Chapter 3

Evanna left with Clay. Meanwhile, I sat alone in my chambers and didn't make a scene. At last, Father's old retainer returned with an imperial summons.

In the council hall, I kneeled and bowed my head. "Your Majesty, I beg you to allow me to divorce."

"Benedict, get up," the emperor said, looking like he had a headache coming on. "Your family's estate has long since become a pile of ruins, and it is empty and abandoned. Where exactly will you go after the divorce?"

"I'll return to another of our estates. It won't be empty once I'm there," I said. "Your Majesty, I am willing to exchange the Campbell family's military merits for permission to dissolve my marriage with the Johnson family."

I bowed my head again.

The emperor sighed when he saw how determined I was. "I'll allow it. But Benedict, you need to give me some time. General Johnson has just returned victorious, and morale is high. Take the time to get your affairs in order first."

"I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty." I bowed my head again, this time in thanks.

…

Evanna had just returned with a victory. At the celebration banquet two nights ago, the emperor, tipsy with wine, had jokingly said he would promote her.

These past few days, people had been coming nonstop to offer their congratulations. Even the Ministry of Rites had sent people to take her measurements.

But after I returned home, the emperor awarded the army, promoting everyone by half a rank—everyone except Evanna.

With Father's favor behind her, plus this recent victory, she should have been in line for an exceptional reward. But now, nothing had happened.

She nervously went to request an audience with the emperor, but he refused to see her. He only sent a chamberlain to dismiss her and send her back.

Evanna wasn't a total fool. That very afternoon, she stormed straight into my chambers. "I never thought you'd turn out to be such a conniving, despicable man, Benedict!"

She seldom raised her voice, but she was now shouting at the top of her lungs as she swept all the books from my desk onto the floor.

I glanced at the scattered books littering the floor and couldn't help the faint smile tugging at my lips. "I've simply withdrawn my father's protection. How does that make me conniving and despicable?"

Evanna slowly calmed down and scrutinized me from head to toe. After three years of being an almighty general, she'd forgotten how she'd once groveled at my father's feet, humbly begging him to have me marry her.

"You're jealous, aren't you?" She suddenly laughed.

Then, she looked at me with open scorn and contempt. "You really are just like Clay said, always scheming with those petty tricks fit for concubines and consorts.

"You're nothing but jealous of him, and you still want me to love you, so you went and tattled in front of His Majesty without a care for the consequences. Can you even call yourself a man?"

I lifted my head and stared at her, searching her face for even the smallest hint of guilt. All I found there was absolute certainty, like this was perfectly reasonable.

In her mind, this was who I was.

"Since you detest me so, General Johnson, why don't we just divorce today so that you're free to have Physician Armstrong move in with his head held high?" I asked.

"You even want to divorce me?" A flicker of anger and humiliation flashed in Evanna's eyes as she stalked toward me. "Benedict, the Campbell family is gone. All the Campbell soldiers died in battle with your father. I'm all you have left now.

"You're a useless ornament shut away in the inner residence all day. Who else would ever want you if you were to leave me?

"I promise I still like you, Benedict. As long as you behave yourself, I won't touch your position as my husband. You can still live in comfort and respect in Carvon."

She lowered her voice as she spoke, sounding almost coaxing. What a considerate, devoted wife I had.

It made me laugh. "Is it me that you like, or is it the shelter of my father's military achievements? Without his military merits, how could you, a minor fifth-rank official, have climbed to a full third-rank official in just three years?

"You're afraid the troops will stop supporting you if we divorce, and you're even more afraid of breaking faith with the imperial family. You want to continue using the Campbell family's deaths as your stepping stones toward higher ranks. Tell me if I'm wrong."