Love Me Just Once - Chapter 57

Idren came just as dusk was slowly falling in Aglante, where the days were short.

Ophelia met him in the library. The man who had come looking for her after hearing she was there asked as soon as he saw her face:

“Were you reading a book?”

Ophelia did not bother to respond to the man who seemed not to know what a library was for. So Idren approached her side and looked at the book with her.

“What book are you reading?”

And he answered his own question. It’s a history book of Aglante.

“The one written by this scholar is boring. The one by another scholar is easier to read and understand.”

“…Why are you being so noisy while I’m trying to read?”

Her words were tinged with irritation at being disturbed while concentrating. But Idren responded without flinching at all.

“Aren’t you disappointed that someone came in and you’re just looking at a book?”

Ophelia closed the book with a thud and looked up to face the man. His expression was too bright for someone who was supposed to be feeling disappointed.

Ophelia spoke to the man who would get upset for no reason one day and then be all smiles on days like today.

“Aren’t you busy?”

“I made time in my busy schedule to come.”

And Idren put his arm around her shoulder and said. I know you have many complaints, but I brought something for you so don’t grumble.

Ophelia tried to push away the arm of the man who was making her out to be the complainer when he was the one constantly grumbling. However, he was faster in holding out a paper in front of her.

“What’s this?”

“Read it carefully.”

Ophelia slightly furrowed her brow as she scanned the densely packed writing.

“…It’s a commission for the Governor of Galisa?”

“I thought it was time to give it to you, so I brought it.”

And Idren gestured to a servant nearby. You, go bring a pen.

Soon, writing utensils were placed on the desk. Idren, who had been smiling the whole time, even dipped the pen in ink himself and placed it in her hand.

“Sign it.”

Ophelia thought it strange that the man was happier than the recipient about giving away his own land, but she did as told. After watching her sign until the last page, Idren said:

“This time, I changed the governor’s term to a minimum of 10 years.”

“…So?”

“It means you have to be the Governor of Galisa for at least 10 years.”

Ophelia stared blankly at the man who was saying things that wouldn’t matter anyway if she died. He didn’t seem to have been this foolish before.

Well, if he’s happy with it, that’s fine.

Ophelia shook her head slightly at the man who kept smiling while holding the paper, and opened her book again. After carefully tucking away the paper so the ink wouldn’t smear, Idren spoke to her again.

“Now that you’ve signed the commission, how about going on an inspection tour?”

Ophelia hesitated at the unfamiliar suggestion. Thinking she disapproved of his proposal, he quickly added an explanation. It’s just riding in a carriage and going around once. Of course, we didn’t do this before, but this time to introduce your face as well…

Before his explanation could turn into an excuse, Ophelia cut him off.

“No need to say more. I’ll go.”

“You’ve made a good decision.”

The man whose face brightened, as if wondering what he would have done if she had refused, hugged her shoulders a little more tightly. Only then did Ophelia realize she hadn’t pushed his hand away.

But since it was already too late to push him away, she let him do as he pleased.

As if all he needed was her answer, Idren suggested going out from the morning just a few days later. Following his advice that the weather was cold, Ophelia dressed warmly and got into an open-top carriage.

Idren, sitting next to her, said as soon as the carriage started moving. The wind is strong. It will be cold.

Ophelia said to the man who had told her to dress warmly but was only wearing a ceremonial robe himself:

“You should have dressed more warmly too.”

“It’s not me…”

And Idren looked her up and down. After a moment of silence, he continued.

“I said something unnecessary. You look warm enough.”

Ophelia looked back at the man with incredulous eyes, as he made it sound like she was being excessive when she had only dressed as he instructed.

She intended to say something when their eyes met, but he avoided her gaze and pretended to look elsewhere, as if he had anticipated this.

When the carriage had gone some distance, Idren asked:

“What are your plans for this life?”

Though there was no subject in his sentence, Ophelia immediately understood he was talking about Reden. It seemed he was asking about her future plans now that she had assets she could freely use.

Watching the people standing along the road holding colorful flags and the cavalry running around the carriage – Hazel was among them – Ophelia said:

“First, I’m thinking of looking for people other than those I associated with in my previous life.”

“What’s the reason?”

“Most of them were introduced by Netepel.”

And Ophelia recalled the conversation she had with Idren on the night the delegation came.

“You may not know this… but the 2nd Prince of Egelbarmot was acquainted with the former Lord of Rohos.”

In the bedroom they now shared, Idren informed her in a cautious voice as she lay looking at the ceiling.

Though it was the first time hearing this, Ophelia found herself defending her friend without realizing.

“There are casual acquaintances everywhere, aren’t there?”

“…They seemed closer than you think.”

And Idren reached out to her face. His firm fingertips touched her cheek.

As his rough fingertips gently caressed her face, Ophelia suddenly thought his life must have been arduous. It wasn’t just because he was a man, but Idren’s hands had the mature feel of someone who had lived without hiding anything.

While stroking her face slowly, in a way that didn’t suit such hands, he continued speaking.

“I’m not trying to criticize your friend. But if he knew what the former Lord of Rohos did to you and took no action, I think we need to keep this fact in mind.”

Idren’s words had no flaws.

Ophelia didn’t want to doubt Netepel, but in her previous life, he had never told her he was acquainted with the former Lord of Rohos.

Instead, Netepel had devised a plan for her to kill him. It was a meticulous plan that would be difficult to attempt between close acquaintances.

Ophelia also remembered that Netepel had told her not to tell her husband about what happened with the former Lord of Rohos.

At that time, she had tried to handle things alone according to his words. She kidnapped the lord’s servant, joined hands with the lord’s daughter, and prepared poison in case all else failed.

Even if the last method had failed, she would not have said a word to Idren.

But Idren’s attitude after learning the truth was different from what she had known.

The previous Ophelia thought he would take his friend’s side, but Idren had dealt with the Lord of Rohos while she was out. It happened before anything else could occur.

Strangely, Netepel seemed to disapprove of Idren. It was perplexing for her, who now knew there was no real problem with him.

Of course, the fact that Netepel hadn’t been honest with her didn’t mean the people he introduced were dangerous… But this time, it seemed better to meet new people and build relationships.

Idren also seemed to understand why she said that. Without asking further, he said:

“If you tell me exactly what kind of people you need, I’ll introduce them.”

“I’m not picky. Just anyone who has a lot, is moderately dissolute, and gets along well with anyone will do.”

She got along better with that type than those who were strict and lived by every little rule.

Moreover, what she intended to do was, in any case, to undermine the foundation of a country.

Of course, she could carry it out without any hesitation, but Ophelia also knew that her plans could be criticized by others.

So those living with inadequate morals or beliefs would not be able to tolerate her.

Idren, who had been staring at her intently, asked:

“Do you plan to meddle with Reden’s economy this time too?”

Ophelia nodded to the man who, unlike her, seemed to love his country very much.

She didn’t have any great resentment towards Reden. But as long as Reden functioned even a little normally, Mahanas would reign over it.

Ophelia wanted her brother to die in frustration without being able to hold even a single coin. For that to happen, there should not be a single person left who would show him favor.

But Idren seemed to want her to make a choice that was a little more favorable to the world. After a moment of silence following her, he said:

“If you want to bring down the Mevasa royal family, you don’t need to do that. You can start a rebellion and confine King Dares and Prince Mahanas.”

And he added. If you need military power, I will support you.

Ophelia asked the man who clearly would not misunderstand the implication of those words:

“Are you telling me to become the King of Reden?”