Under this moonlit night, an untimely hearing was held in the front yard of the beautiful Duke’s mansion boasting a castle-like grandeur. The maids and knights, who were preparing for the Madam’s funeral, constantly asked Laritte if she was ‘real.’
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“Is that really our madam?”
“Not! It’s clear I’m dreaming right now…!”
“Madam is already dead… What the hell is going oonn—! Sniff!”
Laritte had to explain for half an hour that she wasn’t the legendary enchanted ghoul and that Ian wasn’t crazy to bring a woman who looked like her, and that the employees weren’t hallucinating as a group because their grief had reached the limit.
In fact, it was easy enough for the employees to misunderstand.
How many frightening tales have been inspired by the dark night that the attention-grabbing minstrels have created? After all, right now, it was a long night before dawn! It was even more so because they were preparing for a funeral, so the torches were lit as if something was about to happen.
The knights and maids, who had barely resolved the misunderstanding, touched Laritte’s hand and came to believe that their Madam had truly returned.
Alice and Irene, Laritte’s dedicated maids, clung to her just like Ian and Olivia had hugged her before.
Alice cried.
“Madam, how…how sad I was… I don’t know if my heart was empty.”
Irene also rubbed her forehead against Laritte’s arm as she spoke, “Even if I go through my life, I will never be able to describe it in words! It is obvious…!”
Laritte laughed awkwardly.
Everyone was so welcoming… This was unexpected.
It didn’t mean that she didn’t want to see it. However, in County Brumeier, the relationship between the master and the employee was so strict that it made her wonder how they loved her so much.
Alice found her rag handkerchief, even in the darkness, wiping her tears away.
“Sniff! How much did I love you… You can never go anywhere again!”
Laritte replied shyly.
“I love you, too.”
At those words, Alice poured out tears of emotion.
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'
She said she loved me!
Irene was no different as well.
She loved her! Then, me?
“Madam, what about me? Me?”
At that moment, a knight, covered in tears and runny nose, suddenly asked a question.
“But, how did Madam come back to life…?”
Laritte recalled the description Ian had given her earlier in the mansion. They said she was brought back to life thanks to Olivia and Seta returning with the magic of dragons before she died ‘by dragon standards’…
She remembered what Seta had said confidently.
“Thanks to Astrit’s remaining magical power, your body will be healthier than ever! I’m sure you would have a longer life expectancy.”
Laritte clasped her hand.
A mixture of torches and moonlight gave off a strangely colored light. There was absolutely nothing wrong, even though her heart stopped for a few days. Her characteristic pale, dry appearance was still there. Though the mind follows the body… She felt good, too.
“…How did I come back to life?”
When Laritte was about to be honest, Ian walked down the path in the front yard and came right behind her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and gazed in front of them. It seemed that he was still out of his mind with the excitement and euphoria of having regained his wife, but he was seemingly neat.
He falsely explained the situation to the employees.
“It turned out that Laritte was in a state of suspended animation. All her functions were weakened, and she looked like she was dead… In fact, Olivia accidentally discovered an ancient remedy and left to get the medicine.”
While it was plausible, he explained it by using words that people could understand.
Why was he lying?
To explain why Laritte became ill and came back to life, they needed to unravel the dragon’s unique information, and Seta forbade it.
“Don’t tell many people about the flow of magic or the knowledge of dragons! If it goes into the Head’s ear, I will die!”
…He said that.
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'
Anyway, Olivia’s devotion was the truth.
The employees murmured with guilt.
“We didn’t even know that, and we only cursed because that person suddenly disappeared.”
“We talked behind her back that she didn’t even have the least amount of affection as a parent… What should I do…”
Olivia saw the twinkling eyes that turned to her as she followed the Ducal couple out of the mansion, so she got burdened by it. She wanted to hide in a rathole, but Seta said he would leave and tell Icar about this, so she trembled alone at the awkwardness.
Ian looked at Olivia in the dark yard.
“So, I have a suggestion for you.”
He wasn’t close, but his low voice was clearly audible.
“How about being treated as Duchy Reinhardt’s Master’s mother-in-law?”
“…What?”
Ian was embarrassed to repeat it, so he folded his arms and looked towards the mansion. Even though it was so dark, the mansion had the least amount of lights turned on from the corridor and the interior environment behind the curtains. Everything was dark.
It used to only add to despair until Laritte woke up, but now even the darkness of the mansion was like a quiet and warm garden where fairies sleep.
Olivia’s shame was nothing, as she had significantly contributed to Laritte’s recovery.
Ian moved his mouth again.
“I will give you fame and wealth as you wish. You can stay at the Duke’s residence. I will ask His Majesty Oscar to give you the title of Viscount for a plausible cause.”
“That’s, that’s enough. To save my daughter and wish for material things…”
“Why did you live in the little house I gave you? Maybe, it was because it could be helpful to Laritte. Then, are you going to wander aimlessly as planned?”
Ian felt deep gratitude to her even now, even when he was not in a difficult situation.
Still, Olivia saw Laritte standing below Ian’s gaze.
“It is not something I would accept to be the Duke’s mother-in-law… If I have a conscience, I cannot do that to my daughter.”
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'
He was holding back his smile.
Did she not know Laritte?
Could she not have grasped the meaning behind Laritte’s contemplation of what to write to Olivia in this letter?
All of Ian’s sharp, agile and sensitive nerves were always directed towards Laritte. Even with her inorganic appearance, it was easy to understand what she thought of Olivia in her subconscious mind.
Laritte asked for information she was unaware of.
“Were you originally planning to leave?”
Olivia twisted her hair.
“That’s what…”
As Laritte shared letters with her, she was able to guess what Olivia faced when Laritte was a child—of course, that Olivia wasn’t ready to have a child and that she was forced to get pregnant… Also, even if she lost everything because of Laritte, she would have been a good mother to Laritte.
However, wasn’t the worst one Count Brummeier?
A biological father who forcibly embraced a dancer, then violently assaulted Laritte, and later dumped her into the possession of a ghost duke. To treat her on an equal footing with a count like that… It was a little strange even for Laritte to think about.
“Don’t leave… And as Ian said, be treated as the mother of the Mistress of this family.”
“Wh, what?”
Laritte’s expressionless face brightened in the burning torch. It was a warm light that represented her feelings.
“I have to pay the price I owe my life. Well, it’s the money that Ian earned, not me, so if you need it, don’t worry about it and spend it plentifully.”
At Laritte’s own joke, Ian nodded his head thoughtfully.
All of his colossal fortunes, of course, belonged to Laritte. So, no matter how she spent the money, he had nothing to do with it.
‘…Can I stay with my daughter?’
Olivia was a woman with a conscience. But today, if she were a person, she would try to no longer be a nuisance to Laritte.
‘But now, if I ignore my conscience again… I can be with Laritte.’
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'
Even if the devil offered the sweetest offer in the world, nothing could shake her more than this. Moreover, it was also the right time to rationalize that she even revived Laritte. Eventually, an unknown strength made Olivia nod.
The employees each gave a small cheer as they held their breath, watching Olivia and the couple.
Then, Olivia spoke to Ian.
“Still, I will decline the offer to stay in the Duke’s residence.”
“What? Why…?”
Of course, Olivia could have done the rest of the atonement by staying by Laritte’s side.
However…
The next moment, she gestured for Ian to come over before whispering in his ear so that Laritte couldn’t hear her.
“It’s so tactless to be in a newlyweds’ house that is starting to burn.”
At that, it was Ian’s ears that burned. He couldn’t say anything and trembled a little.
This… this…!
Olivia laughed with a parents’ mischievous face telling them to go make grandchildren as Ian’s mind suddenly began to imagine a night with Laritte.
No. Stop…!
Meanwhile, Laritte shrugged her shoulders as they whispered to each other and saw Ian startled. She glanced around.
‘By the way, where is Butterfly?’
Somehow, the white cat, like Laritte’s child, that had been close to her until she died, was now nowhere to be found.
“Ian, what about Ravizenis? Why haven’t I seen her since before?”
As Ian tried to shake off the naughty thoughts, he put a dark expression at Laritte’s words.
“Ah, that…”
His words trailed off.
Under this moonlit night, an untimely hearing was held in the front yard of the beautiful Duke’s mansion boasting a castle-like grandeur. The maids and knights, who were preparing for the Madam’s funeral, constantly asked Laritte if she was ‘real.’
Sponsored Content
“Is that really our madam?”
“Not! It’s clear I’m dreaming right now…!”
“Madam is already dead… What the hell is going oonn—! Sniff!”
Laritte had to explain for half an hour that she wasn’t the legendary enchanted ghoul and that Ian wasn’t crazy to bring a woman who looked like her, and that the employees weren’t hallucinating as a group because their grief had reached the limit.
In fact, it was easy enough for the employees to misunderstand.
How many frightening tales have been inspired by the dark night that the attention-grabbing minstrels have created? After all, right now, it was a long night before dawn! It was even more so because they were preparing for a funeral, so the torches were lit as if something was about to happen.
The knights and maids, who had barely resolved the misunderstanding, touched Laritte’s hand and came to believe that their Madam had truly returned.
Alice and Irene, Laritte’s dedicated maids, clung to her just like Ian and Olivia had hugged her before.
Alice cried.
“Madam, how…how sad I was… I don’t know if my heart was empty.”
Irene also rubbed her forehead against Laritte’s arm as she spoke, “Even if I go through my life, I will never be able to describe it in words! It is obvious…!”
Laritte laughed awkwardly.
Everyone was so welcoming… This was unexpected.
It didn’t mean that she didn’t want to see it. However, in County Brumeier, the relationship between the master and the employee was so strict that it made her wonder how they loved her so much.
Alice found her rag handkerchief, even in the darkness, wiping her tears away.
“Sniff! How much did I love you… You can never go anywhere again!”
Laritte replied shyly.
“I love you, too.”
At those words, Alice poured out tears of emotion.
Sponsored Content
'
She said she loved me!
Irene was no different as well.
She loved her! Then, me?
“Madam, what about me? Me?”
At that moment, a knight, covered in tears and runny nose, suddenly asked a question.
“But, how did Madam come back to life…?”
Laritte recalled the description Ian had given her earlier in the mansion. They said she was brought back to life thanks to Olivia and Seta returning with the magic of dragons before she died ‘by dragon standards’…
She remembered what Seta had said confidently.
“Thanks to Astrit’s remaining magical power, your body will be healthier than ever! I’m sure you would have a longer life expectancy.”
Laritte clasped her hand.
A mixture of torches and moonlight gave off a strangely colored light. There was absolutely nothing wrong, even though her heart stopped for a few days. Her characteristic pale, dry appearance was still there. Though the mind follows the body… She felt good, too.
“…How did I come back to life?”
When Laritte was about to be honest, Ian walked down the path in the front yard and came right behind her. He placed his hand gently on her shoulder and gazed in front of them. It seemed that he was still out of his mind with the excitement and euphoria of having regained his wife, but he was seemingly neat.
He falsely explained the situation to the employees.
“It turned out that Laritte was in a state of suspended animation. All her functions were weakened, and she looked like she was dead… In fact, Olivia accidentally discovered an ancient remedy and left to get the medicine.”
While it was plausible, he explained it by using words that people could understand.
Why was he lying?
To explain why Laritte became ill and came back to life, they needed to unravel the dragon’s unique information, and Seta forbade it.
“Don’t tell many people about the flow of magic or the knowledge of dragons! If it goes into the Head’s ear, I will die!”
…He said that.
Sponsored Content
'
Anyway, Olivia’s devotion was the truth.
The employees murmured with guilt.
“We didn’t even know that, and we only cursed because that person suddenly disappeared.”
“We talked behind her back that she didn’t even have the least amount of affection as a parent… What should I do…”
Olivia saw the twinkling eyes that turned to her as she followed the Ducal couple out of the mansion, so she got burdened by it. She wanted to hide in a rathole, but Seta said he would leave and tell Icar about this, so she trembled alone at the awkwardness.
Ian looked at Olivia in the dark yard.
“So, I have a suggestion for you.”
He wasn’t close, but his low voice was clearly audible.
“How about being treated as Duchy Reinhardt’s Master’s mother-in-law?”
“…What?”
Ian was embarrassed to repeat it, so he folded his arms and looked towards the mansion. Even though it was so dark, the mansion had the least amount of lights turned on from the corridor and the interior environment behind the curtains. Everything was dark.
It used to only add to despair until Laritte woke up, but now even the darkness of the mansion was like a quiet and warm garden where fairies sleep.
Olivia’s shame was nothing, as she had significantly contributed to Laritte’s recovery.
Ian moved his mouth again.
“I will give you fame and wealth as you wish. You can stay at the Duke’s residence. I will ask His Majesty Oscar to give you the title of Viscount for a plausible cause.”
“That’s, that’s enough. To save my daughter and wish for material things…”
“Why did you live in the little house I gave you? Maybe, it was because it could be helpful to Laritte. Then, are you going to wander aimlessly as planned?”
Ian felt deep gratitude to her even now, even when he was not in a difficult situation.
Still, Olivia saw Laritte standing below Ian’s gaze.
“It is not something I would accept to be the Duke’s mother-in-law… If I have a conscience, I cannot do that to my daughter.”
Sponsored Content
'
He was holding back his smile.
Did she not know Laritte?
Could she not have grasped the meaning behind Laritte’s contemplation of what to write to Olivia in this letter?
All of Ian’s sharp, agile and sensitive nerves were always directed towards Laritte. Even with her inorganic appearance, it was easy to understand what she thought of Olivia in her subconscious mind.
Laritte asked for information she was unaware of.
“Were you originally planning to leave?”
Olivia twisted her hair.
“That’s what…”
As Laritte shared letters with her, she was able to guess what Olivia faced when Laritte was a child—of course, that Olivia wasn’t ready to have a child and that she was forced to get pregnant… Also, even if she lost everything because of Laritte, she would have been a good mother to Laritte.
However, wasn’t the worst one Count Brummeier?
A biological father who forcibly embraced a dancer, then violently assaulted Laritte, and later dumped her into the possession of a ghost duke. To treat her on an equal footing with a count like that… It was a little strange even for Laritte to think about.
“Don’t leave… And as Ian said, be treated as the mother of the Mistress of this family.”
“Wh, what?”
Laritte’s expressionless face brightened in the burning torch. It was a warm light that represented her feelings.
“I have to pay the price I owe my life. Well, it’s the money that Ian earned, not me, so if you need it, don’t worry about it and spend it plentifully.”
At Laritte’s own joke, Ian nodded his head thoughtfully.
All of his colossal fortunes, of course, belonged to Laritte. So, no matter how she spent the money, he had nothing to do with it.
‘…Can I stay with my daughter?’
Olivia was a woman with a conscience. But today, if she were a person, she would try to no longer be a nuisance to Laritte.
‘But now, if I ignore my conscience again… I can be with Laritte.’
Sponsored Content
'
Even if the devil offered the sweetest offer in the world, nothing could shake her more than this. Moreover, it was also the right time to rationalize that she even revived Laritte. Eventually, an unknown strength made Olivia nod.
The employees each gave a small cheer as they held their breath, watching Olivia and the couple.
Then, Olivia spoke to Ian.
“Still, I will decline the offer to stay in the Duke’s residence.”
“What? Why…?”
Of course, Olivia could have done the rest of the atonement by staying by Laritte’s side.
However…
The next moment, she gestured for Ian to come over before whispering in his ear so that Laritte couldn’t hear her.
“It’s so tactless to be in a newlyweds’ house that is starting to burn.”
At that, it was Ian’s ears that burned. He couldn’t say anything and trembled a little.
This… this…!
Olivia laughed with a parents’ mischievous face telling them to go make grandchildren as Ian’s mind suddenly began to imagine a night with Laritte.
No. Stop…!
Meanwhile, Laritte shrugged her shoulders as they whispered to each other and saw Ian startled. She glanced around.
‘By the way, where is Butterfly?’
Somehow, the white cat, like Laritte’s child, that had been close to her until she died, was now nowhere to be found.
“Ian, what about Ravizenis? Why haven’t I seen her since before?”
As Ian tried to shake off the naughty thoughts, he put a dark expression at Laritte’s words.
“Ah, that…”
His words trailed off.
