Chapter 49
After I Die, the Little Groom
While Nadia spent happy moments in the library, Heinrich was busier than ever.
At the royal palace, Heinrich was highly praised for resolving the human trafficking case and was awarded an old sword.
Heinrich displayed the sword in the very center of the armory and ensured that news of it reached the emperor’s ears.
The old emperor found Heinrich’s show of strength tiresome. The best approach was to humor him just enough to calm his pride.
Lady Baldwin sat across from Heinrich, sipping tea with a smile.
“Just a mere sword, yet Your Majesty remains so honest, as always.”
“Since the matter has been resolved, Mother need not worry.”
“Worry? I knew you’d handle it just fine.”
Even with Lady Baldwin’s kind words, Heinrich’s face remained expressionless.
The emperor’s pride must have been severely bruised that Heinrich resolved the human trafficking case on his own. Yet, he couldn’t punish a hero in front of the people—especially when even the hero’s lover was in danger.
So, sending just a single sword had its reason:
“I’ll let this slide this once, but from now on, behave like the empire’s sword you are.”
Any noble could read such petty intentions.
“Baroness Hess’s daughter used her wits well. The matter couldn’t have been left unresolved, but it also involved the emperor’s pride. Framing it as a romantic story everyone could sympathize with was clever.”
“Yes. She is wise.”
“Yet to personally intervene to resolve the case—how audacious. A lady must possess both decisiveness and caution.”
“…I am not in that kind of relationship with her.”
Heinrich tried to correct Lady Baldwin’s misunderstanding.
But seeing Nadia smiling brightly and Heinrich flustered, Lady Baldwin was already convinced.
She let out a long sigh.
“Because of how you are, that young lady could not be certain, and she only spoke of a fleeting glory, didn’t she?”
“Did she say that?”
He had avoided awkward conversations, but she seemed to have found her way around it with her sharp mind.
“Yes. She probably assumed I would fiercely oppose your marriage. And naturally, she would not expect you to protect her in that process either.”
Seeing her son’s embarrassment after a long time, Lady Baldwin spoke more than usual.
“But I don’t mind. Being from the Baron’s family, and even an adopted daughter—sure, I care about status. But if you can start a new life, anyone is fine with me. And she seems intelligent and knowledgeable in etiquette, which makes her even more appealing.”
“…Mother.”
Heinrich frowned, bewildered.
But Lady Baldwin didn’t give him a chance to speak. Normally, she would listen carefully, but on this topic, her pent-up feelings were too strong.
“I heard from Allison. You’re reinforcing her grave’s guard? What are you trying to do? Unless you want to build a castle to trap the deceased Rivenia forever, stop it.”
“Many seek to desecrate her grave, madam.”
“Don’t you understand why? Because you refuse to marry anyone, honoring your deceased wife, they want to insult Rivenia’s grave and erase her existence!”
Lady Baldwin’s voice rose as she gripped the sofa armrest tightly.
“I don’t want her to be insulted either. I, too, want Rivenia to rest peacefully in the afterlife. But what does that have to do with your marriage?”
“Please, stop speaking.”
“Do you think Rivenia would be happy seeing you now? If she had lived, she would have gladly divorced for your sake! Do you think she would wish for you to live so lonely a life?”
Under Lady Baldwin’s shouts, Heinrich’s eyes darkened. He didn’t avert his gaze even as he stood.
She noticed her son’s unprecedented anger but did not flinch, knowing she too was standing at the edge of a cliff.
Heinrich’s lips trembled as he spoke, each word rough as if torn from his chest:
“It doesn’t matter. You couldn’t have divorced me anyway. I wouldn’t have allowed it.”
He knew well the agreements exchanged between Lady Baldwin and Rivenia.
When he was very young, he had even considered respecting Rivenia’s choices.
But as he grew and met her eye to eye, he abandoned such thoughts.
Heinrich had only been waiting—for the time when Rivenia would see him not as a boy, but as a man.
For when she would see him not just as someone to protect, but as someone to walk alongside.
Rivenia’s death did not end that waiting.
Heinrich slowly withdrew his cold gaze from Lady Baldwin.
“I understand why Your Ladyship’s thoughts are with her. I, too, was confused when I first saw her. But such feelings are disrespectful to both Your Ladyship and her. As you said, she is a good person, which makes it even more awkward.”
He twisted the corner of his mouth in self-mockery and left.
Lady Baldwin, shocked as if she had seen a ghost, swayed in her seat.
The maids tried to support and console her, but not a word reached her ears.
‘It wasn’t only me who felt this way. It wasn’t just me…’
A new life seemed to approach, yet it was still under Rivenia’s shadow.
Even in death, Rivenia remained tied to Baldwin, evoking both pity and resentment.
Lady Baldwin slumped against the sofa armrest, sobbing.
Even in that moment, Rivenia existed in her memories.
When grieving her late husband, she had cherished those clumsy, comforting pats on her shoulder.
How could she forget?
The steadfast, unwavering gaze that endured countless tragedies.
She missed it so much that she wished she could forget it forever.
The library was filled with silence when someone entered.
Even the confident footsteps marked him as the master of this space.
Bern was organizing books, Vivian was yawning, and both spotted Heinrich.
They quickly stopped their tasks and stood at attention.
Heinrich raised his index finger to his lips, signaling silence, so they only bowed in acknowledgment.
Meanwhile, Nadia had fallen asleep, resting her head on the desk, having spent almost two weeks in the library without regard for day or night. She must have been exhausted.
Fortunately, Vivian had ensured she ate properly, as she showed no signs of malnourishment.
Heinrich sat opposite Nadia and scanned her notebook and the pile of surrounding books.
There were traces of comparing and decoding as if solving a cipher, and signs she had gotten accustomed to the process and written fluently on her own.
Heinrich carefully took her notebook without a sound and examined it. The translation had progressed further than he expected.
‘As expected, it’s a book on dark magic. What was Count Crimson’s intention in keeping this?’
Considering his usual behavior, it wasn’t surprising if he cursed others, but it was odd that he indulged so much in such superstitions.
Heinrich stopped on a certain page.
Dark magic is a form of magic that breaks the truths of the world. Among its most essential is the magic that revives the dead.
‘Revive the dead?’
Heinrich traced the lines with his finger and began reading.
To revive the dead, several conditions must be met:
Less than a day must have passed since death.
The corpse must not be damaged for reasons other than the cause of death.
The caster must genuinely wish for the dead to return. The degree of ‘genuine’ is not determined by humans.
The following pages were filled with ridiculous, ghost-story-like content.
Heinrich scoffed and put the notebook down.
Nadia, sensing movement, stirred, her eyelids fluttering.
She rubbed her stiff shoulders and slowly sat up.
Opening her eyes, she saw Heinrich sitting before her.
The first thing that struck her golden eyes was confusion.
As she gradually understood the situation, her earlobes flushed red.
Embarrassed and awkward about being caught unprepared, she covered her cheeks and smiled sheepishly.
‘Why is this…?’
Looking at Nadia’s smiling face, Heinrich vividly recalled the absurd ghost story.
With a stern expression, he stood.
“…I must check my wife’s body.”
