TIKMP 01

Chapter -01

 The Past That Wasn’t Loved

The solemn voice of the priest echoed through the chapel.

“Sir Oscar di Arling, do you vow to take this woman, Lidel la Sylphilia, as your wife—to aid one another in times of joy and hardship alike, and to love each other always?”

“I do.”

A firm, low voice answered beside her.

“And you, Lidel la Sylphilia, do you vow to take this man, Oscar di Arling, as your husband—to aid one another in times of joy and hardship alike, and to love each other always?”

“…I do.”

Lidel answered in a trembling whisper, her nerves making her voice faint.

“The Mother Goddess Spius has heard your vows. Forget them not, and until the day you are both called into Her embrace, support each other with love and respect.”

As the priest’s words ended, the bells of blessing rang out.

That day, Princess Princialidel—the fourth princess of the Kingdom of Efilante—became the wife of the man known as the Ice Knight, Count Ashen.

◆

Peeking through the crack of the door into the corridor, Lidel hurriedly stepped out when she heard the firm sound of approaching footsteps.

“D–Darling!”

At her call, the man who was just about to step out through the front door slowly turned around.

His hair was jet black, his knight’s uniform the same shade, even the scabbard at his hip was wrapped in dark leather. In contrast, his eyes—cold and wintry—stood out sharply.

Count Ashen, Oscar di Arling. The man who had become Lidel’s husband only a month ago.

At the sight of her, faint irritation crossed her husband’s face.

“…What is it?”

“Ah… um, I–I brought this…”

At his curt tone, Lidel flinched slightly but still held out the small basket in her hands.

Oscar only glanced at it with a dubious look and made no move to take it, so Lidel spoke quickly, panic rising in her chest. Her fingers tightened around the handle.

“I heard from the other knights’ wives that they sometimes make lunches for their husbands. So I—I thought I’d try as well, and with the cooks’ help—”

“I don’t need it.”

“Eh?”

The words were so blunt and final—like a cloth being cut clean through—that for a moment she didn’t understand what he’d said.

While Lidel stood frozen, mouth slightly open, Oscar’s expression grew even more displeased as he said in a hard tone,

“I said I don’t need it. Did I ever ask you to do such a thing?”

“N–No, but…”

Her hands trembled as she gripped the hem of her dress.

It was true—Oscar had never asked her to do anything.

He managed all affairs of the territory himself, surrounded by capable subordinates and servants. There was no shortage of helping hands.

That was why she had thought so hard about what she could do for him, however small. But—

“You need not do anything. Don’t meddle unnecessarily. Just behave yourself quietly.”

He threw the words at her and left without another glance.

Left behind, Lidel fought back tears, lowering her arm that still held the basket.

Slowly, she walked to the dining room and set the basket on the table, opening its lid.

“Unnecessary, huh…”

Inside were sandwiches filled with boiled shrimp and egg salad, pickles, ham, and tomato—nutritious ingredients neatly packed together.

She had learned from the cooks and worked so hard to make them. Having never cooked before, she’d cut her fingers and burned herself, but kept practicing until her food was at least decent enough to offer someone.

She had wanted Oscar to eat it—to acknowledge her effort. But to him, it had only been a nuisance.

Her eyes grew hot again.

“Oh, Milady! What happened? Isn’t that the basket you said you were going to give to the Lord?”

“He said it was unnecessary. That I was being a bother.”

When her maid Mina entered the dining room, Lidel answered with a faint smile.

Mina’s eyes widened in shock, then quickly filled with anger.

“But Milady worked so hard to make that! How could he say such a thing? And after ignoring you since the wedding—”

“You mustn’t say that. My sandwiches can’t compare to the food served at the knights’ hall. Of course he’d prefer that. It was my mistake not to realize it.”

“Milady…”

Mina looked at her with pained sympathy.

Even though Lidel tried to smile, it was clear she was forcing herself.

It had been a month since the wedding, and still, there was no sign that she and Oscar were growing closer.

At first, she had assumed that was simply his nature. A man who had risen to the rank of knight commander must be strict with himself and others—serious and disciplined.

But no matter how she tried to reach out to him, Oscar never smiled.

In fact, it almost seemed as if he was avoiding her.

He had never once come to her room, nor she to his. Which meant—their wedding night had never even taken place.

When Lidel’s spirits sank, Mina would always try to comfort her, saying the Lord was merely shy in front of such a beautiful wife.

But Lidel knew she was not beautiful.

Plain, gloomy, dull—she had heard those whispers more than once in her sixteen years of life.

That was why, at first, she had been so hopeful.

When her father, the king, brought her this marriage proposal, she thought—if this man had agreed to marry her, perhaps they could truly build a warm, happy life together.

She had vowed to devote herself to him, to live by his side and support him.

But that resolve was crushed almost immediately.

On the night of their wedding, her husband had spent the whole night drinking with his friends.

While Lidel waited for him to visit her chambers, he never came. The next morning, still sleepless, she learned that he had already departed for a month-long inspection of his lands.

He had left no message or letter—she only heard of it from the head maid.

As lord and knight commander, she knew he must be busy—but still, would they go on like this forever, without even talking?

If she was doing something wrong, she wished he would tell her, so she could fix it. She only wanted to spend a little more time with him.

Though they had been married just a month, Lidel prayed every day that she might one day grow closer to her husband.

“Then… would you eat this for me? It might look a little misshapen, but the head chef promised it tastes fine.”

“But, Milady…”

“Don’t look so worried.”

Lidel smiled, trying to reassure the anxious Mina.

“It’s all right. My husband is just busy, that’s all. Once his work settles down, I’m sure he’ll spend more time with me.”

—But in the end, that day never came.