Hearing his words, I nodded since they made perfect sense. I felt troubled for making unnecessary interference. At the same time, I felt sympathy for his situation of being accustomed to “family like strangers.” No matter how I thought about it, this man was too pitiful.

Newspapers and social circles all proclaimed Assel Esteban as a perfect man who had everything, but in reality, wasn’t he the poorest person?

His only brother pushed him to the battlefield when he was just thirteen, and his only sister had died. Not stopping there, cruel fate ultimately drove him to the edge of a cliff.

If I hadn’t saved him then, he might not be in this world now.

I suddenly understood why he was so devotedly obsessed with me.

As my troubled feelings deepened, he looked at my expression and smiled inexplicably.

Why is he smiling? Just as I tilted my head in confusion:

“……What should I do when you make such an obvious expression that I’m pitiful?”

Ah. I finally realized. My expression was too transparent.

“N-no, that’s not it.”

I hurriedly denied it, knowing that cheap sympathy would only anger him, but it didn’t work.

He smirked with an expression that suggested he knew everything, then rose from his seat and stroked my head as I sat buried in the blankets.

The action felt slightly strange, like treating a dog, but it wasn’t entirely unpleasant either.

‘……Am I being tamed?’

Such a thought briefly crossed my mind, but soon scattered like sand in my hand at his next words.

“Will you sleep a bit more?”

“……N-no?”

“If you want to wash up, go ahead. I’ll wait.”

I widened my eyes in surprise.

“Didn’t you say His Majesty the Emperor is coming? It takes me a long time to wash up.”

He replied with a smooth smile:

“It doesn’t matter. Take your time getting ready.”

“Take my time? Is it okay to be late?”

When I asked again, not understanding, he nodded.

“If he visits his newlywed brother first thing in the morning, he should be prepared to wait, shouldn’t he?”

Somehow, a wicked smile hung on his lips as he said this. It seemed that their bad relationship was not just a simple prejudice, as he had just admitted.

However, not knowing the full circumstances between the two, I wanted him to remain unblemished, so I entered the bathroom intending to wash quickly and come out.

But as soon as I entered the bathroom, I had to burst into shock.

“……What is this?”

Those words flowed out as soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror. That’s because there were red marks all over my body, including my nape, collarbone, and everywhere below.

Assel had clearly left them throughout the night. At the time, I was too intoxicated with ecstasy to care about him leaving marks on my body, but like this, I couldn’t wear short clothes. Moreover, summer was approaching…

‘Just you wait until I get out.’

I turned on the faucet, determined to confront him about this.

❀❀❀

After showering, I came out wearing only a robe. Assel was waiting in the room as he had said earlier. He seemed to have prepared during my shower, as he was perfectly set up from head to toe.

Today, he had applied wax to his hair and swept it back, wearing a shirt with an elaborately embroidered vest. His shiny shoes and the ruby pin in his cravat, similar to the color of his eyes, gleamed brilliantly under the chandelier light.

“You prepared like this within that time? I don’t think even 30 minutes have passed since I went in.”

I was amazed that he had adorned himself like that in such a short time, even though I had washed quickly with the intention of coming out as soon as possible.

He asked in a nonchalant voice,

“Is that so……?”

The nuance suggested he hadn’t expected to be praised for this. I nodded vigorously and said,

“Can’t you tell me your secret? It always takes me so long when I prepare to go somewhere.”

He smiled faintly and then shook his head.

“Oh dear, that won’t work.”

“Ah… why not?”

When I asked, not understanding, he answered:

“On the battlefield, if you wake up even a little late, they sprinkle salt on your bed. Sometimes they throw ice chunks too.”

“Ice chunks?”

When I asked in alarm, he curved the corners of his lips and said:

“There’s no need to be so surprised.”

“My goodness, how can anyone do something so inhumane?”

I thought this might be related to his past when he went to the battlefield.

“……Anyway, I can’t send someone as delicate as you to the battlefield, can I?”

Though I desperately wanted to ask more, I couldn’t get my questions out because he was wrapping up the conversation.

❀❀❀

Assel sat me between his legs and dried my hair with a towel. This was because he had insisted on doing it himself when I said I would do it.

‘So this is why he said he would wait until I finished washing….’

This would never have happened between us before. Assel maintained distance from me especially in private. More accurately, there had been a line between us.

But perhaps because of that impulsive night we spent yesterday, I felt that the boundary of that line had been greatly demolished.

The fact that Assel made such a proposal, and that I didn’t feel the need to point out that it crossed a line—this was only possible because we had grown closer.

While feeling a strange disconnect about our relationship becoming so close overnight, I didn’t particularly want to dwell on it.

“Does it hurt?”

Meanwhile, Assel seemed to think I was made of glass. Even though he was just drying my hair, he worried that his rough gestures might pull out all of it.

“I’m quite clumsy with these things……”

But contrary to his concerns, his touch was quite attentive. I felt like I had received such a touch somewhere before, but when was it?

‘……Perhaps when I was young.’

My memories of my mother were generally dim. She passed away when I was very young, and she spent most of the year in a sickbed. Her room always smelled of medicine. I should have disliked that smell, but I liked it.

Perhaps that’s why I still quite liked the strong smell of medicine taken when sick. A taste that would surprise others if they knew.

Anyway, one of the few memories I had with my mother was her drying my hair.

It was fascinating that I got the same impression from Assel. It was just a very old, faint memory, and he had nothing to do with my mother.

Perhaps it was evidence that he had already occupied a place in my heart.

By now, my hair must have dried roughly, as Assel’s touch stopped. After putting the towel in the basket, he brushed my hair with my comb. The problem was that he was so tense that he applied too much force, resulting in not a single hair being combed.

His clumsiness made me chuckle.

“Give that to me.”

Feeling a bit impatient, I finally took the comb from him and combed my tangled hair myself. He made an embarrassed expression.

“……I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve just wasted your time.”

“No, you did well, Assel.”

At my praise, a faint blush appeared on his face. Though he had shown glimpses of madness last night, now he looked just like an obedient puppy.

Of course, I wonder if there could be such a handsome puppy. But we didn’t have time for this.

“I’ll comb my hair later.”

“……?”

“I mean, act like a husband… no, a boyfriend for a bit.”

“……??”

“We have 30 minutes left.”

Honestly, I regret not dating earlier. Surely anyone could have had a relationship.

Fortunately, Assel didn’t seem to lack perception except when it came to childcare.

A lecherous smile hung on his lips, and soon, with a gentle push, my back touched the bed.

❀❀❀

Unlike his words that being late was better, when it was 10 minutes before the appointment, Assel left a greeting with me and went outside.

Left alone in the room, I instinctively prepared to go to the trading company but suddenly realized there was something I had forgotten.

“Is he sleeping?”

When I asked in a small whisper, Lasia, Elysion’s nanny, nodded.

“Yes, madam. He’s still asleep. But it’s almost time for him to wake up.”

“What time does he usually wake up?”

Lasia thought for a moment and answered,

“Eight o’clock. It’s seven-thirty now.”

“It would be a shame to wake him. May I go in?”

“Yes, that’s fine, madam.”

I carefully opened the door without making a clunking sound and entered Elysion’s room. The room was slightly smaller than my and Assel’s bedroom but was spacious, befitting the room of House Esteban’s only son. However, the decor was cozy, so it didn’t feel empty.

After scanning the room, I moved toward Elysion’s bed located in the center of the bedroom.

As I approached the bed, Elysion came into view, sleeping soundly with the blanket covering him up to his head. I thought he looked cute and, at the same time, resembled Assel.

Perhaps it was because he had the same black hair and red eyes as Assel. Come to think of it, it was strange. Even though he wasn’t Assel’s child but his sister’s, he had the exact same black hair and red eyes.

Even their sleeping appearances were similar, making me wonder if genetics had been passed down over two generations.

‘Sometimes relatives do resemble each other, but…’

This level of resemblance was something I’d never seen before.

Elysion’s eyelashes, with his eyes closed, were very long and dense. Not only that, but his nose and lips were also flawless. He was even prettier than me, a woman, which is why I mistook him for a girl when we first met.

Lost in various thoughts, I stroked Elysion’s soft-looking black hair. It was because I felt pity thinking about him being alone during the two weeks I was unconscious.

“From now on, I’ll always be by your side, Sion.”

Just as I was whispering softly and stroking his hair,

“Mmm……”

A muffled sound flowed from between Elysion’s lips, and then his small body stirred. He was definitely awake. I was worried that I might have woken him unnecessarily.

“Mommy…?”

Blinking his eyes, Elysion looked at me and asked in a half-asleep voice.

“You’re awake.”

“Mommy, is it really Mommy?”

Sion stared at me with disbelieving eyes and asked. I slowly nodded, and then Sion rose from his place and pulled my neck into a hug.

How long had we stayed like that? Soon, Sion moved away and met my eyes.

“It really is. It’s Mommy’s smell. Mommy, didn’t you hurt?”

“I hurt a little, but I woke up again.”

“Don’t hurt, Mommy.”

Sion said with a worried look, and I nodded. His round eyes were moist. He must have been quite shocked by my collapse and inability to wake up. The fortunate thing was that Assel had used memory-erasing magic. It’s good that he wouldn’t remember me falling from the window.

“Alright, Sion. I won’t hurt.”

“Promise……”

Seemingly still uncertain despite my words, Sion held out his pinky finger to me. His small, cute pinky finger was plump with flesh, unmistakably a baby finger. I intertwined my finger, which seemed large compared to his, and said,

“Yes, I promise.”

❀❀❀

Though I wanted to spend more time with Elysion, after making the promise, he blinked his eyes a few times and then returned to dreamland. Since work at the trading company was also piling up, I had to leave the room after watching the sleeping Elysion for a moment.

“Did you meet young master Sion?”

Lasia asked as soon as I came out  and I nodded.

“My collapse seems to have been quite a shock to him.”

“He kept asking for his mother. He visited your sickbed several times too. I’m glad you’ve awakened like this, madam.”

Lasia’s gaze was sincere as she said this. While feeling guilty for making Elysion worry about me, I also wondered how bewildered the servants must have been.

After all, the newly married madam had been transported unconscious after falling into water during her honeymoon. They must have been terrified that she might die before they could properly serve her.

I thought I should stick close to Assel for a while, as he had said. Such an incident should never happen again.

“Thank you for saying that. And also for taking care of Elysion while I was gone.”

“It’s my job.”

I shook my head.

In fact, the main content of the marriage contract I made with Assel was about raising Elysion. Of course, even without that contract, I would have taken care of such a child without being told, but it was also true that because of that contract, I felt indebted for the two weeks I was unconscious.

Being someone who can’t live with debt, I thought I should personally reward Lasia.

“It is your job, but still, it’s right for me, as Elysion’s mother, to take care of you.”

“It’s fortunate that House Esteban’s mistress has such a kind nature. I was actually a bit worried. The young master has been living quite lonely.”

“Was he?”

Somehow, I felt guilty when I heard him living lonely. I knew that giving a drop of water to a thirsty person is worse than not giving any at all.

Although the boundary has become a bit blurred now, I still plan to divorce Assel when the contract marriage period ends. Then I won’t be able to be Elysion’s mother anymore, and the fact that I might make him lonely again weighed heavily on my heart.

Because family registration exerts a stronger influence on relationships than one might think.

Especially for young children like Elysion, who believe in an absolute connection between family and intimacy.

Therefore, many meanings were embedded in the words I uttered,

“……I hope Elysion won’t be lonely anymore.”

“Probably, with you here, madam, he won’t be.”

“……Is that so?”

“Of course.”

Lasia seemed to believe without a doubt that I would live with Assel for the rest of my life and act as Elysion’s mother.

Suddenly thinking about the future where I would betray the trust of so many people made my heart heavy.

“I’ll be going now. I’m busy with work at the trading company.”

I hurriedly left the place with an excuse that wasn’t really an excuse.

❀❀❀

After leaving Elysion’s room, I headed to the study/office where all my belongings had been moved, guided by the servants. It was to gather necessary items before going to the trading company.

But before I could reach the room, I froze upon encountering a woman.

She too couldn’t hide her surprise upon discovering me. Sure enough, soon a flustered voice flowed from between her lips,

“……Rose?”

I was at a loss for words, as if she was asking why I was here. That’s because the woman before me was an acquaintance.

“……I greet Your Highness.”

When I greeted her, Estelia’s pupils widened even more. I was also surprised but was trying my best not to show it. Showing surprise would look suspicious.

“What are you doing here? And so early in the morning at that.”

“……”

“Perhaps you came to meet Duke Esteban?”

Estelia seemed genuinely puzzled. That’s understandable because Assel had said he had an appointment with the Emperor at the mansion today. No matter how great Assel was, unless his liver had swollen, it would be a clear discourtesy to call someone else when he had an appointment with the Emperor.

I bit my lip. What should I do? The root of the problem was that I had exposed my face because the Crown Princess didn’t know me. If she discovered my identity, it was obvious how she would view me.

Even the best of friends tend to drift apart when controversy arises—that’s human psychology.

Because of this, even though the answer was already determined, I was struggling within the set choices.

“Levedi? Why are you still standing here?”

Suddenly, Assel’s voice was heard. He, who had been calling me affectionately, widened his eyes upon seeing the Crown Princess in front of me.

“Since Her Highness the Crown Princess hadn’t arrived, I came to escort her, thinking she might have lost her way……”

He seemed not to understand the strange confrontation between her and me. Soon, a sharp voice flowed from between his lips.