Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 32

“I don’t know.”

Eirik, feeling almost obsessive about righteousness, didn’t want to mention that his name was used as a curse in the Principality of Sidate.

As he stroked her hair, he said, “Anyway, we are family now, so you can feel free to be dependent on me and share your feelings anytime. Just two things, though.”

His deep blue eyes, shadowed by the flickering candlelight, stared intently at her. He continued, “First, you must remain faithful to me. This is very important.”

“Yes,” she replied quickly.

“Second, remember that we always stand on the same side. As much as I am, so are you,” he continued.

Life on the battlefield had been harsh, making him skeptical of human nature. He had seen enough immoral acts born out of survival instincts, ignorance, and twisted beliefs. Among the worst were betrayals from those he trusted. Because of this, he had little tolerance for deceit and treachery among his allies.

He believed he wouldn’t be disappointed by any irrational behavior or excessive emotions from Miesa as long as she remained faithful.

“Yes.”

“Do you truly understand?”

“I think so.”

Miesa nodded, as she should, since they were on each other’s leash, but her eager response made Eirik realize she might not fully grasp the significance.

“Perhaps my meaning and yours are still different. I hope one day they will align,” he said, kissing her forehead. “You must be tired. Get some rest.”

He laid her down on the bed, pulled the blanket over her, patted her gently, and naturally embraced her as he closed his eyes.

After a few days of sleeping far apart, having him close again made Miesa feel relieved, and she closed her eyes as she nestled into the blanket.

She understood that he was trying to explain something sincerely. While it was enough for him to treat her well on the surface, he might genuinely be a kind-hearted person deep down.

Maybe he was an extraordinarily generous person. If anyone could be his wife and be treated this well, it wouldn’t be wrong for her to enjoy this fortune.

She managed to alleviate some of the doubts and guilt that had been weighing on her heart. She decided to treat him well.

In the soft blanket, she wiggled her toes. The thoughts that had been noisily rejecting him in her mind fell silent.

***

Eirik and Miesa’s outings continued regularly. Following Margravine Cladnier’s insistence, Gella accompanied them every time. Gella was simply thrilled by the frequent, albeit inexplicable, excursions.

“Madam, is this really alright?” Edil asked cautiously after seeing them off.

“What do you mean?” Margravine Cladnier raised an eyebrow.

“Well, with the young master is a man, having such a young woman constantly by his side…”

“Have you seen how Eirik and that woman interact?” Margravine Cladnier scoffed. But Edil persisted, even after they moved to the sitting room.

“Wouldn’t it be better to have a proper young lady from a respectable family as the young madam’s maid instead of someone like her?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Margravine Cladnier waved her hand dismissively. “Miesa is his wife. Do you think anyone else would catch Eirik’s eye?”

Edil was at a loss for words.

“Have you noticed how much more lovely and beautiful Miesa has become lately?”

“Sorry?”

“She’s still thin, but she’s put on some weight. Check with the kitchen to see what she likes to eat.”

Edil’s face turned pale. It seemed both the young master and the young madam were bewitched by that woman.

Despite her unease, Edil kept a close eye on the princess’s activities. The princess continued to frequent the maids’ workroom, and the maids took care of her with familiarity.

“Young madam, please stay still for a moment.”

The maids had crafted a bib in the shape of flower petals. They had evidently put great effort into it, and from her position near the door, Edil could see that it looked quite good.

As they tied the bib around the princess’s neck, the otherwise madwoman began to tear at it. However, the commoner woman who’s also a doctor intervened.

“Young madam, you look just like a fairy. Please keep it on.”

“Right? Doesn’t it look pretty on her, Gella?” The maids laughed amongst themselves until they noticed Edil and quickly stood up.

“Mrs. Edil.”

Edil forced a smile, masking her disapproval. “You all are working hard. Gella, you are here too?”

“Yes. Look at the young madam. Isn’t she lovely?” Gella pointed to Miesa with the bib and asked for Edil’s opinion.

“Well, I’m just worried it might choke her.”

“Do you think so? Then should we show it to the Margravine?” Gella asked innocently, knowing well who held the real power in the household.

Edil could only smile, knowing that the Margravine would indeed be delighted.

Night has come. Eirik, after ensuring Miesa was comfortably in bed, opened his safe to check the correspondence within.

The topmost letter concerned Mrs. Maleca. It seemed she had been lying low since Miesa’s fall from the balcony, but now she appeared to be making moves, having just returned from an outing today.

There had been no reports yet from the knights monitoring House Crispin. With hardly a moment’s respite, Eirik furrowed his brow as he sensed movement from the bedroom.

As he lifted his head, he saw Miesa hesitantly approaching.

“Can’t sleep?”

“No,” she replied, glancing at the desk nervously. Eirik understood what she was contemplating.

“Feel free to look at the desk. Would you like to sit on my lap as before?” he offered with a smile. But Miesa remained rooted a few steps away.

“I’ll speak from here.”

It seemed she had something on her mind. Eirik nodded, encouraging her to continue.

“I’ve been thinking a lot.”

“Yes, dear?”

“I don’t dislike you anymore.”

For her, it was a significant confession, but for him, it was an unexpected blow.

“You disliked me?”

“I don’t dislike you anymore.”

“So, after much thought, you now merely ‘don’t dislike’ me?”

He couldn’t believe his ears and had to clarify several times. This wasn’t what he had expected.

“Wait, dear. Miesa.”

Eirik stood up and walked briskly toward her. Surprised by his sudden movement, Miesa stepped back.

“Are you angry?”

“No. I’m not angry.”

He was just incredulous. Eirik took her hand and met her gaze.

“Let’s go through this step by step. Why did you think you disliked me?”

“……”

“Alright. How about when I hold your hand and touch your head like this? Does it make you uncomfortable?”

Miesa hesitated before shaking her head.

“No.”

“Do you have to think about it before answering?”

He looked up at the ceiling in exasperation.

Thankfully, his previous answer to her question about why he was kind to her had been neutral; otherwise, things could have turned disastrous. Moreover, judging by her constantly blinking eyes, she seemed unaware of how her words sounded to him.

“It’s not uncomfortable, but I thought it was unnecessary.”

“…I see. Well, that makes sense.”

Though the situation was baffling, his wife was different from others. Very different. Calming himself, Eirik turned his attention back to Miesa.

“Still, it’s good to know you neither dislike nor feel uncomfortable around me.”

He fiddled with her small hand, adding, “And I appreciate you sharing this great revelation with me immediately.”

“It’s not a big deal.”

Though she wasn’t being sarcastic, her innocent smile made him laugh.

Shaking his head, Eirik asked her, “Do you have anything else to say? Shall we go back to bed?”

Miesa glanced at the desk, her lips twitching. She seemed eager to explore. Given that she had previously looked through the papers without causing issues, and he had emphasized mutual trust, Eirik readily allowed it.

“Go ahead and have a look. Just don’t tear up any papers on the left.”

“I don’t need to tear them up anymore.”

That was a relief. Sighing deeply, he sat back in his chair.

“What are you curious about?”

Miesa picked up a few documents, quickly scanning them before moving to the next page.

“Have you finished reading already?”

It was his first time seeing her read documents. Watching her eyes move rapidly across the pages, Eirik was astonished.

“Yes. Did you have Maleca followed?”

Eirik instinctively raised the corners of his lips into a faint smile, contemplating his answer to her question. He wasn’t sure how Miesa would react to the fact that he was keeping an eye on the royal maids.

“Yes,” he replied briefly.

Miesa moved on to the next document without pressing further.

“So, the Duke of Salachez is no longer significant?” she asked.

“The last duke’s illegitimate son survived. He will be inheriting the title,” Eirik explained, watching her closely.

But Miesa had already lost interest in Salachez, focusing on the next document. After thoroughly examining the papers, she finally asked, “I’ve seen everything now. Will you show me more tomorrow?”

“If you wish, anytime.”

“Do you still have a lot of work left?”

“Just need to finish this up.”

Not wanting to stand idly by, Miesa politely asked, “May I sit here and watch?”

“As long as you don’t spill any ink,” Eirik replied, lifting her gently onto the desk. He then began composing instructions to be sent to the butler.

Watching his neat handwriting, Miesa’s thoughts were a whirlwind. She disliked that Eirik had placed someone to watch over Chief Lady-in-Waiting and Mrs. Maleca. She feared that expressing her displeasure might cause him to distance himself, or worse, stop showing her the documents.

People who treated her kindly never lasted. They either left, exhausted by her behavior, or became outraged by the injustices she endured and took unnecessary actions. The latter was more troubling, as it often ended in death.

Observing Eirik’s actions, she couldn’t help but think,

He probably won’t live long. What should I do?