It's been over 3 years.
Albert is now one of the most influential dukes in the empire. Partially thanks to me for starting the path, but mostly because he was able to lead so well. As expected of the man modeled after one of my old friends.
We were less than a year away from the divorce written in the contract, and I had gained significant power over the nobility as well. A villainess is well suited for a villain huh?
"I'm going to send these papers over to the duke," I smile.
I had already bought the cottage in the forest for my future... I can't wait until I just move into the small village and just deal with plants all day... the life of a noblewoman was so terrible... But I still have to return one day and take over the Villarreal duchy. I already talked to my parents about it, and I already cast the spell for the contract. I was to live in the woods for four years.
"Crystalia... miss?"
"Hm?" I turn to look at Daisy. I had promoted her as my personal assistant two years ago. She's incredible I swear-
"Ah... you have a couple more things to do today," she smiles. "There's a tea party."
"Oh god politics," I grumble. I open my closet and Daisy helps me pick an outfit. "Which young lady was it?"
"It was Bria's tea party," Daisy mumbles.
"Bria..."
After Albert and I had inherited the endlands, we had moved Bria back to the capital in her old mansion. She was glad that I didn't strip her of anything, and she finally told me that she was dating Terence two months ago. I guess she heard rumors that my marriage was going downhill and decided to stick it in my face about how she was getting engaged soon.
On the other hand, since I needed to make ties with businesses in the past 3 years, there had been quite an uproar. Lots of nobles are unhappy with the idea of a woman running an enterprise, and a lot of them are rude about it. Luckily for me, Albert's position has been established, and I am the heir to the Villarreal Dukedom. On top of that, I have contact with five of the seven princes. The other two were out of the country, so I wasn't able to get too close with them.
"Ah yes," I smile. "Daisy darling do you know if my husband will be attending? I heard the tea party was held by both the prince and Bria."
"Ah yes," Daisy nods. "Sir Albert will be heading there after he finishes discussing the new business deal. Apparently, the Brikens are trying to get something changed on their contract."
"Oh I'll do it," I tie my hair up and Daisy laughs. "There's no way in hell my husband's going to be able to ruin them."
I stride over to my husband's half of the house, and I open the door. My husband, now warmer than before, smiles at me. I grin.
"Good morning Sir Oliver,"
"Good morning Miss Crystalia," I watch as he starts sweating.
"I heard that you were here to get something changed on the contract?"
"A-ah..."
Albert hands me the papers and scoots over to make space for me.
"Fine print." I hold the last sheet of the contract up for Oliver to see and his eyes widen. "We don't do changing contracts around here. And no, this is not dirty work since you read the contract yourself."
"But-"
"No buts," I smile. "You signed the contract yourself. Pay better attention to it next time."
"Very well. Thank you Duchess Crystalia, Duke Albert." Oliver sighs as he makes his way out of the room.
"Thanks, Crystalia," Albert smiles. "This is the first time you've come to my place in over six months though. Did something happen?"
"Fix yourself up," I stand up with a hum. "We have a tea party to attend."
"A tea party?" Albert fixes his tie as he raises a brow.
"Prince Terence and Bria are holding a tea party for the princes and their wives." I smile. "I received word that you were going, so I came over to help you out with the contract so you could leave on time."
"The first prince?" Albert grumbles. "You know I despise him."
"We both do," I nod and we start walking.
Despite Albert being the favorite prince of the family, he still hated Terence with a passion. No one knew of it, but the empress had been jealous that the third consort was able to give birth to black-haired children so she had her son poison the concubine. A pretty pathetic reason but I suppose noblewomen are used to getting whatever they want. The consort's death was written as the day Albert died, but it was with the empress's meddling. Royal family drama was a pain in my ass.
"But he's essential to your position. You need all of the princes to not despise you to remain alive. On top of that, if there were to ever be a disruption over the throne, it would be better to remain neutral."
"Even..." Albert eyes me. "Even though we both know that the seventh prince will end up on the throne for sure?"
I grin. After we had gotten married, I had told Albert that in four years, the seventh prince was going to plot a revolution to win the title of emperor. The previous emperor was nearing his death, and it was necessary that one of the princes gather all of the stamps. Luckily for him, my prediction came true.
"Well," I think about it. "You can support, but considering that we're divorcing soon, it would be ideal for me to stay neutral throughout the entire thing."
"How did you know there was fine print on the contract?" Albert changes the subject as we approach the carriage.
"I wrote the contract for you. Did you forget Sir Oliver was blackmailed by me underground before he started to work for you?" I lower my voice slightly and Albert realizes.
"Right," He nods. "I forgot my wife was so talented,"
Right after my marriage, Caladium managed to turn the underground into a blackmailing empire. The children gathering information, and Caladium and I holding every piece of it. No one knew who was blackmailing them, but they all listened properly. Some tried to send assassins, but it was impossible to kill a person that didn't exist anyway.
I grimace at him. "Albert we're getting divorced in less than a year."
"Was there fine print on our marriage contract I signed?"
"No," I grin. "That was a lie, of course there was."
"But there was a section where the divorce could be negotiated," Albert smiles.
"No there wasn't," I summon the paper and read through the portion on our divorce. "See?"
"But... you never wrote that I'm not allowed to look for you after the divorce," Albert smiles.
I blink. "True."
Albert smiles cheekily. "Which means if fate pulls us back together, then you have no choice but to take me back."
"If I fall in love with you," I grin.
"So how does the memory loss work again?"
"This entire period will be remembered as a period that I worked with you to help you as a stranger," I smile. "You won't remember my face, and neither will I remember yours. Nothing else will be forgotten. Only the person you were with."
"So you won't forget the children?"
"No," I smile. "I won't forget any of them."
"That's good."