Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 111
Drawing closer, yet growing apart
Freesia’s response seemed to freeze the air between them.
However, she was quietly surprised by her own words.
Like an overly ripe fruit suddenly dropping to the ground, her resentful words had slipped out. This was presumptuous.
No matter how much she was in pain and had lost her senses.
“……I’m sorry.”
“…….”
“I will follow Your Grace’s wishes.”
In their relationship, had there ever been a time when things went the way Freesia wanted…?
And then, a heavy silence enveloped them.
Eventually, Izar stood up and took a few steps away from her.
Just before the door closed, it seemed Izar paused for a moment. But he ultimately left without saying a word.
Just like the day they had talked after losing the briar flower baby.
It was only after he left that Freesia pulled the blanket over her head.
The only good thing she gained from this ordeal was learning how to cry.
* * *
Izar never goes back on his words.
“We will cease support to Antares’s main territory.”
Though their relationship with the Antares family, acting as the Emperor’s proxies, wasn’t particularly friendly, they had provided support to combat monsters to avoid unnecessary conflicts.
But this time, they had gone too far.
“Starting from next spring, for three years, there will be no support for dealing with monsters.”
Izar’s vassals wore complex and subtle expressions.
If that bastard girl had shown up in poor condition to another family, it would have been a disgrace to Arcturus…
One vassal hesitantly spoke up.
“But my lord, isn’t a seizure a sign of madness?”
Not all seizures could be dismissed as such. However, the problem was Freesia’s mother. Those who had seen the tongueless woman rampaging several times naturally linked Freesia’s seizures to madness.
And mental illness was the best excuse to annul a marriage.
“Everyone in the domain knows that the shepherdess’s mother is a madwoman. It’s a good opportunity to send her back to Antares—”
But the speaker hastily shut his mouth upon seeing Izar’s cold expression.
“Mmph…!”
“Stop talking nonsense. Anyone who speaks of this incident will be severely punished.”
“M…My apologies. Please forgive me.”
“Leave. All of you.”
After nervously dismissing his vassals, Izar stared intently at the opposite wall in his private chamber. What surfaced on the empty wall were the lightless, pale green eyes.
Freesia was turning away from him.
She might withdraw her love and leave nothing behind.
He was struggling to suppress this terrible emotion…
“Damn it.”
Unable to contain himself, a sharp curse slipped through his teeth.
This wasn’t right.
He should not be so consumed by that woman.
But his vision was already painted with the worst imaginable scenarios.
Freesia, turning away from him.
And then, responding readily as if she had been waiting for his departure.
Even though she was a bastard, she was still a part of the Antares family, so remarriage wouldn’t be impossible.
It was clear that Duke Antares would be pleased to know that Izar had not actually touched Freesia.
It might not be a favorable marriage proposal, but…
If, by any chance…
‘If Freesia’s smiles would be directed to another man next time.’
If she smiles at him and shows those eyes that once sparkled for Izar. Perhaps she might hold even greater affection for him than she did for Izar…
And carries another man’s child.
“……”
His golden eyes froze over with murderous intent.
In his imagination, he ruthlessly slaughtered the faceless man.
He could vividly imagine the moment when Freesia, now another man’s wife, was forcibly dragged away.
And he would lock her away in a place only he could enter, forever.
“Ha…”
Izar sighed as he swept his hand over his eyes.
Would he end up following in his father’s footsteps? Would he fall to ruin even more disgracefully?
But eventually, through the fingers covering his face, his golden eyes gleamed darkly. Amidst the confusion, there was one thing he was sure of.
He would surely reclaim the look in her eyes when she used to gaze at him.
* * *
After falling ill and confirming the date, she found that her lifespan had been reduced to 234 days.
When she had gone to the banquet, she had 248 days left, meaning it had taken nearly two weeks to regain enough strength to move.
After the incident, Freesia noticed small yet significant changes around her.
‘There are more maids and knights assigned to me.’
Not only were they helping reluctantly, but they also seemed extremely tense.
The loyalty of subordinates ultimately grew in response to the master’s favor. It was a reminder that their devotion had nothing to do with Freesia’s efforts or attitude.
However, instead of being pleased, Thea looked pale. Her hands trembled as she combed Freesia’s hair for the day’s activities.
“I… I thought you were going to die, Madam….”
“……Was it that bad?”
“Do you even have to ask…? You had seizures and could barely breathe.”
“Oh dear.”
“Oh dear, you say? As if it’s someone else’s problem! The master was terribly worried about you.”
“…….”
“He stayed by your side the whole time you were unconscious!”
Thea said this as if it should comfort Freesia. But Freesia only stared expressionlessly into the mirror.
‘Am I happy?’
Normally, she should have felt joy at such a change.
If Izar had been that worried, perhaps their relationship would be significantly different by the end of this life…
But the woman in the mirror was still pale and unfocused.
As if she were somewhat weary.
Freesia glanced down at the back of the button necklace she was fiddling with.
‘I still have about eight months left.’
It was still a long time, and Freesia had always quelled the sudden surges of sorrow and disquiet with a positive outlook on life.
But for the first time, she started to feel the weight of the four months she had lost.
“Let’s go, Thea.”
Even so, she still had tasks to attend to.
