12 Facing the consequences

As the Duke noticed that Joanna was determined on her intention to separate from her husband and even had already prepared solutions for the hindrances that might occur, he couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh.

Finding her return in good condition despite the news of sickness due to unfriendly weather in Archess that she informed him in the letter, the Duke felt relieved, as if he was able to breathe again after being submerged in the water for a long time.

She had also told him that she had been healed during the journey back to Terra and he was grateful for that.

However, the Duke had actually caught a hint of something awry when his daughter asked the servants to take the luggage that she brought from Archess to her room. He noticed that the number of trunks that were brought back was the same amount as what she carried when she left for Archess. 

Nevertheless, he tried to push aside his suspicion as he thought that it might only be the same amount of trunks, not the same amount of her belongings inside the trunks. 

But, at last, his suspicion was proven to be true.

After hearing Joanna's share and her bold determination to separate from her husband, the Duke was convinced that the sickness that she wrote about in the letter was likely to be an excuse that she fabricated in order to leave the General's mansion.

He subtly shook his head while pouring the warm tea into a cup that had been prepared by the servant a few minutes ago and lifting the saucer up before placing it carefully on the table side in front of Joanna. He then poured one for himself, brought the cup to his lips, and sipped the tea as if to calm his nerves.

Following her father, Joanna also took a sip of the tea that had been poured for her. She then heard his father speak.

"Are you ready to face all the consequences of your decision, Ann?" questioned the Duke.

Joanna nodded at the question given, placing the cup of tea back on the saucer on the table with a faint clinking sound. "If what Father means is the fury of His Majesty, I am certain that we don't need to worry about that as we already obeyed the royal decree for this marriage to happen. And I believe that it is not our fault if this marriage is annulled as I wasn't the party who left my newly-wedded spouse for months," Joanna reasoned, bringing the cup to her lips again after finishing speaking.

"And how if His Majesty agrees but General von Rodega refuses to have the marriage annulled?" questioned the Duke again, making the cup that just touched Joanna's lips stay there for a few seconds before being set back on the table without the tea being sipped.

"He will not refuse the annulment as he doesn't have any reason to do that, Father," Joanna murmured, turning her head to see the vast beds of herbal plants that grew beautifully before her eyes.

She was certain that the General wouldn't refuse the idea of annulling the marriage as the dream had made her feel that he didn't love her. He even abandoned her. 

They also hadn't met one another in person in this lifetime. So, why should he maintain a marriage with someone whom he didn't know at all, especially when he was offered another bride who was more beautiful and possibly more useful than her? Perhaps he wouldn't abandon Clara de Lorn if she happened to be his wife, thought Joanna in her mind.

"And what about public judgment? You must already be aware that although the marriage will be annulled and considered to be erased from a legal perspective and never technically exist, it will be different from public perception," the Duke reminded Joanna, willing to know if his daughter was ready to face the social judgment of her marriage failure or as a divorcee that might be labeled to her for the rest of her life.

At the inquiry of her worried father, Joanna moved her gaze back from the vast beds of herbal plants to her father and gave another decisive nod without slight hesitation as she had already considered that. 

Besides, she would rather deal with social judgment than experience the same miserable life as she happened to see in the dream. Wasn't it better to experience new things in life, like how to cope with the circulating perspective about her 'failed' marriage and her status as a divorcee as it might pass once she played deaf and blind? And she would also gladly apply the saying that ignorance was the key to happiness in her life.

Moreover, she wasn't concerned about her reputation, as she wasn't interested in remarrying. She would prefer gardening and probably tending to sick people who needed help with her herbal-related knowledge and skills. That way, she would probably have a more blissful and peaceful life.

With that in mind, she answered, "Please don't be worried about that, Father, as I am well aware of the consequences that I may face and I am ready to cope with that." 

Having said that, Joanna's eyes held the restless face of the middle-aged man before her whose brows had creased and forehead folded since he heard the shocking news brought up by her. 

The previous young-looking man that she had memorized in her mind when she was a kid had grown older. His previous black hair was graying. But it was the face of the man who would forever be dear to her.

A man who had committed his whole life to taking care of his children. A man who refused to remarry after his wife left him for eternity. 

A man whom she trusted would be her salvation even though she was the one who caused that restlessness that was obviously painted in his face.

Joanna softened her gaze with a smile, reaching out her hand to hold the hand of her father which was placed on the table. 

"I am really sorry for coming back home to only make you involved and get distressed in this matter, Father. I am also sorry for my selfishness, that I want to stay happy in this life, like how I have been happy to live as your daughter here in our home, Father," Joanna spoke in a low voice, hoping her father received the message that she couldn't form in words that she needed his support to escape from that nightmare. 

She wished her father to understand her unspoken words and that she was sincerely sorry to burden him with her desperation to end her marriage before it would be too late, to the point that all that nightmare came true.

Upon hearing the words that sounded grief in his ears, the Duke placed his other hand on top of his daughter's hand, wrapping it before giving it a gentle tap as if comforting his daughter that he was fine with that. 

A soft, warm smile was displayed on his weary face. He then said, "You seem to have thought about this matter well, Ann. Then, we will soon submit a request for an audience with His Majesty. But don't put your expectations too high, for your request will be granted as we know how much His Majesty values General von Rodega and Archess." The Duke reminded Joanna so that she wouldn't be disappointed if the King of Terra's decision couldn't meet her wish.

"I will keep that in mind and thank you, Father," Joanna responded with a smile.

In the meantime, she just needed to wait for a response from the King. She hoped it would be a positive response so that she would soon part ways with the man in that dream.