It was as if something he wanted to keep hidden had been discovered.

I couldn’t hide my disappointment. I tried to pull away from him, but only the soft bed I was sitting on shook slightly. Leopold’s hands, firmly clasped over mine that held the liquid, remained unyielding.

“Let go. I need to see what this is properly.”

I spoke sharply without even looking at him. He, who had been silent, finally spoke with difficulty.

“…Don’t drink it.”

Instead of offering a proper explanation, he just told me not to drink it. Looking up at him in disbelief, I saw his face filled with worry, like that of a scolded student, as he removed his hands. The liquid had already spread across my palm and was dripping down the edge of my hand.

“Before you tell me not to drink it, you should explain what it is.”

“It’s just…”

Leopold couldn’t continue and sighed, rubbing his forehead with his hand. Then, after instructing the curious onlookers to leave, he took out a handkerchief and began to carefully wipe the liquid from my hand.

I watched him in silence. Then, suddenly, I flipped my hand over and grasped his wrist in return. Leopold hesitated for a moment but, understanding my intent, waited patiently.

“You haven’t been well since you woke up. You hid your pain for quite a while too.”

As I used magic to check his condition, Leopold nodded as if he understood.

“You can check on me anytime until you’re reassured.”

Thankfully, and as expected, there was nothing wrong with Leopold. This was assuming he hadn’t taken any medication to hide symptoms.

“And this isn’t the kind of medicine you’re worried about.”

He added lightly as I continued my serious examination without relaxing my expression. For some reason, I felt annoyed. Why did he keep speaking so vaguely?

“It’s not that kind of medicine? Then you should quickly explain to clear up my misunderstanding—”

“Contraceptive.”

“…What did you just say?”

Did I mishear him because of my slightly raised voice in excitement? Even as I frowned and asked again, I couldn’t hide my surprise.

Eventually, he sat down heavily beside me and spoke again.

“…It’s a contraceptive.”

A contraceptive. Yes, I had learned about it. The smell of one of the key ingredients was so strong that it was masked with sweet fruit juice, simmered gently until it turned a chocolate color… And then… Wasn’t it said that if a woman took male contraceptives, she could vomit…?

“Hazel. Are you okay?”

He looked up at me from a low position, resting his elbows lightly on his thighs. It was hard to tell if he was checking on my complexion or trying to gauge my reaction, but meeting his eyes only increased my embarrassment.

“Oh. Sorry. I was just trying to recall what this medicine was…”

In truth, the only thing that came to mind in my blank state was information about the medicine itself. The single word “contraceptive” completely reversed the situation, leaving me in an awkward position, while he seemed to have expected this, his face full of concern.

“I couldn’t tell you in advance because I thought you’d be upset. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s not that. I just didn’t expect you to take care of something like this first. I hadn’t even thought about it…”

I felt uneasy. Why hadn’t I realized his fear of having children, like a fool? I felt sorry for Leopold, who had been burdened with worry and unable to tell me anything.

While I was tormenting myself with unnecessary thoughts of feeling upset or disappointed, he had been preparing for the future with a more serious attitude than I had. Should I be relieved that he hadn’t discovered my immaturity…?

I held his hand and gently reassured him.

“Leopold. I’m really okay with not having children. We can just live happily together, right? But if you don’t talk to me because you’re only worried about my feelings, that will truly make things hard for me.”

He nodded slightly, as if he understood, and immediately began to explain.

“As soon as I returned from the Ice Land, I asked the dean for it. I only received it yesterday morning. They say one dose lasts about three months.”

“You received it… yesterday?”

The latter part of his statement surprised me more than the rest.

The journey from the capital to the Lawrence estate was considerable, taking over a week by carriage. Moreover, since the medicine was typically made to order rather than pre-prepared, time would have been needed for its production. The speed at which it had arrived seemed impossible in many ways.

“Yes, coincidentally. The timing was just right.”

“Why was the timing good…?”

Realizing the implication, I covered my mouth with both hands. My face grew increasingly warm due to Leopold’s playfully upturned lips. Of all times, it had to be when I decided to take a bath.

“I didn’t know. I just needed to complete the spell quickly, so…”

I found myself making excuses without meaning to. Leopold, noticing my evasive gaze, asked me an unexpected question.

“Is it really because of the spell?”

“If not, then why would I…?”

Trailing off, I met his gaze again. His straightforward eyes held me captive. We maintained silence until we saw each other reflected in our eyes, and finally, he whispered his wish.

“I hope the reason is me.”

Leopold slowly took my hand and kissed the back of it. His lips moved gradually from my arm to my shoulder, and then to my neck, step by step. My entire body became acutely sensitive, as if even the slightest touch could make my skin stand on end.

“So, is it still because of the spell?”

He teased, gently stroking my neck. His large hand was already resting on my back. The touch was so stimulating that it was hard to respond. Even though he was merely resting his fingertips, it was overwhelming.

I managed to shake my head slightly.

“…Say it.”

Leopold persisted. Finally, with difficulty, I opened my mouth and revealed my true feelings. But as he kissed me with each word, I couldn’t help but let out soft moans.

“Ah… Because of you… Yes…”

Leopold smiled faintly, seemingly satisfied, and gently laid me down on the bed.

***

The winter at the Lawrence estate, which had once felt long and tedious, passed by incredibly quickly. Perhaps because I spent every day with Leopold, each day felt too short. As we enjoyed our belated honeymoon, both of us found it increasingly difficult to get out of bed in the mornings. Eventually, Peter had to clear his throat and call for Leopold.

Despite managing his time to finish all his tasks, Leopold often grumbled about why there were always things to resolve each day. Though it was an immature side of him, it was also a new aspect that I found both fascinating and delightful, watching his occasional bouts of childishness.

Whenever he noticed my gaze and our eyes met, I had to hide under the covers. If I didn’t, Leopold would shower me with kisses without hesitation. Of course, there were times when I didn’t hide.

The winter at the Lawrence estate moved at a very slow pace. By the time its traces completely faded and the biting wind turned gentle, spring had already fully arrived in the capital. Starting with the first ball hosted by the royal family, large and small dances were held in succession at the residences of high-ranking nobles, and a party was also organized at the Lawrence estate under my mother’s direction.

“Leopold, are you only going to attend the royal ball and the one my mother is hosting this time?”

I asked him as he read a book while selecting items to take to the capital. Without taking his eyes off the book, Leopold shook his head.

“No. I’ll go wherever you go.”

“There’s no need for that. Honestly, I don’t really want to go anywhere.”

Perhaps because words like “the best,” “excellent,” and “outstanding” always followed me, people flocked to me whenever I appeared. Answering all sorts of questions diligently left me exhausted, and it was common for me to collapse into bed as soon as I got home.

“True. People do bother you too much.”

Despite having attended only a handful of parties together, how did he know that?

“I’m the only one who should be allowed to bother you. Right?”

Leopold closed his book and approached me. As I carefully selected books to read on the way to the capital, I naturally leaned against him. A sigh I had been holding back escaped.

“What’s wrong? Are you worried about something?”

After a moment’s hesitation, I turned to look up at him.

“If I completely heal my mother’s leg, how do you think you’ll feel?”

“I’d be grateful to you.”

Leopold answered without a moment’s hesitation. Did he not want to think deeply about it?

“Is that all?”

“What else could there be?”

Or was it that he couldn’t fully express what he was thinking?

In truth, it was a simple yet difficult issue for me too. Despite deciding to heal her, I still felt reluctant… because it was his mother who had caused him to suffer like this. I lowered my head and hugged him tightly without saying a word.

Eventually, a few words slipped from his mouth again.

“…I might feel a little relieved.”

His calm tone made me inexplicably sad, so I couldn’t bring myself to lift my face from his embrace. The omitted word was surely guilt. He had been nothing more than an innocent child.

“I hope you feel not just a little, but a lot relieved.”

“…I will.”

I tightened my arms around him once more. At that moment, Leopold felt particularly small in my embrace.