Several days passed. This carriage journey was slowly coming to an end. The distant cliffs signifying the northern land were faintly visible in the distance.

As the carriage journey extended, she also became acquainted with Helen’s knights. They occasionally approached the carriage to check on Catherine.

The sound of hooves gradually slowed. Catherine opened the window and poked her head out. Helen seemed like a territory hidden in nature. The vast territory spread out below the cliff was beautiful.

“Aren’t you feeling cramped?”

“We’ll arrive soon, so it’s fine.”

They’ll reach the duchy today.

—Thump!

Suddenly, the carriage shook violently as it entered the northern path. The wind felt colder. As Catherine turned her head from side to side, Brady spoke up in response.

“This is the northern land.”

The knight of House Helen explained instead.

“There are many cliffs at the northern boundary, so you must be careful on your first journey.”

The north had many treacherous cliffs. The carriage moved along the cliff edge. Despite the dizzying hills spreading out below, the knights of House Helen passed the cliffs calmly.

“My lady.”

Lorendis approached the carriage on horseback.

“Get ready. We’ll soon pass through the castle walls.”

“So this is……”

Catherine blinked slowly. Helen’s gate was enormous. A massive fortress embraced the territory. The black and gray walls were uneven yet regular. Catherine carefully examined the outside view through the curtain gap. A large laurel leaf was carved into the castle wall. Then the heavy gate opened.

“This is Helen Castle.”

The fortress surrounding Helen duchy resembled a massive stronghold, and its enormous scale drew a deep gasp of admiration.

“Aah…!”

The gate creaked open as the knights of House Helen arrived. The duchy was overall simple and neat.

Though Lorendis frequently left the territory for war, it was meticulously managed without any gaps. The territory’s people seemed equally at ease. Catherine carefully took in the sight.

“We’ve arrived.”

The carriage stopped in front of a large mansion. Knights in black uniforms paid their respects to Lorendis.

“Your Grace, you’ve arrived?”

“Was everything fine?”

“Yes. Please come inside first, Your Grace.”

Lorendis opened the carriage door and led Catherine outside.

“My lady, pleased to meet you for the first time. I’m Austin, the castle butler.”

“Nice to meet you.”

Catherine only exchanged a brief eye greeting. Perhaps from sitting in the carriage for so long, her legs wobbled.

Ah…… She said she wouldn’t get motion sickness, but traveling by carriage for two days straight was physically exhausting.

Catherine nearly collapsed as soon as she stepped out of the carriage. At that moment, Lorendis grabbed her arm and pulled her up.

“Are you alright?”

Even with support, Catherine stood dazed for a while. The enormous scale felt overwhelming. Catherine muttered to herself.

‘So this is it. The place that will become my grave.’

Lorendis pulled Catherine’s wrist.

“Come this way and stand. I’ll support you.”

As Catherine fumbled to grasp his arm, Lorendis pulled her close and embraced her. Austin smiled slightly and made way for Lorendis.

“Then please come inside, Your Grace. This way, my lady.”

“Welcome, my lady.”

The maids bowed their heads. As Catherine tried to hide behind Lorendis to avoid them, he grabbed her shoulder. His thick grip held her shoulder so she couldn’t hide anywhere.

Austin lowered himself and solemnly announced:

“This is the future mistress of House Helen.”

Austin nodded to the butlers, and they all bowed at once. The maids, seemingly already informed, followed suit with their greetings. Everyone bowed solemnly.

There were no questions. From the moment Lorendis brought Catherine, she was already their honored guest.

A cool breeze wrapped around her body. Perhaps because the wind was harsh, the trees in the northern land had thick trunks and large circumferences.

“The north is cold.”

“The northern wind is indeed biting.”

The large mansion welcomed its visitors. Candles flickered quietly along the walls, and a red carpet covered the floor.

“It’s magnificent.”

As Catherine took in the northern scenery, Lorendis quietly instructed the maids.

“That’s enough, you may leave.”

“Then we’ll see you at mealtime.”

The head maid led the maids away. Lorendis was still in his armor.

“I’ll show you around the mansion myself.”

This is where Catherine would live for a year after the wedding. Perhaps due to the northern terrain, there were many heating devices to trap warmth inside.

Inside, wooden stairs made from trees that only grew in Helen territory extended upward, and above them, a chandelier brightly illuminated the lobby.

The windows were carved with different patterns, and the mansion was decorated with goddess and angel statues that seemed to belong in mythology.

“Is it allowed to have such decorations when this isn’t the imperial palace?”

“They’re all war trophies. The advisors and butlers suggested displaying a few, but now I can’t remember where they came from.”

Catherine turned pale and fumbled with her lips. He was called a war hero, but how long must he have wandered battlefields to not even remember where the trophies decorating his mansion came from?

They were all valuable items. From crowns studded with large and small jewels to porcelain and various crafts, the glass display cases were filled with them.

As Lorendis passed through the corridor, the servants bowed their heads automatically. Their demeanor clearly showed who the master of this castle was.

“Your room is prepared on the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

“Since strangers might make you uncomfortable, I’ll send up only a few selected maids.”

In the book, Lorendis was described as a cold-blooded man without any consideration, but the current Lorendis seemed like a host offering minimal courtesy.

“The room is this way.”

The door opened. A graceful room unfolded. A warm-colored canopy embraced the bed, and a fluffy carpet covered the floor. A fireplace crackled in one corner. On another wall, dark brown curtains fluttered in the breeze.

“Are all these things in this room also war trophies……”

“Most are trophies, but larger items are gifts bestowed by His Majesty. Like that map.”

A map of the empire hung on one wall. The empire had expanded its territory through conquest wars for a long time, and the map captured all that vast territory. As Catherine pointed at the frame with a small exclamation, Lorendis spoke beside her.

“This will be your room from now on, and the maids attending you will wait in the next room, so call them if you need anything.”

No matter how detached she tried to be, some things were hard to remain detached from.

‘So this is what reality feels like.’

She had anticipated this future. But when something she had only imagined in her head became reality, it felt strange.

Lorendis’s dry gaze turned to Catherine. His black eyes settled deeply, and Catherine fidgeted, avoiding his gaze.

They say his emotions gradually dulled from wandering battlefields for so long…… Lorendis’s gaze was particularly cold and desolate.

“I’ll leave you alone to rest. Being alone might be better for you right now.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Those black eyes slowly examined Catherine. Lorendis left the room, and only then was Catherine left alone.

Catherine carefully scanned the room. A full-length mirror stood against one wall. She walked up to it and fiddled with her nape. The bedroom curtains fluttered as sunlight streamed in, settling on the mirror. Her reflection appeared unusually pale.

“I’m pale.”

The curtains fell again, and that pale complexion was buried under shadows. Catherine fumbled with her soft cheeks.

“I really…… lost weight.”

They say she dies suddenly after a year, so she must be sickly. Still, should she meet a doctor once?

It would be better to get an outsider for painkillers and various medicines.

Not the castle physician. The castle physician is Lorendis’s person. And Catherine has no intention of forcibly extending this life through treatment.

“Let’s live ordinarily and comfortably before departing.”

* * *

For now, her first impression of Helen Castle was fairly ordinary. She had imagined it to be cold, but the Helen duchy she saw while passing through the castle walls was generally relaxed and mild.

“It’s not a bad place to live.”

Catherine sat at the table and carefully recalled her plans for the future. First, she needed to review the overall plot of this book.

Catherine dies young, and Lorendis remarries 10 years after that. That’s the beginning of this story.

‘Even then, he didn’t marry the female protagonist out of love. It was a marriage worse than a political one.’

Lorendis had his reasons; at the time, he was under pressure from the emperor.

Even after 10 years without a proper mistress in House Helen, Lorendis finally brought in a contract wife due to the emperor’s nagging.

“Why did he remarry so late, after 10 years……”

Of course, what happens afterward isn’t important to Catherine. She’ll die in a year, so she just needs to live comfortably before departing. When Lorendis remarries, Catherine will be gone. Why worry about others when she has limited time?

“To live comfortably for that year, should I cut what needs to be cut and let go of what needs to be let go?”

Catherine carefully made her plans. From now on, her task is the process of ending this life. That process was satisfying in its own way.

The freedom of letting go of life—the refreshing sensation of relinquishing everything—was not just invigorating but liberating.

When the time comes, she’ll leave everything behind. A life that will end in a year—she’ll enjoy this short life comfortably for a while and depart quietly.

“Still, I should put things in order.”

Catherine took out a note and scribbled with a pen. She needed to organize what to cut and what to let go. Cutting family ties was the beginning. And she should meet a doctor from outside once.

What else is there?

“My lady, are you there?”

Someone knocked on the door.

“Who is it?”

“Hello. I’m Nancy, the maid temporarily assigned to attend to you. May I come in?”

Catherine hid the note in the drawer and opened the door. Nancy blinked a couple of times in surprise when the door opened.

“I could have opened the door for you!”

“What is it?”

“I’ve brought some light refreshments.”

Catherine acknowledged vaguely and sat at the table. It was tea to accompany scones. Warm steam rose gently. Even while setting down the plate, Nancy glanced at Catherine, observing her reactions.