Chapter 3

I desperately tried to make excuses and barely managed to clear up Ruslan’s misunderstanding. I’ve never pleaded my case so pathetically in my life, but I was truly frustrated. If I had actually intended to pounce on him, I wouldn’t have felt so wronged—my intentions were purely innocent!!!

“I believe I must head out on an expedition with the Knights to subjugate the increasing number of monsters in the North.”

I was snapped out of my thoughts by the voice of Ruslan, who was cutting the steak on my plate into bite-sized pieces.

An expedition… In the novel, Ruslan occasionally went on expeditions. Every time he went, he caught something to give to Evangeline as a gift, and being the strongest Duke of the North in the Empire, the things he brought back were always jaw-dropping.

“This expedition will require me to be away for quite some time. Is there anything you desire?”

Anything I need? Of course, there was. I answered without hesitation.

“I need goblin bones and herbs to use as a potion base.”

“Do you not need things like a new dress or a necklace?”

“You already filled my wardrobe with dresses and jewelry as wedding gifts. I have more than enough.”

Saying I had brought almost nothing from the Viscount’s estate, Ruslan had stuffed my closet with dresses and various accessories under the guise of “wedding gifts.” Thanks to that, Elizabeth had a sweat-breaking time organizing it all for a while.

“You have no greed for such things, now as much as then.”

“Pardon?”

I asked back because I couldn’t hear his small mumble, but he shook his head, saying it was nothing.

***

The Iron-Blooded Knights.

They were comprised of knights who had been with Ruslan since he inherited the title of Duke Itenas. They were also the order that made great contributions alongside him during the war against the ethnic tribes, where Ruslan was most active.

The most prominent feature of the Iron-Blooded Knights, as their name suggests, was that they were clad in iron armor from head to toe.

Just like the person currently standing before my eyes.

“Pleasure to meet you, My Lady. I am Ivan of the Iron-Blooded Knights.”

Ivan took my hand with his gauntleted hand and made a gesture of kissing the back of it. But the moment he bowed his head, his helmet fell off his head and onto the floor.

Where the helmet had been, a man with wavy hair appeared. The difference from other people was that he was translucent—so much so that his armor was visible through his form.

“Oh dear, I’ve shown you an embarrassing sight.”

“As I suspected, you are a ghost.”

I had anticipated it, but he was indeed a ghost knight. Truly, there wasn’t a single human in this castle except for Edward.

“I apologize if I startled you. I heard you were afraid of ghosts, so I tried my best not to get caught.”

Ivan pressed his helmet firmly back onto his neck joint so it wouldn’t fall off again.

“I’m not scared anymore, so please make yourself comfortable.”

Occasionally, I still flinch when I see servant spirits with their entrails hanging out or no heads, but that’s just a physiological reaction to seeing something that shouldn’t be there. In fact, the spirits usually got more startled than I did, which made me feel apologetic.

“Haha, then I’ll take the liberty of leaving the helmet off.”

Ivan’s face looked refreshed as he immediately removed his helmet.

“Most people think ghosts can’t feel anything, but that’s actually not true. Because of the past experiences the soul remembers, we feel the same emotions we felt back then when a certain situation arises. Like the stuffiness I feel when wearing this helmet.”

“Like how a person with an amputated leg feels an itch in their missing limb?”

“You could say it’s similar.”

Ivan started juggling his helmet, then opened his mouth as if he had remembered something.

“Ah, but My Lady. Were you aware of this?”

***

Amidst the knights clad in iron armor from head to toe, Ruslan stood out, wearing a dark blue knightly uniform and directing various tasks. As I approached him, he spotted me coming from a distance.

“Wife, you’ve come at a good time. May I borrow your hand for a moment?”

When I offered him my hand, he lightly kissed the back of it.

Startled by Ruslan’s sudden action, I missed the timing to pull my hand away. Looking at me as I stared with wide, round eyes, he spoke.

“I have placed a defensive spell on you. You will be safe even while I am away. Would you also kiss the back of my hand?”

Told that it was a spell activated only when we kissed the backs of each other’s hands, I did as I was told and kissed the back of Ruslan’s hand.

“Thank you. I shall return safely, carrying your grace.”

“Ah, wait a moment. Ruslan, take this.”

The item I handed him was a hair ornament made of red cloth.

“I heard that when a husband goes on an expedition or to war, the wife ties her own hair ornament to his sword belt in hopes of his safe return. And also…”

I brought my hand to Ruslan’s cheek and pulled him slightly toward me. Then, I kissed him on the cheek.

“Ivan told me earlier… that it was always the duty of the Duchess of Itenas to pray for her husband’s safety like this when he leaves for an expedition…”

Ivan had said it wasn’t meant in a romantic sense but was just an act to wish for safety, so I shouldn’t be embarrassed—but having actually done it, I felt the blood rushing to my face.

It was even more embarrassing because Ruslan just stared at me without saying a word. I wished he would say something. Feeling like my face was about to explode, I quickly told him to have a safe trip and ran back into the castle.

A moment later, as Ruslan turned his head to resume giving orders to the knights, he almost tripped over some luggage lying nearby.

Not only that, he nearly ripped an important document with his hands and almost slipped while trying to mount his horse, causing the knights to rush over in worry.

“Duke, are you alright?”

“I… I am fine.”

“What is with your tone of voice? Are you ill somewhere?”

“Good heavens, the Duke who can catch a Wyvern with one hand is sick!”

The knights, clad in full iron armor, huddled together, genuinely worried about Ruslan and suggesting they postpone the expedition. However, he insisted he was fine, mounted his horse, and hurried out of the castle. No one noticed that his ears were beet red.

***

Ruslan returned to Ishelbach exactly one week after leaving for the expedition.

“These are the ingredients you requested. And this is my gift to you.”

Among the top-quality potion ingredients, I saw a red leather I had never seen before.

“It is the hide of a Salamander. They are hard to find now that the weather is warming up, but I caught one for you.”

I knew that Salamanders were magical beasts living in the North whose bodies were perpetually on fire, making them difficult to capture.

“Salamander hide is imbued with the energy of fire, so just wearing it will keep you warm. With this, the harsh northern winter will not be able to harm you.”

“A Salamander is a high-ranking sub-dragon species; it must have been hard to catch. Are you alright?”

“I returned safely thanks to the grace you gave me.”

Did that really have an effect? Even without it, Ruslan was one of the strongest characters in the novel. Last time at the Svants estate, he took down a Giant Troll in just a few minutes. He is the second male lead, after all.

“Wouldn’t this be more necessary for you, Ruslan, since you go on expeditions often? I’m usually inside the castle…”

“I am resistant to the cold, so I do not need such things.”

When a man over 180cm tall with a solid physique says that, there’s nothing more to say. Since he caught it for me, I decided to just accept it.

“By the way, what kind of monsters did you hunt during this expedition?”

“There were frequent incidents of Wyverns kidnapping travelers and peddlers passing through the mountains, so I subjugated the Wyvern pack and the surrounding area. I also discovered a Basilisk nest on the way and took care of that as well. Ah, Edward. Could you call Felix?”

At his command, Edward left the office. A moment later, a middle-aged man appeared out of thin air.

“Calling for me must mean you’ve brought the budget, right?”

He grumbled as if he were annoyed at being suddenly summoned. Seeing that his body was translucent, it seemed this man named Felix was also a ghost.

A moment later, Felix noticed me, wiped the annoyed expression off his face, and greeted me with a polite expression.

“Oh, I didn’t realize the Lady was here. My apologies. I am Felix, in charge of the finances of this castle.”

“I am Beatrice Itenas.”

“Welcome to the Duke’s castle. I should have greeted you sooner, but I was away in the afterlife for a bit on business.”

“It’s alright. We’ll be seeing each other often from now on.”

This middle-aged ghost with a stylish mustache finished his pleasantries with a gentle face, then turned back to Ruslan with a sharp look.

“So, how much did you bring this time?”

“It should last until this autumn.”

“What?!”

This time, I was the one who shouted in surprise.

A Basilisk, known as the strongest among the sub-dragon species, was a monster that even mercenary groups specializing in monster hunting couldn’t easily take down with their best elites.

Furthermore, although Wyverns are common medium-sized monsters, they are difficult to catch because they fly and have enough strength to crush rocks with their bare hands; thus, Wyvern hunting usually involves large sums of money.

I didn’t know the exact budget of the Duchy, but selling a Basilisk and Wyverns should at least be enough to buy two buildings in the center of the capital.

And yet, the money from hunting such giant monsters is only enough to last until this autumn?!

“Ruslan, could you show me the sales receipt?”

Ruslan obediently handed over the receipt. I was worried there might not even be one, so it was a relief. However, the amount written on the receipt shocked me once more.

‘They only gave this much? Do they have no conscience?’

This was the ultimate rip-off. To sell a Basilisk at such a dirt-cheap price—the captured Basilisk would cry!

“I caught monsters that weren’t very strong, so I didn’t get a good price. If funds are lacking, I can just hunt more, so do not worry yourself.”

I realized something from Ruslan’s words just now. Ruslan was undoubtedly a man so strong that no one in the Empire could match him. But because of that, he couldn’t view himself objectively.

It was because he had no one to compare himself to. A Basilisk takes dozens of elite mercenaries days of planning to barely catch. Yet, he caught such a high-ranking monster easily in a week.

Since he caught it easily, he probably thought it was fine even if it sold for a pittance. If money was short, he’d just catch another. He probably didn’t even think he was being scammed. To him, it was likely a monster as weak as a giant earthworm. Oh, seriously, what am I going to do with this “fawn” who’s only cold on the outside!

I plan to leave this territory in a few months, but I couldn’t just leave this as it is. Even if I leave, I have to at least fix the abnormal financial state of the Duchy before I go.

“Felix, bring me all the territory budget expenditure reports and monster sales receipts. Right now!”

***

The North was a land where 70% of the soil consisted of mountains and glaciers, making it difficult for crops to grow. Thus, the residents here procured food through hunting or occasional farming.

“I have worked in this Duchy for over 50 years, and today is the most rewarding and joyful moment for me.”

Felix’s face looked truly happy as he set down the documents.

Over the past few days, I examined the budget reports Felix brought, the salary statements provided by the Imperial family as thanks for protecting the North, and the tax confirmation forms from the surrounding vassal territories.

“Since none of the vassal territories are wealthy, taxes alone won’t meet the budget, and there don’t seem to be any particular businesses being run… So the finances here really were just about raiding the monsters’ larders.”

“I have told the Duke several times that he needs to start a business to generate a budget. But the Duke flatly refused, saying he only needs to manage and maintain the territory and has no intention of doing such things. So, the Duchy’s finances all come from monster hunting.”

I sighed. Comparing the monster sales receipts with the expenditure reports made it even clearer. Wedding costs… a dowry?! What is this! Did he actually give money to the Viscount’s family?

‘I’ll argue about that later; for now, let’s think about how to use the resources here. I can’t stand to see the Duke of the North going out to hunt for the budget and getting ripped off on the prices!’

Feeling dizzy, I pressed my temples and recalled the contents of the original story.

“But My Lady, you said you would start a business. What kind of business are you thinking of?”

“I plan to use the North’s natural resources.”

According to the original, the North was rich in natural resources as it had many mountains.

There were hot spring areas, but developing them required significant capital. So, I decided to mine the “Blue Diamonds” with the current finances.

Blue Diamonds.

The name includes “diamond,” but to be precise, this ore is a mana stone, not a diamond.

However, unlike other mana stones, it constantly absorbs natural mana and converts it into magic, making it a so-called semi-permanent infinite power source.

The speed at which mana accumulates is very slow compared to the speed at which the ore uses magic, but the magic stored within is nearly infinite. Therefore, the higher the concentration of magic, the deeper blue it becomes, and because it is a rare ore mined in only a few places in the Empire, it came to be called a Blue Diamond.

According to the original story, Evangeline was supposed to discover a place where high-concentration Blue Diamonds were buried somewhere in the northern mountains and make it her private property.

‘It’s a Blue Diamond from a northern mountain anyway; it’s a waste to let it pass into Evangeline’s private hands.’

In any case, Evangeline was the flower of society, the daughter of Marquis Le May—whom the Emperor trusted most—and the protagonist of this novel. Even without a mine like this, she would have no trouble making a living.

The novel only described that the Blue Diamonds were in the northern mountains, but it didn’t state exactly where. So, I asked the ghost knight Ivan to find out where the Blue Diamonds were buried.

With no physical constraints and no fatigue since he was a ghost, Ivan found the location of the mine in just one day. Moreover, he sensibly brought back a sample of the Blue Diamond.

“An enormous amount of Blue Diamonds were buried inside Mount Iern, far from the Nyun-ki Mountain Range.”

“If it’s Mount Iern, I can see why people haven’t discovered it until now.”

Mount Iern was in a secluded spot and was famous for having many monsters, so even the locals avoided passing through it.

“We’ll need to clear out the monsters to start mining… How long would it take to completely subjugate them?”

“Three days will be enough.”

The owner of the voice was Ruslan.

“It is far from where the residents live, and since they leave us alone if we don’t provoke them, I had left them be. But since you desire that place, I will take care of it immediately.”

Ruslan vanished like the wind before I could even say another word.

“Did… did Ruslan just say three days?”

“And that’s probably three days by himself.”

Ivan scratched his head, speaking nonchalantly.

“Actually, on expeditions, we just provide support; the Duke does all the monster hunting himself.”

“Ivan, you said you were a fairly famous mercenary when you were alive, right? Then can’t you do something more free and exert more power than the Knights?”

“As you said, My Lady, I used a lot of strength and lived with quite a bit of bravado when I was alive. But it’s all useless once you’re dead. And in the face of absolute strength, a ghost like me is a useless existence.”

Usually, people feel jealous or admiration when they see someone more capable than themselves. The ghosts of the Iron-Blooded Knights admired their commander and Duke, Ruslan. His martial prowess was too absolute to even be jealous of.

“And I prefer this state. I don’t want to work hard even after I’m dead.”

I chuckled at his comment about wanting to just live idly.

***

A few days after sending the Blue Diamond sample to the Mages Guild, a letter arrived from them.

“Just as I expected.”

The letter from the Mages Guild stated the concentration of magic in the sample, how well it absorbed mana, the estimated price of a Blue Diamond that size, and their desire to purchase it first.

If I traded directly with the Mages Guild, I could receive an advance payment without a separate distribution process, but unfortunately, I had no intention of trading with them.

I wrote a letter and handed it to Ivan.

“Ivan, could you deliver this letter to the Icarus Merchant Guild in the capital today?”

“I wouldn’t even mind acting as a carrier pigeon for the Lady.”

Ivan gave an exaggerated bow and flew out the window. It was my first time sending something via a ghost, so I wondered if it would be delivered well, but I trusted him to handle it.

The Icarus Merchant Guild I sent the letter to was newly established but had high growth potential. Moreover, the novel mentioned that the owner, Elliot Icarus, was upright and efficient.

The pigeon… I mean, Ivan, returned after lunch.

“When the guild master’s secretary was placing mail on the desk, I made it fall as if by accident right in front of the master.”

I had felt this when he was looking for the Blue Diamonds, but Ivan really had good sense.

“What was the guild master’s reaction to the letter?”

“As soon as he saw it, he looked shocked, immediately wrote a letter to his secretary, told them to prepare to go North, and hurriedly packed his bags.”

I smirked at Ivan’s regretful comment that I should have seen it myself. If this deal goes through, it will change the landscape of the magic item trade market in the Empire—there’s no way he’d miss this.

A few days later, the carriage of the Icarus Merchant Guild entered the Ghost Castle.

“Greetings, Duchess. I am Elliot Icarus of the Icarus Merchant Guild.”

A handsome man with swaying, wheat-colored hair smiled brightly and greeted me politely.

“I am Beatrice Itenas. Welcome to the North.”

“This is the mage I brought with me.”

“I am Elena Lowen.”

It seemed they had brought a mage to appraise the Blue Diamonds.

“I didn’t bring her because I doubted your letter, but since this is likely to be a large transaction, I wanted to be certain.”

“It’s fine. I want that too.”

If we’re going to trade, we should do it properly so there are no complaints later. I handed the Blue Diamond sample to Elena.

Elena placed the ore on her right palm and covered it with her left hand. A moment later, a strong blue light shone from between her hands before vanishing.

“It is indeed a Blue Diamond. And it’s at a very high concentration.”

Beads of sweat formed on Elena’s face, and she looked a bit tired, but her eyes were sparkling.

“With a Blue Diamond of this concentration, the history of magic tools will change. Just how much of this is buried? Could I have the honor of researching this?”

“Elena, that’s rude.”

She made an “oops” expression and went quiet with an apology.

“Seeing Elena make such a fuss, it must be a top-quality item.”

The trade proceeded smoothly. In exchange for the Icarus Merchant Guild having exclusive rights to the Blue Diamonds for three years, I received a blank check as an advance. I was the one most surprised by the guild master’s unexpected action.

“How can you give me this when you don’t know what amount I’ll write?”

“Whatever amount you write will be less than the profit the Blue Diamonds will bring.”

He added that no matter how much I wrote, the Icarus Merchant Guild was fully prepared. It was an incredible display of confidence.

I wrote an amount that lived up to his confidence. Now that sufficient funds were secured, the next steps were road maintenance and water system repairs for hot spring development.

***

The hot spring area in Mount Kirak was a rift valley untouched by human hands. People in this world had almost no knowledge of hot springs, and while this was the only hot spring area in the Empire, it was left abandoned because the water was too hot for humans to enter.

So, I wondered if the water would cool down to a usable temperature if it traveled through pipes all the way to Ishelbach, and I inquired with the Dwarven Union.

The dwarves were quite intrigued by my idea and said they would come up with a blueprint. Since they were a race with deep knowledge of architecture, I didn’t doubt for a second that my idea could be realized.

However, contrary to my expectations, I hit a snag in an unexpected place.

“We have no workers who can go into Mount Kirak. Even we dwarves, with our thick skin, cannot withstand the heat of that rift valley. It might be possible in winter when the temperature drops, but it’s difficult now.”

It was a problem I hadn’t considered because it wasn’t that hot in the North even in midsummer. Of course, a rift valley would be hot, and even hotter in summer. I can’t believe I didn’t think of something so simple.

While I was thinking about whether the hot spring business had to wait until winter, the ghost knight Ivan raised his hand.

“Wouldn’t it be possible right now if we carried out that construction?”

“The Iron-Blooded Knights?”

“Yes. Unlike other servant spirits, we of the Iron-Blooded Knights have a formal contract with the Duke. So we can exert physical force even outside the castle. And as you know, being ghosts, we have no physical limitations and are not affected by external temperatures, so no workers are better suited for entering the rift valley than us.”

“But will the other knights agree to that?”

“Our knights don’t have much to do except when we go on expeditions with the Duke anyway. They’re probably all itching for something to do since they’re just playing around in the castle, so they’ll step up for whatever task is given.”

“Hmm… ghosts doing construction… Well, as long as it’s built well, I don’t care if it’s the hands of an imp. Once the work inside the rift valley is done, we dwarves can handle the rest, so it’s a good idea.”

Since the prejudice-free dwarf agreed to Ivan’s idea, I had no reason to oppose it.

The construction proceeded smoothly. As Ivan said, as soon as they were given work, the knights volunteered one after another like carnivores pouncing on meat.

The ghost knights had been mercenaries or knights in life, but they said they had also frequently done things like repairing village walls when there was no work. Furthermore, one of the ghost knights had been taught by a dwarven professor at the academy, which made it much easier to understand the dwarven blueprints and proceed with the construction.

The ghost knights worked inside the rift valley, while the dwarves worked outside. Thanks to the simultaneous work, the water system was completed much faster than I or the dwarves expected.

The water system, a collaboration between dwarves and ghost knights, was perfect. The place we tested the water was a corner of the castle garden. Having a huge castle and a huge garden meant there was a lot of usable land, which was a great thing.

A moment later, when enough hot spring water had been collected, I lightly dipped my hand in. As expected, the temperature had cooled to just the right level.

I could feel the surrounding ghost knights and servant spirits cheering. The servant spirits were so happy that they fully revealed their hidden appearances. Even though their necks were dangling and their entrails were spilling out—ghastly sights—their faces were brightly smiling.

“If we can maintain this temperature and keep bringing it to Ishelbach, the residents won’t have to risk their lives going into the mountains to chop firewood to heat water in the winter.”

Though Ruslan subjugated them regularly, monsters in the North became more active in the winter. Therefore, the residents had to risk their lives just to get firewood.

I instructed that the water system be installed in several parts of the village and at the site for the future resort, and ordered a few buckets of hot spring water to be brought to my lab.

“What do you plan to do with this?”

I smiled at Edward, who was directing the servant spirits, and told him my next plan.

“I’m going to use it for promotion and as a business item.”

***

The owner of the Icarus Merchant Guild returned to the Duke’s castle a few days after the Blue Diamond deal was finalized.

“What did you call me for this time?”

Currently seeing massive profits from the Blue Diamond mining, Elliot Icarus was secretly looking forward to the summons from the North.

“I want to sell these in the capital.”

What I held out were a palm-sized cream jar, a small medicine bottle, and emerald-colored powder.

“These are cosmetics, potions, and bath salts made by developing the hot spring water of Mount Kirak. I’ve finished all the performance tests.”

“I heard that you installed a water system in Mount Kirak… but you made these from the lava of that hell?”

“Would you like to try using them?”

With a dazed face, Elliot looked at the cream jar, carefully opened the lid, and rubbed the milk-white cream onto the back of his hand.

The cream melted smoothly and was absorbed into his hand without any stickiness. Elliot looked shocked, rubbing his hand and alternating his gaze between the cream and my face.

“I’ve bought and used creams that noblemen use a few times, but this is amazing! I’ve never seen a product so soft and with such good absorption. Who on earth made this?!”

“I made it. There were moments every time when I wanted to quit.”

I looked out the window into the distance, recalling the memories. Even in my previous life, making cosmetics was just something I had done once with friends. It was a one-day experience at a shop, so it was almost meaningless; thus, this was purely the result of Beatrice’s knowledge of potion-making and the experience of failure.

Until the finished products were made through several experiments, the servant spirits and Elizabeth busily carried the hot spring water coming into the castle from morning until night.

“This powder is a bath salt filled with the benefits of the hot spring. Hot springs are full of ingredients that are good for the skin.”

I added an explanation about the medicine in the bottle. The potion was a byproduct of developing the cosmetics.

“That potion is a hangover cure. It’s much more effective than honey water.”

Elliot already believed my words that I had tested it myself. His eyes had been full of trust ever since he applied the cream to his hand.

“The Icarus Merchant Guild will take this exclusively…”

“I’m going to register these products for patents first!”

Elliot and I spoke at the same time.

I was the one surprised by Elliot’s words. To think there was a concept of patents here!

“These products will sell like wildfire as soon as they are released in the capital. I’d stake my name on it. But because of that, there’s a high probability that fake products will come out claiming to be the original, so it’s best to apply for a patent first.”

If a restaurant called “Grandmother’s Tomato Stew” becomes a hit, similar restaurants like “Grandfather’s Tomato Stew” or “Real Grandmother’s Tomato Stew” are bound to pop up nearby.

Because this caused constant disputes, the Empire had created a patent system for products. The criteria for patent application in the Empire were not strict. It was simply proving that you were the first person to invent the product.

While Elliot and I put our heads together to discuss and prepare the documents needed for the patents, the sun was already hiding its face.

“These documents for the products should be enough. I’ll be going now.”

“Isn’t it too late? Why don’t you stay here tonight and leave tomorrow? If it’s because this castle is scary, I’ll book you a room at another inn.”

“Haha. It’s alright. It’s not that late yet, and we need to apply for the patents quickly so we can start selling the products even one day sooner.”

“Oh, right. Could you get these items for me when you come back here?”

***

It was after I had seen Elliot off and returned to the castle.

“Are you finished with your conversation?”

Before I knew it, Ruslan was standing behind me.

“When did you get here? Didn’t you say you were going on a territory patrol today?”

“I already finished that.”

I was about to head to the dining room to eat dinner with Ruslan, who I figured would be hungry after traveling all day. However, Ruslan had been looking strangely disgruntled for a while.

“…You seemed to be having fun with that man earlier.”

He had his usual expressionless face, but I could see it. An expression that looked slightly pouting.

Wait? Could it be…

“Are you jealous?”

The words I was only thinking escaped my mouth, and I was so startled that I instinctively covered my mouth. Ruslan also seemed surprised by my words and blinked his wide eyes. I don’t know how many minutes passed as we just stared at each other in silence.

“Haha, I misspoke. We are only a married couple in name.”

We’re just a one-year contract couple; jealousy is ridiculous. But Ruslan just stared at me without confirming or denying my words. The atmosphere was becoming increasingly awkward.

“I… I have to go prepare for the next business! You should get some rest too, Ruslan!”

In the end, I had no choice but to flee the spot first. But even though I said it myself, it was absurd. Jealousy? Ruslan is the second male lead who will love the original female lead. The novel stated that Ruslan’s first and last love is the original female lead. I had no intention of touching the most important part of the original story.

Of course, I had already messed with the original by entering into a contract marriage with Ruslan, but please overlook this much—if I hadn’t done that, I would have had to marry that ugly pig. It’s still horrifying to think about.

And anyway, nothing will happen between Ruslan and me. The reason we’re getting along reasonably well now is that the original story hasn’t started yet. Once the original begins, this one-year marriage will be pushed to a corner of his mind and fade away. It would just be the kind of relationship where, years later, he might occasionally think, ‘Oh, right, such a thing happened,’ and remember it as a passing memory.

I had enough on my mind just thinking about how to build my life after the divorce. If there was one thing I wished for Ruslan, it was that he wouldn’t go missing like in the original and would live a bit more happily.

***

It was Beatrice who was most surprised by her own question—asking if he was jealous.

He wished for her happiness. He wanted her to live with a smile on her face, no matter when or where. That was why he had signed the contract she presented at the cafe without a moment’s hesitation. Even if it was only for a year, he wanted to watch over her from her side. He didn’t care if she used him; he just wanted her to keep smiling. As long as she was alive, he could survive on those memories alone.

But now that she was by his side, greed began to take root. Simply watching her made him want to be with her, and being with her made him never want to let her go.

Was he jealous? He was jealous of everything around her. From the books her fingers touched to the time she spent that he knew nothing about.

‘Why didn’t I find you sooner?’

He constantly wondered and regretted why he hadn’t found a trace of her at the Academy, a place he had entered only because he needed something. If he had known her then, if he had known she existed, perhaps this dark, murky emotion would have been diluted even just a little.

‘My bride, my lover, my everything. I do not ask for your love. Just let me look at you a little longer. Let me treasure these memories of you a little more.’

***

“Alright. The original story is the original story, but for now, business is business, right?”

“Pardon? What did you say, My Lady?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, Ivan, are you sure this is the place?”

“Yes. It’s the place the Duke stops by every time he goes on an expedition, so there’s no mistake.”

It was a night when the full moon was deeply hidden behind the clouds. Dressed in a suspicious outfit with a hood pulled low enough to hide my face, I stood in front of a shop with my arms crossed, staring at the sign.

[Gilbert’s Magic Shop]

It was a shop located in a rural village quite far from Ishelbach. For a shop in the countryside, the sign on the three-story building was impressively grand. This was the very shop that had been overcharging Ruslan.

To build a shop of this scale in a remote village meant the owner had made a killing off the monsters Ruslan brought in. The more I thought about it, the more disgraceful it felt. While I was staying up all night experimenting with hundreds of buckets of hot spring water to start a business, the owner of this building sat comfortably, making a fortune by talking his way into lowballing prices.

“Let’s go inside.”

Tonight, I intended to get back every cent the owner had cheated out of Ruslan—interest included.

***

Gilbert Roche, the owner of Gilbert’s Magic Shop, was in a very good mood because of a customer who had visited a few days ago. The value of the Basilisk and Wyvern that the man had brought in was beyond words.

Demand for Wyvern bones had been rising lately, pushing prices up. Thanks to the handsome silver-haired man who visited once every few months, Gilbert had made enough money to live lavishly in the capital for several months.

“I’m truly grateful to him.”

He was such a naive young master, handing things over without even questioning the suggested price.

‘Since I’m heading to the capital tomorrow, should I turn in for the night?’

Just as Gilbert was about to stretch and get up—

CRASH—!!!!!!

“Wh-What was that?!!”

Gilbert stumbled down to the first-floor shop. Midst the thick settling dust, pieces of wood that were presumably once the door rolled at Gilbert’s feet.

‘That door was enchanted with 8th-circle magic; even most mages would find it hard to break! How?!’

Staring at the wooden fragments in shock, Gilbert snapped his head up as a shadow entered the shop. A figure wearing a deep robe, making it impossible to tell their gender, emerged through the dust.

At a glance, the person looked shorter and smaller than him. This person broke an 8th-circle spell? He couldn’t believe it. Terrified that he might be facing a hidden master, Gilbert shouted even louder to hide his fear.

“Who are you?!! Why are you breaking into someone’s shop in the middle of the night?!!”

“I’ve come to collect the stolen money, you swindler!”

“What? What nonsense are you talking about?!”

Gilbert quickly searched his memory.

‘Had there been a customer like this?’

But no matter how much he thought, the only recent customer was the silver-haired “VIP” sucker.

“You’ve built quite a fancy three-story shop in a rural village like this. You’ve been living the dream, Gilbert Roche.”

“How… how do you know my name?!”

“Shouldn’t I at least know a swindler’s name before coming? You’ve made dozens of times the profit on the monsters you bought from the Duke of the North, yet you haven’t paid a single cent in taxes to avoid detection. You’re even involved in illegal black-market trading. I’m impressed, Mr. Gilbert. To think such a talent was rotting away in the countryside.”

He should have been rotting in prison.

“I-I was wrong! My Lord, just once… if you forgive me just once, I’ll never let this happen again—urk!”

“Forget it. How can I trust a swindler’s word? Human greed is endless, and people always repeat the same mistakes.”

I stuffed a crumpled pile of documents into Gilbert’s mouth and headed back to the safe, untying the pouch at my waist. As the pouch opened, the gold coins inside the safe were sucked into it all at once.

Of course, this wasn’t a feature of the pouch. It was a diligent performance by the ghost knights I had brought along. After seeing every last gold coin sucked in, I tied the knot. This pouch, which held an infinite amount of items and was enchanted with weight reduction, had been quite expensive when I bought it from the Icarus Merchant Guild master, but it was worth every penny.

“Gilbert Roche, all your assets have been confiscated in the name of the Duchess. I hope there are no objections. However…”

I squinted my eyes and gave a sweet smile as I walked up the split-level stairs. Seeing where I was headed, Gilbert spat out the papers and screamed.

“No!!!!! Not there, please!!!!!!”

Ignoring the swindler’s death rattle, I looked at the bookshelf before me.

“I feel a familiar yet strange energy inside here,” the ghost knight said. I nodded and ordered him to tear the bookshelf down. The muscular ghost knight immediately ripped the shelf off and threw it across the room.

Behind the shelf, a small entrance appeared. Inside, I saw the carcasses of a Basilisk and a Wyvern that hadn’t been sold yet, along with various items presumed to be contraband.

***

“You really saved us, My Lady. We were getting ripped off right in front of our eyes without even knowing it.”

“Make sure to research market prices from now on. Don’t just blindly trust whatever Ruslan says.”

I cautioned the ghost knights following beside me as I rode my horse. What would they do if they got scammed again when I wasn’t around?

“Haha, we must have been dead for too long. It feels like only a few years have passed, but prices have changed so much. In the old days, we would have beaten a guy like that to a pulp.”

“But what My Lady said is true. Since we are ghosts, we couldn’t step forward, and since the Duke brought back money without a word, we just assumed that was how it was.”

Nothing binds people together like trust. But unconditional trust without knowing the market—assuming the other party will handle it fairly—can be fatal, ruining households, destabilizing society, and lining a swindler’s pockets.

“By the way, that swindler… is it alright to leave him like that?”

Ivan had knocked Gilbert unconscious and left evidence of the smuggling and black-market deals at a nearby guard post.

“Smuggling and black-market trading are serious crimes in Imperial law. Especially since dangerous items like magic goods can be seen as treason. He’ll likely be dragged to a prison in the capital and suffer for the rest of his life.”

The reason I, who knew little about the laws of this country, knew this in such detail was because I had read it in the book. There was an episode where Evangeline and Ruslan got caught up in a smuggling case and went undercover. I found that part quite entertaining, but I never thought I’d use it this way.

“I still should have made him a eunuch! I’m frustrated we didn’t go that far!” A hot-tempered ghost knight with a rough beard punched the air.

“We cleaned out his entire granary instead. To a guy like that, money is more precious than his own manhood. Without money, he won’t be able to seduce anyone anyway.”

They laughed heartily. Their laughter echoed through the moonlit forest. It was a very pleasant night. Later, a rumor spread in a certain northern territory that a woman on horseback leading ghosts through the forest with a chilling laugh had been seen on the night of the full moon, terrifying the residents for quite a while.

***

Around the time road repairs were beginning with the profits from the Blue Diamonds and the promotion of the hot spring resort was in full swing, a letter with the Imperial seal arrived at the Duke’s castle.

“I am being asked to appear as a witness since the Svants territory was recently annexed to Ishelbach and a major smuggler was caught in the North.”

The smuggler was likely Gilbert, the man I had dealt with.

“Is it because his assets were confiscated in the North?”

“Probably not. The Emperor has wanted my submission for a long time. This is just an excuse to summon me.”

I remembered the novel stating that although the North was part of the Empire, it had a strong independent streak, and its lords were more loyal to the Duke of the North than to the Emperor. In other words, the Emperor wanted Ruslan to submit to him, fearing he might start a rebellion.

“I don’t particularly have a desire to make the North independent from the Empire, though.”

Ruslan said this as he sat in his study. In the book, he said this to the female lead in a romantic rose garden, not to a wife lying on a sofa reading a book.

“Something I’ve been curious about came to mind. Was the reason you haven’t developed the North all this time to show the Emperor a gesture that you won’t seek independence?”

Ishelbach, the capital of the North, was a city in name only; it was more like a rural village where residents herded goats and farmed. But soon, Ishelbach would become the center of the North. I was making it so. But that would require hiring private soldiers, which the Imperial family might see as a sign of rebellion.

“No, that’s not it. Do you think I left the North as it was simply because I was afraid of the Emperor?”

“If I’m being honest, I have no particular affection for the North. I only inherited the dukedom because of a contract with the previous Duke. He asked me to manage it, not develop it, so I simply didn’t.”

He spoke as if he were just feeding a goldfish he didn’t want, making sure it didn’t die. They shared the same space, but there was no affection; that was all the North meant to Ruslan.

“A contract? Does that mean you aren’t of Itenas blood?”

“Yes. I cannot go into detail due to the terms, but the previous Duke was physically weak and could not produce an heir. However, he hated the idea of his illegitimate children inheriting the house, so he offered me the dukedom as part of a contract.”

“And it was okay for a complete stranger to inherit Itenas?”

“I suppose. I don’t know his inner thoughts, but perhaps the idea of giving the position to his illegitimate children was simply that abhorrent to him.”

So that was why. I had often felt that Ruslan talked about himself and the Itenas family as separate entities, but I thought it was just a habit. It turned out he really was an outsider.

“But regardless of the contract, the fact that the current Duke has no blood relation seems like a huge secret. Is it okay to tell me?”

“Wife, you were the one who asked.”

He had moved behind me and was now meticulously grooming my hair, which had become messy from lounging on the sofa. I could feel him carefully combing every strand.

“I want to be as honest as possible with you.”

The look in his eyes was soft. I didn’t know why, but I felt like I had stepped inside his boundaries. It felt surprisingly good.

“Really? Then I have one more question. Why does your face shine so much?”

“My face shines? Hmm… I didn’t know that. I’ll go ask the ghost knights how much it shines.”

I had meant it as a playful way to say he was handsome, but I didn’t expect him to react so seriously. I had to sweat a bit to hold back Ruslan, who was genuinely about to go out to the training grounds to ask them.

I didn’t dislike becoming close enough to joke with him like this. The problem was that I didn’t dislike it. Once the original story started, Ruslan would fall in love, and the closer we got, the more it would hurt when we parted. The contract marriage, which I thought would be more distant than a goldfish in a bowl, was changing in an unexpected direction.

(As a side note, Ruslan later asked the ghost knights if his face shone, and everyone on the training grounds made a horribly distorted face at him for the first time.)

***

“I will be back within two weeks at the latest.”

“It takes more than five days by carriage from here to the Imperial Palace, and you’ll be back in two weeks?”

“If I fly, I can arrive in a few hours.”

“Don’t say things like that with such a serious face.”

I almost believed him. Ruslan kissed the back of my hand with his usual calm expression.

“Wife, would you kiss my hand as well?”

“Oh, the defensive magic, right?” I hurried to kiss the back of his hand. “And… have a safe trip.”

I greeted him, and our cheeks lightly touched before pulling away. But he stood still for a moment, half-closing his eyes.

“Are you not going to kiss my cheek anymore?”

“Ed… Edward said this was how it’s normally done! I’m sorry about before. I didn’t know…”

The traditional greeting for a wife wishing for her husband’s safety was a “bisous” style cheek-to-cheek touch. I hadn’t known that and…!

“No. Kissing the cheek is correct.”

“Edward definitely said it was done this way…”

“Edward is getting old; his memory must be failing him.”

Ruslan, saying something that would have made the butler of a three-generation butler family resign on the spot, stepped closer and kissed Beatrice on the cheek.

“If you won’t do it, I will.”

He gave a satisfied smile as his lips slowly pulled away from her cheek.

“My goodness! That Duke, who never even glanced at a woman!”

“The world must be ending! Oh, Goddess Anis, please look down upon the Empire!”

The ghost knights nearby were clamoring and dropping their helmets, but their voices didn’t reach Beatrice, whose brain had stalled.

“While I am away, you are the master of this castle, so do whatever you wish.”

My frozen thoughts returned. I snapped out of it and looked at Ruslan’s face. It was as composed as ever.

“What if I spend the entire Duchy budget while doing so?”

“Then I shall raid a dragon’s nest on my way back.”

I was about to joke and tell him to bring something back, but I went quiet, fearing he might actually raid a dragon’s lair and incur a dragon’s wrath. After we said our goodbyes, Ruslan led the Iron-Blooded Knights toward the capital. I watched them leave from the open grounds before turning back to the castle. My face felt hot, as if summer was truly beginning.

***

The castle, already quiet, felt even more desolate after Ruslan and the knights left. I spent my days renovating the Great Hall, which had apparently never been used, gathering herbs for potion research, and coordinating with Felix on how to run the business and spend the budget.

Then, one night…

It was pitch black. It was so dark I couldn’t even see what was in front of me, and I was running blindly to escape. To escape the giant eyes chasing me.

“Pant… pant… I haven’t had a single nightmare since I got here.”

The ghosts I saw daily were much more real and scarier than nightmares. Thanks to that, I usually fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. This was the first nightmare I’d had since falling into the novel. But what good was knowing it was a nightmare if I couldn’t wake up?

Just as I was getting exhausted from the chase, a thought occurred to me. ‘What if I stop and turn around to see what it is?’ Maybe it was nothing. And who knows? Maybe I’d wake up right away.

The moment I stopped and turned toward the thing chasing me—

“Wh… What is this?!!!”

The thing chasing me was a giant snake with a melting, mangled face. Just as it opened its mouth wide to devour me—

“Gasp!”

I opened my eyes to see the familiar castle ceiling. My body was soaked in sweat, and I felt myself being shaken. Elizabeth was beside me, shaking me desperately. Even though she was a expressionless skeleton, I could feel her urgent desire to wake me. I placed my hand on the back of hers. The sensation of cold bone traveled up my arm.

“It’s okay. I’m awake.”

Seeing that I was up, Elizabeth gripped my arm tight and bowed her head. It looked like she was crying, which made me feel bad. To change out of my sweat-soaked clothes, I turned on a magic lamp and was met with a horrific sight.

“What happened?! Elizabeth, are you okay? This is…”

Her hands, which had been fine during the day, were now as black as coal, looking as if they would crumble into dust.

‘That dream… it wasn’t just a dream.’

My intuition told me so as I looked at Elizabeth’s blackened hands.

From the next day, I made incense out of herbs that were said to ward off evil energy and help with deep sleep. For a few days, I slept soundly. But as time went on, normal dreams and nightmares began to mix, preventing me from getting proper rest.

Then, at some point, whenever a nightmare was about to begin, a cool energy would drive it away. A chilling energy, cold as snow, circled me to stabilize me—it felt exactly like Ruslan.

My husband by a one-year contract. The master of the Ghost Castle. A man who, contrary to my thoughts of him being cold and indifferent, was actually kind.

‘What exactly is he?’

***

In the quiet night of the Duke’s castle, Ruslan sat beside the sleeping Beatrice, holding her hand tight.

In truth, Ruslan had sensed the black magic lingering in the castle from the moment Beatrice had her first nightmare. He had placed a defensive spell on her in case someone tried to harm her in his absence, but it seemed it hadn’t worked perfectly. Beatrice had tried her own methods, but they were only temporary. So, every night, he flew back while she was asleep to protect her from the black magic.

A nightmare this strong had to be mental-interference black magic, and there was only one person he knew who could use it. A woman who looked beautiful on the outside, covered in colorful scales and feathers, but was like a black snake on the inside. However, catching her wasn’t easy; he had suspicions, but no concrete evidence.

“If it weren’t for the contract, I would have destroyed her regardless of evidence.”

The cursed contract of the first Itenas held him back. But it would be over soon. A little longer, and he would be free from this contract that felt like a collar forced upon him for so long. And once that happened…

“You said you wanted to travel the world.”

Ruslan recalled the words his lover had said long ago. It was a memory from ages ago, yet he remembered it as clearly as if he had heard it yesterday.

“Even now, you haven’t changed.”

Beatrice had once mentioned in passing that she wanted to go to another country after the one-year marriage ended. He wasn’t included in that plan, but it was okay. Even if she didn’t want him, he could protect her from the shadows. Even if she reached the end of her life and was born again somewhere else, he could follow her to wherever she reincarnated. That was enough.

Even if she didn’t know him or love him, she was still her. He remembered everything, and that was enough. Yet, why did he still feel greedy?

‘Let’s put in this clause. If the reincarnation of your lover… succeeds…’

The voice of the previous Duke echoed in his ears. Although it had been a long time since he died, this body, which had not received the blessing of oblivion, remembered events from decades and centuries ago as if they were yesterday.

He looked at the face of the peacefully sleeping Beatrice. The reincarnation of the lover he had wanted to meet for so long.

“When will I finally be able to forget you?”

His voice, cracked like someone who hadn’t spoken for a long time, drifted into the air. Ruslan held Beatrice’s hand tight and watched her sleep. She looked peaceful, not a single nightmare in sight.