“That demonic beasts are appearing in the border regions… They had horns on display. I heard everyone was talking about it in the square.”

“Ah.”

Rashid naturally sat down next to me. With his arms resting on the table, he looked at me. His clear golden gaze clung to me.

“It’s a problem in the western territories as well.”

“Is that so?”

“They’re appearing along the coast and the northwestern mountain range. There hasn’t been much damage yet, but we need to pay attention.”

“I see….”

“Depending on the situation, a military expedition might be necessary.”

“You mean it might require subjugation.”

The situation was more serious than I thought. A disaster movie-like scenario played out in my head. Unknown monsters appearing, destroying cities and villages, tearing people apart….

That was an unreality beyond the screen for me, but this situation, though distant, is reality.

Rashid, being the male protagonist, probably won’t die and will return after achieving some military feat, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a bad situation. Moreover, I could vividly imagine the people living in the border regions suffering from the demonic beasts.

Strange. Even though settings outside the original work exist in this world, this wasn’t originally this kind of novel….

Since these events are happening before Priscilla appears, before the original story begins, it’s not completely implausible. After all, we don’t know everything that happened before that. Still, isn’t this too different a genre?

A thousand thoughts raced through my mind in an instant.

Perhaps my face looked troubled, as Rashid spoke up. His voice flowed calmly.

“Are you worried about me, Alisa?”

“Huh? Of course.”

When I answered immediately, Rashid momentarily made an indecipherable expression.

Rashid seemed both puzzled and surprised. An emotion difficult to read settled on his face.

What is it? What kind of expression is that? Am I not supposed to worry? Does he think I’m overstepping?

Come to think of it, I remember he reacted sensitively last time when I said I was worried about him.

I subtly avoided Rashid’s eyes as he stared at me silently. His intense gaze was already hard to meet for long, and now that he was looking at me so piercingly, my pupils trembled involuntarily.

“Should I not worry?”

Unable to wait any longer, I broke the silence first. A small voice leaked out cautiously.

“No. It’s not bad.”

Rashid tilted his head slightly, grinning as if to show off. His eyes curved roundly, looking quite pleased.

He says it’s not bad for just about anything. What could possibly be bad about it?

But why is he acting like this now? Has he gone mad?

Unable to say that much, I just nodded my head meaninglessly a few times.

Rashid leaned his body a bit more towards me. I slightly pulled back my waist, pressing close to the chair. I didn’t forget to cover the paper with a book. Good, that was natural.

“I thought you’d say you weren’t worried.”

“Why?”

“Because you said you wanted a divorce.”

“That’s a separate issue. This is a big deal. Of course I’m worried.”

I forced a smile at Rashid’s words.

Wanting a divorce and not caring if he dies are completely different stories. Of course, being widowed would naturally lead to a divorce-like situation, but it’s not like I want him to die just because I don’t want to live together.

I would have been concerned even for someone I wasn’t close to. The feeling was the same, even if the intensity and depth differed.

“I don’t think I’ve shown any signs of worrying about you. Why are you worried about me?”

“That’s….”

Oh my, what is he saying? I’ve often thought he was a cold person, but hearing it from his own mouth was a bit bewildering. Is he bragging about it now? And he even asked why I’m worried, though I doubted if he was really asking because he didn’t know.

Looking back, Alisa was often lonely in the past. She would immerse herself in solitude while doing embroidery and strolling in the garden. Although Louise was by Alisa’s side, she was still just a maid, and ultimately, Alisa was alone.

Rashid was too busy and often neglected Alisa. He can’t deny the fact that he considered her a woman who could be left alone.

But Alisa didn’t resent Rashid.

Rather, I, who occupied her place, blamed him more and found him more unkind. I felt more wronged, and I was more angry.

Still, I worry about him now. This is like a universal love for humanity. Besides, Rashid is my husband for now, and anyway, it’s not right to think that I don’t care whether someone I know lives or dies. To think I have to explain this for him to understand, he’s really a strange person.

“…I’m still your wife.”

I answered like that, slightly pulling at the corners of my mouth. An expression that looked like a faint smile must have settled on my face.

Then Rashid, who had been looking at me, suddenly grabbed my hand. It was an unexpected action.

I glanced at my captured hand and then threw my gaze back at him. A soft luster seeped into his golden eyes.

“I went to the west briefly because of the demonic beast problem.”

“To the territory?”

“Yes, while you were unconscious….”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it.”

“I didn’t think there was a need to tell you.”

I decided not to ask why he’s telling me now. I swallowed the words that had risen to my throat.

I wanted to know what he was trying to say, but at the same time, I didn’t want to know. With this ambivalent feeling, I remained silent.

As silence flowed, his fingers slowly stroked the back of my hand. The subtle touch tickled, making my shoulders twitch.

When I tried to gently pull my hand away, unable to bear it, he caught it like he was snatching it, not letting go. My hand was trapped in his strong grip. It felt as if time had stopped while Rashid’s large hand held me tightly.

“…That’s how it is, Alisa.”

He pulled my hand and briefly kissed the back of it. The soft sensation touched me and then moved away.

Not knowing how to respond, I could only offer a faint smile.

I see. So that’s why he couldn’t look after me while I was bedridden. It wasn’t because he was annoyed, or that he didn’t want to check on me, or was simply indifferent, but there was a reason for it. Rashid was now asking for my understanding.

He’s explaining his actions to Alisa… this was certainly unprecedented. This sudden change somehow made me feel sad.

But, why now?

This is just an excuse. The reason he wasn’t affectionate then. The reason he was indifferent then. The reason he neglected me then… In the end, isn’t he just trying to rationalize those reasons now?

‘He’s doing something he never did before, could Rashid be reluctant to divorce?’

He might find it burdensome to part with the wife chosen by the Emperor. No matter how many reasons I create, it won’t be entirely easy for him. I understood his position.

A ducal family is supposed to obey the Imperial family. It was their promise passed down from ancient times. The powerful oath sealed with blood was not something to be carelessly defied.

His effort is commendable, but my will is stronger. My knowledge of the future can’t be swayed by his reluctance to divorce due to the hassle of matters post-divorce. Whose will would prevail remained to be seen.

“Huh?”

While I was lost in thought, a soft and tender sensation touched my forehead and then left.

“Uh, um… Y-Your Grace?”

It was Rashid’s lips.

“W-What…?”

I was so surprised that I couldn’t speak properly. I stupidly stammered. The unexpected collision caused my mind to temporarily freeze.

“You don’t have to call me Your Grace.”

He said. What are you talking about?

“If I don’t call Your Grace Your Grace, then what should I call you…?”

“Call me Rashid.”

“…Pardon?”

“Didn’t you call me that before?”

“That was… but….”

That was for a special purpose, wasn’t it?

“I’ll call you Alisa too.”

He grinned. He looked pleased, as though he was teasing me, or like a mischievous boy. For a moment, I thought his curved eyes were very pretty.

“Is that alright, Alisa?”

And at the sound of his voice calling my name, I suddenly awoke from my dazed state of being enchanted by Rashid.

“…You’ve been calling me that all along anyway, haven’t you?”

It’s not like it’s anything new.

* * *

Only after Rashid left my room did I finally return to my book.

After conversing with him, I felt slightly uncomfortable, as if I had been somewhat manipulated. He seemed so indifferent before, but now he keeps showing his face, and all that.