Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 14
***
One of Freesia’s predictions came true.
Since Arcturus’s side had suppressed their anger, the night-long verbal sparring with the Antares family in the banquet hall during the reception was avoided.
Thanks to that, she was able to return to the Arcturus townhouse in the capital earlier than expected.
But that also meant the night of consummation came sooner.
The maids at the townhouse went silent and stern upon seeing Freesia.
‘They must have been expecting a blonde bride.’
Freesia was unfazed by their expressions, already used to them.
The rough handling while undressing her, the cold manner while assisting her in bathing. They were all too familiar.
Eventually, the maids ushered Freesia into the bedroom, with no explanation about the wedding night.
“We shall take our leave now.”
Their attitude screamed, ‘We abhor having to serve a shepherdess as our mistress.’
However, Freesia sighed in relief as she sat near the bedside table.
“Huuu…”
Despite trying to appear calm, she was extremely tense. But her time alone was short. When the door opened again, Freesia’s heart pounded painfully.
“Are you already here?”
“……!”
A familiar voice sharply pierced her eardrums.
Izar had just bathed; his black hair was slightly damp at the ends.
Droplets of water from his cheek slowly slid down his well-defined jawline.
Then down his thick neck, appearing briefly between the collar of his comfortable tunic shirt, just above his collarbone.
Even Freesia, who had maintained a stoic expression, trembled at the sight.
And simultaneously, she felt resentful towards this man.
‘I’m the only one flustered in this situation.’
This man, with his handsome looks, had charmed many women. Despite repeatedly being frustrated, Freesia couldn’t help but be drawn to him.
While Izar, sitting across from Freesia, showed no disturbance.
“Then shall we start our conversation? There are many things I need to hear directly from you.”
“Ah, yes…”
“Since when have you been hiding your identity?”
“I never hid my identity. I didn’t know until recently that this would happen…”
“You’re lying to me now, shepherdess.”
Izar’s gaze turned fierce.
In the past, when her husband looked at her like that, she would immediately feel suffocated.
As she faced a man who could subdue monsters with just his presence, the mere act of defending herself was an overwhelming task.
“Do you think I don’t know how you lived in the estate?”
“…….”
“Do you expect me to believe that a woman like you endured an aristocratic wedding without a single mistake?”
Freesia considered revealing her secret at that question.
But there had been no ability bearers in the Antares family for a long time.
What if she disclosed that she was inexplicably given a year’s time?
‘I might be a mutant… but the current Arcturus side could still deny my Antares lineage.’
Then, Izar would naturally demand an annulment. And Freesia would be the one to suffer, such as experiencing a terrible ordeal in the warehouse of the Antares mansion.
‘I wish I could just be honest.’
She wanted to reveal this miracle given by God and her limited remaining life.
But she considered being in his shoes. What if a man she barely knew would suddenly say, ‘We had a child together, and I am going to die soon. So please, can’t you stay with me’?
She might just scream and run away immediately.
And in Izar’s case, he might just cut down someone making such ridiculous claims with his sword.
Especially now when there’s no trust built between them.
“…As I told His Majesty earlier. My mother taught me a bit when she was well, and I learned the rest at the Antares household.”
“Ah. So you learned how to greet the Emperor in an express course?”
“Duke.”
Freesia didn’t respond immediately to his sarcastic tone.
Instead, she showed her palms to Izar.
“If I had snuck into the Arcturus domain merely to cause harm, shouldn’t I have lived more comfortably than this?”
“…….”
Izar’s lips pressed tightly together.
Her hands, though coated with fragrant oil, were unsightly for a noble lady.
A lifetime of labor had left scars and calluses, and they couldn’t possibly disappear overnight.
“So you’re saying you were led to marry by a father you’ve never seen?”
“Yes, Duke.”
“This is so ridiculous. Hilarious, even.”
Izar let out a bitter laugh, tapping his fingers on the table a few times.
But after pondering, he sighed.
“Shepherdess. For now, I’ll take you back to the estate.”
“Yes.”
“But don’t expect me to treat you as a real wife.”
His golden eyes flashed again with calm contempt.
“I don’t have time to tutor you in etiquette or let you run amok in the estate.”
“…….”
“If you were hoping to flaunt your newfound status, it’s better to give up now.”
Freesia smiled subtly at his warning.
“That’s fine. What I want isn’t that.”
“Then what do you want from this relationship?”
“…….”
What I want is for you to feel even just a bit of sorrow when I die. I don’t even dream of you being as heartbroken as me—just feel a little bit of grief.
But saying that would surely make her seem insane.
So Freesia substituted with another answer.
“…If I ever fall sick, I would appreciate it if you could be a bit kinder to me then. That’s all.”
