Chapter 7

At his call, Olivia opened her eyes.  

Strong sunlight poured through the large window. The light streaming over his head made it difficult for Olivia to open her eyes properly.  

Seeing her frown, he clicked his tongue once and stood up. He walked to the window and drew the curtains. As the thin fabric covered the window, the room was bathed in a soft, gentle light.  

Olivia blankly watched his back as he adjusted the curtains.  

The sight of his dark black hair and broad shoulders naturally reminded her of Freddy.  

…Again, with these strange thoughts.  

Freddy was already dead, no longer part of this world.  

Ah, but since I’m dying too, aren’t we in the same situation?  

It seemed she was indeed hallucinating. Watching a dead person move as if alive right before her eyes confirmed it.  

“Madame.”  

Having neatly adjusted the curtains, he turned around. His warm brown eyes met Olivia’s.  

He slowly walked toward her.  

The sound of his footsteps filled her ears, but Olivia couldn’t react at all. It felt as though time had stopped.  

He supported Olivia’s back and helped her sit up. From the spot where his hand touched her, warmth began to spread through her body.  

Olivia blinked and then parted her lips slightly. He tilted his head inquisitively.  

“Everyone is worried because you have shown no response, Madame.”  

She couldn’t understand what he meant. It felt as though her mind had gone blank.  

“If there’s anything uncomfortable, please speak freely.”  

Freddy inwardly cursed as he looked at Olivia, who remained stiff and unresponsive.  

Her pale, ashen face came into view.  

He hurriedly tried to move away from her. But at that moment, Olivia urgently grabbed the hem of his clothes. That small gesture froze Freddy in place, unable to move.  

“Truly…”  

As if her throat was blocked, Olivia’s lips opened and closed several times. Tears streamed down her face.  

“It’s too much…”  

Freddy quickly stepped back, startled by her inexplicable sobbing. The fabric of his clothes slipped out of her grasp as he moved.  

Running a hand roughly through his hair, Freddy spoke to her.  

“It seems I startled you by approaching too suddenly.”  

Olivia shook her head, as if to say no, but her tears blurred her vision, preventing her from speaking. Watching him take a few steps away, she lowered her head and gripped the blanket tightly.  

Freddy, observing her, couldn’t bring himself to say anything further and had no choice but to leave the room.  

Even as the door closed, Freddy didn’t look back at the crying Olivia.  

Standing outside the room, he gave a brief command to the servants waiting nearby.  

“The Grand Duchess seems to need some time alone. Everyone, return to your duties.”  

Hearing his orders, the servants dispersed swiftly. Freddy, who remained standing outside the room for a moment, eventually began walking away.  

Olivia stared blankly out the window.  

As Freddy, who had been moving as if alive, disappeared from her sight, the cold returned to her body.  

She truly must have gone mad. Even while dying, she was thinking about Freddy.  

It was so ridiculous.  

And yet, she was glad to have seen Freddy moving again.  

“…I’m truly insane.”  

The hair he had touched, the hand she had used to grab his clothes—all of it felt so real.  

Olivia clenched her hand tightly.  

Then, she curled up under the blanket.  

Perhaps because she had seen the image she had longed for, she found herself wanting to see Freddy again.  

***

Freddy remained in his office from the moment the sun set until the moon rose.  

It felt as though enough time had passed for the sun to rise again soon.  

His posture appeared impeccable, but Simon knew better. Freddy had been staring at the same page for hours.  

Simon hesitated, watching him.  

He had already heard the rumors spreading throughout the mansion in just one day—the stories about the Grand Duke and Duchess. From the unconsummated wedding night to the Grand Duchess shutting herself in her room.  

He doubted anyone would dare spread such tales beyond the Grand Duke’s residence, but one could never be too sure.  

“Your Grace, most of the work seems to be done. Perhaps you should rest, even for a little while?”  

“Leave for the day.”  

Freddy answered without taking his eyes off the documents.  

Simon hesitated in front of his desk. Freddy, noticing his unusual behavior, finally looked up at him.  

“Do you have something to say?”  

“Well… I was just thinking, regardless of the alliance…”  

Simon had intended to suggest that Freddy try to improve his relationship with Olivia, even just a little. But the moment he saw Freddy’s scowling face, he couldn’t bring himself to continue.  

“I misspoke.”  

Freddy ran a hand through his hair, brushing it back. He didn’t seem inclined to say anything further, returning his gaze to the documents.  

The sun began to rise beyond the window. Freddy’s gaze shifted to the sunlight streaming in.  

There, on his desk, lay a small, pink letter.  

Freddy’s expression darkened as he tore it open without hesitation. The rough opening of the letter released a faint floral scent.  

This was why useless thoughts kept creeping into his mind. It was all because of these letters.  

“Simon, this letter has arrived again. What do you think about it?”  

Simon’s pupils wavered. A letter he hadn’t noticed, despite spending most of his day in the office?  

“I apologize. I stepped out briefly earlier, and it seems someone came by during that time.”  

Ignoring Simon, whose complexion had paled, Freddy began reading the letter.  

「To the Unknown Gentleman,  

Yesterday, I might have been a bit harsh with my words.  

But honestly, I couldn’t think of anything kind to say.  

Even today, it’s the same.  

When I read that you didn’t enter her room for several days after the wedding night, I was utterly shocked.  

Were you trying to create rumors of discord between you two?  

If not, it would’ve been better to quietly return to the bedroom and sleep.  

I believe Liv was waiting for you.  

Why do I think so?  

Isn’t it obvious?  

She left behind her beloved family to live alone in a foreign place. How many places could she truly find comfort in?  

You were probably the one she trusted the most there.  

P.S. Your atonement seems lighter than I expected.  

I thought it would be some grave sin.  

But it seems Liv also failed to understand your intentions.  

If it were me, I would’ve asked my husband directly if he acted that way.  

‘Is there something wrong with me? Or do you dislike me?’ 

Hmm, this postscript is getting too long.  

So, the main point of my message is that you and Liv need to talk.  

From the last day of March, 1817.」  

Freddy crumpled the letter tightly in his hand.  

Simon grew increasingly tense. He still hadn’t been able to identify the sender of these letters.  

He couldn’t figure out how someone had managed to sneak into the Grand Duke’s residence, avoiding everyone’s notice. Despite increased security, these letters kept arriving.  

Not knowing the content of the letter made Simon even more anxious.  

“…I’m genuinely curious about the identity of the person writing these letters.”  

Freddy muttered, his lips pressed into a firm line.  

The act of secretly leaving letters was, frankly, outside of Freddy’s concern. There didn’t seem to be any intent to harm him, and the letters were nothing more than nonsensical ramblings.  

“They’re annoying.”  

Still, the letters managed to irritate Freddy in a peculiar way. It wasn’t hard for him to figure out why.  

It was because they reminded him of Olivia Bianche—no, Olivia vin Hester, as she was now.  

“Simon, you may leave. You can come in late tomorrow.”  

Simon widened his eyes at the unexpected words from Freddy, who had been exuding such a sharp aura moments ago.  

Freddy left the office, leaving Simon behind.  

Dim sunlight filtered through the hallway.  

Freddy walked through it, his mind racing.  

Who was sending the letters? And why was he letting them affect him?  

His brisk steps gradually slowed.  

Finally, they came to a halt.  

There wasn’t a single thing about this situation that he liked.  

“Sigh.”  

This marriage had been arranged for the alliance between Frenchia and Silvest. But that was merely the stance of the nations involved.  

If the alliance hadn’t been formed, Olivia would have married the second prince of her homeland. She would have become a princess, surrounded by familiar and loving people.  

Freddy’s brow furrowed.  

The image of Olivia smiling brightly came to mind. But the Olivia here was terrified, pale, and had even cried earlier.  

Thinking about it soured his mood again.  

“Haa.”  

Freddy sighed deeply and resumed walking.  

With his long strides, he soon arrived at the couple’s bedroom. Confirming the silence within, he carefully opened the door. Beyond the drawn curtains, the rising sun peeked through.  

About ten steps away, Olivia was curled up tightly.  

Freddy approached her quietly, his footsteps barely audible.