* * *

Time passed quickly. All my efforts to build a friendship with Diart during that time…
 
‘Get out of the way.’
  
‘You’re making a fool of yourself.’
  
‘What are you doing?’
  
‘Are you using that as an excuse now?’
 
Things were going from bad to worse. It seemed like his affinity for me was diminishing by the day… I couldn’t help but imagine myself standing face-to-face with him, looking at my tearful reflection in his sharp, polished sword.
 
But even if I wanted to give up, a thirsty person must dig a well. What else could I do?
 
The curse was about to take effect, and I could count on one hand the number of days I had left. As I grew increasingly fearful of experiencing the ‘indescribable pain’ the curse would bring, my desire to touch Diart, no matter how foolish or childish it seemed, only grew stronger.
 
But this Diart was a man of steel who wouldn’t let his guard down, and I couldn’t even lay a finger on him. Instead…
 
“Wow, this is so pretty!”
 
“I’ve never tasted anything like this before. It’s so delicious.”
 
“Madam, what is this made of? It’s incredibly tasty!”
 
The knights gathered around the lunch boxes and chattered.
 
‘I’ve tamed the knights…’
 
I chuckled as I watched them hastily devour their food. I had always thought that the Wheaton knights were like silver wolves, but were they really just dogs? How else could they all be wagging their tails like that? The knights, the servants in the mansion, all of them were just like dogs… no, puppies.
 
“Thanks to you, madam, we enjoy a feast every day.”
 
Just a few days ago, the knights had looked at the food I presented to them as if it were a poisoned banquet. They reluctantly moved their hands to eat it, but they seemed to have no appetite for it.
 
But now they were completely different.
 
“I look forward to this time every day.”
 
“It’s the reason we can endure the hellish morning training!”
 
Their previously guarded eyes were now filled with trust and gratitude as they looked at me.
 
‘All of my efforts to get closer to them by going to the training ground every day have paid off.’
 
As expected, delicious food was the best way to break down their defenses, and filling someone’s stomach was the key to gaining their trust.
 
It was a mistake to assume that knights who wield swords would prefer heavy meat or bread. As they looked at the salmon tartare, camembert fritters, strawberry tarts, and vanilla cream, their eyes sparkled just like any other lady.
 
‘Eat more. There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world.’
 
I smiled proudly at the emergency medicines that would help me in the future and hid my ominous thoughts.
 
“I don’t understand why His Excellency isn’t eating these delicious foods.”
 
That’s what I said.
 
“Madam, you put effort into this, so please try at least one bite.”
 
You see.
 
I vigorously nodded my head and silently agreed with them. All the knights in the training ground were gathered around my packed lunch boxes, while Diart was off to the side, just polishing his sword.
 
Even the knight commander, Sir Lambert, had a large cream puff stuffed in his mouth.
 
‘Well, I didn’t bring this for him to eat, though.’
 
It’s really difficult to win over someone who doesn’t have the slightest trace of friendliness. I turned my head to the knights and asked them,
 
“What do you think Diart would want most right now?”
 
There’s nothing better than gifts to get closer to someone. Even if he doesn’t care about luxury items like clothes, jewelry, or rare books, I wondered if bribery might work on Diart.
 
“Well, if we’re on the battlefield, I’m sure he’d want the enemy’s head. Hahaha.”
 
Having gone through both large and small battles together and spending most of their time together now, the knights might know what Diart likes, but they didn’t have any useful information to offer.
 
Ignoring Lambert’s somewhat chilling response, I thought that he might just be indifferent. After all, he’s a man who spends his entire day going between his office, the training ground, and his bedroom.
 
‘Is that why you became madly obsessed with Adelia, who was the first woman to catch your attention?’
 
To completely dedicate your attention to something… it’s terrifying.
 
Knowing about Diart’s obsessive tendencies, I trembled with fear.
 
“By the way, Madam, I heard you’re going to the imperial palace tomorrow?”
 
Milto, who looked just like a great pyrenees¹a breed of large dog known for their fluffy white coats and loyal temperaments, asked.
 
“Yeah. Speaking of which, may I ask Sir Milto to escort me?”
 
“Of course! I’ll risk my life to protect you, Madam!”
 
Milto clenched his fist over his left chest and made a resolute declaration.
 
“Even to the point of sacrificing your life. I feel much safer with you around. I’m counting on you.”
 
Milto grinned widely at my words. His deeply indented cheekbones were so cute.
 
‘Oh my, how adorable. This neighborhood really has good-looking people.’
 
I wondered if the author was biased or if the Wheaton family only hired good-looking people because even the Duke’s people were above average in appearance. Gordon is middle-aged, but that’s beside the point.
 
Thanks to that, my eyes are happy. If it weren’t for the curse, I would have enjoyed my life surrounded by handsome men. There are so many good-looking men with great bodies, why am I stuck with that guy? A sigh escaped me.
 
Just then, Diart walked past me and muttered lowly.
 
“You’re taking a long break.”
 
At his words, the knights quickly shoved the remaining food into their mouths and got up from their seats.
 
“Thank you for the meal, Madam.”
 
“Thank you, Madam.”
 
I waved goodbye to the knights as they ran towards the training ground.
 
“Now you’re coming to see me so obviously.”
 
As I was organizing the lunch boxes with Lily, a cool voice reached me from above. When I looked up, Diart, who I thought had already passed by, was looking down at me with a frown.
 
“I keep coming because when I see delicious food, I think of the knights who are struggling.”
 
In fact, I had given up on secretly investigating Diart because he always caught me red-handed. So I started coming openly instead, hoping to have more chances to interact with him.
 
He had been making an unpleasant face all this time, but he couldn’t hold back any longer.
 
“I’ll tell you one more time just in case. I really have no feelings for the Duke anymore, not even one percent. So please don’t misunderstand. I have no ulterior motives!”
 
I protested while looking at his raised eyebrows.
 
It’s understandable that he finds it hard to believe that I have no feelings for him when I keep hovering around him like this. But if it weren’t for the curse, I wouldn’t want to do anything that would bother him.
 
“I heard you submitted the divorce papers. Now that it’s become an irreversible fact, I hope you can trust my sincerity. But all I want is for us to forget everything that happened before and build a friendship as old acquaintances from now on.”
 
Whenever I have time, I also lift my own curse.
 
“We grew up together since we were young. It’s not easy to accumulate over 20 years of memories.”
 
“You were never a friend to me.”
 
“Well, there’s no rule that says we can’t be in the future. I’ve told you many times that I want to be friends with the Duke now. It would be nice if we could help each other out.”
 
More precisely, that’s you to me. Diart’s expression turned sour as I smiled.
 
“Try not to walk around during training.”
 
“The knights loved it. They said they only had to wait for this time. Delicious food and appropriate rest will actually help improve training efficiency.”
 
Diart kept his mouth shut and turned his head, as if he knew I would respond to anything he said. Seeing him trying to leave, I quickly got up.
 
“Wait a minute! Duke, there’s a huge dragonfly on your head!”
 
I stretched out my hand tremblingly. But before my hand could reach him, Diart quickly moved away and roughly brushed his hair. He looked like a model in a magazine, but that wasn’t important.
 
‘Tch, another failure today.’
 
He’s really tough. My attempt to approach him naturally has failed once again. I sighed with disappointment and traced the imaginary flight path of the non-existent dragonfly with my finger.
 
“It flew over there.”
 
At my words, Diart glanced at me briefly and turned his back.
 
“This is really bad….”
 
There are only three days left until the curse takes effect. I have to go to the imperial palace tomorrow, so there are only two days left. I haven’t even touched a single strand of Diart’s hair yet.
 
And judging from the current situation, it didn’t seem like I would be able to contact him in the future either. If things continue like this, those emergency medicines will really take over.
 
“What’s wrong, ma’am?”
 
Lily asked with a worried face. I shrugged my shoulders as I looked at her, who had faithfully finished organizing the lunch boxes without me realizing it.
 
“It’s nothing.”
 
What’s the use of worrying? I’ll put off tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow and focus on packing for my beloved, whom I’ll be meeting tomorrow.
 
I left the training ground with a somewhat escapist mindset. At the end of my sight, I could see Diart’s silver hair shining in the sunlight as he swung his sword.

* * *

“I’ve got everything, madam.”
 
Lily showed me the gift I was going to give to Princess Leticia. With Milto as my escort, I got on the carriage.
 
‘I’m finally going to see my favourite!’
 
I waved to the servants who came to see me off with a big smile.
 
“I’ll be back soon.”
 
As Lily got on the carriage, the door closed. The carriage slowly began to move forward as Milto rode ahead.
 
I held onto my pounding heart with both hands and looked out the window. It took a long time to get out of the vast Duke’s estate.
 
Finally, the carriage that came out of the castle entered the forest, which was densely populated with fir trees. Normally, it would take four days by carriage from Bartley, which Diart governs, to the capital city without rest. But as a high-ranking noblewoman and the mistress of House Wheaton, I was able to use a portal.
 
Passing through the portal, which is only about ten minutes away from the central city of Bartley, we arrived at the forest near the capital city in no time. Then we were able to reach the palace in less than half a day.
 
I used it for the first time a few days ago when I went to City Hall to pick up my divorce papers. That’s when I really felt like I was in a fantasy world.
 
‘Magic is really convenient.’
 
As I looked out the window and hummed a tune, I saw a young woman walking in front of me. She was walking so slowly that she was soon caught up by the carriage, and her protruding belly was bulging out.