Chapter 11

After recalling her teacher’s words, Olivia decided to investigate theology and its background.  

Slumping over the desk, she pouted her lips.  

She thought that by studying theology or its background, she might figure out why she had come to this place.  

“It’s all pointless.”  

The reason for Olivia’s gloomy mood wasn’t just that.  

“Who would’ve thought he’d only send books as gifts?”  

She couldn’t even remember when she had last seen Freddy. In just a few days, the King of Silvest would call Olivia and Freddy.  

This meant that the day Freddy would spend an entire day at the Grand Duke’s residence wasn’t far off.  

It was a natural occurrence. Freddy was a prominent royalist and had to constantly clash with the aristocrats in the capital, so he couldn’t spend all his time at the Grand Duke’s residence as he was doing now.  

“I might forget what his face looks like.”  

Freddy surely knew that as well. Yet, the fact that he didn’t show his face felt particularly vexing.  

Everyone pretended not to notice, but it was clear they were curious about why the two hadn’t spent their wedding night together and why Olivia had initially rejected Freddy.  

Of course, Olivia herself had deemed it better not to spend the wedding night.  

If she accidentally had a child, it would be troublesome. That child wouldn’t even see the light of day, and if the events from the letters occurred, ‘Liv’ would eventually die, and Freddy would die as well.  

She had judged that avoiding a situation where Freddy might die was the best course of action.  

But separate from that, his behavior didn’t sit well with her.  

“No matter what, there are rumors. Shouldn’t he stick closer to me at times like this?”  

Suddenly, Olivia stood up from her seat.  

“I should just go see him myself. If he won’t come, I’ll go to him.”  

Her deliberation didn’t last long.  

Olivia left the room with quick strides.  

***

Freddy rubbed his tired eyes as he reviewed the documents.  

Over the past few days, he had been distracted by meaningless letters and had ended up paying attention to Olivia. As proof of that, he had thought about her less since discarding the letters.  

There was no significant reason for Freddy to distance himself from Olivia.  

She was someone who had grown up in a different environment and had a different disposition from him. There was no benefit in getting entangled with her.  

Moreover, every time he saw her, the pain he felt in his chest consumed all his focus.  

Freddy believed it was better not to think about Olivia anymore.  

Just as he turned his head and tried to concentrate on the documents again, a familiar letter suddenly appeared.  

“Sigh.”  

The sender of this letter seemed tireless, writing to him every day.  

He had given up trying to find the owner of the letters.  

If it were a matter of the Grand Duke’s residence’s security, he would have reprimanded someone, but he now knew that wasn’t the case.  

Having spent the past few days entirely in his office, he naturally realized that no one was sneaking in to leave the letters. At some point, they would simply appear.  

He couldn’t figure out what phenomenon or reason caused the letters to appear.  

Freddy decided not to think too deeply about it. He had analyzed them, suspecting they might contain a cipher, but there was nothing.  

Since the letters posed no threat or hidden intentions, he thought it was time to stop investigating them.  

Freddy stared at the letter for a moment before opening a drawer and carelessly tossing it inside. He figured that if he didn’t open and read it, he wouldn’t feel like he was being swayed.  

“Your Grace, haven’t you been staying in the office for several days now?”  

Simon cautiously spoke as he noticed Freddy looking up from the documents.  

Freddy glanced at Simon briefly before returning to his papers.  

“There are frequent clashes with the aristocrats, and the alliance with Frenchia is still incomplete. Incomplete means it could break at any time.”  

“You know better than anyone that won’t happen, Your Grace. Clashes with the aristocrats have always been a constant. And the alliance was proposed by Frenchia. Since Her Grace arrived in Silvest, there’s no chance Frenchia will break the alliance.”  

Freddy glanced at Simon, who was passionately making his argument, and murmured.  

“There’s no harm in being prepared.”  

Of course, Simon also understood.  

There was a difference between anticipating the worst-case scenario and not preparing for it.  

However, that wasn’t the point Simon wanted to make.  

The current workload wasn’t so urgent that Freddy needed to overwork himself, and disputes with the aristocrats were nothing new.  

Moreover, Frenchia’s visit had already been scheduled.  

Unless something major happened—and even if it did—Olivia’s family, the Marquis of Bianche, would support her.  

Freddy was well aware of this.  

Yet, he was acting as if something drastic would happen any moment, overburdening himself unnecessarily.  

Freddy, who noticed Simon’s silence, continued speaking.  

“In the end, since the Princess and I, the representative of the royalists, became the central figures of the alliance, the aristocrats are strongly opposing it.”  

“It was inevitable. If the alliance had leaned toward the aristocrats, the royalists wouldn’t have had the strength to hold on.”  

“Yes, I understand that as well. But everyone knows the aristocrats are expressing their dissatisfaction. That’s why we need to keep an eye on them to prevent any rash actions.”  

Hearing the repetitive conversation, Simon sighed faintly.  

Though he knew it was rude, he brought up the topic Freddy was avoiding.  

“Are you staying in the office and taking brief naps just to avoid Her Grace?”  

Freddy froze at Simon’s words.  

“I’m just busy with work.”  

“Do you realize you’re doing tasks that even I should be handling, Your Grace?”  

“Simon.”  

“If you want to keep your distance, why not prepare a separate room? As you said, it’s just an alliance, and overworking yourself like this isn’t good.”  

Ignoring Simon’s words, Freddy resumed writing his documents.  

“I heard the physician mention that you need to manage your sleep and stress, Your Grace.”  

At Simon’s words, Freddy finally set down his pen. He waved his hand dismissively as if annoyed.  

“Wouldn’t it be more efficient to prepare the room instead of talking about it?”  

“I’ll have it prepared immediately. There’s not much time left until your day off, so please rest properly until then.”  

With Freddy’s permission, Simon turned excitedly to leave.  

However, as he opened the office door, he froze in place.  

“……Your Grace.”  

***

Excited to see Freddy after such a long time, Olivia headed straight to the garden and picked a few daisies.  

She thought it would be better to bring something rather than show up empty-handed.  

Although everything in the Grand Duke’s residence belonged to Freddy, she believed he would appreciate the thought behind the gift.  

After dismissing the servant who had accompanied her, Olivia took a deep breath and prepared to knock on the office door.  

But the voices coming from inside made her freeze.  

“Why not prepare a separate room?”  

As their conversation continued, Olivia couldn’t bring herself to knock.  

If they found out she had overheard, things would only become more uncomfortable.  

She hurriedly tried to step away from the door, but at that moment, Simon opened it and stepped out.  

Through the startled Simon, she could see Freddy’s face.  

Freddy, who hadn’t expected Olivia to be there, also looked surprised.  

“Did you come here to say something?”  

Freddy, having composed his expression, asked.  

His lack of even the most basic pleasantries made Olivia’s heart ache.  

When she didn’t respond and merely stared at him, Simon quickly gestured to guide her somewhere.  

“If you don’t have anything to say, why not leave?”  

His indifferent attitude made Olivia clench her fists tightly.  

After biting her lips several times, she finally spoke to Freddy.  

“If it’s uncomfortable because of me, then change my room.”  

Thinking about it, it was only natural for Freddy to feel uncomfortable.  

Clenching her hands, Olivia continued.  

“From now on, if there’s something you want from me, please tell me directly. I need to know to be careful….”  

“I apologize for letting you overhear something unnecessary. I’ll make sure you don’t hear such things again.”  

It felt like talking to a wall.  

Olivia felt a tightness in her chest, as if she couldn’t breathe.  

“That’s not what I meant. If there’s something bothering you, I need to know…!”  

“Why do you need to know?”  

At Freddy’s question, Olivia could only gape silently, unable to respond.