Chapter 60

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 60

Chapter Title: Such a Woman

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"Embarrassed to be seen with her, right?"

One of the maids tossed out the remark, and laughter erupted in a chorus of "Wahaha!"

"Can't blame you. It's just embarrassing Lars's reputation in front of everyone."

With each snide comment piling on, the voices grew louder. The raucous laughter swelled right along with them.

Erna, strolling along the path that led to the back of the palace, came to an abrupt halt beneath a massive tree by the roadside. Lisa, walking beside her, stopped as well.

As their footsteps fell silent, the voices of the servants gossiping by the back door sharpened into crystal clarity. Their conversation had shifted from pitying the prince, who was handling the entire tour alone, and mocking his princess consort, deemed useless even by her husband, to now longing for Princess Gladys.

"Those wenches!"

Lisa, outraged, was about to charge out when Erna grabbed her wrist.

"Lisa."

Erna shook her head firmly. To simply overlook such rudeness? It was an incomprehensible order, but Lisa couldn't rebel. She couldn't ignore the pleading desperation in Erna's eyes.

While the careless chatter continued, the two stayed hidden quietly behind the tree trunk. Unlike Lisa, who struggled to contain her anger, Erna maintained a composed demeanor throughout. It was a convincing act, but it couldn't quite hide the tremor in her gaze or the pallor of her face.

Lisa chewed on her innocent lips and gazed down at the lengthening evening shadows. Another day of their honeymoon slipping away like this. The thought made her own heart ache with sorrow.

Erna had already been left alone for several days now.

Her entire routine in this palace revolved around waiting for a husband whose return time was anyone's guess. If she was lucky, they might share dinner, but otherwise, she was truly alone all day. No gatherings to attend, no visitors calling—nothing but leisurely walks with her maid. It was no wonder the servants, who already disrespected their mistress, treated her with such contempt.

Was this why they'd had that grand wedding? Just for this kind of treatment?

As she stewed in resentment toward the incomprehensible prince, the servants who had gathered by the back door for their break finally dispersed. Only then did Erna release her tight grip on Lisa's hand.

"Look over there, Lisa."

To Lisa, flustered and unsure what to do, Erna spoke first. With a smiling face, whispering as if sharing a grand secret.

Lisa's eyes followed Erna's pointing fingertip and she couldn't help but chuckle, her tension melting away. A chubby squirrel perched on a branch was peering down at them.

"Your Highness has eagle eyes!"

Startled by Lisa's grumble, the squirrel scampered up the tree and vanished into the distance in a flash.

Erna gazed wistfully into the maple woods, then turned back to Lisa with a wry smile. Her upright posture and clear eyes only accentuated the redness around her lids. It was then that Lisa noticed Erna's clasped hands trembling faintly.

She had so much she wanted to say, but Lisa held her tongue. Fortunately, Erna resumed walking, and the awkward silence didn't last long. The quiet patter of their footsteps echoed along the path strewn with red fallen leaves.

Erna merely gave a brief glance to the bench by the back door where the gossiping servants had lingered, then passed through the rear garden without a word. The shortening autumn sun had dipped low, painting the western sky in vivid crimson hues.

"Thank you. You've been such a great help again today."

Erna closed her book and offered her usual smile as she bid goodnight.

"Not at all, Your Highness. It's only what I should do."

The head maid's formal response was no different from always. A far cry from earlier that evening, when she'd praised Princess Gladys before the other servants as the flawless crown princess consort.

"Then I'll instruct them to prepare your bath."

Karen bowed politely and departed, leaving Erna alone.

Night had already deepened, but Biern still hadn't returned.

It had been nearly ten days since arriving in Lars, yet they'd only shared dinner three times—and even that count included the day he'd rested off his travel fatigue. At least today he'd warned her in advance that he'd be very late, which was a small mercy. She wouldn't have to endure the humiliation of waiting eagerly only to be disappointed.

Erna surveyed the unfamiliar room before her gaze settled on the notebook on the desk. Flipping open the blue velvet-bound cover revealed charts she'd meticulously compiled of Lechen and Lars's social connections, based on her own criteria. It was the fruit of laborious questioning of Karen.

She'd given it her all, but the results were disheartening.

Excluding all the noblewomen friendly with Princess Gladys left a pathetically sparse list. And even those were mostly recluses who rarely appeared at any gatherings.

Erna sighed softly at the troubling chart before closing the notebook. Trying to lift her spirits, she started a letter to her grandmother—but it was a poor choice.

I'm enjoying a wonderful honeymoon.

She couldn't think of anything to follow that forcefully penned line. She couldn't burden her grandmother with the harsh truth, yet she had no idea what a "wonderful honeymoon" even entailed. It was utterly frustrating.

After much deliberation, Erna勉强 completed the letter with a few white lies. Her husband was nothing like the rumors—deeply considerate and affectionate. She was receiving far warmer welcomes here than expected. Busy exploring this new world, she was spending happy days and had no need for worry. Imagining her grandmother's joy brought a faint smile to Erna's lips.

Once the letter was sealed, her bath was ready. Though she yearned to be alone, Erna didn't refuse the maids' assistance.

'At least she plays her role in the bedroom. That's something, I suppose.'

The mocking words she'd overheard behind the tree echoed relentlessly, but she endured. She bore the shame of exposing a body marked with traces she didn't want others to see.

She still didn't know what the best course was, but at least she didn't want to run away.

With that resolve, Erna sank into the steaming bathtub.

'When you honeymooned with Princess Gladys, you took her everywhere. Remember? You two were always the shining stars, the perfect pair.'

Perhaps due to the lapping water, unwanted memories sharpened against her will.

Erna stared blankly at the rippling surface before squeezing her eyes shut to block it all out. Unexpected news arrived just as her bath was ending: Biern had just returned.

"Everyone, you're dismissed. Get some rest."

Biern issued the order with a languid smile to the servants who had trailed him to his wife's bedroom. They hesitated, unaccustomed to such a thing, but ultimately withdrew without question.

As the door shut, Biern flung himself onto his wife's bed, having barely removed his coat and jacket. Erna hadn't emerged yet, her bath apparently unfinished.

Lying there staring at the ceiling, Biern let out a quiet sigh. The day had started with lunch alongside Lars's foreign minister, followed by meetings with the bank acquisition team, and capped with drinks with Alexander, Princess Gladys's second brother. A headache-inducing, irritating sequence. The finale had been particularly spectacular.

All three Lars princes doted on their sister, but Alexander was especially devoted. Back when he didn't know her secrets, he'd pestered Biern with pathetic threats; now that he knew everything, he incessantly apologized, begging forgiveness for his sister. Biern tolerated it because the profits from exploiting that pointless guilt were substantial.

Poor things, both of them!

That night, drunk Alexander Hartford had wept pathetically, lamenting the cruel twist of fate that tore apart the perfect couple.

Biern had nearly retorted that it wasn't fate, but his meddling sister and that damned poet. He thought better of it. Arguing with a drunk was pointless. He'd stayed patient only for the gold coins and securities the prince had pledged—quite a satisfactory sum, demanding no less than his uncharacteristic forbearance.

How did you end up with a woman like that?

A chuckle escaped as he recalled the slurred words dripping with pity from the inebriated prince.

Such a woman.

The derogatory label for Erna struck Biern as utterly laughable, especially coming from those who propped up the princess—who'd come to the marriage pregnant with another man's child—as some saintly paragon.

Damn the Hartfords.

Biern sighed slowly and tugged loose his tie.

Lars's royals and nobles were dying to see Lechen's grand duchess, who had outshone their continent's flower, Princess Gladys. But they'd never place such a woman beside the princess. Because he wouldn't allow it.

"Biern!"

As he pulled out his pocket watch from his vest and was about to snap it shut, a now-familiar voice called. Turning his head, he saw Erna emerging from the bathroom. Her bright smile lit her fresh face more radiantly than usual.

Biern smiled back, crooking a finger. Erna hurried to the bedside. In the meantime, he signaled the waiting maids with a glance. They swiftly drew the curtains, dimmed the lights, and withdrew, leaving just the couple.

"Did you drink?"

Standing by the bed, peering down at him intently, Erna tilted her head.

Biern nodded slowly and patted the spot beside him. Erna hesitated before perching cautiously on the edge.

"Are you drunk?"

"No."

He chuckled lowly, pulling his wary wife into his arms by the waist. Sweet, soft scent enveloped him as she tumbled against his chest—a fragrance that melted the sharpness of his day-hardened heart.

Biern pressed the squirming Erna firmly atop him. She stiffened with a jolt but offered no further pointless resistance.

"Did something happen?"

Erna asked cautiously, studying him closely.

"No."

Biern flashed a grin and gave a light reply.

It wasn't a lie.

The day's dealings had yielded massive gains for him and Lechen. Tolerating one pitying brother of Gladys was hardly too much for such a profitable day.

"That's a relief, then."

Though dubious, Erna nodded without pressing further.

"I had a good day too. Today, Lisa and I walked in the woods behind the palace. With Karen's help, I studied Lechen's noble houses and wrote a letter to Grandmother."

With a childlike smile, Erna chattered on about her trivial day like it was a grand boast.

"For tea time, I tried Lars's traditional cake—it was delicious. The almond cookies too. We packed some for the walk and shared with Lisa. Tomorrow, maybe something for the squirrel..."

Biern impulsively kissed her small, babbling lips. Erna startled, wriggling, but escape from his hold was impossible.

As he rolled them over, their gazes inverted in an instant.

Gazing briefly into Erna's wide, questioning eyes, Biern poured forth even hungrier kisses. It was the only answer he could give.