CH 67.1

Spring has finally arrived in the North. Now, the smell of green grass and the chirping of birds that had left during winter returned and brightly colored the Grand Duchy, announcing spring’s arrival in full swing.

On the other hand, her frozen heart could not melt even in the warm sunlight. It was stagnant at midwinter inside her.

Since that day, Anne has told the Grand Duke several times that she would leave, but she was dismissed every time. He gave in to everything she wanted, but not the divorce request

“Madam, let me air the room.”

Emily, who was changing the bedding sheets for spring, pushed the veranda door, wiping the sweat from her brow. Anne was resting her chin on a hand which in turn was on the table by the window, roughly nodding her head in annoyance.

Through the wide-open door, a gentle breeze blew into Anne’s face. Feeling her hair blown by the wind, Anne only blinked her eyes.

A small bird flew in just in time, flapping its wings, and settled on the railing. It jumped around, then flew away.

“That would be nice. It has wings.”

As Anne, who had been drooping helplessly, spoke to herself, Emily folded a blanket and set it down on the floor.

“The weather is nice. Shall we go out for a picnic?”

“Alright.”

Anne let out a deep sigh and nodded her head at Emily’s question. She was frustrated because she felt like she was trapped in a cramped castle.

She got out of the bed for the first time in a while and settled down in a gazebo near the lake. The sunlight broke down, and the green forest swayed pleasantly, fluttering in the wind, giving off a blue light. Then, her frustrated inner feelings began to well up.

“You’ve come this far, are you going to read the book again? You’ve already read that.”

What Emily asked while glancing at the book Anne bought in the Langtenais district. Anne had read it all the way to the end a while ago, so Emily was curious about why she was reading it again.

Anne answered softly, without taking her eyes off the book.

“I like the ending. So I am reading again.”

“Is it a happy ending?”

When Emily, who did not know about it, asked with curious eyes, Anne gently twisted his lips.

“Yes, it’s a happy ending. A very perfect ending.”

“A happy ending. That’s why you’re reading it again.”

When Anne smiled for the first time in a while, Emily, who drank the herbal tea that grew up under the morning dew, smiled softly as well. Anne, unaware of anything, turned her head away from the smiling Emily and lowered her eyes, which had darkly changed, onto the open book.

In fact the book had a sad ending. The book ends with the betrayed female lead thrusting a dagger into the man’s chest. However, that sad ending was the perfect ending for her.

The female lead’s circumstances were unforgivable. Just like how Anne could never forgive the Grand Duke herself. In the book, the female lead killed the male lead with all her resentments, then killed herself. Anne admired her actions.

Whenever Anne was tempted to kill the Grand Duke, she chose to escape into books. What she couldn’t do herself, she was doing in the book. In particular, the last chapter where the female lead stabbed a dagger into the man’s chest was the most refreshing part. She was reading this scene over and over again because it projected her own wishes.

“Madam, don’t just read the book, have some tea and refreshments. This is the most important time.”

Anne, who escaped from her thoughts, blinked blankly.

It was Emily’s job to take care of her after she was pregnant. She made sure to prepare dishes without much seasoning or spices, and prepared only teas that were harmless for unborn children and good for pregnant women.

The tea she was handing her now was not a product sold in the market, but finely dried hibiscus petals grown in their own greenhouse.

Thanking Emily again for her hard work, Anne said as she accepted the teacup she handed over.

“You must have made a lot of effort to do what other maids and handmaids have to do.”

“What do you mean by that? It’s just tea.”

Emily was the only one who took care of Anne, saying that as she was in the early stages of pregnancy, she had to be extra careful. Anne was still keeping it a secret from others.

“You also deliberately prepared this and had less sleep because of me.”

“No. It’s strange that the Miss got married, but you even had a baby… You don’t know how good it is.”

Emily was kind enough that she was talkative, and she was always on Anne’s side. In the past, and even now when they met after a long time.

Anne set the teacup down on the floor and gently scratched the surface with her fingernails. The unique strong scent of hibiscus made people emotional.