Hoping for My Death

Chapter 9 9. I Lost

Randall, who had resolved matters outside, returned to the castle late in the evening.

Even upon returning to the castle, his work did not end.

He hurriedly contacted the vassals and after grabbing a simple dinner in his office, he finished his usual tasks, and before he knew it, it was already deep into the night.

It was only then that Randall could hear about what had happened during the day from Wilcott.

“… So, what about Chik Hetla?”

“He sold what he had and returned the excessive amount he received from the previous transaction. Since the very existence of the merchant group itself was at risk, he decided to leave the North altogether.”

“Sylvia did those?”

“Yes.”

Wilcott answered, bowing his head.

Randall slightly furrowed his brow, tapping the desk with his index finger as he lost himself in thought.

Once again, he felt a sense of discomfort from the image of Sylvia that he had heard from Wilcott.

‘… It’s strange.’

Just as it had been during the reception, Sylvia occasionally exhibited the kind of experience that should only be felt from a seasoned noblewoman.

That aspect of her kept bothering him.

He was leaning towards the fact that Sylvia and the Fleurette family were not spies for the king, but he couldn’t completely let his guard down.

‘But gratitude is a separate matter.’

However, it was true that Sylvia’s actions had ultimately been of great help to the Belfort Duchy.

Thanks to the money received from the Cherville merchant, they were able to proceed quickly with tasks such as searching for the Dark Vermin and enhancing the barrier stones, even though there were many places where budget allocation was needed.

No matter the reason, if one receives help, they must express gratitude.

That was the teaching of the previous Duke and Duchess.

Randall stood up from his seat.

As he walked towards the bedroom, he asked Wilcott.

“What did she do after that?”

“She remained in her bed.”

“…?”

＊＊＊

“This can’t be…”

Late afternoon.

After kicking out Chik and even ordering Wilcott to issue a demand for a return of assets, Sylvia lay in bed, taken aback by the shock.

‘… I’ve been more diligent than yesterday.’

For her, who had grown accustomed to laziness over the past 22 years, this was a shocking turn of events.

Is this what inertia feels like?

That said, the behaviors that had been imprinted on her body and mind for hundreds of years were not going to disappear after just 22 years of rest.

‘I’ve wasted my years…’

She momentarily felt a pang of sorrow at the sight of the weak-willed servants.

She was someone who didn’t easily waver in most situations, but seeing such foolish people made her feel as though she was looking at herself in her first life.

Sylvia reflected on the earlier incident and took a deep breath to calm her emotions.

Gradually, her eyes, which had been clouded by shock, regained their usual indifferent glint.

‘Deals and whatnot, it’s better to quickly get through the midnight and distance myself. Perhaps I should visit places where distortions frequently occur.’

In her opinion, it was a deal suggested partly out of consideration for Randall, but as a result, she kept forgetting her actual purpose.

Sylvia had come here to die, not to become this diligent.

It would probably be better to fulfill the bare minimum duties and then stay out of the way.

‘I’ll pretend to be asleep, and when Randall comes back, I’ll hold him and try one more time…’

As a person without a conscience, she decided to end the deal in just one day and pretended to sleep.

However, as her stamina ran out, she eventually fell into a deep slumber as if she had truly fainted.

Sylvia regained consciousness when she heard the soft sound of a door closing.

‘Randall…?’

As she awoke from her slumber and gradually regained her senses, she heard hushed footsteps drawing near, and the bed shook slightly.

It felt as though Randall had taken his place and laid down, the cool air flowing beneath the blanket.

The cold air brought Sylvia back to her senses.

‘Did I fall asleep?’

Afterward, Sylvia continued to pretend to be asleep, while secretly tuning her ears to any movement behind her.

Randall’s breathing was regular.

Convinced he had fallen asleep, she cautiously turned her body beneath the blanket.

‘… Nice body.’

Sylvia found herself unconsciously fixating her gaze on the wide back wrapped in a black silk robe.

A body that elicited admiration every time she saw it.

While keeping an eye on Randall’s movements, Sylvia discreetly reached out her hand.

The moment she gripped the end of the cord that held his robe together.

Fwip!

“…!”

In an instant, her view flipped.

It literally happened in the blink of an eye.

Randall, who she had thought was asleep, had tightly wrapped her body in the duvet and was now looking down at her.

“Wife.”

His low voice pierced her ears.

Startled and almost accidentally conjuring her magic, Sylvia flinched.

“Sylvia.”

“…Yes.”

When he called her name again, Sylvia reluctantly replied.

Through the duvet, Randall’s arm was wrapped tightly around Sylvia’s waist.

He was a young man, certainly younger than her if you counted her last life, but for some reason she couldn’t look him in the eye right now.

“What are you doing?”

“…..”

“Just because it’s nighttime doesn’t mean our deal is forgotten.”

“…..”

“Wife?”

Sylvia, who had become speechless, remained quiet for a moment.

But she soon choked up.

No, even for an upright person, there are limits.

Why is this so difficult in the first place!

When a cat’s surroundings suddenly change, they tend to get stressed and exhibit aggressive behavior.

Sylvia was exactly like that.

With a newfound hope that she might finally find a way to die, she had chosen to head north.

But her husband, who was supposed to seem well and relaxed, was more like a piece of stone, busier than ever, and couldn’t rest at all.

As things continued to unfold contrary to what she had been thinking, irritation welled up within her.

“First, let go of me.”

“If my wife calms down first.”

“No, I’m not saying we have to do it every day. What’s the big deal about a married couple doing it once in a while!”

In the end, Sylvia yelled in frustration.

She struggled within the duvet, but the strong arm didn’t even budge.

‘My wife seems quite… frank.’

Randall tried to stay calm.

Although Sylvia attempting to break the deal was a bit disappointing, it was also true that she had greatly helped him today.

After some consideration, Randall gently pulled only Sylvia’s arm out from under the duvet and placed his hand in hers.

“Go to sleep.”

“…?”

“Satisfy yourself with this and get some rest.”

“What…”

“Today, I’ll make a special concession without any conditions.”

“No, it’s not necessary…”

Sylvia retorted bitterly, but Randall paid no heed and gently patted her back with his other hand.

“Go to sleep. It’s late.”

Baffled, Sylvia stared at Randall with widened eyes.

However, he closed his eyes and continued to pat her back in a steady rhythm.

‘… I lost.’

Sylvia felt a bit defeated.

Yes, as she said, there was no point in arguing with a fool.

Given the circumstances, she had no choice but to go along slowly, even if it was a bit bothersome.

‘Of course, if an opportunity arises, I’ll have to strike back.’

She sighed inwardly with resignation.

The warmth from the held hand and the steady motion of his hand patting her back gradually made her eyelids heavy.

Eventually, just like on the first night, Sylvia fell into a drowsy sleep.

Randall, who had been waiting for Sylvia to fall asleep, sneakily opened his eyes and looked down at her, a faint smile forming on his lips.

Anyway, his newlywed wife was quite intriguing… and physically weak.

‘What on earth did she expect to do with a body like hers in the first place?’

Strangely, instead of feeling frustrated about it, he just chuckled.

With a faint smile on his lips, Randall adjusted the duvet to make Sylvia more comfortable in her sleep.

He didn’t realize he was laughing himself.

＊＊＊

Auston Dorsler, the wizard affiliated with the Belfort Duchy, had been feeling uneasy lately.

It seemed like his Lord had become a bit odd.

‘He’s at it again.’

He had come to report on the status of the barrier stones in the areas where distortions frequently occurred.

Randall, while reading the report he had submitted, was chuckling to himself, clearly thinking of something else.

Randall had always been a rather benevolent master, but that didn’t necessarily make him a jovial one.

However, these days, whenever he laughs like that, it is hard to put into words. It was a bit… much.

‘Like a dog.’

… A large dog at that.

Eventually, Auston, who had noticed his superior’s unusual behavior, spoke up about it.

“Lord. Even if you’ve gone crazy, don’t forget to pay my salary. Setting that aside, why do you keep laughing?”

“… Huh? Ahh.”

Randall finally realized that he had been laughing and composed his expression.

But then, he remembered the events of the morning and burst into laughter again.

‘Her expression is just too…’

A few hours ago, during breakfast with Sylvia, Randall discreetly pushed a nourishing dish toward her.

-…….

Sylvia, who had hesitated for a moment, reached out her hand and pushed the dish away without saying a word.

When Sylvia pushed the dish back, Randall repeatedly brought it in front of her again.

Finally, after continuing this silent battle, Sylvia gave up with a loathing expression and opened her mouth.

-We didn’t have any dealings today.

-I’ll give you my hand.

-Forget it.

-Then how about a hug?

-…….

It was amusing how she shut her mouth as soon as she heard that and looked seriously lost in thought.

Eventually, with a furrowed face, Sylvia consumed about half of the nourishing dish, and growled that she would get the price tonight and disappeared.

‘… Perhaps she doesn’t really know what the first night is.’

The ease with which she spoke of handling the price at night and the casualness with which she kissed him at the wedding were also like that.

Could it be because she didn’t understand the meaning and weight behind those actions that she was so fearless?

“She’s obviously young…”

“Lord.”

“… But why does she only look her age in that part?”

“Lord!”

“Ah.”

Randall, who was muttering to himself, lost in thought about Sylvia again, snapped his head up.

At this point, Auston’s expression tightened as if he couldn’t stand to look at Randall anymore, and he aggressively asked.

“Really, what’s the matter with you? What would you do if Madam is truly in league with the king?”

“… Though you are free to think but watch your language in the presence of others who are not me, Auston.”

Randall’s face visibly darkened at his words.

His pale green eyes, framed by the window’s light, glinted coldly.

Realizing his mistake, Auston took a step back and bowed his head.

“I apologize. I misspoke.”

“If you understand, then it’s fine. More importantly, I think we need to improve the formula of the barrier stones.”

“Yes. It seems that the route connecting the North to the capital is difficult to traverse without skilled mercenaries…”

Auston’s voice trailed off.

The merchant group of Chik Hetla, who had been swindling in the north, had disappeared completely.

In such cases, numerous contenders usually vied for the vacant position, but this was the North.

It was a place where the cost of coming and going could be one’s life.

As a result, the north was now cut off from merchant groups.

If things continued like this, the territory’s economy would be significantly destabilized, and even the stability of the ruling class could be at risk.

The issue lay in the fact that the fundamental form of the barrier currently used in the kingdom had been devised by the renowned Archmage Allysa.

Allysa, the first and only Archmage in history, who tragically disappeared during the battle against the demons.

She was akin to a teacher to all wizards.

Especially when it came to the foundational formula of barrier magic that was known to have been researched by Allysa until her passing.

Her formula was so close to perfection that even to this day, no more efficient formula had been developed.

Hence, Auston had also based the barrier stones installed in the Belfort Duchy on Allysa’s foundational formula, given its unparalleled effectiveness.

However, the situation had changed, and a barrier even stronger than Allysa’s had become necessary.

Auston found himself tormented by the thought of working overtime, but it was an unavoidable task.

In truth, he cared little for the physical discomfort, as he had his eyes set on the extra pay.

After all, what did a body matter if it would decay into nothing upon death? His creed was to work hard and earn money while alive!

… That was Auston’s philosophy.

“I don’t have a wizard at my level to advise me, so it’s going to be tough. You’ll have to make sure my extra pay is substantial.”

“… I’ll leave it to you.”

“Rest assured, I’ll take care of it!”

Auston replied cheerfully.

With a smile that shone with capitalism.