Toxic Marriage - Chapter 9.1

Chapter 9.1

The cold forest, filled with only tree stumps, may be the most eerie place in the dreary castle.

“This used to be an apple orchard,” Erik said.

Food was scarce in the north, and apples especially were among the few fruit trees that could withstand the cold weather. As such, it would have been wise to leave even a small orchard untouched, but Fenrir cut down all the apple trees as soon as he took possession of the castle.

Erik stroked the stump of a thick tree that had once boasted of lush leaves.

“Just one apple from the tree.”

Just one apple.

“Because of that one apple, Master is cursed with being unable to leave this place.”

Freya frowned.

“Because of one apple?”

“Your great-great-grandmother, Berta Lindberg, stayed in Niflheim for a long time in the name of devotion, and formed an association that healed people with divine power.”

A gust of wind blew through Erik’s hair.

“But that’s not all. She didn’t forgive a poor starving woman who stole an apple from her bag. She was so angry that she cursed the woman on the spot.”

“…”

“That woman was the Margrave’s biological mother. She was pregnant at the time, so the curse was transferred to the master in her womb.”

Despite Erik’s harsh explanation, Freya had a look of disbelief. The same was true of Risyr, who had an indisposed expression on his face.

“Aren’t you just making up a plausible story based on lies?”

Erik snorted at Risyr’s interrogation.

“Yes, I’d rather be lying. Knowing that a great figure respected by people is so petty and hypocritical is quite disgusting.”

The attitude of not granting any favors except those of one’s own choosing.

It was no different from asking a dog to eat only the food it was given. If the owner felt that the dog was arrogant and demanding, they would kick it without any hesitation.

“For that woman, an apple would have been no different than a pebble in the road. It’s absurd.”

“…”

“If she wanted to scold a thief, it would have been better to slap her,” Erik grumbled with a sad face.

From the empire’s perspective, the son of a woman who was nothing but a beggar survived with enormous power due to a curse where he could not escape from this place, and it was a good thing because he maintained security due to being marginalized. However, for the person concerned, it was no different from being severely punished.

Still, Erik felt a little better because of Freya’s speechless reaction, as if she only realized now what her ancestor had done.

Even Risyr, who had been in a threatening mood the whole time, remained silent.

Erik was somewhat convinced by that.

Freya Lindberg would feel wronged that she had to suffer for the actions of her ancestor, but she would eventually accept the inescapable reality while crying and resenting said ancestor.

Even if she swung a knife at her master without fear, the mind of a woman who had lived as a noblewoman would eventually be no different from a sandcastle.

He was a little worried about Freya Lindberg’s guardian, who had opposed the marriage to the end, but now that she had come to Niflheim, it was difficult to raise any objections.

‘A scared sheep trapped in a barn.’

Erik looked at Freya, who couldn’t take her eyes off the forest where only tree stumps remained.

***

After that, Erik knew that his prediction was correct.

He could hear the sound of crying coming from Freya’s room for several days after showing her the apple orchard.

It was so sad that whenever he passed by the hallway in front of it, it felt like it was haunted by a ghost there who had died unjustly.

“I’m not eating! Would you be able to eat if you were in my situation? Bring me the doctor!”

However, even though she was sad, she was also extremely angry. All the servants were at a loss.

After crying for several days, she felt like her head was going to burst and demanded to see a doctor.

Eric pondered. Even if Freya signed the marriage contract and legally became a citizen of this place, it was still dangerous to have her meet a doctor from the outside.

In particular, the doctor she requested was someone who frequently went on house calls, so it was difficult to consider him a person of the castle.

Rumors of the margrave’s new bride fainting every day could spread through the doctor walking in and out, and if they were unlucky, he might feel sorry for her and give her something like contraceptives.

He didn’t think it would be impossible, considering how her strange face bewitched him.

But in the end, Erik had no choice but to call the doctor. Freya ended up collapsing.