“Are you afraid?”

His breath tickled me. Along with that soft exhalation, a deep fragrance penetrated me. It was like an intense floral scent, or perhaps a high-purity musk smell. Because of it, I felt as if I had fallen into Rashid’s trace, which was difficult to define in a single word.

Am I afraid? Of what?

“…No, I’m not afraid.”

I answered as if enchanted. It was the truth.

But I had no intention of spending the night with Rashid. Just because I became Alisa didn’t mean I was going to live her life entirely in her place. I couldn’t do that anyway.

First, I need to get out of this situation somehow. I’ll think about the rest later.

“It’s just… I, I’m not mentally prepared yet.”

I stammered terribly. I’m not even sure what I’m saying.

“Mentally prepared.”

Rashid chuckled.

We’re a married couple after all, we’ve already been together for over twelve months, yet I’m saying I’m not mentally prepared. How ridiculous must it sound? He must be wondering why this woman is acting like this now.

“My, my body isn’t feeling well either.”

“But I heard your condition was good.”

“I’m still a bit tired.”

“Hmm.”

He laughed softly. His attitude was relaxed, as if he wanted to see how far I would go.

“Also, I think I have a, a fever…”

“A fever.”

While I was just rolling my eyes, feeling so stupid for not being able to give a better answer, he gently touched my forehead. Rashid’s hand was so large that it covered not only my forehead but also my eyebrows, tinting my vision with a cozy darkness.

There’s no way this excuse would work. If anything, his palm felt hotter than my forehead.

“Well…”

“I understand.”

I was about to say something more, but Rashid unexpectedly let me go easily. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but it was fortunate for me. As I was sighing in relief, he continued speaking.

“Then I’ll wait.”

“Pardon?”

“Until you’re ready.”

“Uh…”

While I was blankly rolling my eyes at this unexpected response, he blurted out.

“Tomorrow?”

I hurriedly shook my head.

“Then the day after tomorrow.”

I kept shaking my head and lowered my gaze. My two hands were curled up neatly on the white chemise.

“Would next month be alright?”

“Well, that is…”

“Then, when would be good?”

I gaped like a goldfish out of water. When should I say? Would next month be okay? Or the month after that? Next year? When exactly?

In my future, there was no scheduled day where I would share body heat with Rashid, so I had absolutely no answer to give.

“I, I’ll…”

“Speak clearly.”

“I’ll tell you! When I’m ready…”

“Hmm.”

“So on a good day… yes.”

I wish there was a mouse hole I could crawl into. When I cupped my face with both hands, the inside of my palms warmed up.

“Alright then.”

Rashid got up from the bed. I could feel the elastic mattress bouncing back to its flat state.

“Then rest well, wife.”

As he said this, he blew out the candle on the bedside table with a soft ‘whoof’. White smoke scattered into the darkness.

Rashid’s footsteps fade away. The door opens, then closes again. From the sounds beyond my dim vision, I realized he had left.

I collapsed onto the bed.

‘Ah, this won’t do. I need to get out of here as soon as possible.’

I planned to proceed leisurely, but that was a naive thought from someone ignorant of the ways of the world. My heart was pounding as if the extinguished candle’s flame had moved to burn the top of my foot.

So, I need to get a divorce. I should ask for a divorce tomorrow. I should file for divorce papers. No matter how many days pass, a good day won’t come. It has to be this way.

‘If a day like today comes again, then…’

Delusions are about to bloom. I hurriedly pulled the blanket over my head. And only after tossing and turning left and right dozens of times in that state, I was finally able to fall asleep.

* * *

Morning dawned, but Louise didn’t wake Alisa. It was the principle not to do so unless there was a special schedule, and today was the day after the night of their consummation.

Alisa, with her delicate constitution, always lay in bed for a long time after spending the night. She would pull the bell rope to call Louise only when the sun reached its zenith. Then Louise would have warm water filled in the bathtub, and while Alisa bathed, she would tidy up the bed.

Usually, Louise didn’t personally gather the bedding, but the day after their consummation was an exception. It was because Alisa was shy and had specially requested her to do so.

Ding! The bell rang cheerfully. It was the sound from the Duchess’s bedroom. She seems to have woken up early today, unusually.

When she entered the room, Alisa was sitting on the bed to greet Louise. Her pink hair was disheveled from sleep. She looked a bit tired, but that was all. Louise felt a sense of dissonance at the appearance that was different from usual.

“Prepare a meal for me.”

“Yes, my lady. About the bath…”

Louise stared at her with a blank face for a moment.

“Ah, right. I’ll eat after I wash up.”

Alisa left the bed to go wash. Louise, left behind, tidied up the bedroom.

The Duchess’s bed was clean. The blanket was disheveled from sleep and the pillow was crumpled, but that was all. There were no traces typically associated with consummation.

‘What’s this?’

Louise tilted her head in confusion.

The relationship between her masters was the most interesting topic of conversation among the servants in a noble mansion. It’s no exaggeration to say that the atmosphere of the mansion is determined by how good or bad that relationship is. Of course, to some extent, it was also out of curiosity.

Louise paid attention to the relationship of the Penvernon ducal couple for other reasons as well. Whether or not an heir to the Duke’s family was born was an important issue, so the Emperor was interested in this matter.

The production of an heir was the duty of a noble couple in a political marriage. The ducal couple generally kept to their consummation nights well, and Louise made the same report to the Emperor once a month.
But today was different.

‘They skipped the consummation night.’

Why? For what reason?

It was a sudden change with no apparent cause. Louise clutched the blanket.

Strange. Something has changed. Is changing.

* * *

I don’t know how I washed up or how I ate. When I came to my senses, it was already afternoon. For half a day, my face kept turning red as last night came to mind no matter what I did. Only then did I somewhat calm down.

The way to solve this situation is clear. There’s only one answer: divorce. And a very quick and clean divorce at that.

I briefly considered running away in the middle of the night. Thinking it might be the easiest way.

But it didn’t seem feasible. I had to consider my peace for the rest of my life too. I wasn’t confident I could safely escape whether the Emperor came after me or Rashid did.

I need to quickly figure out what to say to him to ask for a divorce, and how to go about getting divorced. Given the situation, it won’t be easy. I might need to consider several methods.

“My lady, dinner is ready.”

Louise announced dinner time. Today too, Rashid said he would have dinner with me, leisurely as ever.

I grabbed the arm she offered and got up from the bed.

That’s when it happened.

「Louise had just contacted the Imperial Palace.」

I blinked my eyes repeatedly.

「The content was that there was a problem in the relationship between Rashid and Alisa.」

I was flustered. On what grounds did she make such a report?

Trying to pretend not to know while knowing was difficult to manage my expression. I struggled to smooth out my furrowing brow.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

“Ah, no. I’m fine.”

I was lost in thought as I walked towards the dining room. For Louise, anything related to the Duke’s household was information. The relationship between the Duke and Duchess would be one of the most important issues among them. I also guessed that depending on the situation, she might interfere with my divorce.

‘I need to do something quickly.’

But Louise tried not to leave my side even for a moment. Even if I said I wanted to be alone, she wouldn’t go far and always guarded the door.

It wasn’t Louise but another maid under her who went in and out of the kitchen to bring meals or tea. Louise essentially only left my side when I was sleeping.

For now, I need to somehow send her out of the Duke’s mansion. Only then can I search her room or devise other plans away from her eyes.

To do that, I have no choice but to deceive her.

* * *