The words felt suffocating, like they were pressing down on her chest.

Caleb was likely referring to the situation with Fabiola, but what tormented Astrid most in this moment wasn’t Fabiola.

‘You offer such kind words, but why won’t you give me what I truly want? Why do you make me despair with your kindness?’

His gentleness felt almost cruel now.

‘You say I don’t have to endure what I don’t want to? What if I decide I can’t bear it anymore and give up this position? Then, Caleb… what would you do?’

Perhaps, deep down, Caleb was waiting for her to surrender, to throw in the towel. His promise to guarantee her position as grand duchess could simply be a gesture of pity toward a woman with nowhere else to go. Or maybe it was because he needed a mistress to protect Cliff.

Even as she shook her head, denying such thoughts, a part of her couldn’t help but agree with Fabiola’s words. Caleb and Elena were undeniably a beautiful and well-matched pair.

Astrid envied Elena, who could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Caleb and meet his gaze as an equal. The image of Elena as grand duchess, standing proudly beside him, filled Astrid’s mind.

‘She would be an elegant and formidable grand duchess, one even Fabiola couldn’t easily insult.’

Though Fabiola didn’t openly show it, Astrid knew better than anyone that she viewed Caleb as a threat. Fabiola would do whatever it took to secure her child’s position as heir.

‘Caleb also needs someone to protect him.’

Currently, only Elena could shield Caleb from Fabiola’s schemes. And more importantly, Elena held something Astrid never could: Caleb’s heart.

By now, Astrid felt like nothing more than an obstacle between them.

‘How much longer can I wait for Caleb’s heart to turn toward me?’

She lacked the strength for another round of endless waiting. Above all, the idea of clinging to unreciprocated feelings while stubbornly staying in her position made her feel unbearably pathetic.

‘It’s fine not to be grand duchess. I can start over anywhere else.’

Her thoughts spiraled until they reached a singular conclusion.

“Astrid?”

“It’s… nothing,” Astrid murmured, swallowing the words that had almost spilled from her lips.

Caleb frowned, dissatisfied with her response.

“You always…”

“It was just someone taking out their frustrations on me. Nothing new, really.”

“…!”

At the word “frustrations,” Caleb’s dark brows twitched.

“Let’s go. I want to leave this place. I want to go home,” Astrid said softly.

After a moment’s hesitation, Caleb relented with a heavy sigh.

“If that’s what you want.”

She considered asking him to put her down, unwilling to show any vulnerability in front of someone as composed as Elena. But she lacked the energy to even protest.

Instead, she shut her eyes and leaned against Caleb’s broad chest, like a small, fragile bird weary from a long flight.

“To Cliff, then,” Caleb said quietly as he resumed walking.

His steps were steady but cautious, so gentle that Astrid could barely feel the motion.

When they finally arrived at the place where the group was waiting, the first thing that reached Astrid’s ears was Elena’s voice.

“Oh my, Astrid! Are you all right?”

Being cradled like a child in front of everyone was mortifying. However, she couldn’t bring herself to ask to be put down. The moment she left Caleb’s arms, she felt as if she would collapse in her pitiful state.

Astrid despised herself for being so weak—both in body and spirit—that she couldn’t even steady her balance over something so trivial.

Elena’s face was filled with genuine concern as she looked Astrid over. Though their relationship had started off awkwardly, Astrid had always felt it. Elena genuinely liked her.

She could have easily mocked Astrid as nothing more than the hollow shell of a wife who had stolen her lover. Yet, Elena never did. She was always kind, thoughtful, and warm toward Astrid, treating her with a friendliness akin to how one would treat a much younger sister.

‘If only she were a bad person. Would that have made things easier…?’

It didn’t take long to recognize it. If not for their uncomfortable relationship, Astrid would have liked to be friends with someone like Elena.

Elena was beautiful, confident, and undeniably charming. To feel jealousy toward someone like her made Astrid feel even more pathetic.

She felt like a child abandoned in the town square in ragged clothes. Lost, afraid, and exposed, with nowhere to turn.

“Leave her be. She needs to rest.”

Caleb’s tone toward Elena was curt, so much so that it made Astrid shrink back even though the words weren’t directed at her. But Elena seemed unbothered by Caleb’s demeanor.

There was a clear difference in how Caleb treated Elena and Astrid. Realizing this lifted Astrid’s spirits, albeit slightly. It was childish but undeniably true.

“She already looks exhausted. Take good care of her on the way.”

“…!”

Elena lightly tapped Caleb on the shoulder as she made her request. Her ease and casual attitude toward Caleb, in stark contrast to Astrid’s hypersensitivity to his every word, only made Astrid feel smaller.

“El, what about you?”

At the mention of Elena’s nickname from Caleb’s lips, Astrid’s gaze trembled slightly. However, neither of the two seemed to notice.

“This is where we part ways. Chase returned to his estate as soon as the funeral ended. Astrid?”

“…Yes?”

“Chase asked me to tell you he plans to revisit Cliff with the contract. Hmm, he’s not exactly someone I’d want as a friend, but he is a brilliant businessman. I won’t advise you to avoid him.”

“…Thank you, Elena.”

There was something oddly peculiar about Elena’s expression as she mentioned Chase, but the thought quickly left Astrid’s mind. She had neither the strength to ponder nor to continue the conversation.

“Well then, I’ll see you soon.”

More than anything, Caleb didn’t give her the chance. Looking down at Astrid, who hung limply like a pale wax doll, Caleb bid Elena farewell without delay.

“Right. Once this commission is over, we’ll see each other again. Until then, take good care of the Grand Duchess.”

“…Unnecessary advice.”

Caleb brusquely responded to Elena’s playful words before climbing into the carriage with Astrid still in his arms.

Inside, Edith, who had boarded earlier, gasped softly upon seeing Astrid. She couldn’t bring herself to react loudly in Caleb’s presence, but the sight of Astrid, limp as though lifeless, made Edith’s heart lurch.

“Your Grace, you should set Her Grace down—”

“Drive.”

Caleb gave the order without paying heed to Edith’s words. Realizing further persuasion was futile, Edith carefully wiped Astrid’s sweat with a handkerchief and gave her small sips of water from an enchanted, ice-cold flask.

Caleb, still holding Astrid in his arms, silently watched. Astrid had weakly protested a few times to be put down, but Caleb stubbornly ignored her requests.

With no energy left to argue, Astrid quickly gave up, letting out shallow breaths before falling into sleep.

“…Like a newborn puppy.”

An innocent and endearing presence, untainted by the world’s harshness. Caleb couldn’t think of another way to describe it.

Edith, overhearing Caleb’s murmured words, clenched her fists tightly.

‘A puppy? Really? With so many better words to choose from! How long is he going to be like this? One day, he’ll regret it deeply…’

Edith silently grumbled to herself, convinced that His Grace’s sense of aesthetics was gravely flawed. However, Caleb remained oblivious, focusing solely on Astrid.

Her face was so pale that she looked almost lifeless unless closely examined. He wanted to wake her and ensure she ate something, but for now, rest seemed more urgent.

The events with Elena and the recent trip to the royal palace had clearly taken a heavy toll on Astrid. Caleb couldn’t deny that he bore much of the responsibility for her current state.

‘What on earth did that woman say?’

What could the young queen have said to upset Astrid so deeply? Whatever it was, it grated on Caleb. Yet, no matter how much he blamed her, the fact remained that he had pushed Astrid to this point.

‘Just endure a little longer.’

Afraid she might wake, Caleb gently caressed Astrid’s cheek. The soft, delicate feel of her skin seemed to pull at him, making it difficult to pull away.

His fingers, which had been tracing her cheek lightly, eventually moved to her hair, brushing aside the strands clinging to her damp forehead and ears with care.

The persistent touch finally stopped when Astrid’s butterfly-like lashes fluttered faintly.

‘Once she’s well-rested and fed, the color will return to her cheeks. And when we’re back in Cliff…’

There were things he wanted to hear from Astrid, places he wanted to take her, and moments he longed to share with her.

On the battlefield, Astrid sent countless letters to Caleb. Her letters, meticulously detailing her daily life, were akin to diary entries in their thoroughness.

At first, Caleb paid them little mind, but before long, he found himself eagerly awaiting her letters. On days when none arrived, he felt a pang of disappointment—something close to longing.

One day, Astrid sent a letter titled “Things I Want to Do with You When You Return from the Campaign.” Intrigued by what grand plans she might have, Caleb read it with some anticipation, only to find simple, everyday desires expressed within.

‘To think that what she wants most with her returning husband are such ordinary things…,’ he mused.

Caleb gazed down at Astrid, who was soundly asleep, her breath even and calm. His mind wandered to the items listed in her letters, recalling them one by one.

Occasionally, when Astrid’s breath would quiet too much, he would place a finger under her nose or softly brush her cheek. With Astrid nestled close in his arms, Caleb didn’t sleep for even a moment until they reached Cliff.

Meanwhile, Edith secretly glanced at Caleb with suspicion. Unlike the exhausted grand duchess, who had fallen asleep as if fainting from the arduous journey, Caleb showed no trace of fatigue. On the contrary, he seemed more vibrant than before.

‘What thoughts could be running through his head to make him smile like that? His face is positively glowing. Only our lady has been worn down, it seems.’

The steady rhythm of hooves and the occasional jolt from rough terrain were the only sounds breaking the silence in the carriage. Yet, within the carriage carrying three people, Edith’s unspoken grumbles steadily accumulated.