Elisia looked up at the sky with a blank face.

“The Imperial Princess’s birthday celebration. What other events require us to attend together.”

She wanted to avoid being with him as much as possible. As she was muttering quietly, Elisia suddenly opened her eyes wide at a memory that flashed through her mind.

“Ah, why didn’t I think of that?”

The Harmony Festival.

A place where the two of them must attend together no matter what.

Humans and demons had been at war for quite a long time. Because of this, the rift of conflict was too deep to be filled even with a ceasefire, so the Carden Empire and Minotas arranged a meeting once a year.

The marriage between Derick and Elisia was virtually a symbol of the truce agreement. That’s why both of them had to make an appearance.

‘That’s it. I can ask demons about demon contracts!’

***

The next day.

Waking up early in the morning, Elisia stretched with a refreshed face.

Even though nothing had been resolved yet.

“Today I don’t have to go to the archives.”

The fact that she no longer had to repeat those days of straining her eyes with nothing to show for it.

That alone made Elisia happy.

‘But there’s something more important left to do.’

Leaning on the terrace, Elisia looked at the garden in the distance. Black hair shining in the sunlight was clearly visible.

“I have something to ask…”

Would a man who utterly despised her even bother to answer?

‘If it were me, I wouldn’t.’

Having realized the answer herself, Elisia put her hand to her forehead.

“Then who should I ask?”

As she was muttering, Elisia suddenly turned around and her eyes met with the man’s in mid-air. Despite the considerable distance, Derick was looking directly at Elisia.

“Ugh.”

Elisia instinctively hid herself in her bedroom. Then, leaning against the wall, she held her breath for a moment before letting it out deeply.

‘Why did I hide?’

She hadn’t done anything wrong.

Suddenly, she placed her hand over her heart. Her pounding heart was racing madly.

Leaning her head against the wall, Elisia closed her eyes.

“There’s no reason to avoid him.”

After taking a deep breath, she turned around. Looking out the window again, Derick was nowhere to be seen.

With wide eyes, Elisia awkwardly scratched her cheek.

***

“Tsk.”

Derick, who had been enjoying a morning walk, was just leaving the mansion.

Today the weather was nice, there was no magical outburst, and consequently no headache. It was truly a rare state of normalcy.

But from the morning, he had seen something he shouldn’t have.

‘Of all things, to make eye contact with that woman.’

He sighed as irritation suddenly washed over him.

With his sensitive senses, he quickly noticed when someone was looking at him. No, even without that, he couldn’t help but notice.

That persistent and unpleasant gaze he felt at all times.

‘However…’

The gaze now felt somewhat different.

If the previous gaze had been sticky and persistent, now it was closer to simply looking at what was in front of her.

“Why am I…”

Thinking about that woman?

With his brow deeply furrowed, Derick walked irritably through the garden. Though he wasn’t typically moody, Elisia’s single glance had ruined his mood.

He turned and headed back to the mansion. He no longer felt like taking a walk.

“Your Grace.”

Just then, he ran into Kevin, who was looking for him.

“What is it?”

“The results of the investigation you ordered recently are in.”

At those words, he recalled ordering an investigation on Elisia a few days ago.

“Let’s hear it inside.”

Perhaps this was an opportunity to find the woman’s weakness. However, for some reason, a gentle wave rose in his heart. Derick frowned slightly at the inexplicable discomfort.

***

Derick, who had entered the office first, sat at his desk and leaned back comfortably as he looked up at Kevin.

However, what came from his mouth was an unexpected answer.

“I apologize. There is no new information.”

“What?”

“There is absolutely no difference from three years ago. I’m quite perplexed myself.”

“Not a single difference, you say.”

Derick moved away from the backrest of his chair, clasped his hands together, and rested his chin on them. No emotion was visible on Derick’s face as he closed his mouth.

Kevin’s body trembled slightly in the terrifyingly calm atmosphere.

“You may go.”

“Yes.”

At his cold response, Kevin quietly bowed his head and immediately left the office.

With the sound of the door closing, a sigh escaped from between Derick’s lips.

“Ha.”

Derick had certainly wanted to break free from Elisia. He had wished that d*mn woman would stop monitoring his every move.

‘That vicious woman no longer shows obsession toward me.’

If only he could shake off that spider-like obsession.

‘I’m sure that’s what I wanted.’

He thought he could do anything.

But seeing those bright eyes smiling innocently while claiming to have lost her memory irritated him. At a time when he should be more than glad that her obsession was no longer felt, why was he only feeling displeasure?

Derick looked down at his palm. It had been a very long time since his hand had touched Elisia’s after their marriage.

“She asked me for a divorce.”

That was what Derick wanted too.

If he could turn back time, he would want to go back to the moment when he agreed to marry Elisia.

“Divorce?”

Derick smirked and pulled out documents from the drawer. They contained all the information about Elisia that Derick had investigated three years ago.

“Yes. I’ll grant you a divorce.”

After using her for everything he needed.

Wondering if he had missed anything, Derick carefully examined the documents again and stopped at a certain point.

[Mixed-blood demon. Born between Count Adelheit and a high-ranking demon.

However, raised in Minotas under Lilith’s protection.]

The corner of Derick’s mouth slightly raised as he thought of something.

“I see.”

He realized another value Elisia could provide.

“Head Butler.”

As Derick whispered softly, someone knocked on the door from outside. After a moment, the door opened and the head butler appeared.

“You called for me.”

“What is that woman doing?”

“She is in her bedroom.”

“Hmm.”

After contemplating something, Derick rose from his seat.

Just a few days ago, he had said he didn’t want to let her into his personal space. That thought hadn’t changed.

Rather than letting her into his space, it was better for him to take the trouble of going to her first.

“Lead the way.”

He had never once set foot in Elisia’s bedroom. No, he hadn’t even wanted to know where it was. They weren’t a normal couple, so there was no reason to seek out his wife in name only.

Nevertheless, now was the time to find her.

Without prying into his intentions, the head butler quietly guided Derick.

Suddenly, the look in Elisia’s eyes from earlier came back to him.

‘A different feeling from before.’

Eyes that seemed somewhat disturbing.

Golden eyes that no longer sparkled toward him.

Elisia no longer clung to him or bothered him. He should feel unburdened, so why did he feel so uneasy?

‘Ah. It’s because the contract hasn’t been terminated.’

Derick unknowingly clutched at his heart area and then released it.

Lost in his sluggish thoughts, he had already arrived in front of Elisia’s bedroom.

***

Elisia was lounging in bed.

Despite waking up early, washing, and even changing clothes, she couldn’t help it. Seeing the spacious bed, she was back under the covers before she knew it.

‘Just being lazy for today.’

No matter how she thought about it, Derick was the only person she could ask about the Harmony Festival.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

‘Who knows? If I say it’s a question for terminating the contract, he might tell me.’

She had never dined with Derick, so trying to find an opportunity to ask during meals was unrealistic.

Then how about visiting him to ask?

That was obviously not going to work either. He was someone who had personally come to find her, saying he didn’t want her in his space.

‘That’s a complete rejection.’

Come to think of it, she was already going to attend the Imperial Princess’s birthday celebration with him. They would inevitably share a carriage, so she could ask him then.

Having quickly reached a conclusion, Elisia stretched widely.

“After all, I’ve been working hard since the possession.”

Time to rest a bit.

Just as she was thinking this and gradually being pulled back under the covers.

Knock knock-

She opened her eyes at the sound of knocking.

“What, who is it?”

She just rolled her eyes to look toward the door.

“My lady, it’s Eva.”

Hearing the familiar maid’s voice, she promptly responded.

“Yes. What is it?”

“His Grace has arrived.”

Elisia’s lips parted slightly.

‘His Grace… Derick?’

An unwelcome expression formed on her face. Elisia squirmed and then shifted her body with a faint sigh.

In the meantime, the impatient Derick flung the door open and entered. At a glance, she could see Eva behind him, looking troubled and fidgeting.