IWMHWD 66

Chapter 66: My Husband’s Funeral
2024.01.05

“Come on, Master. Can’t you come with us? Please? You’ve never even been to a café with me because you’re always so busy.”

“What’s the point of going there? We have plenty to eat at home.”

“You really don’t understand women. Eating outside while talking with people is a whole different experience.”

“…Fine. Leo, just for a bit. Let’s talk before we go.”

Whether it was Cordelia’s whining or Lydia’s gentle urging, Leonard reluctantly agreed to join them at a café, though he made his displeasure very clear.

As their plan succeeded, Cordelia and Lydia quietly exchanged glances.

Naturally, none of this happened by chance.
Cordelia simply couldn’t turn down Lydia’s desperate plea and had gone so far as to bring her here on purpose to help her friend’s love.

The three of them were led to the best and most secluded table in the café.

“Leo, you don’t really like sweets, do you? I won’t order you any dessert.”

“Master doesn’t like sweets? Why not?”

“Because I just don’t.”

“You’ve always had such picky tastes. Do you know how many times I had to bow to the palace chefs just to get meals you’d eat?”

“You even bowed to the chefs?”

“Ugh, and whose fault do you think that was?”

As Leonard laughed mockingly, Cordelia glared at him in frustration.
She had lost count of how many perfectly good meals she’d had to throw out and remake just to suit his tastes back then.

And now he was laughing about it like it meant nothing!

“That really happened?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. By the way, Lydia, how have you been lately?”

Realizing Lydia had been left out of the conversation, Cordelia quickly turned to her.
Lydia smiled gracefully, like a blooming hydrangea.

“My days are always the same. I read books or play the piano during the day and attend banquets at night.
These days, your name comes up at every party.”

“Huh? My name?”

“Yes. You’ve received so many invitations, but never replied even once. Everyone’s quite curious.”

“Invitations? Who said I got any invitations? I’ve never received a single one!”

Cordelia naturally turned to Leonard.
He avoided her gaze for once.

“You don’t know anything about this?”

“Nope. I have no idea.”

He feigned ignorance, but it was obvious to anyone that he was lying.
If someone sent the invitations and someone didn’t receive them, someone in the middle must’ve intercepted them.

Cordelia narrowed her eyes at him.

“Cordelia.”

“Yes?”

“The weather’s really nice today, isn’t it?”

“It is. The breeze is—oh!”

She had casually agreed with Lydia’s remark, only to realize it was a signal asking her to give them some time alone.
She shot up from her seat.

“I’ll just step out for a moment.”

“What? Where?”

“Just outside. I want to look around a bit.”

“Your leg hasn’t healed yet. If you’re going, I’ll come too.”

“No! You stay here, Master. I’ll be back really quickly, I promise!”

Cordelia pushed Leonard’s shoulder to keep him seated and swiftly exited the café.
Leonard’s gaze lingered on her back as she left.

Lydia looked at his empty teacup and spoke.

“You finished your tea. Should I order another cup?”

“…”

“The sunlight is beautiful today. I never imagined I’d be sitting here drinking tea with you again. I’m so glad you came back safely, Leo.”

“If you’ve got something to say, say it. You even chased away my injured disciple, so it must be important.”

“I didn’t chase her away. You misunderstood.”

Lydia smiled softly. For the first time, Leonard met her eyes.
There was no emotion in his violet gaze.

“To you, Cordelia might just be another friend.
But to my student, who came up from the countryside, you’re probably her only friend.
I’m tolerating this because I know you used Cordelia to arrange this meeting, Lydia Elfenbaum.”

“Cordelia is precious to me too.”

“Precious? Sure, let’s say that’s true. I don’t want to waste more time with you. Just say what you came to say.”

“…Can’t you just treat me a little kindly? We’ve known each other for over ten years.”

“Hahaha.”

Leonard laughed loudly, then abruptly stopped.
His expression mixed annoyance, weariness, and faint contempt.

“Now you’re asking for pointless things. I’m leaving.”

“Leo. Wait, just a moment.”

Lydia grabbed his sleeve urgently.
Leonard harshly slapped her hand away.

“Don’t be a nuisance. The only reason I kept you close all this time is because you never stepped over the line.”

“What about Cordelia?”

“What?”

“Why can she step over that line when I, who’ve known you for over ten years, can’t?”

“Cordelia is my disciple. She’s different from you.”

That’s how you look at a disciple? she wanted to ask.
But Lydia was terrified that saying it out loud would make Leonard realize her feelings.

At the same time, her jealousy toward Cordelia burned hotter than ever.
Once she admitted it, the emotion consumed her like fire to dry grass.

How could she be so casual, clinging to Leonard’s arm, chatting with him, and even living in the same mansion?
Everything about it was unbearable.

“You should’ve just stayed alone.”

“What?”

“If you had no one around you, I could’ve been content.
Maybe I would’ve married someone else, had children, and stayed satisfied just being your friend for life.”

“But you’re not satisfied with that anymore, are you?”

“You broke your vow never to take a disciple and accepted Cordelia.
So why wouldn’t you break your vow on marriage? That terrifies me.”

Leonard didn’t respond.
It was clear he didn’t even think it was worth responding to.
His expression showed only boredom.

Lydia looked at him for a long time.

She once believed he was her destiny.
She dreamed of marrying him with blessings, having children, and maybe—if they were lucky—falling in love.

“Let’s get married. I’ll adapt to your needs.
If we marry, Blay is willing to give the diamond mine in Lotz as part of my dowry.
I won’t ask for love. You don’t have to come home after marriage.
You can even have a mistress, and I won’t say a word.”

“How generous.
You don’t want love, don’t care if I’m absent, and you’ll even tolerate a mistress?
Then what are you getting out of this marriage?”

“Your wife’s title. The right to be legally by your side for life. That’s all I want.”

Lydia’s blue eyes didn’t waver.
If she couldn’t have his love, she would settle for a hollow title.

“Sorry, but my answer is still the same.
Honestly, I’m tired of rejecting you. How many more times do I have to say no before you accept it?”

“Just think of it as a political decision. You need an heir anyway.”

“Why are you concerned with the succession of Atilay?”

“Then what, are you planning to let Atilay end with your generation?”

“That’s none of your concern either.”

As Leonard spoke, his gaze drifted to Cordelia sitting on a bench outside the café.
She was curiously looking around at the people passing by.

Lydia saw where he was looking and bit her lip hard.
Leonard stood up.

“Seems like you’ve said everything you came to say. I’ll be going now. And one more thing.”

“…One more thing?”

“Don’t use Cordelia’s feelings.
She thinks you’re a real friend.”

“Even now… it’s all about Cordelia.”

Finally, a single tear fell from Lydia’s eye, one she had held back for so long.
She looked up at him, voice trembling.

“If I had talent in magic like her, would you have looked at me too?”

“Maybe. I might’ve at least noticed you.”

And with that, Leonard left the café, leaving Lydia behind.
She wiped her tears and reached out to touch the empty teacup he had used.

If only I hadn’t given up on magic…
If only I had been as talented as Cordelia…

These meaningless “what-ifs” turned into a corrosive inferiority complex that gnawed at Lydia’s heart.
She couldn’t bring herself to leave that seat for a long time.