I could feel the texture of the crack with my fingertips. As I imagined when this crack was made, I was neither a reader of a romance novel nor an extra character who only appeared by name, but simply a human being.

‘He must have been cute then.’

I tried to imagine what Rashid was like as a child. It was a bit difficult to imagine him small. Soft, puffy cheeks, short and adorable legs, things like that. Thinking of Rashid toddling around… hmm. Was there really ever a time like that for him?

Hehe, laughter burst out spontaneously. Ah, I must look strange laughing alone. But I couldn’t help the smile forming on my lips.

I immediately took a liking to Camelli. Not because it was the environment that created the male protagonist Rashid… but simply because it was fun imagining him as a child. Like searching for a secretly hidden memoir, I speculated about and imagined young Rashid.

While doing so, I walked around various parts of the castle with the maid for about an hour. As we came down from the higher floors to the lower ones, I noticed an elaborate door in front of the stairs.

“What room is this?”

“This is the gallery called ‘Hall of Camellias.'”

“Can I go in?”

At my request, the maid promptly opened the door.

The large room had many portraits hanging along the walls. I looked at the painting hung on the left wall by the door.

“Cesar Penvernon……”

I carefully read the name written below the painting. He was the first Duke of Penvernon.

Though it must have been painted long ago, it was well preserved. Thanks to that, the black hair and vivid golden eyes remained intact.

‘Just like Rashid.’

Though Rashid’s features were slightly more striking, they shared the same cool impression.

Next to it hung a portrait of the first Duchess of Penvernon, and beside that was the portrait of the second Duke of Penvernon.

Looking at the portraits of dukes and duchesses hung in order, I tried to gauge the bygone times that had flowed away.

After passing dozens of paintings, I reached the portrait of the previous Duke Penvernon. He wore an elaborate uniform decorated with many medals. Like Rashid, his hair was black, but his eyes were blue.

‘Not many have all the characteristics of the first Duke Penvernon.’

In recent generations, there wasn’t a single person with both black hair and golden eyes. They either had black hair, or golden eyes, or neither—one of the three.

According to the novel, the more one inherits the Penvernon family traits, the stronger their magical power. That must be why Rashid was born with such superior talent.

‘A power that’s both a blessing and perhaps a curse……’

I shifted my gaze to the portrait of the previous Duchess of Penvernon, Natalie, hanging next to it.

Like Patricia, Natalie had sparkling silver hair and mysterious purple eyes. Indeed, she was Patricia’s aunt. The mature woman looked like Patricia might in several years.

Though she was confined, a duchess is still a duchess. Her portrait had the right to be here.

Next to it hung Rashid’s portrait. The current Duke of Penvernon. The Messenger of Camellias. The Flame Swordmage. The Century’s Beautiful Young Master. What else was there…… Anyway.

And looking at the space next to it……

‘As expected.’

It was an empty wall with no frame hanging.

As if claiming that the position of Rashid Penvernon’s wife was still vacant, the hollow wall looked bleak, as though it was deliberately left empty for the true duchess who would appear in the future.

Still, it’s a bit disappointing. Even if temporary, Alisa is also the Duchess Penvernon. Do they dislike acknowledging a marriage that was half-forced by the Emperor’s arrangement?

If that’s what Rashid thinks, there’s nothing I can do, but somehow my mood sank. If that’s the case, he shouldn’t keep shaking my heart. I almost felt resentful.

‘Will Priscilla’s portrait hang here later?’

Though I’ve never seen her face even once, she felt like an old friend to me. It was because I already knew her future that unfolded in the text. Since readers usually side with the female protagonist when reading romance novels, I couldn’t help but feel closer to her.

Yet at the same time, I felt somewhat afraid of the future when she would appear. How can a fate that will surely come make someone so troubled?

‘This is all because of Rashid.’

Why does he keep shaking someone’s heart when he’s going to leave anyway?

He should have agreed to divorce from the start. He should have just left me alone. Then I wouldn’t feel this way.

Somehow feeling like I might cry, I left the gallery with a heavy heart.

“Have you seen everything?”

As I exited, Rashid greeted me outside the gallery. I blinked my eyes rapidly.

“Mostly. It’s so large that it would take days to see everything.”

“Since we’ll be here for several months, you can take your time.”

“Yes, I will. But where are you going?”

Rashid was wearing outdoor clothes. He wore tall boots and even had a sword at his waist. Though it was a rapier and would be light, it was quite a formal outfit.

Since we had moved early, it was still daytime outside. Though the days were short, it would remain bright for another three or four hours.

“I’m planning to go to the Silentia Forest.”

“Where is that?”

“It’s the forest south of the castle.”

“Are you going alone?”

“Would you like to come along?”

That wasn’t my intention when I asked.

But getting some fresh air outside seemed like a good idea. I was curious about what it looked like outside the castle, and I didn’t have anything else to do anyway.

“Yes, let’s go together.”

Rashid told me to change into comfortable clothes.

“Ah, if we need to ride horses, I can’t. I don’t know how to ride well.”

“Then you can ride with me on my horse.”

“Can it carry two people?”

“Of course. You’re so light, the horse won’t even notice you’re there.”

I think it will notice very well. Is he saying this after asking the horse?

Still, Rashid knows horses several times better than I do and handles them skillfully. I obediently did as he said.

Since I didn’t have riding clothes, I changed into the most comfortable dress I could move in. I didn’t forget to wear a thick outer garment. Maybe I’ll learn horseback riding throughout the winter. I’ve been feeling the need for exercise anyway, so it seems like a good idea.

When we went outside, the horse was already out of the stable. Rashid’s horse was jet black with glossy fur. Even at a glance, it looked much larger and sturdier than other horses.

“Here, Alisa.”

Rashid offered his hand. I did as he instructed, placing my foot in the stirrup and mounting.

“It’s so high!”

“That’s because you’re small.”

“I think it’s because this horse is too big!”

Rashid mounted behind me and laughed as he spurred the horse’s flank. Understanding the signal, the horse started walking slowly before picking up speed.

“Kyaah!”

I screamed and grabbed the saddle horn tightly.

“Isn’t this too fast?”

“It’s a moderate pace.”

I don’t think so!

I lowered my body. If I didn’t stay completely pressed against the saddle, I felt like I would roll off. If I fell from a horse running at this speed, I surely wouldn’t be able to gather my bones. I heard Rashid laughing behind me, but this wasn’t a situation where I could get annoyed about that.

The scenery changed rapidly with the horse’s speed. From castle to field, from field to forest. The forest, where evergreens and deciduous trees mingled, showed off its beautiful appearance dyed in green, gold, and red. When the horse stepped on old fallen leaves, they made a familiar crunching sound. The fresh scent of plants scattered in the wind.

The horse finally stopped when we reached a pond in the forest. It was a pond where wildflowers bloomed among straight trees in all directions, and water flowing down from the mountain formed a small waterfall. The turquoise-blue water, as if paint had been dissolved in it, created a mysterious atmosphere.

“Wow, it’s beautiful. I didn’t know such a place was hidden here.”

Rashid helped me dismount. I walked toward the water’s edge, enchanted.

“Alisa.”

Just then, Rashid grabbed my arm. His deeply frowning face looked fierce.

“Don’t.”

“……Ah.”

I belatedly realized why Rashid was acting this way. He was remembering how Alisa had almost drowned. He was clearly worried that the same thing might happen again if I walked carelessly by the water.

“It’s fine now.”

But Rashid seemed to think differently.

“Don’t be so defenseless.”

“Yes, yes, I understand. It’s fine since I’m with you. You’ll save me if I fall in, right?”

“That……”

“Won’t you save me?”

Though I said it jokingly, he took it seriously. His golden eyes glinted coldly through narrowed lids.

“You’ll save me, right?”

“You’re not listening.”

Rashid pulled on the arm he was holding and grabbed my hand.

“Now I feel at ease.”

He really was worried sick.

I took slow deep breaths as we walked through the forest. The fresh energy of the quiet forest refreshed my mind. Is this the positive effect of forest bathing?

Along with the clean air, the sounds of the forest enveloped me. The crunching sound of fallen leaves under our feet, the sound of water flowing down from the mountain, the rhythmic chirping of insects—they sounded like the forest’s welcoming song for me.

I’m glad we came. My mood, which had sunk after touring the gallery, was now peaceful.

“How did you know about this place?”

“I came here often when I was young.”