Chapter 06…
The Land of the Dead Beckons.
Felicia’s mother, Marguerite, who had always been frail, passed away when Felicia was eight years old.
Marguerite was a beautiful woman, with the same platinum-blonde hair that both Felicia and her brother Bernard inherited.
She met Felicia’s father, Christophe, while staying in a remote land for medical treatment. Christophe fell in love with her at first sight—the delicate, pure beauty of a woman who seemed as fleeting as moonlight—and, after ardent pursuit, she left her royal status to marry him.
The small amount of magical power she possessed was also passed down to Felicia.
After giving birth to two children, Marguerite’s health worsened further, and she spent nearly all her time bedridden.
Every day, Felicia would read books to her ailing mother, play music for her, pick flowers to bring to her bedside, and do everything her small hands could to heal her.
But, sadly, her prayers went unanswered.
“I’m sorry I won’t be able to watch over you until you’re grown, Felicia. I’ll always pray for your happiness.”
With a fading voice and a gentle smile, her mother stroked Felicia’s hair with a tender hand.
It was as though she had been waiting to see Felicia officially betrothed to the First Prince before departing for the underworld.
Losing Marguerite, who had been the emotional pillar of the Duprat family, plunged them all into deep sorrow.
Christophe, who had loved his wife dearly, was so stricken with grief that even looking at him was painful.
Felicia and Bernard, both heartbroken by the loss of their beloved mother, clung to their father and wept in his arms.
A loyal servant to the king, Christophe threw himself into his work as though to escape from the unbearable reality of his wife’s death.
He ignored the pleas of those who urged him to rest and continued to work tirelessly.
Before long, the once-vigorous man had become a shadow of his former self, gaunt and worn down.
Feeling their father’s grief as keenly as their own, Felicia and Bernard resolved not to burden him further.
They leaned on one another for comfort, soothing the emptiness their mother’s absence had left behind.
Bernard was gentle and always kind to Felicia.
At night, just as their mother used to do, he would stroke her hair softly until she fell asleep.
Whenever Felicia felt lonely or sad, Bernard was there.
And for Bernard, having Felicia—someone he had to protect—gave him strength and purpose.
Eventually, the king, moved by Christophe’s decline and the siblings’ pitiful state, issued an order:
“Your emotional recovery must come first. For Bernard and Felicia’s sake, rebuild your household.”
Thus, when Felicia was ten years old, Christophe took a new wife.
The woman who became the new lady of House Duprat was Yvette, a widow who had returned to live with her birth family, the Baron Reymon household.
The Reymon family were newly risen nobles—wealthy arms merchants who had amassed a great fortune and earned their barony through generous donations to the crown.
After the king approved a passionate proposal from the Reymons, the remarriage between Christophe and Yvette was arranged.
