Chapter 24: New Husband
That night’s dinner was decided to be eaten by Friedrich, who had freshened up in the bath, and Andrea, along with all the relatives.
It was the first time that he had eaten with such a large number of people. Liddellina had always eaten alone, and Sam was not there. It seems that he had really been driven out.
Liddellina doesn’t know what happened to him, and doesn’t want to know when she remembers Friedrich’s sword dance from earlier.
Even though he doesn’t remember the names of the servants, his feelings towards them as precious people have not changed.
She finds some relief in that; the servants here are capable, simple, and kind people. Was the Friedrich from before, who surrounded himself with such people, really a good person? Liddellina doesn’t know much about her husband.
Friedrich pushed Hannah, who was trying to sit next to him for some reason, aside and made Liddellina sit down. As a result, the gaze of the relatives was painful. Despite having no memory, Friedrich has already begun to distance himself from the relatives.
Disgust flew around the table. The relatives insisted on living here, and the dinner was a poor one, but Liddellina was not in the mood, but Friedrich and Andrea ate well regardless of the situation.
“This lamb meat is delicious.”
As if he had never eaten before, Friedrich said,
“All we had on the battlefield was dried meat. Freshly grilled meat is the best.”
Tony breaks his face. In between, O’Neill pointed to Liddellina and said,
“How long are you going to keep this woman?”
and Friedrich almost kicked him out of the house.
Suddenly, Liddellina felt very cared for, Liddellina has nowhere to go.
The next morning, Andrea left for the capital.
Friedrich slept well or has a refreshed expression.
“Liddellina, let’s go to the office together.”
Liddellina shook her head lazily.
“If I’m treated specially, O’Neill-sama and Franny-sama will be angry. First, please check with my husband’s eyes. After that, I will answer the questions.”
She didn’t know what the relatives would say. Liddellina refused.
“I see…”
He looks disappointed. However, she is not swayed by Friedrich’s appearance.
When she returned to her room, she started packing her belongings. She doesn’t know when her husband’s memories will return. It would be bad if Liddellina lived in the mansion at that time. She decided to move to a separate mansion immediately. She thought the castle was a temporary residence and packed only the minimum, but it unexpectedly increased and it took unexpectedly long to pack.
Then, loud footsteps were heard in the hallway. It seems that someone is running. Maybe the relatives are causing a fuss again.
“Liddellina! Liddellina!”
She opened the door in a panic at Friedrich’s voice.
“Husband, what’s the matter?”
“Why, Liddellina. Why are you trying to leave?”
“What?”
Next to this Friedrich, a maid was standing and looking at the two of them worriedly. She must have told Friedrich about Liddellina’s packing.
“It’s a misunderstanding. I’m just moving to a separate mansion now.”
“What? Why do you need to move to a separate mansion? I thought you didn’t come to the bedroom last night because you thought I was tired, but you…”
He looks at her with eyes moist with sadness.
“What are you saying loudly? Please come into the room first.”
Liddellina turned red. She asked the maid to prepare tea and invited Friedrich into the room.
“Husband, please calm down and listen.”
Then, Liddellina told him about their married life, why they are living in the castle now, and why they are returning to a separate mansion.
“If that’s the case, is our marriage…”
“If you want to say it, it’s close to an employment contract.”
“In other words, a white marriage?”
“That’s what it is.”
Before white, a complete employment contract.
“S-So, have you already made another lover?”
“No, I haven’t. I’m busy with work on the territory, so I don’t have time for that. Rather than that, please come to the office and properly check the documents.”
Liddellina pushes Friedrich out of the room like a child, trying to calm him down and push him out. It would be a disaster if the relatives disrupted the office again while he is relaxing here.
However, he doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to leave the room.
“If you are checking the documents, most of the urgent ones have been settled. Moreover, I had time during this trip here, so I read your letters. I understand the situation of the territory from that. You were in a hurry to supply firewood for the subjects, and you called a craftsman from the capital and worked on the hot spring facilities, and you worked hard for the territory. When I read the letters you sent me, I was impressed that I had such a wonderful wife. You were investing your own money in starting a new business.”
“If it fails, it will be a loss of tax revenue for the territory.”
Liddellina says it as if it were natural.
“So, Liddellina, could you leave the divorce papers you showed me the other day with me? Even if I say I don’t remember writing them, there is no credibility, but the more I think about it, I can’t believe I would do such a thing. Looking briefly at the office, it seems that I valued my own territory. I wouldn’t want to divorce you, who treated it equally. Or is it something that you demanded of me because you have grown tired of me?”
“No, it’s not like that. However, I still think it would be better for me to be in a separate mansion for when your memory returns.”
“Why?”
He asks, trying to cling to her again. Liddellina subtly shakes him off. While feeling perplexed, she is gradually getting used to his treatment. If she keeps getting agitated, she will lose both her body and mind.
“Um, husband, you extremely disliked being touched by me.”
“What? That’s a lie!”
Friedrich was surprised with wide eyes. It’s strange how his ice blue eyes, which seemed so cold, now seem warm.
“Therefore, my husband, who has regained his memories, should feel offended when he sees me living here. And it would be unpleasant if it seemed like I was taking advantage of his lack of memories. So please, let me go to the separate residence.”
“Liddellina, I understand your feelings.”
It seems that he has come to understand, and that is good.
“I will seal the separate residence under my name.”
“What?”
“That way, it will serve as proof that I am keeping you here of my own volition.”
“Why would you do that?”
I don’t understand.
She asked Friedrich to refrain from sealing it off, as there is a hot spring management. In the end, Friedrich added in writing that Liddellina is in the main building of his own volition.
“Liddellina, do you have a knife?”
“Yes.”
As soon as she handed it to him, he cut his finger.
“Ah! Husband! What are you doing!”
“I put a blood seal on it so you don’t have to worry.”
“No way…”
Liddellina’s consciousness was about to fly due to her husband’s extreme change in behavior from one extreme to another. A blood seal document is disturbing and feels unpleasant. Or is this common sense for a soldier?
“Also, these collected belongings go in my room.”
“I’m not taking it!”
She firmly stopped Friedrich from trying to take them.
If a will arrives from the capital, he is sure to change as well.
He said that he would not have a child with Liddellina and adopt instead. However, he said that he would choose from relatives, the adopted child possibly being Sam.
