Chapter 27
In the north, the weather was quite harsh during winter. Usually, the deceased would be buried in the ground immediately when the funeral was held.
The Rubelin lands were frozen solid in wintertime so the citizens would usually dig some graves in the village cemeteries in advance. When someone died, they would just bury the deceased in the pre-prepared grave.
However, since the cemetery plot for Albert was not prepared in advance, Albert’s body was to be placed in the underground catacomb cemetery of Rubelin Castle until the ground melted when spring came. The funeral was attended by Richard, Elisha, and all of the Rubelin vassals.
“Lastly, let’s pray for the deceased’s soul.” The priest, who came to lead the interment, recited the last prayer.
Elisha held her hands together and closed her eyes until the prayer was over. When she opened her eyes again, she felt strange looking at the coffin in front of her. The man who constantly questioned her values and abused her mentally had finally died.
Of course, she wasn’t sad at all. However, she didn’t feel relieved either. ‘I feel like this even when I’m not biologically related to Albert. I can’t imagine how Richard feels.’
Richard was the only Rubelin descendant left in this world. Now, like what he had been wishing for, he could seek revenge as much as he wanted.
‘But, will he feel relieved and satisfied with that?’ Elisha glanced up at Richard. Like always, no emotions could be seen on his indifferent face. He showed neither joy nor sorrow at his grandfather’s death.
‘When he was young, he would act crankily and subtly express his feelings in front of me. But now, he didn’t express any feelings at all. Like a person who never felt anything in the first place. The war was so terrible. It can change one’s personality completely.’
Nonetheless, Elisha understood the young Richard well. She had spent her childhood with him. Perhaps, that was the reason why she felt so awkward upon seeing the grown-up Richard returning to this mansion.
‘But I won’t feel like that anymore. Even after he grew taller and his personality changed, Richard is always Richard. My closest family member and my precious childhood friend. The one who cares about me while pretending to be indifferent.’
To Elisha, Richard was like that. So, she felt sorry for him. ‘We’d better put off the divorce issue for a while.’ When Richard returned and she became an adult, she was going to ask for a divorce right away, but she changed her mind.
Due to Albert’s death, the internal affairs of Rubelin were a bit chaotic. Looking at the current situation, Elisha thought that she should stay longer and wait until things have stabilized.
‘I can’t stay in my villa due to the repairing process anyway. So, it’s good that I have a place to stay until this summer.’
During the funeral, Elisha sorted out the nagging thoughts in her mind and organized her future plan.
The funeral ended in a solemn atmosphere. Elisha and Richard sent the vassals off and went up to their rooms. Richard’s bedroom was on the right side of the stairs while Elisha’s newly assigned bedroom was on the left.
In front of her room, Elisha thought for a while and headed to Richard’s room instead. She knocked on his door and called for him. “Richard?”
Richard opened the door for her. There was still no emotion reflected in his eyes. Elisha made eye contact with him for a moment. Then she slowly approached him and hugged him. She could feel that Richard became stiff at her touch. Nonetheless, he didn’t push her away.
“I- I just feel like giving you a hug.”
Due to their physical difference, it seemed like Elisha was one who was in his arms instead. Nevertheless, Elisha tried to give him a big hug, as much as she could. “You did well.”
Elisha’s small hand patted his wide back gently. As if she knew his real feelings. Richard’s eyes were shaken by the small, warm being that offered him comfort.
After being stunned for a while, he slowly raised his arms to return the hug. But at that moment, Elisha released herself from the hug. Richard’s hands stopped in midair awkwardly.
Not noticing his hanging hands, Elisha smiled and said, “Have a good rest.”
Richard’s eyes were on Elisha’s receding back until she entered her room completely. Only then, did he remember that Elisha didn’t share the room with him anymore. He grew accustomed to sleeping with her and forgot about it.
Richard fiddled with his hand, longing to hold Elisha. Just now, he regretted missing the chance to enjoy his wife’s warmth. He wanted to be with her. However, he couldn’t come up with a plausible excuse anymore since Albert, the one who had been forcing them to sleep together, was no longer around.
Although they were a married couple, Richard could only watch his wife entering a separate bedroom. After staring at her room for a while, he entered his bedroom in resignation.
*****
After a long time, the emperor invited Marquis Felice to a luncheon. While cutting the red juicy steak, he brought up the recent news about Rubelin. “You must’ve heard it already, marquis. The news of Albert Rubelin passing away.”
“Yes, he died just in time, as if he had been waiting for his grandson to come back first.”
“In the end, Rubelin fell into Richard’s hands.”
Marquis Felice’s hands, which were cutting the steak, paused at the emperor’s words. The emperor had wanted to kill Richard before he became an adult, so Marquis Felice tricked him into joining the war.
However, Richard didn’t die from the war. He became more widely known as a war hero instead. And now, he even took over the Rubelin Dukedom. The emperor blamed Marquis Felice for his unsuccessful plan.
“Recently, there are many people who choose to settle down there because they enforce accommodating policies for the outsiders that move there. It seems that they are building up their influence little by little.”
The emperor was very displeased with Richard, who went straight back to Rubelin, ignoring his sincerity to bestow upon him the award for excellent accomplishment in the war. It indirectly implied that Richard might rebel against him one day.
Thus, he had been paying attention to the latest news regarding the northern land more frequently. He heard that the northern lords, who used to reject the outsiders, came up with new policies recently.
The new policies were quite accommodating toward the outsiders. The changes were led by Elisha, who managed the land on behalf of previously bedridden Albert.
‘I thought she was just an insignificant little girl. She is more useful and wiser than expected.’
Increasing the population of the territory. It was the surest way to develop the military strength, capital power, influence, and everything else that would solidify power.
Nevertheless, other lords did not use that method because it was difficult to control the risky variables that arose from accepting outsiders. Nevertheless, Elisha was able to control those variables excellently.
Marquis Felice personally despised Elisha because he thought that Elisha arrogantly stole the limelight from his daughter. He also hated the fact that the Rubelin’s power and influence were growing smoothly and quickly.
“Yes, I already heard about it. The duchess is pretty good at managing the land resources.” Recognizing the emperor’s concerns, he slyly raised one corner of his lips and said, “However, Your Majesty does not have to worry much about it. I already prepared something in advance.”
*****
Ann walked across the hallway with a tray of snacks. The sunlight from the window was warm. Winter had already passed, and spring was coming slowly to Rubelin.
Arriving in front of the office, Ann knocked on the door. Soon after, Elisha’s voice was heard. “Come on in.”
Ann entered the office with the snacks. In the office, Richard, Elisha, and Argyll, who became Richard’s aide recently, were discussing the territory affairs. Ann put the snacks she brought in front of Elisha and Richard.
Elisha smiled and thanked Ann for her hard work. “Thank you, Ann.” Then, she continued her discussion with Richard again.
“Since last year, the Hagen lords have been reducing tariffs in return for providing technology to study the resources of Mount Esmeralda in the north.”
The ground melted as spring was approaching. Thus, the exchanges between inside and outside the territories had increased, and as the year began, there was a lot of work to be done.
Leaving the territory for seven years, Richard was out of touch with the current issues of land management. Thus, he had been learning about all the aspects from Elisha, one by one.
‘You two really look good together.’ Ann smiled pleasantly as she watched Richard and Elisha.
In her entire life, Ann had never met a woman who was as smart and beautiful as Elisha. And Richard was the strongest and most handsome man she had ever seen.
Watching the couple sitting side by side and working together, she was convinced that they were a match made in heaven.
Ann wasn’t the only one who thought this way. Argyll, who was handing over documents to Richard, was also smiling just like Ann, looking at the couple.
‘But……Milady……’ Knowing Elisha’s intention to divorce Richard, Ann’s expression darkened again. She remembered her promise to follow Elisha till the end.
She doesn’t regret it, because she believes that Elisha will do well in whatever she does and wherever she goes.
Still, it was a pity for Elisha to leave the safety of the Rubelin mansion and Richard.
Suddenly, Ann recalled a letter in her pocket. She forgot to hand it to Elisha a while ago. “Oh, Milady, this letter was delivered a while ago.”
“Thank you.” Elisha looked noticeably happy when she saw the crest on the letter seal. It was the crest of the Count of Arden.
Richard frowned upon recognizing the crest. “The Count of Arden?”
“Remember when we were in the capital and went to the banquet held by them? I befriend their son.”
“……why did he send you a letter?”
“Oh, I asked him for a favor.” Elisha opened the letter with an excited look.
{To my dear old friend, Elisha.
Elisha, by the time this letter arrives, it has already become spring in the north, right? The weather here got warmer earlier than expected, so I ordered the workers to hasten the repairing process. The repairs will probably be completed by next month so you can start preparing to move in soon. May this good news reach you with a warm spring breeze.
Your best friend, Ansel.}
To aki: will {…} cause a problem when uploaded to the website too? If it is, please change it to […] instead.
A smile bloomed on Elisha’s face as she read the letter. Richard’s expression became subtly stiffer when he saw it. He tried to sneak a peek at the letter’s contents. But, it was hard to do so from his seat.
“This is the last document for today.” Argyll said as he received the document signed by Richard.
‘It’s time to talk about the divorce.’ Elisha thought as she put the letter back into the envelope. She was determined to discuss it seriously with Richard.
‘If I tell him earlier, it’ll be easier since we have more time to prepare and organize things accordingly.’ “Richard, do you have a minute? I have something to tell you.”
Argyll and Ann immediately went their separate ways. Only Elisha and Richard were left in the office.
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s not urgent, but I think we should talk about it in advance.” Elisha, who was trying to bring up the topic of divorce, was suddenly at a loss for words. She couldn’t find the right words due to her mixed emotions.
It wasn’t simply a divorce between a man and a woman. It also meant a farewell to her precious childhood friend, who had been with her for eight years.
Her heart was overwhelmed with loneliness and emptiness as she was about to speak about the divorce.
But, regardless of her feelings, it was something that she should talk about anyway. Looking at Richard, who was still waiting for her words, she cleared her throat and opened her mouth.