Chapter 2

                                    

                                          
There was no one in the capital whom Luize could call as a friend. She followed Reiad to a few banquets, but no one had approached her since Luize had picked up the food at her first banquet. Reiad later informed her that the banquet wasn't for eating, but it had already happened. Luize was surprised that so much delicious food was piled up, but no one was eating it.
It's not that Luize didn't try to make friends. But when Luize approached first, the crowd dispersed, and the woman who was alone smiled awkwardly and moved away.
Occasionally, someone would approach Luize and ask her maiden name. Luize was from a village in the corner of the countryside, closest to Perils, which is also called the Forest of Death. Her last name was common, and she was a commoner, so she thought there was no way anyone in the capital would know about her.
"Your name is Luize. Now that Luize is part of Cloette's family, I hope you'll forget your previous last name. I don't want people to ignore Luize. So, don't reveal your previous last name to anyone."
That was also Reiad's request. It was also for her own good anyway, so she accepted his request.
She was okay with feeling a little lonely. Because she has Reiad, who shines like sunshine for her. He was forgetting their anniversary more often, but she thought it would be okay.
Another year has passed like that. It was dinner with his lover, who had started staying at the mansion as a guest. Reiad left, saying he had something to do.
"May I ask where Madam is from?" asked the lover, who had started staying at the mansion as a guest. She was the daughter of a new noble who had just entered the capital.
Luize was worried. She didn't ask for her last name, but wouldn't just reveal where she came from be putting Reiad in trouble? Again, it seemed that not saying anything would help establish Reiad's reputation.
"It's because I want to be friends." The lover smiled sweetly. It was a face that didn't show the slightest hint of bad intentions.
Luize's complexion brightened. Although it wasn't a very happy meeting, she was very lonely and was slowly growing tired of that loneliness. "I'm from Perils. To be exact, a small village adjacent to Perils."
"Perils? Are you talking about the place called the Forest of Death?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god. May I ask your maiden name?"
"Ah, that's..." Luize smiled awkwardly.
At that moment, Reiad returned.
"You two look like having fun. Did you two talk about anything interesting?"
"I asked where Madam is from." His lover replied with a smile.
Reiad's expression hardened for an instant. The next day, Reiad asked her not to reveal her last name or where she was from. That lover never visited the mansion again after that day. It was then that Luize realized that he was ashamed of her origins.
Besides that lover, Reiad had lovers who often spoke to Luize. Every time, Luize answered politely, but when it came to stories related to her origins, she consistently answered, 'You wouldn't know even if you heard about it.'
Luize was still lonely, so she was grateful to the people who talked to her. But as things became more frequent and the lovemaking between Reiad and his lovers became more and more bold, something in her heart grew cold.
Wife or Luize. Despite the obvious warmth, his voice calling her became more suffocating as he called more frequently.
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