Chapter 2.3

The warm midday sunlight tickled Serena’s face. She frowned at the bright light and slowly sat up.

‘My body feels lighter.’

Yesterday’s fever felt like a mirage; her body was lighter than ever. Someone must have changed her sweat-soaked clothes, for her skin felt clean and dry.

‘It’s all thanks to Sir Johannes.’

Even in her hazy state last night, she knew he had cared for her. Without his devoted attention, the fever might have lasted for days.

“Strangely, my lips feel tingly.”

Serena touched her plump, swollen red lips.

There was no reason for her lips to have been touched during nursing.

Serena’s lips were swollen as if someone had been rubbing them all night.

“Madam, you’re awake!”

Her maid from her family home, Anna, greeted her loudly. She hurried over, grabbed Serena’s hand, and looked as if she might cry.

“You have no idea how worried I was. Madam, your fever didn’t go down until after midnight.”

“I see. I caused a lot of trouble for everyone.”

“His Grace the Duke cared for you until dawn… Oh, this isn’t the time! You need to eat right away.”

The master had instructed not to say anything that might burden Madam.

Anna quickly covered her mouth and changed the subject. Serena seemed curious but didn’t ask further.

“The master told me to make sure you eat and take your medicine.”

Feeling his kindness, Serena finished her meal cleanly and swallowed the bitter medicine in one go.

‘He really is a kind person.’

Even though her husband was away, she felt his presence all day and was treated with the utmost care. Even the servants she’d never seen before served her skillfully.

Serena heard that her husband Johannes, despite being newlywed, was out again today handling affairs at the Imperial Palace.

By evening, Serena headed to the entrance hall to greet her husband as he returned from work. She wanted to thank him and had something she wished to tell him.

“Madame!”

Johannes, entering the mansion, called out warmly to his wife waiting for him.

But at the same time, his face hardened. He remembered his wife suffering from a high fever just the day before.

“You must not have fully recovered yet. Why aren’t you resting?”

“I’ve recovered a lot, thanks to you. Thank you so much.”

When the usually quiet Serena gave him a rare, beautiful smile, Johannes smiled as well. He took Serena’s small hand and led her to the marital bedroom.

“I heard you cared for me until dawn. I’m truly grateful.”

Serena lifted her gaze slightly to look into Johannes’s eyes.

“I caused you so much trouble on our wedding night.”

“As I said yesterday, it’s a husband’s duty to care for his sick wife. It’s not trouble at all.”

Johannes smiled gently and lightly stroked Serena’s cheek. His eyes were filled with affection as he looked down at his wife.

As the two drew close enough to feel each other’s breath, Serena took a small step back.

Johannes regretted even that small movement.

Of course, Serena did not notice.

“There’s actually something I want to say.”

Serena decided to share the thoughts she’d had while waiting for him all day.

As her face grew serious, Johannes pressed his lips together. Without his usual gentleness, his face looked so cold that Serena shivered.

“I originally wanted to ask this before the wedding. What do you think about our marriage?”

She clasped her trembling hands and looked up at him.

With a blank expression, Johannes looked so cold it was impossible to read his thoughts.

Among nobles, it usually took a month from holding the wedding to receiving official approval.

So, if there was someone else in his heart, it wasn’t too late even now. Serena, though she loved him, didn’t want to force someone who had no feelings for her to stay by her side.

Johannes’s expression remained cold.

He seemed so different from the gentle man who always smiled.

Pressed by his intensity, Serena took a step back. Then Johannes stepped forward twice as much.

The cold marital bed touched Serena’s back. She could retreat no further.

“This marriage was personally ordered by His Majesty the Emperor.”

Johannes held Serena’s small hand tightly. His grip wasn’t strong, but she couldn’t easily pull away.

He took a small scroll from the inside pocket of his jacket. It was their marriage certificate, stamped with the Emperor’s seal.

Serena’s blue eyes widened like a lake.

‘But I heard the marriage approval process takes more than a month.’

“As it was a marriage arranged directly by His Majesty, approval only took a day.”

As if reading her mind, Johannes answered.

In fact, even though they were newlyweds, the reason he went to the palace was this. He couldn’t wait a whole month. He felt he wouldn’t be at ease until he was legally married to her as soon as possible.

“Since this is a marriage decreed by His Majesty, I will be faithful to it.”

“Faithful…”

Serena softly echoed Johannes’s words.

So, he had married her out of loyalty.

She was about to tell him not to do that, to follow his heart, but she fell silent at what Johannes said next.

“So, of course, you are my only wife, and the only one to bear my heir will be you.”

“Heir?”

At the unexpected word, Serena’s eyes grew wide.

Yes, a child.

Children were an essential part of married life. Why hadn’t she thought of that? In noble society, producing an heir was an important duty.

Johannes was marrying her out of obligation.

Serena felt sad at that, but at the same time, she was happy that the man she loved would be faithful to their marriage. Holding that fluttering feeling in her heart, she smiled softly.

Her smile eased Johannes’s heart, and he returned to his usual gentle expression.

“I’ll also do my best as your wife.”

Since he had accepted this marriage, perhaps she could accept it too.

Though worries still lingered in her heart, she decided to trust the man she loved before her. She dared not hope to be loved by him.

Even if he didn’t love her, they could still be companions in life.

And someday, a cute child who resembled him would be born. If he was as kind and sincere as he was now, he would surely love the child with all his heart.

Serena smiled with hope and happiness.

Instead of replying, Johannes pulled Serena into a tight embrace.

“Thank you, Serena. I will also fulfill my duties as your husband.”

Holding her warmly, Johannes insisted on checking her health and personally laid her on the bed. Though she was fully recovered, he still wanted to care for her.

Serena took the medicine Johannes handed her and soon drifted off to sleep.

* * *

A week had passed since Serena married Johannes.

Every morning, she woke up early to send her husband off and shared dinner with him every evening.

Though it still felt a little awkward, she wanted to grow closer and began calling him “darling.”

Every time Johannes heard that word, he smiled as if he had the whole world. Serena smiled with him.

Each day felt like a dream. To marry and live with the person she had loved since childhood.

But along with her happiness, Serena had a silent worry in her heart.

‘We still haven’t spent our wedding night.’

Every night, she slept in the same bed as Johannes.

The maids would whisper and giggle about how well the Duke and Duchess got along. Every time she heard them, Serena sighed.

But in truth, all they did was sleep—nothing more.

Serena bit her lip in anxiety.

He had said he would be faithful to this marriage. He had said they would have a child someday. It had already been a week since they married, so why hadn’t they spent their wedding night yet?

‘Could it be that he doesn’t see me as a woman?’

Serena glanced in the mirror.

Thanks to Johannes’s devoted care, her cheeks were rosier than ever. The skilled maids had styled her hair perfectly, and her dress was made of fine silk.

Her appearance seemed fine to her.

So, was it a matter of the heart—

“Madam, Princess Leah, Her Highness, has arrived.”

“…My cousin?”

Serena stopped worrying and stood up.

She headed to the drawing room to see her cousin, who had come without any notice.