Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 232
Was her name Thea?
It seemed she believed she was going on a ‘vacation’ with her household. Far from it.
Her Highness had completely freed the girl from the duchy. She had made her a free citizen in name, so even if pursuers were dispatched from the duchy, there would no longer be any reason to drag her back.
“All I, cough, was asked to do… was make sure that group could safely… go wherever they wished.”
“……”
“I know nothing about Her Highness…….”
Izar steeled himself to never believe that claim. He must know. He had to know something.
Once he left, he might even secretly mock Izar together with Freesia.
“Truly, I know nothing……”
“……”
But though Albireo Deneb’s lips might have mocked him, his eyes were wet with devastation.
Seeing that, Izar could no longer deny it.
This man dared to love Freesia.
That’s why he was in despair now, just like Izar. And he truly didn’t know where she was.
The strength drained from Izar’s hand, which had been ready to twist Albireo’s neck. The rage he had forced to the surface began to cool.
‘No.’
He looked back at the knights who had followed him and ordered,
“Search the entire area immediately. Even if we must turn the empire upside down, send out men.”
“Yes, Milord.”
“If she’s not alive, then at the very least, bring back her body.”
He deliberately sharpened his voice, made it sound rough and filled with hatred. It was better to stay angry. Otherwise, he felt he might be consumed by terror and lose his mind in an instant.
‘This can’t be. This can’t be happening.’
Freesia. Where are you wandering with that body now?
Where did you disappear to… carrying our child?
Surely you haven’t, this time in reality… found a place to die with the child?
‘Where are you now?’
Freesia.
***
The duke’s party tore through the marquisate like a typhoon, leaving the place in ruins. Though the marquis family was furious, the situation was too dire for them to protest.
It was also a problem that the second son, after receiving word from Her Highness, had told nothing to his household.
However, Albireo, currently in the annex under ‘reflection and house arrest,’ showed no sign of remorse.
“Haha. Serves you right!”
Duke Arcturus, that damned bastard—let him suffer trying to find her!
“Ha, haha……!”
Albireo tried to laugh lightheartedly. But no matter how hard he tried, his hand holding her final letter trembled from pain.
When he stopped forcing the smile and unfolded the letter again, Albireo muttered with a face stained in anguish.
“And yet, you’re… so heartless……”
Since their last farewell in the capital, he had continued waiting to hear from her.
Wishing her happiness, hoping she was smiling, and still—if she were suffering even a little… he had dreamed of being granted one last chance to slip through that gap.
‘In the end, I too… wished for her unhappiness.’
Because misfortune was the only window through which new love could take root.
But perhaps she had seen through his true feelings. The letter she sent through her maid left no room for anything.
You could send Thea to the Imperial Palace if you wish, but that place is too far for this season… and if His Majesty were to get involved, I’m not sure what would happen.
So, Sir Albireo, please look after Thea’s group and make sure they stay safe.
I’m sorry that all I can ask, in the end, is another favor.
Her heart belonged solely to herself.
Which meant that unless Freesia herself allowed it, no man could ever truly become part of her world.
No matter how certain Albireo was that he could treat her better than the duke.
“Ha……”
He lowered his head over the letter clutched in both hands. He tried to muffle the sound, but his shoulders trembled uncontrollably.
Even though it was an important letter, and he could see the drops of water smudging the ink, he couldn’t stop.
He had never even managed to properly express his feelings.
***
……As a new year dawned upon the empire, Duke Arcturus received an imperial decree to eradicate those who threatened the realm and set out on a subjugation campaign.
The campaign was a success.
The ringleader—who had manipulated mercenaries, those resentful of their lords, and the forsaken using monsters—was slain by the duke’s hand.
But before that year’s spring arrived, a sudden monster attack occurred in the duchy, and Her Highness disappeared.
The miraculous imperial descendant, Duchess Arcturus, who was more merciful than anyone.
Thanks to her, the monsters turned into white petals along the way, and the damage remained minimal. But no one could determine her whereabouts.
Even after the year’s first spring blossoms withered, bloomed, and fell twice more.
