Chapter 29

After Carlos’ approval was granted, they set various detailed conditions right there on the spot.

They agreed not to damage each other’s reputations, not to cheat, not to leak information about each other obtained through the contract marriage, and to fulfill the conditions set by each other within a month.

While it was the two of them marrying, the conditions also included Russell, making it a three-party agreement.

Most notably, Aneta displayed a firm commitment to divorce. When she stipulated that not even the emperor could prevent the divorce, Carlos couldn’t help but be surprised.
Each would take what they had, and when the time came, they would go back, returning to their original positions. Since there was no cleaner way to end it, so Carlos relayed Aneta’s terms to Russell, who approved.

Russell’s prolonged laughter during the process was something only Carlos, who was present, witnessed.

With aligned interests like a perfect pair, the process proceeded smoothly. Hesitating would only delay the resolution of the matter.

Carlos publicly announced his marriage to Aneta, and the date was set swiftly, much to the astonishment of the stewards of both families.

The news spread across the entire empire without even needing to make an effort to spread it.

After the marriage, the changes that Russell had mentioned could be confirmed. The two were faithful to their roles as spouses, and there was no gap for anyone else to wedge in.

‘Everything is going smoothly.’

Carlos supported Aneta in reclaiming the family’s control, aiding her as a gesture of good faith. Though he worried she might take this goodwill for granted, he soon realized his concerns were unfounded.

Aneta did not mistake kindness for entitlement. Observing her steadfast pursuit of her goals, Carlos found himself unconsciously lowering his guard.

That was where the problem began.

Feeling too secure, he belatedly realized an unexpected gap had formed in his heart.

However, recognizing this unforeseen development didn’t change anything.

The more Carlos got to know Aneta, the larger the gap in his heart grew.

“Your Grace, the Lady has sent medicinal herbs to the servants again.”

“Did she pay with her own money this time as well?”

“Yes, she paid immediately out of her pocket without charging it to the duke’s household.”

Aneta’s spending habits were different from those of other noblewomen, who were obsessed with luxury.

Rather than embezzling funds allocated to the Ministry of Welfare, she used her own money to secure even more funds.

This aspect was unfailingly manifested in taking care of the servants of the ducal family.

Whenever Aneta heard that someone in a servant’s family was sick, she would bring them medicinal herbs, and if their household was in difficulty, she would provide necessary daily necessities.

She also refused to use the allowance meant to maintain the dignity of the duke’s wife, relying solely on her own resources.

Even when Carlos offered that she use the family’s wealth, she always declined, which he knew was a way to draw a line.

‘At first, I welcomed that clear boundary.’

But at some point, he began to feel a sense of disappointment. But he couldn’t even reveal that feeling, and it was a continuous day of brooding alone.

He should have known better, for the lines she drew were always drawn sharply against him.

“Where is she now?”

“She has been in the library for the past two hours.”

Hearing the expected response, Carlos sighed and stood up. He was going to see Aneta.

Linden, guessing his destination, naturally moved to follow, but Carlos told him to stay behind and walked alone.

The library was not far from his office. Skipping the knock, he entered and was greeted by a familiar sight.

Aneta was engrossed in writing on parchment, unaware of his presence. He had a good idea of what she was looking at.

‘She’s probably reviewing the records of the previous dukes of Baltimor again.’

Carlos’s guess was accurate. Glancing at the book, he saw it was indeed a record left by his predecessors.

He hadn’t opened those books since he was a child.
It was only when he stood across from her and leaned in to check the contents that Aneta realized he was there.

Seeing the shadow fall over her, she looked up, breaking her concentration.

“Your Grace.”

When the voiceless call came, Carlos spoke up.

“I heard you used your own money to provide medicinal herbs for the servants again. Didn’t I ask you to charge such expenses to the ducal household?”

“And I have repeatedly refused. I’ve made it clear that it’s an act of personal satisfaction and that you don’t need to concern yourself with it.”

“At this rate, I don’t think you’ll be able to get that clean break you want because you’ll still be in debt.”

It was only for a moment that Aneta narrowed her eyes at Carlos’s words.

Then she seemed to think of something and let out a short exclamation, “Ah.”

Carlos instinctively realized that it was not the answer he was hoping for.

“Well, if that’s the case, why don’t you pay for it with something other than money?”

Aneta’s response came swiftly, yet it wasn’t the acceptance he anticipated, but another demand.

“Something else?”

“Yes. There’s something I want.”

“…Tell me what it is first, and I’ll decide.”

For the first time, Carlos saw a glimmer of anticipation in her eyes, but he didn’t make a hasty decision. Fortunately, Aneta didn’t seem disappointed. She nodded as if it was expected and held up the book she had been reading.

“What I want is your experience, Your Grace. I’ve read all the records in this book, but they haven’t been very helpful.”

“Well, I did say that they wouldn’t be useful.”

“When one is desperate, they’ll want to grasp at even a drop of water, or at least take a look at what’s deemed useless. I thought it was better to read than not, to compensate for my lack of experience, but it’s merely informative. The times are just too different.”

Carlos nodded in agreement. Unlike the previous emperors who had ascended the throne, the current emperor, Russell, had a more progressive tendency.

Therefore, the previous records did not match his style of governance. Carlos was well aware of this fact, which is why he hadn’t recommended those records to Aneta.

“And in return, you want me to share my experiences with you?”

“Yes. That’s all I want.”

“Then I have no choice but to comply. But you’ll have to be well-prepared.”

Since she was not someone he had to make a separate time to visit, it would not be difficult.

Carlos valued Aneta’s efforts and her willingness to learn more than his affection for her.

Moreover, knowing that Russell valued her highly, Carlos saw no issue in sharing his experience and knowledge. He accepted her request without any reluctance.

However, at that moment, he had no idea.

At that moment, he did not know that this was the beginning of his agonizing unrequited love.

***

Aneta proved herself worthy of Russell’s high regard, quickly understanding one concept and then another, absorbing everything like a sponge.

When a teacher meets an excellent student, enthusiasm naturally follows, and Carlos was no different. In the end, he found himself more eager than Aneta to share what he knew and had learned.

However, the passion that ignited wasn’t solely due to his own intentions.

As they spent more time together, his initial respect and admiration deepened into something more profound. The small gaps in his heart began to take shape, filled with the little habits he noticed about her—like a strand of hair resting on her cheek.

The implications were clear.

Carlos did not mistake his feelings.

Before long, he realized that these unexpected feelings had taken root and were fiercely setting his heart ablaze.

From the moment he became aware of his feelings, he expressed them as they were, without the slightest embellishment or concealment.

However, as Carlos’s expression became more unrestrained, Aneta’s attitude towards him became more dismissive.

Yet his heart did not falter because of the emotions Aneta occasionally revealed.

He liked how she would turn away coldly, but then look back once in a while, worried that he had been hurt.

He liked her unyielding perseverance in not losing the direction she had set for herself, even while being crushed by the overwhelming responsibility and duty.

What pained him more than her outward rejections were her precarious yet resolute actions.

Aneta was someone who habitually concealed her emotions, a fact Carlos had discerned through long observation.

This made him even more determined not to give up. Her inadvertent displays of kindness spurred him on.

For four years, Carlos spared no effort in trying to win Aneta’s heart. He persuaded her to drop formalities, arguing that speaking informally would bring them closer, and he playfully exploited every small opportunity to bridge the gap between them.

But the inevitable end he dreaded finally arrived. No amount of denial could change the reality.

As soon as the agreed period ended, Aneta filed for divorce, and once the paperwork was processed, she packed her things and left the ducal residence without a hint of regret.

Afterward, there was no news of her, leaving Carlos to struggle with his burning heart.

Despite this, he clung to the hope of hearing from Aneta soon. He believed that by stepping back, he could later approach her properly.

However, Aneta remained unwaveringly distant. Carlos was left speechless by the news Linden brought him.

“What did you just say?”

“It appears the Lady has left the capital for a while.”

“Left? Why? When and where did she go?”

The bewilderment he felt was evident in the questions that followed.

Despite feeling sorry for his visibly shaken master, Linden answered carefully.

“It’s said she left early this morning. The purpose seems to be a simple trip, and the destination appears to be Lithea.”

“Lithea…”

Carlos repeated the name, a sense of helplessness washing over him.

He had expected Aneta to take care of the pending matters of the Marquis’s family first but hearing of her unexpected departure left him feeling empty.

In the following weeks, Carlos was engulfed by a deep sense of loss. Even while bedridden with a fever, he couldn’t let go of the wedding ring she had left behind.

As his fevered mind began to clear, Carlos resolved to wait once more, despite the seemingly endless and torturous longing. He lamented his overwhelming love, feeling as if he might drown in it, yet believing it was the only path left to him.

Finally, after that endless wait, Carlos found himself face-to-face with Aneta, who had returned to the capital.

“Carlos.”

Her voice calling his name made his battered heart start pounding once again.

The name of the painfully clear emotion was still, as ever, love.