It’s true that Father went missing and died on the battlefield, but he wasn’t the only one who went missing or died on that battlefield. Father was one of many casualties.

Lorendis remained silent for a while before answering belatedly.

“There’s no emotion in this marriage.”

“Ah……”

“There are only interests at stake.”

Of course, emotions aren’t necessarily required for marriage. If interests align well, that’s enough.

Binding each other through mutual benefits is a form of contractual act, and this marriage arrangement is no different. Once she fulfills the one-year contract period and prepares to leave, Catherine’s duty will end there.

So there’s no need to be surprised by Lorendis’s words.

* * *

Early in the morning, a maid announced an unexpected visitor.

“Miss, a seamstress has arrived. Madam Nicole and her apprentice James, they say.”

“The names sound familiar……”

Catherine recalled her visit to the shadows a few days ago. She had requested an illegal house call medical service, and a week had passed since the appointment at Hanra Clinic. That means it’s time for Dr. James and Nicole to come.

‘I’d rather sleep more.’

Everything in the world is annoying. How nice would it be to spend the rest of her life just breathing? But life isn’t that easy.

The Helen ducal mansion these days had hundreds of visitors daily. All were guests invited for wedding preparations. And these visitors had come from a very long way.

“Madam, please pay your respects. This is Catherine, the future mistress of the Helen family.”

A man and woman in sophisticated formal wear approached. It was Dr. James and his assistant Nicole. Dr. James had taken off his shabby gown and wore a white shirt with black formal pants, but he wore his hat low, covering his face.

“I am Madam Nicole. This is my assistant, James.”

“They said at the entrance that you personally found this seamstress. Are they familiar faces?”

Catherine nodded slightly. They’re not seamstresses but doctors from Hanra Clinic, but they are indeed familiar faces.

Dr. James held his waist and made a faint ‘ugh-‘ sound. Having only done research in the clinic, his back must have become hunched. As he groaned holding his waist, it naturally evoked sympathy.

What to do. Catherine couldn’t hide her dismay.

“Everyone leave.”

Nicole stood touching her fluffy curly hair. They waited until not only the reception room was empty but also the corridor. Then, Catherine rubbed her forehead.

“Do you have two lives? I told you to send only Nicole, didn’t I?”

“I don’t exactly carry spares. I came urgently because it’s right to deliver the test results in person. Damn it. My back hurts so I can’t walk around for long.”

Dr. James answered indifferently as he scanned the diagnosis.

“It is poison. Salsa poison was found in your blood. I only recognized it because it’s me, and I only brought the suppressant because it’s me, so be grateful.”

James took out medicine and a diagnosis from his chest and handed over the diagnosis first. He had circled “positive” for salsa poisoning reaction.

James took out various things from his chest, and as if the dress hem was getting in the way, he shook something out of his chest while flailing his arms. Red and blue medicine bottles tumbled out. At James’s gesture, Nicole took something wrapped in a medicine envelope from her chest and placed it on the table.

“This is the poisonous herb called salsa.”

When the medicine envelope was opened, a beautifully packaged herb with red flowers was inside. Pretty…… but they say it’s poisonous. The petals were round, and it gave off a fragrant scent like wildflowers. It seemed as if sweet honey had been applied to the flower.

“It smells nice.”

“The scent itself isn’t harmful. You won’t get poisoned just by touching or smelling it.”

It’s a scent I’ve smelled often somewhere. A sweet and slightly bitter scent.

Where did I smell it? It’s familiar. The scent spread subtly as if I were in a flower garden.

“They say salsa becomes more toxic when dried. But because it smells good, it’s easy to mistake it for something edible.”

Then Nicole took out dried salsa petals and held them out.

When the red petals are dried, they give off a subtle fragrant scent…… Yes. This was a familiar tea leaf.

“Do you recognize where you’ve seen it?”

“It’s the flower tea Mother used to prepare for me at home.”

The sweet and slightly bitter scent was really nice. It was the flower tea my stepmother often brewed at the residence, and when the petals were added, the tea water turned red.

It’s what my stepmother served me, claiming she had developed a hobby of collecting flower teas. Only when drinking flower tea did we interact like any mother and daughter. In fact, I preferred that silence……

“The color was really pretty.”

There’s warm tea water right now too. Catherine floated the petals in the tea water.

“At first I thought I was dying without knowing why, but it’s fortunate that I know the reason now. Salsa, huh. If I had known a little earlier, could I have survived?”

“Customer?”

“It’s a pointless assumption now. But if I had unraveled the story before my death in more detail rather than the story after my death, would things have been different from now? Then maybe the ending would have changed.”

Since I’ve given up being a good daughter, Father will understand even if I become an unfilial child now. Mother, I’m about to leave, so I have nothing to fear.

“Even if you’re about to die, I’ll help you live without pain. I can do that much for you. Keep the medicine bottles safe. This is medicine that can’t even be compounded at other medical centers.”

James handed over suppressants and painkillers, explaining each bottle. The red bottle seemed to contain suppressants, and the blue bottle painkillers.

“You’re quite thorough.”

“What’s so difficult about compounding one measly medicine? I’ll send more medicine when you run out. Take it moderately!”

Why is he angry? He shouted loudly and stuffed everything from painkillers that work well when in pain to digestive aids and nutritional supplements into the drawer. Then he yelled again, This is a painkiller! This is a digestive aid! This is a nutritional supplement!

* * *

Catherine leaned against the bench, basking in the warm, lazy sunlight. She felt no strong attachment to her terminal life, having already relinquished it. Attachments only tend to hold one back, and giving up was easier than clinging to the desire to continue living. So, she let everything go and allowed time to flow as it would.

The maids worried about Catherine. As she became too quiet and lost vitality, the maids’ concerns grew.

‘Are you feeling unsettled with the wedding approaching?’

‘Do you miss your family home?’

The concern is appreciated but all wrong. Catherine is just a bit tired and needs rest alone.

‘It’s fleeting.’

Life comes briefly and leaves briefly. Then, one’s thinking naturally becomes simple and straightforward. The maids tried to comfort Catherine, each adding a word.

“It will be the most beautiful day of your life.”

“Why does the new bride look so gloomy before her wedding?”

Nancy soothed Catherine, who looked gloomy. Next to her was the wedding dress. And rose petals were scattered around the dress.

It means to walk only on a path of flowers. Scattering rose petals around the wedding dress was a Helen marriage custom.

The wedding dress was ready, and the wedding preparations were almost complete. But Catherine remained detached.

“Why are you so detached?”

“Well. Because the sunlight is nice?”

“You just sleep here even when the sunlight is bad. Why not take a walk instead?”

“Later. I want to rest like this for now.”

While the maids were busy running around preparing for the wedding, the couple maintained a calm indifference. They spent time separately, not seeking each other out.

Even though the wedding date was set hastily, the couple avoided each other even before the ceremony. The maids expressed regret at this, and Catherine pretended not to hear and changed the subject.

“Is Lorendis busy today too?”

“He’s in his office all day preparing for the departure ceremony.”

Lorendis has been so busy lately that it’s hard to even see his face, and meanwhile, the butler burned with enthusiasm to teach Catherine the history of Helen. I’m sorry.

‘I’d be happy just to breathe.’

Catherine leaned sideways against the bench, simply receiving a massage. She didn’t have the strength to lift a finger anyway. Fortunately, the nutritional supplements from Dr. James were effective. She had been taking supplements from Hanra Clinic recently, and they seemed to be working well. The maids must have noticed too, as they smiled and chatted.

“Your complexion has improved.”

Nancy also said Catherine’s complexion had improved. Her skin and hair had become softer, and her color was better. Can a single nutritional supplement make this much difference in the body? This body must have been quite a mess.

“Why not contact your personal physician at this opportunity?”

Catherine stiffened. Why bring up a personal physician here? Catherine’s terminal condition is still a secret in Helen. So she vaguely avoided the topic.

“Why a personal physician?”

“Even though your complexion has brightened, you tire easily and sleep a lot. I’m worried you might be sick somewhere.”

Catherine awkwardly covered her cheek.

“I’m not sick.”

“Should I inform His Grace?”

Being in the position of hiding her illness made her even more startled. Catherine looked up at the clear sky and stretched out her hand.

“Later.”

“Y-yes, I understand.”

Now that she’s decided to leave, strangely, people around her seem to be getting closer. It feels like the world is grabbing her ankles when she’s trying to let go without regrets. Unable to describe the feeling in just a few words, she felt unsettled for no reason.

Even on the day before the wedding, we spent our time separately. This marriage arrangement is just a means. A means should be treated only as a means. Just as Catherine is a marriage tool for Lorendis, it’s the same for Catherine. So, it’s okay.