Noticing my gaze, he subtly lifted his head. When our eyes met, he smirked confidently with one side of his mouth. As I stood there, unsure of how to react, Alisa spotted me and spoke up excitedly.

“Healer, you were at home! Look, the Duke is here! I was wondering why a stranger was standing in front of the house, and it turns out he was waiting for me. He even apologized for showing up unannounced.”

From Leopold’s perspective, there was no harm in earning her favor. His intentions were clear to me, but I couldn’t reprimand him in front of Alisa.

The sound of boiling water filled the space, replacing the words I couldn’t find. I reluctantly turned away from the scene, removed the kettle from the stove, and poured a little water to extinguish the flame. Even though it was a simple task, each movement felt burdensome.

Why wasn’t he leaving? Should I tell him to go immediately? Was he sincere about coming to ask for forgiveness? My head throbbed.

Alisa, having guided Leopold to a seat, quickly rushed over to me and whispered.

“Healer, please go and sit down. I’ll bring the tea. Hurry!”

She gave my back a gentle shove and then busily moved around, taking cups from the cupboard for show. Left with no choice, I walked over to the sofa in front of the fireplace where he sat. Leopold was looking around the house as if he were an invited guest.

My words came out less politely than intended.

“What are you up to?”

He turned to look at me with his hands behind his back, the anxious expression gone from his face.

“What do you mean by that?”

“You’re being rude.”

“I know, but there’s no other way to be near you. I might as well use my status as a duke while I’m at it.”

Leisurely lifting the corners of his mouth, he chose a sofa and sat down. Then he placed his arms on his knees, interlocking his fingers, and looked up at me.

There’s a limit to how much you can tease someone.

However, there were other ears listening besides ours. And they belonged to the family of a maid working for the Lawrence family. It wasn’t that I didn’t trust Alisa, but considering Leopold’s reputation, I couldn’t speak carelessly.

Feeling at a loss about how to send him away, I sat on the sofa opposite him. I didn’t want to frown, but tension kept creeping into my forehead.

“Here, enjoy!”

Alisa suddenly appeared with the tea, placing a tray between Leopold and me. Two cups were neatly arranged. It was clear without asking that they were meant just for the two of us. Her intention was obvious, but it seemed a bit rude for the guests to drink without the host.

“Alisa, you should join us.”

“No, it’s fine. It’s been a while since you two met, so you should catch up!”

She spoke cheerfully. Leopold didn’t miss the opportunity.

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

With a smile that seemed drawn from the social scene, he took one of the cups, answering her. It was quite a skill to leave one speechless in so many ways.

“How much do the people in this village know about us?”

Coincidentally, it was a question I had been curious about, so I picked up the remaining cup and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

From the first day we arrived in D’Agnon, Helena had known my true identity, while most of the villagers, including Larian and Uncle John, treated me simply as a healer. I hadn’t had a chance to properly ask why, given the hectic days.

“Only Matt, his mother Aunt Helena, and I know that the healer is the Duchess. My sister asked me to help the healer settle well in the village, and I thought people might find it difficult if they knew about the high status, so I kept it to myself. Just being a healer from a prestigious duchy is already impressive.”

I was newly impressed by her consideration. Indeed, the villagers showed no signs of being intimidated by me. This was quite important for treatment since patients who put up walls with me tended to heal more slowly.

Having finished her explanation neatly, Alisa seemed pleased with herself, a wide smile on her face. After a moment of contemplation, she glanced at Leopold and added a comment.

“Other than that… there’s nothing special to mention.”

“You’re quick-witted, just like your sister.”

A look of satisfaction crossed his face. Perhaps pleased by the compliment, she continued speaking warmly.

“Will you be staying in D’Agnon for a while, Your Grace?”

“Yes, and speaking of which, I haven’t decided where to stay yet. I’d appreciate any recommendations, and of course, I’ll compensate you well.”

Alisa’s eyes widened in surprise.

“With the lady here, where would you go? The bed is quite small, so it might be a bit cramped for the two of you, but I’ll vacate my room for you!”

I was even more surprised by that suggestion. I quickly stood up and stopped her.

“Alisa, there’s no need for that. It’s not right to kick out the homeowner.”

“No, it’s fine. I can stay with Aunt Helena. She’ll understand. Please accept my offer. Hosting someone of your stature is a great honor for people like us!”

She looked at me pleadingly. I understood her sentiment, but it was still unsettling.

However, the man sitting there, supposedly my husband, seemed to have a different idea.

“Then I’ll impose on you for a while. Just tell people I’m Hazel’s assistant.”

“Leopold!”

I called out to him, scolding him for his quick response. But all I received was a shameless smile.

“Or should I share a room with you? It might be uncomfortable, but would you be okay with that?”

I couldn’t believe he would even suggest such a thing. I sighed heavily, looking at him in disbelief, but Leopold didn’t seem to care. Despite claiming he came to ask for forgiveness, it all seemed like an excuse.

Alisa intervened, urging us not to argue over such matters. Then she went upstairs, packed a few clothes, and left.

What followed was an awkward silence. At least, that’s how it felt to me.

Although Leopold claimed he came to ask for forgiveness, I had already resolved to forget everything about him. I wasn’t even as angry now as I was when I left the duchy, and I could deal with him much more rationally. Of course, I still felt deceived, but that was all.

Honestly, I was used to having my heart trampled on. It was just a matter of enduring a little pain. Just a little pain… I took a sip of the tea, which had long since gone cold, feeling bitter.

No, it wasn’t just a little pain—it was enough to end my life. But I resolved not to live like that this time. So, shouldn’t I at least ask the questions I’d been holding onto for someone who claimed they came to ask for forgiveness?

Clutching the cold cup, I slowly began to speak.

“Why… did you treat me so coldly?”

He, who had been silently caressing the handle of his cup, shifted his gaze to me. His face was calm, as if he had expected this question at some point.

What if he said it was because he didn’t like me? How should I react? Should I ask why he didn’t like me? But just as there isn’t always a big reason for liking someone, there might not be a reason for disliking someone…

The more my thoughts spiraled, the more complicated I felt. Should I just get up before it became even more miserable? I hated waiting anxiously for his answer. Feeling small was always uncomfortable.

His smooth lips finally parted.

“I wanted you to leave me.”

I tilted my head without realizing it. He wanted me to ‘leave’? It was such an unexpected answer that it felt like he was mocking me.

“Why?”

I asked in a trembling voice, seeking a reason, and Leopold explained calmly.

“I didn’t think I could make you happy. You wanted children, right? But I had no intention of having kids.”

“I still don’t understand…”

Of course, children are an important part of marriage, and I dreamed of such a family, but…

“I mean, I could never give you the kind of family you wanted. So I tried not to get attached. I thought if I made your life miserable, you’d eventually get tired and leave. Whenever my mother made me miserable, I wanted to leave. Besides, you’re capable and beautiful, so I thought you could be with anyone.”

Judging by his serious expression, it didn’t seem like a complete lie. However, it was such an absurd story that I couldn’t tell how much of it I wanted to believe.

“You could have just been honest with me.”

“Yes, I could have. But…”

Leopold swallowed hard, looking distressed. In the brilliant green of his eyes, words were jumbled and rolling around. Why couldn’t he continue speaking? We were at a point where there was nothing left to hide.

But I didn’t press him. The sorrowful expression that surfaced on his composed face was just painful to see.

“In any case, I cursed myself for choosing such a foolish method after losing you. I realized too late that I was wrong.”

He ran a hand over his face, swallowed a sigh, lowered his gaze, and then looked at me again. In his eyes, I caught a glimpse of guilt.

“I never thought of you as insignificant or ignored you during our marriage. It was all an act. I’m sorry for hurting you. Truly, I’m sorry… I never imagined you’d leave like that…”

Leopold paused, seemingly choked with emotion. He was genuinely surprised by my death. It was a strange feeling.

When he seemed somewhat composed, I cautiously asked.

“Why didn’t you want children?”

I could count on one hand the number of times I brought up the topic of children with him. Just once before we married, and after that, only in the context of needing an heir for the family.

Even that was more about imagining a typical family than a strong desire for children.

If all this really started from a difference in opinion about children, how should I deal with that emptiness?

He, who had bowed his head, struggled to meet my gaze.