Lorendis deliberately held back his words. After contemplating several times what to say next, he added a few more words.

“Do you want me to buy anything on my way back from the capital? Let me know what you need, and I’ll get it. I heard it’s common to bring something back.”

“It’s not like you’re trying to appease a crying child with a gift……”

Lorendis frowned and chided Catherine.

“I’m trying to make up.”

“Were we fighting?”

“If you’re upset, I should appease you, shouldn’t I?”

He’s really treating me like a child. Catherine smiled faintly but then erased that expression. There was nothing to make up for. We never fought in the first place. We were just extremely insensitive and indifferent to each other.

Catherine stared at Lorendis and pondered deeply.

“Please buy me a cake from a famous bakery. I heard there’s a famous place known for carrot cake.”

“Is that all?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll just buy whatever I want.”

Lorendis dismissed her answer, saying he shouldn’t have asked. Catherine savored her tea and smiled lightly. Her long hair flowed down finely. Her fingertips rested on the teacup. So very slender.

“Why, because I asked for cake?”

“You have too little greed. And why ask for just one cake? Why do you have so little material desire?”

Catherine was dumbfounded by his scolding. Am I really being scolded right now? Emerging from her thoughts, Catherine lightly concluded the conversation.

“Just don’t come back too late. I have someone I want to introduce you to later. You should meet that person too.”

Lorendis nodded and replied.

“I won’t be late.”

“Good.”

“Anything else?”

“Would you like to go for a walk with me?”

Pretending not to see. Pretending not to hear. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep distance from each other. And Catherine’s anxiety grows. Lorendis says he has no personal feelings, but a gap between his words and actions has begun to flow.

“We’ve shared a bed, but I don’t remember sharing time with you, Lorendis. Today I want to share that time.”

* * *

After the walk ended, Lorendis and Catherine remained in the empty garden. The garden, from which everyone had left, was quiet, and that silence wrapped around the two.

“I’ve never gone for a walk with you before.”

It was only today that she realized how difficult it was for the two of them to look up at the same sky side by side.

“We can do it together next time.”

“When do you think that next time will come?”

A bewildered expression seeped into his face, but that brief change quickly faded. Lorendis had returned to his usual indifferent expression.

“Another opportunity will come later.”

“You seem cold, but then again not really. It’s hard to read what’s inside you.”

Lorendis laughed briefly and let it pass. Catherine muttered irritably at his lukewarm expression.

“You can pity me. Please feel sorry for me instead.”

“I don’t pity you. At least not now.”

“Why not?”

“Don’t think about dying alone while leaving people behind.”

She thought his fierce personality might soften if she received at least some pity, but it all failed. Lorendis maintained his silence. He stood lost in thought for a while, then looked down at Catherine intently. Catherine felt tightly bound under his gaze.

‘You’re strange.’

Something kept bothering her. That strange feeling didn’t fade but grew deeper.

“Can you tell me about the doctor you saw outside? I’m not trying to pry, but I’d like to ask how you came to meet him.”

Lorendis took out a handkerchief from his uniform pocket, wiped his hands, and put it back. That series of actions flowed naturally.

His pupils darkened. It could be due to the evening darkness, or perhaps he had been looking at Catherine with such eyes from the beginning.

“I wanted to receive treatment privately, so I looked around quietly.”

“Then did you get that medicine prescribed outside too?”

Why is he asking about that? Catherine carefully nodded. Since they had already discussed this before, Lorendis acknowledged it and moved on.

As if it was a final confirmation, Lorendis took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. Catherine watched his back from a slight distance.

‘He was strange before, but he’s especially strange today.’

Lorendis muttered quietly.

“It’s not really any other emotion.”

“Pardon?”

“I was just a bit annoyed because you mentioned divorce so easily. Let’s just leave it at that.”

That statement was even more puzzling. This was as far as incomprehensible talk would go. As they walked past the garden path, Lorendis stubbed out his cigarette on the ground. The cigarette fire went out faintly with a few taps, and Lorendis turned his shoe.

His thick fingers dug into the hem of her dress. The lace wrapped around his hand, creating a sensual image.

“I thought you only made that expression when refusing to talk about divorce, but you make it at times like this too.”

“……That’s too much.”

Her face, tinged with embarrassment, turned red. A chill ran down her spine as his rough fingertips brushed against her skin. As her legs weakened and she staggered, Lorendis firmly gripped her thigh with his large hand.

“This violates etiquette.”

“You bring up etiquette when it’s disadvantageous to you, but Helen has its own laws. There’s no such etiquette here.”

The initial sense of pressure and elegance she felt fades away. Instead, a primal intensity filled that space.

“Helen is relatively free from etiquette. Being close to the border, everyone’s temperament is rougher.”

His rough hand brushed her lips. The sensation was heavy rather than light. His finger seemed to touch the tip of her tongue. A bitter taste spread.

It feels strange. Like I’m peeking into the innermost thoughts of someone who’s just sitting there by poking them.

“Don’t make it so difficult. Being within reach isn’t such a big deal. It’s not something to deeply contemplate or find challenging.”

Just reach out your hand and touch, that’s the end of it.

“We’ll continue living like this from now on.”

His lips descended. Lorendis bit his upper lip and inserted his tongue into her mouth. Supporting her slender nape with his large hand, he entwined his tongue more deeply. Can’t breathe, can’t breathe.

Saliva pooled in her mouth, filled with traces of him. And when he lowered his eyes and matched her gaze, she instinctively swallowed.

“Mmm……”

“Will you be alright alone?”

She nodded her head.

“You’re not a child, you should answer properly.”

“You can go. You’ve been away often anyway.”

I’m sorry about that. Lorendis answered smoothly and wiped his lips.

“Then that’s fine.”

We ended it blandly. Lorendis said there were no personal feelings in this marriage and that it was just a contract formed by mutual interests.

While that might have hurt a little at first, it doesn’t anymore. The one who now wished for it to end that way was Catherine.

* * *

“I’ll leave Brady behind, so ask him for anything you need. Some of the knights will enter the palace with me.”

The day of Lorendis’s departure arrived, and Catherine came out to see him off. Mounted on a large warhorse, Lorendis exuded an overwhelming presence.

“Don’t live like an earthworm.”

That comment goes back to a few days ago. When she had lazed around lying on the grass, he had cursed, ‘Is your body an earthworm or something?’ He had even asked why she was moping around alone pathetically without a mat or blanket.

At first, she had jokingly told him to shut his mouth, but later it became serious.

“Have a safe trip.”

“You seem desperate to let me go.”

Lorendis clicked his tongue, seemingly not in the best mood.

“You look sick to your stomach.”

“I feel queasy thinking about seeing that old man again.”

Brady would faint if he heard this. A person who received a message from the imperial family and was going there, referring to an imperial elder as “that old man” and complaining about it being bothersome…. This was only possible in Helen; in the capital, such words could cost one’s head.

“Invite some guests too.”

“You’re acting like someone who really doesn’t want to go. Why are you hesitating?”

Lorendis, who had been standing still, answered.

“I hate it.”

“For someone going to receive recognition for their efforts…… I’m worried about the knights’ morale.”

The party departing for the capital was small, consisting of Lorendis and some of his knights. All were dressed lightly.

Watching them, Catherine extended her hand. When she grabbed his clothes with her weak hand and looked up at him, Lorendis patted her head from atop his horse with familiarity.

When the horse snorted and acted up, he stroked its mane with practiced ease. His subordinates quietly watched Lorendis. Lorendis adjusted his grip on the reins and spoke.

“See you later.”

“Be careful……”

Have a safe trip.

Meanwhile, I’ll carefully tie up loose ends here.

First, I’ll separate my fragile sister from mother.