowry to help the family,” Blake explained, looking embarrassed.
“Your family still needs her financial support? How could the estate be struggling? My father mentioned that when your grandfather was granted the estate, he also received many shops and fertile lands,” Freya asked in surprise.
“That’s true, but we weren’t good at managing them, so we sold them.”
Freya stared at Blake in shock. She felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on her.
“So… Valor Estate is now just an empty shell?”
“Yes, but it’s okay. We’re making progress now. Our salary and rewards won’t be lacking in the future.”
Blake was focused on building a future with Freya, believing they could overcome these temporary difficulties together. He was confident she would be willing to join him.
However, Freya’s mind was suddenly racing with a multitude of complex thoughts.
The late king had granted Valor Estate to Blake’s grandfather, and the Jaffe family was considered to be a prominent family back then. She never imagined that they could have declined to such a state. When she thought about it carefully, it wasn’t hard to understand. Blake’s father and uncles didn’t hold important positions, and his elder brother was also unremarkable. The Jaffe family’s glory was all thanks to Blake’s grandfather’s military achievements.
Blake and Sophie’s wedding had been a grand affair known throughout the city. The bridal procession was a spectacle that had even amazed Freya at the time, leading her to assume that the two families were equally well-off.
Now, she realized that the grandeur of the wedding must have been because of the Devin family. If that was the case, Sophie’s dowry must have been substantial.
As she considered these factors, Freya’s feelings underwent a slight change.