A silence heavier than gold weighed down the carriage interior.

Caleb, his expression masked like a man behind a facade, and Chase, a faint smile playing on his lips, sat across from Elena, whose face was unusually cold, and a tense Astrid.

The Lionel ducal carriage bore an insignia distinct from other noble carriages. It wasn’t ostentatious but practical and sturdy enough to withstand sudden ambushes.

Following closely behind was another carriage carrying Cradoc, Elkan, and Edith. As the visit was for a funeral, the retinue had been minimized.

“I’d rather ride in that carriage,” Astrid said hesitantly before boarding, barely managing to summon the courage.

But Caleb rejected her plea with icy silence.

The one who responded instead was Chase.

“Then I’d feel hurt. Shouldn’t Your Grace sit next to me?”

His teasing remark, accompanied by a grin, immediately chilled the atmosphere.

“Um, well…” Astrid stammered, trying to defuse the tension.

“Stop playing games,” a sharp voice interrupted.

“…!”

This time, it was Elena.

Startled by her harsh tone, Astrid looked at Elena unconsciously. But Elena, now wearing her usual bright smile, spoke sweetly.

“Would you allow me to sit beside you, Your Grace? I thought this might be a good opportunity for us women to bond. I quite like you.”

“……”

Out of courtesy, Astrid should have agreed, but the words wouldn’t leave her lips. Instead, she nodded quietly, signaling her consent to Elena’s proposal.

‘To be so unable to conceal your feelings…’

Astrid let out a quiet sigh, unnoticed by anyone. Elena appeared completely unfazed, yet Astrid felt nothing but pathetic for her inability to overlook even the smallest expressions, gestures, or words from her.

‘To display emotions so easily…’

It seemed she had become one of those Cliff people who, after only two years, didn’t even know how to speak tactfully.

Thus began their peculiar journey together.

It was an intensely uncomfortable journey, though Astrid knew well that the real discomfort had not even begun yet.

The issue of succession following the sudden death of the crown prince awaited them. It was an event that would be a critical turning point for both Cliff and Caleb.

‘Since Queen Fabiola is still young, will Caleb act as a stand-in for the crown prince until she gives birth to a son? No, there’s no way Fabi would let that happen…’

As with their last encounter, Fabiola still bore hostility toward Astrid. She didn’t even try to hide it. There was no way she would welcome the current situation.

‘No matter what’s in his heart, I’m Caleb’s wife. Fabi wouldn’t be happy about this.’

As long as it remained just feelings of discontent, it wouldn’t pose a significant problem. Whatever Fabiola felt was her right, and Astrid could simply ignore it. But the Fabiola Astrid knew was not a simple person.

Once Fabiola set her mind to something, she would find a way to bring her enemies to their knees. She had been like that since childhood.

From taking away small gifts from their father to claiming the position of Lady of the Bowell family, Fabiola had systematically stripped away everything that had been Astrid’s.

And she did it all without a shred of guilt.

‘She must have believed it was hers all along.’

Astrid had hoped, as much as possible, to never see Fabiola again. Even if they existed under the same Croatan sky, as long as they didn’t cross paths, it was fine. But clearly, that hope had been in vain.

After all, the two daughters of the Bowell family were now irrevocably tied to Croatan’s royal family through marriage vows.

‘I won’t lose anything more.’

Astrid couldn’t allow the experience of losing Bowell entirely to repeat itself. She steeled her wavering heart and stood firm.

She had to protect Caleb and Cliff, the new life they had given her. That was the priority. She couldn’t afford to waste energy on petty matters or let herself be shaken.

‘Protecting Caleb and Cliff comes first.’

This time, Astrid resolved not to yield anything to Fabiola.

Not even a speck of dust.

***

They pushed the carriage to its limits, covering a two-day journey in a single day. By sunset, they finally arrived at an inn.

“Your Grace, please disembark,” Chase said, offering his hand to Astrid after Caleb had stepped out of the carriage.

At that precise moment, Astrid flinched and froze as her eyes met Caleb’s. Caleb merely looked at her as if testing her, without saying a word.

‘Jealousy? Caleb wouldn’t feel that, but still…’

Regardless of whether Caleb took it seriously or not, Astrid had agreed to participate in Chase’s ploy, so she intended to give it her best effort.

The problem was that every time she met Caleb’s gaze, her confidence sank lower, almost vanishing entirely. Just as Astrid hesitated and reached out toward Chase’s hand—

“Excuse me, Your Grace,” Elena interrupted, brushing past Astrid and leaping gracefully out of the carriage. She stood boldly in front of Chase.

“We need to talk.”

“I have nothing to discuss with you.”

“You’ll want to, if you don’t want to regret it.”

With a chilling declaration, Elena took the lead and walked off. Chase, shrugging his shoulders, followed her at a leisurely pace. Astrid watched them absentmindedly until they disappeared from view.

“Come down,” Caleb’s low voice broke her trance. He stood by the carriage door, extending his hand toward Astrid with a polite demeanor that mirrored Chase’s earlier gesture.

“…”

But Astrid had no intention of taking that hand. She didn’t trust herself not to lose control the moment she did.

‘I need to keep my distance.’

Otherwise, it felt as though her shallow emotions would be laid bare. Ignoring Caleb’s outstretched hand, Astrid gripped the door tightly and awkwardly clambered down on her own.

Being petite, her feet dangled, struggling to find the ground. Naturally, Caleb’s empty hand moved instinctively to catch her.

“Careful!”

“…Oh!”

But he was too late. With a loud thud, Astrid landed ungracefully on the ground.

“Ouch…”

The impact was enough to make her wince slightly. If only she had landed as elegantly as Elena, she wouldn’t feel so embarrassed.

Still, at least she had managed to stand on solid ground by herself. That was a small relief.

Ignoring Caleb standing at the door, Astrid attempted to walk forward. But she couldn’t take a single step further.

“…!”

A strong hand swiftly grabbed her slender waist, pulling her into an unyielding embrace. Naturally, the one holding her was Caleb.

“What are you doing? Let me go!”

Astrid shifted slightly, but the arm wrapped tightly around her waist like shackles didn’t budge.

‘I can’t breathe…’

Her breath came in shallow gasps. Astrid looked up at Caleb, whose furrowed brows carved sharp ridges on his forehead, clearly displaying his foul mood.

“Why is it okay for him but not for me?”

“What are you talking about…”

Even without hearing more, she knew who he was referring to. She couldn’t fathom why Caleb despised Chase so much.

‘No way. It can’t be jealousy. Caleb loves Elena…!’

It was strange. She thought the distance between them couldn’t get any closer, but suddenly, it vanished entirely. The already short space shrank until even their breaths mingled, leaving no room at all.

With the face of the man she loved suddenly so near, Astrid’s lips parted slightly.

‘What is this…!’

Something heavy and warm pressed against her barely parted lips.

“Cal…eb?”

His name, muffled by the contact of their lips, barely escaped between them.

“Shh…”

Instead of replying, Caleb gently embraced her. At that moment, Astrid’s wide-open eyes reflexively closed, shutting out all light. All that remained was the overwhelming sensation on her lips.

The sudden kiss from the man before her was rough and scorching, wiping away every stray thought that had plagued her mind. Caleb claimed Astrid’s soft lips without reservation. The kiss, which had begun fiercely as though to steal her very breath, soon softened, becoming light as a feather.

It was a tender motion, as if to soothe Astrid, who had frozen stiff. When her trembling arms, which had been hovering awkwardly, finally rested around Caleb’s waist, he muttered under his breath.

“…Damn it.”