It was strange. When Daphne, who had been staring into space all day while locked up, finally fell asleep from exhaustion, someone would come in during that time and leave food on the table.

Though she was imprisoned, her meals remained luxurious. Every meal and even snacks were the same as what she had eaten as the duchess.

However, leaving the plate of honey-soaked lemon slices untouched, Daphne simply lay in bed staring at the ornate chandelier.

A person eating and lying down all day.

What kind of life was this, worse than an animal’s?

Day by day, Daphne gradually lost her will to live.

Her once-soft cheeks lost their vitality, becoming gaunt and hollow. The already thin duchess’s body grew even more frail.

“I’m dizzy…”

The world spun wildly on its own.

Daphne pressed her fingers firmly against her temples, suffering from a migraine. She had to lie in the middle of the bed like that.

Even sitting up slightly made her dizzy.

Was it from crying too much, or had she weakened from not moving? Or both?

Either way, Daphne’s physical condition was at its worst right now.

“I’m sleepy…”

Muttering that, Daphne fell into a deep sleep again.

* * *

When she opened her eyes again.

She clearly remembered falling asleep to the sound of raindrops falling outside the window, but somehow the evening glow had already settled in.

“Huh?”

The whole world was now preparing to welcome the night.

Only an empty feeling remained, like the middle of the day had been erased entirely.

Daphne was seized by a strange sensation, staring blankly at the encroaching darkness. She didn’t even think to approach the window and draw the curtains.

“I’m hungry…”

Daphne clutched her starving stomach.

It was natural to be hungry since she hadn’t done anything or eaten all day.

When she looked at the table, naturally there was appetizing pasta placed there.

The well-rolled spaghetti noodles with green parsley powder sprinkled on top looked very appetizing. There was even a refreshing ade alongside it.

Daphne dragged her heavy body to the table. Just as she gripped the fork and was about to twirl the pasta and put it in her mouth.

“Wait?”

A thought flashed through her mind like lightning.

Daphne put down the fork and stared at the food.

At first glance, it looked no different from the pasta the chef often made, but something was definitely different.

“Ah…!”

Daphne’s pupils dilated as she realized one important fact.

She normally didn’t sleep that much, but there must be a clear reason why she had been dozing in bed almost all day since being confined.

Someone came while she was asleep and brought food.

And when she hurriedly ate that food because she was hungry, within less than an hour she would start dozing off.

Irresistible drowsiness would wash over her.

Fatigue hit her to the point where she wondered if she had ever been this sleepy in her life.

At first, she thought it was because her body and mind were exhausted from the confinement. But confinement—compared to the truly difficult times of the past, this level of suffering was nothing.

“Maybe…”

She lifted the salad vegetables on top of the pasta with her fork.

“They might have put sleeping pills in the food.”

Daphne soon burst into empty laughter.

“No, that’s possible. It’s entirely possible.”

Astaire Seyfried.

It wouldn’t be strange for that man to commit any cruel act.

From now on, she decided to abandon all thoughts that the duke she knew wouldn’t do such things.

That man could do anything. No matter how cruel or chilling.

Perhaps he was putting sleeping pills in her meals to make Daphne sleep and prevent her from having any stray thoughts.

This time, even while clutching her hungry stomach, she deliberately skipped the meal.

She was a bit sleepy, but even this might be from the sleeping pill components she had eaten before.

Daphne sat up straight on the bed with her eyes wide open.

Time passed from evening to night like that. The warm light of evening gradually turned dark. Shadows crawling down the ceiling and walls wrapped around like waves.

Even when furniture and objects could no longer be seen clearly in their forms, Daphne kept her back straight and her eyes wide open.

Click.

That’s when it happened.

Very carefully, without a knock, the door opened.

“M-my lady…?”

The head butler was startled to see Daphne sitting upright with her eyes open. He looked like he had seen a ghost.

“Are you alright?”

The head butler approached Daphne without even thinking to clear away the cold dishes.

The duchess’s hands were cold like ice. The head butler firmly grasped Daphne’s hands with both of his and muttered with his head bowed.

“His Grace is too much, to this delicate person…”

Surprisingly, the head butler’s words, who had worked for Duke Seyfried for decades, even contained faint resentment toward Astaire.

Regardless, Daphne smiled bitterly.

The head butler didn’t know what to do.

“Please endure just a little longer, my lady. Soon His Grace will realize he has no choice.”

Watching his wrinkled eyes gradually redden, Daphne felt an indescribable emotion.

Still, there’s at least one person in this estate who cares for me.

I haven’t lived in vain, at least.

“You should leave quickly.”

Daphne tried to send the head butler away. Given the circumstances, Astaire must have sent the head butler in to check on her condition, but if the man trying to isolate her saw this scene, he might not leave even the head butler alone.

The man was that cruel.

“My lady, our lady…”

Soon tears flowed from the head butler’s eyes.

Watching him, Daphne couldn’t help but feel her own eyes burning.

* * *

“Is it really alright to keep her locked up like that?”

Of course it wasn’t alright. That’s why he locked her up.

But Daphne had to learn. She had to pay a harsh price for daring to try to leave him. Hadn’t he warned her several times already?

Astaire no longer intended to show mercy.

“I’m tired. Let’s talk about that later.”

“Right now, my lady is withering and dying like a flower in season. You know that, Your Grace.”

Astaire quietly closed his mouth and took off his jacket, handing it to the head butler.

Even after receiving the man’s jacket, the head butler couldn’t leave for a long while.

“So what do you want me to do?”

“This is enough, so please, that person…”

“I’ll handle my wife myself, so don’t interfere anymore.”

Astaire snapped coldly.

The head butler realized he had misspoken and bowed his head. Even for him, anything more would be difficult.

“Yes, I understand. Rest well, Your Grace.”

Soon the head butler closed the door and left.

Astaire left his study and came to the bedroom he used alone.

As he lay down on the spacious bed as usual, the cold air wrapping around his skin bothered him particularly.

…It feels empty.

Hollow.

Astaire sat up abruptly. Naturally, he was alone in the room, yet he reflexively looked around.

The man left the bedroom he used alone and headed to another room next door.

A larger bed, a room with two pillows.

The marital bedroom with Daphne.

But it had lost its original purpose, serving its function only when fulfilling contractual obligations.

“Huu.”

Astaire let out a short breath and lay his tired body on the bed. The blanket’s touch, more comfortable than before, made him close his eyes.

Still not enough.

Astaire reached out his hand into the air.

Like he wanted to grab someone.

Like he wanted to catch them.

Like he wanted to hold them.

Of course, there was nothing to catch.

For a moment, long chocolate-colored hair that reminded him of Daphne rippled before his eyes.

“Daphne!”

Astaire shouted, quickly trying to grab that hair.

He caught it.

When he thought he had caught it.

The woman became flower petals and disappeared in an instant.

Astaire stared blankly into space. Then he sneered.

“…Am I finally going mad?”

Both him and her.

Somehow it wasn’t bad.

Because you’re the one who drove me mad.

Because I’m the one who drove you mad.

“Did you like that bastard that much, Daphne?”

He still couldn’t stand it.

That the place she was going after leaving him was into the Second Prince’s arms.

He couldn’t stand it.

In that case, he would destroy that woman with his own hands.

A few days later, early in the morning, Astaire had to go to the imperial palace.

Particularly that day, his feet wouldn’t move.

The head butler, noticing the duke kept looking back, spoke.

“I will take good care of my lady.”

“…”

“And when you return from today’s meeting, please consider releasing my lady. I earnestly beg you to grant this old man’s request, Your Grace.”

“I’m leaving the estate in your hands, head butler.”

Astaire deliberately didn’t answer about Daphne. He turned around sharply, acting like he had never looked at the estate with lingering eyes. Astaire and his aide Germo boarded the carriage together.

Inside the carriage there was only silence as usual.

Germo quietly watched Astaire’s mood, then finally said a word.

“Your Grace, even I think—”

“Stop.”

At the faint irritation in Astaire’s voice, Germo closed his mouth.

“I apologize. I almost misspoke.”

“…Still, it should be time for her to realize by now.”

Astaire muttered as though chewing on the words.

Even a tree that wouldn’t fall to any natural disaster couldn’t help it if cut down with an axe.

By now, Daphne should have learned.

That she could never leave this house.

That even in death, she would carry the Seyfried name and enter the grave with him.

That was the weight of the contract Daphne had signed.

It meant she couldn’t just break the contract and leave because she didn’t like it, like a child.

“We’ve arrived.”

When the coachman shouted from outside, the scenery outside the window had already changed.

The gate decorated with gold was massive like a small fortress. Inside, various exotic plants were planted in the garden.

“His Grace Duke Astaire Seyfried has arrived!”

The attendant in charge of the First Prince’s villa shouted upon seeing the black carriage. Astaire got out of the carriage with Germo.

The marble floor of the villa was white and smooth enough to reflect people. The pillars supporting the ceiling shone dazzlingly golden.

It wasn’t simply a palace, but a place like a great artist’s work.

Astaire thought this place was too good to be used as the First Prince’s space.

That thought had intensified recently.

Ever since he received news that the First Prince had decided to abandon him, even more so.

“So Maria, what did you learn?”

“Soon… I heard plans that the First Prince will put Your Grace in a predicament.”

Astaire quietly closed his eyes, recalling what Maria, who had been dispatched to the First Prince’s palace in disguise a few days ago, had told him.

“Do you know what kind of plan?”

“I don’t know that much either. I apologize.”

“That’s fine. Good work.”