The Search for the Duchess’s Husband Chapter 94

It was his affection for his daughter that drove him to choose Elysium over men who offered similar prices.

 

“Better a young man than an old one. Make a good couple and have a healthy baby.”

 

When Freesia looked at the portrait of Count Elysium, the man she was to marry, she couldn’t help but cry.

 

She would marry any man, any day.

 

It was her responsibility and her duty.

 

I once imagined marrying such a handsome and gentle man, but I thought it was a childish dream, and now I am the wife of such a wonderful man…

 

Freesia says a prayer of thanks to God.

 

The wedding day finally arrived. Freesia met Count Elysium for the first time.

 

He was even more handsome than his portrait had shown, with a gentle smile.

 

He whispered in her ear, his voice soft and sweet.

 

“I am pleased to have a bride as beautiful as you.”

 

Covering her face with a white cotton cloth, Freesia burst into tears.

 

“I will cherish and protect my wife with all my heart and soul as a husband for the rest of my life.”

 

“As a wife, I will trust and obey my husband with all my heart and soul for the rest of my life.”

 

The bride and groom said their vows.

 

That night, Freesia sat in the chamber in her bridal gown.

 

Her heart pounded uncontrollably.

 

Her red lipsticked lips were dry, her hands clasped together, and she couldn’t stop shaking.

 

It’s okay, there’s nothing to be afraid of, he’s so wonderful and sweet. I’m going to be a happy bride today.

 

The door opened and Count Elysium entered the room. As soon as he entered, the room was filled with the foul smell of alcohol.

 

Count Elysium stepped to Freesia’s side, his voice booming.

 

“Freesia, my beautiful wife.”

 

“…….”

 

“Get down on the floor and kneel.”

 

“What?”

 

Freesia’s eyes widened, unable to comprehend his words.

 

Count Elysium let out a small sigh and pulled her hair. “Ouch!” Frizia screamed in surprise.

 

 Count Elysium said fiercely, “This is our first night, so I’m going to be extra nice to you, and from now on, when I tell you something, don’t ask questions and follow my orders, because that’s what a wife should do.”

 

Women had a lower status in Palestine than in the Empire. The men were rough, and the women were beaten, but Freesia was still shocked.

 

Her husband is not the man for that.

 

The soft voice spoke again. “On your knees and look at me.”

 

She knew all too well the pain of disobeying an authority figure.

 

She quickly slid off the bed and knelt on the floor.

 

Like a slave before a king.

 

Count Elysium gave a small chuckle, as if he enjoyed the sight.

 

“You are as obedient as I was told.”

 

He reached out and pulled the cotton cloth over Freesia’s face.

 

Count Elysium grinned with satisfaction at the sight of Freesia’s face, still fluttering with fear.

 

“And beautiful too, I must say.”

 

It wasn’t the way he looked at his wife. It was the way he looked at the thing he’d paid for.

 

Count Elysium stroked Freesia’s pale face.

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll treat you like a princess in front of everyone.”

 

“…….”

 

“But not when we’re alone. You will kneel and worship me, for I am your master for the rest of your life.”

 

She wanted to scream no, to run from the room.

 

But she couldn’t.

 

In the land of the Palestinians, marriage is above all a sacred ceremony. It was a grave sin to run away from one’s spouse.

 

At worst, she could be beheaded.

 

She didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to fail. She didn’t want to be blamed.

 

Finally, desperately fighting back tears, Freesia nodded.

 

“I will, dear.”

 

 

 * * * 

 

 

It was a terrible marriage, not at all what she had expected, but she could bear it.

 

Count Elysium was as sweet as he said he was around other people, and the only time he was violent was when he was drunk, which was every few days.

 

The day he hit her, she felt like she was in hell, but she tried desperately to calm down.

 

It’s okay, it’s nothing, after tonight this nightmare will be over and we’ll have a peaceful life again.

 

After a year of marriage, Freesia had a baby.

 

While she was pregnant, Count Elysium never touched her. As if even he, the devil himself, valued his blood.

 

A daughter was born.

 

Freesia looked away, afraid her husband would be angry, but Elysium smiled with approval.

 

“With her golden hair and green eyes, she looks just like you. She will grow up to be a great beauty.”

 

Count Elysium named his daughter Elizabeth, and the sight of her gave Freesia a small glimmer of hope.

 

Maybe now that he had a child, he would be kinder.

 

It was a vain hope.

 

“When the family business was not going well, my husband began to drink more and more.”

 

Count Elysium strode into Freesia’s room, reeking of strong drink, a riding whip in his hand.

 

Trembling, but silent, Freesia knelt down, pulled down her robe, and exposed her white back.

 

Tsk!

 

The whip in Count Elysium’s hand struck her back.

 

A pain she hadn’t gotten used to, even though she had experienced it dozens of times.

 

But Freesia did not beg for it to stop. She didn’t cry out, knowing that would only intensify the violence.

 

She didn’t realize it would be a flashpoint.

 

Last night, Count Elysium looked less than pleased.

 

“You used to cry and beg for forgiveness if I hit you a little, but now you just take it quietly, no fun.”

 

“……!”

 

“This isn’t working, you’re making me angry. No, I’m going to have to give you a new stimulus.”

 

With those eerie words, Count Elysium stormed out of the room.

 

Crouching on the floor, Freesia was seized with fear.

 

‘What is this, a new stimulus? Is he going to hit her with something other than a whip?’

 

‘No. I’m scared. I want to run away…!’

 

The tears she’d been holding back leaked out.

 

Count Elysium had returned. The moment she saw him, she lost control and nearly screamed.

 

He had brought her little daughter, who was sleeping in their room.

 

Freesia hastily opened the hem of her robe to hide her wound.

 

“Honey, honey, why did Liese…”

 

“She needs to know what happens when she goes against my wishes.”

 

Realizing her husband’s intentions, Freesia shook her head, her face a deep blue.

 

“Oh, no, please take Liese out. Please, please…”

 

The corner of Count Elysium’s mouth twitched up at the sound of a plaintive voice he hadn’t heard lately.

 

Elizabeth, still unaware of the situation, blinked her large, wide-open eyes at Freesia.

 

“Mommy…?”

 

Freesia shouted. “Oh, no, close your eyes, Liese, don’t look, don’t look!”

 

Count Elysium swung his whip at her with a fierce crack.

 

Sting-!

 

Freesia’s soul was scarred for life.

 

Even in Elizabeth’s green eyes, like the buds of spring.

 

 

* * *

 

 

Artia’s face hardened at the shocking story. Freesia spoke up, her face distorted.

 

“I begged and begged him to let her go, but he wouldn’t listen.”

 

She smiled eerily, as if she found it amusing.

 

Standing next to him, Elizabeth sobbed. As if that was all a child could do when she couldn’t stop her father or defend her mother.

 

Nights with her husband beating her and her daughter crying were worse than hell.

 

Freesia realized.

 

She realized that she couldn’t live like this anymore, not even for her only child.