The next morning, Iren struggled to get up and began preparing to send off Lahart.

It had been several years since she started waking up early with Lahart, but these days her body felt unusually heavy.

Moreover, last night Lahart didn’t let her rest, and she couldn’t get any sleep. Eventually, she lost consciousness as if she had passed out. She vaguely remembered what Lahart said, but it wasn’t clear in her memory.

“Madam, you might collapse at this rate. I should call a doctor.”

Jane, who brought a change of clothes, was startled when she saw Iren. Iren gestured while sitting in front of the dressing table.

“Later. Hurry and prepare. We’re running late.”

“But… if the Duke sees you like this, wouldn’t he worry?”

“He won’t.”

Her remorseful lips were dry and lifeless. Iren gestured to Jane once again, urging her.

“Apply the makeup a bit heavier. He won’t notice it, so it’s fine.”

Jane busily moved her hands according to Iren’s instructions. As the color was applied to her cheeks and lips, she looked more vibrant than before.

After finishing her makeup, Iren looked into the mirror. Sometimes, her snow-white hair still felt unfamiliar.

As she tidied up her neatly pinned hair, she lightly touched it. Then, she headed downstairs. She concealed her throat, which was covered in marks from Lahart’s biting and sucking all night, so it wouldn’t show.

Her legs trembled as she descended the stairs; she had to rely on Jane’s support.

Lahart had already finished all his preparations and stood in the hall. When he noticed Iren coming down the central staircase, holding Jane’s hand, his brows furrowed.

Iren stopped in her tracks due to the chilling pressure emanating from him. Although he was below her, Lahart was incredibly imposing and overpowering. It felt as if a towering mountain stood before her. Perhaps it was because of the snow-white armor and silver wolf fur he was wearing.

Clank, clank. With each step Lahart took, a small sound of metal echoed. When Iren snapped out of her daze at the sound, he had already come right in front of her.

“Wife.”

His cool voice was filled with tenderness. But Iren swallowed her breath. His eyes were not smiling at all.

Lahart took off his gloves. He, quite cruelly, enjoyed touching Iren with his bare hands. Other than that, he never took off his gloves.

“To reveal his vulnerability only to the Madam, there must have been a romantic aspect to the Duke as well.”

To some eyes, it might have appeared that way, but reality was completely different.

When Iren saw her reddish-purple hands stained with poison, her insides burned to a crisp. Despite having nowhere left to burn. That’s how it felt.

Lahart knew that Iren felt tormented by these traces left on his body. Very well.

His bare hands were not touching Iren. It was her guilt that he was touching.

“Your makeup is quite heavy.”

His hand that held her cheek moved down to her lips. Iren bit down on the tender flesh inside her mouth. The sudden physical contact was bewildering, and it was hard for her to understand why he was angry.

Lahart wiped her lips forcefull using his finger. His thumb was brightly colored red.

Iren’s lips were revealed as her makeup was wiped off. She wasn’t in a good condition.

“Did you want to hear me say thank you for coming to see me off with that dying body?”

“No. I…”

“Then, you must want to turn me into an unscrupulous bastard who only values authority and doesn’t care if his wife is sick or not.”

Iren, who was about to deny it, dropped her head. For some reason, she couldn’t get through to him, no matter what she said.

“You’re quite courageous.”

After grumbling, Lahart grabbed Iren’s chin and lightly kissed both of her cheeks.

Iren leaned into his touch like a doll. Because of her pale face, she truly looked like a doll.

“If I return and you are still in this condition, you’ll have to apologize to your beloved maid for choosing the wrong master, Iren.”

Leaving a warning, Lahart left without hesitation. The butler and the head maid glanced at Iren and followed Lahart to see him off.

As they left, Iren staggered heavily.

“Madam!”

Jane rushed over and supported Iren.

The words left by her beautiful and dignified yet cold husband hurt. She tore at her lips as though she was trying to rip them off.

But she couldn’t blame him. It was only natural that his anger was directed at her. It was her rightful share to bear.

“Jane, call the doctor. And it would be good to call Brown who lives in the eastern district.”

Iren instructed Jane, sweating coldly.

Brown? When the name of a farmer who had quite a close relationship with the Duchess came up, Jane was slightly curious but didn’t ask.

As she rested against Jane, Iren felt incredibly fragile as if she would break at any moment.

* * *

The Duke of Cardius, who was riding his horse at the forefront, exuded a fierce energy. His mood, which had been bad he set foot out of the castle, showed no signs of improvement.

The subordinates who didn’t know the conversation that had taken place in the hall because they were waiting outside, carefully avoided attracting his attention. Even the officer who had been his aide before the Duke became a duke was no exception.

“What about them?”

His frigid voice sent chills down their spines. The coldness emanating from the Duke was more intense than winter. It felt like winter had returned once again.

The officer swiftly stepped forward just before the icy glare fell.

“There haven’t been any special movements yet. The vanguard has completed the encirclement and is waiting for the Duke’s command.”

“I didn’t send them back. It was my mistake.”

“The Duke didn’t make a mistake. Those people have lost their fear.”

“It’s a bad decision because it’s becoming a hassle.”

Lahart raised his right hand, meaning not to act troublesome.

After his adjutant withdrew, Lahart took off his gloves. Even after wiping them with a handkerchief, there was still a red mark on his thumb.

If you were going to bother me for no reason, you should have just told me you were resting instead of coming out in the end. And you even put on makeup that doesn’t suit you.

Iren’s intention must be one of two things: she was either protesting against me or mocking me.

Even if she really came to see me off because she wanted to, because she wanted to see me a little longer, she would have said something instead of bowing her head. She shouldn’t have stood there with a resigned expression on her face, accepting whatever I did.

She was my wife, but there was no part of her that I liked.

Lahart brought his thumb to his lips and pressed it on his lips like he did to Iren, as if he was squashing them.

There was no visible color, but instead, there was a faint scent.

A unique scent belonging only to Iren, a mixture of the smell of herbs and warmth.

“…When will you return?”

Her small voice suddenly came to mind, and he became extremely thirsty. Not because he wanted water. It was a thirst that arose like a seizure when he looked at Iren.

Perhaps it was the aftereffect of the poison. So, whenever he saw Iren, he went crazy.

The way to overcome burning sensation surging inside him was simple.

To hold Iren.

Luckily, it had some effect. When he embraced Iren, the thirst that felt like he would die immediately disappeared as though it was washed away.

But even recently, that was not enough. No matter how much he held her, it was not enough.

In the end, yesterday, he clung to Iren until she passed out. Only after Iren fell asleep, exhausted, did Lahart finally escape from the thirst. He was satisfied only after looking at his wife who fell asleep like she had fainted, covered in traces he had created all over her body.

If only there was a damn antidote.

No.

Lahart corrected his mind.

I don’t need an antidote. After all, Iren will be by my side for the rest of her life.

“Two days.”

“Yes?”

“Prepare to return within two days. I have a lot of work.”

“Understood. I will increase the marching speed and call for a mage.”

Lahart nodded briefly. He pressed his lips once and put his gloves back on. An elegant smile briefly appeared on his face before returning to his usual stern expression.

* * *

“Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?”

“Except for my lack of energy, I’m the same as usual.”

“I heard that you haven’t been able to eat properly. Your stomach must be upset.”

“That’s always been the case.”

“Hmm.”

The doctor sighed softly with a puzzled expression.

The Duchess’s condition was not good. Of course, she wasn’t originally in good health. There was accumulated poison in her body.
The poison silently and stealthily consumed the Duchess’s life. Gradually, but surely.

The aftermath had now manifested as symptoms.

“Am I sick?”

“In my opinion, yes. However… it would be better to quickly resolve that remaining poison. The Madam’s body won’t be able to hold on much longer. Although the change of season may have temporarily lowered your stamina.”

“I see. I will make an effort. I apologize for inconveniencing you with your visit.”

“I apologize that I couldn’t be of any help. I will prescribe medicine to help in your recovery, so please make sure to take it..”

“Thank you. I’m sorry, but I will see you out from here. Please take care on your way.”

The doctor bid farewell as he carried his examination tools. Just before he reached for the doorknob, Iren spoke.

“If the Duke asks, please respond appropriately. With all the official duties he has, I don’t want to add to his worries.”

“Please don’t worry. Then rest easy, madam.”

As soon as the doctor left the reception room, he let out a sigh. Examining the Duchess, who possessed extensive knowledge of toxic and medicinal herbs, was quite a burden even for an experienced doctor.

‘But it’s strange. She knows her own condition better than anyone else. Why does her state continue to worsen? Is she not detoxifying separately?’

A small doubt suddenly arose. And once doubt began, it took hold and lingered.

The Duchess mentioned nausea, severe fatigue, and slight abdominal pain. Symptoms she has was like that of a chronic disease, but they could also be symptoms that appear during early pregnancy.

‘I’m overthinking this. The Duchess is definitely not in a condition where she can be pregnant.’