“It’s Miss Selena.”

“Who?”

“Lady Selena Soppen, His Grace’s childhood friend.”

Lorendis had his eyes closed, saying he was tired, and only Catherine pushed aside the curtain to look outside. Lorendis frowned slightly as if the light bothered him.

“That’s enough, let’s go.”

Golden hair shimmered beyond the window. A short distance from the carriage, that noble figure was clearly visible even from that distance. The pale yellow dress with a parasol, along with her white skin and the faint smile on her lips.

Selena…… Soppen. It was a familiar name. Soppen, where was Soppen from? Was it a famous family in the capital? As she pulled out that memory, she vaguely remembered.

‘Selena Soppen.’

She’s Lorendis’s childhood friend who he would remarry ten years after Catherine’s death.

“We’ve exchanged greetings, that’s enough. Let’s go.”

A blurry impression with a detached appearance. Being from the Soppen family, they’re quite powerful, but for someone from that family, she has a quiet impression.

“This is the townhouse right ahead.”

The capital’s townhouse was a building made of dark blue marble. Like Helen’s laurel castle, passing through the laurel-shaped gate, the mansion revealed itself. Black granite displayed its grandeur from the entrance of the mansion.

* * *

It might be trivial or nothing special, but a small problem had arisen. Since she had just heard about staying overnight for the first time today…….

“I don’t have my medicine.”

She hadn’t brought her suppressants or painkillers. She remembered what Dr. James had said during his last visit. Despite saying he didn’t want to come directly, Dr. James had packed medicine containers from Hanra Clinic and visited the Helen mansion several more times.

Just like before, he took out painkillers and suppressants and poured them onto the table. He had distinguished the medicine bottles by attaching red and blue labels, with suppressants being more numerous.

‘If you want to die even a little later, take the suppressants without fail.’

Though his reputation hit rock bottom after being expelled from academia, his sense of responsibility wasn’t bad. His speech might be rough, but that’s probably because he lived in the shadows. Back then, she had only stayed at the mansion and barely listened…….

“Is it okay to skip for a few days?”

The Helen townhouse was serene and antique. Though smaller than the laurel castle, it was filled with an old-fashioned charm that had a unique dreamlike quality.

The mansion had spare indoor clothes prepared. The touch of maids could be felt throughout the mansion.

The capital is where the heirs of the empire’s powerful families gather. From the exterior of the mansion to the interior facilities, everything that meets people’s eyes becomes subject to evaluation. That’s the exhausting nature of the capital, and Lorendis lay down in the bedroom with a tired expression.

“This is……”

“There’s only one master bedroom. Just sleep here.”

To be honest, Lorendis and Catherine hadn’t shared a bed since their first night together. Due to Lorendis being busy with war spoils and post-war cleanup, Catherine had mostly been alone. Now, this scene was happening for the first time in half a year.

“If you go sleep in the guest room, it’s enough for one day before it reaches the ears of the nobles in the capital. Even though it’s Helen’s townhouse, it’s impossible to control all those eyes and ears.”

There’s no way around the difference between taking control within Helen and control outside it. Helen is his domain, but the capital was the imperial domain.

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

At first, she thought about sleeping in the guest room since it was available. After all, we weren’t close from the beginning.

“If you sleep with me, you’ll be uncomfortable.”

“In Helen, couples sharing the same bedroom isn’t special. We’ll combine bedrooms when we go back, so keep that in mind.”

“You’ve been sleeping alone just fine, haven’t you?”

“That’s because I wasn’t there then, and I’m here now. I told you before. In Helen, couples use the same bedroom, and that’s true even for couples who don’t get along. In Helen, sharing a room is the principle.”

Since she was going to sleep here anyway, it might be better to lay out the bedding. As she gathered the blankets and lay down on the bed, Lorendis leaned against the opposite sofa.

“Are you really going to stay like this with me? You told me to stay out of sight…… If we bump into each other this often, you’ll end up paying more attention to me.”

If we were a normal couple, I’d understand. If we were the model of nobles bound by a political marriage, faithfully fulfilling their responsibilities and obligations to each other, maybe. But I have neither the will nor the luxury for that. You told me not to bother you. You told me not to get in your way.

If you narrow the distance like this, it becomes impossible to escape your sight. Catherine’s expression grew darker, and Lorendis remained calm.

“Things have changed since then.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m concerned about you.”

He dismissed it monotonously. Here, the only one who wanted a divorce was Catherine Helen, her alone.

“You won’t divorce me?”

She had brought it up a few times before, but it remained unfinished. Whenever Catherine brought up divorce, she was blocked by Lorendis. Even now, it seemed too late to discuss divorce.

“I’m curious about something.”

Lorendis poured and drank some liquor. The black liquor bottle contained alcohol with such a high proof that its strong scent reached Catherine sitting across from him.

“Why do you believe I would divorce you?”

“Because that was the contract from the beginning.”

“Don’t you want to continue living like this? Why do you keep talking about the end? Why do you only look at the end?”

Catherine knows too. It’s a contract, but there’s no contract document. That was the most perplexing part. It’s called a contract, but there’s no document or witness to guarantee it.

‘Without a contract document, there’s not even paperwork to notarize it.’

What if Lorendis refuses the divorce? This was something she had anticipated at some point, but it was something Catherine had consciously avoided.

“Let’s talk for a moment, Lorendis. Let’s have a conversation……”

“You talk about how we’re lacking in dialogue while discussing divorce without even fulfilling one year of the period, but actually, you were the one lacking in dialogue.”

Things have been off with this person since our reunion. Are we walking the wrong path now? If we knew where we went wrong and corrected it, that would be good.

I’m about to die soon, so finding a sanatorium after getting divorced should be the priority, where do I have time to sit and persuade this person? Catherine grew increasingly urgent, and Lorendis became increasingly bleak.

“The contract period was one year. Now half a year has passed, and you want to quit because the remaining time is useless to you? You’ve used me up, so now you chew me up and spit me out? Whatever. The period is still valid, so fulfill the contract. Fulfill your duties and responsibilities in Helen.”

“And after that?”

This time too, instead of answering the question, he responded with silence. Later, he stared at Catherine and slightly frowned.

“Are you sick somewhere?”

“No, I’m not……”

I’ve heard that phrase once already, and this is the second time. The first was on the way to the townhouse. Both then and now, his expression remained insensitive.

I’m glad you’re insensitive. Then why do you refuse divorce? Is it just because the contract period remains, is that all?

“Stay in Helen for a year. And if your body is strange, get diagnosed accordingly. I can’t drive out a sick patient.”

“You said you don’t like me.”

“Regardless of that, a one-year contract is a contract.”

There’s still more time left, but will he let me go when that time ends….. This too is unclear.

“Talking with you feels like repeating the same conversation.”

That means our conversation is currently going in circles.

“For people who are going to separate, living so close together……”

“Living close together is possible even without emotions.”

His hand cupped her cheek. Had his hands always been this rough? The thick fingers and firmly embedded calluses felt awkward. Even the calluses on the inside of his palm made her uncomfortable.

She let him be, wondering what he would do.

The scent of skin brushed against her nose. She endured indifferently as he came closer, but her lower eyelids trembled delicately. Lorendis smiled briefly.

“And I will live with you like this.”

This is madness. It’s crazy. Her tender eyes reddened, and her eyelids stung. What is he trying to do with me, what does he want to do…….

“Did you never intend to divorce me from the beginning?”

He doesn’t answer this time either. As she watched him under the blanket, Lorendis’s gaze rested on Catherine.

“When we arrive at Helen, let’s check your body first, and then discuss the next steps afterward.”

The empty crystal glass shattered under his grip. Tsk, his gaze also frowned slightly.

After only wandering battlefields, has his strength become ridiculously good? Catherine’s eyes sank hazily. The day at the townhouse came to an end.