If a family gave their child the Ice Baptism, they would be exempt from a year’s worth of taxes, a compelling incentive. Eventually, deaths from the disease dwindled.
Clodel caught this incurable disease because her father, Evan, was the younger brother of the Duke of Bermont.
Her father was banished to the farthest southern border of Balmont.
Later, she learned that her father was under surveillance just outside the village of Flonu, and everything was reported to the Duke of Bermont.
Despite being of Bermont blood, that’s why Clodel never received the Ice Baptism.
Even Hanna, born in the remote mountain village of Flonu, had received the baptism.
People from the warmer south didn’t catch the disease.
When the cunning Duke of Bermont learned that Clodel had caught the disease only common to those born and raised in the frozen lands, he schemed.
Herzol was incurable.
Thinking it would be better to help the people of the domain with what little time she had left, Clodel nodded to his persuasion.
The nobles and retainers in the castle stayed away from her.
She preferred the domain residents who waved and smiled during her service trips, much like the friendly neighbors of her memories in the village of Flonu.
If she was going to die anyway, and if the people were starving…
If she could endure humiliation for a month or two…
In a life where she hadn’t achieved or done much, she thought she could at least do that much.
The ring, heated by her tight grip, was felt under her hand.
Clodel didn’t ask for it because she didn’t know it was insignificant.
She asked for it because it was such an item.
In about a month, what belonged to her would become a mere relic to be burned.
So, she thought, maybe she could take such a small piece with her to the afterlife?
It was a ridiculous thought.
“Cough.”
The more she coughed, the worse it got, so Clodel tried to hold back.
“I won’t ask you to hand it over. Just rest comfortably.”
Hanna gently unraveled Clodel’s tightly held hands and massaged them softly.
“The cold isn’t getting better. I’ll bring a doctor tomorrow, no matter what.”
“Thank you, Hanna.”
If Hanna knew Clodel had Herzol, she might have punched Duke Bermont. Hanna seemed capable of that.
It was well-known in Balmont Castle that Hanna would retaliate with her fists if anyone acted disrespectfully towards Clodel.
It was fortunate for Hanna that no one in Lowen Castle would help her when she went looking for a doctor.
It was the last day of the wedding celebration.
It was also the day the new Lady of the Manor would make her appearance before the people.
However, rumors had already spread throughout Temnes and within the Lowen domain that Clodel was like ‘a wilted flower beaten down by the rain.’
Many had seen Clodel on the first day of the banquet hosted by the Temnes family, entering in a disheveled state, drenched in the rain, and they had gossiped about it upon returning home.
Despite this, people were curious to see if she would look different when dressed up, but Clodel did not attend the banquet that day.
“What? She won’t attend?”
“Yes, Your Grace. She said she’s too ill to be present.”
Kyan’s brow furrowed.
She made a fuss over a trivial matter and now seemed determined to embarrass him.
“Tell her she won’t be summoned to any more banquets.”
“Your Grace, such words…”
The butler started to speak but then stopped.
“I’ll take my leave.”
The loyal butler, who had served since the time of the previous Duke, had been more nagging since the King had ordered the marriage by royal decree.
‘Even if it’s a forced marriage, neglecting your wife will tarnish your reputation, Your Grace.’
The butler was also from the Temnes bloodline. Unlike other Temnes, who harbored greater anger towards Bermont, the butler prioritized the dignity of the Temnes patriarch.
Kyan had ignored the butler’s advice, but he had still prepared a wedding night gift, just as the butler had suggested.
Knowing the butler must have been aware of the day’s commotion and yet had not mentioned it to Kyan, he was suddenly curious about what the butler had been about to say. However, his thoughts drifted back to Clodel, and Kyan deliberately tried not to think about it.
She must have been disappointed in him.
But it was also somewhat absurd. How could she expect him to help her, considering they were from enemy houses and had only met two days ago?
To be disappointed means she had expectations.
And having betrayed those expectations, he kept feeling an unnecessary sense of guilt.
He had always been like that towards the Bermonts.
He had lived his life that way.
In fact, Kyan had been planning to annihilate her entire house, and if not for the King’s forced marriage, there was a high chance he would have personally severed Clodel’s neck next month.
But now, feeling like he had done something wrong to Clodel, it became uncomfortable to face her.
That night, Kyan lingered outside Clodel’s bedroom.
Whether due to the day’s incident or because she was sick, the corridor was dark and quiet without a soul in sight.
‘She must be sick, and that maid will be with her.’
Remembering Hanna, who had glared at him as if she wanted to kill him, Kyan hesitated to enter and stared intently at Clodel’s bedroom door from the corridor.
However, at that moment, Hanna, whom Kyan thought would be nursing Clodel, was glaring at a different door.
It was Kyan’s bedroom door.
“Just come out. I won’t let you get away with it.”
Eventually, in the early morning, as the bedroom door opened and someone emerged, she clenched her fist, her eyes widening in surprise.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
