Roina had heard that Conrad had stood by and watched despite knowing her situation all this time.

As she wondered what reason he could have had for helping her, she gave up trying to understand his intentions.

This man truly seemed not to know what it meant.

Perhaps thinking Roina didn’t understand his words, Conrad asked again with a hardened expression.

“I’m asking why you just sat there quietly listening to such nonsense.”

Roina wanted to ask her husband instead.

‘When I was being isolated from society, what exactly were you doing……’

Moreover, the Conrad in her recovered memories had said he regretted his marriage to her.

But faced with the man who didn’t hide his discomfort as if all of this was bothersome, Roina could only swallow a bitter laugh.

Perhaps it had become another regret for him. The fact that he had helped Roina Würetti.

‘Well, you wouldn’t have any reason to help me.’

Whether he simply hated having the Asheter family’s reputation tarnished, Conrad merely drew a thorough line while showing cold eyes.

Though her heart ached, Roina suppressed her emotions as always and answered calmly.

“Because no one would believe me even if I spoke.”

At her self-deprecating words, Conrad’s golden eyes wavered slightly. As if he had overlooked that fact.

“Then why didn’t you ask for help instead?”

“Surely…… you can’t be serious?”

As if she’d heard something absurd, a hollow laugh escaped through Roina’s lips.

Conrad also seemed unable to picture that situation, as he didn’t particularly answer her question.

With her eyes stinging, Roina pressed her lips tightly shut.

‘Our relationship……’

She knew it had ended long ago, starting from four years past.

There was no place for her within the wide fence Conrad had built. As if that were natural.

Perhaps because memories of trivial moments from their past together surfaced, Roina felt emotions welling up.

The man watching her raised an eyebrow obliquely and said:

“To prevent such incidents from happening again—”

“Yes, I’ll conduct myself properly.”

Since she could guess what words would come from Conrad, Roina quickly cut off his words.

To avoid revealing her long-held emotions, she merely dug her nails into her palm.

The man answered in a voice devoid of any tonal variation and nodded indifferently.

“Please do so.”

※※※

Returning to her room, Roina simply stared up at the sunset sky with a blank expression.

As the evening glow streaming through the window poured across her face, she slowly closed and opened her eyes.

It was already the second time. That lost memories had suddenly surfaced.

Letting out a long sigh, Roina drew the curtains to block the sunset.

“What on earth happened?”

When fragments of forgotten memories surfaced, she felt trapped alone in pitch-black darkness.

She had considered telling Conrad that fragmentary memories had returned, but she couldn’t bring herself to mention it.

‘Conrad…… said he regretted his marriage to me.’

Because she was afraid to confirm the facts with him, the words she couldn’t convey lingered around her lips.

Roina couldn’t bring herself to directly hear her husband say he regretted their marriage.

She couldn’t guarantee what harsh words might come from his mouth, and surely Conrad would likely deliver the final blow. That he regretted this marriage.

Though she was becoming somewhat accustomed to his attitude toward her, she couldn’t avoid the sorrow this situation itself brought.

The tender memories with Conrad from when they didn’t know each other’s backgrounds would remain only with Roina.

‘Memories precious to me would be nothing but a blemish to you.’

A self-deprecating light appeared on Roina’s face. Clasping her slightly trembling hands tightly, she bit her lips.

Hoping for an unchanging relationship despite the passage of time might be a meaningless wish.

Still, Roina didn’t have the confidence to let go of Conrad Asheter yet.

If she severed even this hollow relationship, there would be no excuse left to remain by his side.

※※※

Even the day that seemed unbearable passed by indifferently.

As always, time showed no mercy to Roina.

Without time to compose herself, one day passed, then another, and the daily routine that repeated every day arrived.

Sunlight gently filtered through the carriage window.

Casting her gaze to the opposite side, Roina looked at the person accompanying her as escort.

‘Why on earth is he accompanying me?’

Sir Astor, who was assigned as her escort, was also the captain of the Asheter knights.

Roina had already encountered him several times at the estate, and each time she had to feel his undisguised hostility toward her.

As someone from a family subordinate to Asheter, there was no way he would look favorably upon her, the daughter of Würetti.

Therefore, Roina found it merely puzzling that Astor had expressed his intention to accompany today’s outing.

‘It doesn’t seem like he would volunteer to be my escort.’

Raising an eyebrow at his uncharacteristic behavior, Roina slowly opened her mouth.

“Why are you accompanying me, Sir?”

Astor seemed not to have expected her to speak to him, showing both some bewilderment and an annoyed look.

“I merely followed His Grace’s orders.”

“Conrad gave orders……?”

As if displeased by that question, the man frowned slightly and answered with a deep sigh.

“He told me to escort you from now on, my lady.”

“……”

Roina had been distant from her husband since Daphne’s tea party.

After learning that he regretted this marriage, approaching him had become even more cautious.

‘Why did Conrad assign Sir Astor as my escort?’

In the midst of this, Conrad had supposedly ordered the ducal family’s knight captain to be her escort.

Just as Roina was lost in thought about what reason he might have had for giving such orders—

Astor, no longer hiding his true nature, asked her accusingly.

“What exactly are your intentions, my lady?”

Perhaps because they were alone, Astor seemed no longer inclined to hide his hostility.

Seeing him honestly reveal his emotions, Roina swallowed a hollow laugh inwardly.

“Well, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

When she maintained an indifferent expression, Astor frowned slightly and added:

“Please don’t hold back His Grace’s feet like before.”

Roina tilted her head obliquely at the sullen yet bold escort knight’s words.

“Holding back Conrad’s feet?”

“I don’t think you’re truly unaware.”

Astor answered coldly. His appearance of recognizing his master’s enemy and growling was quite like a loyal dog.

‘Conrad seems to have kept good people by his side.’

Nodding slightly, Roina spoke in a calm voice.

“Sir, I’m well aware that you have high loyalty to your master.”

“What do you suddenly mean by that?”

Perhaps because she, who usually stayed quiet, was responding to his words, Astor looked bewildered while narrowing his brow as if trying to understand her intentions.

“But it would be good for you to recognize your position, Sir.”

No matter how much Astor was his master’s loyal knight, he had no right to criticize the estate’s mistress.

Moreover, actions that brought shame to the estate’s mistress also lowered the family head’s status.

Whether he understood Roina’s meaning, Astor looked at her with a somewhat surprised expression.

“I was merely—!”

“Yes, it would be for Conrad’s sake.”

When she firmly cut off his words, Astor reluctantly bowed his head.

“I understand…… my lady’s words well.”

Just then the carriage stopped, and the coachman announced their arrival through the sliding window.

The escort knight, wearing a troubled expression, hurriedly extended his hand, and Roina got out of the carriage with his help.

Thus Astor only moved after seeing her enter the library.

※※※

Arriving at the capital’s largest library, Roina slowly walked while looking around.

The place she had frequently visited before continuing her reclusive life at the ducal residence was, surprisingly, the library.

‘They said I mainly came here in the early days of marriage.’

Checking the library’s directional signs, Roina turned toward the east where she needed to go.

Soon standing before an old, shabby building, she carefully pushed the massive door.