“Do… Do you have some business with me?”

I tried to stop it, but my voice is shaky. That was embarrassing and frustrating.

The man took a step forwards in silence. Me and Daniella twitched in reaction.

The man looked like he was about to laugh at us, but I didn’t have time to worry about that.

“Justina Bartoshek. I shall have you die.”

“..! Daniella!!”

I’m glad my voice works. No matter how disgraceful it is.

With that as our cue, Daniella and I turned on our heels and began to run.

It was a good thing that we were in the shallow part of the woods. The open area to the mansion is just ahead of us.

However, if I am the target, wouldn’t it be better to run away separately? If I do that, that would at least save Daniella, right? But what should I say while frantically running around like this? Is the man alone? He doesn’t have other allies?

It’s all getting so hectic. The landscape, and my mind.

I feel something pulling me from behind. “Lady Justina!” Daniella sorrowfully screamed so. “Run!!” I screamed too, but Daniella doesn’t know that I said it to my own legs.

Will… Will I die? No way. Come on, I haven’t given birth to Alfred yet. What about the story? Esther, Alfred.

No, I can’t let that happen. No way, no way, no way.

I’m still…

“Edward!!!”

I don’t know why I screamed the name of my husband while thinking about Alfred.

I don’t know anything. So.

“Justina!!”

I heard Edward’s voice, a loud voice, and someone screaming. The many footsteps are echoing through the quiet forest.

Then, before I could notice, I was in the arms of my husband.

I was held with great strength. Tightly, warmly.

When I looked up, green eyes were looking down on me with worry.

Yeah, it’s okay now.

As I thought so, my consciousness fell away.

When I woke up, I was on the bed in my own room, and Daniella was crying with joy.

Daniella wasn’t hurt, so I was relieved. When I said so, Daniella replied with a serious expression: “Before you can sneak into the master’s room, let’s practice so that you can run a bit faster.” She said I was too slow to overlook. I was pretty frantic too though, you know.

“What happened to that man?”

I got up and straightened my posture to ask so, but Daniella shook her head sideways.

“I do not know. The master and the soldiers came right away, then they gained control, surrounded him and took him away. The master carried you to the room, left the rest in my hands, and departed.”

“I see… Still, I wonder how it was that my husband was able to run there so fast? Was he close by?”

“The grounds are regularly patrolled by the soldiers, and the garden has a variety of fruiting trees and mushrooms in case of a siege. The soldiers gather time and time to give lessons on whether they are edible or not and how to gather them, so it may have been one of those days.”

“…Does my husband do that too?”

“Of course, it is his garden.”

I learned of my husband’s unexpected survival skills.

While we were drinking tea, talking and relaxing, Renee came over, which was unusual.

What a caring gentleman. I am grateful for the visit.

When I nonchalantly called him in like that, a bomb was dropped on me by Renee with a worried look on his face.

“His Excellency says that we are going to war against the royal family. What should we do?”

“But why!!?”

I replied completely honestly.

“Husband! Husband!? Calm yourself down!!”

I hurried to my husband’s office and clung to him, begging.

As he was being clung onto by me (he almost pulled me off immediately, but I never took my hands off his clothes), he turned a reluctant face to Renee.

“Come on, it’s Justina’s family, right? I think it would be better if we talked with her instead. It definitely wouldn’t end well to wake up one morning and find out that your husband attacked and wiped out your family. Besides, considering Lady Justina’s reaction after, it would be much more peaceful to tell her beforehand. Even Your Excellency wouldn’t want to go to war with Justina right after going to war with the royal family, right?”

What a caring gentleman..!

I give a grateful look to Renee, who has made my husband unable to continue.

Renee, without his usual smug face, bowed his head to me, and left the office after saying: “Your Excellency, I beg of you.”

…Mhm, it’s not me who he cares about, but Edward, right?

Renee looked back to my husband through the door as he left with complicated feelings.

My husband also had a complicated expression on his face.

“…Was it the royal family that sent the man to kill me?”

I regained my composure, sat down on the sofa in the office and faced him across the low table.

My husband nodded his head in discontent.

Why would he do that? I shook my head sideways twisted my head.

While I was collapsed, my husband poked at the offender. The royal family was humiliated that they were forced to give up the princess as a sign of good faith after their blunder. It would be hard to call my husband a war hero after he couldn’t protect his precious princess who was almost robbed of her life inside the estate. I heard that he wanted to restore the current balance of power.

I’m sure he’s no fool.

“I don’t know what to say to you to apologize any more…”

“Now, I understand well the relationship between you and the royal family. There’s no need to apologize for anything.”

“I am very grateful to hear you say that, but… You’re thinking that it won’t end with this, yes?”

My husband averted his eyes without replying.

“I am very sorry…”

“I said there’s no need to apologize.”

“No, my mere existence is causing you trouble, so…”

The royal family forced the disgrace that is me onto the Liditz family and even tried to worsen the situation.

It really sucks.

The royal family won’t accept it, so I can’t divorce. The quickest solution for Edward would be to lock me up somewhere and hide me away.

Or he could just take my life here and now and make up a fitting cause of death.

I can’t stop my mouth from twisting. Even though this isn’t fun at all.

Ah, Justina from the novel. How did you die?

I wonder what you thought about such an awful life.

“Justina.”

“Yes.”

Edward called out to me.

Ah, that’s right. Won’t you at least give me Alfred before you lock me up in a villa somewhere?

If you do that, then I can freely…

“What do you want to do?”

“…Huh?”

That was unexpected. Then, I realized that this is the first time I’m being asked something like that.

“If you stay here, I will do anything to protect you. I don’t really recommend it, but if you want to return to the royal family, then I shall also do my best. There was an attempt on your life, and there may be more in the future. What do you desire? As a husband, I shall let you do as you want.”

His eyes, looking directly at me. He looks like he cares about me.

He recognized my will.

Ah, again, this man…

How much will he give me? How much can I…

“I… I…”

I choke. My chest hurts. My vision is blurring.

“I… I want to be your wife…”

A tear rolled down my cheek.

My desire. My wish. Until recently, all I wanted was Alfred. Why am I like this..?

“I love you…”

I’m sorry, I know that my wish is only a nuisance for Liditz…

I’m sorry, I’m sorry Alfred. I know that you were all I had.

I desired. I wanted. So much that I can’t cover it up any more.

Behind my eyelids that I couldn’t stop from closing, it felt like Alfred laughed.

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<Chapter 7
Chapter 9>