He was satisfied with grasping her with a monster’s hands and paying her silver coins with a duke’s hands.

He comforted his anxious self that nothing had changed and wouldn’t in the future.

Marienne Rose was his, undoubtedly his woman. For now, that was enough.

* * *

“Bell?”

As soon as she woke up, Marienne rose from her bed looking for Bell.

Suddenly her vision spun and nausea hit.

As she closed her eyes trying to settle the dizziness, a water cup touched her lips.

It was the Duke.

Marienne drank from the tilting cup without time to express gratitude.

The cold water seemed to settle her queasy stomach.

“Thank you.”

Rising from the bed, Marienne put on a robe to cover her terribly wrinkled dress.

“Where are you going in that condition?”

“I want to check on Bell.”

“I called a physician to treat her.”

“I want to go heal her myself.”

“Not now.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I can judge my own physical condition.”

Marienne tried to pass Nigel who blocked her way, but he held her back.

“There are many watching eyes.”

“Everyone in Louer knows I’m a healer. You made me your bella to let His Majesty know you possess me, a healer. Even if Her Highness finds out, it won’t be bad.”

“What I really hate……”

When Nigel couldn’t finish his words, Marienne lowered his restraining hand. Then she left him and went to Bell.

Bell’s condition in person was horrific. Her fingers were terribly swollen with splints.

With a pale face, Bell burst into tears as soon as she saw Marienne.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me, Miss.”

“Bell, I’m sorry, because of me……”

Marienne sat by the bed, unable to hug her for fear of causing more pain.

“I only told them that Miss was a commoner with healing powers. Please forgive me since even the people of Louer all know this fact.”

Marienne shook her head with tears.

“Bell. Don’t say such things. I’m the one who should ask forgiveness.”

“Forgiveness? It’s a maid’s proper duty to protect her master’s secrets.”

“No, Bell. There’s no such thing as natural sacrifice anywhere in the world. I know how precious and valuable your heart is.”

Marienne asked through tears.

“Bell, may I heal you? Will you allow me?”

Bell nodded while crying together. Marienne wiped her tears and smiled.

“Close your eyes and open your mouth since it might feel strange.”

Marienne approached Bell who had closed her eyes. Then she breathed in warm healing energy.

The dark bruises on her injured hand disappeared instantly and the swelling subsided completely.

Laying the now sleeping Bell on the flower-covered bed, Marienne kissed the back of her hand.

She closed the curtains so Bell could sleep well and quietly left the room.

Nigel was standing outside the door.

Until just now, she had been managing fine, but perhaps she wanted to be spoiled now.

Her legs weakened at the sight of him.

Marienne felt peace as she leaned into his light embrace.

“Did you have to do that? There was no need to kiss even the back of her hand. Don’t you think your lips are loose?”

Marienne cupped his cheek, pulled him down, and kissed him.

When his gray eyes widened, she parted their lips with a wet sound.

“Because my lips are loose.”

“Don’t start things you can’t handle, Marienne.”

Nigel sighed and comforted himself by pressing his lips to her forehead.

“We’ll leave for Rockshield slowly depending on your conditions. Rest well since you must be tired.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

Marienne swallowed her questions about the Imperial Princess. She knew they weren’t questions she was allowed to ask.

But she wanted to ask so badly.

She seemed to like you very much. Is that true? Since when?

How close were you? Close enough to remember her lips, to reminisce about her breath?

Did you ever promise a future with her? Did you love her too?

Will you…… love her?

Marienne leaned her increasingly gloomy face against his shoulder.

* * *

“Madam! The Duke has arrived!”

The Duchess, who had been having tea with the Imperial Princess who arrived yesterday, set down her teacup.

“Your Highness, may I get up now?”

“Of course. Let’s go out together to greet the Duke.”

“Thank you for your kind consideration.”

When the Imperial Princess rose, maids approached to arrange her wrinkled skirts.

Though the Duchess wanted to run to her son whom she hadn’t seen in a year, she had to wait while the Imperial Princess finished her grooming.

When the maids withdrew, the Imperial Princess opened her eyes coyly.

“I shall escort you, Your Highness.”

The Duchess led the way and the Imperial Princess followed quietly.

However, the Imperial Princess’s seemingly calm interior was far from peaceful.

Rather, self-pitying wails, sticky obsession, and blood-red anger swept through her alternately.

She must possess the Duke. Only then would this humiliation and wound heal.

She could endure some pain. After all, she had learned only to wear masks since birth.

The Duchess approached Nigel as he entered the central hall.

“Duke, you must be tired from the long journey.”

Though he was her son and the head of the family, the Duchess expressed her joy with formal courtesy.

“I’ve been away long. Have you been well too, Mother?”

“Yes. Thanks to the Duke’s military achievements, both Rockshield and the Grencia Empire have been safe.”

Nigel smiled gently.

“You flatter me.”

The Duchess, quite surprised by her long-unseen son’s smile, was at a loss for words.

“We meet again, Duke Bernac.”

“Your Highness.”

When Nigel, instantly turned cold, gave only a slight bow without proper courtesy, the Duchess startled and scolded the Duke.

“Duke, show proper respect.”

“Duchess, there’s no need. We met by chance at an inn. We exchanged particularly proper greetings then.”

Despite Nigel’s coldness, the Imperial Princess shifted her gaze to Marienne.

Marienne stepped forward, bent her knee, and greeted formally.

“Marienne Rose of Louer, I bow again before Your Highness the noble Imperial Princess. And Duchess, it is an honor to meet you.”

The Imperial Princess acknowledged with a nod, and the waiting Duchess extended both hands to Marienne.

Though mindful of the Imperial Princess, she at least didn’t want to greet her son’s savior heartlessly.

Marienne shyly took the Duchess’s hands.

“Thank you for coming such a long way for me. Make yourself comfortable during your stay.”

“Thank you.”

As the Imperial Princess tried to approach Marienne, the Duchess spoke.

“I have a painting I want to show Your Highness. I’ve been preparing it to give you during this visit. Would you come with me? Let me have the joy of monopolizing Your Highness, as these two need to rest their tired bodies.”

Though the Imperial Princess was flustered by Nigel blocking between her and Marienne and the Duchess calling from behind, she didn’t show it.

“If the Duchess asks so earnestly.”

When the Duchess led the Imperial Princess away, the knights and Louer’s servants also moved to the annex following the butler’s guidance.

Nigel took Marienne’s hand and climbed the central stairs.

“You’re too much, Duke.”

“What is?”

“You just protected me as if Her Highness would eat me alive.”

“Did I?”

“I’m not that weak. And don’t worry. No matter what situation I face, I won’t reveal our contract or your secret.”

Nigel picked Marienne up and climbed the stairs.

“Put me down. This isn’t an inn!”

“Don’t interfere with my pleasure.”

Nigel took Marienne to the bedroom next to his room. Only after a very long time did he finally emerge from her room, his clothes disheveled.

* * *

Marienne’s assurance that she wasn’t that weak didn’t last past the next morning.

“Duke! What should I do? What kind of conversation should I have with the Madam, and how? Please don’t leave me alone!”

Nigel, who had been smoking tobacco while leaning on the chaise lounge, listened to Marienne’s sudden plea.

Marienne sat beside Nigel with a worried face.

Her characteristic of rushing forward without thinking and pouring out her words when anxious remained quite consistent.

“Think of it comfortably. Mother isn’t someone who would torment you without reason.”

“But you, her son the duke, did that to me.”

He had no response. Yet her bold words were vexing. Impudent. And cute.

Nigel bit back a smile and stared at her while drawing on his tobacco, trying to calm a man’s heat that the innocent woman wouldn’t understand.

“So what’s your purpose in seeking me out? Did you come to ask for help, or to pick a fight? Miss Marienne Rose who said she wasn’t that weak.”

“I became afraid when I thought you might suddenly disappear.”

“Taking care of the territory is my duty. I’m not disappearing, just leaving temporarily to subjugate the pendras.”

Nigel played with Marienne’s curly hair with the hand resting on the backrest.

Enjoying his touch, Marienne stared intently at his tobacco.

Did that contribute to the Duke’s composure?

She boldly pulled the tobacco from between his lips. Then, as he watched wondering what she would do this time, she took a deep drag in front of him.

It was so spicy her vision spun.