Rashid’s cold response instantly chilled the atmosphere. An awkward silence poured down suddenly like a summer shower. I was drenched in that wordless tension for a moment before mustering the courage to break it.

“Well… Swain has been a knight by my side for many years. He’s been with me since I was young.”

Technically it was Alisa, not me, but since I have those memories….

“You see… I was apparently quite a timid child when I was young, so Swain helped me a lot. Thanks to him, I got to ride horses and had fun times. Right, Swain?”

“Yes, Miss.”

“Address her as Duchess.”

“Rashid!”

Has this man gone mad, why does he keep doing this? I’m trying hard to change the atmosphere, why is he making such a fuss about making things awkward?

“Hmph.”

Rashid crossed his arms. He still looked displeased.

“Come to think of it, Swain will be hunting demonic beasts from now on. Since you’re experienced, could you give him some advice?”

I asked Rashid while suppressing my anger.

“……”

Rashid stared at Swain persistently. It was a sharp gaze as if he were sizing up prey before devouring it. Poor Swain looked uncomfortable but couldn’t express his anger since he was facing a duke. Though I wonder if he could have shown anger even if the other party wasn’t a duke.

Swain, I’m so sorry.

“Rashid, please.”

“…Just do well.”

“Pardon?”

“Well.”

For a moment I doubted my ears. It was an absurd and ridiculous answer. I was dumbfounded. Is he joking right now? Right, you’re a flame swordmage, so of course doing well would be enough.

“And? Please elaborate.”

“……”

“Rashid.”

My voice hit freezing point.

At my icy glare, Rashid reluctantly began sharing useful advice one by one. Swain expressed his gratitude to him respectfully.

* * *

And so I bid farewell to Swain. Thinking he would do well at whatever he pursued, I once again marveled at his patience.

“What displeased you so much?”

After seeing Swain off, I glared at Rashid.

“He’s the man who once asked what relationship you had with him.”

“I told you there was absolutely nothing.”

“Do you swear by God Morea?”

“Of course.”

I’ll swear a hundred, a thousand times more.

Whatever that god was, Rashid finally dropped the subject.

“Then that’s fine. Let’s go inside, the wind is cold.”

He grabbed my hand and hurried toward the mansion. I followed him with quick little steps, half-pulled along. His hand felt too hot. So hot that I thought I might catch fire starting from that hand.

Fortunately, the rest of the day passed peacefully. Rashid and I had lunch together and shared teatime.

“Aren’t you going to the palace today?”

“No meetings.”

“What about the territory issues?”

“I’ll look at them when I go there soon anyway.”

Is that really true? Though doubtful, I didn’t ask again.

After dinner, I went up to the bedroom. The bed sheets, blanket, and pillowcases had been cleanly changed to new ones. When I lightly pressed the blanket, it felt fluffy and crisp, seemingly well-dried in the sunlight.

I flipped over the pillow and smelled the potpourri sachet. I heard they put camellia petals and oil in the Penvernon house’s potpourri. Hmm. The camellia scent isn’t as heavy as I thought.

Just then, I heard a knock on the door.

“Come in.”

The person who appeared through the doorway wasn’t Macy but Rashid. I walked toward him.

“Where’s Macy?”

“The maid went to prepare warm drinks.”

“Ah.”

Ah, this is somewhat awkward. Stay calm, stay calm.

“What brings you here?”

“I forgot something.”

He bent down and gave my lips a quick, light kiss.

Oh my! I unconsciously stepped back half a step.

Rashid didn’t follow me but stood at the doorway and said:

“A goodnight kiss.”

“…That’s not something you need to say you forgot.”

“It will be from now on.”

Rashid gently caressed my cheek, wished me sweet dreams, and closed the door.

I walked wobbly to the bed and collapsed on it.

I couldn’t tell him not to do it. I should have told him to stop, asked what he was doing.

Rashid Penvernon must surely be crazy. No sane person would act like this. Or perhaps he’s in a state of extreme s*xual frustration.

Though he enjoyed free love when he was single, he’s now married. However, he’s in a relationship scheduled for divorce with his wife. Still, since it’s better than having a mistress or lover, that’s why he’s carelessly kissing me like this. Yes, that must be it.

I can’t bear it unless I think that way. My head was tangled in complicated thoughts like it might explode. I pounded my pillow repeatedly.

I keep making ominous assumptions.

What if, just what if. If somehow, an unavoidable situation arises.

What would I do if I really end up falling for Rashid?

The question I had tried so hard to hide and bury deep in my heart finally surfaced. I pounded the pillow, careful not to burst it.

That can’t happen. Let’s remind myself. Where is this? The world of the romance novel 《Unavoidable Fate》. Who’s the female protagonist? Priscilla Haines. Who’s the male protagonist? Rashid Penvernon. Then who is Alisa Penvernon?

‘An extra! Just an extra!’

I need to think carefully. I mustn’t desire someone who isn’t meant for me!

Countless stories already prove this. Though Odile deceived Siegfried, she ultimately knelt before eternal love, and Ursula met her doom impaled on the prince’s bowsprit.

Wasn’t that why I wanted to leave his side legally, to avoid such a bad ending? I strengthened my resolve.

Though there have been some changes to the story with ‘Alisa’s’ survival, I know that even if the path differs slightly, the destination remains the same. The glass slipper will only fit Cinderella’s foot, and the witch’s apple cannot kill Snow White. That’s how novels—how stories work.

Why do I keep having these thoughts despite knowing the fate that awaits? My heart seems to sway and drift aimlessly like a flimsy reed in the wind, like duckweed floating on water.

I really hated the wind that pushed me around at will, the waves that made me waver.

* * *

Regardless of my personal turmoil, autumn grew deeper day by day.

The people at the ducal residence were busy preparing to return home. While some would remain in the capital to look after the mansion, others had to go to Camelli with the duke and duchess.

Only the Penvernon family could use the magic transportation array connecting the ducal palace in Camelli and the mansion in the capital. Therefore, the attendants and servants had to travel by carriage for dozens of days. Even that timeline was only possible by using gates along the way to shorten the distance.

Rashid and I decided to move first. There were plenty of servants at the main castle in Camelli, so there would be no inconvenience in daily life.

“I won’t see you for a while, Madam. How regrettable.”

Jeanne spoke with a voice that seemed genuinely disappointed.

It was our last teatime before returning home.

During this time, I had often had such teatimes with Jeanne, either just the two of us or with three or four other noble ladies including Karla. Thanks to that, I had built up a decent friendship with Jeanne.

“Will Your Highness continue to stay in the capital?”

“Of course. This is also the center of imperial territory. When it gets colder, we’ll move to the Winter Palace.”

The Winter Palace was a separate palace located in the southern region of the capital. With a milder climate than Granrose, the imperial family sought refuge there from the cold.

“How do you spend your time at the separate palace?”

“It’s too cold to do anything. The lake freezes over and we can’t ride horses, so there’s not much to do. Sometimes I accompany my brother on winter hunts, that’s about it. Really, I don’t know where he gets such energy in this cold weather.”

Jeanne stuck out her tongue in apparent disgust.

“His Highness the Crown Prince seems very energetic.”

“He’s still barbaric. Men are hopeless.”

It would be a serious matter if someone else heard this, but the speaker was none other than the Imperial Princess. Already knowing the casual relationship between the siblings, I smiled and answered without being flustered.

“His Grace the Duke hasn’t mentioned hunting, I guess it’s not his hobby.”

“Why would Duke Penvernon find any fun in catching a few animals? It must be too trivial. The same goes for Duke Chrysante and Duke Limnike, I suppose.”

The Chrysante ducal family specializes in archery, while the Limnike ducal family excels in offensive magic. Jeanne meant that hunting animals would be too easy and simple to interest those who possessed such powers.

Speaking of which, going along on hunts. I was concerned about Jeanne accompanying them to places where blades would be flying around. I would have worried about any noble lady, but in Jeanne’s case, I was especially worried.

‘Jeanne is a character who dies before Priscilla appears. That means she could die at any time.’

What could be her cause of death? It would be helpful if my sentence-reading ability could assist me when the original content doesn’t, but lately those sentences that used to appear frequently have become rare.

The thought of Jeanne’s death gave me chills. I hated it. Even Alisa who should have been dead is alive like this now, is there really a need for Jeanne to die exactly as in the original?

Besides, isn’t she a character far removed from the important destiny portrayed in the original work? The story of Rashid and Priscilla wouldn’t change even if Jeanne lived.

I carefully said,

“Do you take many guards when you go hunting?”

“A fair number.”