The Duke’s office was brightly lit until late at night. From national council documents to reports from the territory, there was always an overflow of matters that required his attention.

Knock, knock, a knocking sound echoed in the room.

“Come in.”

At Rashid’s permission, the one who entered the office was his secretary, Benjamin. He handed over a few bundles of documents he had brought to his master.

“This is the report on today’s activities.”

Rashid nodded slightly, then quickly skimmed through the contents as soon as he received the documents.

It was a report detailing who Alisa had met and what she had done.

Today, she went out to buy furniture and crafts, and met Countess Spendal outside. Everything was recorded, including the 500 freti ornament she bought at the store she visited under the Countess’s guidance.

“She said it was 5,000 freti.”

Rashid smiled again, remembering Alisa’s expression as she tried to gloss over her words.

From the time they got married until now, Rashid had been receiving reports on Alisa’s activities.

At first, it was for surveillance. She was an unfamiliar figure, and therefore caution was necessary. He wanted to prevent any troublesome actions in advance. For a while, it was also for the purpose of protecting her safety.

For the first year, the documents were simple. There wasn’t much to pay attention to. Her time flowed like calm water, and Rashid didn’t look into that water.

But recently, something was different. Alisa’s days became quite colorful, unlike before. She did more things and met more people. Last time, she even encountered a troublesome fellow at the Imperial Library.

She started doing unpredictable things more and more. Asking for a divorce, saying she’d become a bad person for it, all sorts of outrageous words poured out from her small, red lips.

So, what next?

What would she say next, what kind of incident would she cause?

Alisa became strange. He was sure of that.

And Rashid found his wife’s strangeness quite amusing.

At first, he was bothered by her trying to leave him, but now he found it interesting, not annoying, that she kept creating unexpected situations.

Rashid found himself curious. Why wasn’t she boring now? Why did he keep wanting to look into her? What wind had blown to change her from the dull and quiet person she was? What was the reason?

Rashid couldn’t understand, and because he couldn’t understand, his gaze kept going to her.

It was certain that many things had changed since that day when Alisa didn’t avoid his gaze in front of him.

In a world where everything was tediously gray, she alone was his source of color.

“Alisa Penvernon.”

Rashid quietly called her name. The woman who shared his surname no longer felt unfamiliar.

Life had returned to the face that once seemed like a doll placed there. Although it was a demand for divorce, she had started to express her own thoughts and assert what she wanted.

“My wife…”

Rashid smiled, finding the resonance of that title unexpectedly pleasing.

He examined the brooch she had given him closely under the light.

The amber set in the center of the brooch had a beautiful luster. The Paleozoic butterfly, trapped in the bright yellow sap like a beast’s gleaming eyes, could never be free again. It was truly a complete possession.

* * *

Money isn’t everything for happiness, but you’re certainly unhappy without it.

That’s why I wanted to be rich. I thought I could do anything if I had money. I wanted to buy everything I wanted, do everything I wanted, eat everything I wanted.

But when I actually became a person with enough money to do everything, I found there wasn’t as much I wanted to do as I thought. Perhaps it’s because I don’t have to worry about food, clothing, and shelter, and I’m already in a position with all sorts of full options.

Still, if it were modern times, there would have been more things I’d want and more ways to spend money.

The world in the book felt like early modern Europe, so it was somewhat boring for me, a modern person. A world without smartphones or internet…

Having been used to the most advanced entertainment, suddenly dropping into this world left me with too much time on my hands.

“If it weren’t for you, I would have gotten bored faster, Sparkle.”

“Chirp!”

Sparkle responded to my words. It’s a name I came up with casually, but it responds well. Yes, you’re the only one easing my boredom right now.

“I need to spend more money…”

And I need to spend it like a lavish noblewoman.

Looking back, I bought clothes, jewels, real estate, furniture, hired people, I spent so much money. You’d think I’d be recognized as a terrible woman by now. Is it still not enough?

‘I wish there was some powerful one-shot solution…’

What else could I do besides this? Should I consider options other than extravagance? I fell into deep thought, recalling the time I visited the Grand Temple.

I want to divorce Rashid as soon as possible.

I was a locomotive rushing towards that goal without hesitation. It was the only driving force in my life right now.

Sometimes, what comes after seemed too vague. Divorcing Rashid, escaping the role of being an obstacle between Priscilla and Rashid, and then buying a small house in a small town with the wealth I’ve accumulated before that…

And then what?

I want to live happily, but honestly, I’m not sure how to be happy yet.

At times like this, I envied Priscilla. And Rashid too. Because a predetermined fate awaited them. The two were lovers preparing for a happy ending even before it began. Fate would lead them to a future of ‘and they lived happily ever after.’

‘I need to leave Granrose quickly, if only to avoid seeing that.’

I immersed myself in planning for divorce again.

* * *

‘It’s already quite hot.’

I slowly strolled through the garden to soothe my complicated feelings.

It was already midsummer.

The azure sky and bright sunlight illuminated everything, and a gentle breeze carried the fresh scent of flowers.

After wandering around for a while, I flopped down under a shady tree. Cicadas buzzed persistently under the lush leaves. I closed my eyes while listening to their passionate sound.

On days like this…

‘I want to drink cold draft beer.’

Once, drinking draft beer after finishing a part-time job was the joy of my life. I still tried to revive that vivid sensation on the tip of my tongue. The carbonation that stung my throat was so refreshing, but it was disappointing that I couldn’t taste such an exhilarating beer with the technology here.

‘The author is a fool. They should have written at least one line about Rashid refreshingly drinking a carbonated beer somewhere.’

I resented the unnamed creator of this world.

From early spring to late summer, a season had passed since I became Alisa. I felt the passage of time seeing the different shapes and names of flowers that bloomed before and now.

I no longer startle when I look in the mirror. I’ve become quite accustomed to the coral-colored hair and gray-blue eyes. The delicate and pure features have also become familiar to my eyes.

Quick resignation and adaptation kept me here. They say humans are animals of adaptation, and it really was true. Still, sometimes I felt proud of myself for not going crazy.

‘A lot of things have happened during this time.’

Not long ago, Madame Kruger came to the mansion with a bunch of dresses. It was a visit to deliver part of the ordered clothes in advance. I bought so many that even with only half of them arriving, it required five fully loaded wagons.

The interior renovation of the mansion was also in progress. Furniture pieces started to arrive one by one, and sculptures with short production times were also prepared. I planned to participate in auctions directly to buy decorative items when they were held.

Perhaps because I had done so much in such a short time, both my body and mind were tired. Sometimes it felt like I was living more diligently now as a Duchess of the Empire than in my previous life as an ordinary citizen.

In this way, one season, one year, one decade… As time flows like waves towards a set direction, one life will pass.

While I was lost in thought, a deep shadow fell over me. I slightly opened my eyes at the unexpected shade, and sure enough, it was Rashid.

“Alisa, are you sleeping?”

“Yes.”

I answered nonchalantly, and he sat down beside me with a smile.