Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 41
Freesia thought it was a relief that the other party didn’t seem upset, she Freesia felt a severe sense of embarrassment at the man’s overly slick manner of speech.
She knew that such conversations were common in the capital’s court.
It came across to her as subtle flirtation, yet in reality, this kind of greeting was popular these days, and it was considered a form of sophistication.
‘But that doesn’t mean I’m used to it.’
Freesia furtively glanced at Izar seated next to her.
Ever since he stood in front of her at the healing spring, Izar had remained silent.
However, the tight jaw and crossed arms were enough for her to tell—Izar was simmering with anger inside.
‘He’s holding back because of the Marquis and Marchioness.’
But it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what had made him angry.
Was it Albireo Deneb’s attitude?
Or was it Freesia, who, reverting to her shepherdess instincts at the first sign of surprise, threw a stone before anything else?
‘If it’s the latter…’
Then perhaps it would be proper to apologize more formally here.
‘Right. Since it involves the son of this house.’
Freesia pushed aside her embarrassment, raising her head.
“Lord Deneb. Although you said it was an honor, I again apologize for almost causing you serious harm…”
“Let’s settle this matter first, Marquis, and then discuss the subjugation campaign.”
But before Freesia could finish, Izar cut her off.
He didn’t even glance her way but turned to the Marquis and walked away—clearly indicating she could go to her room, sleep, or do whatever, as it didn’t concern him.
Left alone with the Marchioness now, Freesia felt a bit bitter.
‘…It seems he was really annoyed because of me.’
Whenever she made a mistake over the past three years, Izar always acted this way.
If he was frustrated by Freesia’s foolishness but couldn’t show it in front of others, he’d abruptly end conversations and leave, leaving Freesia alone to stew over her mistakes.
This time, however, the Marchioness remained seated across from her.
Freesia decided to apologize to her instead.
“I’m truly sorry, Marchioness…”
“The matter has been settled now, so it’s alright.”
The Marchioness gave her a refreshing smile.
“If anything, my son was the problem for standing there foolishly. He should have left quickly upon seeing a lady…”
The Marchioness shook her head, then covered her mouth, chuckling.
“But I never expected Lord Arcturus to be such a caring husband.”
“……”
“Ho ho ho, truly newlyweds. I’m getting butterflies just watching from the side.”
“……”
Freesia didn’t verbally respond but merely nodded indifferently.
The Marchioness seemed like a nice person, but perhaps a bit lacking in judgment.
***
The men’s discussion continued deep into the night. Izar and Arcturus’s knights had roughly outlined a plan to assist the Deneb family in eradicating the monsters for the next fortnight.
When Izar left the room after their discussion, Albireo followed him.
“It’s an honor to have you join us yourself, Duke Arcturus.”
Izar couldn’t miss the slight smugness the man was displaying.
‘He himself is excellent in magic, so why does he need the help of others?’
Albireo Deneb was a talent affiliated with the imperial court’s academy of magic. However, even his ability was insufficient against monsters.
As Izar ignored him as though he couldn’t be bothered, Albireo slightly raised an eyebrow.
“The Duchess has quite the exceptional aim.”
“……”
“She could receive a knighthood for her stone-throwing skills alone.”
Izar glared at Albireo Deneb, narrowing his eyes at his forehead.
‘I cut her off earlier when she tried to apologize again.’
Watching her act so unbecoming of a ‘Duchess’ and her constant attempts to cater to this man were irksome.
“I should apologize as well, even if just out of courtesy, but I’ll choose not to.”
“Oh, how cold…”
“Shouldn’t you have been able to easily dodge something thrown by her?”
“……!”
“Is it not because you had been so distracted until the last moment?”
“…Ahem.”
Izar coldly observed Albireo, who made an awkward expression.
Despite his flippant appearance, the man had skills not inferior to a formal knight.
Yet, he failed to dodge a stone thrown by a woman?
It was completely absurd, and guessing why he couldn’t dodge made it even more displeasing.
‘Because he was too busy ogling the shepherdess in that state.’
He inwardly cursed this man as a pervert.
‘We should leave as soon as the shepherdess’s scars are gone.’
Upon entering the room, the woman sitting on the bed stood up abruptly.
The hem of her white chemise dress fluttered beneath her ample shawl.
“You’re back.”
The lamp’s light softly illuminated the shepherdess’s hair. Even her modest flaxen brown hair seemed to gleam with a mysterious golden light under that illumination.
Not just her hair, but also her large eyes and her face, still flushed from today’s events, subtly glowed.
Izar made an objective assessment.
‘She does seem a bit more alive.’
Compared to the wilted look she had as if drenched in harsh rain, she now appeared quite human.
“…I apologize for what happened earlier.”
But the hesitation in her voice again soured Izar’s mood.
It was exactly this tone she used when she tried to apologize to Albireo Deneb.
