***

There was a soft, repeated tapping on the window. The noise stirred Yuis awake.

She got out of bed and stepped out onto the balcony, where it was raining lightly. The scent of rain-soaked earth and the deepening green of the trees filled the air, tickling her nose with their refreshing fragrance.

Welcoming the morning rain, Yuis made her way into the living room of the suite, only to stop abruptly, holding her breath instinctively.

At the table, which should have been empty, sat Edric, quietly sipping his coffee.

Last night, not long after they had returned, Edric had gone out again. Yuis had fallen asleep alone and had never spent this time of morning with him before, so finding him there now came as a complete shock.

Yet Edric appeared calm, reading the newspaper in his hands.

The thin, silver-framed glasses he wore for reading newspapers or documents made him seem even colder, causing Yuis to steal glances at him more frequently.

At that moment, his lips parted.

“Yuis.”

“Yes?”

When Yuis replied, Edric slowly shifted his gaze from the newspaper to look at her. They were as cold and distant as they had been the day before.

“What do you think we’re doing right now?”

The chill in his voice left Yuis momentarily speechless. Her eyes were fixed on him in confusion.

With a faint, one-sided smile that looked almost picturesque, Edric removed his silver-framed glasses and placed them on the table. Slowly, he rose to his feet.

“Answer me.”

As he closed the distance between them, a faint crease appeared between his brows. It disappeared quickly as he stared directly into Yui’s eyes.

The sheer weight of his cold, cynical stare alone was enough to make someone shrink back — it was hard to breathe.

Lifting a hand to rub his forehead briefly, Edric spoke again.

“What do you think we’re doing right now?”

Yuis could only stare back at him, unable to grasp the true meaning of his words. Everything had seemed fine when she returned to the hotel yesterday after having tea with the princess. But now, she couldn’t understand how or when things had taken such a turn. Nor could she understand why he was so angry.

However, it seemed that Edric wasn’t expecting an answer. Instead, he continued.

“The Duchess of Kalang has come all the way to Hetar for her honeymoon, only to spend her days reuniting with men she met in Darec once upon a time, followed by picnics with her escort.”

What she had mistaken for a softening of his mood was clearly just her own delusion.

‘I didn’t even ask to run into Jerome.’

Yuis thought, her violet eyes trembling with growing frustration and injustice.

Edric stepped even closer, his voice sinking deeper.

“Must you make it so obvious that you come from a country that knows nothing of virtue?”

His words cut even deeper when considered alongside the smooth, composed tone of his voice.

‘Then what am I supposed to do?’

Yuis stood frozen, unable to move even a finger. Watching her stiffen, Edric twisted his lips into a bitter smile.

“This is supposed to be our honeymoon! Isn’t it? Shouldn’t we at least pretend to be a happily married couple?”

After a brief pause, he continued in a calm yet cutting tone.

“At this rate, there might be articles claiming that the newlyweds were so deeply in love that they spent their entire trip locked away in their Hetar hotel suite, never once visiting any tourist destinations.”

Even as he spoke such humiliating words, Edric remained composed.

Biting her lip at the quiet mockery, Yuis lowered her gaze, unable to meet his eyes any longer.

“Of course, I don’t mind. Or perhaps the dignified Princess Johannes of Darec actually prefers it this way?”

“That’s not true. I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t talk about it like that.”

If she were to start going out with Edric, everyone would inevitably turn their attention to them.

Not many people in Darec knew her true identity, but she had already crossed paths with Jérôme Rémy. There was no guarantee they wouldn’t run into him again.

Lifting her gaze, Yuis met Edric’s eyes.

Even among the tall men of Kalang, Edric’s towering height and striking appearance made him impossible to miss. In Hetar, being seen with him meant drawing attention wherever they went.

Standing before him always made her feel as though she were walking on thin ice, uncertain and afraid of making a mistake or upsetting his mood. She grew tense and uneasy, unsure if she could spend time alone with him.

Unconsciously clenching her fists and biting her lip, Yuis stood frozen to the spot. Edric’s gaze narrowed slightly as he watched her every small movement.

Even now, his deep blue eyes never left her, capturing each of her subtle reactions and etching them into his memory.

He knew perfectly well that the minor incident with Jérôme Rémy hadn’t been Yuis fault. And yet, it continued to gnaw at him.

Although he couldn’t clearly define what had angered him, he took out his frustration on her anyway.

Taking a quiet breath, Edric swallowed deeply.

Finally, withdrawing his gaze, he returned to the table, put his glasses back on, and opened the documents once more.

The soft rustling of paper filled the room, followed by his low voice layering over the sound.

“Get ready. We’re going out.”

For the first time since their honeymoon began, they were finally setting out on a proper outing. Eager to help, Laura rolled up her sleeves and started braiding Yuis hair. She finished the look by adorning the side braid with pearls and butterfly-shaped gemstones.

To avoid her dress dragging on the damp ground, Yuis chose her shortest gown — a soft, blush-coloured dress — and paired it with low-heeled shoes. Once she had slipped on her lace gloves, she was ready to go.

Edric instructed both Isaac and Laura to rest in their respective rooms.

Today, Edric wore a diamond-patterned fisherman knit, and instead of styling his hair with pomade, he left it to fall naturally.

Yuis had never seen him dressed so casually before; his usual attire was immaculate and formal. Her eyes widened slightly in surprise before she quickly looked down.

Edric was sitting comfortably on the large sofa when he saw her approach. He slowly rose to his feet.

Carrying a large umbrella, he walked over to her and held out his hand.

The gentle drizzle rapped softly against the umbrella above them as they walked side by side down the quiet street, where only the faint patter of raindrops and the rustle of leaves could be heard.

The scent of wet earth and trees mingled in the air, oddly reminiscent of his own fragrance. It was cool and fresh, like a forest at dawn.

Holding his hand, Yuis walked beside him, wrapped in the strange illusion that she was walking within his embrace.

The rain had emptied the streets, and under the wide umbrella, she found an unexpected sense of comfort. Out here, it was just the two of them. Even if they did encounter someone, it was unlikely that they would recognise her.

Walking beneath the umbrella, Yuis found herself even closer to Edric than usual. Her gaze soon became fixed on a brightly lit open-air café—the only source of light along the dim street.

Noticing her lingering stare, Edric’s voice cut through the soft patter of rain.

“Let’s go in.”

They entered the café together and enjoyed brunch: French toast dipped in egg batter and drizzled with maple syrup, perfectly grilled sausages, ham, and fried eggs.

Once she had finished her meal, Yuis felt as though she could walk a little more.

‘If we go just a bit farther, we’ll reach that park.’

She recalled the breathtaking view from the pergola and the picnic by the great lake. Although she doubted that Edric would enjoy it, her desire to share these small moments with him remained unchanged.

Even if they could never be lovers, she wanted to create ordinary moments together as husband and wife.

However, with the steady rain, today didn’t seem like the day for it.

After finishing dessert, Edric paid the bill, and they stepped out onto the street once again.

The light drizzle had now turned into something heavier. Dark grey clouds hung low in the sky above them.

‘We should head back.’

Yuis spoke softly.

“Let’s return now.”

Edric nodded without protest.