Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 114
But she didn’t mention that part, only revealing a bit of truth.
“I came to pray with the assurance that we will meet again.”
“I see.”
“Do you have family in Deneb, Reverend? They must have been proud of your promotion, but it must have been sad for you to part with them.”
The birth of a priest was a great source of pride for everyone from commoners to nobles. The divine power granted, regardless of family lineage, was a great force.
But Canopus shook his head with a gentle smile.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know what my family might have thought. My parents returned to God’s embrace early on.”
“Oh…! I’m sorry for asking such a rude question.”
“Please don’t apologize, Madam. I met helpful people and grew up without inconvenience.”
Even so… Freesia felt her mouth was glued shut, unsure what to do. She felt guilty for having envied him before.
She had assumed he had studied in a better environment than she had, and had smoothly become a priest at a similar age.
‘How embarrassing.’
She didn’t realize her hidden inferiority complex would surface this way. This time, she spoke more sincerely, in a heartfelt voice.
“It might be presumptuous, but if I were your mother, I would be very proud.”
“…Thank you, Madam.”
Canopus smiled at those words.
If anyone else had said it, he might have inwardly mocked them, but she was different.
“I think you and I have many similarities, Madam.”
“What…?”
“Almost like siblings.”
Freesia blinked in surprise at Canopus’s statement. Siblings?
‘Is he joking?’
She searched his eyes for any hint of ulterior motives, but all she saw was pure kindness.
Feeling awkward, she wondered if she was the strange one for doubting him.
‘So he really feels like a sibling?’
If she had to decide whether she liked it or not… honestly, it made her happy.
It was the first time anyone had spoken to her like this, making her feel like family, without any shame.
“I am happy to accept your words, Reverend. You’re too generous to someone as lacking as me.”
“What do you mean?”
Canopus smiled with concern.
“Madam, don’t forget. You are a special being.”
Unfortunately, her bastard half-brother did not realize this.
Hoping that his kind would understand this, Canopus comforted her gently.
“Even if the people around you don’t recognize your worth now, do not be afraid. Someday, there will be someone who truly understands your value.”
“…Th-Thank you.”
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Freesia tightly grasped her veil, wondering if her face looked too stern through the lace fabric.
‘It was very comforting, though.’
Canopus smiled faintly at the sight of Freesia’s flustered state.
“Now that I think about it, you will soon be attending the imperial palace’s event as well.”
“Oh… yes, if the opportunity arises, I think I will.”
“I hope you enjoy the day without any trouble.”
Canopus gave a gentle smile and bowed respectfully.
“May Adamant’s grace be with you on that day as well, Madam.”
* * *
On the day his ‘son-in-law’ visited again, Duke Antares was sweating so much that his mustache was drenched.
He never expected Izar Arcturus to show up with such a grim face because of the bastard girl.
And now, as if his patience had snapped, the titles he had meticulously used at the banquet seemed to have been thrown to the monsters.
“I knew that His Majesty the Emperor was displeased with my family, and that my ‘father-in-law’ was eagerly handling his wishes. Since there were sins committed, I kept my mouth shut.”
Cough…
“But Duke Antares, isn’t this crossing the line?”
The Duke tried to meet Izar’s gaze, but his throat was dry, so he gulped down some tea.
“I… Didn’t I already apologize for my wife and daughter crossing the line? Being a half-blood child… They frightened her excessively out of jealousy because she had become beautiful.”
“…Jealousy?”
“Aren’t women naturally like that? Seeing the men in the banquet hall turn their eyes towards her, they acted out of misplaced anger.”
“Haha.”
Izar let out a cold laugh at this ignorant nonsense.
“You call spiking her drink, dragging her out during the banquet, and invading her body to check if she consummated her marriage simply jealousy?”
“……!”
“And then leaving her, unable to gather her senses, where other men could walk by.”
“Haa, that is…”
“Did you hope she would be assaulted?”
Duke Antares swallowed his groans. It wasn’t surprising, considering his wife cut out people’s tongues in the ‘warehouse’.
But the Duke saw an opportunity and slyly brightened his eyes.
“I will severely punish my wife. If you want, I can even show you the evidence—”
“Cut the bullshxt.”
Izar snapped in a dry tone.
This bastard seemed delighted to have a good excuse to humiliate his wife publicly.
He didn’t expect the Duchess or Ducal Lady Atria to apologize to Freesia.
‘If they were the type to apologize, they wouldn’t have done it in the first place.’
Even so, he wanted to take something from Antares and give it to Freesia. That way, at least her eyes might regain their original vitality.
“Duke Antares, let’s settle this by giving the Griffias Plains area as the dowry for your eldest daughter.”
“……!”
“Th-That…”
The Duke’s eyes widened.
The Griffias Plains were the best agricultural lands owned by the Antares family!
