Unexpectedly, a heavy voice flew in.

As she quickly straightened her hunched body, Aaron narrowed his brows.

Having just woken up, she must look quite disheveled.

Lucilia clutched her loose neckline and with her other hand, combed down her unkempt, messy hair.

After hastily tidying herself, she checked Aaron’s attire, and embarrassment washed over her at how different they looked.

He was impeccable, as if he had never lain down on his back. Not only had he removed his robe and put on clothes, but he had already finished preparing to go out.

The unwrinkled coat draped over his firm upper body added to the distance between them.

Lucilia chewed her lower lip with her teeth before finally squeezing out her voice.

“I’m so sorry about yesterday.”

“About what?”

“For falling asleep instead of waiting…”

“I was the one who told you to sleep first. Don’t mind it.”

Aaron’s speech consistently overflowed with politeness.

In contrast, she still hadn’t abandoned the habits from when she was revered. She wasn’t used to speaking humbly about herself, but she couldn’t let Aaron be the only one using honorifics.

At the very least, it was right to converse at the same level as Aaron’s language habits.

“Still, it was our first night of marriage, and I was, no, I was too immature.”

Lucilia refined her roughly cracked voice and approached him, asking affectionately:

“Did you not sleep all night?”

“No. I got a little rest.”

She wanted to ask if he had slept in the bed, but fearing it might seem frivolous, she just nodded calmly.

Aaron stood by the window, gazing at the dawn breaking in the sky.

“Just in case you were wondering, you don’t need to feel obligated to see my father. It would be uncomfortable for both of you, and he doesn’t want it either.”

“…I understand. He shouldn’t be angry because of me.”

“I’ll go down first.”

“What about breakfast?”

“If the timing works out, we’ll eat together; if not, I’ll take care of it separately. So please eat at the appropriate time.”

Having finished his business, he passed by Lucilia. His indifference, as if they would never meet again, made her heart ache.

If he left like this, he probably wouldn’t come to the bedroom, let alone have meals together.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t expected her husband’s neglect.

However, there was something she needed his permission for, making it difficult to speak up hastily.

Since she needed Aaron’s approval for every move she made.

Lucilia quickly followed Aaron.

“I have a request.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’d like to… send a letter to my father. I’ve already written it.”

“I’ll call a messenger.”

He granted permission so readily that her worry seemed embarrassing.

It felt like discovering a ray of light at the end of a dark cave. Once the letter reached the Marquis’s house, the rest would be resolved swiftly.

Even if it took time to resolve, now that she understood the reason, she felt she could wait patiently.

The most liberating fact was that she wouldn’t have to be indebted to Aaron anymore.

Smiling brightly, Lucilia saw Aaron off to the door.

With his permission granted, courage that hadn’t been there before rose within her. Her cautious voice tapped on Aaron’s back, now a couple of steps away.

“Young lord.”

“Yes?”

“You said I could move freely around the estate but shouldn’t leave your sight.”

“…”

“I don’t think I’ll need to tour the estate much. So I was wondering, can I… walk around inside the mansion?”

“Go ahead.”

Though his expression remained rigid, he showed quite a generous attitude. It felt like warmth permeating the otherwise bleak air.

Waiting until Aaron was completely gone, Lucilia saw that no one was in the corridor and quickly took small, hurried steps.

Just as she was filled with anticipation about retrieving her letter:

“Madam.”

She encountered Karen, who was just coming up the stairs.

The head maid’s voice was always strict and had a narrow range of emotions. This gave her a talent for making others flinch in advance.

Thinking that her indecent attire while wandering alone might be the issue, she hastily tightened her waist sash as Karen finished climbing the stairs.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m on my way to get my belongings.”

“If you tell me, I’ll have a servant bring them to you.”

“Other things can be handled by servants, but there’s one thing I need to get myself.”

When Karen quietly lowered her eyes instead of answering, Lucilia quickly went to her room, collected the letter, and came out.

Holding it tightly as if embracing it to her chest, she came out to the corridor, where Karen, after confirming her appearance, clasped her hands.

“From today, you’ll be living with the young master. I came up to escort you to the guest room while the young master’s bedroom is being tidied.”

“I could wait in the room I was using.”

“Is there anything else you need to collect personally?”

“No.”

“We were planning to clean the room you were using as well.”

“Ah… Then please guide me to the guest room.”

It really seemed that Aaron intended to watch her every move and not leave her alone.

Of course, he had expanded her territory to allow her to roam the mansion, but with so many watching eyes, it was fair to say that everyone was monitoring Lucilia.

She would be treated this way until they were convinced she wouldn’t bring calamity to Tudra.

Still, she only had to endure until she received a reply from her father.

Suddenly, she wondered where her cherished rosary had gone. They must have handed it over to be examined for any evil energy.

“Do you know where the young lord entrusted my rosary?”

“I don’t know. If you’re curious, please ask the young master directly.”

Karen pushed her glasses up her nose, released the skirt she had been holding while climbing the stairs, and extended her hand politely, urging Lucilia to walk.

“I’ve prepared a room for you to wait in on the first floor. I’ll escort you there.”

Thanks to the head maid’s prior arrangements, Lucilia didn’t encounter anyone until she entered the guest room.

Not long after entering the bedroom, maids rushed in all at once.

They placed bath water, cosmetics, and change of clothes in their proper places and then came to Lucilia’s side.

Karen encompassed the maids with stern eyes before speaking.

“By the time you finish preparing, I will have set up a meal in the dining room.”

Having conveyed only what was necessary without any excess, Karen was about to leave when she called to Lucilia, who was just about to step into the bathtub.

“Madam.”

“Is there something else you need to tell me?”

“For the time being, no dedicated maid will be assigned to you.”

“I suppose the young lord gave such instructions. I understand.”

It was obvious that not only would no one volunteer, but even if assigned, everyone would avoid it.

Rather than worrying about the maids’ psychology, it was better to be alone.

Lucilia finished her grooming while surrendering herself to the maids’ hands, just like the previous night.

He had said they would eat together if the timing worked out, but as expected, she ate breakfast alone.

Already feeling stifled, it was fortunate that she could now take a walk without being conscious of Aaron’s gaze.

She had no intention of wandering in the front yard like last time. She needed a place to catch her breath away from others’ eyes.

After finishing her meal, Lucilia headed straight for the greenhouse. And unintentionally, she found herself in a place where she could overhear the servants’ gossip.

There must be a path near the greenhouse where food ingredients came and went, as a maid who had been serving in the first-floor guest room was heading that way with an empty basket.

As the maid turned her head to look around, Lucilia instinctively had to hide behind a large maple tree.

“Do you think they consummated?”

“Did you hear what was said earlier? Rezana said there were no traces on the young master’s bedding.”

“Well, he probably didn’t want to touch her because it was disgusting.”

“That’s what I’m saying.”

“But isn’t it strange? Last time, didn’t the young master chase out all the maids and bathe with the madam?”

What bathing?

Her clothes and accessories had been thoroughly examined.

Already, the distorted rumors were excitedly circulating among the servants.

“The madam is a witch. He must have stayed in the same room to protect Tudra and prevent that witch from doing anything mischievous.”

“Ah, that’s right! It would be terrible if she chanted strange spells and cast curses.”

“Yes. That’s why the young master is watching her with burning eyes.”

“But… they really didn’t sleep together, right?”

“The young master isn’t that dissolute. He hasn’t been close to any woman until now. How can you say such things about someone with such excellent judgment?”

“Right. Let’s trust the young master’s character. Ugh! Just thinking about the young master rolling around with her makes my stomach hurt.”

“Mine too.”

They got heated among themselves, then felt sorry.

Lucilia narrowed her brows while peeling the bark off an innocent tree.