“Are you feeling melancholic because you didn’t see your beloved man upon your return? Yet Your Highness will attend again this year, won’t you?”

“None of your business.”

The Princess coldly retorted while moving her hips quickly. Taking pleasure in the man’s contorting face.

* * *

In the rattling carriage, Marienne was making lace to attach to a handkerchief.

Though she was less skilled at making lace compared to her familiar embroidery, she managed to complete it reasonably well after rushing since last night.

If she attached the lace to the handkerchief’s edge and embroidered it after arriving at tonight’s lodging, it wouldn’t be too embarrassing to give.

What patterns would the Madam like?

Marienne pondered various patterns while watching the scenery pass by through the carriage window.

Early this morning, the Duke departed for Rockshield with Marienne and twenty knights and servants.

Though it was an exhausting journey that would take a full fortnight, to Marienne, who was leaving Louer for the first time, it felt like an unexpected gift. However, Bell, exhausted from motion sickness, was sleeping like the dead.

After covering Bell with her removed cloak, Marienne turned her gaze to beyond the carriage window.

Starling calls echoed like forest whistles, and the trembling leaves seemed to dance with sunlight whenever the wind blew.

The Madam who wouldn’t welcome her, the noble ladies who would surely look down on her, the Duke who wasn’t expected to help…

Though it would be full of unfamiliar and difficult situations, Marienne decided to purely enjoy the present moment, following the Baroness’s advice to listen to her heart.

While sightseeing outside, her eyes accidentally met with Hector’s, who was escorting beside the carriage.

“It’s fortunate the weather is nice.”

“Indeed.”

Caught looking at Marienne, Hector awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

“Sir Hector, do you think it will stay sunny?”

He brought his horse closer to the carriage and bowed his head.

“Well, I can’t guarantee that. It’s the rainy season after all. By the way, what have you been working on?”

Marienne blushed while holding the lace on her skirt.

“It’s lace to decorate a handkerchief. How does it look to you? Is it too provincial?”

“Though I’m no expert, it looks fine to me.”

Marienne smiled brightly, her eyes crinkling.

“I’m relieved. Thank you for telling me.”

“No, well…… Ahem! Hmm!”

Unaware of Hector’s reddening ears, Marienne bombarded her newfound conversation partner with questions about Rockshield.

Hector, the chief knight of the Lion Knights and a renowned conversationalist, gladly joined in the chatter.

“Ah…… So it’s a gift for the Madam.”

“Yes, though I’m embarrassed to admit it. I want to embroider the handkerchief’s corner, but I can’t decide on a pattern.”

“Then go with the Nucria flower. Madam will like it.”

“Have you seen it before?”

“Of course.”

“Would you draw it for me? Even a simple sketch would be fine.”

“Sure. I’ll do it when I have time.”

“You’re so kind. Thank you.”

When Marienne smiled, Hector grinned from ear to ear in response.

During this, his knightly instincts detected a murderous intent that made his hair stand on end.

Hector looked around while placing his hand on his scabbard.

Oh no, his heart sank.

Wasn’t that his lord’s cold eyes glaring this way!

Next to him, Theo made a throat-slitting gesture.

The Duke, who had turned his horse around, approached the carriage.

Following his capricious master’s direction, Hector’s horse moved far from Marienne, further back behind the carriage, completely outside the group.

Nigel shot a cold glare at Hector before bringing his horse beside the carriage.

A dry command fell upon the puzzled Marienne.

“Close the window.”

“Why?”

At that bold question, Nigel struck the carriage wall.

Hearing the signal, the coachman stopped the horses, and the knights, sensing their commander’s mood, pretended not to notice and looked away.

Nigel leaned toward the carriage window and warned.

“Do as you’re told. Don’t talk back impudently.”

Marienne, who was about to snap back, bit her lip and glared at Nigel.

Their gazes clashed violently.

“Close it.”

Marienne shut the shutter right in Nigel’s face.

Watching this, Nigel straightened his tilted body while flexing his jaw muscle. Then he struck the carriage with a bang to signal departure.

The noise woke Bell, who rubbed her eyes as she got up.

“Miss, wasn’t that thunder just now? It must be about to rain.”

Marienne, dumbfounded by this sudden tyranny, clutched her skirt trying to suppress her bubbling anger.

What a selfish and vicious tyrant, what a despicable and wicked villain!

“Miss, what are you doing?”

Marienne glared at the shutter blocking her view for a long while, grinding her teeth.

I won’t just quietly endure this unreasonable harassment. I’ll bite if I have to!

“Miss, I’m sorry but could you open the window again? I’m feeling very nauseous.”

As Bell covered her mouth with a handkerchief, dry heaving, Marienne flung open the shutter as if she’d been waiting for this.

Then she declared war loudly to the tyrant who must be somewhere out there.

“We have a patient with severe motion sickness! I’m keeping the window open! All day long!”

Whether he heard or not, hmph!

Feeling relieved, Marienne graciously bowed to an unfamiliar knight whose eyes she met.

The knight flinched and gradually moved away from the carriage.

By evening, they arrived at a village.

The knights and servants who unpacked at the inn gathered in the dining room to fill their hungry stomachs.

Bell collapsed onto the bed, refusing even dinner, and Marienne entered the room the innkeeper guided her to, carrying her belongings bag.

From today, she had to share the bathtub, the bed, the room with the Duke.

Though they had stayed in connected rooms before and had intimate relations, sharing daily life in one space felt different.

Something so simple felt unbearably heavy, drawing a sigh from Marienne.

“Shall I prepare your bath water?”

“Yes, please do.”

“The warmth will help with your fatigue.”

“Thank you.”

The innkeeper took the hot water kettle hanging by the fireplace and poured it into the cold water in the tub.

After adjusting the temperature appropriately and leaving, Marienne quickly undressed behind the screen.

The Duke would be dining with the knights, so she needed to finish before then.

She couldn’t smell of sweat while sleeping with him, even if it might be fine alone.

Marienne, covered with a linen cloth, touched the water with her finger and was startled.

Goodness, it wasn’t just warm but hot.

As she looked around for cold water, she spotted a water jug by the door.

Though walking around n*ked was uncomfortable, it should be fine since no one was watching.

But while crossing the room, click, the doorknob started turning.

Marienne froze mid-step, completely n*ked.

Creeak, as the rusty hinge creaked and the door opened, she dashed to the bathtub in one breath.

As Nigel entered the room, he was greeted by a loud splash.

“You’re here? Have you eaten?”

Marienne, with only her head out of the bathtub, babbled carelessly.

An excessive amount of steam rose like an evil spirit’s breath.

Nigel’s eyebrow quirked up.

He leisurely removed his gloves while walking toward her with measured steps.

“It looks hot.”

“Not at all.”

Marienne’s emphatic voice came out warbled.

As he approached, Marienne sank deeper into the tub. Her well-soaked red hair floated on the water.

Finally, he stood before the tub. Unlike her n*ked state, he was perfectly dressed from boots to cloak.

Fortunately, the innkeeper must have added bath salts beforehand as the water was milky white.

In contrast, Marienne’s shoulders and round br*asts that emerged from the unbearable heat were turning red.

A quiet flame flickered in his downcast gray eyes.

The longer the silence stretched, the more Marienne’s hips fidgeted.

At last, she surrendered.

“The water is too hot. I need cold water.”

“And?”

“There’s a jug of cold water by the door. Could you bring it for me?”

“Why should I.”

“Duke!”

“Didn’t you check that there’s no lock on the inn room? Walking around n*ked without even a maid, without any fear.”

“I didn’t know about the door, and Bell is resting because of severe motion sickness.”

“After you accommodated your attendant all day by keeping the window open, shouldn’t she at least stay by your side?”

Marienne frowned, bristling at his sarcasm.

“Don’t speak ill of Bell.”

“How touchingly kind. Yet you snap at your master.”

“You’re different from Bell.”

Nigel, who had been radiating displeasure all day, finally burst out.

“Different how! Do you think my heart is made of stone?”

“Why are you so angry? I just asked you to bring some cold water. Really…… I wish you were even half as considerate as Sir Hector. How can you be so cold and selfish?”

He, who had been furrowing his brow, let out a bitter laugh.

“Oh, really? Since there seem to be plenty of men willing to dig not just a water jug but an entire lake for you, I guess I don’t need to help.”

He bent down and thrust his face close to her nose.

“Let me warn you, never mention another bastard’s name in front of me again.”

As Marienne’s eyes widened, Nigel stormed out of the room.

The violent slam of the door made Marienne flinch.

“Why is he acting like this? He’s truly impossible to understand.”

Marienne, who was about to get up to fetch cold water, sat back down in the tub.

The water had cooled to just the right temperature.

Unlike the Duke who had stormed off in anger, Marienne wasn’t in such a bad mood.

She began humming, “hmm,” while wetting her hair.

The splashing water sounds and unintelligible melody drifted beyond the firmly closed door.

Nigel leaned against the opposite wall, arms crossed, glaring at the door.

Just then, an inn worker carrying firewood approached.

The young man stopped, his knees weakening at Nigel’s fierce glare.

“I brought more firewood since it might be cold at dawn. If you’d step aside, I can put it in the room……”

“Leave it and get out.”

Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the young man gently set down the firewood and hurriedly descended the stairs.

Nigel resumed his position leaning against the corridor wall.

Eyes blazing to prevent anyone from approaching what was his.