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Episode : 4
“I can’t help but smile when I see you, Freya.”
“…When you see me?”
“Yes. I think it’s because I’m happy I get to see you from the morning.”
With a bright face full of smiles, Raiden beamed at her.
His dazzling smile, paired with blond hair sparkling in the sunlight, was truly a magnificent sight.
“……”
In contrast, Freya’s face was ashen. Her blue eyes wavered as she furrowed her brows and lightly bit her lip.
‘Why… that line?’
To me.
It was definitely a line Raiden said to Astella in the original story. The day they first met, on the path behind the administrative building.
So why was he saying it to her?
‘Something’s different. Astella, and Raiden too—today they both seem strange.’
Freya was confused. Their actions kept deviating from her expectations, leaving her thoughts in a mess.
She was already exhausted just dealing with Astella’s “pushover zone.” If she couldn’t even predict what would happen next, what was she supposed to do?
‘No, it’s too early to jump to conclusions.’
It was just one line of dialogue.
There were still many days ahead. Just because one line and one event were off didn’t mean everything was over.
After some thought, Freya decided to let this situation pass without making a fuss. The best way to minimize variables was to act as if nothing had happened.
“Thank you for your kind words, Duke Betelheim. Since we’ve already lost some time, shall we begin the meeting?”
“Right. It was about the new public security policy proposed yesterday, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
She chose her words carefully, and Raiden accepted them without any particular reaction. The tension around Freya’s lips eased slightly.
‘Thank goodness.’
This really was the right answer.
All those romance-fantasy novels she’d read on her sister’s recommendation—about indifferent heroines and runaway heroines—were actually helping.
As Freya tried to focus on the meeting with a calmer heart, one lingering worry remained in her mind.
‘What if things like this keep happening?’
Today was just one day, but what if it became two days, three days, a week, a month?
Surely not…
‘…I’m just overthinking.’
She forced herself to brush away the ominous thought.
Contrary to Freya’s worries, nothing much changed after that, and no unexpected incidents occurred.
She diligently catered to Astella’s moods and arranged meetings with Raiden, helping their relationship progress.
After two months of effort, Astella and Raiden were safely together, just like in the original story.
Now all that remained was to obtain the approval of the male lead’s mother—the future mother-in-law—and then they could marry. But as expected, Raiden’s mother was an even higher wall than Freya had imagined.
“Freya, what should I do? I think the Duchess Dowager doesn’t like me… I like her so much, though.”
After a few dates with Raiden, Astella came to Freya with a tearful face, having met her future mother-in-law.
“She says I’m not a good match for the Duke and told me to break up with him. But I love him so much…”
“Have you told Raiden—no, Duke Betelheim about this?”
“Yes, of course. He said he’d try to persuade her, but this is because of me, isn’t it? I want to convince her myself. But she won’t even agree to see me anymore. I don’t know what to do.”
Astella’s tears fell in drops. Anyone could see how desperate and heartbroken she looked.
So, the second big event had arrived.
Freya set down her quill and waited for what would come next.
“Could you… meet her in my place, Freya?”
“…Me?”
“Please. Aside from my father and brothers, you’re the closest person to me. You know me well, so please speak kindly to her on my behalf.”
At Astella’s earnest plea, Freya let out a deep sigh inwardly. She’s your future mother-in-law, not mine.
But it couldn’t be helped. Just like in the original story, she had to meet Raiden’s mother and persuade her so they could hurry and get married. In the end, Freya had no right to refuse.
At least they’d made it this far safely. Ever since that day two months ago, nothing had gone off the original track.
“…All right. I’ll meet her once.”
“Really? Thank you so much, Freya!”
Astella quickly wiped away her tears and stood up. As if she’d never cried at all, her face was perfectly clean.
Having finished her business, Astella left the office just like that. How many times had she already done this—asking only for favors and leaving?
Used to the situation by now, Freya shook her head and took out some letter paper from her drawer.
“What should I even write to start this?”
To think the day would come when she’d write a letter to visit someone else’s future in-laws. It made her sigh, but it wasn’t something she could refuse or avoid.
After staring at the paper for a moment, Freya finally moved her hand.
When it came to things like this, it was best to just get it over with. Once she picked up the pen, it didn’t take long to fill the page.
“All right. This should be enough.”
She set down the pen, reviewed the letter once, then carefully folded it and placed it in an envelope.
She melted sealing wax taken from the drawer and stamped it with a seal engraved with a freesia flower, sealing the opening.
All that remained was to go home after work and send it. Dropping the envelope lightly onto her desk, Freya muttered under her breath,
“Life really is…”
Exhausting.
A few days after sending the letter to the Betelheim ducal house to arrange a visit.
Freya received a reply from Raiden’s mother, Savanna, and visited the Betelheim residence on a weekend morning.
“It’s been a while, Freya.”
“…Yes, Lady Savanna. Have you been well?”
Freya smiled as she greeted Savanna, who welcomed her warmly.
In truth, Freya had met Savanna back in their academy days when she’d come to see Raiden. After that, they’d often encountered each other in high society and formed a modest acquaintance.
Although Freya’s family, the Marquis Valche, belonged to a different faction from the House of Betelheim, Savanna didn’t mind. In fact, she took quite a liking to Freya.
Astella knew this too, which was why she had sent Freya to her.
Smiling brightly, Savanna met Freya’s gaze and said,
“I haven’t been well because I couldn’t see our Freya. You’ve been busy lately and haven’t been coming out to social events, have you?”
“Yes. There are many new policies being implemented. Since Ra—Duke Betelheim works so diligently, I’ve become busy as well.”
“Oh my. Since it’s just the two of us, you can call him Raiden comfortably.”
“No, it’s all right. He’s my superior now, and he has become a duke.”
“Freya, you’re always so earnest. That’s why I like you.”
With a light laugh, Savanna gestured toward the seat across from her. Freya bowed her head slightly in courtesy and took her seat.
Soon, a maid poured tea into their cups. The reddish liquid filled Freya’s cup—it was hibiscus tea, with its tart flavor and distinctive herbal aroma.
After the maid withdrew, Freya wrapped her hands around the warm cup.
As Freya paused to savor the scent before drinking, Savanna narrowed her eyes slightly and continued,
“But Freya, I’ve heard that isn’t the only reason you’ve been busy. I hear you’ve been attending to the young lady of the Duke of Vinok?”
“Ah, yes. That is…”
A thorned tone rang in Freya’s ears. Savanna’s face, which had been full of smiles, hardened instantly.
Startled by the sharp reaction, Freya bit her lip.
‘Oh no. I haven’t even brought up the main topic yet—what do I do?’
In the original story, Savanna had looked displeased, but this was closer to anger.
‘She really seems to have a strong aversion to Astella… I didn’t think it would be this bad. Still, I have to say it.’
To marry Raiden and Astella, there was no other choice.
“Lady Savanna, there’s something I’d like to say—”
“Freya. There’s something I’d like to ask of you first.”
Just as Freya was about to speak, watching Savanna’s expression carefully, Savanna cut her off.
“Yes? What is it?”
“Would you marry my son?”
“…What?”
What in the world was she talking about?
