Alex’s beloved horse looked utterly exhausted, as if it might collapse at any moment.  

It had run like the wind, its black mane tangled into a mess, and its still-excited legs bulging with thick veins.  

Even on the battlefield, it was rare to push a horse to this extent. Once his rationality returned, Alex felt guilty and gently stroked the horse’s neck.  

“I’m sorry, Segal. But I wanted to get here quickly.”  

*Prrrr…*  

The horse blinked its reddish eyes a few times and shook its head. It seemed to be reading its master’s heart, making Alex chuckle briefly before handing the reins to Lowen beside him.  

“Segal worked hard. Let him rest well.”  

“You are considerate only toward your horse. Do you not see the knights behind you?”  

At Lowen’s words, Alex turned his head. His escort knights looked like they were on the verge of death, slumped over their horses. He clicked his tongue.  

“…I told you I was leaving first, so why insist on following me and making me the villain?”  

“They are Your Grace’s escort knights. Naturally, they must follow.”  

“Ah… So they’re protecting me, then.”  

Alex drawled lazily, shrugging his shoulders. Lowen felt that the slightly upturned corner of the duke’s lips held many meanings.  

He inwardly sympathized with the knights who served a master who was overly arrogant yet too competent to be criticized. But at the same time, Lowen was in the same position, serving the duke. 

With a short sigh, he spoke in defense of the knights.  

“Your Grace, please understand. No one on this continent possesses the same level of physical ability as you.”  

Though meant as a compliment, Alex frowned.  

“Don’t waste your breath. That’s why I prefer to travel alone.”  

“There are traditions in Madonia that date back to ancient times. Please adhere to them.”  

Indeed, as a duke, he was bound by countless formalities. Even the multiple layers of stiff ceremonial clothing he was wearing were proof of that.  

A few years ago, Alex might have raced freely with just a shirt and leather pants. But with great status came great responsibility. Now fully aware of this, Alex soon fell silent.  

Just then—  

“Huh?”  

One of the knights, Damian, who had barely managed to dismount, gasped.  

Alex was certain that Damian had once again mistaken a rustling leaf for a ghost. The man was a giant, yet he was always overreacting.  

With an exasperated tone, Alex waved his hand dismissively.  

“Damian, stop making a fuss and get your things in order. Go to the barracks.”  

“N-No, that’s not it, Commander. Over there, in front of the mansion gate…”  

At Damian’s words, Alex turned his gaze toward the entrance. His eyes widened when he spotted someone.  

“The Lady has come out to greet you?”  

The surrounding knights were just as surprised.  

Of course, a lady welcoming her husband wasn’t unusual. However, this was the first time Elicity had come to greet Alex.  

All the knights present were now convinced—the rumors that the duke and his wife were growing closer were true.  

Soon, a few attendants carrying trays followed Elicity down the stairs, offering cool drinks to the weary knights.  

The knights hesitated, glancing at Alex for permission before drinking the beverages offered by the lady of the house. But Alex was too stunned by the unfamiliar situation to give an answer.  

Overwhelmed, he left his subordinates behind and strode toward his wife.  

“My lady, it’s late at night. Why are you out here instead of resting? Did something happen?  

And the night air is chilly. You’re dressed too lightly.”  

“I couldn’t sleep. It’s nothing serious.”  

“The lady has been staying up past midnight every night, preparing for the victory banquet, my lord.”  

Feeling sorry for how much effort the lady had been putting in, Retia quickly added the truth.  

Elicity scolded her sternly.  

“Retia. Do not say things that will worry His Grace.”  

But it was too late—Alex’s brow had already furrowed. His expression darkened, as if he were about to pick a fight.  

“My lady, there is no need to go to such lengths for the banquet. It’s all meaningless formalities.  

Besides, those who would criticize our banquet are not worth keeping around in the first place.”  

“But, Your Grace,”  

Elicity said softly,  

“I want to be a wife worthy of you, a great contributor to this nation. That means, at the very least, preparing a banquet that is not shameful.”  

“…”  

Alex’s hand twitched at his side. If no one had been watching, Elicity would already be wrapped in his strong embrace.  

But at this moment, they were standing at the front gate of the ducal residence. Sixteen pairs of eyes were watching.  

As a duke who needed to maintain his dignity, Alex suppressed his desires with all his might and spoke with composure.  

“Thank you for saying that. But I don’t want to see you overwork yourself. Please, take care of your health while you prepare.”  

“I understand.”  

A cold night breeze blew between them.  

Seeing the tip of Elicity’s nose turn red, Alex instinctively reached to drape his cloak over her shoulders. But just as he realized it was drenched with sweat and dampness, he instead grabbed her hand.  

“Let’s go inside and talk in the drawing room.”  

Stepping out from beneath the pitch-black night sky and into the warm glow of the lights, he could finally see his wife’s face clearly. Dew from the night air had made her cheeks flush red.  

The thought that she might have been waiting for him outside for a long time suddenly made Alex feel irritated with himself.  

He vowed that next time, he would make sure she stayed inside. Taking a step closer to her, he murmured,  

“You were cold after all.”  

“No, I wasn’t.”  

“But your cheeks are red.”  

Alex reached out to touch her cheek but then hesitated.  

Elicity always flinched like a small, timid animal whenever he touched her.  

Surprisingly, Elicity was the one who reached for Alex’s hand first and guided it to her cheek. Feeling the soft warmth of her skin against his palm, Alex’s eyes widened in surprise. Elicity was smiling shyly.

“…Come to think of it, I do feel a bit cold, just as you said. So, I was hoping to borrow some warmth from your hand. Would that be alright?”

He didn’t know why she wasn’t rejecting his touch this time. But when her clear, bright eyes looked up at him, Alex’s heart dropped with a heavy thud.

It felt like something was blocking his throat, making it impossible to speak. Unable to say a word, Alex turned his head away to avoid her gaze.

“My love?”

“It’s just…”

You’ve changed so much from before. And that makes me incredibly happy.

“…It’s nothing.”

The desire to keep touching her soft cheek was overwhelming. But based on past experience, he knew that if he acted too hastily, she would only retreat further away from him.

Suppressing his impatience, Alex reluctantly pulled his hand away from her face.

“All right, since it’s cold, you should rest soon. I’ll change and wash up before joining you.”

But Elicity didn’t immediately respond with agreement.

After hesitating for a long moment, she finally spoke words that left him completely stunned.

“My love… should I… help you change?”

For a moment, Alex thought he had misheard her.

Of course, it was natural for a wife to assist her husband in changing. But ever since he had become a duke, Elicity had never once helped him with that. In other words, it had been so long that this situation felt almost unreal.

As he stood there, frozen in shock, Elicity, flustered by his reaction, quickly began rambling.

“Of course, it’s been a long time, and now that you’re a duke… I might be terrible at it…”

“No! No, not at all.”

Fearing she might take back her offer, Alex quickly responded.

“It would be wonderful if you helped me change. In fact, I’ve been rather… dissatisfied with the new attendant’s skills.”

“Wait, dissatisfied? That much?”

Since she was the one who had chosen that attendant, she felt responsible. Alarmed, Elicity hastily apologized.

“Alex, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was that incompetent.”

“No, that’s not… I mean…”

He should have been more careful with his words, but he had spoken too hastily.

Flustered, Alex ended up blurting out the truth.

“I meant… instead of that attendant, I’d rather have you help me change from now on.”

“…!!”

“Would that be all right?”

Elicity’s eyes widened to the size of lanterns. Then, her face flushed red as she bit her lips and fell into silence.

She was the one who had made the offer, so why was she suddenly embarrassed?

Alex didn’t know, but he found her adorable nonetheless.

Giving her all the time she needed to gather her courage, he patiently waited.

Eventually, after a few seconds, Elicity finally managed to part her lips.

“…A-All right.”

Although she was flustered by Alex’s candid words, she couldn’t say she disliked hearing them.

The moment he blushed slightly and admitted that he wanted her to help him change, she could truly feel his affection for her as her husband.

Suppressing the urge to giggle, Elicity naturally followed Alex into his dressing room.

But with each step she took, she realized something she had completely overlooked.

‘Wait… Dressing rooms are usually connected to the bedroom…!’