Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 122
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Freesia had been listening to Viela’s enthusiastic explanations for several minutes.
The three of them were now sitting at an outdoor table set up by the attendants, enjoying tea. Viela was so excitedly explaining her research that the tea had already gone cold.
“Everyone here is researching freely. I don’t like focusing on just one thing, so I’m combining ability identification, family history, and genetics in my research.”
“Wow.”
“And once I get good results, I plan to travel around the empire and relax! See dolphins at the sea, watch the stars in the desert at night….”
“Wow….”
Freesia wasn’t answering half-heartedly—she was genuinely fascinated, so her responses were brief.
In the duchy, she had spent her time caring for her mother, and later in high society, she had little opportunity to open up to women of similar age because of Atria.
Above all, it was astonishing how Viela had so many dreams and aspirations for the future.
‘People can have so many things they want to do.’
The more you know, the more you can dream. With that thought, Freesia gazed at Viela with an even more wistful heart.
Taking a sip of her tea to quench her thirst, Viela noticed Albireo’s playful smile.
“How is it? With Lady Alpheratz around, you’re never bored, are you?”
“What do you mean by that, Sir Deneb!”
Viela’s eyes widened as she angrily snapped like an irate cat. Freesia watched and quietly smiled at the scene.
‘It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve smiled like this.’
She was happy.
Being with nobles always felt like standing barefoot on blades, but now there was no such pain.
‘Thanks to this, the wounds from Antares seem to be fading a bit from my heart.’
…But had she ever laughed so freely when with Izar?
“…”
Though she was in love, it was hard to imagine a situation where she laughed out loud with him.
Just then, Albireo spoke up.
“As Lady Alpheratz mentioned, purification abilities are quite rare. The problem is there are very few suitable subjects to test it on. Monsters are about the only option.”
“We certainly wouldn’t wish for monsters to appear in the capital.”
“Exactly, damn. But if you truly have such abilities, Madam, you could easily best others.”
“…”
Seeing Albireo’s genuinely regretful expression, Freesia tilted her head unconsciously.
“Sir Deneb.”
“Yes, Madam?”
“Why do you seem so regretful?”
“Ah. Hmm…”
Albireo looked at her sharp green eyes through the veil and gave an awkward smile.
Why indeed did he feel so regretful?
He thought it would be wonderful if she truly had such abilities, that she wouldn’t be looked down upon by others. But why was he so regretful about it himself?
But, vowing not to overstep boundaries, he decided not to think too deeply about it.
Instead, he offered another reason.
“Perhaps because you and I have some similarities?”
“You and I, sir?”
She nearly let out a self-deprecating laugh in front of her benefactor. How could a bastard daughter still humiliated even after marriage be similar to the second son of a marquisate?
Sensing her thoughts, Albireo shrugged.
“They say second sons are just substitutes for the first. Below the second, all are merely hard to sell even as dowry.”
“…”
“But since I’m exceptionally handsome and talented, I won’t be sold for a low price.”
Freesia thought of the marquis and marchioness’s attitude.
Even though Freesia had hit Albireo’s forehead with a stone, they had handled it graciously.
‘But if it had been the first son, their reaction would have been very different.’
The second son was a backup in case something happened to the first. From the third son onwards, many were sent as apprentice knights in bigger families to grow up struggling.
They were precious, but affection was always given unequally.
Albireo winked.
“It would be easier for everyone if love were distributed equally. Don’t you think so?”
“…”
Freesia felt she saw beyond his fluttering manner to the person within, whose essence was loneliness.
Eventually, she nodded with a faint smile.
“You’re absolutely right. Very much so.”
“…”
Albireo gazed at the faint smile visible through the veil, then slowly turned his head.
‘…Damn it.’
He deliberately crossed his arms.
If he didn’t cross his arms, he felt he might end up holding the madam’s hand.
‘Stick to the boundaries. Stop that train of thought.’
What he felt now should be sympathy born from a sense of similarity.
‘I find her interesting, pitiful, and pretty, no denying that.’
It also felt like he had discovered her worth first…
But there were moments he couldn’t forget.
<What’s the harm in letting me know what your preference is?>
What had he been about to say then?
<Someone good at throwing stones, with green eyes…〉
Yet he remembered vividly.
<Why are you here?>
Whether it was a happy marriage or not, that woman truly loved her husband.
Achingly so.
It made the heart of the beholder ache.
‘But what makes me unbearably angry is…’
Of the two men walking from the building, seeing the one with black hair made an unreasonable fury swell from the pit of his stomach.
