“There seems to be some misunderstanding.”

Lorendis replied in a low voice.

“I meant that it’s a marriage difficult to break easily as various interests are intertwined.”

“……That, it was just a marriage in name anyway. Lorendis, you’ll meet a better woman than me. Your possibilities are truly endless.”

Meet a woman from a better family than the obscure Milden viscountcy. Embracing someone who will soon die from a terminal illness will bring unhappiness for you too.

There’s much she wants to say to Lorendis. Yet Catherine could only stammer and move her lips.

‘His eyes look like they could devour a person.’

Catherine slowly stepped back. This was instinct.

“While I was away on the battlefield……”

His voice settled deeply.

“Were you only thinking about running away from me?”

Something is going wrong. If she brings up divorce here, everything will be overturned. Catherine covered her mouth with her slender fingers. Lorendis frowned. It felt like he had read her entire mind.

“While I was ending the war, you were primarily thinking about divorce.”

“If the duke just finished the war, everything according to my wishes……”

Catherine trailed off and avoided his gaze. Lorendis pointed this out.

“Lorendis. I told you to call me by my name, so why do you keep reverting to formal titles? And why do you keep avoiding my eyes? Even though we are in a contractual relationship, remember that we are still a married couple who went through a wedding ceremony.”

“I’m sorry. Lorendis, I’m just asking you to fulfill the contract as promised.”

Listening to Lorendis’s words makes her feel like a terrible person. As if she’s rejecting our past as a married couple and pretending not to know. That’s not what I meant.

She’s still staying in Helen under Helen’s name. Then it’s right to act according to Helen’s ways.

“I was rash.”

Catherine scratched her head and apologized to Lorendis first.

“I know you’ve worked hard. That’s why I wanted to say ‘good job’ and ‘thank you for coming back safely’ first. The order of my words got mixed up.”

Lorendis spoke languidly.

“There’s still half a year left in the contract period, and Helen is not a frivolous family. Unlike those light-hearted families who casually mention divorce and get divorced before even a year of marriage has passed, we’re different.”

While saying it’s a marriage without love.

While saying it’s enough if our interests align.

“Helen meets only one partner for a lifetime. Looking at only one wife for a lifetime is what it means to be Helen’s master. Yet considering that, you speak of divorce too easily.”

A growling roar is heard. Though his teeth are hidden, sharp claws remain. If his mood twisted even slightly, it seemed like he would scratch her with those claws. Protect the body…… This was a survival instinct.

“His Majesty sent a message. As soon as the knights get enough rest, we’ll depart for the capital, so keep that in mind.”

* * *

The office door closed. Lorendis removed his armor and called for the butler.

“You called for me?”

“Bring the physician discreetly.”

The butler asked, turning pale.

“Are you unwell somewhere?”

“I have something to ask about my wife. So call him quietly.”

The office was located in the center of the main castle. As the butler went to call Dr. Dennis, Lorendis examined the table.

The table was full of reports to be sent to the imperial palace. Still, there were no urgent matters that needed immediate attention. As Lorendis curiously examined the office desk, aide Brady cleared his throat and explained.

“The lady has handled it instead. She’s a very capable person.”

“My wife?”

“Yes. I didn’t think we would receive such great help, but we were fortunate.”

It was as Brady said. Despite leaving the ducal castle vacant for nearly half a year, the work proceeded flawlessly. Thanks to having a capable aide, work usually flows smoothly, but this time it was like a flowing river. Work progressed seamlessly without any obstacles.

“So, did my wife fare well?”

“The lady also did well. However…… she was like a wildflower. A wildflower that could be abandoned at any moment. Everyone knows the wildflower is there, but they don’t feel its presence. Like something that wouldn’t feel strange even if it disappeared soon…… Do you know that feeling?”

Everyone knows his wife is there. While assuming she’s naturally in that place, her presence is too faint.

Lorendis agreed with that feeling. She had a subtle presence, which he might have sensed from the first time they met.

‘That desolate feeling was especially so.’

His wife neither stood out particularly nor was she bothersome, and she got along well among people.

“What about Dr. Dennis?”

“I’ve called him, so he’ll be here soon.”

Dr. Dennis knocked on the office door after receiving Lorendis’s call. As the aide opened the door, Dennis prostrated himself flatly before Lorendis, sweating profusely.

“You called for me, Your Grace!”

Lorendis frowned while uncomfortably touching the collar of his uniform.

“Bring the medical records.”

“Are you unwell somewhere?”

“Not me. My wife. Bring my wife’s medical records. I need to check them right now.”

Dr. Dennis wiped the cold sweat on his gown while rubbing his hands.

Helen’s knights are famous for their strength. Lorendis also grew up well from a young age without minor injuries. Thanks to growing up healthily without even a common cold, the physician also lived very comfortably in the ducal castle. He was at the point where personal research was more active than personal treatment.

Dr. Dennis quickly paid his respects and took out the medical records. While Lorendis checked the medical records, Dr. Dennis reported Catherine’s physical condition that he had been diagnosing.

“The lady has a very weak constitution. There won’t be such a delicate constitution in the world. She often complains of cold symptoms, not to mention fatigue, and I wonder if there’s another person in the world so lethargic……”

“She complains of cold symptoms even under Helen’s protection?”

“I suppose it’s because her constitution is so weak.”

Dr. Dennis replied that it was quite possible.

“Did she fall ill often during her stay?”

“I’m not sure. The lady isn’t someone who would say she’s sick even if she is, is she? Perhaps she’s wary of me……”

“Have you asked my wife?”

“Just, Your Grace should subtly ask her later. It’s largely because the lady hasn’t properly adapted to Helen. Isn’t it all because Your Grace held the wedding ceremony and then left for the battlefield?”

Once Dr. Dennis started speaking, he recited words continuously. Aide Brady subtly gestured, ‘You should stop there,’ but Dr. Dennis was unconcerned.

“Please visit the clinic with the lady, Your Grace. Then, I will thoroughly examine her body even if it requires detailed tests.”

“Has my wife been avoiding examinations so far?”

“That’s not the case. But she’s not proactive either. While Helen’s knights are all like iron, ordinary noble ladies would seek a doctor even for minor ailments. But the lady is not like that.”

Dr. Dennis answered calmly.

It’s as if she’s avoiding me.

“I’ll bring her to the clinic later.”

“The lady might refuse.”

I just have that feeling.

* * *

Catherine bit her lips repeatedly. Anxiety wells up. She doesn’t know where this anxiety comes from. It’s just intuition. Since Lorendis arrived, the intuition that something would go wrong sharply pierced her heart.

“I’ll go for a walk.”

“My lady, at this hour?”

Nancy followed Catherine worriedly. It was early evening. Even though the sun hadn’t set yet, Helen’s cold shouldn’t be taken lightly.

“Where’s Lorendis?”

“He went to the dining hall with the knights. His Grace will probably have dinner at the dining hall and come back. Usually, after small and large battles end, he always spends time with the knights.”

Having ended a long war after half a year, the knights also need time to recover from travel fatigue. Then will Lorendis be late today? If he went to the dining hall with the knights, he’ll probably drink.

“Then he’ll be late today.”

“No. I’ve already sent the knights ahead and I’m on my way back.”

A familiar voice echoed throughout the corridor. A low bass. Lorendis called Catherine calmly.

“Catherine.”

The name was familiar yet strange. How long has it been since she was called by her name? Everyone had been calling Catherine only as ‘my lady’ and had almost forgotten her name. His voice, lowered as if scanning the floor, carried a bluntness.

“Why are you suddenly calling me by name……”

His solemn voice spreads. Lorendis walks over with heavy steps and narrows the distance. Then he stopped abruptly in front of Catherine. The distinctive heavy sound of sensible shoes also gradually subsided.

‘It’s dangerous.’

Catherine took two steps back.

“Why are you here?”

“Do you know what I saw today?”

Goosebumps rose on her nape.

“I saw your medical records.”

“Why that……!”