The Camellia Tattoo - Chapter 126
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
this book is completely translated on luna kofi (advanced chapters for the website will follow)
While everyone else focused on the High Priest, Amber alone thought about the poor woman.
‘It’s starting to get cold… Could she really have gone far away because I drove her out?’
If Iona was hiding somewhere in the North, Amber wouldn’t necessarily search for her. Although soldiers could find her, Iona was no longer urgently needed.
“Ha.”
So, on the surface, everything seemed to be settled, but why did it still feel so unsettling?
Perhaps it was because she didn’t know Mikael’s true intentions.
Amber doubted that Igmeyer would have dealt with Mikael without discovering that, but since he didn’t tell her, it remained a mystery.
She hesitated to ask further, thinking that there must be a reason why he chose not to share it.
Though her relationship with Igmeyer was better than ever lately, the unresolved matters concerning Mikael and Iona weighed heavily on Amber’s mind and caused her distress.
Thus, Amber waited and waited for news from Nora. She hoped for information about the Blessing of Regret, skiing, and someone who could shed light on these matters.
“Oh.”
Lost in thought, she accidentally ruined her painting when her brush slipped.
Quickly setting the brush aside, she used a piece of bread to absorb the paint.
‘Forget about it. Everything is fine as long as nothing has happened and no one important to me is hurt.’
That should be enough. That should be enough.
Amber squeezed her trembling hands and let out a deep breath.
Once Nora returns, things should be better. She would focus on the ski event and start working on finding ways for the North to be self-sustaining, leaving no room for distracting thoughts.
“Amber, is today’s painting a meditation on death? The shadow of the solitary reindeer dying alone resonates with me.”
“…It’s a still life of bread and shadows!”
A little while later, Igmeyer appeared behind her and seriously commented on her painting.
Amber couldn’t help but feel defensive, as people often misunderstood her still lifes as landscapes or abstract art.
“Is my painting skill really that bad?”
“No, Amber. Ahem. I must have misseen. My eyes must be playing tricks on me. How about I go wash up and come back?”
Igmeyer hurriedly tried to lighten Amber’s mood with his smooth talk, sensing that she had been down lately.
He wasn’t entirely unaware of the reason for her distress.
However… how could he address it? How could he speak of the first secret of Niflheim?
‘Usually, it’s because they don’t love. When one loves their wife, the prospect of their child killing them in the future becomes sorrowful, so they deliberately choose a woman who can bear a strong heir. How does one even say that?’
He couldn’t reveal the first secret of Niflheim.
The reasons for not having children, the reasons for not wanting them—these things were unspeakable.
If he revealed one aspect, the rest would inevitably follow, and he had nothing he could share.
Moreover, the knights who learned of this secret had all sworn an oath of silence in his presence.
That oath wasn’t something one could break at will.
The moment it was spoken within Niflheim’s territory, it became a binding spell of silence.
‘Anyway, there’s a day when I was happy to receive a letter from that person… It’s truly a matter of living long enough to see it.’
To lift Amber’s spirits or at least shift her focus, Igmeyer had planned something.
Though he truly disliked it and found it terribly unpleasant…but he decided to call Nicholas Eaton back to the castle. He knew where Nicholas was providing medical services, so it was feasible.
Thus, the letter was a reply to the one Nicholas had sent and included questions about Amber’s well-being.
“I have something for you, Amber.”
“Hm?”
“It’s a letter. From Nicholas Eaton.”
“Nick?!”
As expected, Amber’s face lit up with joy after hearing Nicholas’s name. Seeing her face brighten so intensely almost made Igmeyer’s stomach churn, but he managed to force a smile.
If this could improve Amber’s mood, that would be enough.
Though he wished he could reveal everything, he couldn’t, so this was his best option.
“Nick is coming? You called him? Oh my.”
“Yes, you’ve been looking a bit down lately. I thought meeting a friend might cheer you up.”
“Thank you, dear!”
Amber read through the letter quickly and, touched, called Igmeyer by a more affectionate term.
Honestly, she hadn’t forgotten about Nicholas, a close friend who knew all about Shadroch. She had refrained from bringing it up to avoid any unnecessary arguments with Igmeyer.
But for her husband to understand her feelings and take action!
Could she be any happier?
“I can’t believe I’m getting called ‘dear’ just for this… It’s nice but a bit awkward. I guess I’m just narrow-minded.”
Igmeyer chuckled softly, took Amber’s hand, and gently lifted her up. He then pressed tender kisses all over her small hand.
