As the banquet came to an end and the guests departed from Eluan Castle, dawn was approaching. Throughout the event, Kaiden remained by Dana’s side, dancing with her a few more times.

However, there was no charming conversation to keep the princess entertained. He simply stood beside her like a dark pillar, only lowering his gaze when they danced. Even when Dana accepted an invitation to dance from another gentleman, Kaiden stayed in the same spot. Naturally, Dana missed witnessing Kaiden’s ruthless refusal of a dance request from another woman who had bravely approached him while she was away dancing.

Despite this, Dana felt very satisfied with the situation. It was a far more positive outcome than anything she had planned or envisioned since returning to this time.

After all the guests had left, Dana received assistance from her maids to wash up, offered her final prayers for the night, and lay down in bed, by which time the sun was already rising. The maids closed the windows tightly and drew the curtains to block out the light, leaving Dana alone in the room enveloped in darkness.

In the shadowy bedchamber, Dana raised her hand. She felt the familiar bracelet on her wrist and the unfamiliar ring on her finger. Though the jewels couldn’t reveal their true colors in the dim light, they glowed softly. To Dana, they resembled stars shining in the night.

‘I’ve crossed a major hurdle now.’

Even though a man who desired a title had proposed to her and agreed to marry, he might change his mind upon hearing the conditions she had set for the arrangement. Dana believed she had prepared reasonable terms considering his position, but it remained uncertain.

‘It’s okay. I’m doing well.’

She planned to discuss the terms, send a letter to Taras, and even if preparations were rushed, she didn’t intend to delay the wedding past summer. The sooner, the better.

‘Once we’re married and become Duke and Duchess…’

What should she do first? Dana wondered. Organizing Kaiden’s territory, Leonas, would be essential. She would become the true mistress of Eluan Castle and this domain. Kaiden would need to manage Khalid’s knights, who had merely maintained the status quo, and lead the hunt for northern beasts…

‘Since we’ll be a couple…’

Lost in these thoughts, Dana suddenly imagined their portraits hanging in Eluan Castle. Typically, portraits were painted to look better than reality, but she felt that even with the utmost care, it would be difficult to fully capture his appearance.

‘No, perhaps it’s better not to have a portrait at all…’

Dana thought practically. She was about to marry such a handsome, capable, and loyal knight. That fact alone sounded incredibly romantic, yet…

Dana found herself smiling wryly. This marriage couldn’t last forever. Despite the inevitability of that truth, she felt an inexplicable sense of regret.

* * *

Kaiden Leonas arrived that afternoon, just after the bell tower rang to announce the time for midday prayers, echoing throughout the castle. Naturally, there was no courtesy or consideration in notifying her of his visit in advance with a letter, which would have allowed her time to prepare for their conversation. Fortunately, Dana had already risen and dressed by that time.

Having slept through the morning, Dana had a light brunch and finished dressing, intending to discuss the previous night’s events with Hilda, but that plan was thwarted. Hilda had to postpone her chance to hear the details of the princess’s encounter with Kaiden Leonas, which she had been curious about all night.

Dana entered the reception room wearing a bright pink dress reminiscent of spring blossoms. She had just ordered Kaiden Leonas’s other gift, presented to her during yesterday’s introduction, to be brought to her, and she adorned her hair with a pink jeweled pin from it, braiding her hair into a single plait.

As Dana entered, Kaiden Leonas, looking entirely out of place in the reception room, stood up abruptly. She noticed he wore a brighter blue cloak than yesterday. Although it had been only half a day since she last saw him, the change in setting and attire made him seem refreshingly different. Dana was somewhat curious if he could see the back of her head adorned with the pin from his gift.

As Kaiden bowed, Dana curtsied, holding her skirt, and spoke first.

“I didn’t expect you to visit today.”

In response to the princess’s veiled reproach that he should have sent a letter and arranged a meeting, Kaiden Leonas replied.

“I didn’t expect to propose yesterday either.”

Dana Rowen responded with a calm smile.

“Wow, we’ve given each other unexpected surprises. Please, have a seat.”

Kaiden and Dana sat facing each other. The maids, who had brought in glasses of honeyed wine along with cheese and fruit, left the door open as they exited. Hilda would be sitting beyond the reception room.

“If you had sent a letter in advance, I would have prepared dinner for you.”

“It’s fine. You mentioned there were conditions?”

Dana wasn’t particularly surprised by Kaiden’s straightforward approach to the main topic and replied without hesitation.

“Yes. These conditions are for both your benefit and mine.”

Matching his directness, Dana immediately laid out her terms.

“We will marry, but we must not share a bed. After three years, we will annul the marriage.”

Kaiden Leonas blinked in silence. If not for the movement of his eyes, he might have appeared completely still, like a painting. Dana elaborated on her proposal, which was bound to be surprising.

“I don’t menstruate. That means I can’t have children.”

This was an issue she hadn’t anticipated herself.

In the past, Dana had begun menstruating at the age of fifteen, so she had assumed it would be the same even after traveling back in time. And initially, it was.

However, things changed after she returned. Since failing to make a pact with the divine beast at her seventeenth birthday banquet, she had not menstruated.

She discovered this fact upon arriving in Khalid and immediately summoned a doctor. The doctor, unable to determine the cause, suggested she take medicine to invigorate her body and wait. Unfortunately, the medicine had no effect.

She called upon a priest. Despite receiving divine power, there was no change. As one year turned into two…

She finally realized that waiting was pointless and recalled the words of the divine beast she had heard in the Heinz prison: You must give up something very significant.

It seemed that failing to make a pact with the divine beast was only part of the issue. By returning to the past to change the future, she had lost the ability to conceive a new future.

Faced with this undeniable reality, Dana thought calmly. Who was more suitable to be the master of Khalid? A princess who couldn’t make a pact with the divine beast or bear children, or a loyal knight willing to sacrifice his life for the kingdom in times of crisis?

While the knight’s only flaw, his status, could be resolved if the king bestowed a title upon him, Dana’s flaw could not be so easily addressed. It was an irreparable loss.

Thus, Dana decided to cover his flaw with a title and then leave.

The consummation of a marriage was completed on the wedding night. First, they would swear in front of the priest of Vicanthus in the name of the god Vican, then consummate the marriage that night to finalize it. Once a couple was united, the bond could not be broken unless death parted them.

In other words, if they consummated the marriage, Kaiden would have to live as Dana’s husband for life. However, gaining a title only to have no heir and no children would not be beneficial for Kaiden. It wouldn’t be what he wanted. Therefore, it was right not to consummate the marriage and to annul it.

Even if she ceased to be a duchess, Dana would still retain her status as a princess. Therefore, she wouldn’t be significantly affected even if the marriage was annulled.

Moreover, if a marriage that lasted three years was annulled, it would be difficult for Taras to impose a new marriage on her at will. While her status wouldn’t change, it would be challenging for Taras to freely propose various matches for her in the marriage market. This alone would achieve half of Dana’s objective.

“This is why I can’t marry just anyone, and it’s the real reason I’ve proposed marriage to you. I want to be free from the pressure of marriage while keeping this fact hidden.”

Dana explained the detailed terms of this contract marriage to her silent counterpart.

“We will marry but use separate rooms at night for three years. By not consummating, when we annul this marriage in three years, the servants in the castle can testify that we never became a true couple. Everyone working here is loyal to me, so you don’t need to worry about their discretion. However, you’ll need to ensure the knights keep quiet.”

After taking a moment to catch her breath, Dana addressed what was likely the most important condition for the man.

“Even after we annul this marriage in three years, you can keep your title. Stay in Khalid, and then truly marry someone you desire and start a family.”