Chapter 40
“Unni… but…”
“Why again?!”
“…Why haven’t you told me until now?”
Why, despite all the harsh words and bitter things said, had she never once mentioned the cursed story?
Frey forced down the emotions welling up inside and asked.
“That’s obviously…! Obviously…!”
“Obviously?”
“…Because I didn’t remember!”
“But just a moment ago, you said you remembered clearly…”
“I don’t know! It suddenly came back to me the moment you brought it up.”
Wasn’t it strange?
Not just Gaia, either. For a cursed child, and one who had heard such words, her life hadn’t been that hard. Not once had her father, Itar unni, or anyone in the Kingdom of Ezan ever told her this story.
Why?
“Really… you didn’t remember until now?”
“I told you, I didn’t!”
“Not your father… not Itar unni… or anyone else?”
“Yes. If they had told me, I would’ve remembered. But I’d completely forgotten. That you’re a cursed child. That such a thing happened. I don’t know why, but that’s just how it was!”
As if her words had pulled a trigger, her memory suddenly flooded back.
At this moment, Frey had no choice but to believe Gaia’s words.
‘If I don’t think this story had temporarily vanished from everyone’s memories, nothing makes sense.’
Ironically, Frey had to accept that fact.
That in this world where magic had long since disappeared, such a magical thing had happened.
“I don’t know how you found out about it or why you’re asking me now, but now that you know, just leave it at that.”
“…Yes.”
Her voice was completely different from when they spoke of the past.
It was a sharp voice that made Frey think, So this really is Gaia unni.
So she slowly got up from her seat.
“Then, unni, I’ll see you at tomorrow’s meal.”
“Ha. I really don’t want to have that meal. I don’t even want to see your face.”
“Then should I not come out?”
At that one sentence, Gaia’s annoyed expression suddenly brightened.
“Yeah. That would be better.”
If she did that, the man wouldn’t insist on having breakfast together anymore. After all, he only said that to see how Gaia treated Frey, right?
Gaia’s face brightened cheerfully.
But seeing that, Frey’s face darkened with a different meaning.
They want to spend time alone together. That’s why she’s so happy.
She pretended not to care, said she wasn’t interested in him, but maybe she was wrong.
“Alright, unni. Then from tomorrow, I won’t come out.”
“Good. That’s a good idea for once.”
Seeing Gaia smile at her for the first time in a long while, Frey turned her body slowly.
Somehow, every time she visited her unni, she always felt a heavy heart.
Unlike when she left, Frey reached her room as if possessed by something and only came back to herself after arriving.
“Seth.”
“Yes?”
“Tell him I won’t be eating with him from tomorrow.”
Seth’s face stiffened at once.
“Is this sudden, ma’am?”
“Yes.”
“Is the food not to your liking…? Is that the reason?”
“No. It’s just that whenever I eat in the dining hall, I don’t seem to eat properly. I want to eat comfortably alone in my room… Please tell him that.”
Right after Frey returned to her room, Seth conveyed Argente’s order to be sure she attends tomorrow’s meal. This was his response.
“Understood. I will convey that. But ma’am, is something wrong?”
“Why?”
“You don’t look well.”
“Maybe just a little tired. Or maybe the breakfast didn’t settle well.”
“I will call Physician Jeren and then go to His Majesty.”
“Alright.”
With a worried face, Seth quickly left, and shortly after, Jeren came to Frey’s room.
“Ma’am.”
“You’re here?”
“Yes. I hurried after hearing you had something stuck from breakfast.”
“That’s just an excuse. I’m actually fine. Seth was worried because I didn’t look well.”
“I see. Still, just in case, I will examine you.”
Frey didn’t refuse.
It was just like every day — she received Jeren’s check-up.
“There seems to be no serious problem. That’s fortunate.”
“Make sure to tell Seth that there’s nothing wrong. He worries a lot…”
“Sometimes such concern is necessary. Please don’t find their worries too burdensome, ma’am.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s not just because it’s work, but because they care and like you. So please don’t push away those who worry about you.”
He smiled kindly and straightened up before Frey could answer.
“By the way, I thought you liked candy, so I brought some different kinds today.”
Apparently having filled his bag entirely with candy, Jeren tipped it onto the round basket on the nightstand.
Colorful candies wrapped in transparent plastic spilled out.
After shaking out his bag for a while and dropping the last candy, he threw the bag carelessly on the floor, satisfied.
Then he picked candies one by one with his fingers.
“Of course, I like strawberry flavor best, so there are the most strawberry candies. This one is a new peach flavor. And this one is grape. Also…”
“To think you’d bring so much candy…”
“I was surprised myself. I didn’t know the Empress had eaten all the candies I brought before.”
Feeling a little embarrassed, Frey averted her gaze slightly. Whenever she was troubled, she’d sneak a few here and there, so she’d almost finished the last batch he gave her.
He must see me as a child.
When she was young, she had never tasted candy, and later couldn’t eat it because of others’ gazes. Delicious cakes, sherbets, puddings, cookies — all forbidden as childish.
The long-awaited treats were enough to enchant Frey.
Suddenly shy, Frey scratched her head and smiled awkwardly.
“Well…”
“Even I think so. Though I made them, they’re quite tasty. I eat dozens every day.”
“I’m not the only one like that…?”
“Of course not. That’s why I don’t give them to others. If I did, I’d have to become a candy shop owner instead of a physician.”
Frey smiled following his smile.
“Is that so.”
“Of course. So don’t feel burdened, just eat them. Whether it’s a person, an object, or even food, just the fact that you don’t forget and come see me is enough.”
He picked one candy and popped it in his mouth.
“If you want more anytime, just say so.”
“Yes.”
Watching kind Jeren, Frey unwrapped a candy just like he did and popped it into her mouth.
“Ma’am, you’re definitely feeling fine, right? You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
“Not at all. I’m healthy. I was before, and I am now.”
“Understood. Then I will take my leave. Be sure to take your medicine regularly. If you keep taking it steadily, you will definitely see the effect.”
Today, he took the medicine bottle from his pocket and placed it beside the candy basket.
“Can you only make one at a time?”
“Of course not. I just want to have time to chat like this under the pretext of delivering this.”
“Oh…!”
“I want the Empress to adapt well here. So I’m just waiting for His Majesty, who’s acting like a teenage boy with his spines out, to come to his senses.”
Frey’s eyes widened in surprise.
“Don’t expect too much from me…”
“I’m not asking you to do anything. Just ‘be there.’ As the Empress, as Frey.”
“…Thank you.”
But I don’t think I can keep that promise. Even if I want to stay here, this is not my place.
Frey’s eyes grew lonely.
“My hearing isn’t very good, you know.”
“Huh?”
“Feel free to speak comfortably anytime. But I probably won’t hear well whatever you say, since I’m getting older. Haha.”
She felt his thoughtfulness.
His firm will to pretend not to hear complaints, so Frey could talk openly without worry.
Nodding strongly, she said:
“Then I’ll be going now.”
“Yes. Thank you, Physician Jeren.”
“Likewise.”
Saying that, Jeren picked up his bag from the floor and left.
After watching him for a moment, Frey replenished the candy in her mouth.
Meanwhile, Seth, who had gone to meet Argente, came back inside.
“Ma’am.”
“Ah, Seth.”
“How was the checkup?”
“Good.”
“Is there anything wrong with you? Though you met Physician Jeren, I couldn’t ask.”
Frey popped a candy and offered one to Seth.
“Would you like one?”
“If you offer, I’m grateful for anything.”
As if it was the most precious food in the world, Seth accepted the candy with both hands and put it into his mouth.
Unlike earlier when he was talking so much, he now kept his mouth tightly shut.
“Seth?”
