Reincarnated as General's Wife

Chapter 4: He is Coming Back

Fine then. If I can’t go out, I want sweets. Three times a day.” She flashed a mischievous smile.

The maid’s eyes widened slightly, as though such a request was scandalous. But she quickly bowed. “As you wish, Your Grace. Shall I arrange for the kitchen to prepare them immediately?”

“Yes. And… I also want books. All the popular ones. Novels, dramas, anything people here are reading.”

The maid blinked. “Books, Your Grace?”

“Yes! In my past life—” she stopped herself just in time, “—I never had time to read, and my… coworkers… used to talk about stories all the time. Now, I finally can.”

The maid nodded slowly, then guided her down the long corridors until they reached a pair of towering carved doors.

When they opened, Seranya’s breath caught in her throat.

It wasn’t just a library.

It was a kingdom of books.

Shelves stretched up so high they disappeared into the ornate ceiling, stacked floor to floor like a three-story cathedral. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, casting golden light over spines bound in leather, silk, and gold leaf.

“This…” she whispered, “this is beautiful.”

The maid smiled faintly. “Every popular novel and known work is here—politics, histories, poetry, even rare imports from distant kingdoms.”

Seranya’s eyes glittered. “Wait… does the General read, too? Why have something so huge if he doesn’t?”

The maid hesitated, then her gaze drifted somewhere far away, as though she’d been pulled into another time.

She remembered a tall man, broad-shouldered, standing by a window. His back was to her, his black hair glinting faintly under the morning sun. He wore the dark, formal attire of a nobleman. His hands were clasped neatly behind him.

“Build a library,” he’d said in that deep, commanding voice. “Fill it with the best works from every corner of the continent.”

The maid, young then, had asked carefully, “My Lord… will you be taking up a new hobby?”

“No,” he’d replied, still staring out the window. “I’ll be married soon. My wife will not be allowed outside these walls, but…” He paused, just long enough for the memory of his voice to grow heavy. “I hear women love books. It will be for her pleasure.”

Back in the present, the maid’s expression softened. “The General… does read, on occasion, when he returns.”

Seranya blinked at her, caught between surprise and something she couldn’t quite name. He built all of this… for a Hobby?

Whatever the truth, excitement bubbled inside her. Without another word, she darted inside, already running her hands along the spines as if she were touching treasure.

The library seemed endless, like a grand maze of words and stories. If it weren’t for the old maid walking a few steps ahead, Seranya was certain she’d be hopelessly lost between the towering shelves.

“Your Grace,” the maid said as they climbed a spiral staircase, “the upper balcony has a most beautiful view.”

When Seranya stepped out onto the upper floor, her eyes widened. Beyond the massive windows stretched rolling gardens, fountains dancing in the sunlight, and the distant shimmer of the kingdom’s white walls. For a moment, she forgot to breathe.

“It’s… stunning,” she murmured.

The maid gestured to a velvet armchair near the window. “Please, sit here. I’ll fetch you some books. What would you like to read?”

Seranya didn’t even hesitate. “Romance. Or whatever’s popular right now.”

The maid’s brow lifted ever so slightly, but she nodded. “Shall I bring you some dessert as well, Your Grace?”

Seranya lit up. “Absolutely! The sweeter, the better.”

Not long after, the table beside her was filled with books and a tray of delicate pastries dusted with sugar. Hours seemed to melt away as she read, nibbling on her desserts while occasionally glancing at the view.

By the time the maid returned, the sun had shifted, and Seranya’s stomach gave a tiny growl. “It’s time for lunch, Your Grace,” the maid reminded gently.

Seranya closed the book reluctantly, running her hand along its cover. “Goodbye for now, big beautiful library,” she whispered as though it were an old friend.

Lunch was another royal feast, but Seranya’s mind was already spinning with a new idea. She looked up from her plate, eyes sparkling. “I want to play hide-and-seek.”

The maids froze mid-motion. A few exchanged puzzled glances, and one nearly dropped a plate.

“I’ve never played it before,” Seranya continued, almost sheepishly. “In my past—” she caught herself again, “—when I was young, I never got the chance.”

For a long moment, there was silence… until the elder maid’s lips curved into the faintest of smiles. “Very well, Your Grace. Only within the mansion.”

Gasps rippled through the younger maids, but the elder’s voice left no room for debate.

When the maids scurried off to hide, the elder butler stepped closer and lowered his voice. “She seems… lively today. And what’s this about a game?”

The old maid didn’t even look at him as she adjusted her apron. “Don’t question her orders. Just follow them.”

Somewhere deep in the mansion, the echoes of running footsteps and soft laughter began to fill the air.

Three days passed in a blur of games, books, and desserts. Every request Seranya made—no matter how unusual—was carried out without a single question. The elder maid seemed perfectly content to let her indulge in her whims, as though silently acknowledging that these peaceful days wouldn’t last forever.

Now, Seranya sat in the garden once more, bathed in warm sunlight, the air filled with the perfume of blooming roses. A small tower of cakes, pastries, and sugared fruits decorated the table beside her. She leaned back in her chair, fork in hand, admiring the beauty of the place.

What should I do next? she mused, smiling to herself. I still have more days left of freedom.

“Your Grace,” the maid beside her spoke gently, “have you considered painting? Drawing the gardens, perhaps? It can be quite… fun.”

Seranya’s eyes lit up instantly. “Painting? Yes! Let’s start with the flowers. I want to capture all of them.”

Plans began forming in her mind—an easel by the fountain, brushes in hand, maybe another plate of macarons within reach—when the peaceful scene shattered.

The old butler appeared at the garden entrance, his normally stoic face carrying a rare flicker of surprise… and something that looked like worry. He bowed deeply.

“Your Grace… the Lord is here.”

Seranya blinked.

Lord…? Lord… oh no. No, no, no.

Her smile froze, fork halfway to her mouth. That’s too early! Why is he here now? I’m not ready yet! Damn it!

A nervous, irritated knot twisted in her stomach. The sweet taste of cake suddenly turned bland on her tongue.