MHYFMAMD Ch 24

“Grace.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Grace, Grace…”

 

The slurred pronunciation repeated the same word several times. Unlike usual, there was a trace of sorrow in the slurred words.

 

“Don’t leave me.”

 

“…I won’t, I won’t leave.”

 

“You don’t have to do anything. Just stay by my side. Please, please…”

 

Ah. In the end, Tenesia couldn’t hold back her tears.

 

Her heart swelled with joy.

 

At the same time, it felt as though her heart was being torn apart.

 

Why hadn’t she noticed sooner? Why hadn’t she been able to tell him her feelings a little earlier, or even understand his heart?

 

The late regret tangled within her chest.

 

Perhaps they could have been a better family, after all.

 

“Yes. I’m here. Always by your side…”

 

Greed eventually surfaced, and Tenesia lowered her voice as much as she could, hoping Dietrich wouldn’t hear.

 

Grace was already dead. She couldn’t bear to burden the living with pain anymore.

 

But still, she was relieved that they understood each other’s hearts. Perhaps, if she hadn’t realized his true feelings by the end, she would have never known.

 

It was clearly a good thing. Yet, for some reason, the tears wouldn’t stop.

 

“Dietrich. Just like new age rises, the empty spaces will eventually be filled. You’ve always done well. You’ll keep doing well in the future.”

 

“…”

 

“Because Dietrich Haberfeld has always been that way.”

 

Just before their lips touched. In that close moment, Dietrich stopped. Their heated breaths intertwined. It felt like her lips could touch his just by lightly applying pressure to her neck.

 

She was grateful that he remembered her. But at the same time, she wished he would forget her quickly.

 

There was nothing more painful than living while burying a dead person inside.

 

“You always said that…”

 

“…”

 

“Time heals everything…”

 

Tenesia’s next words never reached him. Perhaps out of a sudden whim, Dietrich kissed her roughly. His hot breath seemed to melt her mind.

 

Her hand, which had been moving aimlessly, soon stopped.

 

Tenesia didn’t try to continue speaking. She simply accepted his touch and emotions, quietly.

 

It was a relief that the room was dark. Even if her eyes were a mess, he wouldn’t be able to see them.

 

Her heart, overwhelmed with happiness, could remain hidden, so no one could see the deep emotion she was feeling.

 

It was a quiet, warm night.

**********************

Dietrich’s aide paused when he saw his superior at the desk, who arrived earlier than usual.

 

‘Could it be that he didn’t sleep again?’

 

The sight of him with his hands clasped on the desk and his forehead resting on them reminded the someone completely drained. It looked just like the state from five years ago, and as he stood frozen, he regained his composure.

 

‘He has found a new wife!’ 

 

He acted as if he  would spend years searching for traces of Margravine Haberfeld, but just a few days ago, Dietrich had suddenly declared his remarriage.

 

The shock from that announcement was still fresh, and the aide, Marlo, felt his heart racing.

 

‘Finally, he’s changed his mind.’

 

Even though it was sad that someone had died, the living must go on, don’t they? He couldn’t do everything alone. He needed someone by his side to handle internal affairs.

 

Apparently, the person who would play that role had come into the mansion. Given that he couldn’t wait and immediately took her home, it was clear that his feelings were sincere.

 

“But…”

 

Then, what was all this?

 

“…Phew.”

 

Dietrich let out a long sigh, looking nothing like someone who had just taken a new wife. His usual gloomy demeanor now also carried a sense of confusion.

 

‘Has something unresolved come up? Or did they fight on their first night?’

 

After considering that far, Marlo shook his head, thinking he was being overly speculative. What could possibly go wrong on the first night?

 

It was probably just the difficulty of leaving his new wife at home to come to work.

 

Marlo stepped closer.

 

“Did you have a good night? How’s the new bride?”

 

“Shut up.”

 

Poor Marlo fell silent, unable to say a word.

 

“…Hah.”

 

This time, a larger sigh escaped from Dietrich. With each breath, a faint smell of alcohol lingered.

 

“…Do you have a problem? Could something have happened last night…?”

 

“I told you to shut up.”

 

Dietrich’s hand twitched as he held the paper. The paper crumpled under his grip, and Marlo immediately shut his mouth, as if stitched closed.

 

Dietrich frowned in irritation.

 

Marlo’s words weren’t completely wrong. It was true that Dietrich was sighing from the events of the previous night.

 

‘…D*mn it.’

 

It was something he brought upon himself.

 

The moment he brought Tenesia to the castle as his wife, spending the night together had been inevitable.

 

Despite it being the first time in a long time that he was with a woman, he didn’t feel anything.

 

It wasn’t that Tenesia was the problem. It was just that any woman who wasn’t Grace felt the same to him.

 

If he could, he’d want to hire a stand-in. Once the door was closed, who would know the difference?

 

But that was impossible.

 

He had chosen to marry Tenesia, rejecting an arranged marriage with the emperor’s selected bride. Refusing the friendly signals from the imperial family meant he had to be especially careful.

 

The suspicious and finicky emperor wouldn’t be easily convinced just by a marriage announcement.

 

Even though he had said he would marry, the emperor had forced a unilateral decision. Perhaps he’d show Dietrich what it meant to not marry the fourth princess.

 

Even if they divorced later, there could never be any talk of marriage in vain. That was why Dietrich went ahead with the first night.

 

Even if he ends up regretting this decision later.