Toxic Marriage - Chapter 5.1

Chapter 5.1

The north was cold and desolate. That feeling was amplified because it was too quiet.

‘This place never changes.’

Compared to when she came here five years ago, even then, it was a frigid and chilly place.

When she opened the carriage window and looked around the outside in earnest, a faint steam of breath scattered out of her mouth and disappeared.

Even if the war was over, Niflheim still looked menacing despite maintaining a long and safe ceasefire. It was the impression given by not only the weather here, but also the people who lived here, the sturdy trees, and the barren road.

Freya was already longing for the tropical nights that had kept her awake. Everywhere she went, it was so different from her homeland, where she could hear the laughter of people and see the children running around.

It was only natural, considering that frequent bloody battles with enemy forces took place here.

With a stern face, Freya once again pulled on the thick cloak she was wearing.

Seeing that, Risyr forced a smile and patted her.

“There’s no need to worry too much. I looked into it in detail before we came here, and I heard that since the Great War five years ago, the southern forces of the Leise Empire rarely invaded the northern border.”

“Yeah…”

“Nothing will be lacking. It seems that His Majesty offers the Margrave all kinds just from hearing him cough,” Risyr said in a light tone of dissatisfaction.

Freya’s serious expression suddenly broke down as she laughed at Risyr’s resentment at her having been offered as a bride immediately at the request of the Margrave.

“Well, the imperial family owes a lot to the Margrave family in many ways.”

The first Margrave of Niflheim built a dam to block the flow of death from this place.

“But it’s too much. Even my great-great-grandmother sacrificed herself to save this barren land from hunger and poverty.”

Berta, Freya’s great-great-grandmother, saved the suffering people by gathering a group of people who could use divine power to solve the hunger and poverty of the land.

At that time, there were many with divine power, but Berta Lindberg, who had the greatest power among them, led the way to help and heal the people.

Her achievements became a great honor for the Lindberg marquisate and the reason why people took an interest in Freya, who had been left alone. She was the only offspring of such a great person.

“We should start seeing the gate soon.”

Freya turned her head at Risyr’s words.

As she had heard, the security of Niflheim’s castle was heavy. The gatekeeper checked again and again to see if anyone else was in the carriage besides the ones on the list.

What was even more surprising was that there was another layer of thick, high walls inside. Risyr also had a ridiculous look on his face at the sight of the strange castle.

Freya was also frowning.

“Is it because it’s a fortress?”

“Even if it’s a fortress, it’s excessive. It’s really just like the rumors…”

Risyr seemed to be swallowing his ominous words for Freya’s sake, but in fact, she felt the same way.

The security was excessively tight. It seemed as if it was to hide something, and not just for the defense of the fortress.

Risyr, who had been looking at the citadel, suddenly looked at Freya with a serious face.

“I will protect Miss Freya no matter what.”

“Please don’t scare me.”

With that said, Freya couldn’t stop the rumors about the Margrave of Niflheim from coming to mind one by one.

An immortal monster. A demon who holds a bloody party every night. The incarnation of evil that took root in this earth. Among the rumors, it was even said that the emperor sold his soul to the margrave and became his worshiper.

At that time, she thought it was the absurd nonsense of delusional people, but now her mouth was dry for some reason.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lindberg.”

But fortunately, by the time they crossed the second gate and arrived in front of the castle, they were able to meet a common-looking servant.

“My name is Erik, and I will be helping Miss Freya live here for the time being.”

It was such a cold and desolate place that she thought all the men would have a frightening appearance, but the man who introduced himself as Erik was a young man who looked like a boy.

There was little defiance in his eyes, like that of a young boy in puberty. Freya knew at a glance that he was wary of her.

No, he seemed to hate her…

She didn’t know why he hated her when they were meeting for the first time, but it wasn’t a pleasant thing.

‘Who was the one who forced me to get married?’

It was a somewhat displeasing hospitality, but Freya decided to point out something far more wrong than that behavior first.

“The Margrave didn’t even come to meet me. Do I have to die to see the face of the person who will become my husband?”

Erik was bewildered and flustered at Freya’s upset attitude.