The Foolish Thoughts of The Past

Bree couldn't see the girl's face because she wore a robe with a hood covering her head, but a few strands of her hair peeked out, and the hair was dark.

That meant she was a different woman from the one Bree saw on the night of her wedding. That night, the woman with Rad had pale blonde hair. And that was roughly a week ago. Rad had changed his taste quickly. He switched women as easily as the weather in Marseilles changed due to the sea breeze.

The reality was no longer a surprise for Bree, but this was the first time she saw Rad's woman leaving the castle in broad daylight. Before, Bree almost always stayed inside the castle, trying not to anger Irene. Bree now 'enjoyed' a new sight she had never experienced before.

The woman looked exhausted, to the point where two servants had to help her walk towards the carriage, and her steps were slow. Seeing how two servants had to assist her in walking made Bree's cheeks warm. What Rad and the woman did—that made her unable to walk—was make her slightly embarrassed, but then anger came rushing in.

The man was truly shameless, Bree thought with frustration. He continued to do it without feeling the slightest guilt. The marriage vows he spoke of before meant nothing at all. Nothing more than empty words.

Rad, on the other hand, remained unchanged. The man was still the same as before. He was a scoundrel from the beginning. Since before he met her, and he couldn't be fixed.

The only way to deal with Rad was to ignore him. Bree decided to learn to survive here as a duchess for the sake of her father. So that Le Mans would receive the assistance as expected. Bree had taken the stance of not caring about that man. Rad could do whatever he had been doing. Bree wouldn't reprimand or comment.

"Duchess, that..."

Aima tried to speak, but Bree raised her hand while shaking her head.

"Let's go to the stable."

Bree wouldn't comment on Rad's behaviour in front of anyone. She didn't care, or at least tried not to care. Despite Bree's firm intention, she realised that someone could still hurt her heart again.

Bree held her breath as her eyes began to blur with tears. The green grass she stepped on seemed to sway as she walked. However, Bree refused to succumb to that pain. Bree bit the inside of her lip to redirect her thoughts. Bree bit the inside of her lip, redirecting her thoughts and deciding that Rad wasn't worth tears; he was meant to be forgotten.

It wouldn't be easy. The man was a scoundrel, but Bree also knew Rad did care for her—not much, but it's there. The man wasn't always cold. After that painful first night, Rad didn't always ignore her.

Bree wasn't blind and fell in love with him just because of his handsome face; although that might have happened, Bree remembered she wasn't that foolish. What made her waver was the attention and a little kindness shown by Rad towards her. Rad's attitude softened over time.

Before, Bree had never dreamed of winning Rad's heart because she understood his habit of changing women. However, Bree became weak when the man started to pay attention to her. Her heart foolishly fell in love, went crazy, and even intended to change Rad so that he wouldn't be someone who easily switched women.

That naive intention, of course, eventually shattered due to all those misfortunes.

Her whole life seemed to spin so fast when Amber came, then Benjamin, and then her father. Everything rushed one after another at a speed almost too fast for Bree to keep up with. Accused suddenly and thrown into prison, Bree struggled to keep up amidst her lack of knowledge and ongoing grief over her father's loss.

That was the end of everything—the end of Bree's naivety. Her days in that prison destroyed all of Bree's hopes. Now, Bree wouldn't be foolish again and hope for miracles as she did before. She didn't need to care about others.

"There's no use loving him."

Bree's inner voice screamed loudly, asking her mind to be more sensible, as that was the healthiest mindset.

Bree wiped away the tears that escaped from her cheeks. Tears that showed her foolishness. Bree hoped those were the last tears she shed for Rad.

***

Bree felt better when they reached the stable area. The sight of the building jolted Bree back to reality. The reality was that she had to be strong to survive.

Several people were standing in front of the stable. Bree recognised most of them. They were Rad's subordinates, part of Marseilles' forces. Of course, Bree just passed by them without greeting them or anything. She didn't want to be friendly.

She just walked in, while curious gazes followed her back. The presence of the Duchess in that place was certainly astonishing.

Bree entered the stable, looking for the stable manager named Curtis. The man, who looked the same age as her father, was inside the stable, putting horseshoes on a horse. Like the others, he looked surprised when he saw Bree.

"Sorry, but..."

"Duchess Valois."

Aima mentioned Bree's name and position because Curtis didn't bow. He didn't know who Bree was, and he bowed only when he heard it from Aima.

"What can I help you with, Duchess?"

"I want a horse that I can ride easily," Bree stated.

Curtis nodded and hurriedly led Bree to the horse stable.

"Considering your height, I think Briar would be suitable."

Curtis pointed out the most beautiful horse Bree had ever seen. Valois was known for having exceptionally strong horses, but Briar was exceptionally beautiful. Its body was pure white, with grey hair around its neck.

Curtis also chose a friendly horse for Bree, as Briar didn't react much when Bree approached slowly with an excited face. Bree's smile widened as her hands caressed the white back. Soft and warm.

Bree didn't know how her height would affect the horse's selection, but she would accept Briar on any terms.

"Alright. I like it."

Curtis nodded, then quickly put a saddle on Briar and led her out of the stable. Once again, Bree became a spectacle for Rad's subordinates, who were still outside the stable.

"Thank you, Curtis."

Bree expressed her gratitude because she was still very satisfied with the horse he provided.

The man looked puzzled because he remembered not mentioning his name to Bree yet, but he just bowed because Bree was already leading Briar towards the stable gate.

However, someone approached and bowed politely to Bree. His shoulder-length, curly hair was the colour of the dry grass around the gate. Bree knew him; he was Edmond. Rad's right-hand man, according to Bree's knowledge. Bree usually saw him with Rad. He joined the convoy that brought Bree from Le Mans, so he knew exactly who Bree was.

"My apoligized, Duchess. But where are you going?" Edmond asked politely.

"Why is it important for you to know where I'm going?" Bree didn't hold any grudges against Edmond, but she would despise anyone close to Rad because it was easier that way.

"It's important because you shouldn't go far without a guard," Edmond said again while bowing.

"I'm just going to the beach for a ride." Bree didn't want to argue anymore.

"If that's the case, I will..."

"Do you have to? I won't go far," Bree interrupted.

"He has to!"

Another voice interjected, making Bree startle. It was Rad. He was going on a trip to the city, and that's why many of his subordinates were waiting outside the stable.

Rad walked in the direction of the castle, wearing a travelling cloak with a hood covering his head. His face clearly showed displeasure when he saw Bree there.