Chapter 106 - Chapter 106: Freya's Wedding
This is a rescue for a plot idea I had considered for a long novel but ultimately scrapped.
This story takes place shortly after Sherry became pregnant.
Freya Parker looked at the Baronet Parker sleeping beside her and felt irritated.
When Freya first got married, she thought she would only be able to become a mistress to a wealthy noble or merchant, given her family's lack of money at the time. She was grateful that she had become the legitimate wife of a noble, even if he was only a baronet.
Although this was a political marriage intended to build connections in the western region, she thanked the gods for meeting a husband who was handsome and kind.
However, that husband incurred massive losses in the stock market. Just when it seemed those losses were erased thanks to Steve's achievements, he got involved in another market and suffered huge losses again.
The first time, he swallowed his pride and begged his parents' home for funds to manage the estate, but the second time, there was simply no way. He had lost control of the estate to her, and she had taken over management herself, managing to scrape by somehow.
Then came the news of her younger sister's marriage.
Sherry, who was the very embodiment of laziness, had married the King of the Kingdom of Merda. Freya had thought Sherry would never be able to marry, so this was truly a bolt from the blue.
After Freya married and left home, her father Brian was elevated to the rank of Baron, her sister Sherry became a Queen, and her brother Steve received the Dragon Head Medal. Thinking that if she had delayed her own marriage a little longer, a different future might have been possible, she felt nothing but anger toward her worthless husband.
In Freya's mind, she believed she was more capable than Sherry. The fact that she was currently managing the estate herself was what made her think that way.
The reason she was thinking such things now was that tomorrow she was scheduled to visit Sherry in the Kingdom of Merda.
Steve was coming to pick them up, and they were all going to visit Sherry together with Brian and Abigail. Because of this, she couldn't help but compare her current self with her family back home.
The next day, they arrived at the Royal Castle of the Kingdom of Merda in an instant thanks to Steve's magic. Steve was a celebrity at the castle and had free passage. Furthermore, Freya and Abigail also resembled Sherry, so there was no need to explain that they were mother and daughter, or sisters.
It had become legend that Brian had to slap Abigail when she insisted on explaining that they were not sisters, though she was smiling bitterly.
King Abel and Sherry came out to welcome Steve and the rest of the group.
"Welcome. Father-in-law, Mother-in-law. And also, my sister-in-law and her husband, and my younger brother-in-law."
Normally, the King is the highest authority, and even as a father-in-law, one should be humble. However, given the circumstances of the Kingdom of Merda, the status of a noble from the Kingdom of Cascade and the King were effectively the same. With the added relationship of father-in-law and mother-in-law, even as a King, Abel would have to be the one to take the lower stance.
Furthermore, as family, they prioritized age over titles. This was because today was an unofficial visit.
Sherry's belly had grown large, making movement difficult, so she greeted them while seated.
Freya spoke to Sherry.
"You've grown quite large. It must be difficult to move around."
"It's true. I can't do inspection work anymore."
"What kind of inspection?"
"Education sites, river construction projects, and development around the station area."
Hearing this, Freya looked at Sherry intently.
"What is it?"
"No, it's just that Sherry seems like a completely different person, so I wondered if we are really the same sister."
"Don't say things like that in front of Abel."
Sherry puffed out her cheeks, and laughter erupted. To Abel, it was unimaginable that Sherry could be lazy, but to the members of House Archibalt, they thought Sherry was currently putting on an act and wondered when her plating would peel off.
However, neither Brian, Abigail, nor Steve said anything to Abel about it.
Freya said it out of jealousy toward her younger sister.
She envied the life of living in a luxurious palace where servants took care of everything for her. In reality, the state treasury was in dire straits, and the pregnant Sherry was driven to the point where she had to work.
Indeed, the grass always looked greener on the other side.
Afterward, Brian and Steve discussed work matters with the royal couple, while Abigail took a break, and the Baronet Parker couple went sightseeing. Freya and the Baronet Parker went out to the Royal Capital with a soldier guide. The soldier, eager to guide the wife of the beloved Queen, was very enthusiastic.
"This is the school where Her Majesty the Queen teaches."
"That child teaching? My sister has become so accomplished without me knowing. When she was at home, she hated studying and ran away."
"Immediately after the defeat, we wondered what would happen to everyone, but seeing Her Majesty's dedicated work, everyone now admires her. It is hard to imagine such a figure."
The soldier who admired Sherry was confused by the pre-marriage stories of Sherry told by Freya. Since it was not slander but fact, Freya did not seem malicious, and her rebuttals were weak.
As they continued sightseeing around the town, Freya noticed people putting their hands together or bowing to her.
"What is this?"
Freya asked the soldier.
"Many people probably mistake you for Her Majesty because your appearance resembles hers. I know the situation and am guiding you, so I make no mistakes, but when I first met you, I was impressed by how similar you looked. From a distance, it is understandable that you might be mistaken for Her Majesty."
"I see."
Even though it was a misunderstanding, Freya did not feel bad that the residents bowed to her. However, she thought that if she were in the same environment, she could have done the same. Then she glanced at the Baronet Parker. She compared him to Prince Abel.
Right at that moment. Suddenly, a man from the crowd rushed at Freya with a knife.
"You poisonous woman!"
He shouted and thrust the knife forward, but it never reached Freya. The Baronet Parker reacted immediately, drew his sword, and cut off the man's wrist.
Then the Baronet Parker looked at the guiding soldier.
"What is this?"
"I apologize. We will investigate immediately. Today's tour will end here."
"Yes, that is so."
The Baronet Parker accepted the cancellation of the sightseeing and looked at his wife. Seeing Freya pale and trembling, he gently embraced her.
"It's okay now."
"Thank you."
Freya thanked him and looked at her husband's face. Her husband, who was alerting the surroundings to see if there were any other attackers, felt reliable to her for the first time in a long while.
They returned to the Royal Castle immediately and told the royal couple and Steve about the assassination attempt. Steve went to the attacker and used magic to force a confession of his background. The result revealed that the attack was committed by a lone individual. He was the son of a noble who had lost his estate, drifted into the Royal Capital seeking work, but could not keep a job because he could not shed his noble mindset. While homeless, he was scouted by a nationalist and targeted the Queen when she appeared in the city. Until now, the guards were too thick to attack, but today the escort was small, so he attacked.
Steve told the attacker that since the target was Freya, it would fail no matter what. The attacker bit his lower lip until blood flowed, filled with regret.
In the end, no further information could be extracted from the attacker, and he was sentenced to death and executed immediately. An investigation into the nationalists who instigated the attack was launched.
Compensation was paid to Freya by the Kingdom of Merda, and the matter was concluded.
Sherry apologized to Freya after receiving the report.
"Sister, I am sorry you got into danger because of me."
"It's fine. It's not Sherry's fault."
For Freya, who said that, the jealousy toward Sherry she felt when she came to the Kingdom of Merda had vanished. She realized that having a high position meant being right next to danger, and the feeling of envy had disappeared.
Now, she only wished that her younger sister would give birth safely.
After that, they returned home with the schedule advanced significantly.
Upon returning to the estate, Freya felt relieved when she saw her children's faces.
"In the end, being the lady of this estate is just right for me."
Saying that, she threw herself into work the next day as well.
Their marital relationship returned to how it was at the beginning of their marriage, and a year later, a new family member was added.
Thank you always for your typo reports.