Droit du Seigneur: His Lordship's Right of the First Night - Chapter 62
There would be no other woman in his life. Despite his firm rejection, Duke Karl’s side continued to try to arrange a marriage, even spreading rumors that a wedding would take place soon.
Although the rumors had started from something the noblewoman boasted about in front of her friends without consulting her adoptive father, Richard sent an official letter sternly stating that he would tolerate no more such incidents.
Right now, Louise was the only important one to Richard. He didn’t want to be bothered by unnecessary matters.
“Hey, anyone home right now?”
He was just about to leave, having confirmed that the house was empty. The woman from the neighboring house, who had knocked on the door and turned away, was startled to see Richard.
“It looks like she’s not ho… oh… oh my goodness! W-Who are you?”
In this small mountain village with only a few households, the arrival of such a strikingly handsome man, who exuded a noble aura, was unexpected. The woman had occasionally hidden Mildred from debt collectors, but the man in front of her did not look like one of them. She cautiously asked,
“Who have you come to see?”
“Is there a young woman living in this house?”
Richard suddenly recalled that the name on the document differed from what she had told him. Louise had said that her mother had given her that name and that others called her by a different one.
“My fiancée is called Cherinia. Only her mother and sister call me Louise….”
“Is her name, Cherinia?”
“What? Ah….”
The neighbor woman, after rolling her eyes for a moment, seemed to understand and nodded.
“Oh, you must be looking for the new bride who got married recently.”
“So, she is married.”
Of course, he had expected this, but hearing it still felt like something snapped inside him. He couldn’t think of anything else to say, and his face hardened. After a long pause, he spoke slowly through tightly clenched teeth.
“…Is she well?”
“Of course, the new bride is not only beautiful but also very affectionate. Her husband is absolutely smitten with her.”
Louise had never asked him for anything in a playful manner.
She had been relatively straightforward in bed, but even when he tried to buy her things in the capital, she had always firmly refused. It seemed she could comfortably be affectionate in front of the man she truly loved. Richard suddenly felt a pang of curiosity about this side of her that he would never see.
He should be relieved that she was doing well. He hadn’t wished for her to have an unhappy marriage, yet his heart was being torn to shreds.
“No one is home right now. Would you like to wait at my house?”
“…I should be going.”
His legs felt as heavy as lead, but he forced himself to turn away. He shouldn’t stay here any longer. Richard was engulfed in sorrow as he walked down the mountainside.
Just then, he saw a child playing under a large tree. The child was playing house alone with two dolls made of grass.
“Sister, Sister! Millie made delicious stew.”
“Oh, really? You’re such a good girl.”
“Yeah, it’s yummy beef stew. Millie made it for Sister Louise.”
The child had different eye colors from Louise, but her light amber hair and similar features made it clear she was her sister. Mildred blinked her round eyes as she met his gaze.
“Who are you?”
“You’re… Louise’s…”
“Mister, do you know my sister?”
“…Yes.”
He had heard she had a sister, but he hadn’t realized she was this young. Louise had rarely talked about her family, so he didn’t know. The child looked small and pale, evidently frail.
Richard had thought she avoided talking about her home out of guilt for being with another man while having a husband. He had also avoided asking about her husband out of his own pain. But now, he regretted not knowing everything.
How could he have hoped to win her love under such circumstances? He knew her parents had passed away early, but realizing she also had to take care of her younger sister at a young age made him see how hard her life must have been.
Still, it was reassuring to see that her husband seemed to be a good person, as they were living together with her young sister.
“Mister, did you come to see Sister Louise? She’s not here right now.”
“I know. What’s your name?”
“Mildred. But Sister calls me Millie!”
“Millie….”
Looking at the child’s innocent face that resembled Louise’s younger self, Richard felt a lump in his throat. He was angry at his own ignorance.
He wanted to ask her many things, but he suppressed those feelings. Knowing she was married and living happily with her husband was enough. Anything more would be his selfishness.
Winter was coming soon. Noticing Mildred’s worn-out clothes, Richard took out his wallet to give her some gold coins. But the child shook her head and stepped back.
“Why?”
“Sister said not to take money from strangers without a reason. She said they might be bad people.”
“…Your sister is very smart.”
Even her words were so much like Louise that Richard almost laughed. But the child’s serious face made him quickly hide his smile. Mildred, watching him curiously, suddenly spoke up.
“Sister knows everything. She’s the smartest person in the whoooole world!”
“You’re right, Millie.”
“And she’s really, really pretty. Mister, you’d be amazed if you saw her!”
“Yes, she is indeed very pretty. When you first see her, you might think an angel has come down….”
Also kind, brave, and very lovable….
Richard gazed into the distance, thinking of Louise. The expression on his face, which had been rigid since she left, softened for the first time. Mildred watched him quietly from beside him.
