Chapter 6

Olivia woke up, exhaling deeply as if she were having a seizure.  

It was natural for her hand to reach for her head. Just moments ago, something had been flowing there, but now, nothing seemed to remain.  

Looking at her clean palms, Olivia muttered to herself.  

“Wasn’t I dead?”  

Gripping her throbbing head, she tried to recall what had happened. However, the persistent headache made her give up.  

It was then that an unfamiliar language tickled her ears.  

“The Grand Duke has ordered us to bring the Grand Duchess.”  

Olivia turned her confused gaze toward the source of the voice. She couldn’t understand why she was hearing Silvestian.  

It was only then that her eyes took in the unfamiliar surroundings.  

The space was at least twice the size of her own room, and the windows were shaped differently. Frenchia never used arched windows.  

“Grand Duchess?”  

When Olivia didn’t respond, the voice called out again from outside. She turned her head, scanning the room. She was still alone.  

She couldn’t understand why those outside were addressing her with such strange titles.  

With a blank expression, Olivia eventually buried herself under the covers.  

Even though she could see the warm sunlight streaming in, her hands and feet felt cold. It seemed she was still lying in that snowy place.  

This situation, too, must be nothing more than a hallucination before death. That’s what she decided.  

***

[May 26, 1819, Alvis Gazette]  

Freddy skimmed through today’s newspaper before placing it on his desk. Sitting with a perfectly poised posture, he casually flipped through his documents.  

The morning sunlight filled the room. It was then that a pink letter, tucked between the papers, fell with a soft thud.  

“…Simon.”  

“Yes?”  

At the frosty tone, his aide Simon flinched. He looked up to meet Freddy’s gaze.  

It was hard to believe this was the same man who had gotten married just yesterday. Moreover, he seemed even more subdued than usual.  

“You still haven’t figured out where these strange letters are coming from?”  

At Freddy’s question, Simon finally snapped out of his daze.  

What did it matter whether Freddy got married or not?  

After all, this marriage was merely a pretense for an alliance.  

“I apologize. It seems it will take some time to determine where the letters are being sent from.”  

“This came again today. How do you explain this?”  

“…I’ll find out as quickly as possible.”  

Sensing Freddy’s displeasure, Simon hurriedly bowed and left the office.  

Left alone, Freddy tapped his desk a few times. The rhythmic sound filled the room.  

“An unknown gentleman, huh.”  

Freddy closed his eyes and thought.  

The letter he had received yesterday was written in Silvestian.  

The spelling was a mess, as if a child had written it.  

Though the paper couldn’t possibly speak, it felt as if he could hear the letter chattering away.  

The rhythmic tapping abruptly stopped. At the same time, Freddy opened his eyes. His deep brown pupils blended with the sunlight of spring.  

Without hesitation, Freddy tore open the envelope in his hand.  

「To the Unknown Gentleman,  

Oh, my!  

I was utterly shocked after reading today’s letter!  

I can’t even remember the earlier contents because of it.  

You didn’t consummate your marriage even after the wedding night?  

No matter how much of an alliance it is, your choice was a disaster!  

How could you think leaving her alone would help her adjust?  

What a foolish thought!  

Your decision was nothing short of rude!  

It was an act that showed no consideration for Liv at all.  

If I were by your side, I would’ve told you to apologize to her immediately!  

Think about it. How would a bride, sent to a foreign land with no one to rely on, feel when even her husband neglects her?  

Liv must have felt lonely and miserable.  

How terrifying it must be to be left alone in an unfamiliar world.  

If my husband had treated me that way, I would’ve plucked out all his hair!  

(omitted)  

That day, you should’ve asked Liv properly.  

‘Are you scared of me?’ 

‘If you are, what scares you? And how can we improve our relationship?’ 

Even just asking that would’ve been a great comfort to Liv.  

At the end of March, 1817.」  

After reading the entire letter, Freddy let out a dry laugh.  

It felt like he had reached the peak of his displeasure.  

Alliance, marriage, an unconsummated wedding night.  

All of it applied to him. Though the ‘Unknown Gentleman’ wasn’t him, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being scolded. It wasn’t pleasant.  

Yesterday, the letter had boldly declared it would absolve his sins. Today, it was meddling in his affairs.  

He didn’t know what wrongs the owner of this letter had committed to deserve such words.  

Freddy sighed deeply and pressed his fingers against his temples.  

He assumed it was someone’s prank or a letter that had failed to reach its intended recipient.  

The situation was exhausting.  

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.  

“Your Grace.”  

It was Simon, who had fled earlier. When Freddy gave permission, Simon cautiously opened the door and entered.  

Seeing Simon’s serious expression, Freddy became equally serious.  

“What is it?”  

After hesitating for a moment, Simon spoke with a troubled look.  

“Your Grace, perhaps you should visit Her Grace the Grand Duchess.”  

Freddy’s brow twitched. Sensing his darkening mood, Simon quickly added more.  

“Her Grace has not left her room. She hasn’t granted permission for anyone to enter, so no one has been able to check on her…”  

As Freddy’s mood grew even darker, Simon trailed off. Freddy tapped his desk a few more times but didn’t respond.  

Time passed, yet he gave no orders.  

Simon, regretting that he had brought this up, wished he could leave the room immediately.  

Just as he was about to lament his decision, Freddy stood up.  

“Lead the way.”  

Simon quickly opened the office door and guided him.  

When Freddy and Simon arrived at the room, the servants had gathered there.  

The head maid, Angela, and the other servants all bowed deeply toward Freddy.  

“She hasn’t responded from inside at all.”  

“As it would be improper for a servant to open the door without the master’s permission, we have been waiting.”  

Angela’s crisp response, delivered with precision, made Freddy sigh briefly. With a wave of his hand, he gestured for the servants to step back from the door.  

Freddy called out to Olivia in a low, gentle voice.  

“Madame.”  

Surely, Olivia was awake. Yet, she didn’t respond and remained silent.  

Freddy’s already stern expression grew even more severe.  

“Madame, if you don’t answer, I’ll come in.”  

Without waiting for her reply, Freddy opened the door. Warm air wafted in through the open window.  

He turned his gaze toward Olivia, who was lying on the bed. She lay there with her eyes closed, unresponsive. Her golden hair shimmered in the sunlight.  

Freddy suppressed a sigh that threatened to escape.  

Where had the lively woman from the portrait gone? The smiling woman in the painting seemed more fitting for the tone of the letters I had received.  

…What a pointless thought.  

Freddy decided it was enough to confirm Olivia was unharmed. Without hesitation, he turned and grabbed the doorknob.  

It was then that he remembered the letter he had read earlier.  

「What should you do if your relationship was broken from the start?  

If it were me, I would’ve initiated light contact first. A pat on the shoulder or a gentle hug wouldn’t hurt.  

Personally, I think stroking one’s hair is the best.  

Such light touches can soften a person’s heart. Since you and Liv are married, that much should be allowed.」  

Freddy’s hand hesitated.  

All he had to do was lower the doorknob, and the door would open. A simple pull, and he could leave this place.  

It was such an easy, straightforward action.  

Letting out a short breath, Freddy’s hand fell away from the doorknob. He turned around and began walking toward her.  

The sound of his precise footsteps filled the room.  

***

As Freddy had predicted, Olivia was awake.  

When she first heard herself being called “Madame,” she thought she must have misheard. Surely, this was too ridiculous to be a hallucination before death.  

Why was I hearing Silvestian? Shouldn’t familiar faces appear in my final moments?  

Her confusion was brief. The sound of the door opening made her body tense.  

Though she was certain this was an illusion, she couldn’t understand why her body was reacting this way.  

She kept her eyes tightly shut, unable to see who had entered.  

She thought they would approach her immediately, but instead, they lingered by the door for a long time.  

During that time, Olivia’s hands and feet grew colder. At the same time, the person sighed deeply and began moving.  

The sound of their steps grew closer and closer.  

Olivia squeezed her eyes shut even tighter. Despite this, the strong sunlight pierced through her eyelids, shining brightly.  

The light suddenly disappeared.  

It was clear that the person was now right beside her, looking down at her.  

The light, which had briefly vanished, returned, shining on her eyelids once again. The person must have knelt down right in front of her.  

Their scent, a heavy floral fragrance, brushed against her nose.  

Just as she thought the scent seemed familiar, a rough hand touched her forehead.  

The awkward hand stroked her hair. The warmth emanating from the hand felt unfamiliar.  

Was this not a hallucination?  

Olivia had no idea what was happening.  

Too overwhelmed, she found herself holding her breath.  

The person clumsily stroked her hair a few more times, smoothing it down.  

And then,  

“Madame.”  

He called her softly.