Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 22
Izar cut off her trembling voice sharply. He found another reason to dislike this woman.
Her eyes were unnecessarily large, her voice too thin, making him feel as though he had committed a grave sin, even though he was the one wronged.
“There’s nothing I expect from you, nor will I ever treat you as a true wife.”
“…I remember.”
“So, don’t even think about mimicking such a frivolous lady.”
“…”
“Do you or do you not understand?”
The woman looked up at him as he reprimanded her.
Her large green eyes shimmered.
Had she burst into tears right there, he would have stormed out immediately, disgusted.
However, contrary to his expectation, the woman bowed respectfully.
“I apologize, Your Grace. It was not my intention to trouble you.”
“Ha…”
“I will be more careful in the future.”
Her face was as calm as a noblewoman trained for years, impervious like the sword he wielded in monster hunts.
“I wish you a comfortable rest, Your Grace.”
“…”
He turned his head away, completely ignoring her.
He felt this way when the woman first came to this mansion.
A sense of inferiority he had never felt from another man.
A red-hued emotion, akin to rage but also oddly similar.
This shepherdess had a remarkable talent for gnawing at someone’s nerves.
***
After Izar entered his room first, the knights were being led to the dining hall by the servants.
Regardless of age, they were all eagerly gossiping about ‘that woman.’
“Tch, we also have a lady to serve, it would have been nice if she was pretty!”
“That’s right! You saw that shepherdess in the domain, didn’t you?”
“I did. Compared to Lady Atria, there’s no bigger misfortune in the world…”
“Ha, our lord is too unfortunate. Can’t he just divorce her?”
“Hey, guys!”
“…!”
Those gossiping halted in shock upon seeing the woman waiting in the dining hall. The woman they had derogatorily called ‘the biggest misfortune in the world’ was blinking back at them.
The gossipers whispered amongst themselves, holding their breath.
“Damn, did she hear us? She must have, right?”
“Probably not. If she had, could she act so nonchalantly?”
“Well… she wouldn’t be smiling like that if she had heard.”
Of course, Freesia heard everything.
‘Do they not know how voices carry over walls?’
But smiling was her only option here since getting angry would only backfire in the absence of anyone to support her.
Instead, she approached them like a graceful noblewoman.
“Seems like everyone’s enjoying their chat.”
“Er, ahem. What brings you here, Madam?”
“I’ve prepared a meal as a greeting to House Arcturus.”
The knights’ eyes widened at the served meals.
‘She knew about this?’
They hadn’t expected her to be aware of the custom, planning to use it as fodder for criticism.
Freesia quietly smiled, offering greetings.
“Please take care of me, Sir Mason.”
“Ah, er, ahem.”
“And you as well, Sir Cinder. I hope your injuries from the monster hunts heal quickly.”
Surprised that she knew all their names, the knights fell silent.
Then Charles Karoli stepped forward.
“Thank you for the meal, Madam.”
“I’m glad you liked it, Sir.”
“And for those who spoke disrespectfully earlier, I will handle it.”
“…Thank you, Sir Karoli.”
Freesia gave them a smile that was devoid of any warmth.
The meal wasn’t just to adhere to noble marriage customs.
She was looking for ‘Izar’s confidant’ to help her during her remaining time.
And to the others, this man seemed a very suitable candidate.
‘Charles Karoli. The most devoted person to the Arcturus family.’
Among the retainers, he had the best background and had known Izar the longest. However, he was not the one she had in mind.
‘It’s difficult to gain his trust in a short time.’
Especially since, despite appearing to listen, he wouldn’t relay anything he deemed nonsense to Izar.
And fortunately, the person Freesia had in mind was present…
‘Here he is.’
Freesia’s eyes sparkled slightly as she approached the man sitting in the corner.
“Sir Van Dike.”
“…”
“I look forward to our time together from now on.”
Van Dike was a burly knight in his early thirties, who gruffly nodded in response to Freesia’s greeting.
At first glance, he might seem ruder than Carol, but Freesia had a slight inkling of his character.
‘He was the only one who didn’t join in mocking me during my marriage.’
The knights here had gleefully slandered Freesia for three years whenever they were bored.
The unfortunate duchess, the lowly shepherdess, the presumptuous leech. So stiff, one might suggest she learn a trick or two from a courtesan.
When ‘her husband’ learned of this, he punished all those who had slandered her, saying they had crossed a line.
‘Only Sir Van Dike wasn’t punished then.’
Even if he disliked Freesia’s background, he was stubborn enough to say, ‘Once she’s become the duchess, it’s improper to insult her.’
That alone made him worth keeping by her side for the year.
Especially since he always led the charge in monster hunts, Izar also took his advice seriously.
‘That’s the most important.’
Because when it comes to saving Riegel Betelgeuse, it’ll be Sir Van Dike who will need to call Izar.
