Toxic Marriage - Chapter 16.1

Chapter 16.1

“I apologize.”

The tough-looking man immediately apologized, but his expressionless face showed no sign of regret. Freya’s eyebrows rose even higher.

“Had I been the one bitten, it wouldn’t have ended like this.”

“…”

“You don’t know who I am, do you?”

The man bowed his head deeply at the fierce response.

“I sincerely apologize.”

His tone was no different from before, but Freya realized as she looked at him bowing that he was just a blunt person, with a stature as tall as an old tree that gave him a menacing atmosphere.

Unlike Erik and Arne, who disliked her from the first time they met, he bowed his head deeply without hesitation.

“Commander! Fesher…!”

Two other knights came running a little later.

Commander? Freya frowned. It seemed that the man in front of her was Commander-in-Chief Harald, who was managing the military on behalf of the margrave.

The knights’ faces turned pale, and they quickly took the leash of the dog named Fesher from Harald.

“We sincerely apologize. We accidentally let go…”

“You should apologize to this person, not to me.”

At Harald’s instruction, the knights bowed to Freya and Risyr.

“Our apologies… He’s a new military dog, but he’s so strong that we…”

“More importantly, I think he needs treatment. Please have a doctor in the castle or the resident military doctor treat my knight.”

The two knights raised their heads and looked at Freya. Their eyes widened as if they were looking at an unknown creature.

With her beautiful appearance that seemed inhuman, they seemed to have finally realized that the woman in front of them was the famous divine power holder and the bride of this castle’s lord.

The knights, who had been gazing at her face blankly, barely came to their senses under Harald’s fierce look.

“Ah… but the military doctor is currently out at the guard post. So I think we’ll have to wait a little while to treat that knight. Likewise, it will take time to bring a doctor from the castle.” Moving his eyes, the knight added, “So, if the wound is severe, wouldn’t it be better to use another method?”

Rather than simply offering an alternative, the knights’ gaze seemed to be expecting something.

For example, the miracle of divine power.

Divine power could heal people, and an immense power could save them from death. It wasn’t something that could be seen in just any place.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Freya. She pursed her lips.

“The divine power…”

But before she could say anything else, Harald stopped her.

“This is the Margrave’s wife. Don’t make any unreasonable demands.”

Risyr frowned as well.

“The people here are all rude. I guess they see their master’s wife as a curiosity?”

“Wh-who says we see her as a curiosity? Since you hurt your arm, we just thought she could use some of her divine power.”

The knights feigned innocence.

As the atmosphere grew tense, Freya stopped Risyr.

“Risyr, that’s enough. And you, whether it’s a physician or a military doctor, bring them to me immediately. You will be held accountable for mishandling the dog.”

The knights bowed in embarrassment and her firm words. They quickly disappeared as Harald looked at them with a frown.

When they were left alone, Harald faced Freya.

“As you said, I will send a doctor who can treat his wound as soon as possible. And…”

He paused for a moment.

“If possible, don’t come near the knights’ training grounds.”

After saying something that was unclear whether it was a request or an order, Harald walked away.

Risyr tore his clothes roughly and wrapped them around his bleeding arm.

“He’s stating the obvious. Why would Miss Freya go near dogs in heat? I should have just poked the eyes of the knights who were staring blankly at you earlier.”

Did they do that…?

Freya scratched her cheek awkwardly. When she was a child, people often stared at her, regardless of their gender. She thought it was just because of her peculiar silver hair and eye-catching appearance.

But Tyrann was very displeased with that, and kept even the parties with only women to a minimum. The only party he hosted was her debutante.

It had been a long time since that happened, so Freya had forgotten that gaze.

This time too, perhaps because she was distracted, she didn’t notice that the knights were looking at her so blatantly.

“And regarding your divine power… I think it would be better to be firm no matter what anyone asks you to do,” Risyr said in a low voice, looking around.

Freya, who had been blankly staring at him, nodded as she recalled the awkward situation.

“… Yeah, I should.”