Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 193
A lead
Who could he discuss Freesia’s lifespan, granted by the divine, with?
At first, Izar considered consulting the temple, but he quickly dismissed the idea. A place that valued wealth above all else and had ultimately endangered Freesia wasn’t worth turning to for answers.
That left him with one option: confiding in Riegel about Freesia’s secret.
The Crown Prince listened with a bewildered expression, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he muttered,
“This is truly a difficult story to believe.”
“But if you hadn’t acted according to Freesia’s words, Your Highness would have been in grave danger.”
“Hmm, you’re right…”
Riegel nodded silently.
Even for the imperial family, stripped of their authority, they were simply an ordinary household. Welcoming a newfound cousin would naturally bring joy.
But the younger cousin he had finally found kept a palpable distance, like someone observing from across a river. Riegel had thought it was merely due to awkwardness, but after hearing Izar’s explanation, things became clearer.
“…Then I suppose I have an obligation to help resolve the matter of her lifespan as well.”
The two continued their conversation while strolling through the dimly lit corridors of the imperial palace.
“Freesia… Her Highness saved you by the will of Adamant. So why hasn’t she received any reward for it?”
“Duke, it’s unfortunate, but the divine does not offer rewards as such.”
Riegel gave a bitter smile.
It was ironic for someone who so often criticized the temple to be saved by divine intervention. And amusing, in a way, that his critique of the doctrine had led him to dig so deeply into it.
“The greatest reward the divine can grant humans is rest after death. Happiness in this world doesn’t count as a reward.”
“Does that mean…?”
“It means she has done all she can. As you guessed, she received the tools necessary for the divine’s work and fulfilled her purpose.”
Riegel glanced sideways at Izar, narrowing his eyes slightly.
After learning what had happened to his cousin at the Antares estate… Riegel began to wonder if leaving her in the Arcturus Duchy was truly the best decision.
‘I have my doubts about whether she’s being properly cared for.’
But Izar seemed pained, as if consumed by Freesia’s situation. And now that they were expecting a child, separating them wasn’t an option.
“However, Duke, if someone receives the divine’s mission, wouldn’t that include you as well?”
From the founding of the empire to the present, everyone knew the purpose of the Arcturus family: to destroy monsters.
Even so, Izar frowned, his feelings still conflicted. A mission was one thing, but carrying out the divine’s work had always been a family duty passed down through the generations.
What could he possibly do to extend Freesia’s life even a little?
How could he dare to strike a bargain with God?
‘It’s been ages since anyone in the family heard the divine’s voice… probably not since the early days of the empire.’
Still, having something to ponder felt better than sinking into despair.
At that moment, Riegel posed a piercing question that hit the mark.
“But, Duke. Even if you defy fate and extend her life, what if she doesn’t want it?”
“…I’ll make her want it.”
Izar clenched his fists so tightly that he lost all feeling in his hands. He had been shaken by Freesia’s lies for a moment, but his overall plan hadn’t changed.
He would make her so happy that she’d cling to life. While he sought a way to bend fate, he would ensure she lived a life so joyful that she’d dream of the future.
It wasn’t too late. It couldn’t be.
* * *
On the day that marked 120 days left of her lifespan, Freesia barely escaped the emperor’s anxious farewells. He had delayed her departure multiple times.
Only after she tossed out an unlikely excuse—I’ll come back to see you after the child is born—did he finally relent, though she was thoroughly exhausted by the ordeal.
But another person, one just as hard to brush off, stopped her before she could leave.
“Freesia.”
“…Oh, Your Imperial Highness.”
“Just call me Brother.”
Though Riegel smiled warmly, Freesia wasn’t quite sure how to deal with this newfound cousin.
Hearing that he knew she had saved him only made her more uneasy.
“So the Duke has been telling you unnecessary things.”
“Unnecessary? He only gave me more reason to thank you.”
“There’s no need to thank me. To Adamant, Your Highness is simply someone extraordinary…”
Ah.
As soon as she said it, Freesia felt a bitter taste in her mouth, realizing how petty she sounded.
As a duchess, she had accepted the imperial prince’s divine selection as natural due to his rank and learning. But now that they were ‘family’, an unplaceable sense of resentment stirred within her.
Why was one person so special that even her ruined life had to be twisted to save him…?
“Perhaps it’s not that I’m special, but that the divine wish for this foolish prince to work harder to bring peace to others.”
Riegel surely caught her sarcastic tone, but he still grasped her hands gently.
“And surely, your happiness is the most important part of that, little sister.”
“……”
“So if you ever face difficulties, let me know. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.”
Freesia nodded reluctantly.
She’d had people in her life who called themselves ‘family’, but no one had ever spoken to her with such warmth, so deeply that it pierced her bones.
But when she saw a familiar figure approaching from the distance behind Riegel, she quickly forced a smile to her trembling lips.
“Sir Deneb. I’m afraid I must say goodbye before I’ve even properly thanked you.”
