“Is cultivating intimacy with the one you guard now considered a virtue of a holy knight?”

Until he said those words, Siliar had been in an unusually good mood.

In fact, he had felt happy even before leaving work.

Martiana’s visit that afternoon had left him feeling happy.

In fact, Nobil had even asked him outright.

“Have you lost your mind?”

It wasn’t entirely wrong.

Usually, Siliar reviewed documents with a perfectly impassive expression. But that day, the corners of his mouth kept lifting involuntarily. Anyone watching would have found this unusual. He was not one to display his emotions at work. Given the nature of his position, restraint had long since become second nature. It was not a place where one could freely reveal joy or sorrow. After all, the people who came to the guardhouse had more than enough emotion of their own.

Still, he was human. Sometimes, his heart betrayed him.

Such was the case when he announced his engagement.

When the wedding date was set.

When he first learned they were expecting a child.

And when his daughter was born.

Martiana’s visit today belonged in that same category.

The prospect of divorce loomed large in his mind, but what did it matter? He had stopped his wife from leaving. That alone was enough to bring him relief.

After her long absence from his life, how could it be any other way? Those days had been unbearable. He never wanted to experience such emptiness again.

So it was no surprise that his steps felt light on the way home. Unlike before, he did not pause at the gate and sigh with weariness. Instead, he hurried inside, eager to see his wife, who had come back to him.

And yet—

“This dark, secluded place. Why are the two of you here alone?”

This was the first thing he saw.

His wife was alone with a stranger in a place rarely visited by anyone.

How was he supposed to feel about that?

He had said it himself. The man was clearly a holy knight, most likely a guard sent by Lawrence like the one he had seen earlier. Nothing more.

And yet the sight unsettled him.

Most of all, he hated that the man had taken Martiana’s hand.

He knew it was just a handshake, a simple greeting.

Even so.

‘I cannot even go near her.’

At some point, that became their reality.

Perhaps years ago.

He could not identify a precise moment when it happened. But gradually, they had grown distant. Not only emotionally, but physically too.

It must have happened little by little.

By the time he realized, they were barely in the same space together.

‘Even now.’

Still holding Tapnad’s hand, Siliar glanced sideways.

Just moments ago, Martiana had been standing near her guard.

Now, she had quietly stepped aside.

Was it instinct?

She moved as though there were an invisible boundary around her.

‘Honestly…’

Perhaps he should not have been so quick to celebrate her return.

He had planned to win her heart back during the six-month waiting period.

At this rate, he would have to start from the beginning again.

Fine.

If it meant not losing Martiana, he would do anything.

But he could not tolerate someone coming between them like this.

Even if it was something trivial.

“Are holy knights collectively deaf these days? The one earlier was the same. Must I repeat myself several times before I receive an answer?”

Siliar tightened his grip as he spoke.

The force in his hand carried his irritation openly.

Tapnad’s expression twitched.

“My apologies. The Duchess wished to visit the annex, so I escorted her.”

“At this hour? When no one is present? Was it truly necessary?”

“That—kgh!”

Tapnad clenched his teeth.

Pain flared through his twisted fingers and shot up his arm.

He thought the whole situation was absurd. While he could understand why the Duke was reacting this way, that did not make it right. He had merely been doing his duty, yet he was being treated like a criminal.

If they met under different circumstances, he would have welcomed the handshake. The Captain of the Guard was a great noble of the realm. For Tapnad, merely standing before such a man was an honor.

That was why he did not dare withdraw his hand first.

If Martiana had not intervened, it might have continued much longer.

“Stop it! What are you doing?”

“What am I doing?”

“Let go!”

Martiana stepped between them, frowning as she raised her voice.

She had been watching.

Siliar had been far too rough.

Who grabs someone’s hand like that?

Especially someone who had come to help her.

“We came to inspect the estate. I need to know how much has changed.”

“And that had to be done now?”

Siliard shot her a sullen look.

He was not satisfied with her explanation. Perhaps nothing would have been enough.

Still, it was not entirely unreasonable. She did need to inspect the estate. Both of them had agreed on that much.

Earlier that afternoon, at the guardhouse, they had drawn up a brief agreement establishing the six-month consideration period. It was nothing formal — more like rules.

Yes.

Rules to be observed during those six months.

They were as follows:

• Siliard Vandyk and Martiana Vandyk will observe a six-month divorce consideration period.
• During that time, they will live as an ordinary married couple.
• Martiana Vandyk will fulfill all duties as Duchess.
• Siliar Vandyk will respect Martiana’s actions and refrain from interference.
• At the end of the period, if even one of them does not wish to continue the marriage, they will divorce cleanly.

That was the broad framework.

There were also smaller details.

For instance, there was a clause about living as an ordinary couple.

There had been an argument over what precisely that meant.

Siliar wanted to live like a normal married couple.

But—

“No sharing a bed.”

Martiana had rejected that condition outright.

What was he to do in response?

If she set limits, he could only counter with his own.

“Then no separate bedrooms like before. We share one room. Always.”

That had been his concession.

After that, there had been more.

“Then keep physical contact to a minimum.”

Whenever Martiana stated another condition—

“Then don’t be the one to pull away first. If our contact begins or ends, it will be because I permit it.”

Siliar countered immediately.

“We won’t interfere in each other’s private matters.”

“If that’s the case, then at the very least, we spend two hours together every day.”

It had gone back and forth.

It was a tense exchange; neither party was willing to back down.

By the time they had finalized the terms, quite a lot of time had passed.

He was exhausted afterwards. Yet he felt strangely relieved.

For the next six months, she would be bound to him.

Of course, only within the confines of what had been agreed.

‘Still…’

Every rule has its blind spots.

Siliar didn’t intend to exploit them unfairly.

It was merely an example.

If you examined your agreement closely enough, you would surely find alternative interpretations.

From the look of things, you were only thinking of leaving the whole time.

Or perhaps you have some other purpose?

Siliar stared down at Martiana.

Under the pale glow of the lamplight, her violet eyes seemed sharper than ever.

Then again, perhaps that was because she was glaring at him.

Rebuking his behavior.

Whatever it was, it wasn’t frightening at all.

In fact, it was almost endearing.

“If you wanted to inspect the estate, go with me during the day. There’s no need to come this far at night.”

“I heard guests were staying in the annex. I came to see.”

“When no one is here?”

He rubbed the bridge of his nose and glanced toward the darkened building.

With its lights out, the annex looked bleak.

“You must have been told they were away.”

The butler would not have failed to mention it before she left.

And yet she had come anyway.

Which meant—

“I was simply happy. It’s been a long time.”

Martiana spoke softly.

And the moment Siliar heard it, one thought crossed his mind.

‘A lie.’

His wife was hiding something.