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Chapter 06
“Why can’t you even be half as good as your sister?”
The mother said irritably, looking at the crying Eda.
Eda was hugging her bleeding knees, sobbing.
The village boys only bullied Eda, never Yudelin.
A silver-haired woman and her two daughters had suddenly appeared in the village.
The village children instinctively sensed the weak one. And so Eda was tormented wherever she went.
“It’s because you’re stupid. You can’t do anything but cry.”
Her older sister Yudelin scolded her with a pout. Eda weakly turned her head toward her sister.
A beautiful girl with radiant silver hair was glaring at her.
“If it weren’t for you, Mother and I wouldn’t be this annoyed.”
Yudelin said with a sigh. Eda, afraid of being abandoned, just shed tears drop by drop.
“Yudelin, don’t say such things.”
The mother whispered softly. Then Yudelin said,
“I know. I just said it because I was so angry.”
“……I understand how you feel.”
Understand what? That Eda is the source of their annoyance? That was probably right. Her mother always sighed whenever she looked at Eda.
“Mother. I’ll take care of those brats, so don’t worry. I’ll make sure they never dare touch her again.”
A smile spread across the mother’s face at Yudelin’s words.
“Ah, if I have one greatest blessing, it’s that I gave birth to you.”
The mother embraced her daughter and laughed. Eda became a complete stranger in that space, watching the mother and daughter. What kind of bond did her mother and sister share?
A father’s two daughters. Born three years apart, they had spent that much longer together. A relationship of sharing life’s burdens and leaning on each other.
Her mother loved Yudelin, and smiled generously whenever she saw her.
But whenever she looked at Eda, her face always darkened. She always looked at her with a worried expression and sighed.
Eda, though shrinking back, held no resentment toward her mother. It was only natural that her mother disliked her.
How beautiful her sister was compared to her own shabby self. Sometimes even Eda was astonished.
Even though they clearly resembled each other, something about Yudelin was different.
She was vibrant and charming. In every village they wandered through, people fell helplessly for Yudelin.
Especially when she played an instrument and sang, all the village men became her captives.
Lovely Yudelin. Always bright and beautiful Yudelin. Yudelin, who had no fear of being abandoned by their mother.
Eda wanted to become her sister Yudelin.
Just then, Eda’s knee stung. It was a wound from falling while trying to run away. If she said she was hurt, she’d get scolded even more, wouldn’t she? Eda thought as she touched her scraped knee.
Because Yudelin was better than herself, who only cried and was a hindrance. If she became like her sister, wouldn’t Mother also say she was happy to have given birth to her? Wouldn’t she smile?
Of course, Eda’s wish never came true.
‘Survive even if you die.’
They parted through death.
Eda opened her eyes. Her first thought was that her hips were throbbing. As she sat up, she saw her swollen body.
The white sunlight streaming into the bedroom was dazzling.
Eda rubbed her eyes with her hand and gasped. Her wrist was mottled with bruises.
“You’re awake?”
Eda flinched at the voice she heard and nodded. Realizing she was naked, Eda covered herself with the blanket.
Seeing that, Astaldo furrowed his brow. His fierce face frightened Eda even more. When he frowned, he always looked terrifying, as if he could kill someone.
“Now that we’ve shared our bodies, the marriage will be recognized. Nothing will change.”
At Astaldo’s words, Eda understood. So this was why they had shared their bodies—to get the marriage recognized.
“Do I… have to inherit the wife to receive the title…?”
Eda said in a hoarse voice. Did that annoy him? He furrowed his brows and stared at Eda’s face.
“Yes.”
Eda nodded. There was no bitter aftertaste.
Eda had wandered and sung songs of youth and love, but through marriage, she came to realize that loving each other and having relations was something that only happened in fairy tales.
This man would be the same. So it was fine. It was truly fine. Even if this man was the first person she had ever been with. Truly.
Astaldo looked at Eda’s face and said,
“Just what happened to that voice of yours?”
“Because of poison…”
“Damn it.”
When a curse finally escaped his lips, Eda was startled. Seeing Eda trying to retreat back under the covers, he said,
“I’m sorry.”
Sorry? For what? Because he’d realized that the metallic sound in her voice wasn’t just from a cold, and now he was going to throw her away?
But Eda couldn’t voice such questions. Even if not, it would be an unattractive question, and if he said yes, she’d obviously be kicked out.
“To do this to a body that’s been poisoned…”
Eda realized his gaze was directed at her body. And that he was referring to the intimacy they’d shared yesterday.
“That was a long time ago, really.”
It was true. To apologize for having relations when her body wasn’t even currently weakened by the poison—that apology was far too gracious.
“And besides, this is my duty.”
I hope you never feel burdened. Eda desperately wanted to say that.
I am someone unworthy of your precious apology.
“You are, nothing… no, never mind.”
Astaldo had Eda sit on the edge of the bed, then sat in front of her and quite carefully wiped her body.
Eda was at a loss at his kindness.
After slowly wiping her body for a while, he suddenly rested his chin on her thigh and looked at her face.
It reminded her of some wild beast he’d once tamed, and she was flustered.
His fierce gaze seemed to pierce right through Eda’s face.
Angry-looking brows, a straight nose bridge, sun-darkened skin. This frightening man opened his mouth with an expressionless face.
“Eda.”
“Yes?”
“Eda.”
“Yes.”
“Eda.”
The voice that kept calling her name was surprisingly soft.
Why was this man so kind? Had we met somewhere before? Of course, we had greeted each other at the Grand Ducal Castle, but…
Eda was afraid of this unfamiliar man.
“Rest a little more.”
Still, it wasn’t a bad morning after her first time.
As if those words were magic, Eda lay back down.
Eda didn’t notice that her knees were now wrapped in bandages, nor that her sore knees no longer hurt.
When Eda finally came to her senses and got up late, an appetizing meal was laid out before her.
Eda picked at her food. She thought she should eat more since she might be sent away, but her stomach churned.
“Does it not suit your taste?”
The maid beside Eda was a woman she’d never seen before. She was a woman with striking carrot-colored red-gold hair and freckles.
When Eda quietly nodded, the food was cleared away.
“You must have a small appetite.”
When Eda nodded, a smile returned. Eda was bewildered by this kind of kindness; it was new to her.
“Who are you?”
In response to Eda’s question, the maid answered warmly.
“My name is Clodel. My brother is a knight under Lord Astaldo—I mean, His Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Ah…”
“I came here with my brother this time. Do you not like me, by any chance?”
“Oh, no, not at all.”
“Thank goodness! I almost got kicked out.”
The maid smiled brightly at Eda’s words. She seemed like an outgoing, talkative woman. People like this usually came to dislike me quickly, though…
“Where is His Highness the Grand Duke?”
“He seems busy preparing for the title succession ceremony.”
Eda’s heart ached. Preparing the clothes for the title succession ceremony was the wife’s duty. As expected, it seemed this man had no intention of treating Eda as his wife.
Eda swallowed those feelings and said,
“What should I do?”
“What do you mean, my lady?”
“There must be things I need to do.”
She knew that Ingrid had handled tasks before—managing the household and supplies, planning events, banquets, and festivals at the Grand Ducal Castle.
She’d also gone up to the capital with Ivar and played the part of the Grand Duchess quite well.
In contrast, Eda only ate meals like a bird’s portion, stood beside Ivar, and quietly massaged his shoulders.
Or she’d be Ivar’s plaything, or take Ingrid’s venting and get beaten. Well, things like that.
She was prepared for it.
