The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 3.2

The funeral of the former Archduke Ajauntice was held grandly. He appeared as beautiful as ever lying in his glass coffin. The mourners were shocked but they soon forgot about it. They were concerned with only one thing.

Ilya Ajauntice would be taking over. The Hero of the Tatar expedition.

The crowd of people gathered around Ilya. Count Luten had the loudest voice of them all. He was the head of the most powerful family in the Ajauntice duchy.

“Your Excellency, I am sorry for your loss. It is of utmost importance that you plan for an heir as soon as possible,” said Count Luten.

Ilya was stunned. How could someone say something like that at a funeral? But he laughed at Count Luten’s words anyway. “You must have forgotten that I have a child,” said Ilya.

“That one? You are not thinking of handing over the title to someone of Maduse blood, are you, Your Excellency? You must get rid of them and plan a new heir, of cleaner blood, Your Excellency.”

Maduse blood. He now understood why his wife wanted to take their son and leave while she could.

“Your Excellency. I have a daughter. Perhaps you would like to meet her?” Count Luten gestured to his daughter. Ilya looked at her. The young woman looked like a rose in full bloom.

“Your Excellency. Please call me Michellini Luten. I have seen you before…”

“I remember you,” said Ilya.

She had wooed his brother when he was alive. Ilya recalled the jealousy he felt when he watched his angelic brother become the target of her passionate love. Her first love was lying there in the glass coffin, and she was trying to flirt with Ilya while at his funeral. Ilya smirked. How the tides have turned!

“Your Excellency. My daughter’s coming of age ceremony was held this year.”

“Your Excellency, over here!”

As he smiled, the knights around him tried to introduce their own daughter and sisters to him. It was a very strange funeral. Nobody even mourned the one who was dead.

***

Evelyn attended the funeral with her face hidden under a black veil. She was the only person who grieved for Nasir Ajauntice. Tears fell from her face as she looked at his corpse.

After the funeral, she walked out of the castle alone. There was a small path that connected the chapel and annex. The small path led to a small garden. She walked to the garden feeling more desolate than ever.

[Our son was born yesterday. Do you want to name him?]

Evelyn remembered the words from the endless letters she had sent him. It was before she found out that her family had betrayed her husband and realized he would hold no love for her. Had she known about it earlier, she wouldn’t have sent such naïve and foolish letters.

She knew he hated her. He would never reply to her. She knew she would kill her if he could. Nasir had replied to all her letters:

[Ilya is very busy. But that is great news! I am sure the baby boy would want his mother to name him instead.]

[You are smart. I know you can find a prettier name than Ilya ever can. I think he knows that too.]

He had been a kind person. When everyone in the castle had hated her and her son, he had always directed a kind word to comfort her. Evelyn felt the loss his death caused. She had been woken up by nightmares.

She had wished for him to be known and seen by people as he was: beautiful inside and out. She had wished for him to melt into the drizzling rain that he had loved. She had been lost in those thoughts when a miracle had happened. Nasir’s rotting corpse had reversed and turned into a handsome man with silvery hair who looked like he was only sleeping. The once desolate winter turned into spring with blossoming flowers.

She went and sat underneath the cherry tree in the garden which Nasir loved. She leaned back on the trunk and thought of him. His kindness, his compassion and his ability to win people over. When she opened her eyes, small white flowers bloomed on the branches. The cherry blossoms fluttered and settled on her clothes.

It was finally time for her to leave. Evelyn looked at the blossoming garden and smiled. “Nasir,” she said. “Thank you for your kindness. I promise I will live a fulfilling life with Liv, all thanks to you. Goodbye”

At her last word, the branches rustled and shook off cherry blossoms everywhere so the garden was covered with soft, fragrant flowers.

Nasir, Nasir, Nasir.

Evelyn bid him goodbye. Ilya’s mouth twisted as he looked from a distance and saw his wife calling another man’s name. Even in death, you foul big brother!