60. That kind of woman
“You’re embarrassed to bring it around, aren’t you?”
A maid's words caused a burst of laughter.
"That's understandable. It's just embarrassing, Letzen in front of the Larsians."
As each word was added, the voices grew louder. So did the boisterous laughter.
Erna, walking along the path that led to the back of the building, stopped abruptly beneath a large maple tree standing by the roadside. Lisa, walking alongside, was also there.
As the two men's conversation died down, the voices of the servants chattering at the back door became clearer. The conversation, which had previously pitied the Prince for carrying out his entire tour alone and denigrated the Princess for being so useless that even her husband ignored her, now shifted to longing for Princess Gladys.
“Those things!”
Just as Lisa, indignant, was about to run away, Erna suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Lisa."
Erna shook her head firmly. How could she just ignore such rudeness? It was an incomprehensible order, but Lisa couldn't resist. She couldn't turn away from the earnest, pleading gaze in Erna's eyes.
While the chattering continued, the two remained silent behind a tree trunk. Unlike Lisa, who struggled to control her temper, Erna maintained a composed demeanor throughout. It was a convincing performance, but it wasn't enough to conceal her wavering gaze and pale complexion.
Lisa, her innocent lips pursed, looked down at the shadows of the evening that had grown longer. Another day of their honeymoon was passing by like this. The thought filled her with a sense of uneasiness and sadness.
Erna had been left alone for several days already.
Waiting for her husband, who might return at any moment, was her entire routine in this palace. If she was lucky, she might have dinner together, but otherwise, she was completely alone all day. There were no meetings to attend, no guests to visit, just strolls with her maid. It wasn't surprising that those who already held their mistress in contempt were treated with such disdain.
Did you have that noisy wedding just to be treated like this?
While Erna was lamenting and resenting the incomprehensible Prince, the servants who had gathered to rest in front of the back door left. Only then did Erna release the hand she had been holding tightly to Lisa.
“Look over there, Lisa.”
Erna approached Lisa, who was at a loss as to what to do. She smiled and whispered as if sharing a great secret.
Lisa, who had been lost in thought and had accidentally glanced at Erna's fingertip, chuckled in frustration. A chubby squirrel was perched on a branch, looking down at them.
Startled by Lisa's grumbling, the squirrel climbed up the tree and quickly ran far away.
Erna, who had been gazing at the maple forest with a wistful expression, faced Lisa again with a bland smile. Her upright posture and clear gaze made her reddened eyes stand out even more. Only then did Lisa notice that Erna's hands, which were holding hers, were trembling slightly.
Lisa had so much to say, but ultimately couldn't find a word. Fortunately, Erna picked up where she'd left off, and the awkward atmosphere didn't last long. The sound of their silent, steady footsteps echoed along the path covered in crimson leaves.
Erna briefly glanced at the bench in front of the back door, where the servants who had gossiped about her had been staying, then passed through the backyard without another word. The western sky, now tinged with crimson as the shortened autumn sun set, was already beginning to fade.
“Thank you. I owe you a great debt of gratitude today.”
Erna, who had just closed the bookcase, greeted her with her usual smile.
"No, Your Highness. It is the right thing to do."
The maid's formal, polite response was no different from her usual one. It was a stark contrast to the evening she had spent praising Princess Gladys, the flawless, perfect Crown Princess, before the servants.
“Now, I will instruct you to prepare the bath water.”
After Karen left with a polite greeting, Erna was left alone.
It was already late at night, but Bjorn had not yet returned.
It's been almost ten days since she arrived in Lars, but she's only had dinner with her husband on three of those days. Even that number only includes a day of rest to recover from the travel fatigue. Still, she was glad she had been warned in advance that he would be late today. At least she wouldn't have to wait with high expectations and end up looking shabby in the wind.
Erna, after carefully surveying the unfamiliar room, turned her gaze to the notebook on the desk. Turning the page, bound in blue velvet, revealed a chart of Letzen and Lars's social circles, organized according to their own criteria. It was the result of a struggle, with Karen holding on.
Erna tried her best, but the result was disappointing.
After excluding all the ladies who had been acquainted with Princess Gladys, the remaining list was utterly shabby. Even among them, most lived in seclusion from society and were unlikely to be encountered at any gathering.
Erna, who had been looking at the chart with a troubled gaze, let out a small sigh and closed her notebook. Trying to lift her spirits, she began writing a letter to her grandmother, but it wasn't a good choice.
I'm having a wonderful honeymoon.
She couldn't think of anything to follow that emphatically written sentence. Erna couldn't worry her grandmother by telling her the truth, but it was frustrating to not know what a pleasant honeymoon would be like.
After much deliberation, Erna finally finished writing a letter filled with a few lies. Contrary to rumors, her husband is a considerate and affectionate man. He's been much more welcoming here than she'd expected. She's busy exploring new worlds, and he's enjoying her days just as much, so there's no need to worry. A faint smile came to Erna's face as she thought of her grandmother, who would be delighted to read this letter.
After sealing the completed letter, she was ready to take a bath. Though desperately wanting to be alone, Erna refused to let the maids do the work.
'It's a relief that she seems to be doing her part even in the bedroom.'
The mocking words she heard from behind the tree kept ringing in her ears, but she held them back. She willingly accepted the shame of exposing her body, covered in scars she didn't want anyone to see.
Erna is still not sure what's best, but at least she doesn't want to run away.
Strengthening her resolve, Erna soaked in the bathtub, where white steam was rising.
"When His Highness was on his honeymoon with Princess Gladys, he took his wife with him everywhere. Remember how the two were the center of attention wherever they went? They were a perfectly matched couple."
Perhaps it was the sound of the rushing water that made memories she didn't want to recall become more and more vivid.
Erna stared blankly at the swaying surface of the water, her eyes tightly shut as if to block out consciousness. It was just as she was finishing her bath that she received an unexpected message: Bjorn had just returned.
“Everyone, step back and rest.”
Bjorn gave orders, mixed with a tired smile, to the servants who had followed him to his wife's bedroom. They hesitated, as if they were unfamiliar with this unprecedented situation, but ultimately, they all retreated without question.
As the door closed, Bjorn threw himself onto his wife's bed, barely stripped off except for his coat and jacket. Erna hadn't yet appeared, perhaps because her bath wasn't yet finished.
Bjorn lay facing the ceiling, letting out a quiet sigh. It had been a day of considerable headache and frustration, beginning with lunch with Lars's foreign minister, then a meeting with the bank's acquisition team, and then drinks with Gladys's second brother, Prince Alexander. The finale, however, was particularly spectacular.
All three Princes of Lars were like this, but Alexander was especially attached to his sister. Back when he didn't know about Gladys's secret, he'd pestered him with pathetic threats. Now that he knew everything, he'd be irritating him with persistent apologies, begging him to forgive her. He'd let that unspoken guilt get the better of him, though, since he could profit from it.
Poor two!
Tonight, a drunken Alexander Hartford was seen crying, lamenting the twist of fate that had torn apart the perfect couple.
Bjorn, who was about to tell him it wasn't fate, but a prank between his sly sister and that damn poet, quickly changed his mind. After all, there's nothing more pointless than arguing with a drunkard. Nevertheless, he patiently stayed, solely because of the gold and securities Lars had promised to deposit. It was a rather satisfying sum, one that warranted his unprecedented patience.
How did you end up with that kind of woman?
A chuckle escaped him as he remembered the words of the drunken Prince Alexander, spoken with such heartfelt sympathy.
That kind of woman.
Bjorn simply found the derogatory term used against Erna amusing. It was especially so when it came from those who held the Princess, who had committed the audacity of marrying another man's child, in high esteem as a virtuous saint.
Damn Hartfords.
Bjorn let out a slow sigh and pulled down the knot on his tie.
The royal family and nobles of Lars were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Grand Duchess of Letzen, who had defeated Princess Gladys, the flower of the continent. But they would never allow such a woman to stand by the Prince's side. He would not give her up.
“Bjorn!”
Just as he was about to close the pocket watch he had taken from his vest pocket, he heard a now-familiar voice. He turned his head and saw Erna, just emerging from the bathroom. The smile on her clean face seemed especially bright today.
Bjorn, smiling, gestured to Erna, and Erna walked briskly over to the bed. Meanwhile, Bjorn nodded to the maids waiting. The maids quickly drew the curtains, adjusted the lights, and withdrew, leaving the couple alone in the bedroom.
“Did you drink?”
Erna, who was standing at the edge of the bed and looking down at him with a deep gaze, nodded and asked a question.
Bjorn nodded slowly and pointed to the seat next to him. Erna, who had been hesitating, cautiously sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Are you drunk?”
"No."
Bjorn smiled softly and hugged his wife, who was on guard. Erna collapsed into his arms, and she smelled a sweet, soft body scent. It was a scent that made his heart, which had been on edge all day, feel at ease.
Bjorn held Erna, who was struggling, tightly against him. Erna flinched and stiffened, but she resisted no longer.
“Did something happen?”
Erna, who had been observing him closely, asked a cautious question.
"No."
Bjorn smiled faintly and gave a light answer.
It wasn't a lie.
The benefits he and Letzen gained from today's schedule were enormous. It was enough to make him even more tolerant of Gladys's brother, who dared to take pity on him.
“That’s fortunate then.”
Although she had a look of disapproval, Erna nodded without asking any further questions.
"I've been doing well, too. Today, I took a walk in the forest behind this palace with Lisa. With Karen's help, I studied the nobles of Letzen and even wrote a letter to my grandmother."
Erna, with a childish smile on her face, began to chatter about the little details of her day.
"I tried the traditional Lars cake during tea time, and it was delicious. And the almond cookies. I took some with me for a walk and shared them with Lisa. I'll even give some to the squirrels tomorrow..."
Bjorn impulsively kissed the small lips that had been staring at her. Erna, startled, twisted around, but she couldn't escape his embrace.
As Bjorn turned around, the position of their gazes changed in an instant.
Bjorn looked down at Erna's wide, questioning eyes for a moment, then gave her a kiss with even more longing. It was the only answer he could give.
“You’re embarrassed to bring it around, aren’t you?”
A maid's words caused a burst of laughter.
"That's understandable. It's just embarrassing, Letzen in front of the Larsians."
As each word was added, the voices grew louder. So did the boisterous laughter.
Erna, walking along the path that led to the back of the building, stopped abruptly beneath a large maple tree standing by the roadside. Lisa, walking alongside, was also there.
As the two men's conversation died down, the voices of the servants chattering at the back door became clearer. The conversation, which had previously pitied the Prince for carrying out his entire tour alone and denigrated the Princess for being so useless that even her husband ignored her, now shifted to longing for Princess Gladys.
“Those things!”
Just as Lisa, indignant, was about to run away, Erna suddenly grabbed her wrist.
"Lisa."
Erna shook her head firmly. How could she just ignore such rudeness? It was an incomprehensible order, but Lisa couldn't resist. She couldn't turn away from the earnest, pleading gaze in Erna's eyes.
While the chattering continued, the two remained silent behind a tree trunk. Unlike Lisa, who struggled to control her temper, Erna maintained a composed demeanor throughout. It was a convincing performance, but it wasn't enough to conceal her wavering gaze and pale complexion.
Lisa, her innocent lips pursed, looked down at the shadows of the evening that had grown longer. Another day of their honeymoon was passing by like this. The thought filled her with a sense of uneasiness and sadness.
Erna had been left alone for several days already.
Waiting for her husband, who might return at any moment, was her entire routine in this palace. If she was lucky, she might have dinner together, but otherwise, she was completely alone all day. There were no meetings to attend, no guests to visit, just strolls with her maid. It wasn't surprising that those who already held their mistress in contempt were treated with such disdain.
Did you have that noisy wedding just to be treated like this?
While Erna was lamenting and resenting the incomprehensible Prince, the servants who had gathered to rest in front of the back door left. Only then did Erna release the hand she had been holding tightly to Lisa.
“Look over there, Lisa.”
Erna approached Lisa, who was at a loss as to what to do. She smiled and whispered as if sharing a great secret.
Lisa, who had been lost in thought and had accidentally glanced at Erna's fingertip, chuckled in frustration. A chubby squirrel was perched on a branch, looking down at them.
“You're so kind to come all this way!”
Erna, who had been gazing at the maple forest with a wistful expression, faced Lisa again with a bland smile. Her upright posture and clear gaze made her reddened eyes stand out even more. Only then did Lisa notice that Erna's hands, which were holding hers, were trembling slightly.
Lisa had so much to say, but ultimately couldn't find a word. Fortunately, Erna picked up where she'd left off, and the awkward atmosphere didn't last long. The sound of their silent, steady footsteps echoed along the path covered in crimson leaves.
Erna briefly glanced at the bench in front of the back door, where the servants who had gossiped about her had been staying, then passed through the backyard without another word. The western sky, now tinged with crimson as the shortened autumn sun set, was already beginning to fade.
***
“Thank you. I owe you a great debt of gratitude today.”
Erna, who had just closed the bookcase, greeted her with her usual smile.
"No, Your Highness. It is the right thing to do."
The maid's formal, polite response was no different from her usual one. It was a stark contrast to the evening she had spent praising Princess Gladys, the flawless, perfect Crown Princess, before the servants.
“Now, I will instruct you to prepare the bath water.”
After Karen left with a polite greeting, Erna was left alone.
It was already late at night, but Bjorn had not yet returned.
It's been almost ten days since she arrived in Lars, but she's only had dinner with her husband on three of those days. Even that number only includes a day of rest to recover from the travel fatigue. Still, she was glad she had been warned in advance that he would be late today. At least she wouldn't have to wait with high expectations and end up looking shabby in the wind.
Erna, after carefully surveying the unfamiliar room, turned her gaze to the notebook on the desk. Turning the page, bound in blue velvet, revealed a chart of Letzen and Lars's social circles, organized according to their own criteria. It was the result of a struggle, with Karen holding on.
Erna tried her best, but the result was disappointing.
After excluding all the ladies who had been acquainted with Princess Gladys, the remaining list was utterly shabby. Even among them, most lived in seclusion from society and were unlikely to be encountered at any gathering.
Erna, who had been looking at the chart with a troubled gaze, let out a small sigh and closed her notebook. Trying to lift her spirits, she began writing a letter to her grandmother, but it wasn't a good choice.
I'm having a wonderful honeymoon.
She couldn't think of anything to follow that emphatically written sentence. Erna couldn't worry her grandmother by telling her the truth, but it was frustrating to not know what a pleasant honeymoon would be like.
After much deliberation, Erna finally finished writing a letter filled with a few lies. Contrary to rumors, her husband is a considerate and affectionate man. He's been much more welcoming here than she'd expected. She's busy exploring new worlds, and he's enjoying her days just as much, so there's no need to worry. A faint smile came to Erna's face as she thought of her grandmother, who would be delighted to read this letter.
After sealing the completed letter, she was ready to take a bath. Though desperately wanting to be alone, Erna refused to let the maids do the work.
'It's a relief that she seems to be doing her part even in the bedroom.'
The mocking words she heard from behind the tree kept ringing in her ears, but she held them back. She willingly accepted the shame of exposing her body, covered in scars she didn't want anyone to see.
Erna is still not sure what's best, but at least she doesn't want to run away.
Strengthening her resolve, Erna soaked in the bathtub, where white steam was rising.
"When His Highness was on his honeymoon with Princess Gladys, he took his wife with him everywhere. Remember how the two were the center of attention wherever they went? They were a perfectly matched couple."
Perhaps it was the sound of the rushing water that made memories she didn't want to recall become more and more vivid.
Erna stared blankly at the swaying surface of the water, her eyes tightly shut as if to block out consciousness. It was just as she was finishing her bath that she received an unexpected message: Bjorn had just returned.
***
“Everyone, step back and rest.”
Bjorn gave orders, mixed with a tired smile, to the servants who had followed him to his wife's bedroom. They hesitated, as if they were unfamiliar with this unprecedented situation, but ultimately, they all retreated without question.
As the door closed, Bjorn threw himself onto his wife's bed, barely stripped off except for his coat and jacket. Erna hadn't yet appeared, perhaps because her bath wasn't yet finished.
Bjorn lay facing the ceiling, letting out a quiet sigh. It had been a day of considerable headache and frustration, beginning with lunch with Lars's foreign minister, then a meeting with the bank's acquisition team, and then drinks with Gladys's second brother, Prince Alexander. The finale, however, was particularly spectacular.
All three Princes of Lars were like this, but Alexander was especially attached to his sister. Back when he didn't know about Gladys's secret, he'd pestered him with pathetic threats. Now that he knew everything, he'd be irritating him with persistent apologies, begging him to forgive her. He'd let that unspoken guilt get the better of him, though, since he could profit from it.
Poor two!
Tonight, a drunken Alexander Hartford was seen crying, lamenting the twist of fate that had torn apart the perfect couple.
Bjorn, who was about to tell him it wasn't fate, but a prank between his sly sister and that damn poet, quickly changed his mind. After all, there's nothing more pointless than arguing with a drunkard. Nevertheless, he patiently stayed, solely because of the gold and securities Lars had promised to deposit. It was a rather satisfying sum, one that warranted his unprecedented patience.
How did you end up with that kind of woman?
A chuckle escaped him as he remembered the words of the drunken Prince Alexander, spoken with such heartfelt sympathy.
That kind of woman.
Bjorn simply found the derogatory term used against Erna amusing. It was especially so when it came from those who held the Princess, who had committed the audacity of marrying another man's child, in high esteem as a virtuous saint.
Damn Hartfords.
Bjorn let out a slow sigh and pulled down the knot on his tie.
The royal family and nobles of Lars were anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Grand Duchess of Letzen, who had defeated Princess Gladys, the flower of the continent. But they would never allow such a woman to stand by the Prince's side. He would not give her up.
“Bjorn!”
Just as he was about to close the pocket watch he had taken from his vest pocket, he heard a now-familiar voice. He turned his head and saw Erna, just emerging from the bathroom. The smile on her clean face seemed especially bright today.
Bjorn, smiling, gestured to Erna, and Erna walked briskly over to the bed. Meanwhile, Bjorn nodded to the maids waiting. The maids quickly drew the curtains, adjusted the lights, and withdrew, leaving the couple alone in the bedroom.
“Did you drink?”
Erna, who was standing at the edge of the bed and looking down at him with a deep gaze, nodded and asked a question.
Bjorn nodded slowly and pointed to the seat next to him. Erna, who had been hesitating, cautiously sat down on the edge of the bed.
“Are you drunk?”
"No."
Bjorn smiled softly and hugged his wife, who was on guard. Erna collapsed into his arms, and she smelled a sweet, soft body scent. It was a scent that made his heart, which had been on edge all day, feel at ease.
Bjorn held Erna, who was struggling, tightly against him. Erna flinched and stiffened, but she resisted no longer.
“Did something happen?”
Erna, who had been observing him closely, asked a cautious question.
"No."
Bjorn smiled faintly and gave a light answer.
It wasn't a lie.
The benefits he and Letzen gained from today's schedule were enormous. It was enough to make him even more tolerant of Gladys's brother, who dared to take pity on him.
“That’s fortunate then.”
Although she had a look of disapproval, Erna nodded without asking any further questions.
"I've been doing well, too. Today, I took a walk in the forest behind this palace with Lisa. With Karen's help, I studied the nobles of Letzen and even wrote a letter to my grandmother."
Erna, with a childish smile on her face, began to chatter about the little details of her day.
"I tried the traditional Lars cake during tea time, and it was delicious. And the almond cookies. I took some with me for a walk and shared them with Lisa. I'll even give some to the squirrels tomorrow..."
Bjorn impulsively kissed the small lips that had been staring at her. Erna, startled, twisted around, but she couldn't escape his embrace.
As Bjorn turned around, the position of their gazes changed in an instant.
Bjorn looked down at Erna's wide, questioning eyes for a moment, then gave her a kiss with even more longing. It was the only answer he could give.
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