49 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
Alisha, Bride of the Grand Duke of Tessen 49
Reikart returned to the residence late at night.
A weary look lingered on his expressionless face.
He dismissed his attendants and headed to his room alone.
As he passed the study and walked toward his room, the door opened behind him.
A warm presence echoed with the sound of the door.
"Your Highness."
The coldness faded from his tired face.
"Aren't you asleep yet?"
Reikart said, turning to Alisha.
Seeing his weary face soften, Alisha smiled back.
"I was waiting to have a snack."
Alisha carefully touched his cold hands.
"Let's do that."
Reikart reluctantly allowed himself to be led to the study by her hand.
"I have something to confess. I bought fourteen sofas today. It's not like I did it on purpose..."
Inside the study, Alisha's voice echoed as she spoke about the things she had been half-pushed into buying by Henrik today.
Her voice was full of guilt.
Reikart's voice, as he replied while drinking tea, was indifferent.
"Well done."
Alisha explained each item she had bought.
Each time, Reikart praised her, saying she had done very well.
A warm night was passing.
#9. Confession
The world shone pure white. Radiant light poured down from all directions.
It was like being in a celestial realm.
In the middle of the light, a red carpet was laid out.
On the luxurious red carpet was a beautiful table.
Reikart was sitting in front of the table.
Next to Reikart was Alisha, wearing a veil.
The next moment, a soft chime resonated solemnly.
A dream.
Reikart knew he was dreaming.
He stared frustratingly at the gold-rimmed marriage certificate in front of him.
He felt himself in the dream unhesitatingly pick up the quill.
The Reikart in the dream signed the pure white marriage certificate.
Swish, swish.
The sound of the quill scratching against the paper echoed.
The marriage certificate was passed to Alisha.
Alisha received the quill with an innocent face, knowing nothing.
...No!
Reikart shouted, as if he were a child, even though he knew it was all a dream.
The Alisha in the dream did not hear.
The scratching sound of the quill was only cruel.
Alisha, having finished signing, turned to Reikart and smiled.
It was a smile purer than the pure white world.
An immaculate and harmless smile.
Reikart swallowed his anguish as he looked at the pure white dream.
His heart pounded as if it would burst.
Helplessness, sadness, intense self-loathing, disgust, anger, and irritation quickly struck him.
Again, a long chime rang out.
Morning dawned in the pure white dream.
Reikart, waking up in the morning, turned to the space beside him in the bed.
He, in the dream, spoke to his bride, who was sleeping as if she knew nothing.
'Alisha.'
She could not be there.
'Alisha?'
The idiot in the dream whispered, as if puzzled.
He was truly a hopeless idiot.
The blanket, which had risen to the pillow in search of the beautifully smiling bride, was thrown back.
'Alisha!'
The bride was not there.
Where Alisha should have been, a skeleton in a dress was lying.
"...!"
The real Reikart startled awake.
Sitting up abruptly, he gasped for breath.
Rough breaths were exhaled from his mouth.
His shoulders heaved as if he had been sprinting, not just woken up.
His back, exhaling rough breaths, was damp with sweat.
A skeleton in a dress.
The bleak memory from the dream would not leave his mind.
That was Reikart's secret.
The shame that he and the Imperial Family were trying to hide.
Reikart composed himself, suppressing the creeping pain.
When staying in Imperial Capital Baden, Reikart usually visited the Imperial Palace early in the morning.
Today, Reikart went to the dining hall late.
It was unusual for him to stay at the Grand Duke's Residence until late morning.
Alisha's mornings were busy.
Just getting ready and deciding on her daily schedule took up all her morning time.
Reikart invited Alisha to breakfast.
When the two of them ate, he left the head of the table, the seat of honor, empty and sat facing Alisha.
That seemed to be the greatest consideration the Grand Duke could give to his betrothed.
The morning was peaceful.
After the meal, the plates were cleared away.
As the teacups were being placed, Reikart called out to Alisha.
"Alisha."
"Yes."
"You may return to Ludern now. I think that will be sufficient. Thank you for your efforts so far."
Reikart finished speaking and picked up his teacup.
It was a sudden dismissal.
It was as if he was saying she could go home now, but for some reason, it felt like hearing a farewell.
"Thank you for allowing me to stay here."
Alisha was taken aback, but she spoke properly without stammering.
"Your, Your Highness."
It was Henrik who stammered.
He, who had been attending to Reikart's side, was bewildered by the unexpected change in the situation.
"Henrik. Have the lady's belongings packed and sent to her."
Reikart neatly ignored the words calling out to him and only said what he had to say.
"Yes... Due to the recent purchases, it may be difficult to pack everything at once."
Henrik emphasized that there were many items.
"Send what has been packed first, and pack the rest and send it later."
Reikart concluded in a tone that suggested there would be no difficulty.
"Yes..."
Henrik looked back and forth between Reikart and Alisha with a look full of regret.
Alisha only tilted her teacup, as if she had not heard anything.
Reikart put down his empty teacup and said,
"Inform Turen."
"...!"
A slight crack appeared on Alisha's face, which had been calm until now.
Her expression quickly returned to normal, but it was difficult to completely hide the wavering.
Alisha took a breath without taking the teacup from her lips.
It was not easy to forcibly smooth out her furrowed eyebrows.
"I will inform them."
Henrik, who had been watching for a chance with a look of regret until just now, spoke with a gloomy face.
There was not a shred of expectation left on his turning face.
"Alisha."
Reikart rose from his chair.
Alisha also put down her teacup and stood facing him.
"Your Highness."
A nonchalant word was given in response to Alisha's reply.
"Farewell."
Reikart turned and left.
Alisha went to the side of the table and bowed to the Grand Duke.
Alisha, bowing, fixed her gaze on the floor, and Reikart walked straight ahead.
Alisha only straightened up when his footsteps were no longer audible.
It was time to return to Ludern.
The Grand Duke's Residence fell into deep sorrow.
The prospective Grand Duchess, who had been bringing in numerous lavish outsiders, was suddenly leaving the residence.
Most worrying of all was that the Grand Duke and the prospective Grand Duchess, who had seemed so close until yesterday, seemed cold to each other.
Since the Grand Duke was acting particularly coldly, the returning reaction was bound to be cold.
His reaction today was not strange.
It should be said that the Grand Duke's gentle reaction until yesterday was special.
Everyone in the Grand Duke's Residence sighed.
The one who fell into the greatest sorrow among them was Baron Langse Henrik.
Henrik's face was gloomy as he watched Alisha's carriage.
"Lady."
"Henrik. Thank you for your consideration, even though I have been bothering you for a while. Please give my regards to the others at the Grand Duke's Residence."
Alisha, who had come to board the carriage, had a bright face.
As Alisha finished speaking, Daisy, who had been preparing beside the carriage, handed a heavy pouch to Henrik.
"I will speak well to the servants."
Henrik took the pouch to one side.
"I would like to convey my gratitude for your hard work and send my regards in person, but my position does not yet allow me to do so."
"I understand the Lady's words well."
Henrik replied with a slightly relieved face and handed Alisha a list of the items that had been packed.
Henrik's work was thorough and almost without mistakes.
Alisha handed the list to Daisy without checking it separately.
"Stay healthy until we meet again. Please contact Ludern anytime when the remaining items are packed."
"I hope the Lady will also be well. I will contact you soon. Daisy, please take good care of the Lady. I hope you will also be at peace."
"The same to you, Baron."
The three exchanged light greetings.
"By the way, Henrik. Is His Highness going to Turen?"
Alisha said casually before getting into the carriage.
Henrik smiled and shook his head.
"No. The lord of Turen is staying near Baden."
"I see. I was wondering if it would be alright for His Highness to travel such a long distance. Please contact me if there is anything you need."
"His Highness should know of the Lady's concern. I thank you on behalf of His Highness. Farewell. I will see you again soon."
Henrik closed the carriage door with a more relieved face than before.
Alisha and Daisy waved to Henrik, who showed no sign of going inside.
Seeing the two's greetings, Henrik also waved enthusiastically.
Alisha and Daisy waved out the window until they could no longer see each other, and Henrik could not go inside until the carriage was out of sight.
The carriage running on the main road was quiet.
There was no expression on Alisha's face.
Neither a smile nor a frown.
A coldness flowed from her expressionless face, but she was simply lost in thought.
Daisy did not disturb Alisha, who was lost in thought.
It was only when Ludern was getting closer that she broke the silence.
"Milady."
Alisha realized the chocolate that had come to her lips with a sweet smell.
Since when, Daisy had been carrying individually wrapped chocolates and handing them to Alisha one by one.
It seemed to be used to wake Alisha up when she was deep in thought.
"Thank you."
Alisha ate the chocolate right away.
"Would you like another one?"
"Yes. Contact the sewing teacher and ask her to visit with new designs."
"Yes."
Alisha nodded at Daisy's reply.
Alisha focused on the sweet chocolate melting in her mouth.
"I wonder how many mistresses my father has?"
Her face, lost in thought, blurted out a sudden question.
It was not a question asked expecting an answer.
"He doesn't have any these days."
Daisy answered without hesitation.
Alisha looked at Daisy with a surprised face, as she had not expected an answer at all.
"..."
Alisha's surprised face was full of questions.
Daisy, how do you know that?
Daisy answered as if she could read minds.
"To live in the Marquisate, you have to be well-informed about the family news. The Marquis only had mistresses seven or eight years ago."
Alisha nodded with a dazed face.
Just then, the carriage stopped.
It seemed they had arrived in Ludern.
Even as she got out of the carriage, Alisha was lost in thought.
About each person's life.
About mistresses.
In the life where Grand Duke Tessen was welcoming his sixth Grand Duchess, he had been embroiled in a brief scandal.
It was a rumor that Grand Duke Tessen and the Countess of Luaire were having an affair.
The lord of Turen was none other than Count Luaire.
Haime, located an hour away from Imperial Capital Baden by horse, was a secluded place.
Once, it was lined with villas of Baden nobles and nobles trying to enter Baden, but now the bubble had burst and only a few residences remained.
The briefly bustling city still hid the second homes of many wealthy people.
Therefore, workshops and ateliers dealing in luxury goods that did not match the scale of the quiet streets were located there.
A boxy carriage sped down a street lined with elegant buildings.
The carriage, which had no markings to identify the owner's status, headed to the oldest street in Haime.
"We have arrived."
The boxy carriage stopped in front of a residence with rounded curves.
"Wait here."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Reikart, who got out of the carriage, headed to the residence.
