But whatever, it didn’t matter.

I spread my arms and embraced him.

“I’ll miss you when you leave, Luden.”

I could confess my feelings. But that would put Luden in a difficult position. So I shouldn’t do that. But I could say something like this, right? Since I was his wife.

Then Luden led me over and laid me down on the bed.

“You’ve seduced me properly.”

“Luden?”

“I won’t hold back today.”

‘Wait, hasn’t he been amazing until now?’

When I looked at him with questioning eyes, Luden whispered in my ear.

“Until now, I held back because I thought Annelia would have a hard time.”

Saying that, he took a contraceptive.

“The reins are off today.”

Those were the last rational words Luden spoke. He left kisses on my upper body. Then he touched me deeper and deeper until I couldn’t think straight. I lost my reason too.

When I came to my senses, I was joined with him. He had me for a long time, and intensely. And when morning came, I sighed looking at my trembling legs.

He truly was amazing.

* * *

Kajiian looked at Lorina.

“You want to marry Marquis Charlot?”

Lorina nodded.

“I like the Marquis.”

“Just keep him as a lover instead.”

“I want to do that first, then marry him.”

At Lorina’s words, Kajiian frowned. Hadn’t Luden already refused?

“Why must it be him? There are many good men.”

Then Lorina shook her head.

“There’s no one like him.”

Well, that… Kajiian also knew what Luden looked like, so he closed his mouth. So he just sighed and looked at Lorina.

“Luden doesn’t indulge in women. It won’t be easy.”

At his words, Lorina smiled brightly.

“Mother is on my side, and you’re on my side too, Father. So it’s possible. And no matter how good their relationship is, it’s easy to split two people apart.”

“What are you planning to do?”

“That’s a secret!”

Lorina left the audience chamber with a smile since her father’s permission had been granted. While walking, she ran into Reytan.

“Sister, how are you?”

“It’s been a while. Though I’m not particularly happy to see you.”

At Lorina’s hostility, Reytan smiled slightly.

“We’ll be going to knight training together, so let’s get along.”

Reytan didn’t show his dislike no matter what. Perhaps because of that, Lorina felt more uncomfortable with Reytan than with others. She was speaking so openly, yet he responded like this.

“That won’t happen.”

Lorina said this and turned away.

Lorina wanted to become Emperor. But Kajiian firmly said that was the one thing that couldn’t happen, that she didn’t have the qualities to be a successor. Her father usually listened to her well, but at critical moments, he blocked her. 

That’s why she thought even a younger sibling born to her biological mother, the Empress, should become Emperor. But it seemed Reytan was eyeing that position.

He was an enemy who needed to be eliminated someday. She didn’t want to get along with Reytan.

More than that.

“Should I write a letter first?”

Mother said she would help too, so it was time to slowly start working on this.

* * *

I received a letter. It was a letter stamped with the imperial seal.

“Why did this come here?”

It didn’t say who sent it. I opened the envelope with curiosity.

Inside, it said Lorina had something important to discuss and asked me to come to the imperial palace.

‘Lorina.’

She had come on Luden’s wedding day. I could guess what she wanted to say.

I looked at the letter with sad eyes. If fate had begun, there was no room for me to squeeze in.

“Miss, you don’t look well.”

Lella looked at me with worried eyes.

“It’s nothing. I’m just feeling a bit off.”

I replied that I would visit the imperial palace tomorrow.

Let’s not avoid the approaching fate.

* * *

The next day arrived. I chose neat clothes with the mindset of going to battle. I also wore a modern-feeling hairpin and the ring I wore at the wedding.

This ring gave me comfort. It seemed to say I could still be by Luden’s side.

After briefly telling the maids I was going to the imperial palace, I quickly boarded the carriage.

The carriage was heading to the imperial palace. I passed through the entrance and went to the Empress’s palace where Lorina was. I didn’t know why she asked to meet at the Empress’s palace instead of Rose Palace.

I quickly opened the door and entered.

“Welcome.”

Lorina looked at me and spoke. I greeted Lorina and gripped my skirt.

“I called you to have a cup of tea. I’m curious about some things too.”

At Lorina’s words, I sat down. As soon as I did, Lorina hastily got to the point.

“From what I understand, it’s a political marriage.”

I thought I knew what Lorina was saying. Her eyes were sparkling. At her words hitting the mark, I hesitated for a moment before asking.

“…Did you look into Luden?”

At my question, Lorina nodded.

“That’s right. I like Luden. I want to make him my lover.”

Lover…

Unfortunately, Luden and I had agreed not to take lovers until knight training ended. Fortunately, there wouldn’t be an immediate divorce.

“Luden will refuse.”

“Why are you so confident?”

“Because that’s the condition of our deal.”

I said that and drank my tea. Then Lorina frowned.

“A deal?”

I explained to Lorina step by step.

“Luden and I had a contract marriage.”

“Was there really a need for that?”

“We both needed it.”

Lorina opened and closed her mouth repeatedly, seemingly surprised for a moment.

“Luden and I agreed not to take separate lovers.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

After pondering my words for a while, Lorina asked seriously.

“What will you do if Luden falls in love with me?”

Lorina looked confident.

“He’ll be going to knight training with me. Being together, he might fall for me.”

That’s exactly what happens. I touched my ring. The owner of this ring wasn’t me, but Lorina. I knew that fact all too well. Because I read the novel to the very end.

“Haa.”

Why did I read it? For the first time, I regretted reading that novel.

“If that happens, I’ll have to step back.”

I told Lorina clearly. This was also something I was saying to myself.

“I shouldn’t love Luden. So if that happens, I’ll be able to step back.”

“Right, the Charlot Marquis family is famous for not having two wives.”

Lorina seemed to like Luden even more because of the rules passed down in the Charlot family.

“That was a useful conversation.”

Lorina spoke like she wanted to confirm my feelings.

I finished tea time with Lorina and came out clutching my chest.

My heart hurt so much. I felt like crying.

* * *

“Did you hear that well?”

Luden stood frozen.

The Empress suddenly sent a letter saying she had something important to discuss and to come to the Empress’s palace. And there, he heard the conversation between Annelia and Lorina.

At first, he was just going to leave. But the Empress brought knights and forcibly made him sit and listen. And those words came from Annelia’s mouth.

“I shouldn’t love Luden. So if that happens, I’ll be able to step back.”

Why shouldn’t she love him!

Knowing Annelia’s feelings made him angry. And he wanted to immediately grab her as she said she would step back without holding onto him.

She was so frustrating, acting like she would go to another man. Annelia was far too unaware of his feelings.

Luden looked at the Empress.

“It seems Princess Lorina covets the place beside me.”

Luden spoke coldly to the Empress.

“Seeing you do something like this.”

When he desperately asked for help, she turned away.

At Luden’s cold gaze, the Empress flinched for a moment. This was meant to drive a wedge between Annelia and Luden, but it seemed to have the opposite effect.

“I will never divorce Annelia.”

Luden said firmly and left the room.

It was true he was disappointed in Annelia for trying not to love him. But he had absolutely no intention of letting her go.

* * *

I was exhausted and fell asleep for a while. But in my sleep, it felt like someone was touching my cheek. It was so warm that I wanted to cry for a moment.

When I opened my eyes, it was evening.

‘I want to have dinner with Luden…’

I got up and called Lella. I felt like I needed to prepare to have a meal with Luden. But when I went to his office, only Andre was there.

“Ah, well. The Marquis suddenly left on a long business trip.”

“A long business trip?”

I was surprised at those words.

“He seemed to worry a lot today, then said he was leaving on a long trip.”

“When will he return?”

“It will take at least three weeks.”

I wouldn’t be able to see him for a long time. After returning from the trip, he would have to leave immediately for knight training.

I sank into my seat for a moment.

“Lady Annelia!”

Lella called my name.

“It’s nothing.”

Why did Luden leave? Meeting Lorina on the wedding day weighed on my mind.

“Haa.”

I wanted to be with him just a little longer. Fate didn’t leave me alone like that.

* * *

Three weeks passed. But Luden didn’t return. It was the same even on the evening before he was supposed to leave for knight training.

I waited alone in Luden’s room, then returned to my room and fell asleep. But I felt a small presence and opened my eyes to see a man.

“Who is it?”

“It’s me.”

It was Luden’s voice. Since it was a voice I heard after so long, I felt like crying.

“Luden, you came back safely. I was worried because you were so late.”

My voice was trembling.

“Were you worried about me?”

“Of course.”

But he seemed colder than before.

And the scent from his body. It was a strong wine scent. He seemed to have drunk a lot.

“Annelia.”

He kissed me intensely. Since he was expressing his intention to have me, I pushed him away for a moment. His sudden attitude was bewildering.

“Don’t refuse.”

He said that and began to have me.

Tender touches continued. Connected with him, I sobbed while tasting pleasure.

“Annelia, keep the contract.”

But at those last words, my heart grew cold.

Did he leave because of Lorina? Was he saying this because he saw her and fell for her?

“Don’t worry.”

Luden smiled with satisfaction.

The pleasure continued.

* * *

Luden looked at Annelia sleeping soundly. He held her until dawn, so she couldn’t wake up.

She asked him to wake her before leaving, but he didn’t want to wake her.

Luden went downstairs and opened the door to the bedroom where his mother was. Anan inside looked up.

“Are you leaving?”

“I’ll return safely.”

“Leave things here to Annelia and me.”

At Anan’s words, Luden smiled bitterly.

Since she said she would keep the contract, she wouldn’t meet other men. He just needed to return safely. After three years passed, he would return and capture Annelia’s heart.

Even if he couldn’t capture it, he would use any means necessary to prevent her from falling for another man. That was the conclusion he reached.

His feelings for Annelia were immense. That’s why he had no intention of letting her go, even if it killed him.

“I’m leaving.”

Luden greeted Anan and walked down the corridor. He had to take a carriage to where knight training was held.

He hoped Annelia would miss him even a little. Luden thought that.

* * *

I opened my eyes.

I was startled to see the sun high in the sky and bolted upright, but my legs hurt and I couldn’t move. Yesterday Luden kept going without stopping, so my legs had no strength.

“My lady, you’re awake?”

Lella looked at me and spoke.

“Where’s Luden?”

“The Marquis has left.”

At Lella’s words, I felt sad.

In the end, I couldn’t even say goodbye. When Luden finished knight training and returned, this relationship would probably end too.

I looked at my hands. I wanted to have Luden’s child, but since he used contraception until yesterday, that possibility disappeared.

I clenched my fists.

I needed to start thinking about life after separating from Luden. That way, even if I separated from him later, I could live alone.

For now, let’s rest and think tomorrow. I laid my tired body on the bed like that. The words Luden said echoed in my ears.

‘I’ll keep the contract.’

I murmured that and closed my eyes.

That’s how he and I separated.