Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 118
She swept her thin veil over her shoulder to better take in the scenery, making her face more visible. Though her cheeks were still pale compared to before the banquet, they were now tinged with a cherry blossom hue, perhaps due to her liking this place.
Her light green eyes sparkled with quiet excitement, beneath her small nose and coral-colored lips.
A gentle breeze blew, and the sounds of people moving in and out of the building were audible.
But at this moment, as Izar looked at Freesia, it felt as if there was no other sound at all.
Then, she turned her head silently toward him.
“…Your Grace.”
His heart pounded heavily.
It felt like ages since she had looked up at him like this. His mouth went dry.
Izar forced out his voice.
“…What is it?”
“We’re meeting someone today. Is it alright for me to be dressed like this?”
Freesia hesitated, fiddling with her dress. She had heard that one should avoid extravagant attire when visiting the academy.
But was it alright to wear only a thin veil and a single necklace?
Izar frowned immediately.
“What’s wrong with it?”
“I wondered if it was too plain…”
“Nonsense.”
He couldn’t understand why her rare question to him had to be about something so trivial.
‘She already stands out enough as it is.’
He thought that without flashy jewelry, she wouldn’t attract much attention, but that was a complete misunderstanding on his part.
Her eyes drew attention to her face first, her slim and delicate figure stood out even more in the lighter fabric, and her body’s gentle curves were visible.
‘Damn it…’
Because her attire didn’t immediately mark her as a duchess, several men were glancing at Freesia.
‘These worms should be focusing on their studies, not ogling her. What a disgrace.’
As if there weren’t already enough shady wretches gathering around this shepherd girl. She isn’t a shepherdess protecting her sheep; she’s a sheep among wolves.
…And Freesia quietly pulled her veil back over her face when she saw Izar’s displeased expression.
It was for keeping distance.
‘Of course, he’s back to this attitude since I declined his suggestion to go to Maia Street.’
But naturally, she couldn’t help but be nervous about her attire.
She might meet the imperial grandson today!
‘I had no idea there was another way to meet him before the hunting festival.’
Even after struggling for three years to become a noble, there were still things she didn’t know.
Her knowledge, for better or worse, came from Electra, so anything the Grand Duchess didn’t know remained a blank spot.
‘For example, Rigel Betelgeuse visits this institution with minimal retinue.’
Following the elderly head of the academy, her heart pounded. The room they were led to, unlike the dazzling rooms of the palace, was a high-ceilinged library filled with the smell of old books.
‘Wow, there are so many old books. It’s amazing.’
Soft cushions were placed in the window seat where the sunlight streamed in best, and a gentle breeze from the slightly open window brushed the hair of the man with loosely tied hair. His light blonde hair was reminiscent of daisies.
Certainly, he was dressed far too modestly for a member of the imperial family.
‘As Izar said, dressing up more than this would have looked ridiculous.’
The imperial grandson, who had been sitting in the window seat, rose to his feet. He and Izar already knew each other, so there were no excessive formalities.
“Welcome, Duke. It’s been a long time.”
“I’m glad to see you in good health.”
“Haha, thank you for saying that.”
But Freesia, not being as familiar, stood a few steps behind them, waiting.
‘So that’s Riegel Betelgeuse…’
In her past life, she had seen him only once. And that was their first and last meeting. It was too short a time to properly understand what kind of person he was.
He was torn apart and killed by a suddenly appearing wolf monster…
When a gentle voice addressed her, Freesia finally rose slightly.
“It’s my first time meeting the Duchess of Arcturus.”
“May God’s grace be with Your Highness, the Imperial Prince. It is an honor to meet you.”
“No need for such modesty. Congratulations on your marriage, Duchess. I regret not being able to attend the wedding.”
“I am grateful for Your Highness’s kind words…”
Freesia slowly straightened up after her final bow. But before she could finish speaking, her heart thudded heavily, as if a weight had been dropped onto it.
〈 Thou art heading in the right direction. 〉
The voice of Adamant from her dream echoed clearly in her mind.
‘I’m sure of it now.’
She was finally certain about why God had told her she was on the right path.
Saving this person was exactly what God wanted her to do.
