Come and Cry at My Funeral - Chapter 92
‘If I say Belaiga’s choice was right, they’d accuse me of speaking too freely of receiving love from a noble.’
But if she said it was wrong, they’d claim, ‘You’re guilty of not refusing a love above your station.’
They wanted to see how virtuously she would decide.
“…I cannot say Belaiga’s choice to side with the enemy was right, but I find the circumstances that led to her decision quite fascinating.”
“Oh, Madam. Are you not aware of the moral of this story?”
“Of course. It’s to enlighten women on proper virtues, though I believe others here understand it far better than I do.”
People showed subtle surprise.
The bastard wasn’t as foolish as they expected.
Snap.
The sound of a fan closing rang crisply. A noblewoman from a family close to the temple frowned slightly.
“My goodness. The Duchess herself, making such a statement… the temple would not approve.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
“Doesn’t the temple always preach that one must not defy the fate given by Adamant? Yet, you speak against Belaiga for not following her husband’s natural order and blaming others instead.”
Freesia inwardly rolled her eyes.
Ha, so it comes to this. When religion is invoked, there’s no winning.
But though she hadn’t studied religious texts as much as a priest, she’d overheard enough of the scriptures.
“But if that’s the case, aren’t those who made Altair and Belaiga’s love difficult also defying natural order?”
“Oh, how can you interpret it that way?”
“Because Adamant has never said that causing suffering in others’ lives is part of natural order.”
At Freesia’s words, the lady slightly lifted the corners of her lips.
“You truly are… very astute, Madam.”
“It seems that way.”
“And it seems you have more ambition than meets the eye.”
It meant she had easily bridged what was supposedly an insurmountable gap between legitimate and illegitimate.
‘Ambition probably means greediness in this context.’
The noblewoman, having subtly chastised, then gave Atria a look full of affection.
“Ducal Lady Atria is such a virtuous lady, there is no need to worry at all. If Duchess Antares would permit, I would wish you had been born my daughter instead.”
“Oh my! That’s too high a praise. But not just I, my older sister is also a lady of virtue…”
Atria hesitated for a moment. Observing the illegitimate daughter’s expression, she could see that the wench was neither confused nor ashamed.
Her manners were impeccable yet her expression was indifferent.
‘How shall I break that composure?’
She pondered briefly but decided it was ultimately inconsequential and let something slip, accepting a small loss.
“…Considering the time you spent herding sheep.”
Though whispered with a laugh, those seated nearby immediately understood and made a fuss.
“My goodness! I heard you were originally from the dukedom!”
“To have herded sheep, does that mean you actually did real labor like a commoner…?”
Freesia watched their commotion from a distance. Half were people who simply regarded her as an ‘illegitimate daughter’ and despised her; the other half vaguely knew she had lived as a commoner and guessed as much.
Atria’s pitiful remark intensified their fuss.
‘I actually miss those times I had sheared those sheep.’
Those moments spent simply with those dirty animals were so very…
“I heard sheep stink, but it seems the dukedom produces fine perfumed oils.”
“So, Madam, did you clench your dress and run through the fields?”
“Surely not, you didn’t expose your ankles, did you?”
“Such an indecent act, surely not!”
While sheep could be temperamental, she could at least secretly strike one with a stick when annoyed… With these people, a single hit would mean a war between families.
‘But then again, letting it pass silently and powerlessly isn’t an option either.’
These people thrived on others not knowing how to retaliate and would rejoice even more if their face turned red from crying. If she couldn’t confront them at their level, at least she had to retaliate with a smile.
Freesia smiled cautiously.
“I had no idea you all had such an interest in sheep herding. You’d find similar handlers in any estate, I suppose.”
“Oh my! Are you personally telling us about those times?”
“Yes, you’ve encouraged me, why wouldn’t I?”
The nobles, unsure how to handle a shepherd girl spouting such nasty remarks, might hope for that.
Freesia looked at them with eyes brightening and smiled brightly.
“In fact, I only cared for about fifty sheep. Just about the number of people here in this banquet hall.”
“Oh my, fifty sheep!”
“That’s not really a large number, Madam.”
In truth, it was a very small number.
Older shepherds could manage up to five hundred sheep, but Freesia had barely managed fifty using even the sheep dogs provided by the castle.
“However, with fewer numbers, it was easier to observe what the sheep were like. If there was a weak lamb, some of the sheep would look the other way, or ostracize it if it was weaker than they were.”
Freesia smiled politely while thoughtfully surveying her surroundings.
Just like what you’ve done to me.
Did they catch the subtle jab?
As expected, the cheeks of the women who had prompted her to tell them about her ‘days as a shepherdess’ were tightly drawn.
“…Truly fascinating animals, aren’t they? It’s almost regrettable that they end up as meat.”
They always mock her, yet such a small thorn makes them react as if stung by a bee.
Just then, a vibrant voice burst out overhead, clearing the air.
“Hello, beautiful ladies!”
