“Dan.”

Soon, Katrina also answered with his nickname.

Before she lost her hearing, she had never called him like this, but recently, at her husband’s suggestion, she too began calling him simply “Dan.”

“I like it when you call me that.”

He murmured, almost like a whisper.

This was a line he didn’t need to pronounce slowly for her to understand—it was something he had repeated dozens of times in the same situations.

At some point, Daniel had developed the habit of using the same sentences whenever similar moments occurred. It was to make things easier for his wife, who was still clumsy with lip-reading despite practicing.

And since he was diligent by nature, he wanted her to at least relax a little when she was with him, instead of constantly training.

After the explosion, when Katrina permanently lost her hearing, she cut off all social activities. That had already been a year ago.

Of course, that in itself was not a huge problem.

Katrina, blessed with intelligence, beauty, and her lineage as a daughter of the prestigious wizarding family—the Hereidin Count’s house—had been a prominent figure in society.

For someone so influential to suddenly become powerless was something most noble ladies secretly welcomed.

It was their chance to fill the void she left behind.

But Katrina herself had no regrets. She had only participated in society to secure her husband’s position anyway.

If anything, with communication now nearly impossible, she refrained from going out even more, afraid of becoming a burden.

The problem began when rumors spread that the Empire would establish a duchy in the southern plains of Gnotician and entrust it to the Marquis of Sopore.

Though titled a marquisate, Sopore was practically a frontline defense outpost. Someone had to endure the harsh snowstorms and constant attacks from dark spirits to keep the region under control.

Compared to the splendid natural scenery and rich mineral resources of the Bloodyfield region, the Sopore Canyon was nothing but a troublesome frontier land.

Yet somehow, Daniel’s achievements piled up, and his reputation soared. In no small part thanks to Katrina’s active social engagements in the past.

And the one most unsettled by the Marquis of Sopore’s growing influence was none other than the Archduke of Luminous, the overlord of Bloodyfield.

Then, right at such a time, an unexplained explosion occurred at the marquis’s residence, robbing Katrina of her hearing.

It seemed like their momentum had finally been broken. But suddenly, new rumors spread—that Daniel would become ruler of the new duchy.

Gnotician was the most fertile land in the entire Empire, producing nearly half the Empire’s grain.

There were even whispers that veins of gold ran through its soil and that hidden diamond mines lay beneath.

The Luminous family needed something—anything—to use against them. So they decided to exploit Katrina.

And today, it finally happened.

At the social gathering hosted by the Duchess of Luminous.

***

“Irene.”

Daniel, recalling the events of the past year, suddenly stopped walking and turned back.

The mansion was so vast that even after leaving the carriage and climbing this far, they were only at the central landing. From there, he looked down at the young steward, who was still closer to the first floor.

“Yes, my lord.”

Irene answered while still climbing. A moment later, the two stood face-to-face at the landing.

“I know you care for Katrina more than anyone, and I’m grateful for that. But today, I must ask something of you.”

Daniel spoke in a calm, subdued voice. Only then did Irene realize that he was not reacting as emotionally as she had first thought.

Yes, there was some impatience compared to his usual self. But his steady tone carried no anger or resentment.

The only feelings she could read in him were sorrow and concern—so deep they were impossible to measure.

“Please go back down. I wish to be alone with my wife.”

Though spoken with utmost courtesy, the request was cold—unyielding enough that no one could refuse.

“…Understood, my lord.”

Irene nodded reluctantly. But inwardly, she felt relief at his calm, resolute stance.

Katrina was not one to easily bare her wounded heart, but if it was the Marquis of Sopore, he would quietly listen to her.

Relieved by that very thought, Irene silently turned and left.

Daniel watched her descend the stairs for a moment, then immediately quickened his steps.

Much faster strides now, much more impatient.

In truth, from the moment he had stepped out of the carriage, he had barely restrained the urge to run. He couldn’t possibly show such loss of composure in front of the servants.

But when he finally reached the upper floor, the place was empty.

‘…So she truly wanted to be alone.’

Even so, he could not bring himself to leave her by herself. He was anxious.

For a year now, every single day, he had been consumed by unbearable anxiety.

The explosion had happened in the afternoon while he was in Sopore Canyon, and Katrina was alone in the annex. The exact cause was never discovered—only the suspicion that it had been deliberately set.

Since that day, if possible, he wanted to keep Katrina within his sight at all times.

Confirming that no one was around, Daniel all but ran down the corridor until he reached the study.

The door, surprisingly, stood wide open.

He rushed inside—but no one was there. The room, filled wall to wall with dark wooden furniture and books, was utterly empty.

‘If she’s not in the study, then…’

He steadied the surge of unease in his chest and stepped back out. A mix of anxious dread and faint hope made his heart pound faster.

Realizing he was becoming too agitated, Daniel forced himself to slow down and head toward the bedchamber.

Unlike the study, the bedchamber door was firmly closed. He carefully placed his hand on the knob and turned it.

‘…!’

It wasn’t locked.

He hesitated.

Knocking would be pointless—Katrina could not hear him. But would it be right to simply enter without a word?

‘You… are the one who knows me best in this world.’

After a brief pause, Daniel quietly pushed the door open. He chose to believe that if she had left it unlocked, it was a sign of permission.

As expected, she was inside. The familiar figure of a woman seated before the vanity came into view.

The open window let in a soft breeze that played gently with her waist-length red hair.

He slowly stepped closer, seeking her brown eyes in the mirror. At last, their gazes met, and Katrina turned to look at him.

‘Ha… I knew it…’

Daniel swallowed a sigh that was half a lament.

As he feared, her face showed no tears, no anger, not even weariness—just calm composure.

His heart caved in at the sight, yet he forced a faint smile and walked toward her.

Katrina’s gaze shifted immediately to the paper on the vanity. She picked up a pencil.

It was one of the many pencils Daniel had gifted her, knowing she liked exchanging notes and enjoyed writing.

Though Bloodyfield was known for its mineral wealth, metal nib pens were still far more common, and graphite pencils—usable without ink—were rare.

Even as a marquis, acquiring such a quantity of them had not been easy.

As Katrina absentmindedly touched the wood, she stared at the paper that recorded their past conversations.

『 You don’t have to go, Kat. 』

『I just want to meet people again, not out of obligation.』

『 You know what those people call you. 』

『 The more I hide, the worse the whispers will get. I’ve practiced lip reading a lot, haven’t I? 』

『 That’s the problem—you’ve practiced too much.』

『 …Are you sulking because I practiced late into the night? 』

『 You can tell just from my handwriting, can you? 』

『 No. I saw your face. 』

‘Phew. How foolish…’

Yes, as he said, she didn’t have to go.

But Katrina had doubts. Could she truly avoid it by forcing herself to hide?

If she had been completely unaware, then she wouldn’t have greeted him with such a miserable feeling.

The reason she had locked herself away upstairs right after returning to the marquisate was precisely because of this—knowing everything yet being unable to change anything. She had to endure it foolishly.

‘If I say I went there knowing something might happen… he would probably be even more upset.’

So, she resolved not to say anything, but soon found herself laughing at her naive thoughts.

‘How ridiculous. I can’t even say anything anyway…’

Gathering her emotions, Katrina took out a fresh sheet of paper with a warm hue and placed it over the previous notes. Then she quietly began to move the pencil, inscribing words.

『 Daniel, my love. 』