“I’d like to bathe alone tonight, Laura.”

“My lady…”

“That’s just how I feel today.”

Faced with Yuis firm tone, Laura could only bow to her mistress’s wishes.

“As you wish, my lady. But please call for me if you need anything.”

Even as she left, Laura glanced back several times, looking concerned.

Once alone, Yuis stepped into the bath.

As the warm steam rose around her, the gentle heat embraced her body.

For the first time since arriving in Kalang, she finally experienced a brief moment of peace.

She pulled her knees up to her chest, rested her head on them at an angle, and gazed at the crackling flames in the fireplace.

Her heavy eyelids blinked slowly as drowsiness steadily overtook her.

In this fleeting moment of comfort, Yuis softly closed her eyes.

***

“The Lady…”

When the butler, Miles, mentioned Yuis condition, Edric’s expression hardened immediately.

“The Lady hasn’t left her room since yesterday. She’s even refused Laura’s assistance. Perhaps you might consider visiting her, Your Grace?”

Edric hadn’t eaten since the previous afternoon, either, except for the strong coffee in front of him.

With the master locked in icy silence and the mistress shut away for a whole day, the atmosphere on the estate had become as cold as the depths of winter.

Lifting his hand, Edric pressed firmly against his temples before giving a cold order.

“I will handle it myself.”

As the butler bowed deeply and left, Edric raised his arm, covering his eyes with a weary hand.

Yuis was Yuis Descartes and Descartes—meant she belonged to him.

Edric Descartes was a man who had never lost anything that belonged to him. He had taken things from others, but nothing had ever been taken from him.

People always surrendered to him easily. Those who didn’t surrender easily found themselves helplessly drawn to him, yearning for his attention.

But a woman like Yuis — who seemed uneasy even in surrender, as if enduring it rather than yielding completely — had never existed in Edric’s life before.

Running a rough hand through his hair, Edric finally stepped out of his office and made his way towards Yuis’s chambers.

Knock, knock.

He knocked, but there was no answer.

Without hesitation, he pushed the door open and entered.

Her room was perfectly tidy.

Walking further in, Edric searched quietly before heading towards the bathroom.

Knock, knock.

He knocked once more. Still, no sound from inside. After a final pause, Edric opened the bathroom door and stepped in.

Yuis sat curled up in the cold bathwater, her knees drawn up to her chest, her eyes closed. Her face, resting on her arms, was pale and her lips were drained of colour.

Edric stared at her, visible cracks appearing across his expression.

For a long moment, he simply stood there, frozen. His trembling hand slowly came into view.

He clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles bulged, forcing himself to steady his vision and focus.

He had no idea how long she had been sitting like this.

Although the bathroom was warm from the fireplace, the water she was sitting in had gone ice-cold.

Loosening his cuffs and rolling up his sleeves, Edric strode over to the tub and stirred the water with his hand.

Despite summer being approaching, the water was far too cold.

He turned on the tap, letting warm water pour in, and then reached down and gently lifted her out of the bath.

Even as he held her n*ked body in his arms, there was no trace of lust, only cold, practical reality.

The moment she was in his arms, Yuis’s eyes fluttered open. With her icy body pressed against him, Edric checked her neck, arms, and waist in turn, as if to confirm her condition.

A mocking smile tugged at his lips.

“What is this now? Are you suddenly regretting our marriage now that all your guests have left?”

Panicking at his unexpected presence, Yuis tried to pull away instinctively.

But Edric only tightened his hold around her.

“Stay still.”

In contrast to his usual immaculate appearance, Edric stood before her looking completely dishevelled.

His sleeves were rolled up, and his wet shirt clung to his body. His sharp eyes burned with restrained fury.

Looking up at him, Yuis cautiously opened her mouth.

“Um… Your Grace…”

But before she could say another word, he cut her off, his voice like ice. It was as if he was suppressing something.

“Don’t say anything.”

His voice was low and sharp, cutting through the cold air of the bathroom like a blade. Yuis blinked in confusion at the edge in his tone, unable to understand why he was so angry.

Edric’s throat moved as he continued, his voice still taut.

“Don’t ever do something like this again.”

Yuis didn’t understand.

Why was he so upset? What had she done to make him so angry?

Holding her close, Edric reached for a large towel with his slightly trembling hand.

He began carefully wiping the water from her chilled body.

For Yuis, who had only ever seen him calm and composed no matter the situation, the entire scene felt strange and bewildering. She could barely think clearly.

His shirt, usually neat and tidy with a tied fastened, was now hanging open with several undone buttons, completely soaked and clinging to his body.

Yet he seemed utterly unconcerned about his own state, focusing solely on drying her and wrapping her cold body firmly in the towel.

“If you dislike something, say it outright. Pathetic displays like this won’t work on me.”

“It’s not like that.”

Yuis whispered desperately. She had only wanted some time alone.

The warm water had relaxed her, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep. That was all.

At that moment, Edric rang the bell.

The door opened almost immediately and Laura entered the room. She had been waiting outside.

The look Edric gave her was sharp enough to cut. Even though it wasn’t aimed at her, Yuis still flinched instinctively at its intensity.

“It wasn’t Laura’s fault.”

“The maid who attends directly to her mistress didn’t even realise her bathwater had turned cold – and you think that’s not her fault?”

It wasn’t a question.

Edric shifted his gaze back to Yuis, the corner of his mouth curling into a faint, cold smile.

This was the first time she had seen him like this: cold and angry.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

Yuis badly wanted to tell him the truth, to confess everything.

But Edric no longer seemed to be listening.

She couldn’t fathom what had enraged him so much, and she was overwhelmed by her own helplessness.

Wrapped only in a towel, her body began to shiver. Goosebumps prickled her skin as a biting chill settled over her.

The colour that had started to return to her complexion quickly drained again.

As he watched her turn pale, Edric finally nodded briefly at Laura before leaving the room.

They were both a mess.

It felt as though she was the one who had unravelled the man who never lost control.

The sinking feeling in Yuis heart only dragged her deeper into despair.

In the end, Yuis collapsed with a high fever. Meanwhile, Edric’s study had been as cold as ice for days. He placed his strong coffee on the desk.

After examining Yuis, Dr Hans — Descartes’ personal physician — entered the duke’s study. Edric gave him a small nod of acknowledgement before speaking.

“How is my wife?”

“Yes, Your Grace. The Lady has recovered significantly. What she needs most now is rest for her mind. It is essential that she is kept comfortable.”

“Good work.”

Hans bowed deeply and left quietly. Once alone, Edric gripped his steaming coffee cup, his gaze darkening.

He had planned to visit her at around this time, once she was awake, to finally talk about their honeymoon. But it seemed those plans would have to be delayed a little longer.

It was late at night when Edric finally left his office.

However, instead of heading to the ducal chambers, his footsteps carried him towards the back entrance of the mansion.

He walked down the path leading to the annex.

While Yuis had been bedridden, the weather had grown warmer.

Moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a gentle, glittering path beneath his feet as he walked slowly and unhurriedly.

Upon reaching the annex, he carefully softened his steps as he approached her bedroom, knowing she would already be asleep.

The dim glow of the lamp softly illuminated the room as he entered.

Wasn’t it the butler who had once mentioned that she was afraid of sleeping alone?

He recalled a passing comment he had barely paid attention to before.