CHAPTER~05
Unexpected Reunion in the Carriage
The truly unexpected reunion after five years was suffocating beyond imagination.
“…….”
I found myself, caught off guard, sitting face-to-face with Frezen in the parade carriage. My eyes still stung as I roughly wiped tears from my nose, feeling a piercing gaze from somewhere—it was Frezen.
‘Why does he have to stare like that? So uncomfortable.’
I fidgeted with my fingers, unsure how to handle the awkwardness. Mela had called him “Dad” out of nowhere, complicating things. My mind was in chaos, worried about Mela in the other carriage.
Finally, unable to suppress my anxiety, I turned to check the following carriage. The distance made it hard to see, but I could faintly make out a human silhouette. Luckily, Mela was fine, sitting comfortably as if in her own room. Truly, her spirit was remarkable.
I returned to my seat, putting my worry aside.
“Still the same habit.”
“…….”
“Fidgeting with your fingers when nervous. You did that even before.”
Frezen’s unexpectedly familiar voice startled me. After five years, he still remembered my habits. I felt a mix of surprise and embarrassment.
To avoid getting carried away, I quickly changed the topic.
“I don’t know what you want, but could you please say it quickly? Being in this carriage is extremely awkward.”
It would be disastrous if any strange rumors spread—an unhelpful woman in Frezen Decart’s victory parade carriage, who also happened to be his ex-wife. Ugh, the thought alone was unbearable.
Frezen surprisingly nodded without saying more.
“Fine, I’ll get to the point. That child called me ‘Dad’.”
Predictably, I quickly responded.
“It’s a misunderstanding.”
“Then it’s a mistake.”
“Her name is… Mela.”
“……Mela. And I said it’s a misunderstanding!”
Frezen seemed deaf to my explanation. The conversation was like sword against shield, sharp and tense. His voice suddenly deepened.
“It’s been five years.”
“…….”
“Five years is enough to change.”
I wondered why he was unusually hesitant. I was planning my escape during this awkward moment.
“Since when?”
He asked earnestly. I didn’t understand the meaning and could only tilt my head.
“That child… really my…”
“No!”
“……”
“No, she’s not!”
I quickly covered his mouth before he could finish. His sharp eyes narrowed further, and I instinctively shrank my shoulders under the piercing gaze.
“Anyway, listen carefully, Duke. You’re misunderstanding.”
“Misunderstanding? Then she’s your daughter?”
“No! She’s not! That child… isn’t what you think. She’s my niece temporarily under my care!”
“……Niece?”
Despite repeated explanations, his glare remained fierce. His bright red irises flickered with brief surprise before returning to their cold stare.
“…A niece, you say.”
Frezen repeated the word like weighing an enemy’s name, his voice deadly and deliberate. My lips felt parched, and I could only watch anxiously.
“I didn’t recognize her.”
Surprisingly, he accepted the truth. I widened my eyes in shock as he drew his sword at his waist, ready to halt the carriage.
“…No! Absolutely not!”
I jumped up, and the carriage jolted violently. I almost crashed into the wall, but Frezen’s large hand steadied me.
“Still clumsy, I see.”
“…….”
“Nothing has changed. I wondered if it had.”
He held me firmly, supporting me on his thigh. I struggled to free myself, but his grip was too strong. The carriage jolted again, and I clutched at whatever I could—unfortunately, his neck. I cleared my throat, embarrassed, and heard his soft laugh.
“Why… are you laughing?”
He didn’t answer, only smirking, and strangely, my heart fluttered.
‘Nothing changes even after divorce. There was never love in our marriage anyway.’
Memories struck—his smug face, teasing and laughing. I tensed, and quickly took advantage of his momentary lapse to free myself.
“If you have nothing to say, I’ll leave. The parade will end soon, so just drop me off outside. Don’t let anyone notice.”
I wanted the parade to end quickly. The awkward silence in the carriage was unbearable.
“What do you want to say?”
“She’s not a niece.”
“…….”
His words left me dumbfounded. I couldn’t even respond, confronted with the certainty in his eyes that the child was truly mine.
“The way that child looked at me… she resembles you a lot, Evlyen.”
What kind of look? Frezen’s serious expression explained.
“Even briefly, when you looked at me disdainfully, the expression and eyes were exactly the same. So much so I almost got goosebumps.”
…Is that really proof? My head ached. To think he’d believe it just because she said “Dad” once.
“And she cried just now, so sorrowfully. I can’t be fooled by anyone, Evlyen.”
It was only the spice that made me tear up. Even if I explained, he was already fully convinced otherwise.
“I see.”
His gaze exuded the confidence of victory, making me nervous.
“Don’t try to deceive me. I’ve never been fooled by an enemy’s lies.”
Enemy’s lies… Hearing that reminded me he had not changed. I retorted with a smirk.
“Too bad. I wasn’t your enemy, I was your wife.”
“…….”
“Also, I used to be a foolish childhood friend of a sword-obsessed idiot.”
Frezen’s pupils flickered slightly at my words. He turned pale as he realized his mistake.
“Anyway…! Don’t misunderstand. It’s absolutely not like that, understand?”
The final celebratory fireworks signaled the parade’s end. I rose from my seat, eager to leave.
Frezen still grabbed my ankle, wanting to say more. Irritated, I tried to pull away.
“You need to cover your face. What if someone sees?”
He approached and carefully pulled the robe hood over me. His breath brushed my neck, soft and warm. Suddenly…
“Ah!”
The carriage door opened, and Frezen nudged me forward, smirking mischievously.
“See you again, my wife.”
“See me again? What do you mean?”
Early evening had arrived. Despite time passing, the unexpected reunion left my mind in turmoil.
“We’ll meet again? Absolutely not!”
While preparing for tomorrow’s auction market visit, I shouted into the empty air, frustrated. I had already lost count of how many times. My teeth clenched in anger, feeling cheated.
‘He said the child called him Dad…’
My attention turned back to Mela. Why had she approached him and shouted “Dad” so impulsively? I decided it was better to go ask than go crazy with curiosity. I stopped my work and walked toward Mela’s room.
Heading to the room nearest the second-floor staircase, the door was slightly ajar.
“Mela, you’re not asleep yet…”
Worried she might be intimidated by today’s events, I approached quickly.
“Mela?”
Inside, I saw a room filled with magical circles I had never seen before.
