4.

At the banquet hall where Marian and Helena had not yet returned…

After a long time of maintaining his sanity, good news arrived for Cesare.

“Vanessa? Is that true?”

Cesare asked in a lowered voice. The servant who came with the errand bowed his head. The truth wasn’t something the servant could know. He had only heard the message from the coachman who came from Count Yulian’s estate.

“What’s the matter, Cesare.”

“……It’s nothing.”

Cesare smiled brightly. Benjamin wore a puzzled expression but didn’t probe further. Cesare stood up.

“I’m afraid I must return now. They say there’s a matter at the family estate. It’s quite tiresome how they seek me out for even small matters when the head butler is absent.”

Cesare shrugged his shoulders.

“We should appoint a new head butler soon.”

“Yes, I’ve already contacted our relatives. Someone will likely apply soon. After all, it’s the position of head butler at House Madrian.”

Benjamin barely suppressed a snort at Cesare’s words brimming with confidence.

“Please tell Marian I’m sorry.”

“Alright.”

Cesare turned and left the banquet hall. His eyes sparkled. It was the most pleasant news he’d heard lately. Especially now when he had to handle everything himself after the head butler who possessed the family seal ring had run away.

Of course, Cesare’s heir should be the child born from Marian, but still, it was joyous news that a child of his blood would be born. It was also proof that there were no issues with Cesare’s ability to produce heirs. Among all the women who had passed through his life, Vanessa was the only one who had admitted her pregnancy.

Even if that child couldn’t become the heir, it would hold special meaning for Cesare. And for Vanessa as well.

Cesare commanded the coachman in an excited voice.

“To Count Yulian’s estate.”

**

When Marian and Helena returned, it was after Cesare had left his seat. Benjamin wrapped his arm around Helena’s shoulders and spoke curtly to Marian.

“You look tired. You’ll need energy if you want to spend time with Helena tomorrow too. You should go back and rest for today.”

Helena looked at Marian with puppy eyes that had been caught in the rain. However, Benjamin, whose attitude had changed completely after Cesare’s departure, spoke to Marian in a commanding tone.

“Go back now, Marian.”

Marian smiled brightly.

“Yes. Helena, it seems Benjamin wants to have a date alone with you. Have a good time.”

Helena couldn’t possibly miss the hidden meaning in those words. It meant she should be careful.

Marian left the banquet hall. If anything, she was grateful they had asked her to leave like this. She had things to discuss with Abel. Marian quickened her steps. Since she had come in a carriage with Helena, there was no coachman waiting for her.

‘Still, it’s fortunate I’m within the imperial palace.’

Marian thought casually. Though she would have to walk quite a bit since the princess’s palace was in a remote location, walking wasn’t bad on a day like this.

It was when Marian turned onto a deserted path—

Like a fruit falling from a tree, Abel dropped down with a thud. He smiled brightly at her. Since she had been sensing Abel’s magical power from the start, Marian wasn’t surprised at all.

She burst into laughter.

“If you were trying to surprise me, you failed, Abel.”

Abel shrugged. Marian examined him carefully. Fortunately, he was uninjured—a natural outcome, given that he had finished it in a single strike within the blink of an eye. He stood close to her.

Abel spread his magical barrier as far as his sight could reach.

So he could immediately notice if anyone tried to spy on them.

“How was today? Do you think you can win?”

Marian asked in a voice tinged with laughter.

“That’s a silly question.”

“Abel, I have a favor to ask of the potential winner.”

While Marian was contemplating how to bring up Helena’s story to Abel, he was pondering something else. He was thinking about how to hold Marian’s hand that kept brushing against his fingers. If he grabbed it suddenly, Marian might be startled.

And it didn’t seem right to ask before holding it either.

‘But I don’t want to not hold it.’

Abel narrowed his eyes and answered halfheartedly.

“Tell me anything.”

“……I’m planning to help Helena escape the day after tomorrow. Liebe said she could leave anytime once preparations are ready. Helena’s lover is apparently trapped in the delegation’s quarters, and his name is Jeremy. Could you rescue him and take him to Liebe?”

Given how dangerous it was, Marian was cautious. In contrast, Abel remained composed.

“It’s not a difficult task. So I just need to take Jeremy to Liebe, and then take Helena to Liebe as well, right?”

“You can do that much? That would make things easier.”

The original plan was for Marian to help Helena escape herself. Though it carried risks, it was the most reliable method.

Abel smiled deeply.

‘I worried for nothing.’

Abel took Marian’s hand, and her eyes widened.

“If you’ll let me hold your hand until we reach the palace.”

“Hand……?”

Marian stared at their joined hands with questioning eyes. Abel shrugged his shoulders.

“Yes, hand.”

Only then did she realize their hands were together. Marian wiggled her fingers, but Abel’s firm grip kept her from pulling away. Her cheeks flushed.

‘As expected.’

For Marian, this direct approach worked better than subtlety.

‘She responds right away.’

Abel’s mood improved considerably. Thinking about Marian being by Cesare’s side all day had made him feel sick to his stomach. But in the end, it’s Abel who’s holding Marian’s hand now.

“You’ll do it?”

Marian nodded awkwardly at his question. It was a cheap price to pay for taking such a risk.

“Does this help you?”

Marian asked awkwardly.

“It helps tremendously. It’s too dark and I’m scared right now.”

He said with an attractive smile.

“That’s a lie.”

“You’re right, it’s a lie. Um, I’m scared because I don’t know the way well.”

“That’s a lie too.”

“Then.”

Abel tickled the back of Marian’s hand as he spoke.

“Let’s just say it’s because I want to hold it. Let’s say you’re granting one of my wishes.”

Marian bit her lip slightly.

Since the day Marian had unexpectedly visited Abel—the day he had opened the door almost n*ked, utterly shameless—she had found herself strangely aware of him.   Until then, she had been running forward like someone being chased, but now, it felt as if she had come to a sudden stop.  

She kept looking back at Abel.  

And every time she did, he was always there.

“Alright.”

Her heart tickled. She thought these feelings had disappeared. She thought these feelings weren’t meant for her.

‘It’s fine for a little while, isn’t it?’

There’s no guarantee these feelings will last forever. They might burn like an ember and then die out.

‘Just until I die……’

Marian took a deep breath. It might be okay for Abel to be there during the time given to her. Marian turned her head to look at Abel. His handsome face wearing that charming smile stuck in her heart.

He was more dazzling than the stars.

Though it was a hand she would have to let go someday, she held it firmly now.

Abel and Marian’s pace slowed, as if they wanted to savor the moment forever.

**

Meanwhile, at Count Yulian’s estate.

Vanessa greeted Cesare in her nightgown. She wrapped her arms tightly around Cesare’s neck.

“I knew you would come, Your Grace!”

Vanessa spoke in a voice trembling with joy. In official settings, Cesare is Marian’s man. Vanessa couldn’t stand by Cesare’s side or walk alongside him. But now, she was the woman destined to bear Cesare’s child.

She had become the most special among Cesare’s women.

“Thank you, Cesare.”

Vanessa spoke in a voice full of emotion. He wrapped his arms around Vanessa’s waist. Her still-slim lower abdomen pressed against him. Cesare kissed her hair.

“I should be the one thanking you, Vanessa. You did very well.”

Vanessa nodded her head vigorously.

**

After sharing a late-night snack, Marian went to her room, and Abel went to his.

Though their stomachs were full, it felt strangely regretful to just part ways on this night. Even though they were only separated by a few walls.

While Abel roasted potatoes and melted cheese, Marian poured milk.

Each mage had their specialties — Abel excelled in formulas while Marian specialized in delicate control of magical power. Because of this, Marian wasn’t suited for cooking.

‘……How can something that’s just roasted be this delicious? At this rate, I won’t be able to fit into tomorrow’s dress.’

Marian said while touching her waist, though she had barely any fat on her frame. While she had clearly been eating more, she was gaining weight very slowly.

‘I hope I don’t have any health problems.’

The isolated princess’s palace had no assigned imperial doctor, nor did any physician visit regularly. Abel stroked his chin.

Sitting on the railing, Abel’s gaze fixed on the distance. The magical barrier he had spread out rippled far into the distance. No one in this imperial palace cared about this place.