IRBSGHC 07

Episode 07

Knock, knock.

“This is Andrew.”

“Yes. Please, come in.”

Just as Elia was still steeped in emotion, a knock sounded at the door, followed by the butler’s voice.

She quickly composed her expression and stood neatly to receive him.

“His Grace asks whether you would care to dine together.”

With one hand placed over his chest, Andrew bowed slightly.

Each time Elia faced someone after returning to the North, memories of her past actions resurfaced.

In her previous life, she had been too exhausted from the long journey to attend the meal. After that, Felix’s constant busyness meant they rarely met face to face.

“…Please tell him I will attend.”

“Yes. Shall you go now?”

“Hm, no. I’ll make my way there myself.”

At her words, Andrew looked puzzled.

“Pardon? My lady, you don’t yet know the location of the dining hall, do you?”

“…Ah, that’s true. Then could you wait just a moment?”

She had lived in this castle for sixteen years and knew its layout by heart—but of course, the butler could not know that.

Reminding herself that she was supposed to be unfamiliar with life here, Elia rummaged through her luggage.

She was utterly exhausted from the long journey. Still, the first day felt important. She didn’t want to miss even a single chance to grow closer to them.

I should give Jeremy his gift, too…

What she pulled out was a glass jar filled with cookies—candied ginger cookies. In the North, such treats were hard to come by.

In this land called the frozen earth, even wheat struggled to grow.

The Empire wasn’t as harsh as the North, but its cold climate also made farming difficult.

Still, wheat was the one crop they could reliably harvest, and the Empire had learned to make countless foods from it.

It’s just land across the sea, yet it’s so different from the Empire. Honestly…

With light steps, Elia headed to the dining hall.

She couldn’t wait to let Jeremy taste something sweet.

The meal was abundant and distinctive—enough to make one forget the North’s barren environment.

On the table were butter-seared salmon seasoned with mild spices, grilled lobster and white fish, and an array of seafood dishes.

Felix, seated across from her, glanced her way and spoke in a flat tone.

“Does the food suit your taste?”

“Of course. It’s delicious.”

Elia nodded and took a bite of salmon.

“It seems you like salmon.”

Felix slid the plate of grilled salmon toward her.

“Oh! …Thank you.”

It was a quiet, clumsy kind of consideration. She felt she had seen this side of him many times before—yet back then, it had only frightened her.

Her nose stung unexpectedly.

Only now did she see his heart, and it made her chest feel strangely ticklish.

Feeling a little embarrassed, she turned her head toward Jeremy.

The child seemed fully absorbed in his meal, lips pursed as he carefully picked out fish bones.

He was so adorable that a smile came to her naturally.

“Jeremy, would you like some help?”

Elia reached out toward him, about to take his plate.

Smack!

“I’m fine.”

The child pushed her hand away. It didn’t hurt, but the sound was louder than expected.

“Jeremy.”

Felix called the boy in a low, reprimanding voice.

At that, Jeremy puffed out his already chubby cheeks and glared at Elia.

He must have felt upset, thinking he’d been scolded because of her.

“Oh—if you can do it yourself, then I was being nosy. Are you upset?”

“…N-no, I’m not!”

When Elia apologized, the boy flustered and turned his head away.

Heh. How cute.

In Elia’s memory, Jeremy had seemed more mature.

Quiet, but always lingering around her.

She hadn’t noticed it back then—but now she could finally see how sweet he was.

Come to think of it… when did he start following me around?

She remembered the day he had hidden, saying he didn’t want to attend swordsmanship lessons.

“Do you still dislike sword lessons?”

“Huh?”

She realized too late that she had spoken her thoughts aloud.

“…Is that so?”

“Ah—most children dislike them.”

As she hastily covered herself, Felix’s gaze sharpened on her.

“…I don’t dislike them.”

Jeremy answered, his expression slightly downcast. Elia let out a small sigh of relief as she studied his face.

Though he tried not to show it, it was clear sword training wasn’t something he enjoyed.

Why does he hate it so much?

The question lingered with her throughout the meal. Felix and Jeremy ate quietly unless Elia spoke.

“…I have matters to attend to today, so please rest comfortably.”

Felix spoke softly, moistening his lips with wine.

Ah… the first night…

The silence at the table broke. Elia looked at him.

His expression was as rigid as ever.

“…!”

Looking back, Felix hadn’t appeared on their first night either.

Elia herself had been unwell then, and the thought of their wedding night had burdened her so much that she’d actually felt relieved.

What came after was the real problem.

In the Empire, producing an heir was of utmost importance, and the first night was taken seriously.

Elia, unable to conceive, still knew that night would shape how the people of the northern castle viewed her.

As she pondered what to do, her eyes caught a piece of white fish stuck to Jeremy’s cheek.

“Jeremy.”

When she called him, the boy looked up with wide eyes.

She gently removed the food from his cheek, smiling.

“Have you finished eating?”

“Yes…”

He lowered his head slightly.

The tips of his ears turned red.

Elia slowly took out the glass jar she had brought.

“Here. A gift for you.”

“Huh? Cookies!”

“Do you like them?”

“…I—I don’t like them. No.”

His turquoise eyes shook wildly as he stared at the jar.

“Oh dear. I brought them just for you—what a shame. I suppose I’ll have to give them to someone else.”

Elia pretended to stand up with the jar.

“W-wait!”

“Yes?”

“Well—um—since it’s a gift, even if I don’t like it, I’ll still eat it!”

“Oh my. Will you?”

Laughing, Elia ruffled his hair.

“Thank you for eating them.”

“C-can I eat one now?”

His eyes sparkled brightly.

“Of course.”

She nodded and opened the lid. Jeremy picked up a round cookie and took a bite.

Each time his plump cheeks moved, they looked ready to burst.

“Ahem. I’ll take my leave now.”

Felix stood up, clearing his throat. Elia, who had been staring at Jeremy in a daze, looked up—only to find Felix already gone.

“Jeremy, enjoy your cookies.”

She gently patted his head and followed after Felix.

“Your Grace!”

He turned at her call. With his long strides, he had already gone quite far.

As she hurried toward him, he also took a step back in her direction.

“Hah… I—I have something I want to say too.”

“What is it?”

“About consummation. I want us to… tonight.”

At her unexpected words, Felix’s brow furrowed.

“…Do you understand what that means?”

“Of course I do. It’s an important rite—one that acknowledges us as husband and wife.”

“Hm. Is it that important to you?”

At his question, Elia tilted her head. If not that, then what could be more important?

Having returned to the past, the first night no longer felt daunting.

True, their first time had been so intense she wondered how she’d endured it—but there had been no real problem.

“Then what is important?”

“……”

He fell silent. She stepped closer. His expression didn’t change, but his thick brows twitched slightly.

“…Your Grace?”

“That’s enough. Let’s stop this conversation.”

“No, I—”

Before she could finish, he turned and strode down the corridor.

She had thought that since they had once connected, approaching him boldly would make the second time easier.

But reality proved otherwise.

Is this… not it?

Her buoyant heart sank with a soft crackle, leaving her gloomy—but it was still too soon to be disappointed.

Today was only her first day in the northern land of Artizen.

Next time will be fine. I’m sure of it.

She turned back toward the dining hall.

“Huh? Where’s Jeremy…?”

She stopped a maid clearing the table.

“He finished his cookies and went upstairs.”

At that, Elia’s lips drooped.

Hah… father and son are exactly alike.

She felt a little hurt. But soon she clenched her fists and steeled herself once more.

There was still plenty of time left.