As it had become colder, they found themselves eating in the dining room or the greenhouse more often than in the garden.

They usually had lunch in the greenhouse while there was still some warmth in the sunlight and had dinner in the dining room.

This had naturally become part of their daily routine over the past month.

Since the Emperor and Empress had visited, Rian had made sure that Dearlin ate properly and sat with her at every meal.

Using the excuse that his wounds still needed time to heal, he neither returned to the imperial palace nor left the ducal estate. This meant that Dearlin inevitably ended up dining with him, unless something urgent arose.

Today was one of those ordinary days.

“I’m planning to call for Doctor William tomorrow.”

In the middle of their meal, Dearlin spoke up.

Rian immediately looked at her with confusion.

‘Why suddenly call Doctor William?’

‘Is she sick somewhere?’

Such concern was clearly reflected in his eyes.

“It’s already been a month, Rian.”

Before the impatient Rian could ask her anything, Dearlin offered him a soft smile.

It was meant to reassure him.

Over the past month, during which she had constantly stayed by his side, she had realized something.

She had once thought that the Rian from five years later was impossible to read.

But that was not true at all.

If she paid close enough attention to his expressions, he was actually surprisingly easy to understand.

What had just happened was proof of that.

The moment she mentioned Doctor William, his eyes wavered ever so slightly, and she had not miss it.

Knowing that his reaction came from concern for her filled her with a strange, quiet happiness.

“…Has it really already been a month?”

“At first, you complained about how impossible it would be to stay still for an entire month, but time passed surprisingly fast, didn’t it?”

Rian muttered awkwardly as he watched Dearlin suppress a quiet laugh at his expense.

For a whole month, he had stayed by her side under the rather convenient excuse of ‘recovery’.

Now, however, he found himself wondering how he was supposed to continue doing so afterwards.

They say humans are creatures of habit.

They had only slept together for a month, yet sharing a bed now felt far more natural than sleeping alone.

‘How should I even bring this up?’

He wanted to silence the version of himself from the beginning of their marriage who confidently declared they would never share a bedroom.

Had they started sharing one from the beginning, he would not be struggling with this dilemma now.

“Rian? What are you thinking about so deeply?”

Unaware of the chaos swirling inside his mind, Dearlin asked innocently.

This was proof of just how much more comfortable their relationship had become.

Only a month ago, mealtimes had been filled with nothing but silence.

Now, however, they enjoyed natural conversations and laughter occasionally echoed through the room.

To his surprise, Rian found he was enjoying it far more than he had expected.

The resentment and sense of betrayal he had once felt towards Dearlin had long since disappeared without trace.

“Dearlin.”

By now, Dearlin had already finished eating and was quietly drinking tea after the meal when Rian called her name.

She looked back at him steadily without hesitation.

“Is it uncomfortable for you to sleep with me?”

“Why are you suddenly asking that?”

‘Did he notice I keep struggling to sleep every night?’

Unable to understand the intention behind his question, Dearlin tilted her head slightly.

“I was thinking about it. We’re married, aren’t we?”

“……”

“So even after my body fully recovers, I think it would be right for us to continue sharing the same bedroom. What do you think?”

After agonizing over how to broach the subject, Rian ultimately came to a simple conclusion.

He would just say it outright.

Caught off guard by his direct question, Dearlin nearly choked on her tea. She quickly turned her head aside and coughed awkwardly.

“Ahem… So what Rian wants is…”

“I want us to keep sharing the same bedroom.”

Because her hands trembled so badly, as though she had suddenly developed a nervous tic, Dearlin carefully set down the teacup she had been holding.

Then she blinked several times, genuinely wondering whether she might somehow still be dreaming.

“And your answer?”

‘Ah… so this isn’t a dream.’

The moment she saw Rian smiling with the very same smile she had loved since childhood, Dearlin realized this was all real.

“You like the idea?”

“Well… if it’s what you want…”

She was too embarrassed to directly say she liked it too, so instead Dearlin left the choice in Rian’s hands.

“I asked because I like it. What I want to know is whether you like it.”

But Rian refused to let her dodge the question so easily.

It was clear from his expression that he fully intended to hear her honest answer.

“I like it too…”

Unable to retreat under Rian’s unwavering gaze, Dearlin finally confessed what he wanted to hear in a tiny voice that nearly disappeared into the air.

“I have one request too.”

“What is it?”

Rian urged her to continue at once.

It was rare for Dearlin to ask him for anything.

“When we sleep together… I want you to hold me.”

The moment she finished speaking, Dearlin lowered her head deeply when no response came from Rian.

The tips of her ears visible through her hair burned bright red.

“It’s not for any strange reason. I just… haven’t been sleeping well lately, but when you held me before, I slept really well…”

‘What am I even saying right now…’

Dearlin bit lightly against her lips in embarrassment.

“So when I hold you, you sleep better?”

At Rian’s teasing question, Dearlin shot him a glare.

“You literally just heard me say it…”

Rian’s hearty laughter filled the greenhouse at the sight of even that adorable expression.

“So are you going to refuse me?”

Dearlin pouted slightly and looked at Rian, who was clearly enjoying teasing her.

Nevertheless, the smile on his face never faded.

He rose slowly from his seat and walked over to her, holding out his hand.

“I’d like to take a walk with you.”

“Hm… alright.”

After a moment’s consideration, Dearlin took Rian’s hand as he invited her to join him, displaying true gentlemanly grace.

In contrast to the cold winter air outside, the parts of their arms that touched as they walked together felt warm and comforting.

“Winter has arrived…”

While gazing at the trees that were gradually becoming more barren, Dearlin murmured quietly in a bitter voice.

“Do you dislike winter?”

Rian turned his head to look at her.

Just moments ago, she had seemed to be smiling.

Now, however, she looked as though she might burst into tears at any moment.

She stared blankly at the almost bare trees, lost in thoughts he could not begin to understand.

‘What should I say?’

At the sight of Dearlin looking strangely fragile, Rian swallowed dryly.

“Yes. I hate it.”

After a brief silence, Dearlin finally answered and slowly lifted her head to meet Rian’s gaze as he looked down at her.

Her violet eyes shimmered with moisture.

“…Why?”

The moment he saw her like that, Rian felt as though his heart were being squeezed painfully tight.

‘Is it because she gets cold easily?’

‘Her body has always been weak, so that would make sense.’

“It’s just… winter is so cold. And lonely…”

That was not the truth.

Seeing Dearlin force a smile, Rian was certain of it.

Was the question really so difficult that she felt the need to hide her true feelings?

It was just a simple question about why she disliked winter — it was nothing that should have been hard to answer.

Rian wanted to know.

Why did she still keep things from him?

Did she still not trust him completely?

A faint sense of disappointment settled in his chest.

“Do you like winter, Rian?”

“Is there really anything to like or dislike about it? It’s just another season.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

Dearlin let out a soft laugh through her hand, which she was using to cover her mouth, and quietly agreed with him.

She then moved closer to him and gently rested her head against his shoulder.

With the servants far behind them, the two of them enjoyed their peaceful walk alone.

Now that winter had fully set in, the garden was nowhere near as vibrant as in the warmer seasons, but it still had a quiet beauty all of its own.

“…I hope spring comes soon.”

They paused momentarily. Rian raised a hand and gently pressed his palm against Dearlin’s reddened cheek, warmed by the cold wind.

The warmth of his touch spread throughout her body.

The tension frozen on her face slowly melted away.

“Why?”

“Mm?”

“To you, winter and spring are both just seasons, aren’t they?”

As she placed her own hand over Rian’s hand, which was steadily growing colder while touching her cheek, Dearlin spoke softly.

“Are you curious?”

“If you’re only going to tease me again, then don’t bother telling me.”

It was her attempt to prevent the teasing that had grown increasingly worse lately.

And Rian looked openly amused by Dearlin’s reaction, which had become familiar after being subjected to his antics so often.

“There’s no special reason.”

“Then…”

“It’s simple. You said you hate winter, Dearlin.”

It was an incredibly plain and brief answer.