Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 169
The ocean surrounding the fortress was a deep navy blue, so dark it was hard to gauge its depth, with waves periodically crashing against the cliffs, bursting into white foam. It was nothing like the clear, picturesque coastal views that nobles often purchased to show off.
But even if it had been a beautiful shoreline, the conversation between Freesia and Canopus would not have softened in tone.
“So, have you finished considering my proposal?”
“…Before that, explain more clearly about the revenge you’re proposing.”
Freesia wrapped her shawl tightly around her shoulders, her gaze cold.
Revenge.
The word had slithered through her mind like a snake’s tongue when she had gripped the marriage certificate, crumbling soundlessly. It was smooth, chilling.
Canopus watched the once-gentle, shy woman now wearing a marble-cold expression and secretly licked his lips.
Stepping a bit closer, he imagined a glint of suppressed anger flickering like white flames in her eyes.
“My initial goal was to kill the Imperial Grandson and sever the imperial bloodline, to undermine the Arcturus family as a consequence.”
He had assumed that Izar would, without question, go hunting with the other noblemen. A man so proud wouldn’t pass up an opportunity to bring honor to his family.
Canopus’s red eyes curved like a crescent moon as he looked at Freesia.
“But my half-brother didn’t do that. Despite the emperor’s constant humiliation, he stayed close, enduring it all.”
“……”
“In my view, it was because of you… No one in that family would have advised him to do otherwise.”
Canopus chuckled, watching Freesia’s silent reaction.
“For a man with such filthy pride to change his mind… it’s proof that Izar does love you.”
Canopus closed the remaining distance between them.
He was now so close that if she extended her hand just a little, her waist would be within his reach.
Her small, delicate face showed not a trace of hesitation, and her pale green eyes looked at him calmly, with only her lashes faintly fluttering.
Admiring just how small her mouth was, he smiled.
“So right now, Izar must be imagining his beloved woman, wondering what she’s doing with the half-brother he’d love to tear to pieces.”
“……”
“How about it? I’ll crush the imperial family and the temple myself.”
“Canopus…”
“And together, we’ll exact revenge on Izar.”
Freesia allowed his hand to hover near her waist, close enough that she could feel its warmth spreading onto her skin, even though he hadn’t touched her yet.
Her shadowed green eyes reflected his delighted face, like a dull pane of glass.
Even while confined here, she could see countless bright stars filling the night sky.
But to Freesia, their light no longer held beauty or meaning.
After taking several deep breaths, she parted her lips.
Her voice was barely a whisper compared to the crashing waves against the cliffs, but Canopus heard her clearly.
His smile of delight at her request was all too telling.
* * *
A month and a half had passed since the Duchess of Arcturus had disappeared.
As the wife of the hero who had slain the dragon and saved countless lives, a massive search effort had been launched, with talents from the imperial family, the Academy, and the Duke’s knights.
The experts skilled at detecting traces focused their search on the south, yet one by one, those involved began to despair.
“Could she already be dead by now…?”
“With so many resources deployed, if she doesn’t turn up…”
Hadn’t it been said that she was dragged away by a terrifying monster?
If someone had taken her hostage, surely there would have been a ransom demand by now. In the worst case… she could have already been defiled by those aligned with the monsters.
But no one dared to voice these concerns aloud.
One reason was that a miracle had occurred in front of the Duchess, and one of the survivors had witnessed it.
“She has some mysterious power, you say?”
“Yes!”
The survivors would gather to whisper among themselves during their breaks.
“A monster tried to approach her, but then it suddenly crumbled into a flurry of white petals and vanished.”
