Melissa’s time stood still.

Though the rain had stopped, the road to the capital was blocked by mud and sand that had collapsed from the mountain, leaving them isolated.

Castle Miellin did their best with the remaining workforce to restore things while cut off from outside news.

The continued rain damage had created flood victims in the village too. While the old butler and Mrs. Hover were originally in charge of the Miellin territory, now Melissa was the highest authority in the castle.

“Please help them stay within the castle.”

She spoke quite calmly.

Everyone in the castle had expected her to lock herself in her room crying for a while after seeing Reizen being taken away a few days ago, but her actions were unexpected to all.

“First we need to check if the villagers are safe, then restore the road.”

Though it was a small rural village, the scattered houses added up to hundreds of people. Since they weren’t all registered in the ledger, she had the village chiefs check and report back.

During this time, they confirmed three people were missing – two adults and one child – and successfully rescued them after searching near their residences.

This was when the castle people, who had initially been skeptical of Melissa’s orders, gradually began to listen to her words. Even the knight who had grumbled about why they should listen to that woman became serious about the work partway through.

Melissa approached her duties by the book.

“Elderly, please look after the children in the castle.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“We’ll leave the minimum necessary staff in the castle to handle meals and lodging, and mobilize the rest for village restoration work.”

It had been just over a month since the wedding, so the villagers were seeing the rumored Melissa Grey for the first time.

All sorts of rumors had circulated – that she was a murderer, a witch who bewitched men, a demon tainted by aristocratic values – but the woman they actually met was a small and petite beauty.

She had a melancholic and beautiful aura that drew the eye… but she didn’t particularly look like a murderer or witch.

Moreover, unlike other nobles who didn’t even treat commoners as people, she spoke normally with people.

Additionally, thanks to her quickly noticing and acting on the missing villagers, three lives were saved.

A noble who valued commoners’ lives – it was like a tiger caring for rabbits, but the villagers decided not to think badly of it.

On the fourth day of being cut off from the outside…

“From today, we’ll all clear the mud and debris from the road together.”

The road connecting to the capital was completely blocked, making it impossible for horses or carriages to pass. This made it difficult for merchants from other regions to come and go, hampering the supply of goods.

While they could feed the flood victims and castle people with the stored food for now, it would be troublesome if they ran out of food when all the crops in the fields had been washed away.

Melissa kept the food issue strictly confidential. This was to prevent people from becoming anxious.

Only the old butler and Mrs. Hover knew the frightening fact that they would run short on food to eat immediately if the road wasn’t restored within two days, and they were beside themselves with worry.

“Be careful not to get hurt while moving the stones, and those who aren’t feeling well should rest over there.”

Melissa Grey, who they thought would never leave the castle, came out with her maids and set up a rest area. They brought out parasols and mats used by the nobles in the castle.

About 100 able-bodied adults were mobilized for the road restoration work. Most were members of the knights, and some were farmers living in the village.

The work site was a 30-minute walk from Castle Miellin.

If they had to go back for meals each time, it would take an hour round trip and consume energy.

Judging this would delay the work, Melissa Grey had 100 portions of food supplied from the castle.

“Was there enough food?”

A delicate voice without any emotion.

“We’ll need more drinking water.”

Gentle and round eyes.

Yet she was a solid woman who looked around without wavering.

Even in this chaos, she maintained an impeccable dress when coming to the site. She never forgot to walk with her back straight nobly and use her parasol.

At first her appearance seemed annoying, but day by day, she transformed into a noble and beautiful lady in the villagers’ eyes.

“Ah. Please tell them to bring shovels too.”

She was a woman who rarely smiled.

She finally lifted her gaze after sending the servant away with her gentle tone. While Melissa had been frantically helping them, the restoration work was already nearing its final stages.

“My lady, we can see the road now! I think carriages will be able to pass through!”

Everyone who had been tired burst into cheers at the farmer’s words. A knight whistled by putting his fingers in his mouth, while there was even a young man who jumped around like a monkey holding his shovel in joy.

One man took off his top and slammed it on the ground, crying and laughing.

Melissa was startled by such intense reactions at first, but later smiled brightly while holding her parasol.

“…Thank goodness.”

Her gentle eyebrows finally twisted sadly. A faint anxiety appeared on the woman’s face.

***

“His Highness is safe.”

As soon as the road to the capital was cleared, Erich came to visit during the night. He still had hollow eyes worn from fatigue.

Taking off his hat to reveal his face, he stood at the edge of Melissa’s room and spoke.

“He will be delayed in returning as there are matters to handle in the capital. It will take at least a week.”

“I see…”

Melissa nodded with a clouded expression.

“Was there no other news?”

“No.”

Miellin was slower with rumors than the capital.

Moreover, they had been isolated by the landslide for days, so if Erich hadn’t come, they wouldn’t have known the news for even longer.

“Thank you for coming all this way when you must have been tired.”

The news that he was safe was like a gift. Melissa swallowed bitter water inside as she recalled the private worries she had endured all this time.

She wanted to tell Reizen when he returned.

That there had been a landslide here, and they had rescued three villagers.

That 100 people had worked hard for two days to clear the road blocked by debris, and when the work was finished, everyone was so proud they all shouted together…

Reizen, how was it for you?

Were you treated badly after being taken to the Police Bureau? Does the matter to handle in the capital mean judicial officer work? How is your body? You’re not still staying up nights with the medicine Emerson gave you, are you?

She had so many questions she wanted to ask when he returned.

But the dam of questions carefully piled up in her heart would only break in front of Reizen.

Though he was her husband’s subordinate, she felt uncomfortable with Erich visiting her bedroom at dawn. Even though she was wrapped tightly in blankets, she kept feeling conscious of the thin nightgown she wore underneath.

“…”

As an awkward silence fell, Erich put on his hat.

“Then I’ll be going.”

Just as he opened the window with a creak to climb out, Melissa spoke urgently.

“Sir. Please rest if it’s too hard.”

Erich momentarily stopped, wondering what that meant. When he turned around and their eyes met, Melissa quickly averted her gaze.

“I’m saying this because you always look so tired.”

To worry about others while trembling in fear herself.

Erich’s black eyes gleamed faintly. He finished opening the window and warned:

“Don’t be kind to just anyone, my lady.”

Melissa’s eyes widened slightly.

“Pretty people shouldn’t do that. Others will misunderstand.”

With those words, the Asian man climbed out the window and disappeared into the darkness.

Left alone in the room, Melissa’s face burned hot. She felt ashamed, as if she had suddenly tried to seduce her husband’s knight.

If Reizen had said the same words it would have been a relief, but it was the worst that even her well-meaning words were taken impurely by her husband’s knight.

Melissa bit her lip while feeling the empty space beside her. Her wish for Reizen to return soon grew stronger.

She had felt more reassured than expected when he was by her side. Though they hadn’t talked much or spent much time together, she had felt comfortable knowing someone was behind her.

She could understand why people didn’t leave Prince Reizen’s side. He was someone who made you feel at ease when near him.

The person who had that very stability that Melissa could never obtain no matter how much she yearned for it throughout her life…

What would it feel like if he returned and shared true love with Melissa, building a proper family?

What did that kiss in the rain mean then?

Melissa lay down using Reizen’s pillow, fidgeting with her lips as she gently closed her eyes.

She missed his scent that faintly remained on the pillow.