Memories of the First Night

On the first night, Esika had been sitting alone on the bed for a long time.

Kalian had not come to the room.

She had stayed up thinking only about this moment, filled with worry and anticipation...

Esika bit her lip slightly.

And finally, she got up from the bed and opened the heavy door.

She thought she had to go find Kalian.

'The cold gaze directed at me... It's bothering me. If he's misunderstood something about me, I should tell him.'

When she heard that her marriage to him had been successful, she was overjoyed.

But from the very first step, the situation was so frustrating... A sigh escaped her.

She stepped out into the hallway after opening the door, and saw one of the servants jump in surprise.

"Where is His Highness?"

The servant answered with a panicked expression.

"Ah, Duchess. Today... he is working in the study because there are too many things to do."

"Is that so? Then, rather than waiting..."

"No, my lady. You must wait."

"What? Why?"

"That is... His Highness..."

The servant rolled his eyes and continued.

"He dislikes the woman who comes to visit without a word."

"...A woman?"

Esika's eyebrows twitched.

"A woman? ...Could it be someone other than me..."

Esika thought about it and shook her head.

Yes, it wouldn't be a big deal if such a handsome Kalian had a few lovers before the wedding.

It seemed he was tired of the women who came to visit without a word.

Looking at the servant's awkward face.

"I see. But..."

Esika seemed to agree for a moment and continued.

"The window in the bedroom creaks every time the wind blows, so I'll go in and check once. I'll stay here for a while while you do that."

The servant nodded at Esika's words.

"Ah... If it's that kind of thing, of course."

And immediately he opened the door and entered the bridal chamber.

Seeing the servant enter, Esika quickly moved her feet.

"...Good."

Even like this, Brigitte was the youngest daughter of the Brigate family.

If I do as I'm told and live, I won't be Esika Brigate of Prihatz.

She left the servant behind and recalled the path to the study.

She had no intention of surprising him by going there.

Just...

"..."

Esika's cheeks flushed as she recalled Kalian's handsome face.

She just wanted to see his face, who had been working on state affairs even on the first day of the wedding.

Since she was only coming to peek secretly, he wouldn't feel displeased.

"I don't think I can sleep like this."

Esika placed her hand on her chest.

Her heart was pounding.

The first night at this place, the noble Klaus family. As his wife, she had come from far Prihatz to here.

So, tonight, at least his face...

"..."

Light was leaking out from the door of the study where the door was slightly open.

And suddenly, a lascivious moan was heard.

Esika stopped her feet.

Her heart started beating violently.

'Was it just a misunderstanding?'

Esika slowly took a step.

One step, two steps, each time the sound became clearer.

"Hmm..."

It was the voice of a thin, slender woman.

She wanted to turn back and run to the room again.

But her damned curiosity pushed her on her back.

When she reached the door, Esika peeked inside and stiffened her shoulders.

A woman wearing a deeply plunging dress and a man kissing her waist tightly.

Because of the intense affection, a pair of red shoes that had been taken off were visible on the floor.

The empire's courtesans wear shoes that show their little toes, and this one also had a hole on the little toe side.

"...Your Highness the Duke."

The woman reached out as if stroking the man's cheek, and the man started kissing the woman intensely again.

Esika slowly turned her gaze.

She couldn't see Kalian's face.

"Since it's the first night, I naturally thought you wouldn't come to me..."

"Being with you is better than having such a woman."

All she saw was the broad shoulders and back of someone who looked terrifyingly similar to Kalian.

Just the same hair color and hairstyle, and the same top she had worn earlier...

'No. That's impossible.'

Esika's steps quickened.

Her lips were trembling.

I shouldn't have looked, it didn't happen.

'Kalian... the man I liked... that can't be.'

Behind her, the woman's voice followed as she walked quickly.

"Hug me..."

Esika stopped abruptly.

Her shadow stretched far ahead.

The end of the shadow was dark and unclear.

Kalian's cool purple eyes from the day the snow was swirling.

And his rough breathing as he mixed with the courtesan.

Everything was signaling that she had to escape from here.

Was it too late? Or not too late? No, it was too late.

Esika's tightly clenched fist trembled.

Hot tears flowed down her cheeks.

If she were a more wise and strong woman, she could have acted.

But Esika just stood there as if her feet were rooted to the ground.

'If I stop here... the reputation of our family will be ruined...'

Father and brother would pat her shoulder and say she did well, but she could no longer be the proud daughter of Brigate who is loved.

'......This failure cannot be undone.........'

Tears fell to the floor.

Her fluttering heart shattered like broken glass.

She placed her hand on her chest.

'And I... Kalian...'

It felt like hundreds of nails were driven into her heart.

Because today she realized that she might never be loved by the person she had loved for a long time.

'......But Kalian is good. I want to be by his side.'

Esika started walking forward after a long time.

Tears blocked her view, so she couldn't tell the direction, but she still walked.

She was full of the desire to jump from a high place and die right away.

'My heart hurts too much...'

"..........."

Esika opened her eyes.

The ceiling of her room came into view.

This place where she had returned from the infirmary.

"..............."

Esika, who had gotten up from the bed, stretched lightly.

It seemed she had dreamed of that day for the first time in a while.

The day of the wedding, which she would never forget for the rest of her life.

The corners of her lips twisted bitterly and coldly.

In the evening, Sella approached Esika, who was combing her hair.

Since she had received sufficient compensation for her sister's work, she no longer needed to work, but Sella had decided to stay by Esika's side for the rest of her life.

She had expected the landscape of the Klaus family to change, but...

"Duchess..."

In Sella's hand was a note.

She handed it to Esika.

"A while ago... His Highness the Crown Prince summoned me."

Esika's eyebrows twitched at that.

Esika received the note from Sella.

"She was bowing her head, and asked if I was the duchess's maid. When I answered yes, she seemed to be thinking for a moment..."

Sella recalled the incident from earlier.

The crown prince visited the Klaus mansion about once a week.

It seemed to be to inspect troops and supplies related to the war.

This time too, after finishing the audience with the duke, he was about to leave, but suddenly stopped in front of Sella and spoke to her.

And a while later, he handed her a folded note.

Sella felt her knees tremble at the moment their eyes met with the bright golden eyes.

The war madman of Turesian... What reason did such a terrifying person have to bring a note to the duchess.

"I was told to deliver this to you."

"His Highness the Crown Prince said?"

"Yes. Do you know His Highness the Crown Prince, Duchess? It was really scary... I almost wet myself. How can a person's aura be so ominous..."

Sella shuddered and made a gesture as if she had chills.

Well, normal women would find it scary.

Esika unfolded the note.

There was one sentence written with a pen.

Esika's eyebrows hardened at the note's content.

'Why suddenly this?'

They had only exchanged a brief conversation, so it couldn't be considered friendship.

The royal family would come and receive the family, but... Leo always told Esika not to come out, and I stood next to Kalian to receive the royal.

I was wearing a maid uniform and came out, so he must have guessed something.

Moreover... there was no reason to see each other's faces.

"Duchess..., isn't this an ominous content?"

Sella, who seemed to have been properly scared by the crown prince, asked with a worried expression.

"Just some useless talk."

"What? Really?"

She said she was busy with war every day... but it wasn't that?

I thought she was quite free lately.

Esika moved her internal energy with her fingertips to burn the note.

And in an instant, the note turned black, and another word appeared from the note that was turning black.

"......?"

At the moment when the note burned to ashes and the paper collapsed, Esika's pupils fluttered greatly.

"Duchess?"

Sella called out with a worried voice at Esika's suddenly hardened eyebrows.

Esika looked at the ashes that had fallen at her feet with cold eyes.

This note was made expecting that Esika would burn the note with internal energy from the beginning.

Moreover, the word Hasets that appeared in an instant could only be seen by those with excellent insight.

'What is he trying to say to me. Or is it just a joke?'

Hasets... It's definitely the name of a known region.

When I recalled that place name, my head suddenly throbbed.