Chapter 57
After I Died, My Little Groom
Looking back on how Heinrich used to be, it had always been like this—
“I’ve made a suggestion, so you decide. Take it or leave it.”
And if it was something necessary, he’d order it as if it were only natural.
Considering Heinrich’s status, that was to be expected, and Nadia hadn’t thought much of it.
Maybe she’d felt a little hurt, but that was all.
But now, with Heinrich acting as though he’d sulk if she refused to help him, the feeling was… strange.
Especially since his face was still so expressionless.
“…If it’s a burden, you don’t have to listen.”
“But why are you asking me?”
“You remind me of my wife, my lady. You’re wise, and you don’t hesitate to risk yourself for others. I think you’d make a similar decision to hers.”
When Nadia hesitated, Heinrich turned his gaze aside and began to walk.
Nadia, who was taking his escort, suddenly stopped, her arm tugged lightly.
Had Heinrich kept walking, she might’ve been dragged along—but he didn’t.
He halted as if he had been expecting her to stop, lowering his gaze—two palms’ worth of height—to meet hers.
“…”
His red eyes glimmered like garnets under the sunlight. Nadia had always liked Heinrich’s eyes—
she’d once thought there were no jewels in the world more beautiful.
But now she began to understand why others feared them.
His polite manner was human, but his unwavering gaze was as sharp as a hawk’s—calm for now,
yet never truly still, as though always ready to strike.
Heinrich wanted something from Nadia.
What? Just… words of advice?
Without realizing it, Nadia dropped her gaze.
She knew she was avoiding him, but couldn’t help herself.
How could she feel fear toward the boy she had sworn to protect?
The confusion made it hard to breathe.
At the very least, she needed to do something about the way he was staring.
“I… don’t know if I can offer you proper advice, Your Grace,” she said softly, “but I’ll try.”
“Then, please.”
Thankfully, Heinrich lifted his chin slightly, widening the distance between them.
He wasn’t not looking at her—but even that small relief let Nadia breathe again.
“My wife was someone both affectionate and strict about rules,” he began.
“If her family had asked her for money, no one would have objected if she’d taken some from the Baldwin estate and given it to them.”
“But that wouldn’t have been right,” Nadia replied.
Heinrich gave a short, knowing laugh.
“Yes. She didn’t. The only money she ever sent came from her own private allowance.
Back then, I thought it was only natural to do the right thing.
But now that I look back, I realize—she was an unusually principled person.”
And you, who were the most stubborn little boy alive, dare call someone else rigid,
Nadia nearly laughed out loud but managed to restrain herself.
“Sometimes I wonder,” Heinrich continued quietly, “what my wife ever gained from marrying me.”
“The Baldwin Duchy is an honorable house,” Nadia answered quickly.
“To be its duchess is a glorious position. Surely she gained much already.”
“Do you truly believe that?”
The way he asked—like he could see straight through her—made it impossible for Nadia to continue pretending with hollow words about honor or glory.
Heinrich waited, but when she kept her lips pressed shut, he didn’t press further.
“My wife was loyal,” he said after a pause. “So I assumed she sacrificed herself for the family’s sake.
That’s why, whenever her relatives asked for aid, I gave them money.
Whether that would have made her happy or sad, I couldn’t tell.
I just repeated what she had always done.”
“…”
“What do you think, my lady?”
The moment he asked, a gust of wind swept through—
grass bowed low at their feet, and Nadia’s hair whipped across her vision.
Not long ago, she’d boldly tripped Becca’s foot,
but now all her thoughts had been blown away, scattered by the wind.
Cutting off the Count Priscillian’s connection to the Baldwins wasn’t something she could do.
It had to be Heinrich himself. And Heinrich, as Duke Baldwin—
a grown man, a leader, someone even the Emperor treated carefully—could do it with a mere gesture.
“I…”
Nadia swallowed dryly.
She couldn’t tell if speaking honestly would help or harm him.
Acting purely on what she wanted felt so foreign.
But with Heinrich beside her—acting a little spoiled, almost boyish—
and the two of them standing together under the same wind,
a wave of emotion swept over her.
She tucked her hair behind her ear and said quietly,
“I think… you shouldn’t give them anything.”
For a moment, countless excuses came to mind.
She thought she’d have to justify such a blunt statement.
But Heinrich didn’t ask for any.
“I see. Then I’ll stop the support.”
He nodded immediately, without hesitation.
Had there ever been a day when she’d been this honest?
A day when she’d spoken her heart without any reason or pretense?
Not in this life, nor the last.
This was the very first.
It was just an exchange of advice, yet Nadia’s chest felt full.
As a Libenia, she had believed—up until the moment of her death—that she’d had no regrets about life.
But now she knew: if she had died back then, she would have regretted it.
Because right now—she was alive, and she was able to be honest with him.
And that alone made her happy.
The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, Becca was the first to leave Baron Hesse’s estate.
She’d said they should greet each other again if they met in the capital someday,
but both knew that day would never come.
Still, Nadia played along, not wanting the kind-hearted Baron and Baroness to feel hurt.
Heinrich, after having lunch with the couple, soon prepared to depart as well.
While the coachman made final checks, Heinrich approached Nadia and said quietly,
“For a while, try to forget about my wife.”
“Are you telling me to stop the investigation?”
“Both Count Crimson’s book and Baron Barden’s heir were tied to black magic,
but we still haven’t found proof that my wife’s death was connected to it.”
Nadia sighed. “Yes, since everyone involved is dead, we’re back to square one.”
“Have you ever visited the scene of the accident?”
“No. I never knew the exact location.”
“There’s no need to go. I plan to request a mage from the Tower to re-examine the site.
It didn’t occur to me back then, but if a dark sorcerer was involved,
there might still be traces to uncover.”
“That’s… possible with magic?” Nadia asked, genuinely surprised.
Heinrich raised one brow. “You still haven’t found a magic tutor?”
“Ah, well… you know how busy things have been since then.”
“Self-study has its limits,” he said firmly.
“Of course, rebuilding the territory takes priority now, so you don’t have time.
When things settle, I’ll send a skilled mage to your lands.
Until then, do not use magic.”
Nadia couldn’t answer right away.
Of all the blessings her new life had given her,
being able to use magic was the greatest.
But after feeling so glad yesterday for being honest with Heinrich,
she didn’t want to lie to him today.
So, instead of lying, she simply fidgeted and looked away.
Heinrich moved to stand directly in front of her, catching her eyes.
“Didn’t you promise to help me?”
“But my core is almost healed…” she mumbled weakly.
She chose an excuse over a lie.
Heinrich folded his arms and looked down at her.
“Do you truly need magic to restore your lands?”
“…No.”
“Then using a poorly learned art for no reason is wasteful.”
Nadia shut her mouth and bowed her head obediently.
“…All right. I won’t use it unless absolutely necessary.”
“Good. I’ll contact you once the Tower sends their report.”
Why did it feel like she was being scolded?
Embarrassed, Nadia fiddled with a strand of hair that had fallen across her cheek.
“Your Grace! Everything’s ready!”
A servant’s loud call signaled the time to depart.
Nadia took a step back to see him off properly, hands folded in polite formality.
But just then, Heinrich reached out, lightly took her hand, and drew her closer.
Before she could say anything, his breath and lips brushed across the back of her hand.
He held her fingers gently, and through every moment of that slow gesture,
his lips never once left her skin.
“Then… I wish you well, my lady.”
He turned away immediately.
Nadia, meanwhile, stood frozen in place—hand still outstretched, her face burning.
“Wh–Why does he have to say goodbye in such an embarrassing way…!”
