Toxic Marriage - Chapter 9.2

Chapter 9.2

The doctor was allowed to go to her room only after going through the cumbersome process of having all the items he brought checked in detail.

Although this process was cumbersome every time, Eric had to regularly call the doctor and pay much more attention to Freya’s meals in case something went wrong with her body.

“Gosh, this is a hassle. Is this how ladies who grew up like flowers in a greenhouse are? At this rate, she’ll wither and die.”

After a hectic few days, Erik followed his master to the archery range early in the morning and reported on Freya.

Fenrir would often stop by here and pick up his bow during times when he could walk around without having to wear a veil.

The archery range at dawn was enveloped in tranquil darkness and dim moonlight. The target, which was already dark and difficult to identify, was so far away that it was almost impossible to see.

Still, his master held his breath and pulled back the bowstring without moving an inch, as if he were looking through a target the size of a bean.

“…”

When there was not the slightest breeze or the sound of breathing, he let go of the taut bowstring.

Twang!

The arrow that flew across the air landed on the target board. Erik forgot what he was talking about and spoke excitedly.

“Wow! Bull’s eye!”

In fact, he could only discern that the arrow had hit the target, but since it was always stuck right in the center when he went to fetch it later, he believed it would be the same this time.

“So.”

“Yes?” Erik blinked at the sudden question.

“Does the doctor still visit that room regularly?”

“Ah, yes. According to the maid in charge, her condition is very bad…”

“Anything else?”

“There was nothing else I asked.”

Fenrir silently picked up the next arrow. After analyzing the situation, Erik carefully brought up what he had been planning to say.

“So, I think… we should postpone the union a little. Even though she’s officially your wife, she’s not feeling well. In the worst-case scenario, we may have to get rid of her corpse.”

Fenrir’s silence grew longer as he thought about something. His eyes were serious and sharp as he examined the arrowhead.

“Forget the union, tell her we’ll have dinner together tomorrow.”

“Dinner?”

Erik briefly recalled the smell of the bloody pig liver. Unless it was to torment her as he did then, there was no reason for them to meet for ordinary reasons other than their union, such as having dinner together.

“Something moderately oily,” Fenrir added as if he had read through Erik’s worries. Eric was secretly relieved. He was squeamish.

“Yes, I understand.”

With those words, Fenrir brought the arrow to the bow and pulled the string.

His silent red lips were loosely drawing a curve, like the bowstring.

***

“Can you stop pretending to cry now?”

Freya, who had dripped water over her eyes, stopped what she was doing at Risyr’s words.

“Should I?”

He sighed and approached Freya, who was sitting on the couch.

“If you go too far, it might arouse suspicion.”

Although he said that, the truth was, Freya’s performance was impeccable.

He thought that if it weren’t for her strict guardian, she might have left home long ago to become an actress in some theater company.

When he returned from the apple orchard with the tree stumps and heard loud crying coming from inside her room, Risyr, forgetting that it was rude, ran inside to check on her.

“Miss Freya!”

But he was faced with a Freya without a single worry on her face.

“Oh, Risyr.”

“Who was crying just now…”

“Ah, I did that. There are a lot of ears listening right now, so I’ll explain later. Once I figure this place out a little more. So don’t be surprised if you hear me crying for a while.”

Risyr couldn’t pretend that nothing had happened. Freya had cried so hard.

The people here quickly cast aside their doubts and came to the point where they readily did what she wanted, as she looked like she was about to collapse.

Risyr wanted to know what her purpose was in doing this.

“Isn’t it okay for you to tell me now?”

The reason why Freya continued to act devastated for several days.