Melissa also went out to inspect since farmers in the territory were going through a busy season. Through this, she realized that her life didn’t completely stop just because Reizen wasn’t there.

She had maids by her side, and when she went out, familiar faces who had helped restore roads during the flood greeted her.

She had already been accepted as the lady of this castle, and with the family seal she received, she could handle most tasks in place of Reizen.

Having received Crown Princess education all her life, managing a small territory’s affairs wasn’t difficult. Moreover, since her husband Reizen was blocking her social activities, there was a comfort in not having to be mindful of other nobles.

Anyway, she only had 10 months left.

She had been told she would be sent back to Sorbet if she didn’t get pregnant within a year, and then she would truly die.

Did Reizen even remember this fact?

Given that he was physically fine despite being apart this long, it was right to assume he had found other ways to offset the brand’s side effects. Since he said complete control wasn’t possible with medicine, probably… he had another woman.

“…”

Melissa tossed and turned in bed.

The lingering sensation of that passionate kiss in the rain a month ago had faded. She couldn’t remember what that warmth felt like. Even the time she spent sleeping in the same bed with him felt like a dream.

Reizen still contacted her through Erich, but now she no longer waited for him to come like before. Still, Erich consistently visited to deliver news.

“He says once the parliament schedule ends, he can return since work is mostly wrapped up now.”

Melissa didn’t respond. Then Erich, who usually just delivered his message and left immediately, asked from the darkness.

“…Are you not happy?”

Having only delivered bad news until now, he was puzzled by her lack of response when he finally brought the news she wanted.

Melissa raised her upper body while pressing against the bed. The woman illuminated by moonlight was no longer skinny and haggard like when she first came to the castle.

Though she had always given off a fragile atmosphere as if she might break at any moment, now she had gained some weight and her face had a subtle glow.

When the woman with delicate features wearing a white nightgown moved slowly on the bed, his whole body’s instincts responded to her briefly visible curves. For a moment he was electrified by the sweet scent carried on the wind.

Erich’s eyes wavered.

“I…”

He stepped backward.

“I won’t have reason to come when you’re alone anymore. This is the last report.”

For a farewell greeting, his tone was devoid of even a hint of emotion. But his hands were trembling slightly.

Erich opened the window and leaped into the darkness. Even in the brief moment of falling, her hazily opened eyes came to mind.

Melissa Grey.

A woman of ill fate, too beautiful to even die as she wished.

Erich terrifyingly understood those words.

* * *

In Reizen’s opinion, Emerson was a genius and the youngest royal physician.

Even at the medical bureau they said that if she hadn’t been born a commoner but a noble, she would have been a talent who rewrote history.

Reizen was extremely satisfied with this point.

“At first we couldn’t understand how the brand’s side effects worked, so the medicine couldn’t take effect.”

Pushing up her glasses, Emerson looked closely at the examination results and continued speaking.

“Now it’s completely stabilized. It was worth staying in the capital this long. Thanks to that you received detailed examinations and treatment while working.”

Reizen who finished the examination put his shirt back on.

The brand on his left chest remained the same, but now its manifestation was becoming fainter. At this rate, controlling his body with reason shouldn’t be difficult.

The white shirt covered the man’s firm chest and muscular body. Usually having high body temperature, he would leave a couple buttons undone, but there weren’t many people who dressed like that in the Imperial Palace so he drew attention.

This was only possible because he was a prince who didn’t care about others’ gazes in such matters.

Even Sion’s nagging or surrounding nonsense that would usually be irritating didn’t feel particularly unpleasant.

Having safely finished the commoner parliament schedule in the morning, now all that remained was returning to the territory to keep his promise.

“Your Highness, are you listening to me?”

“Of course.”

Reizen nodded halfheartedly.

Worried she might worry like last time, he deliberately sent Erich to deliver news frequently, but at some point she stopped sending letters.

It’s not that he particularly waited for her letters, and it was bothersome having to read them while processing documents at the same time, but those writings detailing the day’s events and emotions were Reizen’s only breathing room.

After the letters stopped coming, he would gather the previous letters and read them from time to time.

While touching the dried flower petals attached to the letter paper, he wondered if she had attached these herself with her small fern-like hands.

Honestly, not being a fool, he fully understood why she stopped sending letters.

Melissa was an extremely delicate and sensitive woman. Perhaps she had cried alone from loneliness or gotten disappointed waiting anxiously for him.

Reizen came out of the palace after getting properly dressed. As he was about to check his watch as if waiting for someone, a familiar face came running up breathlessly.

It was the Tavania merchant.

Next to him, his daughter was jumping around chattering in an incomprehensible foreign language. Ignoring his daughter who was mercilessly pulling at his collar, the merchant spoke.

“I was so stressed trying to prepare this by the deadline, I tell you. Since pink diamonds are such rare items, it was difficult to find one this size.”

Reizen opened the jewelry box to check the contents. Even at a glance, it would make a very satisfactory gift. Reizen closed the box and smiled brightly for the first time in a while.

“Tell them it was worth walking the tightrope.”

The wagon loaded with gifts departed first.

With work wrapped up, preparations to leave for the territory were complete. Now he just needed to alternate between the capital and territory.

He even passed a parliamentary proposal to expand the network nationwide to deliberately place telephones in the north. If nothing else came up, they could go buy telephones together next month. Then he could receive reports directly without going through Erich.

It was purely a measure for work efficiency. But even if installed for work, wouldn’t he be able to hear Melissa’s voice occasionally too.

“I heard you purchased something called an automobile as well.”

The merchant asked while following behind Reizen who was getting into the carriage.

The prince sat down in the carriage with a picture-perfect smile.

“Everyone is worried. They say isn’t it dangerous for Your Highness to ride around in such an ugly heap of scrap metal.”

“That ugly heap of scrap metal costs as much as a mansion in the capital, they’re just jealous.”

“Though I want to add that you shouldn’t take others’ concern as jealousy… actually you’re right. News is that orders flooded in after Your Highness made a reservation.”

The merchant continued speaking while holding onto the whining Clara.

“And to transport goods, attracting a train station is urgent. I’ll negotiate up to that point and visit the territory again.”

Reizen nodded in response. Then he soon leaned back against the carriage sofa and took out a cigar.

Before lighting the cigar, he pulled out a lighter and when his eyes met the merchant’s, he smiled brightly.

Along with the smile, the end of the cigar lit up. The man who inhaled the rising white smoke gave a dreamy greeting.

“See you next time.”

It was the most languid and content-looking gaze in recent times.

* * *

That night.

Dark clouds hung over the castle.

Though it wasn’t weather that seemed like it would rain, when clouds covered the moon everything became quiet. An unusual chill ran through Miellin Castle with its edges surrounded by forest.

An owl hooted and flew away in the distance.

Since restoration work was still ongoing in the village, most of the castle knights were planning to stay at the village chief’s house for several days.

The physicians and knights sent from the Imperial Palace were also on vacation since they just harassed the maids while slacking off at the castle anyway when Reizen wasn’t there.

As a result, the old castle became quiet as if left all alone.

Though it had been quite noisy during the day, now even the corridors were empty since everyone except the live-in maids had gone home. Perhaps all human hearts are the same, as even the maids quietly watched for signs.

“It’s really quiet.”

Coming out after finishing her bath, Nora said while putting a shower towel on her shoulders.

“Feels like we’re the only ones in the castle.”

A chill ran through Melissa’s body. She wasn’t particularly cowardly but was weak-hearted and easily startled. She hoped the maids weren’t playing pranks.

When she went out to the corridor, the lights were off. Mrs. Hover seemed to have gone around turning off the electricity, wanting to sleep early today.

“What day is it today?”

When Nora asked, Laila answered.

“Ah, it’s that day.”

Melissa felt a chill down her spine even though she was moving with a shawl over her slip.

“The day of Rosinante Henel.”

It was a completely unfamiliar name.

Melissa bit her lip and looked at them, wondering if chatty Laila was teasing her.

Since Laila wasn’t skilled at acting, lies would be exposed quickly. But if Nora took this seriously, it was a different story.