I woke to the sound of birds chirping. I opened my eyes and looked around. The room was empty. In the stillness, clear sunlight shone through the curtains onto the floor. When I sat up, the cold compress on my forehead rolled off.

I touched my forehead. Perhaps from being sick all night, the fever had subsided. I turned my head a few times and rotated my arms. Though slightly stiff, there was no problem moving.

‘That was a terrible cold.’

To collapse with a cold after doing just that much work, this body really was quite weak. Some people are thin but sturdy and strong, but Alisa was not one of them. She was as frail as her delicate and fragile appearance suggested.

‘Maybe I should exercise or something.’

Thinking this, I pulled the bell cord and Macy came in.

“My lady, how are you feeling?”

“I’m fine. Could you bring me some water?”

Macy brought me warmed water.

As I moistened my throat and steadied my breathing, I remembered what happened last night.

“My lady, your face is red. Do you have a fever? Should I call the physician?”

“I’m, I’m fine.”

My face burned as I recalled repeatedly kissing Rashid. Why did I do that? Saying I was delirious with fever wasn’t enough to explain it.

At that time, he and I were absorbed in each other as if we were the only two people in the world. When Rashid’s lips parted from mine, I felt an unbearable tickling below my throat, and when they met again, my head spun with thoughts that we shouldn’t be doing this.

‘If I hadn’t fainted then… that is, if I had been healthy when we……”

“My lady!”

My face felt like it was on fire when my thoughts reached that point.

“I’ll bring a cold compress!”

Macy rushed outside and came back with a chilled compress. As I cooled my face with it, I let out a long sigh.

‘Is it natural because we’re married?’

Then suddenly another thought struck me.

‘What’s natural about it! We’re getting divorced!’

I’m crazy, absolutely crazy. I felt like slapping my own cheeks.

Of course, Alisa had already shared a bed with Rashid, but that wasn’t my experience. It was just part of the memories.

I carefully touched my lips. The place where that passionate, fervent contact had occurred somehow felt unfamiliar, different from yesterday.

‘This shouldn’t be happening……”

I felt like I had become a shameless person who didn’t know my place. How dare I, an extra, a bit player who only appears by name, act like this? Why does he keep doing this?

Because Alisa was his first love? No. The Alisa who should have been Rashid’s first love died. Moreover, because she came back to life this way, he couldn’t idealize Alisa anymore.

‘Is it just a whim?’

He was someone whose thoughts I could never understand. I had been curious about what was inside his mind before, but not anymore. I’d rather keep not knowing. Finding out scared me more.

‘Just how am I supposed to face him?’

Why do I have to worry about this? The more I thought about it, the angrier I got. I tore at an innocent pillow. This is all because of your whims. It’s because of you, Rashid Penvernon!

“Um, my lady……”

I turned at the voice to see Macy peeking through the door. I released the pillow. Consider yourself lucky today.

“Swain Jedril from Count Legentia’s household requests to see you. We were going to tell him you’re unwell, but thought you might want to meet him.”

What could Swain want? Was Father telling the truth about Swain retiring?

“I’ll meet him. Show him to the reception room.”

I changed into appropriate clothes, quickly tidied myself up, and headed to the reception room. Fortunately, I had no trouble moving.

Swain, who had been sitting, stood up and bowed at my entrance.

“Sit down. It’s been a while, Swain.”

“Have you been well, Miss?”

“I’ve been fine.”

Macy brought in tea. I waved her out of the reception room.

“So what brings you here?”

Swain bowed his head deeply toward me.

“I’m returning to my hometown, so I came to bid you farewell.”

“Ah. I heard about it from Father. So it was true.”

“Yes, it is.”

“It was because of the demonic beasts, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, that’s right. As a knight, I now wish to protect my hometown.”

I looked for any differences from what Father had said, but except for the retirement payment amount, there were no lies.

“Thanks to you, I was able to live comfortably. I’ll miss you.”

“I’m deeply moved that you would say such things.”

“It’s not much, but I sent my gratitude through Father. Did you receive it?”

“Yes, Miss. Thank you.”

Hmm, I don’t know how much was given, but it seems he didn’t skip out on it.

“You really worked hard all this time. Thanks to you, I felt safe while staying at the Count’s mansion.”

“You’re too kind.”

“If I remember correctly, your hometown is in the Count’s territory, right?”

“Yes. It’s at the northern edge of Legentia’s domain.”

The Legentia County territory is part of the Imperial territory and borders the Limnike Duchy. It’s a harsh region with long winters and unforgiving land.

“Below the Frost Mountains then. With winter coming soon, I’m worried about the demonic beasts. Is it serious?”

“They often come down along the mountain range, and I’ve heard many have been harmed due to insufficient security.”

In other words, this was an indictment of the poor internal affairs of the Legentia County. Though Swain didn’t seem to be targeting him deliberately, his words alone painted a clear picture of how things were going.

「While outwardly showing firm resolve, Swain smiled bitterly inside.」

The sentence appeared just then. I watched the sentence emerging in my mind.

「Protecting one’s hometown was an honorable thing, but living couldn’t be solved by pride alone.」

Ah, I see. Quitting as the Count’s guard knight means Swain’s status would become at best a mercenary. Or just a wandering swordsman who knows how to use a sword. Since he has family, he won’t wander, so just a neighborhood swordsman?

‘I can’t let that happen.’

I continued the conversation calmly. I planned to make him a good proposal.

“Can you handle it alone, Swain?”

“Not just me, but several colleagues from my hometown have joined the cause. We will do our best.”

“That’s good then. I’ll arrange for you to work under the government office rather than as a vigilante group.”

It’s unacceptable for excellent knights to worry about making a living while doing vigilante work. Although I’m now the Duchess of Penvernon, and the Legentia County territory has little to do with the Penvernon Duchy, there are still things that must be done.

‘Isn’t this the responsibility that nobles in this world should have?’

At least that’s what I thought.

“…Thank you, my lady.”

“Not at all. The poor security is the Count’s failure.”

When I spoke firmly, Swain lowered his head for a moment.

“It is also my joy to see you grow up to be so admirable, Miss.”

“Hmm. I feel like you just treated me like a little child?”

“I’ve been by your side since you were young, Miss.”

“I don’t think I was that young. And weren’t you smaller back then, Swain?”

Swain and I looked at each other and smiled.

“Now you’re a proper duchess.”

“That’s right. And you’re no longer an apprentice but a splendid knight.”

Alisa’s memories unfolded like a magic lantern show. The young Alisa who admired, cherished, and had a crush on Swain in her days as a little girl.

Perhaps they might have loved each other, and if fate had allowed, they might have become companions.

But destiny didn’t flow that way.

The Alisa who used to calm her fluttering heart because of Swain is no more. Swain too can no longer remain within Alisa’s orbit. The time they spent together has become a thing of the past, turning into a chapter that has been turned.

‘So this is how it becomes a memory.’

Another season is passing by.

Just as I was preparing in my heart to bid farewell to Alisa’s girlhood and Swain, at that very moment…

“Alisa.”

Rashid strode into the reception room.

“Rashid! What brings you here?”

Behind him, Macy was standing with both hands raised, looking troubled. Her expression showed the dilemma of not wanting to disturb my time but being unable to stop Rashid… Poor thing.

“Your Grace, Duke Penvernon.”

“Sit.”

Swain jumped up to bow, and Rashid tersely made him sit back down. At least this time he acknowledged the greeting.

Rashid sat down heavily beside me.

When I glanced at him sideways, Rashid looked at me. Instantly, memories of last night flooded back and my face grew hot. I wasn’t mentally prepared to face him yet, how could he suddenly show up like this? My heart was racing wildly, making my ears pound with its beats.

“What were you discussing?”

It seems I’m the only one feeling confused. Rashid was acting nonchalant as if nothing had happened last night.

Hmm, maybe a few kisses aren’t a big deal to him. Though that thought somewhat irritates me, I didn’t think I should show my emotions in front of Swain.

I tried my best to maintain a calm facade as I spoke.

“Swain is leaving his post to return to his hometown. He came to bid me farewell.”

“As expected of a loyal knight. He was talking about when you were young.”

“Oh, did you hear?”

“Having served the young lady since she was young, we were sharing old memories.”

“I didn’t ask you.”