I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 2 – Part 1

Author – Cherry_Blossom

In the spacious dining hall, only Erna’s voice could be heard.

It was mostly futile chatter about this and that, but she was rather uncomfortable eating in the awkward silence.

“When will you be leaving for the capital?”

“Not until next season.”

“Will you be staying for long?”

Zachary stared oddly at his wife before answering.

“…Around three months, it’s the same schedule every year.”

‘Ah, I wouldn’t know.’

Although she had memories of the past 8 years, most of it was blurred.

“Making trips back and forth throughout the year would be needlessly time consuming.”

“Hmm…”

Seeing his wife pondering over an obvious matter, the Duke asked mischievously,

“Are you perhaps feeling lonely?”

Letting out a sigh, Erna laid down the spoon that fiddled with the soup.

‘That question feels somewhat of an insult coming from a person who doesn’t care.’

“I haven’t seen my mother in a while, so I was thinking that maybe we should come along this time.”

That truly might have sounded like I was only making an excuse to accompany him.

But really, I want to see my parents.

So far, the people that I’ve met here were complete strangers to me.

Sure, I had heard rumors about Zachary here and there. I might even have encountered him before, but my memories were hazy.

The only clear memories I had of him now were times I didn’t experience in person.

All of it was made by Charlotte.

My heart feels heavy at the mere thought of it.

First things first, I should avoid my near death.

Erna concluded in her mind.

In order to change the plot, she had already decided to get a divorce, but as their marriage was built on political benefits for both families, she first had to consult her parents.

In other words, Erna had to go back to the capital.

✰✰✰✰✰

While immersed in her own thoughts, Zachary’s voice brought her back to her senses.

“You want to come along to the capital?”

He asked, in a skeptical tone.

It was none other than his wife who refused to accompany him to the capital several times before.

“Yes. Besides, there aren’t a lot of young children around here, it would be better for Jonas to make some friends of the same age.”

Erna avoided his questioning gaze as she spoke.

“Em?”

She then turned towards her son with a suggestive smile.

“What do you think? Don’t you want to have friends too, Jonas? I’m sure your grandparents would be delighted to see you all grown up as well.”

“I don’t mind.”

Jonas nodded with a slightly suspicious expression on his face.

If this happened a few weeks earlier, his mother would show no interest in going out, let alone ask for his opinion.

Yet nowadays, she was acting all friendly with him.

Strangely enough, it wasn’t all bad.

“I see, let’s do that.”

Having concluded that it would be a good choice regardless of the reason, Zachary agreed.

Because his wife chose to remain in the north, rather than the capital, he always had to overwork himself to catch up with his business and court duties.

“It’s settled then.”

Erna said with a smile.

After achieving her purpose, she resumed her meal in a happier mood.

✰✰✰✰✰

“Do you like your new piano teacher?”

In a second attempt to start a conversation with her son, Erna brought up the new teacher she had assigned him.

Maybe this time, he would show some interest.

“Yes, Mother.”

“I’m glad. He’s known to be one of the most talented pianists in the country.”

In order to shorten the distance between them, Erna attempted a few things she deemed praiseworthy, like cutting short his heavy classes, or assigning him a piano teacher.

Sometimes she would just call him out to the garden to have tea together, but she was always faced with short blunt answers.

Jonas wasn’t used to his mother’s attention and Erna didn’t know how to treat children.

‘It would be nice if we could talk casually.’

But Erna didn’t give up. Because she noticed that her son actually enjoyed her attention.

His clumsy way of hiding his feelings by giving off an air of indifference was rather adorable.

He looked to be imitating his father, but not quite.

Erna had once read that children tended to test their parents’ sincerity towards them by a moderate rebellion.

Thinking so, she tried to approach him in a different way.

“Why don’t we practice together later?”

“Does mother know how to play the piano?”

“Of course, it was one of my favorite classes.”

“Oh.”

Jonas opened his eyes wide, slightly surprised over her words.

It wasn’t rare for nobles to enjoy the piano, but he had never seen his mother do so before.

All she seemed to be interested in was her greenhouse.

“Okay. If mother wants to.”

Jonas answered in a voice that didn’t contain any excitement.

Feeling discouraged by the dull replies, Erna shifted back her attention to the plates that were served.

A subtle feeling of loneliness overcame her as she felt like a stranger in her own body.