“She ran away again.” 

 Cedric groaned as he sank deep into his chair. This was the second time. 

 The first time they met, she ran away upon seeing him, and this time too she fled in complete terror. 

 He kept seeing flashes of Claire, like a small rabbit, escaping with her reddened face unconcealed. 

 In the place filled with pure white snow, warmth spread where she had lingered. Her violet hair, flowing gracefully with every movement, was almost mystical. 

 Even the sweetest honey couldn’t compare to her eyes. 

 Cedric rubbed his fingers where the sensation still lingered. The pulse he felt when touching her nape remained vivid. 

 ‘I really can’t understand what’s going on in that small head of hers.’ 

 She seemed interested in him, yet would run away whenever he tried to get closer. Sometimes she would surprise people with schemes he hadn’t even thought of. 

 Even today, didn’t she mention that place unknown to others? 

 At first, his face hardened, thinking she was talking about the secret room. There was no way she could know about the secret room that no one knew about. 

 It was a place not marked even on the mansion blueprints. After his father passed away, he had blocked it off so no one could enter. 

 The entrance itself was so well hidden that no one knew where it was. 

 Tap, tap. The sound of fingers drumming on the table echoed through the office. 

 While he would have worried about how to handle it if she knew about the secret room, the place she mentioned was unexpected. 

 The mansion in Nidan village, somewhat distant from the capital, which Princess Isabelle had told him about. 

 Cedric arrived at the marked mansion and was guided to a room by someone. 

 “Please extend your hands.” 

 Following the guide’s instructions, he held out both hands, which were then bound with rope. 

 As he looked up questioningly, his vision suddenly darkened. The guide took his now-sightless hands and led him. 

 “Please forgive the rudeness. She said she had a fantasy about the wedding night.” 

 A fantasy involving blindfolds and bound wrists. She hadn’t seemed like that type. 

 Cedric thought of Claire. She hadn’t seemed like someone with such tastes. 

 Though he thought the situation was strange, he waited patiently. 

 The bindings were only removed after he kissed Claire, and they spent their wedding night. It must have been passionate, as she fell asleep immediately afterward. 

 After that, Cedric brought her to the Grand Duke’s residence in the North, holding her in his arms. 

 ‘Come to think of it, I never asked how she came to the Grand Duke’s residence.’ 

 Perhaps she wasn’t curious, or maybe she was too preoccupied with ‘divorce’ due to the unwanted marriage to pay attention to such details. 

 While she would blush at any mention of their wedding night, she said it was fine to let others in. 

 “How am I supposed to interpret this?” 

 He sighed and tilted his head back to look at the ceiling. 

 No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t understand what was in her mind. 

 With a knock, Kaven’s voice was heard. 

 “Your Highness, I’ve returned from training.” 

 “Come in.” 

 Kaven opened the door and entered. He bowed and approached Cedric to begin his report. 

 “The knights’ training is complete, and the Commander went to finish the subjugation.” 

 “He’ll be back tomorrow then. Any other issues?” 

 “None. Though Dame Alita did ask when she could resume guarding the Grand Duchess……” 

 Cedric, who had been looking at the ceiling while listening to the report, straightened his head. 

 His mind was already complicated with thoughts of her, and now Claire’s name came up from Sir Kaven’s mouth as well. 

 ‘Seems she’s taken a liking to Claire.’ 

 In truth, none of those residing in the Grand Duke’s residence disliked her. 

 “Everyone seems to have fallen for the Grand Duchess after seeing how she acted when Your Highness went missing.” 

 “……I see.” 

 “Not only does she communicate with animals, but her leadership style reminded us of Your Highness.” 

 Kaven chatted excitedly. 

 “The way she rode the polar bear across the snow to find Your Highness……” 

 “Rode a polar bear?” 

 Cedric couldn’t imagine it. She rode a difficult-to-handle polar bear like a horse in the North? 

 He shook his head to clear the image forming in his mind. 

 It seemed he kept seeing different sides of his wife. 

 “There’s one more thing I need to report.” 

 Kaven’s smiling face suddenly turned serious. Cedric stopped his wandering thoughts and focused on Kaven’s words. 

 “It must be about the Emperor.” 

 Kaven nodded and pulled out a map from his chest. Then he pointed to the mountain range in the North. 

 “They say they spotted what appears to be a divine beast beyond this point.” 

 “They’ll arrive soon then.” 

 They would arrive within a day. Before the divine beast came, they needed to move the Princess and Zeno tonight. 

 “Today will be busy too.” 

 “The Grand Duke’s residence seems full of energy since the Grand Duchess arrived.” 

 “Vahalla was complaining about having more work.” 

 “He’s happiest when he has lots of work, isn’t he?” 

 Kaven scratched his head and smiled. 

 “Are you going to keep standing there? You must have a lot to do.” 

 “Yes, I’ll move right away.” 

 Cedric watched Kaven leave and then called Vahalla to his office. 

 “Vahalla, we need to move Princess Isabelle and the wolf right away.” 

 He drew a map and handed it to the butler. It showed the location of the mansion where he had spent his wedding night with Claire. 

 “The Princess probably already knows, but tell the knights to leave through the back door.” 

 “Understood.” 

 Vahalla immediately set off to deliver the message to Claire. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 I received the map from the butler and looked at Zeno. He seemed particularly sensitive today, making it difficult to bring up the subject. 

 “Zeno, you need to leave the Grand Duke’s residence with Isabelle today.” 

 “Wow, that’s so cold.” 

 “I’ll come get you after father goes to the imperial capital.” 

 “I can’t just do it. I need a firm answer too.” 

 Zeno moved away from the desk he was leaning on and stood in front of me. 

 It was giving me a headache that he kept staying in human form instead of wolf form, saying he wasn’t feeling well. 

 Thanks to that, I had to extend my hand to receive the map from Vahalla. He even drove Rien away. 

 “There’s no time. The Emperor you hate is beyond the mountain range.” 

 “That old man has a persistent streak. Though it seems all humans who inherited that blood are the same.” 

 “That sounds like something that would upset both me and Isabelle.” 

 “What do I care.” 

 I squinted at Zeno’s particularly defiant attitude today. 

 “The knights will move with you. You’ll leave through the back door. What do you want?” 

 “You’ll have to make a contract with me.” 

 He showed no signs of backing down. I sighed and said. 

 “Fine. Let’s make the contract. But what’s this marking the Grand Duke mentioned?” 

 I knew nothing about divine beast contracts. It wasn’t described in detail, and since he had only made contracts with my father, I didn’t know the method either. 

 “Wow, there’s something the master doesn’t know? Somehow that makes me happy. Alright, I’ll tell you.” 

 Somehow Zeno’s smile made me uneasy. 

 “Okay, then hurry up. How do we do it?” 

 “It’ll hurt a little.” 

 “I’m not keen on pain.” 

 I backed away from him slightly. Before I could finish speaking, Zeno transformed into a wolf. 

 “Wooooo.” (When you make the contract, your body will be a bit weak. But well, that guy will be beside you.) 

 “Why would my body be weak……. Ah!” 

 Zeno suddenly placed his large paw on my shoulder. Surprised by the weight, I screamed, and Rien’s voice came from outside the door. 

 “Grand Duchess, is something wrong? May I come in?” 

 “No, no! It’s fine. I just got startled by a bug.” 

 I frowned and looked at Zeno. 

 “You’re heavy. Is this how contracts work?” 

 “Grrrr.” (We haven’t started yet.) 

 Zeno stared at me intently. I felt strangely tense and gripped the desk tightly. 

 “Wooooo.” (Master, are you ready?) 

 I slowly nodded. 

 “Ugh!” 

 Zeno suddenly bit down hard on my nape. It hurt so much that I grabbed and pulled at his fur. 

 You didn’t tell me the contract method was this rough! 

 “Grrrr.” (If I told you, you wouldn’t have done it.) 

 I pulled at Zeno’s fur hard enough to almost pull it out, feeling indignant. 

 “Kying! King!” (It hurts, it hurts!) 

 Zeno didn’t let go until the contract was established. 

 Unlike an incomplete contract, the marking contract felt strange. 

 “It feels like power is overflowing in my body.” 

 “Wooooo.” (It’s not over yet, master, you need to endure.) 

 It felt like something had connected us; it was easier to read his mind than before. 

 ‘It will hurt more than now.’ 

 Having read Zeno’s thoughts, I immediately tightened my grip. You should have told me it would hurt this much. Then I would have endured until the end. 

 “Urgh.” 

 Just wait until this is over. I gritted my teeth. 

 “Kying! Kyaaaang!” (Master, stop! Stop! All my fur is coming out!) 

 Despite Zeno’s cries, I kept my grip on his fur until the very end.