Heiress' Househusband is a Secret Billionaire-Chapter 319: Her Life in Amberwood

Outside, the autumn breeze howled, rustling through the skeletal branches. The gust of wind swept the dried fallen leaves off the ground.

The moon peeked behind the soft puffy clouds, showering the northern village under its soft light. The faint ray streamed through the windows, faded in the presence of the bright lights inside.

Lariette and Ruediger were still awake. Sitting on the same couch, they savored a bowl of tomato soup each to fill their tummies and warm themselves up.

Despite spending hours and energy at the festival, the pair still found the energy to chat. Their voices rang in the living room. The clock needles had just hit ten.

After finishing his bowl, Ruediger quietly sipped his drink while listening to Lariette talking. She still gushed about everything they experienced back at the festival.

From the horsecart guided tour of the village, the theater play, the pumpkin ring toss and the food they tried during the festival.

Beaming, Lariette occasionally laughed in between talking. Ruediger couldn’t deny the pleasant echo of her giggles might be the lullaby that led him to sleep.

Still...

He hadn’t forgotten what he planned to ask her tonight. It was nothing serious, just enough for him to test the waters first. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

"Are you sleepy?" Ruediger asked, his voice slightly cautious after Lariette finished her last bite of the soup.

"Strangely, I’m not sleepy anymore," Lariette chuckled, flashing Ruediger a bright grin. She asked teasingly, "Eddy, did you put something in the soup? The counterversion of sleeping meds?"

Smiling, Ruediger adjusted his position on the couch. Leaning on the backrest, he opened his arms as his gaze settled on Lariette.

"Lettie, here."

More giggles bubbled on Lariette’s lips. She scooted closer, finding her place in Ruediger’s embrace. She nestled her head on his chest as he gently hugged her, his warmth enveloping her like a blanket.

The pair sat in silence, savoring each other’s warmth. Lariette smiled when Ruediger occasionally kissed her head while stroking her hair. She responded by tracing lazy circles on his chest.

"Lettie," Ruediger breathed, his voice low.

"En?" Lariette simply hummed. Tilting her chin up, she stared at Ruediger, "Yes, Eddy?"

Drawing his lips into a smile, Ruediger looked into Lariette’s eyes. Faint curiosity flickered in her sapphire orbs. He gently brushed the bangs away from her forehead, allowing him to see her face properly.

"I wonder," Ruediger began after a brief silence. His voice was still low as he tried to sound casual, "I can tell you love this village so much. You told me many stories about it."

Lariette blinked slowly, not interrupting when Ruediger paused. She assumed he wanted to ask more about her time living in Moonville.

Then, he resumed.

"But what about your old village? Amberwood, right? You lived there when you were smaller. I wonder if you have stories about it."

Ruediger inwardly exhaled a sigh, thinking he didn’t sound suspicious when bringing up Amberwood. He kept his gaze on Lariette who didn’t show any particular change in her expression.

Humming softly, Lariette tilted her head. She nodded once, her tone laced with chuckles as she agreed with Ruediger.

"You’re right, Eddy. I haven’t told you much about my time in Amberwood, right? Hehe, are you curious? I’ve just been talking about Moonville."

"Yes," Ruediger nodded, his movement was a little stiff, but he still controlled the smile on his lips, "I’m just curious. How was your life like there?"

Lariette didn’t immediately say anything. She slowly thought, opening the treasure chest of her memories as she recalled ones in the distant past.

"Amberwood was smaller than Moonville but was still pretty. The hills, the rivers, and the forests, everything was so lovely. I believe they’re still pretty."

Lariette started, the smile on her lips softening. Ruediger was quiet as he listened to her, not having any intention of interrupting.

"We lived in a cottage, much smaller and older than this one. It only had two rooms. I slept with Grandma because Mo... I mean, her daughter didn’t want me to make a mess with hers."

Lariette found it strange to address Alyssa Evans as ’Mom’. The reason lay more in the fact Alyssa rarely acted as a mother to her even before the Elsher family appeared.

Exhaling a sigh, Lariette chose not to dwell much on that useless subject. Alyssa was rarely there in her life, thus she didn’t want to bother herself about that woman.

"We had a small vegetable patch in the backyard," Lariette continued, now talking about her beloved grandmother, "When Grandma was free, I always followed her to sell some veggies in the market."

Despite being so young, some memories still remained in Lariette’s mind. Unfortunately, the fragments lacked clarity. She might even piece them incorrectly.

Still, she remembered how overjoyed she was, especially when her grandmother successfully sold everything. More often than not, she would get a piece of candy and some coins for helping.

Lariette reminisced about the time she almost slept frozen due to how cold the north was every time winter came. She also brought up helping the late Mrs. Evans pick firewood.

"I could only pick twigs! Hehe, luckily Grandma was much stronger back then. My friends’ dads and brothers helped us too."

Then, Lariette mentioned her childhood friends in Amberwood. She was close to a few neighbors’ children. They ran in the forest, swam in the river and rolled in the farms, not minding getting dirty or bruised.

Ruediger mostly stayed silent as Lariette talked about her childhood in Amberwood. Still holding her close, he only responded when needed.

Then...

Mustering up his courage, Ruediger asked the questions he wanted to know the most.

"Were they your only friends, Lettie? Your neighbors’ children? You once told me about the boy who taught you to climb trees."

Blinking, Lariette’s mind quickly brought her back to the time on the island last summer.

"Oh! That! Yes, I did tell you about him. I didn’t expect you to remember."

Ruediger smiled faintly, "It’s just my curiosity. Have any story about him?"

Lariette hummed, thinking of where to start. Then, she resumed her tale.