Toxic Marriage - Chapter 3.1

Chapter 3.1

The person who secretly came to Freya, avoiding the eyes of others, was none other than the emperor’s aide.

“By His Majesty’s order, I have come to visit Lady Lindberg.” He showed the imperial seal and revealed his identity.

Bewildered by the sudden situation, Freya thought it might be better to talk to the emperor’s representative. She tried to remain calm and asked the maid to bring tea to the parlor.

The aide bowed his head belatedly.

“Before I get to the point, I would like to apologize for this unexpected visit.”

“It must be because of the proposal the Margrave of Niflheim did.”

A proposal that wasn’t really a proposal. The proposal of a man who never came to see his bride’s face while making the emperor act as a matchmaker was no different from an arrogant order.

“Yes, that’s correct. Cardinal Heirn is firmly refusing the proposal.”

“So you came here to ask me to persuade the Teacher, is that it?”

Freya’s tone wasn’t gentle. Recognizing that he was an errand boy for the emperor who had caused this trouble, words did not come out nicely.

Even she, who was proud that she had managed to navigate well in the uneven journey of her life so far, was in agony because she couldn’t figure out how to solve it.

This anguish kept Freya from sleeping more than the hot tropical nights.

“Actually, there is no need to persuade Cardinal Heirn. This marriage will be finalized with the acceptance of the person concerned, Lady Lindberg.”

Freya stopped moving for a moment at the aide’s words. She felt like she had been hit on the head.

Yes, technically, marriage did not require the consent of the guardian. Despite knowing this, Freya waited for his decision as if it were something natural after her conversation with Tyrann about the margrave’s proposal.

As always, it was an inertia that stemmed from the sense of gratitude and guilt she felt for Tyrann.

But this was an important matter that shouldn’t be allowed to continue. Her life was at stake, as well as Tyrann’s position as the next pope.

So she first needed to figure out for herself what was right.

Freya replied to the aide without hesitation.

“Does His Majesty think I’ll marry a man I’ve never seen before? Just a few days ago, a leaflet from the fanatics flew into my room demanding that the head of the demon lord, the Margrave, be cut off and hung in the square.”

Freya’s attitude was colder than expected. The aide was bewildered and sighed.

“I know it’s very difficult for a lady to marry a man she has never met. But, Lady Lindberg, this marriage is no ordinary matter that can be refused. So, His Majesty himself sent a handwritten letter to Cardinal Heirn. And he has sent me to the Lady today in the same context.”

“Did the Margrave of Niflheim say that he would give up the security of the North if this marriage didn’t happen?”

“…”

The aide’s face darkened at her sarcastic remark. Freya frowned more and more.

“… No way, right?” she asked.

“Let’s say it was something similar.”

Freya pursed her lips. After a moment, she spoke.

“… Why? Why is the Margrave doing such a thing? Does he really want to have a saintess as his wife to wash away the stigma of being the devil?”

“I don’t know about that. This was a notice that even His Majesty couldn’t do anything about.”

Freya touched her forehead, feeling dizzy. If he was that stubborn, then honor might not simply be the reason.

No matter what kind of bad rumors had arisen so far, the margrave’s family had never once explained them.

‘Then there must be a reason why he needs this marriage…’

Just as her thoughts were spiraling out of control, the aide added, “So, it can be said that the Lady’s decision affects the well-being of many people. Perhaps Cardinal Heirn’s position as the next pope could also be jeopardized.”

“You came here to threaten me, not to persuade me.”

The aide cleared his throat at the cold glance.

“Then let’s make a deal. I’ll keep quiet about the Lady’s secret.”

Freya raised her eyebrows at the word ‘deal’.

“What’s my secret?”

“I know that you are secretly learning medicine from Cardinal Heirn.”

Freya flinched as if she had suddenly stepped on a sharp thorn.

“And the reason why people with great divine power learn medicine.”

This time, Freya couldn’t pretend to be calm. She was caught off guard. As expected, he came here to threaten her, not to persuade her.

She tried biting her lips so that it wouldn’t show, but her heart was pounding harder.

Thinking about her secret of studying medicine being revealed and how people’s gazes would change because of it, it was as if the summer heat had quickly disappeared.

Noticing that Freya was speechless, the aide changed his attitude.

“And… I’m careful about saying this, but…”

“…”

“I’m sure you know that people look at the relationship between the Cardinal and the Lady strangely. Even though you are of marriable age, your guardian isn’t letting go of you.”