“Ahhh—!”

Astrid stretched her arms overhead with a long yawn. Having declined meals and slept straight through the day, she felt as though she’d been reborn.

Rising from bed, Astrid crossed the wooden floor barefoot, heading slowly toward the window. Each step brought the gentle warmth of the wood beneath her feet, drawing a faint smile to her lips.

Even the soft creaking sounds accompanying her movements felt nostalgic. The aged wooden floor, with its subtle sheen, was her favorite feature of the room. Though its upkeep required constant cleaning and oiling from the maids, Astrid cherished the unique warmth the wooden floor offered.

Unlike the grand halls and marble-floored public areas of the estate, the ducal couple’s bedroom had an understated charm. Though modest in design, its size was anything but.

Astrid loved this space, with its understated elegance and quiet allure, and the mornings she spent here.

“…Sigh.”

Of course, every morning she opened the window, she was greeted by the piercing chill of Cliff’s morning air. Each dawn at Cliff felt fresh and new, and the somber mood that had lingered throughout the journey to the capital began to lift, little by little.

‘…But. I’ll miss these moments.’

The thought crept up unexpectedly, quickly dampening her buoyant mood.

‘No, I won’t think about that now.’

This was her first morning back at Cliff. She refused to face its people with a gloomy expression. Shaking off her tangled thoughts, Astrid rested her arms on the windowsill and propped her chin on her hands, watching the small visitors who had come to her room.

Before leaving, she had scattered some grain, and now the birds were back, pecking and flitting about. Their playful squabbling over the food was utterly endearing, bringing a faint sense of lightness to her heart, which had been weighed down by lingering melancholy.

Just as Astrid was savoring her quiet moment—

Knock, knock.

A brisk, no-nonsense knock echoed. Before she could respond, the door swung open abruptly. Given the carelessness of the knock and the entry, it could only be one person.

“…Caleb?”

Astrid turned with a puzzled expression to see Caleb entering, dressed plainly, balancing a large tray of food on one arm.

“Oh! Let me take that!”

The precarious way the tray tilted made Astrid rush toward him with outstretched arms, but Caleb only chuckled softly as he effortlessly placed the tray on the table.

“…Wow.”

The movement was as deft as that of a seasoned innkeeper. Astrid gaped, her lips slightly parted in amazement, as Caleb settled into his seat, his lips quirking up when he caught her expression.

“Won’t you join me?” he asked.

“…Ah, yes.”

Snapping out of her daze, Astrid flushed and took a seat opposite him. She suddenly felt self-conscious about facing Caleb with her disheveled, just-out-of-bed appearance. But Caleb’s thoughts were elsewhere.

Though she was unadorned, her face free of any makeup, Caleb marveled at his wife’s striking features. Astrid’s beauty, he realized anew, was unparalleled.

Not even Elena Blevit, famed for her swordsmanship and beauty, nor any other woman he had met, could compare. No, Astrid’s beauty was extraordinary.

Her delicate, sculpted features seemed almost impossibly harmonious on her small face, as if an artisan had crafted her with meticulous care. The gentle, warm lines of her expression lent her a soothing presence that put people at ease.

Despite her dazzling beauty, she evoked no discomfort in those around her—a testament to her kind and gracious nature.

“…Caleb?”

When Astrid sat across from Caleb to begin their meal, she was flustered by his silent gaze fixed intently on her face.

‘Do I have something on my face? How embarrassing…!’

Sneaking glances at Caleb, Astrid subtly turned her head away. She discreetly brushed her hand over her face, but nothing seemed amiss.

‘Why now, of all times…’

She usually found his presence delightful, always anticipating seeing him again. Yet for the first time, Caleb’s unexpected visit didn’t feel entirely welcome. If only she’d had a chance to get properly dressed or been forewarned of his visit, things might have been different.

“…Sigh.”

She let out a quiet sigh, self-reproach sinking in. She thought to herself that she was asking for too much, given her one-sided attachment.

Caleb, who had been watching her closely, noted the sigh and his expression subtly darkened.

‘Now she doesn’t even want to sit across from me to eat?’

Though Astrid had never said it outright, Caleb could tell she was always happy to see him. Her face would light up as if witnessing the bloom of a flower or the clearing of skies after rain whenever their eyes met.

He hesitated, almost saying something but ultimately swallowing his words. Instead, he turned his attention to the food before him and began to eat quietly. Astrid, taking her cue, also started eating.

The meal was simple but hearty: freshly squeezed milk and fruit juice, warm bread straight from the oven, a variety of jams, ham, and cheeses. For a time, the room was filled with the quiet clinking of utensils.

About ten minutes later, Astrid, still stealing glances at Caleb, placed her fork down. Caleb’s brows arched ever so slightly, signaling his surprise.

‘Is that all she’s going to eat?’

He didn’t voice the question, but Astrid could read the unspoken reproach in his gaze.

‘Why is he so particular about the strangest things?’

He didn’t care about the management of the estate or the operations of the ducal house. He even had a lover but insisted she maintain the role of grand duchess. Yet, when it came to her meals, he was unreasonably attentive.

Astrid often found herself unable to understand Caleb. His peculiarities sometimes left her bewildered, leaving faint, unwelcome traces of emotion in her heart.

‘…He’ll only make me misunderstand again.’

His casual acts of kindness, without any intention of emotional commitment, both warmed and wearied her. At times, she was grateful for his gestures, yet they also left her burdened with a cycle of fleeting hope and inevitable disappointment.

Even as she told herself how irrational her thoughts were, she couldn’t help but wish Caleb had been indifferent to her from the start. Perhaps then, she could have let go of her lingering feelings more easily.

‘It’s not Caleb who has changed.’

He had always been consistent—unchanging from beginning to end. The problem was her heart, which wavered so easily in his presence. It stirred with hope, faltered with despair, and cycled through these emotions repeatedly. She was simply too exhausted to continue the pattern.

In that moment, Astrid realized the state of her heart, a truth she had long avoided confronting.

“…Ahem. You seemed like you had something to say earlier,” Astrid said, feigning nonchalance as she broke the silence. Caleb, mid-meal, paused and looked up at her.

Caught off guard by his gaze, Astrid’s eyes flitted nervously. She hadn’t yet managed to calm the turmoil within her.

Noticing her wandering gaze, Caleb seemed about to speak but stopped, his lips pressing together as though in hesitation. It was a rare sight—one that didn’t go unnoticed by Astrid.

‘What could he be hesitating about…?’

An uneasy feeling swept over her as she hurriedly spoke again. “Is it about the succession issue? Has something happened? I’ve been worried about leaving Elkan behind at the palace. Is it really okay for you to stay away from the royal court for so long? Just tell me the truth, Caleb!”

Despite her initial apprehension, Astrid now leaned forward, her expression earnest, awaiting his response.

“If the Grand Duke of Cliff stayed at court…” Caleb began.

“…?”

“It would look like he was staging a protest for the throne. There’s nothing to gain from openly threatening the queen and her ministers. Elkan will handle things in our absence.”

“Oh. Then that’s a relief,” Astrid said, sighing with palpable relief.

Caleb observed her quietly for a moment, his expression faintly troubled.

‘Why…?’

Astrid’s brow furrowed in confusion at the sight of his conflicted expression. Then, to her surprise, he finally broke the silence.

“…After breakfast.”

“Yes?” Astrid’s voice wavered, caught off guard by his sudden shift in tone. His next words, however, left her even more perplexed.

“Let’s go into town.”

“Pardon? Where?”

“To the marketplace in the domain. I heard there’s a clothing shop run by a tailor from another continent. There’s also a jewelry shop, and…” Caleb trailed off, listing destinations she hadn’t expected.

Astrid blinked in disbelief, unable to comprehend why he was suddenly suggesting such an outing.

“…Ah.”

The only possible reason for Caleb’s sudden suggestion to visit such places was clear.

“Are you planning to buy a gift for Elena?”

“…”

The instant grimace that twisted Caleb’s face suggested she had guessed wrong.

‘Ah, I guess not.’

Though Caleb had a lover despite being married, it wasn’t particularly unusual among nobles who often engaged in political marriages. Yet, Caleb always seemed to feel guilty about it.

Of course, he wasn’t the kind of man who would thoughtlessly ask his wife to help him pick a gift for his lover.

‘Then what could it be?’