Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 20
Meanwhile, Thea, caught off guard by this unexpected gift, only managed to clear her throat.
“Oh, uh, thank you… Madam.”
“Will you tie something else in my hair then?”
“Y-Yes!”
And like magic, the brushing became gentler.
Freesia’s calm, lake-like green eyes watched the delighted maid.
‘Life is always like this.’
People rarely extended a friendly hand to Freesia.
Even her own mother would hit her if she didn’t provide a meal, so what could she expect from others?
Therefore, Freesia had to prepare things of value to offer others.
Until the end of her life.
Thea, looking around, cleared her throat.
“Um, Madam, do you know that after marrying, the new lady of the house is supposed to treat the knights the next day?”
It was a mixture of pity and ‘you wouldn’t know this, let me help you’ attitude.
But Freesia was unfazed.
“Of course. Are there pheasants and pork prepared in the castle?”
“Uh, yes.”
“And check the kitchen for some desserts. Fruit jelly or pickled pears would be good.”
“Ohhh. Ack— Yes, Madam.”
Thea, flustered and blinking, made Freesia inwardly laugh.
‘She obviously thought I wouldn’t know.’
…In Freesia’s previous life, indeed, she hadn’t.
And the knights of Arcturus also knew that Freesia, having worked as a shepherdess, would be unaware of such ‘ladylike customs’. But ignorance did not lessen their disdain.
“Let’s get ready, Madam. We should time it to match everyone’s return from the temple.”
The plan was to save Riegel Betelgeuse, the Crown Prince, and credit the achievement to House Arcturus.
But what if Izar doesn’t trust her, making the plan unfeasible?
‘Then I’ll have to persuade someone he does trust.’
Among today’s knights receiving her hospitality, she’ll identify who’s most likely to empathize with her.
***
Izar’s visit to the Temple of the God Adamant, as Freesia predicted, was to partake in the prayer tradition before departure.
But had that been the only reason, he wouldn’t have been ushered into the temple’s most private sanctum.
“Your Grace, you’ve arrived.”
“Ah… Sister-in-law.”
Izar greeted the waiting woman with a sneer.
It was Atria, the half-sister of the shepherdess and the youngest daughter of Duke Antares.
Her attire for this supposed secret temple meeting was provocatively revealing.
Atria moved towards him, highlighting her dress’s flowing fabric. Lifting her golden lashes seductively, she said,
“Don’t be so formal. After all, we were almost united.”
“Our union? Isn’t such formality expected?”
“But initially, it was meant to be us, Your Grace.”
Izar responded with a mocking smile.
“I believed so as well, but Lord Antares adhered too closely to His Majesty’s command.”
“Indeed. It’s because of my father’s excessive fear that things turned out this way.”
“If you’re aware of that, then good.”
Izar replied icily, arms crossed, looking down at her.
The contrast between the two half-sisters, connected only by half their blood, was stark.
‘This one is dazzlingly beautiful.’
But the one at his castle…
The image of her imploring green eyes begging for compassion soured his mood.
‘Stop such needless thoughts.’
That woman was to be discarded soon enough.
He would not show her any semblance of affection.
His priority was his household’s honor, not a lowly shepherdess turned noble lady.
Moreover, there was a matter in Atria’s secret note that required his attention.
“You sent quite an intriguing joke through a messenger.”
“Hehe, it’s no joke.”
Atria unveiled a document from her sleeve, smiling cunningly.
Izar’s face stiffened upon seeing it.
Unbelievable. She dared to resort to this.
“That is…”
“The marriage contract you signed, Your Grace.”
It should have been securely stored in the temple, a sacred marriage contract.
But in the face of Antares’ substantial donations, some clerics could falter.
Atria’s mother had kept her promise to ‘help.’
〈Take this document. If anything happens to it, the marriage sworn before Adamant becomes invalid. Keep it, Atria.〉
〈Mother, you’re really doing this?〉
〈You can’t always be in someone else’s place, especially for the future generations.〉
As if the shepherdess never existed.
Though remembered now, eventually, she’d be erased cleanly.
Izar let out a bitter chuckle while looking at the document.
“Ha…”
The shepherdess’s signature was artfully removed.
Despite the sacred power imbued in such documents.
‘Even if found, they will blame the shepherdess.’
A faster method than a negotiated or opportunistic divorce.
And alarmingly clever.
Izar scrutinized the oath paper and Atria with suspicion.
“Ducal Lady, why go to such lengths?”
“Because I’ve always hoped to be united with you, Your Grace.”
“…”
“Should you dismiss her, please accept me as your wife, as it was meant to be.”
Atria gazed at him with yearning eyes.
She was the sole, noble daughter of the illustrious Antares Duchy.
Always having the best and newest of everything she desired.
“Thus, yesterday’s marriage shall be effectively invalidated, Duke.”
