Chapter 338
“Thank you, Duchess.”
Late at night—
Lara, with chestnut-brown hair, greeted her with her cheeks flushed red.
Perhaps she had gathered herself over the past few days, because the child behaved quite maturely.
Once she had been washed clean and dressed in neat clothes, she looked tiny and adorable, like a squirrel.
Nina stroked Lara’s head as she sipped warm cocoa with marshmallows in it.
She did not know how she should respond to the thanks of a child who had lost someone precious.
“When is Grandma’s funeral?”
“That, well. The funeral will be held after the event ends.”
“…Thank you so much for helping me so I can go see Grandma anytime.”
She meant that she was grateful Nina had promised a gravestone.
For those without money to secure a burial plot, the end could only be cremation, or being buried anywhere like an animal from a slaughterhouse.
“Now, let’s go to bed.”
“Yees.”
“Good night, Madam.”
Nina waved at the child as she disappeared with the caretaker.
‘Once the event is over, I’ll have to send that child to an orphanage too. Where would be good…’
In any case, if she was a child Nina had taken under her wing, then it would be right to send her to an orphanage sponsored by House Bayern, for example, the place where she had sent the Collin brothers, but.
The place where Lara’s grandmother would be buried was the capital’s public cemetery.
‘I suppose it would be better to look into an orphanage in the capital.’
Then that child would be able to go see her grandmother whenever she wanted.
Nina had settled herself in the drawing room and was waiting for Ash to return when.
The shadow of torches and the sound of a carriage came from by the window.
It seemed her husband, who had gone to meet the Imperial investigators for the investigation, had now returned.
“Um, you’re back?”
“……”
Ash gave a short nod, then brushed past her.
The scent of wind that brushed the tip of her nose was bitterly cold.
Unlike the warm interior, thanks to the generously burning fireplace, she could tell just how cold winter nights in the capital were.
Even that brief brush was enough for the cold air to seep into her nose.
He was someone who should originally have been taking part in the event, setting an example as a great noble, but…
Seeing her husband, who must have been struggling day and night to clear away the false accusation Marquis Crewe had pinned on her, made her feel even sorrier.
Nina quickly followed him into the bedroom.
Hadn’t she resolved to have a proper conversation with him today?
Even if he closed his eyes and pretended to sleep, his ears were open, so he would be able to listen.
But she did not want to apologize with words alone.
Nina embraced him as he stood with his back turned, preparing to undress.
The chill from his cold body made a shiver run over her skin.
Flinch.
Perhaps because he had not expected the sudden embrace.
He drew in a startled breath, then slowly exhaled and spoke in a low, sunken voice.
“…My body is cold.”
He tried to remove her hands, but she held him tightly, like a snare.
Pressing herself close against his back, which was clear-cut and firm as though sculpted, she said,
“…Honey, I’ve never distrusted your ability, so I didn’t think you would take my actions that way.”
“……”
As time passed, many parts of her memories from her previous life had faded, but even so, there was something that had not disappeared.
The accusation of being a ‘wicked wife’.
She had defended herself with this reason and that, but the conclusion she reached after digging into her own heart was that.
She had wanted to break free, by her own hands, from the image of a ‘wicked wife’ that followed her like a label.
Although things had gone better than expected, the fact that she had hurt her husband did not change.
As though throwing a tantrum, Nina rubbed her forehead against his back and brought out the words in her heart.
“…I’ve only just made up my mind to live as your wife, so I didn’t want to earn even the slightest dishonorable reputation. I was originally famous as a wicked wife, after all.”
Ash loosened the delicate restraint and turned around.
His eyes, reflected in the flickering light, were trembling as though he could not believe it.
A small smile escaped her.
The brow that crumpled as though he might cry at just those words was unbearably lovely.
He withdrew the hand he had naturally reached toward her face.
She felt as though she knew why he was clenching and unclenching his hand as if holding something back.
Without saying anything, Nina took his hand and brought it to her cheek.
The chill that had not yet fully faded seeped into her skin, but as she kneaded his firm hand, warmth soon returned to it.
