Chapter 841: Show Her Some Respect
Later, the men engaged in their own talk and the women in theirs. Evie and Erin walked out to roam around the garden. The air was a little colder.
As they walked, Erin said, "In the coming months, winter will start. And it’s intensely colder than the winter in Karlin."
"I have read about the north-east region in the books," Evie said, looking around the beautiful garden. "Now I will get to experience it."
"First winter might not be that easy for you," Erin said. "To me, it felt fine at the start when I arrived here for the first time. I got married and was even pregnant, but then winter started to show an effect on me. Lucian’s mother took good care of me, or I and the baby inside me would have been in trouble."
Evie continued to listen to her silently.
"I will send some medicines for you that you can start taking before it gets too cold. It will help your body better," Erin said.
"Thank you."
"But if you want to avoid that hellishly bitter and nauseating medicine, then there is another way, a better one," Erin added.
"What?" Evie asked.
"Eat your husband and let him eat you," Erin let out a playful chuckle.
Evie glared at her. "You know, I liked you better back in Karlin when you were not a nosy married woman."
Erin laughed. "Once you are married and there is so much love around, that happiness comes out like this."
"Well then, I wish you to continue to be a nosy married woman," Evie said softly. "Your happiness is what matters."
Erin stopped and turned to Evie, both facing each other. "You are still just as sweet as before, Evie. So good that all I wish for you is your happiness." Her expression turned serious now. "I truly wish you a future like mine, every day filled with nothing but happiness and love."
Evie remained calm, her lips turning into a light smile as she assured her friend, "I already got what I ever wanted. I am truly happy."
Erin held her hands in hers. "I know my cousin well, and I understand what it must be like to be with him. But he is not a bad person. Be patient, and one day he might come around. Nothing is impossible if we truly wish for it."
"Erin, I don’t him much, but I know he isn’t a bad person," Evie squeezed her hands gently. "But you should also trust me when I say I got what I have ever wished for. I am truly happy," her tone serious now as she said ahead, "I never want your cousin to change his ways for me. He can continued his life as it is. So, don’t try anything like you did in the drawing room. It will only annoy him."
"You are already behaving like a perfect, caring wife for your husband," Erin said. "You do not even want anyone to trouble him."
"I do not want the reason for his trouble to be me," Evie said softly, "I want to live a quiet life and let him live the way he wants. So just leave it at that. Alright?"
Erin’s eyes were a little moist now. "I feel like you are older than me, Evie. You have grown up so much in just a year or so since I have seen you last time," her voice shook, "You are such an amazing woman. My cousin is fortunate, just that I hope he understands your worth."
"I am glad at least your husband understood your worth," Evie said with a smile, as she didn’t want Erin to get emotional, and teased, "So much that I see a few more kids playing around us."
Erin let out a small laugh. "The way he is, I am sure I would be only expanding the Rainier family’s bloodline."
"Don’t worry, we all will take care of you," Evie replied happily.
The two friends continued to talk.
----
At a distance, Aaron and Nathaniel were talking after Lucian left with Aaron earlier for his study to discuss some border issue.
Aaron looked at the two women in the garden and said, "Nathan, she seems to understand your boundaries well."
Nathaniel followed his gaze. He saw Evie and Erin and looked away, knowing who his friend was referring to.
"You can see she is already doing her best to follow just what you want," Aaron said again. "Can’t you soften a little and at least give her the respect she deserves in front of others? Let your private matters be between you two."
Nathaniel remained quiet, as if thinking something.
Aaron continued, "I know you don’t want to disrespect her as well. But you act as if you don’t care. At the same time, you follow what you must once I ask you to. You show you can’t disobey me, but it’s your own wish you follow. You just wait for me to say it."
Nathaniel let out a sigh. "I just don’t want to raise her hopes for this marriage by showing any attention at all. It’s better that way."
"I don’t think she expects anything as well," Aaron added. "I can tell she had already expected the fate of this marriage. So it’s not an issue if you show some manners to respect her."
Though unwilling to admit it, Nathaniel finally offered a light sign of agreement.
"I am not returning to your home when you leave here," Aaron added.
Nathaniel looked at him. "Until Arthur is there, you should...."
Aaron shook his head. "So, you do understand you shouldn’t make Arthur feel unwelcome in your home. And you leave it on me to handle. But I can’t always do it. He is your wife’s brother, and you two would face each other often."
Nathaniel knew it as well, and this was what bothered him, to act like a stranger with his friend.
Aaron continued, "Once you return home, you better solve your matter with Arthur before he leaves. He is our friend, and we care for him. You do not want him to fight on the battlefield while his mind is grappling with the worries of his sister. Right?"
"I will try," Nathaniel said. "But I can’t make any fake promises to him. You know that."
"Talking to him like the friend we are, that would be enough," Aaron assured.
