Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 10
Charles reacted first to her words.
“How dare a mere commoner of the estate speak so insolently to His Grace!”
“Enough, Charles.”
“However!”
Izar stopped his aide, who was as hot-headed as himself.
But the woman showed no fear even at Charles’s anger.
“It’s alright if you don’t believe me, Your Grace.”
After all, the truth would be revealed on the day, her indifferent tone suggested.
“I’ll take the ring back on the day of the wedding.”
The woman left the Arcturus residence as effortlessly as she came, with a polite farewell.
And as soon as she left, Charles burst out.
“Do you believe her words? That House Antares would deceive us!”
“It’s hard to believe, but doesn’t it seem plausible?”
A shepherdess of the estate, suddenly becoming an illegitimate daughter of a high noble.
It was an unbelievable farce, but recalling the imperial family’s eagerness to support the marriage…
“They must be enjoying watching me be fooled.”
Cursed be Emperor Betelgeuse and the Antares family alike.
His heart burned with humiliation, and it felt like even his throat was twisting.
Charles, observing Izar’s complexion, asked.
“Your Grace, will you really accept that woman as your bride? Even the people of the castle will not accept her.”
“So, you suggest I break off an engagement arranged by the Emperor? On behalf of Arcturus?”
“…I apologize.”
“And whether the castle accepts her or not, that’s for her to navigate.”
No matter how angry he was, there was little he could do.
He could only vow to repay this frustration many times over someday.
Izar slowly approached the window.
Just then, a woman on horseback disappeared into the darkness.
Her sudden appearance and explanation of the Antares family’s schemes seemed to be an assertion that she was not part of their conspiracy.
However, Izar’s lips contorted in displeasure, an unpleasant heat seeping into his heart.
He did not expect to see the woman he had once seen walking on the twilight-drenched hills in his estate here – the most insignificant, ungrateful, and distant figure, like a mirage.
He never expected to see that woman here, the same woman who he once saw walking on the hills tinged with twilight. In my estate, she was considered the most insignificant, ungrateful… most mirage-like and most distant woman.
‘And an illegitimate child at that.’
Chewing over this detestable word, Izar turned his back on her receding figure.
***
Throughout her journey from the Arcturus estate and back to the Antares mansion, Freesia thought hard.
What should she correct first?
How could she live this limited life with less regret?
Izar had a strong sense of pride, as he had managed his estate from an early age, and he loathed betrayal and lies.
‘I have to correct the fact that he was deceived until just before the wedding.’
She believed that was the ‘wrong first stitch’.
‘I must meet him before the wedding somehow.’
Fortunately, Freesia’s first attempt was successful.
She had been so compliant when she was taken to the Antares mansion that the guards quickly let down their guard.
And remembering a few people who had shown her sympathy in the early days helped.
‘Though that sympathy didn’t last long.’
Secretly returning to the Antares mansion, Freesia turned to the maid who came with her.
“Thank you, Anna. For your help.”
“Oh, don’t mention it.”
“It’s not much, but please accept this.”
“Oh my, I wasn’t expecting anything.”
But Anna’s hand took the brooch that Freesia offered.
Duke Antares had scoffed at seeing his ‘lowly illegitimate daughter’ but had ordered her to be dressed presentably.
However, as soon as she entered her room through the window and straightened her attire, an unwelcome guest barged in.
“What are you doing in the middle of the night?”
“…Lady Atria.”
“And why is the window open?”
It was her half-sister.
Atria, a typical imperial beauty with golden hair shining like a halo in the dark room and deep blue eyes, was already beloved in high society for her cat-like features and beautiful figure.
Freesia casually responded to Atria’s inquiry.
“I was letting in some night air.”
“Oh my, I thought maybe you had found someone you liked as soon as you arrived at our castle.”
“…….”
“You should keep your body and mind pure for your marriage to Lord Izar. It might be different among commoners.”
Freesia’s eyes clouded, not so much insulted by Atria’s words.
‘I’ve heard worse if it’s about obscenity.’
It was Atria’s shameless greed that irked her.
‘If you like Izar so much, why not insist on getting married to him, even if it’s forced?’
She had seen Atria treating Izar like a trophy for three years, so how could she not know?
But Atria always wanted only the perfect things, never a tarnished family.
‘Yet she always hankers after him like this.’
As Freesia suppressed her disgust, Atria scanned her from head to toe, laughing.
“Lord Izar truly is unfortunate. Accepting someone like you as his bride.”
“…….”
“What did you eat there? Since you were a shepherdess, did you only graze on animals and grass?”
“Lady Atria. If Lord Izar finds me unsuitable, he will surely dismiss me.”
“Oh, you know your place better than I thought.”
“But if he doesn’t choose you afterwards, Lady Atria, what you just said will also apply to you.”
“…….”
Atria’s lips twitched.
“Ha, how insolent. Illegitimate brat.”
She had tolerated her because she respectfully addressed her as ‘Lady,’ but she turned out to be sharper than expected.
SMACK!
A sharp sound of a slap echoed, and Freesia’s cheek began to redden.
