She bit her lip lightly and nodded as if she’s making a grave resolution.

Last year, Alisa, who woke from a long dream, was busy recovering her health for a while. Once things settled down, the couple returned to Camelli under the pretext of recuperation. Since the Emperor had ordered self-reflection anyway, nothing would stop their departure.

Rashid stayed in Camelli that entire year. The territory’s people were glad to have their lord and lady remain in the west for so long.

He carefully examined the territory’s affairs. He devised ways for agriculture, industry and commerce to prosper equally while also diligently extending aid. The people who had long suffered from demonic beasts gladly accepted the care.

Alisa helped Rashid while tending to her depleted health. She steadily read through past records in Camelli Castle’s library to build her knowledge as a duchess. Having decided to live as Alisa Penvernon, it was something she rightfully needed to do.

During that time, the two were always together. They disliked being apart and wanted to stay by each other’s side.

Through this, Rashid asked to hear many stories from Alisa. About her past life and the world she had lived in.

Alisa slowly answered his questions one by one. Because she was so happy about Rashid’s efforts to fully understand her. Now that there was nothing more to hide, the words flowed naturally.

And when she would suggest ‘It would be nice if there was something like this here too,’ Rashid listened carefully and discussed with her whether it could be realized. Thanks to that, requests to send to the mages at the magic tower piled up like mountains.

“At this rate we’ll need to give them a huge research grant.”

“The profits from the mines you bought should be enough.”

“It was good that I bought them then, right?”

Alisa acted like a squirrel seeking praise as she put down an acorn, and Rashid smiled and agreed.

In autumn, Alisa met Lian. The child had grown considerably over the year. Alisa sent lots of books suitable for reading to Lian who had become more cheerful and energetic.

Around that time, Alisa’s lady’s maid Macy and Rashid’s secretary Kendrick got married.

Alisa was surprised to learn they were lovers. Rashid bestowed abundant congratulatory gifts, and Anna, who already knew everything, caught the bouquet. Macy deferred her retirement saying she would continue working until she had a child.

While Rashid was away on winter inspections, Alisa felt severe loneliness and waited day after day just for his return. Since Rashid missed her just as much, the inspections were conducted very swiftly.

Seeing Alisa’s bright smile welcoming him at Camelli, Rashid thought about love. It was an emotion he had never once thought would settle in him. But now it shook his entire body and soul, making her happiness the purpose of everything he did.

He found her existence intensely lovely—how she genuinely rejoiced at his return and shared her warm temperature.

This is where I return to. Holding Alisa, Rashid sank into deep satisfaction. Now he couldn’t even imagine life without her.

When spring came again, the Duke and Duchess of Penvernon returned to the capital. Though their return stirred up all the noble houses, the couple simply did what they needed to do. As they always had.

And today came.

Alisa glanced at Rashid while examining her hand of cards. He was checking the card suits with a rigid expression that made it difficult to read his thoughts.

Lost in thought for a moment, she rose from her seat and sat on Rashid’s lap. Then she wrapped her arms around his neck and peeked at his card suits while hugging him.

“Alisa.”

“Oh, you have the ace of spades?”

Rashid burst out laughing at her brazen attitude.

“This is cheating.”

“Mmhmm.”

Alisa made a humming sound and clung even more to Rashid. He had no choice but to put down his cards and support her body in his arms.

“Looks like you were about to lose.”

“No I wasn’t.”

“Then?”

“Just……”

Then Alisa lightly kissed Rashid’s cheek.

“I wanted to be like this. Don’t you like it?”

“No.”

Rashid picked her up as she was and laid her on the bed.

Alisa looked up at the owner of the shadow cast over her with round eyes.

“……This isn’t allowed.”

“What isn’t?”

When he asked while kissing her forehead and eyes, she twisted her body shyly as if unsure how to answer. How cute, even though it’s been more than a day or two. Rashid smiled and climbed on top of Alisa.

“It’s not night yet……”

“I know.”

After their eyes met, their lips connected in a deep kiss. As their bodies pressed together, their warmth intertwined. Pale legs became visible beneath the lifted blue skirt.

After drawing out Alisa’s heated breaths for a long while, Rashid grasped her softly fleshed legs and delved into her. Alisa surrendered herself to the flowing current and began swaying slowly.

* * *

Spring passed like that, and summer came again. It was the season when leaves sprouted where flowers had fallen, making cool sounds as they swayed in the wind.

Alisa’s riding skills improved day by day. Her poker skills remained stagnant without much change, but Alisa didn’t mind much.

Rashid maintained the middle path as always in handling state affairs. No unfortunate news came from the territory and business collaborations with House Spendal were going smoothly.

Everything was peaceful. Thanks to that, the Duke and Duchess of Penvernon were busy focusing entirely on each other as they always did, and that day was no different.

One night, Alisa suddenly opened her eyes. As she quickly traced back the dream she had just had, her eyes shone brightly even in the blue darkness.

Alisa clutched her pounding heart as she removed the arm covering her and rose from bed. Then she put on a robe and stood by the window.

The moon happened to be full. Beautifully round, the moon was especially radiant today. Alisa quietly examined the shadows cast on the moon’s surface while going over the contents of her dream several times.

And the next day, she declared she would no longer ride horses.

* * *

The breakfast that had proceeded as usual ended with unexpected news.

“You’re quitting horseback riding?”

Alisa nodded slightly at Rashid’s question. As she took a sip of tea, her movements were unprecedentedly gentle and careful.

“Why?”

You liked it so much, why so suddenly now?

Unable to understand this decision at all, Rashid grabbed her hand resting on the table and quietly looked into her blue-gray eyes. Alisa avoided him by lowering her gaze.

“Just…… I want to take a break and do it later.”

“Didn’t you just say the other day that you could gallop on horseback now.”

“That’s true, but since I’ve gotten somewhat used to it, I thought I’d try something else now. Is that not okay?”

Alisa looked up at him with sparkling eyes. She tended to act like this when something was disadvantageous to her or she didn’t want to talk about it, or when she had something she strongly wanted to request.

When she did this, Rashid was completely helpless against it. He felt like he would even pluck stars from the sky to comfort her if he could.

“Your body.”

“Yes?”

“Could it be that you’re not feeling well?”

“That’s not it……”

Alisa trailed off. Her gaze lost in thought spread hazily as if looking somewhere far away.

“Still, it would be good to see a doctor.”

So she is unwell after all, even though she’s trying not to show it. Rashid felt like an idiot for not realizing Alisa’s condition earlier. He regretted not paying more attention when he should have.

“Sylvester, call a doctor right away.”

At Rashid’s firm order, the ducal family’s physician hurried over during the morning.

Rashid wanted to stay by Alisa’s side while she had her examination, but Alisa refused his offer. Because he was busy, she said:

“You said yesterday you have to go to the imperial palace this afternoon.”

“I don’t have to go.”

“No, Rashid.”

D*mn that Crown Prince. Rashid cursed in his mind. Thanks to that cursed meeting addict saying he would hold meetings with just the dukes, he had to go in and out of the imperial palace almost every day.

While in the past it might have been different, the current Rashid was in a position where he could easily ignore such orders, but Alisa disliked that. More precisely, she looked unfavorably on him neglecting his duties as a duke.

“You’re a leader who guides the country. Shouldn’t you naturally be diligent in your work?”

Then Alisa added stories about where she came from.

“There, kings who didn’t do their work properly were not tolerated.”

“……”

“I’m not saying I won’t tolerate you.”

It sounded like that’s exactly what she was saying.

If only he hadn’t mentioned there was a meeting today, he could have pretended not to know and skipped it. Rashid was not pleased about having shared his schedule.