The Broken Ring: This Marriage Will Fail Anyway — Chapter 24 [R19 Version]

UGH, I DON'T LIKE IT HERE, CÁRCEL.

BUT THE MIRROR SEEMS TO BE ENJOYING THE VIEW.

HMM

NGH

CÁRCEL, THIS IS-

THIS IS TOO CHAOTIC- HNGH.

PLEASE, WE DID SO MUCH MORE ON OUR FIRST NIGHT.

BUT YOU WERE THE ONLY ONE TO SEE ME THEN.

SO CONTINUE TO ENJOY IT BY YOURSELF.

ENJOY IT BY MYSELF? YOU'RE SO MEAN.

YOU NEED TO ENJOY THIS SIGHT TOO, INÉS.

JUST LOOK AT HOW CRAZY YOU MAKE ME.

OH NGH

AH

OH, DEAR... INÉS, YOU NEED TO HOLD IN ALL OF MY SEED.

HNF

NGH

UGH

IF YOU LET IT DRIP OUT LIKE THIS, YOU'LL LOSE EVERYTHING I PUMPED INTO YOU JUST NOW...

YOU NEED TO GET PREGNANT WITH OUR CHILD, DON'T YOU?

MMF

NGH

OH

YOU SAID IT IS MY DUTY TO FUCK YOU AND YOURS IS TO BE FUCKED.

HERE I AM FUCKING YOU DILIGENTLY, BUT IF YOU LET MY EFFORTS GO TO WASTE, YOU'RE NOT UPHOLDING YOUR END.

NGH

OH

UGH, YOU'RE-

YOU'RE BEING TOO ROUGH, CÁRCEL.

BUT I THOUGHT YOU LIKED IT THIS WAY.

WE AREN'T EVEN FACING EACH OTHER, JUST LETTING OUR LOWER HALVES MASH TOGETHER.

AH NGH

UGH

MMF

ISN'T THIS THE KIND OF NOBLE DUTY YOU WISHED TO FULFILL?

AFTER ALL, HUMPING LIKE A PAIR OF RAVENOUS DOGS IS PRECISELY THE MATURE ACT YOU'VE DESIRED SINCE OUR FIRST NIGHT.

INÉS,

WHILE I DO RESPECT YOUR OPINION,

I HONESTLY DON'T WANT TO GRANT EVERY ONE OF YOUR PERVERTED REQUESTS.

SOMETHING MUST HAVE GONE WRONG IN HIS BRAIN AFTER THAT NIGHT.

OTHERWISE...

HE HAS TRULY LOST IT.

...I JUST DON'T GET IT.

WHAT IS IT ABOUT ME THAT HE'S SO EXCITED ABOUT?

WE'VE FORGONE THE FORMALITIES WE HAD TO UPHOLD IN MENDOZA,

AND I'M STILL WEARING THE SAME BORING BLACK OUTFITS WITHOUT ANY MAKEUP.

IS THERE SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT MY CURRENT APPEARANCE THAT SHOULD EXCITE A MAN?

IN ALL THIS TIME, I'VE YET TO BE SWEPT AWAY BY HIM. MY COOPERATION THUS FAR HAS BEEN SOLELY TO AID MY OWN PLAN.

OUTWARDLY, I AM SUPPOSED TO BE BEHAVING LIKE A WOMAN WITH LONG-HELD UNREQUITED FEELINGS FOR CÁRCEL.

I EVEN ACTED AS IF I WAS DESPERATE FOR THIS MARRIAGE TO HAPPEN DESPITE THE FACT THAT CÁRCEL WAS OPPOSED.

I'M THE WOMAN WITH NO PRIDE WHO MARRIED A MAN IN A HEARTBEAT DESPITE HOW SHORT-NOTICE HIS PROPOSAL WAS.

FOR A WOMAN LIKE THAT, THIS HONEYMOON SHOULD BE A DREAM COME TRUE, SHOULDN'T IT?

I'M SURE THAT SLEEPING WITH HIM EVERY TIME HE WANTED WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I JUST NEED TO SLOWLY DECREASE THE FREQUENCY FROM NOW ON.

THE PLAN WAS ALWAYS FOR ME TO DEMAND THAT HE SLEEP WITH ME AND HIM TO REFUSE,

BUT I'M SURE THAT'S THE DIRECTION OUR MARRIAGE IS ULTIMATELY HEADED IN ANYWAY.

CÁRCEL WILL EVENTUALLY LOSE INTEREST AND ANY AFFECTION HE MIGHT HAVE FOR ME.

AND JUST LIKE THAT,

OUR MARRIAGE WILL END IN DIVORCE.

THEN, FINALLY...

...I WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN...

...TRUE FREEDOM.

AND WITH THAT...

MY TRUE DEATH WILL BE WAITING FOR ME...

...AT THE END OF THIS LIFE.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF CASES WHERE EMPLOYEE TESTIMONY HAS BEEN ACCEPTED IN DIVORCE COURT,

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT IT DOES NOT LOOK LIKE THEY WERE PAID FOR THEIR TESTIMONY.

TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE, THERE ARE CASES WHERE THE HUSBAND AND WIFE HAVE BOTH RUSHED TO PAY OFF THEIR EMPLOYEES BEFORE THE TRIAL IN EXCHANGE FOR THEIR STATEMENTS.

SOME EMPLOYEES ARE SMART ABOUT IT, BUT OTHERS AREN'T AS CLEVER.

IF YOU ACT HASTILY, YOU COULD END UP POKING HOLES IN YOUR OWN CASE.

A SLIPUP FROM A SINGLE EMPLOYEE COULD CAUSE THE JUDGE TO ASSUME THE TESTIMONIES OF ALL OF YOUR OTHER EMPLOYEES WERE BOUGHT TOO. IN THE END, WHATEVER SIDE IS LUCKIEST IS THE ONE THAT WILL HAVE ALL THEIR TESTIMONIES ACCEPTED AS TRUTH.

"MUST MAKE SURE THE TESTIMONIES DON'T LOOK LIKE THEY WERE BOUGHT"...

THERE WAS ANOTHER CASE THAT HAD AN INTERESTING TWIST.

ONE PARTY PAID AN EMPLOYEE OFF, BUT THE EMPLOYEE ENDED UP GIVING AN OPPOSING TESTIMONY.

IN THE END, THE EMPLOYEE BROKE THE DEAL AND BETRAYED THEIR EMPLOYER.

SUCH THINGS CAN HAPPEN IF AN EMPLOYEE HARBORS HATRED TOWARD THEIR EMPLOYER...

...OR IF THEY'VE SUFFERED UNFAIR TREATMENT IN THE PAST.

I THINK I UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU MEAN. I CAN JUST IMAGINE HOW TERRIBLE THAT EMPLOYER MUST HAVE BEEN ON A DAILY BASIS FOR THEIR OWN EMPLOYEE TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

WHAT GOES AROUND ALWAYS COMES AROUND.

PLEASE CONTINUE.

...TO BE HONEST, REGARDLESS OF THE OBJECTIVE REALITY, PEOPLE HAVE A TENDENCY...

...TO WANT TO SEE THOSE THEY LIKE IN A POSITIVE LIGHT ONLY.

A FAMOUS EXAMPLE OF THIS IS THE CASE OF DUCHESS KATIA.

SHE WAS ALWAYS SO KIND THAT HER REPUTATION WITHIN THE MANOR WAS EXCELLENT.

BECAUSE OF THIS, DESPITE THE FACT THAT THERE WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF HER HAVING COMMITTED ADULTERY JUST LIKE HER HUSBAND, SHE ENDED UP RECEIVING A MORE FAVORABLE VERDICT.

DUCHESS KARTIA...

IT'S DUCHESS KATIA, MY LA...

I CAN'T BELIEVE I CALLED HER BY THE WRONG NAME! HOW RUDE OF ME TO NOT GIVE PROPER REVERENCE TO A LADY WHOM I RESPECT SO GREATLY...!

...SEÑORITA INÉS, FORGIVE MY ASKING,

BUT DIDN'T YOU TURN 10 JUST THIS YEAR?

PLEASE DON'T CHANGE THE SUBJECT, MR. MOYA.

SO, WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS THAT BUILDING A GOOD REPUTATION OVER A LONG TIME IS IMPORTANT?

YES, WELL... PEOPLE ENJOY A GOOD ATMOSPHERE, DON'T THEY? I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY... ARE YOU STILL WRITING EVERYTHING DOWN?

BY THE WAY, WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO WITH SOME LAWYER'S DRUNKEN BABBLE?

THIS IS IT.

A REPUTATION BUILT UP OVER A LONG TIME.

YES, I LOVE IT HERE.

THE EMPLOYEES MUSTN'T EVER KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING BOUGHT.

SO, YOU LIKE YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT AND YOUR WORKING HOURS...

THEN, ARE YOU BEING PAID ENOUGH?

UM... SEÑORA, CAN I BE HONEST WITH YOU?

IN FACT, YOU SHOULDN'T TRY TO BUY THEM OFF AT ALL.

OF COURSE.

I'LL HAVE A CHAT WITH ARONDRA SO WE CAN MAKE ANY ADJUSTMENTS YOU NEED.

THE TRUTH IS... WHAT YOU'VE GIVEN ME IS ALREADY MORE THAN ENOUGH.

...WHAT?

I'M ACTUALLY QUITE CERTAIN I'M BEING PAID TOO MUCH.

LORD CÁRCEL IS VERY GENEROUS WHEN IT COMES TO HIS EMPLOYEES.

PRACTICALLY EVERYONE WISHES TO WORK IN THE LIEUTENANT'S RESIDENCE...

I WAS VERY LUCKY ARONDRA HIRED ME.

...I WASN'T EXPECTING THIS.

COULD IT BE THAT I MADE A MISTAKE TELLING YOU THAT I'M BEING PAID GENEROUSLY?

I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT DECREASING MY PAY...?

OF COURSE NOT.

MY HUSBAND MADE THE RIGHT DECISION, SO IT LOOKS LIKE THERE IS NOTHING MORE I NEED TO TAKE CARE OF.

I'M GLAD. ALL OF US ARE JUST HAPPY THAT...

...LORD CÁRCEL HAS FOUND HIS "LIFE PARTNER"...

OH... GOSH, SEÑORA. I COULDN'T... THIS IS SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PLATTER.

I'M SURE YOU MUST BE HUNGRY, SO HAVE SOME. I HAVE A FAVOR TO ASK OF YOU TOO.

I WOULD DO ANYTHING FOR YOU EVEN WITHOUT THESE! CAN I REALLY EAT THEM...?

EVEN IF THEY ARE GETTING PAID GENEROUSLY, FREE FOOD STILL WORKS...

IT'S HARD NOT TO HAVE FAVORABLE FEELINGS TOWARD SOMEONE WHO IS SO GENEROUS.

MONEY CAN MOVE HEARTS IN THIS WORLD.

THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE BEING PAID.

BUT EVEN IF I KNOW, IT WON'T DO ME MUCH GOOD.

AFTER ALL, THEY MIGHT MISTAKE IT AS ME BEING AN ARROGANT NOBLE LADY WHO DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THEIR HUMBLE WAY OF LIVING...

BUT OF COURSE, I KNOW WHAT POVERTY LOOKS LIKE.

MY LIFE WITH EMILIANO WAS THE VERY DEFINITION OF POVERTY, AFTER ALL.

BUT IT WASN'T ENOUGH FOR ME TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THE LIFE OF THE AVERAGE COMMONER.

WHEN WE ELOPED, WE PERIODICALLY SOLD WHATEVER JEWELS AND PAINTINGS I'D BROUGHT WITH ME FROM HOME,

SO ONCE IN A WHILE, WE WERE ABLE TO OBTAIN LARGE SUMS OF MONEY.

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE TRUE VALUE OF THINGS AT THE TIME, SO I OFTEN SOLD EVERYTHING TOO CHEAPLY...

AND EMILIANO SIMPLY WENT ALONG WITH ALL OF MY FOOLISH DECISIONS.

WE WERE HOPELESS ROMANTICS.

ALFONSO, DO YOU SUPPOSE THE DRIVER HAS ALREADY MADE IT BACK TO THE HOUSE?

WELL, I KNOW THAT THE GARDENER IS CURRENTLY BUSY CLEANING UP TREE BRANCHES, AND...

WHAT ABOUT THE SERVANTS? DO THEY USUALLY HAVE LUNCH BY NOW?

YES, THAT'S CORRECT, SEÑORA, BUT...

WHY EXACTLY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THEM?!

I HAVE BEEN TOO NEGLECTFUL.

I WAS THROWN INTO THIS STRANGE PLACE SO SUDDENLY, SO... I THINK I'VE BEEN FEELING LONELY.

ALL THIS TIME, I'VE BEEN WASTING THE DAYS AWAY FEELING ISOLATED ONLY TO REALIZE THAT I'D CLOSED MY HEART OFF TO EVERYONE AROUND ME.

IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE. YOU'RE THE ONLY DAUGHTER OF DUKE VALEZTENA,

AND UPON MARRYING THE LORD OF ESCALANTE, YOU WERE FORCED INTO THIS RUN-DOWN MANOR IN THE MIDDLE OF A REMOTE COASTAL TOWN...

I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN WORRIED ABOUT ME, ARONDRA...

AND ALFONSO HAS BEEN TAKING SUCH GOOD CARE OF ME...

UP UNTIL NOW, I NEVER TRULY REALIZED HOW MUCH YOU BOTH CARED FOR ME.

YOU ASKED ME BEFORE HOW I WOULD LIKE THE GARDEN TO LOOK, DIDN'T YOU?

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO SUMMON THE GARDENER HERE.

YOU WANT TO SPEAK WITH THEM... PERSONALLY?

YES, AND I WANT TO CHAT WITH ALL OF THE OTHER MAIDS DIRECTLY AFTER THAT.

WHENEVER I MEET EYES WITH THE BUTLER, HE STRIKES ME AS A VERY STUBBORN MAN.

HE MIGHT BE ALREADY DISAPPOINTED IN ME FOR BEING SO LAZY UP UNTIL NOW.

I STILL CAN'T TELL WHAT HE'S THINKING.

BUT A GREAT PLAN REQUIRES A GREAT AMOUNT OF TIME TO ACHIEVE.

TODAY IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

EVERYONE SHOULD COME OUTSIDE FOR A MOMENT TO TAKE A BREAK AND WE CAN ALL CHAT.

IF I CREATE THE "RIGHT ATMOSPHERE," IT SHOULDN'T BE HARD TO SWEEP EVERYONE OFF THEIR FEET.

SO IT'S OKAY.

I WANT EVERYONE TO GET TO KNOW ME,

FROM NOW ON, CREATING THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE IN THIS HOUSE...

AND I'D LIKE TO GET TO KNOW YOU ALL AS WELL.

...WILL BE MY MISSION.

To Be Continued