Then she suddenly remembered. Floria’s letter.

[…I’ll have to stay at the main castle for a while before the social season too, so come visit if you have time.

Or I could ask my brother to let me come there~]

Rather than Floria coming here, Saena wanted to go there.

But in this case, it would require double requests—Saena asking Floria, and Floria asking Duke Aberdeen—so she honestly hesitated.

But in her current state of mind, she disliked asking Constantine even more.

‘First… let’s write a letter and ask.’

If it doesn’t work out, she could think about it then.

Saena immediately took out writing paper and completed the letter. She asked Darielle to send it.

Since all the servants in the castle were unintentionally watching her mood, everyone moved quickly. Thanks to that, the letter arrived at Aberdeen Castle very quickly.

[Saena!

Of course it’s fine! I’ll send my brother right away!

I’m so excited. I’ll prepare lots and wait, so you must come, okay?]

And the reply arrived at an incredible speed too.

The unexpectedly enthusiastic welcome made her feel somewhat dazed, but at the same time, her recently poor mood seemed to improve considerably.

The date Floria wrote that she would send her brother was…

‘…tomorrow?’

She seemed to have picked the earliest possible date considering the time it would take for the reply to arrive.

Saena unconsciously smiled at such incredible initiative.

“Madam, is it good news?”

Darielle, who had brought the reply and was nearby, asked after seeing Saena’s expression. She ventured to speak after seeing Saena’s rare gentle expression amid her recent low pressure.

“Yes.”

“It must be a close friend. Do you miss them?”

“Yes, I do miss them.”

But Darielle, who had been brightening up along with the rarely smiling Duchess’s mood, was very surprised by what followed.

“So I should go see them.”

“…Pardon?”

“I’m going tomorrow. Could you help me prepare?”

“T-tomorrow? By prepare, you mean…”

Saena would have to go to the warp gate herself. Recalling her previous journey riding Morev, she thought she would need a carriage.

“I’ll need a carriage, but… no luggage, no maid, and no guard knights.”

“What? Where are you going? You can’t go out alone even within the city!”

“Aberdeen territory. I’m taking a warp gate so I can’t bring anyone anyway. Just prepare the carriage.”

“…So suddenly?”

“I’ll stay overnight.”

“……”

Ignoring Darielle’s expression that looked as if she had witnessed a landslide, Saena smiled brightly.

* * *

“…Saena.”

For the first time in recent days, Constantine came to her on his own.

They were still maintaining an awkward relationship.

The problem caused by his secrets remained unresolved, and recently, beyond frustration, she had been feeling something close to anger, so Saena desperately needed something to do.

Perhaps naturally, Saena’s choice was Arlesian translation, and she had been investing considerable time in it.

Saena, who had been analyzing Arlesian through various combinations, briefly lifted her gaze from the papers scattered messily on her desk to look at him.

“What brings you here?”

Obviously, he must have heard about her plans to go out. But she pretended not to know and asked. Saena lowered her gaze back to the research paper she had been looking at.

“I heard you’re going out.”

“Yes.”

“And… staying overnight?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Perhaps due to her short answers, silence fell for a moment.

“Instead of Aberdeen territory, how about going to Delvon? To meet your family.”

But for some reason, Constantine persistently continued the conversation.

“Though the imperial capital is still difficult because of the Prince, if it’s just Delvon…”

Instead of answering, Saena moved her pen, recombining the characters she had broken down just before he came.

“I’ll take you there.”

Her pen stopped momentarily.

She had written to Floria because she didn’t want to ask him for help, and now this coincidence.

Saena raised her eyes again to look at him steadily.

“Then…”

Her head tilted slowly.

“You would have to touch me, wouldn’t you?”

There was a methodological issue with taking the warp gate. Although it wouldn’t be skin-to-skin contact, after being firmly rejected several times, even that felt uncomfortable.

“……”

“Never mind.”

Though she couldn’t avoid brief contact forever since she couldn’t never go to the imperial capital, at least not now.

Honestly, right now she didn’t even want to converse with him.

“Besides, I’m going to meet my friend. So I should go where my friend is.”

Not the imperial capital.

Saena lowered her gaze again. Though the flow of analysis had been broken and it would be difficult to regain concentration, she mechanically tried to read and copy the next phrase.

“Do you… really have to go?”

Constantine briefly rubbed his face heavily and asked as if sighing.

What does he mean by asking if she really has to go?

“No, will you… come back?”

“……”

Saena finally lifted her gaze from the paper again and turned to him.

“I’m going to meet a friend. It’s a ‘temporary’ visit.”

Even though things weren’t good between them, did she seem like someone who would abandon everything and leave?

Will you come back? Why does he keep asking such things?

“Maybe I’ll get to see Erenhorn there.”

Perhaps because she felt slightly annoyed.

“I don’t know if you knew, but actually, Erenhorn is my favorite Guardian Spirit.”

Those words suddenly came out.

“……”

“I’m sooo looking forward to it.”

Saena emphasized ‘sooo’ and then raised her voice as if she was really excited. Though her tone was dry, she tried to smile, artificially curving her eyes.

Actually, it was spite. After saying it, she felt self-deprecating thoughts like ‘so what?’ but she couldn’t take back words already spoken.

What could she do?

But it wasn’t a complete lie either. She did have some expectations.

Unlike the days when she purely admired Guardian Spirits, it wasn’t just about the anticipation of seeing one in person.

In fact, it was closer to wanting to know if other Guardian Spirits had the same problems as Constantine’s.

“Erenhorn is…”

But Constantine’s expression seemed quite troubled.

“No, of all… that guy is… haah…”

Then he even sighed.

Why was he acting like this?

“Then… at least take a guard knight.”

Constantine ultimately failed to change Saena’s mind.

Perhaps it was natural, since Saena couldn’t understand his reasons for opposing.

But suddenly suggesting a guard? Providing a guard knight now when there hadn’t been one before? To go together?

Though it might be natural, such questions arose.

In that case, how would they take the warp gate?

“Then Duke Aberdeen would have to use more power, wouldn’t he?”

Since their method of transportation wouldn’t be different there either.

“That much is fine.”

Fine? Does he mean he can easily handle moving two or three people at once?

His tone suggested he could handle that much sufficiently.

“Then it would have been fine to bring my guard knight from Delvon too?”

That question naturally came out.

Rupert had insisted on taking her with him before.

Saying she would need someone on her side to complain to if they had a marital quarrel.

Why did that comment suddenly come to mind?

“If you really want me to have a guard knight, send word to House Debov.”

Perhaps Sir Rupert had been right.

“I would go with Sir Rupert. Though Your Grace would have to bring him here.”

Even if it was just simple venting, having somewhere to do it versus not having anywhere was completely different.

Though it was sad to admit, Constantine’s absence left quite a large void, making her feel quite empty…

“That knight… is not suitable. He doesn’t understand how things work here. This is for safety.”

How things work here? What does he mean? The guards? Guardian Spirits? Or demonic beasts?

Or is he just insisting that she take a Kramer house knight no matter what?

“What exactly are you worried about?”

It’s not like she’s going to some remote or dangerous place.

She would just arrive from one warp gate to another and stay at the castle for a while, that’s all.

“It’s just a simple visit to a friend, isn’t it?”

Constantine’s lips quivered. He seemed to want to say something more, but ultimately spoke words of acquiescence.

“Very well. I’ll send Sir Rupert to Aberdeen territory… please make sure to travel with him.”

What? He’s really going to bring Sir Rupert?

Now Saena was more surprised that he actually agreed to do it.

“And… please take this with you too.”

Constantine held out the black bird that had been acting as their messenger.

“If anything happens, send it immediately. I’ll come right away.”

“……”

At this point, Saena became rather uneasy.

No, what’s in Aberdeen territory? Why is he acting so excessively?

“Is… Aberdeen territory much more dangerous than here?”

“It shouldn’t be if you don’t go far from the castle.”

“But why…”

Why are you acting like something’s about to happen right away?

“Is Duke Aberdeen a strange person? Is he going to eat me or something?”

“That shouldn’t happen… but if he bothers you at all, make sure–”

Bothers? Does he mean hitting on her?

To me, who’s his sister’s friend, who’s already married, and not to mention, the Duchess of Kramer?

He swallowed a sigh before adding.

“No, why can’t I just take you there?”

His face showed clear displeasure.

Saena remained skeptical.

“If nothing else… I wish you wouldn’t doubt that I worry about you.”

Reading her expression, Constantine added.

“You are my wife and my…”

There seemed to be something more after that, but he swallowed the words.

But ‘wife’ was enough by itself.

Whatever their relationship was, Saena didn’t doubt his sense of responsibility. He was thorough about that one thing.

“That’s right. I now bear the name Kramer.”

“……”

“I understand.”

Now Saena was under his protection and responsibility, and she also had responsibilities and obligations to that name.

“I’ll be careful not to cause any unfortunate incidents, so don’t worry.”

“……”

Constantine’s lips quivered again before closing. She didn’t understand why he kept doing that.

“So I’ll just take the warp gate with Duke Aberdeen’s help.”

“……”

“I don’t want to touch you either.”

Even if it’s just a complaint, at least for now.