Chapter 8

As we arrived in the North, its biting winds greeted us. We hadn’t been away for long, but seeing the ghost castle again filled me with unexpected joy. Even the servant spirit, who was spilling its innards while working with a relaxed posture, looked oddly welcoming.

 

Upon returning to the Ducal Castle, a mountain of work that had accumulated during my stay in the capital came crashing down all at once. Consequently, I had to live buried under piles of documents for a while.

 

Between inspecting the resort construction site, mediating between the newly formed Merchant Guild in Ishelbach and the recently immigrated artisans—noble masters who had come to this humble Ishelbach after Ruslan practically dueled them into coming—and attending to the welfare of the new residents, time flowed steadily until we reached the very edge of autumn.

 

Then, one day…

 

“The Day of the Dead is approaching soon.”

 

“The Day of the Dead?”

 

It started with Felix bringing it up out of the blue while we were discussing housing for the sudden influx of immigrants.

 

“Ah, since My Lady lived in the capital, you might not be aware. Here in the North, it is said that on the last day of autumn, the deceased descend from the underworld to the living world once a year to meet their families. To ensure the visiting dead don’t lose their way, the living mark paths by scattering marigolds on the ground. In the central square, festive foods are sold, and to make the spirits feel comfortable walking the streets, the living dress up to look like the dead. it’s a delightful festival.”

 

“That’s perfect! We’re about to open the hot spring resort, and the timing coincides with the transition from autumn to winter. We’re already seeing great promotional results in the capital with the hot spring cosmetics, so promoting the Day of the Dead festival alongside it will revitalize the local economy. What a great idea!”

 

“My, my. This old man mentioned the festival hoping you and the Duke would go out and have some fun, but My Lady is already thinking ten steps ahead.”

 

Seeing Felix chuckle while stroking his mustache made me feel like I’d been struck with a realization. Thinking back, I had done nothing but work since returning from the capital. It seemed my brain’s entire processing power had been redirected solely toward labor.

 

I didn’t even work this hard in my previous life. You only live once; you should play while you’re young. I decided to take Felix’s advice and rest during the Day of the Dead. Felix added with a chuckle:

 

“On the Day of the Dead, unexplainable and strange things sometimes occur. Some call it a single night’s mirage, while others say they were possessed by a soul visiting the living world. regardless, it’s the most enjoyable festival in the North, so I highly recommend you attend.”

 

 

***

 

 

The Day of the Dead begins in the morning. Residents of the North scatter home-grown marigolds in their yards and along the roads so the visiting spirits don’t go to the wrong house or lose their way. They believe the hand-grown flowers act as a guide that only their family’s spirits can recognize.

 

As evening falls, the festival truly begins. The once-quiet main streets and central square were filled with whimsical pumpkin-shaped lanterns and countless stalls, and the streets were packed with people enjoying the festivities.

 

A street band dressed as ghosts played lively music in a corner of the square, delighting the ears of passersby. While waiting for Ruslan, I tossed a gold coin into the box in front of the band.

 

“Here you are.”

 

Ruslan handed me a candy apple he had just bought from a stall.

 

“The music was so cheerful, I found myself watching without realizing it.”

 

“Is that so?” Ruslan replied, pulling a small pouch from his coat and emptying it into the box. It was a whole pouch of gold coins.

 

“This is a reward for entertaining my wife.”

 

The band members, their eyes widening at the sight of the glittering gold, dropped their instruments and shouted, “Oh, thank you, milord!!!” They bowed deeply to the ground and stayed there until we were out of sight.

 

“It has been a long time since I’ve seen this place so vibrant.”

 

Ruslan smiled softly as he watched children in pumpkin hats running and laughing.

 

Recently, with the resort opening soon, wealthy individuals and nobles who pride themselves on being first to try new things had been arriving early to stay, but not all of those nobles were out at the festival. These people filling the main street were likely…

 

“Many immigrants have recently moved to Ishelbach. They came because of rumors that there are many jobs here.”

 

“Yes. A massive project like building a resort and renovating all the roads was too much for the original residents of Ishelbach alone.”

 

“It feels quite strange. I only ever intended to manage this place and maintain it so it wouldn’t get worse; I never expected to see it like this. But even so, seeing it prosper doesn’t feel bad.”

 

The lights of the night street sparkled in his black eyes, which seemed to absorb light itself, making them look like a starry night sky. Ruslan turned his head, fixing his gaze entirely on me.

 

“This is all thanks to My Lady.”

 

Meeting his eyes head-on made the heat rush to my face, so I hurriedly looked away. Wow, bringing a face that handsome so close is a foul! To hide my fluster, I searched for a question within our conversation.

 

“Why did you only intend to maintain this place?”

 

“That was the contract I made with the former Duke. To inherit the title and fulfill the duties of a Duke.”

 

“Did that not include the development of the North?”

 

“No. Developing something is a personal human greed, not a duty. I even looked through an old book called ‘The 100 Duties of Imperial Nobles’ just in case, so I am certain.”

 

Imagining Ruslan diligently scouring a book to find out exactly what a noble’s duties were made me burst into a giggle.

 

“What is that? You sound like a student who only follows the school rules and does whatever they want otherwise.”

 

“Actually, I was like that at the Academy. To inherit the Dukedom, I had to receive a certain level of education, so I followed nothing except what was required at the Academy.”

 

I burst into laughter at Ruslan’s deadpan delivery. It was a different side to the cool Duke who looked like he would handle work with zero flexibility.

 

“You were a total delinquent student. How old were you then, Ruslan?”

 

Ruslan, who had been laughing and chatting harmoniously, suddenly fell silent. Wait? Could this be…

 

“Is this perhaps something you aren’t allowed to say directly?”

 

He gave a small sigh and nodded. Good grief, what exactly is his identity that I can’t even ask his age?

 

But thinking about it the other way, it meant Ruslan’s age was directly linked to his true identity. At this point, I wasn’t even that curious about his identity, but now I wanted to know.

 

“Then, shall we play ‘Twenty Questions’ like we mentioned before?”

 

He nodded in agreement. I didn’t hesitate to ask.

 

“You aren’t human, are you?”

 

Ruslan was about to nod, but paused and looked at me with surprised eyes.

 

“Don’t look so shocked. Living with you, I began to suspect as much. For starters, easily catching a high-ranking magical beast like a Basilisk isn’t something an ordinary human can do, right?”

 

At first, I thought it was just a buff that came with being a second male lead in a novel with the setting of ‘the strongest military power on the continent.’ But if you look at it that way, the Crown Prince should be the ‘Space Crown Prince’ who rules the whole universe. The stats for the main male lead and the second male lead were too mismatched.

 

“If I ask how many tens of years… you’ve lived, you won’t be able to answer, so I guess I have to guess? A safe bet, 100 years?”

 

Shake shake.

 

“Then 500 years?”

 

Shake shake.

 

I went up to 1,000 years, but Ruslan only shook his head. No, then exactly how old is he? I decided to just throw out a random number.

 

“3,000 years!”

 

Even as I said it, I thought it was a stretch. But just then, Ruslan’s expression, which had been calmly shaking his head, changed subtly. What? Could it be the right answer??

 

Just as I was about to ask if it was true, a sudden surge of the crowd swept between us.

 

“Uh, oh…!”

 

“Beatrice!”

 

The more I tried to get closer to Ruslan, the more I was pushed away by people’s shoulders. After being moved along in the midst of the crowd in a daze for a long time, I was finally able to break free.

 

When I finally regained my senses and looked around, I was standing in a dark, deserted alleyway.

 

“Where on earth am I…?”

 

Marigolds were scattered sparsely in the alley, but there was no sign of anyone around. While I was debating whether to move or wait for Ruslan to find me, I saw a small light twinkling in the distance.

 

Is Ruslan looking for me? I walked quickly toward the twinkling light. Before long, I discovered its source. A large building stood there.

 

In the middle of the dark space, the building emitted a faint white glow. Built with care from exquisitely carved marble, it looked like a temple.

 

Seeing a light twinkling softly inside, it seemed someone was in there. I cautiously stepped inside to ask for directions.

 

Step— step—

 

The sound of my footsteps echoed quietly inside the building. I was sure I saw a light from this direction…

 

As I looked around for the light, I heard the sound of trickling water from somewhere. Was someone there?

 

But this felt strangely like a similar experience I’d had before… Still, I figured I didn’t have many other options, and I was living in a Ghost Castle, so what did I have to fear? I walked slowly toward the sound of the water.

 

The sound of water grew louder as I walked forward. Upon reaching the source, I found a statue of a man with long hair in the center, with water flowing along both sides of the path leading to it. The sound of water seemed to be coming from here.

 

As if possessed, I walked up to the statue. It was dark and hard to see, but that face looked familiar…

 

“Isn’t it beautiful?”

 

Startled by the voice suddenly coming from behind, I snapped out of it and hurriedly turned around. Behind me stood a woman wrapped tightly in a robe, exuding a gloomy aura.

 

“This is a temple dedicated to Samael, the Sword of God who destroyed the Tower of Babel in ancient times. I am the priestess of this place.”

 

The woman approached me and looked up at the statue.

 

“He was the finest sword and the servant of God, beloved by Him. It is said that he destroyed the Tower of Babel built by greedy humans and later helped the first Duke of Itenas drive out the magical beasts of the North.”

 

My ears perked up at the mention of the House of Itenas. I wanted to hear more about it and was about to ask her more questions. But the woman, who had been staring only at the statue, suddenly snapped her head toward me.

 

“You have a concern.”

 

Momentarily overwhelmed by the eyes glinting menacingly inside the robe, I found myself stammering.

 

“Pardon? Well… doesn’t everyone live with some kind of concern?”

 

“Not something so simple… Oh. You are not originally from this world.”

 

My heart sank at her words. The fact that I wasn’t originally from this novel but a ‘possessor’ was a secret I had never told anyone. More accurately, I hadn’t said anything because it was obvious no one would believe me even if I did.

 

“Shall I listen to your concern?”

 

The priestess, her eyes glinting, walked slowly toward me. My instincts screamed that getting involved with this woman would be dangerous. This time, I decided to follow my instincts.

 

“Ah… no, I think I’m fine. Um… I’ll be going now.”

 

But the priestess continued to approach as if she hadn’t heard me. I subtly backed away to keep my distance. At that moment, I suddenly lost my balance.

 

[SPLASH!]

 

‘Ah, there was water flowing behind me.’

 

I realized it too late after falling in. But was the water here this deep? Regardless, I struggled to climb back up, but the more I thrashed, the more it felt like I was sinking.

 

‘Am I going to suffocate and die like this… wait?’

 

Come to think of it, I could breathe underwater. While I was marvelling at this anomaly, my body sank further and further until it landed softly on the ground. Then, an unbelievable sight unfolded before my eyes.

 

I was standing in a lush green meadow. And not far away, a familiar person was in sight. He had long hair and looked a bit younger than he did now, but it was undoubtedly Ruslan.

 

“Oh? Ruslan…”

 

I tried to call his name but couldn’t finish when I saw him with someone else.

 

The person beside Ruslan was a woman with the same sky-blue hair as mine. I wondered if it was Beatrice, but it wasn’t her.

 

She was laughing brightly as she led Ruslan somewhere by the arm. Ruslan followed her without a hint of reluctance.

 

What kind of illusion was this? My feet moved toward them of their own accord.

 

“What exactly is in this tiny lake that interests you so much?”

 

“A tiny lake? You’re the only one, Lord Ruslan, who would call the largest lake in the Kingdom of Orsha ‘tiny.’ Anyway, look here.”

 

My eyes widened at the woman’s words. The Kingdom of Orsha. That was an ancient kingdom that existed before the Empire.

 

Before I knew it, I could move my feet freely. I stepped closer to hear their conversation in detail. Looking closely at the woman next to Ruslan, not only her hair color but also her eye color was exactly the same as mine.

 

“There’s a kitten here all alone.”

 

“It seems to have lost its mother.”

 

“Can we keep this little one?”

 

“I refuse. I have a fur allergy.”

 

“Stop lying. You aren’t even human; what do you mean, ‘fur allergy’?”

 

“A fur allergy is not a privilege only humans can possess, is it?”

 

It was amusing to see them bickering, and I couldn’t help but let out a giggle. Ruslan was the same even back then.

 

“No, you let me keep that lizard before, so why not a cat!”

 

The sky-blue-haired woman finally yelled. They must have still been arguing about the cat.

 

“…If you keep a cat, won’t all your attention go to the cat alone?”

 

Both the sky-blue-haired woman and I blinked at that answer. Wait, so over a cat…

 

“Are you jealous of Kitty right now?”

 

“When did you even name it… sigh, fine, keep it.”

 

Ruslan covered his mouth with one hand and turned his head away. His face wasn’t visible from her side, but from where I stood, I could see his entire reddened face. It was an expression I’d never seen before.

 

“Ahahaha. I really didn’t expect that. Lord Ruslan, you’re so cute.”

 

The woman gave Ruslan a tight hug from behind. He didn’t reject her and gave a sweet smile, lightly kissing her forehead. That sight made my heart feel cold for some reason.

 

This was Ruslan’s past. He must have lived incomparably longer than any human. So, I couldn’t be sure that he hadn’t had a lover in the past.

 

I, too, had a short life, but I’d dated a few people in my previous life. But why had I naturally assumed he had never had anyone who could be called a lover?

 

My head was buzzing with all sorts of thoughts. That smiling face was something only I was supposed to know. Feeling a creeping unpleasantness from beneath my feet, I wanted to leave this place immediately. At that moment, it felt as if my body suddenly floated into the air, and my eyes snapped open.

 

“…Huh?”

 

A dim blue light reflected off the marble floor. I sat up from where I was lying and looked around. I was still in the middle of the temple where I’d been standing.

 

However, the place where the water had been flowing was now dry with only fallen leaves rolling around, and the path was covered in a thick layer of dust as if it hadn’t been touched by human hands.

 

‘Was I possessed by a ghost?’

 

I dazedly turned back to look at the statue. The spot where the statue had been was now just a pile of crumbled stones, with no trace of the statue to be found.

 

“What on earth…”

 

The inside of the temple looked much older and more desolate than what I had seen before. It felt like walking into an abandoned house with not a hint of human warmth. Suddenly, Felix’s words came to mind.

 

“On the Day of the Dead, unexplainable and strange things sometimes occur. Some call it a single night’s mirage, while others say they were possessed by a soul visiting the living world.”

 

‘A single night’s mirage. That must have been true.’

 

I chuckled and stood up, dusting off my dress. Seeing the bluish tint outside, dawn must be approaching. Since morning was coming soon, it shouldn’t be dangerous to be outside. I walked out.

 

Looking at the temple from the outside, it looked even more desolate and eerie than inside.

 

‘Even if it was dark, how did I ever think of entering here? Living in the Ghost Castle has dulled my senses.’

 

The marigolds scattered to commemorate the Day of the Dead still remained on the streets. If I followed these, wouldn’t I find the square? Then, I suddenly thought of the ghost knights.

 

I decided to call Ivan. A moment later, in less than a few seconds, Ivan appeared before me.

 

“My Lady! Where have you been???!!! Do you have any idea how long we’ve been searching for you?”

 

“Searching for me? I was just in the temple over there…”

 

I turned back to point to where the temple had been, but the temple was nowhere to be found. How did this happen? It was right here just a moment ago…

 

“No matter how much we searched, we couldn’t see you, My Lady, and the Duke is on the verge of losing his mind. I truly thought I was going to die—.”

 

“Uh… I’m sorry. I didn’t think of you all.”

 

“Do you know how much the Duke tormented us when he couldn’t see you even using magic? I thought I was going to die a second time.”

 

Ivan wailed, clutching his heart. I should have just called him when I got lost. Thinking of them having to bear all of Ruslan’s anger made me feel even more sorry.

 

“Where is Ruslan now?”

 

“He’s in the square… Oh? He’s coming this way.”

 

“Beatrice!!!”

 

As soon as Ivan finished speaking, I heard Ruslan’s voice. I watched as Ruslan ran toward me. His approach felt like it was happening in slow motion.

 

They say the moment you fall in love is enchanting and sweet. And they say the moment you realize your love comes at a beautiful and special time that could be described with all sorts of flowery language.

 

But those words were half-right and half-wrong. The moment you realize your love can come at any time. But just because that moment happens in an ordinary situation doesn’t mean it isn’t special.

 

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

 

Ruslan checked with a desperate face to see if I was injured in any way. That sight was both apologetic and endearing.

 

“I’m fine. But I just experienced something strange—.”

 

Before I could finish, Ruslan pulled me into a tight embrace. I could feel his body trembling in his arms. As the anxiety Ruslan must have felt during the few hours I was gone was conveyed directly to me, I realized it at the same time.

 

‘Ah. Yes. I see. I’ve fallen for this man.’

 

That’s why I felt oddly unpleasant every time I tried to pair Ruslan and Evangeline, and why I hated the fact that he had a woman in his past.

 

“I thought I had lost you.”

 

In the past, being held in his arms might have been a bit embarrassing, but it didn’t make my heart flutter. But not anymore. I reached out and gave Ruslan a tight hug.

 

‘Yes, let’s admit it now. I can no longer see this man as a novel character or a second male lead.’

 

Because he is a man, and the person I love.

 

 

***

 

 

“Ruslan. I… I like you.”

 

I squeezed my eyes shut and let out my confession like a shout. My heart thundered, and my hands trembled as they gripped my skirt. To my surprise, Ruslan smiled brightly.

 

“Is that so? Well, this is quite awkward. I only brought you here as a replacement for my lover. We are a married couple under contract, so it is troubling if you act this way.”

 

His words struck my heart like a dagger. I tried to say something, but the words died in my throat. Shrugging his shoulders, he pulled a woman with sky-blue hair toward him, wrapping his arm around her waist.

 

“It’s true I felt some goodwill toward you because your hair and eyes are identical to hers, but I love my original lover after all. As luck would have it, our contract period has ended, so we have no further business with each other. Farewell.”

 

Ruslan walked away with the woman without even looking back.

 

‘Ruslan, wait. Wait just a moment…’

 

“Gasp…!”

 

I opened my eyes. Ruslan and the woman were gone; instead, the familiar ceiling of my room came into view. It was a dream.

 

‘What a filthy dream,’ I thought, pushing myself up. Outside, it was still the crack of dawn. It was far too early to wake up, and one shouldn’t live life sleep-deprived. I tried to lie back down and close my eyes, but that dream clung to my mind like a burr.

 

That woman… her hair was the same sky-blue as mine. And those eyes, a mix of light green and yellow, were the same color as mine, too.

 

If it were just the hair, I might have shrugged it off, but for her eyes to match mine as well—and for her to be Ruslan’s long-lost lover? No matter how I looked at it, it didn’t feel like a coincidence.

 

Several hypotheses floated through my mind, starting with whether Ruslan had a sky-blue hair fetish. But as I spiraled, the worst-case scenario kept surfacing.

 

‘What if the only reason Ruslan agreed to the contract marriage was to use me as a substitute for her?’

 

I didn’t want to think that way, but once the thought took root, all his past actions began to make sense. Why he had so readily agreed to a contract marriage with a stranger, and why he—the famously cold Northern Duke who hated people—had been so different with me.

 

The tenderness Ruslan had shown me was exactly the same as what I’d seen in that vision. I felt a cold chill settle in a corner of my chest. My mood was…

 

Absolutely foul.

 

Because if that were true, Ruslan wasn’t seeing me for who I am; he was seeing her through me. He was doing for me the things he had wanted to do for her, and saying to me the things he had wanted to say to her. That was incredibly cruel.

 

Even seeing Evangeline and Ruslan embrace wouldn’t feel this disgusting. Wait, then what about Ruslan falling for Evangeline in the original story? Is Evangeline actually the reincarnation of his lover?

 

My head was a mess. I shook my head vigorously.

 

‘This is all just a delusion I’ve cooked up.’

 

I didn’t want to be swayed by unconfirmed hypotheses before asking Ruslan directly. So, I decided to sleep. I’d wake up and ask him.

 

However, my plan hit a snag from the very beginning.

 

“Ruslan won’t be back for a few days?”

 

“He left early this morning to subjugate magical beasts in preparation for winter. Did you not hear?”

 

‘Ummm…’

 

I think I might have heard him mention it, but my memory was hazy. To be honest, ever since I realized I liked him, I had been consciously avoiding him, using the resort construction as an excuse to leave early and come back late.

 

And whenever I did end up talking to him, I was so focused on making sure my face didn’t turn red that I barely remembered what we talked about.

 

“Are you going out again today?”

 

“Yes… I have a lot of work to do today, too.”

 

As I trudged out like an office worker on a Monday morning, Edward handed me a lunch box.

 

“I’ve included some honey cake and Mont Blanc, which you enjoy.”

 

“Really? Those are my favorites! How did you know? You’re the best, Edward.”

 

“The Duke ordered me to prepare them for you.”

 

My hand froze as I reached for the box.

 

‘Had I ever told Ruslan I liked these desserts? Could it be that his past lover liked them, too?’

 

“My Lady? Are you alright? You look pale.”

 

“I’m… I’m fine. I’ll enjoy them.”

 

I practically snatched the box from Edward’s hands and hurried away.

 

‘It’s just a coincidence. He probably just ordered them because I usually like sweet things. That’s all it is.’

 

 

***

 

 

“Ugh, I’m exhausted.”

 

The morning had flown by as I ran between the commercial district and the hot spring resort, and prioritized rebuilding old, dilapidated houses with new underfloor heating systems.

 

“My, my. Duchess, what brings out such a groan from you today?”

 

The owner of my favorite restaurant set the lunch special down in front of me as I was slumped over the table. Today’s lunch was crispy-skinned, tender roast goose with wheat wraps.

 

“The territory’s population has increased lately, so I’m busier than before.”

 

“You should hire someone. At this rate, you’ll collapse first, Duchess.”

 

“…If there were anyone willing to come to the Ghost Castle, I would have hired them long ago.”

 

“Ah…”

 

The owner didn’t need to say anything; we both knew no one wanted to work at that castle.

 

Actually, contrary to what I told the owner, I didn’t necessarily have to be this busy. But whenever I had a spare moment, the thought that I might just be a substitute for that woman would resurface, so I purposely kept myself occupied. It kept the bad thoughts at bay, but it was physically draining.

 

“Would you like to come to our castle, ma’am? I’ll pay you a high salary.”

 

“Haha. How much can you offer? I’m a skilled professional, so I’m quite expensive.”

 

I was having lunch and sharing light jokes with the owner I’d grown close to when…

 

“Madam Linda! Three bottles of rum, please!”

 

“Ugh, that man is here again. Hey! I told you, if you drink like that, you’ll really die!”

 

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure not to cause you any trouble.”

 

“Goodness!! Just make sure you don’t die in my shop and leave me to clean up your corpse. Here!”

 

The man, having won the small skirmish with the owner, began drinking straight from the bottle as soon as he received it.

 

‘Wow, I’ve never seen anyone chug rum like that before.’

 

I whispered to the owner as she returned from serving him.

 

“Is he going to be okay?”

 

“He says he’s fine, but how could he be? He blows his entire daily wage from the construction site on liquor. He always pays and doesn’t ask for credit, so I sell it to him, but I’m terrified he’ll actually drop dead. He looks ragged, but his speech is polite—probably a free knight—I don’t know why he lives like that.”

 

‘That man is possessed.’

 

To others, he might just look like a drunk, but my intuition—honed from living with ghosts in the Ducal Castle—was telling me otherwise.

 

“My Lady. What are you doing?”

 

“Shh, Ivan. Stay still and just watch until I give the command. Even if he does something to me, just stay put.”

 

‘Ugh, the Duke is going to kill me.’

 

Ignoring Ivan’s whimpering, I approached the man.

 

“Hey. What lingering attachment do you have that’s making you act like this?”

 

“Who… who are you?”

 

The man looked up, and his face was surprisingly clean-cut. If he trimmed his shaggy hair and beard, he looked like the type women would quite like. Looking at his straw-blonde hair and innocent-looking eyes, he reminded me of a large dog.

 

“I am the wife of Duke Itenas, the lord of Ishelbach. If what I’m about to say feels rude, feel free to say so. What lingering attachment do you have to this life that you’re clinging to someone else’s body like this?”

 

The man flinched at my words, but realizing I hadn’t come to exorcise him, he went back to his bottle.

 

“It’s none of your business. Why is a Duchess picking a fight with a pathetic knight like me?!”

 

“Because I don’t like ignoring things just because they aren’t ‘my business.'”

 

I thought of the ghosts in the Ducal Castle and my experiences with them. Honestly, without those experiences, I wouldn’t have tried to get involved in a ghost’s business. But I had already glimpsed their world and knew they were more fragile and pitiable than people thought.

 

Since I knew that, I couldn’t turn a blind eye. Even if it was meddling, so be it. At the very least, I wanted to help the ghost before me resolve its grudge.

 

“Oh, is that so? I’ve been thinking… the reason I haven’t been able to move on to the afterlife yet is because I haven’t been able to drink wine served by a woman.”

 

His previously innocent-looking eyes had turned sly.

 

“I think my grudge might be resolved if the Duchess herself poured me a drink.”

 

“Is that your wish? Very well.”

 

From a distance, I heard the restaurant owner shout, “Duchess, please! Don’t listen to a man like that!” but I let the words go in one ear and out the other as I sat next to him. The man chuckled and pushed a glass toward me.

 

“Aha, things are looking up after death. To have the Duchess herself pour a drink for a scoundrel like me.”

 

His insulting words were enough to make anyone get up and leave. I just smiled more sweetly.

 

“You said your grudge would be resolved if I poured you a drink, right?”

 

“Mmm… that’s right. But one or two glasses might not be enough.”

 

The man’s hand began to creep toward me. Ivan, seemingly unable to watch any longer, looked ready to pounce. That’s when it happened.

 

“Here’s my answer, take this!!!”

 

Before Ivan could jump in, I swiftly slapped the man across the face. Using that as a starting point, I curled my hand into a fist and began to pummel him.

 

“Seriously, where are these guys made? The repertoire is always the same! Hey, wake up! Are you showing off that you’ve never had a drink with a woman before?!”

 

As expected, a ‘physical exorcism’ was the most effective. The man couldn’t regain his senses under the merciless beating, while the restaurant owner and Ivan just stood there, unable to intervene.

 

After a few minutes, the man waved his hands in the air.

 

“Wa… wait, just a moment, please.”

 

The man, who had been speaking in a raspy, gravelly voice, was now speaking in the voice of a young man in his twenties.

 

“What on earth…”

 

The man looked disoriented. Regardless, I asked him.

 

“What is your name?”

 

“It’s… Cayenne Artishia.”

 

“And your occupation?”

 

“I used to be a knight for a territory called Iversen… but not anymore.”

 

“Hmm… it seems you’ve returned to your senses. Don’t let yourself get possessed by weirdos in the future, and take care of your body.”

 

Without looking back, I went to the restaurant owner, paid for the meal, and left. I could feel the man staring intently at my back, but I assumed I’d never see him again.

 

 

***

 

 

“So, you’re saying we should create a path for heat to pass through the floor of the house, and then place earth or stone on top of it? And the heat will be generated in the kitchen using firewood or solar stones?”

 

While discussing the housing project with the Dwarves, I proposed the underfloor heating houses I had been thinking about. They looked at me with strange expressions, which soon turned into bright realizations.

 

“How did you come up with such a thought? Are humans naturally so creative?”

 

‘Well, I’m not the creative one; it’s actually ancestors from another world…’

 

Since they wouldn’t believe me even if I told them, I just gave an ambiguous smile, neither confirming nor denying.

 

“If we follow your opinion, the Frost Queen of the North won’t be able to enter the house! Let’s try to make a blueprint! By the way, who is that man? Is he the Duchess’s new subordinate?”

 

I turned sharply in the direction the Dwarf was pointing. Standing there was the man who had been possessed—Cayenne.

 

“What is it? Has the ghost not left you yet? Do I need to hit you some more?”

 

As I rolled up my sleeves and approached him, Cayenne waved his hands frantically in distress.

 

“No, no! I’m not here because I’m possessed.”

 

“Then what is your business here?”

 

Cayenne looked at me with glowing eyes as if he had made a firm decision, then knelt on one knee and bowed his head.

 

“Please accept my knight’s oath, My Lady!”

 

“Pardon???”

 

“I wish to become your lady’s knight and serve you. Please, grant me your permission.”

 

“What are you talking about? Has the ghost really not left yet? Or are you still drunk?”

 

“I am perfectly sane. Ever since I met you.”

 

‘I don’t think so.’

 

Whether I grimaced or not, Cayenne continued to ramble his story.

 

“Since I was young, I often saw strange things that others couldn’t see. At first, I thought it was fascinating and fun, but as you know, getting involved with ghosts isn’t particularly enjoyable. For some reason, ghosts liked me. It sounds ridiculous, but they were always looking for a chance to take over my body. So, I trained myself not to lose to them. Thanks to that, I was lucky enough to be scouted by a Marquis and became a knight.”

 

‘I didn’t ask, and I’m not curious.’

 

I continued walking toward my destination, but he followed me, continuing his tale.

 

“But even after becoming a knight, ghosts continued to target me. I resisted them, but they entered my body at every opportunity and caused all sorts of trouble, eventually leading to my expulsion from the knight order. While I was traveling as a free knight without affiliation, working as a mercenary or on village construction sites, I was possessed again. Just as I was growing weary of a life where I couldn’t control my own body, you saved me, My Lady.”

 

Cayenne moved in front of me, blocking my path, and knelt once more.

 

“When you saved me, it was the first time in a long while that I felt how pleasant and cool it was for the sun to be bright and the wind to hit my skin. You are my savior. Please, accept my oath.”

 

‘Is this guy actually a drug addict instead of a ghost-possessed man?’

 

While I was looking at Cayenne with an absurd expression, a Dwarf chimed in.

 

“Ho ho, since human lives are short, they accomplish many things within them. It’s a good time of life.”

 

‘Good, my foot!’

 

From that day on, Cayenne began to follow me persistently. It was no use even if I showered him with insults or cold water.

 

“When I first saw you, it felt as if the fog in front of my eyes cleared. That’s when I knew. That you are my lady.”

 

“Of course it did! A ghost just left your body! Or are you still drunk? If you aren’t sober, go home and sleep!!!!”

 

No matter what I said, Cayenne wouldn’t listen.

 

“And I’m a married woman! And my husband is way more handsome than you!!”

 

Call me a face-con all you want. With his beard shaved and his hair trimmed, Cayenne had a friendly, retriever-like face, but my type was Ruslan. I mean, what can I do when Ruslan is objectively more handsome and cooler?

 

“I’m not asking for much from you, My Lady! Just allow me to serve by your side! You are my light. Through you, I was able to see the world.”

 

Cayenne only seemed to hear what he wanted to hear; no matter what I said or how I tried to soothe him, it was no use. I was about to ask Ivan to chase him away, but Ivan looked at me with a tearful face.

 

“My Lady… after all that talk of us being friends, you’re taking a human as your knight…”

 

“I’M NOT!!!!!!”

 

I take it back. Hearing only what they want to hear isn’t just a Cayenne trait; it seems to be a knight trait.

 

 

***

 

 

I spent my time avoiding Cayenne, who would spout nonsense about a knight’s oath whenever we met, eventually escaping to the back mountain. Just avoiding him all day was exhausting.

 

“My Lady. That man’s spirit is weak, so he is drawn to you because you were strong enough to drive away the ghost attached to him. If you leave him alone, he’ll eventually drift away on his own.”

 

Peter consoled me calmly from my side.

 

“When exactly?”

 

“…Someday.”

 

It wasn’t much of a consolation. I sighed.

 

“If I were truly that strong, wouldn’t Cayenne—and all the magical beasts around the North—be kneeling before me?”

 

“Well… I didn’t mean it in that sense, but it’s true that your spirit is strong, My Lady. For starters, aren’t you living perfectly fine in the Ducal Castle?”

 

“That’s just because I’ve adjusted. I wanted to run away because I was so scared at first, too.”

 

“A person with a weak spirit would have fainted or run away shortly after entering the Ducal Castle. Even if the ghosts have no ill intent, it’s a place with a very strong ghostly aura. Besides…”

 

Peter stared at me for a moment, then looked away.

 

“You have someone incredibly powerful protecting you.”

 

I knew exactly who he was talking about. Well, it’s true that Ruslan is quite strong. And cool… Thinking of him made me feel a bit better. But as thoughts of Ruslan’s lover came along with him, my soaring mood crashed back to earth.

 

I’d managed to forget about it for a while because of that persistent Cayenne. That man was exhausting to deal with because he didn’t listen, but he had one advantage: he kept me from thinking unnecessary thoughts.

 

“My Lady. It’s time to head back down.”

 

The evening glow was already sinking behind the mountains. I sighed and stood up.

 

“Keep a close watch on where Cayenne might pop out from on our way back.”

 

“…I will try my best.”

 

He sounded strangely lacking in confidence.

 

 

***

 

 

Flashing its gray scales, the Basilisk opened its maw toward the sky. It looked as if it were about to devour some prey, but it was actually a sound inaudible to humans—the Basilisk’s final death rattle.

 

With a loud thud, the Basilisk collapsed to the ground. Then, the knights in iron armor who had been hiding nearby gathered around the beast.

 

“Duke! Are you alright?”

 

As Ruslan pulled his sword from the Basilisk’s head with one hand, blood gushed out, splattering onto his face and clothes. He impassively wiped the blood from his face with his sleeve.

 

“It is dead, as I struck it directly through the head. Prepare the scales, mana stone, and bones carefully and bring them down.”

 

With a shout of “Understood,” the knights began to dismantle the Basilisk. Their movements were highly practiced, as if they had done this many times.

 

While the knights separated the beast’s bones and flesh, Ruslan walked toward a lake. He washed his face with water, and the dark red liquid mixed with the lake water before disappearing.

 

‘It has been a long time since I’ve been here.’

 

This was a pond near the house where Ruslan had lived with his lover a very long time ago. At that time, this region wasn’t an Empire but a kingdom called Orsha. Although it was a long time ago, the memories were as vivid to Ruslan as if they had happened yesterday.

 

The sight of his lover picking daffodils here, the memory of picking up a kitten together, and the moment—which felt like a mere heartbeat—when her life reached its end and she left him behind…

 

He squeezed his eyes shut and splashed his face with lake water once more. Having washed away the blood, Ruslan stood up and headed deeper into the forest. Before long, he reached a vacant lot overgrown with grass.

 

“They’ve demolished it completely.”

 

A bitter smile played on Ruslan’s lips. This was where his and his lover’s home had once stood. It was a place filled with many memories of her, and the place where humans had captured him as he tried to take his own life, unable to bear the void she left behind.

 

Ruslan had two contracts with the House of Itenas. One was a contract with the first Duke that would not be released until the bloodline of Itenas completely vanished, and another was with the former Duke.

 

He hadn’t entered the first contract of his own will. After his lover died and the reality without her became too much to bear, he had tried to die. Just as his breath was about to fail, the first Duke of Itenas had forced a contract upon him to turn him into his familiar. It was no different from a curse.

 

In fact, using Ruslan as a familiar had been a great success. Through him, the first Duke had defeated magical beasts and taken all the credit. Thanks to this, the first Duke—who had been a mediocre exorcist—was able to attain the title of Duke.

 

Ruslan could still not forget those days of washing blood with blood. Under the command of the first Duke, he was forced to move his body to slay magical beasts and do as he was told. To keep all the credit for himself, the first Duke had hidden Ruslan’s existence from the world and placed constraints on him to prevent him from revealing his true identity.

 

As a result, even though Beatrice—the reincarnation of the lover he had longed to meet—was now before him, Ruslan could not tell her who he was, what had been between them, or what she meant to him.

 

Ruslan left the vacant lot and headed back to where the Basilisk was. On the way, he discovered an apple tree.

 

Apples were Beatrice’s favorite fruit. He recalled the sight of Beatrice happily eating bread spread with apple jam.

 

The memory of Beatrice’s face, smiling happily over just some apple jam on bread, brought an unconscious smile to his lips.

 

‘Whether then or now, you’ve always liked sweet things.’

 

Even at the place where he first met Beatrice, she had worn a happy expression while eating sweet cookies. Ruslan loved his lover’s smiling face more than anything. Whether then or now.

 

‘I’ll be returning to Ishelbach soon, so perhaps I should pick some to take back.’

 

Ruslan’s hand reached for an apple. Then, a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning, and his hand froze in mid-air.

 

If it were the old Ruslan—that is, shortly after he had met Beatrice—he wouldn’t have picked the apples. Apples were a fruit his ‘lover’ had hated.

 

Ruslan’s world had always revolved around his past lover. But without him realizing it, the current Beatrice had taken center stage in his world.

 

However, Ruslan didn’t find this unpleasant. Rather, he let out a self-deprecating chuckle at his belated realization.

 

That even if Beatrice was the reincarnation of his lover, she was a different person. And that he already loved the current Beatrice more than his past lover.

 

“Not long ago, I was hoping your memories would return quickly.”

 

Because having his ‘lover’ back had been his wish.

 

But now, it didn’t matter if Beatrice didn’t remember her past life. And he hoped that Beatrice would come to love this North—which he had considered tedious—a little more. Only then would she hesitate to leave this place out of lingering attachment, and thus stay by his side for even a little bit longer.

 

 

***

 

 

“Do you truly wish to become my knight?”

 

“My feelings for you, My Lady, remain steadfast and unchanging.”

 

Cayenne, still kneeling before me as he had been—begging for me to accept his knight’s oath—smiled, his gentle eyes crinkling halfway.

 

“Then follow me into the Ducal Castle.”

 

He entered the castle with me without a word of complaint. A short while later, with a piercing “Gyaaaaak!”, a ghost knight carried out a fainted man slung over his shoulder.

 

“Ghosts… so many ghosts…”

 

Cayenne, having regained consciousness at the training grounds in the outer castle, trembled violently, covering his face with both hands.

 

“See? This place is full of ghosts like that. That is one of the 100 reasons why you cannot be my knight.”

 

“What are the other 99 reasons?”

 

“The first reason is that I don’t want you to. The next reason is also that I don’t want you to. And the 99th reason is still that I don’t want you to.”

 

“That’s too much!”

 

“You’re the one who’s too much! Why do you keep clinging to me when I say I don’t want you?!”

 

They say the obsessive male lead is a staple of romance fantasies, but Cayenne wasn’t just obsessive; he was a leech.

 

“…Do you really dislike me that much?”

 

Cayenne looked genuinely hurt and dejected. With his gentle eyes drooping low, he truly looked like a wounded large dog.

 

‘Ugh. The puppy is sad. No, he’s a human. Get a grip, Beatrice.’

 

“…If you hadn’t charged at me so recklessly, I wouldn’t have disliked you this much.”

 

“I see… Understood.”

 

Cayenne stood up. Had he finally come to his senses?

 

“From now on, I shall request My Lady’s favor with the utmost politeness.”

 

Cayenne had just declared his promotion from a regular leech to a polite leech. As the saying goes, never meddle in others’ business. Damn it. I should have just left him alone, possessed or not.

 

 

***

 

 

Upon hearing the news that Ruslan had returned from the subjugation, I dropped my book in the library and dashed outside. As I ran through the hallway to the entrance, Ruslan was standing there.

 

“Ruslan!”

 

Calling his name, I threw myself into his broad chest, which was wrapped in a thick overcoat. The moment I leaped into his arms, he pulled me in tight with arms like steel.

 

“If you welcome me so fervently, My Lady, I shall have to go on subjugations more often.”

 

“If you go too often, I’ll get used to it and might stop coming out to meet you.”

 

“Then I suppose I should only go once in a while.”

 

He smelled of cold grass. I imagined it had seeped into his clothes from camping outdoors during the hunt. I liked that smell; it felt like a part of him.

 

I wished time would stop right here. Just as I thought that, the sound of a helmet hitting the ground with a thud echoed nearby.

 

“Ah… So… Sorry. Out there… Ah… Never mind!”

 

A ghost knight stammered nonsensically before quickly grabbing his helmet and vanishing.

 

“Ahem… Duke, what should I do with these apples?”

 

Edward quietly held up a basket. Ah, Edward was there too. Embarrassment over my impulsive behavior washed over me all at once. I hurriedly pulled away from Ruslan’s embrace.

 

“Make them into apple jam for my wife.”

 

Edward gave a slight bow and disappeared toward the kitchen. I tilted my head at the unexpected gift.

 

“Why the sudden apples?”

 

“I saw many wild apples on the way down and picked them. I remembered you enjoyed apple jam.”

 

He must have brought them because he remembered that one morning when I slathered my bread with it. Honestly, he doesn’t have to do these things, but my husband sure knows how to act sweet. Just as I was about to smile and thank him, the thought of his past lover flickered in my mind.

 

‘Did he bring these apples because that lover liked them, too?’

 

I gave my head a small shake to clear the negative thoughts. Misunderstanding Ruslan like this isn’t good. I looked up into his eyes. In those black, glass-like orbs, only my face was reflected.

 

“Ruslan. I have one thing to ask. Please don’t lie; give me only the truth.”

 

I bit the inside of my lip, struggling not to look away.

 

“You had a lover a long time ago, didn’t you?”

 

“How did you… Could it be your memories…!”

 

Ruslan’s eyes widened, and he gripped my shoulders.

 

‘Wait, I have to say this right. So he doesn’t misunderstand, so he isn’t hurt…’

 

I had firmly resolved to ask if he was only being kind to me because I resembled her. But at that exact moment, the front door burst open.

 

“I… I am truly sorry, Duke! It is an urgent matter… Please forgive my rudeness.”

 

“…What is it?”

 

He furrowed his brows and walked toward the entrance. His back looked strangely unfamiliar today.

 

“A… a guest has arrived….”

 

“Did you interrupt the reunion with my wife for a mere guest?”

 

“That… that is….”

 

“Oh, don’t be so angry.”

 

A woman stepped out from behind the iron-clad knight.

 

“Frowning like that will give you wrinkles.”

 

With sky-blue hair and green eyes flecked with yellow, the woman I had seen in Ruslan’s past stood before him with a bright smile.

 

“I missed you, Lord Ruslan.”

 

 

***

 

 

I don’t remember clearly what happened next. I think I just ran out, pushed past the knights who were unpacking, and galloped out of the castle on a horse. I don’t know what Ruslan did afterward because I didn’t look back.

 

Coming out blindly was all well and good, but I have no idea where I am. I thought I went toward the back mountain of the castle, but I must have gone too deep.

 

The sky was barely visible through the towering forest. Perhaps because the light didn’t reach here, the air felt freezing. I pulled a Salamander cloak from my infinite space pouch and wrapped it around me.

 

As I walked slowly through the forest holding the reins, I heard the sound of water. Walking toward it, I soon found a small lake. I tied the reins nearby, took a canteen from the pack hanging on the horse, and dipped it into the water.

 

I stared blankly as bubbles rose while the canteen filled.

 

‘Now that Ruslan’s lover is back, they’ll get along well, won’t they? Then is my role over? No, what ‘role’? We were a contract couple from the start.’

 

A bitter smile escaped me.

 

‘Right. We were a contract couple.’

 

I had been deluded because Ruslan was so kind to me. The delusion that he might like me, the delusion that I could stay by his side even after the contract ended.

 

There isn’t much time left in this contract marriage. I should settle what needs to be settled and keep my distance from him. Come to think of it, I haven’t even decided which country to move to after the divorce.

 

I must have really enjoyed being here. While I was with Ruslan, I completely forgot about where to go or how to obtain a baronetcy.

 

Seeing that bubbles were no longer rising, the canteen seemed full. Just as I pressed the cap down and tried to leave—

 

Splash.

 

Not far from the shore, a horse was staring intently at me. Was it a wild horse? Judging by its size, it didn’t look like a warhorse. It was white with black eyes—it looked just like Ruslan. As if enchanted, I walked toward that horse.

 

Slosh, slosh.

 

I kicked the surface of the water, walking deeper. I heard a horse neighing behind me, but it didn’t register.

 

‘Should I disappear somewhere with that horse? To a place where no one is around?’

 

At that moment, a thick arm snatched my waist.

 

“My Lady, get a grip! That is a Kelpie! It’s a magical beast that enchants people at the lakeside and drags them into the water!”

 

The word ‘magical beast’ snapped me back to reality. When I came to my senses, the water was already up to my waist. I hurriedly moved my legs, following Cayenne as he pulled me toward the shore. At that moment, the Kelpie began charging toward us.

 

“Eeeek— It… it’s coming this way! Cayenne! Faster, faster!”

 

But the Kelpie was faster than we could move. Was there any way? Something useful, something useful… Right!

 

I pulled a red potion from the infinite space pouch at my side, popped the cap, and threw it toward the Kelpie. A moment later, fire erupted across the surface of the water.

 

In that gap, we scrambled desperately onto dry land. The Kelpie, unable to move because of the fire, turned back once the flames died down and it saw we were on land. Seeing that, my strength left me, and I flopped onto the ground.

 

“Haa… I thought I was a goner.”

 

“What was that just now, My Lady?”

 

“It’s an ‘Everywhere Fire Potion.’ You just open the cap and pour it, and it sets fire to anything. It can even work briefly on water, like just now.”

 

I had made it a while ago for potion practice; I’m glad I had it.

 

“Thank you for saving me.”

 

“It is an honor to have been of help to you, My Lady.”

 

Even in this situation, he knelt before me with a formal posture. He was a knight to his very core.

 

“But when did you get here?”

 

“From the moment you entered this mountain. Your expression looked so troubled that I was worried something might happen, so I followed you.”

 

“I came here on a horse, though?”

 

“I tracked you by the horse’s hoofprints and fallen leaves. Also, I am quite fast on my feet.”

 

“…….”

 

‘He really is like a tracking dog.’

 

I wrung the water out of my dress and untied the horse from the nearby tree.

 

“I’ll be going now. You should head down the mountain too, Cayenne.”

 

The dress was heavy with water, but I managed to climb onto the horse. Just as I was about to turn the horse around, a serious problem occurred to me.

 

“…Um, Cayenne. By any chance, do you know the way out of here?”

 

I had to rely on the “big dog” once again.

 

 

***

 

 

Two people were sitting in the drawing room. Steam rose from the warm tea, which seemed to have been brought in just recently.

 

“I have finally come to you across a thousand nights.”

 

The sky-blue-haired woman smiled radiantly at Ruslan. Ruslan hurled his teacup next to her.

 

Crash!

 

“Strip off that skin immediately.”

 

He stared at the woman before him with frigid eyes. Even if an arch-enemy had appeared, he wouldn’t have looked this murderous.

 

“What are you saying? You don’t remember me? I’m…”

 

Black energy rapidly spread from Ruslan’s body. The energy, which covered the entire drawing room in an instant, pressed down heavily on the woman.

 

“If you open your mouth with that face one more time, I will tear you limb from limb.”

 

The woman’s entire body trembled under the weight pressing down on her. She struggled to lift her head and gave a sly grin.

 

“My apologies, Master.”

 

The woman had transformed into an adult man. With navy-blue hair and horns protruding from both sides of his head, he had the face of a strikingly handsome man—an Incubus.

 

“I apologize for coming in this form. I simply wanted to see your smiling face after so long. Please forgive my insolence.”

 

‘The bastard who wants to see my smiling face dares to use THAT face?’

 

If he didn’t need information from the capital, Ruslan would have shredded him and used him as fertilizer. Ruslan glared at him without retracting the energy permeating the room.

 

“If you came all the way here wearing that skin, it had better be important information.”

 

“There have been strange movements in the capital lately.”

 

“I felt that myself while I was there.”

 

Ruslan’s energy grew even denser. The Incubus was struggling to breathe under the crushing pressure but tried not to show it.

 

“It is… unusual. It’s different from Lady Le May simply using black magic. Something larger, murkier, and evil enough to make one’s stomach churn is moving beneath the capital.”

 

“Are you wasting my time with such vague nonsense?”

 

Ruslan’s energy was turning increasingly lethal. The Incubus was at his limit.

 

“And… a strange religious group has appeared in the capital. It’s so small that no one is paying attention, but the people involved are highly suspicious.”

 

“…….”

 

“I found out by chance, but I saw prominent figures whose names you’d recognize visiting a suspicious building. At first, I thought it was just a secret social club, but their regular visits seemed off. So, I disguised myself as one of them and snuck in. It was undeniably a religious activity.”

 

The Empire followed a monotheistic faith. Temples had to be in buildings authorized by the Imperial Family, and everything related to religion—priests, scriptures, holy knights—was managed by the throne. Anything else was heresy.

 

“The group is called the ‘Garden of Paradise.’ I managed to sneak a look at the member list while I was undercover, and the names of Lady Le May and the Crown Prince were on it.”

 

‘The Imperial Family is involved too?’

 

If only Evangeline Le May were part of that suspicious group, it would make sense. She was a woman with exceptional talent for black magic. Perhaps she even created that religious group.

 

If it were just her, it could be dismissed as a mad group created to flaunt her power. But if the Imperial Family was involved, it was unlikely to end as a simple cult.

 

“Investigate further.”

 

“Understood, my Master. But I’ve come to the North for the first time in a while; may I rest a bit before I leave?”

 

“…Rest for a short while, then get lost back to the capital. Don’t even think about appearing in my sight until then.”

 

Ruslan instantly withdrew the black energy filling the room. The Incubus coughed, gasping for air. Ruslan stood up and headed for the door, as if he had no more business there.

 

“Where are you going, Master? I’ve just arrived; let’s catch up…”

 

“I have no time to spare for someone like you. And because of you…”

 

Ruslan glared at him, grinding his teeth. Black energy threatened to fill the room again. If not for this report, he would have chased after Beatrice immediately.

 

Left alone in the drawing room, the Incubus smiled with an intrigued expression.

 

‘What happened to Master, who never used to show his emotions properly? Is it because of that woman from earlier?’

 

The Incubus thought of the woman standing at the entrance. The woman whose hair color was identical to the past lover he had disguised himself as.

 

‘This is getting interesting.’

 

 

***

 

 

“Thank you for lending me these clothes.”

 

“Not at all. I am glad that even clothes from someone like me could be of help to you, My Lady.”

 

With Cayenne’s help, I managed to get down the mountain, but the next problem was money. I had run away from the castle on impulse, so I had no funds. Since I rarely had to spend money, I hadn’t carried much—that was my mistake.

 

Should I go back to the Ducal Castle? I just ran away; a woman has her pride. I couldn’t go back on the same day. While I was worrying about what to do, Cayenne spoke up hesitantly.

 

“My Lady. If it is difficult for you to return to the castle, would you like to stay in my room?”

 

It wasn’t a “want to come over for ramen?” kind of indirectness; it was a direct hit. As I furrowed my brows, Cayenne turned red and waved his hands.

 

“No, no! I didn’t mean it in an improper way! My room is a double, so there are two beds. One bed is empty, so I was saying you could use it if you’re okay with it!”

 

Normally, I would have refused flatly. But I had fallen into the water, my clothes were soaked, I was cold and hungry, and I really didn’t want to go back today. So, I accepted Cayenne’s offer.

 

After washing with warm water, I left my wet dress with the innkeeper for laundering and put on the shirt and pants Cayenne lent me. Because of the size difference, they were baggy and loose; I lost count of how many times I had to roll up the sleeves. Especially the pants.

 

“I brought some soup and bread. It might be meager compared to what you eat at the castle, but it will be good for warming you up.”

 

“How can food you brought for me be ‘meager’? I’ll enjoy it.”

 

I put a spoonful of soup into my mouth. A warm sensation spread from my throat to my stomach.

 

“But why are you using a double room?”

 

“I originally wanted a single, but they were full the day I arrived. The innkeeper suggested a double for the price of a single, so I’ve been using it since then. The innkeeper is a kind person and has kept charging me for a single.”

 

Seeing Cayenne’s harmless smile, I let out a little laugh.

 

“May I ask you something as well?”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Why did you leave the Ducal Castle?”

 

“…….”

 

“Was it perhaps because of the ghosts…”

 

“It wasn’t that. I’ve lived there for months; why would I leave just because of ghosts?”

 

“I fainted, though.”

 

“Are you and I the same?”

 

This time, he fell silent. I don’t have anyone to confide in; should I just tell him? He doesn’t seem to have any connections here, and he doesn’t look like the type to gossip.

 

“Cayenne, how would you feel if… if a friend of yours looked at you but saw someone else, and treated you exactly the same way they treated that other person?”

 

“If I didn’t know, it might be different, but if I found out, I think I would find it hard to look at that friend. It’s unpleasant to be seen as someone else instead of who you are.”

 

‘I figured as much.’

 

I let out a hollow sigh. Fortunately, Cayenne didn’t pry further.

 

“Do you know why I refuse your oath?”

 

“…Because I follow you persistently?”

 

So he did know. I thought he was just an oblivious puppy.

 

“That’s part of it, but I’m going to get a divorce next year.”

 

Cayenne’s eyes widened at the sudden bombshell. I continued regardless.

 

“I’m going to divorce Duke Itenas and move to another country. Then, I will no longer be a Duchess. So, I cannot accept your oath.”

 

“A knight’s oath is not restricted to nobles.”

 

“If I accept your oath, I would have to keep you by my side as a knight. I don’t think I’ll be able to look after you once I’m no longer a noble.”

 

Cayenne was silent. Well, actually, I receive regular royalties for the hot spring products, so there wouldn’t be a financial burden. But still, I can’t just accept a knight’s oath like I’m picking up a stray puppy.

 

“Look for someone else. I’m sure there’s someone out there more reliable than me, someone who can defeat ghosts with one hand for you.”

 

Just as Cayenne was about to say something—

 

“Beatrice.”

 

I turned my head at the familiar voice coming from the window. Ruslan was looking at me from a tree by the window. I quickly stood up and went to the window.

 

“Ruslan… why are you there?”

 

“Because I wanted to see you as quickly as possible.”

 

“You could have just come here from the first floor.”

 

“Once I knew you were here, I didn’t want to waste a single second.”

 

‘Hanging from a tree three stories high for a reason like that.’

 

“Why are you wearing those clothes?”

 

“Ah, it’s a long story… in short, my clothes got wet and I can’t wear them right now.”

 

“Did that man push you into the water?”

 

Ruslan glared at Cayenne behind me. Cayenne flinched at the murderous aura.

 

“No. In fact, Cayenne saved me. I was enchanted by a Kelpie…”

 

If I said Cayenne had pushed me, Ruslan looked ready to drag him to the water and drown him right now. No matter how annoying he had been, he was still my savior. I couldn’t lie.

 

“Are you hurt anywhere? Are you alright?”

 

Ruslan anxiously checked my body, then fixed his gaze on my face. As his hand drew near my face, I felt like my head would explode, so I quickly dodged his touch and looked away.

 

“I… I’m fine. I…”

 

‘That was dangerous. I thought my heart would stop.’

 

The place his hand almost touched felt like it was burning.

 

“…Did I do something wrong to you?”

 

“No. It’s not that. It’s just….”

 

‘It was because I didn’t think I could look you in the eye with this face.’

 

Regardless of Ruslan’s reunion with his lover, my heart raced whenever I saw him.

 

‘Calm down, heart. Don’t be so loud.’

 

“…I’m just a bit tired. It has nothing to do with you… It’s just been a long day with many things happening.”

 

I peeked up at Ruslan while looking at the floor. He looked like he had a lot to say.

 

“…Understood. Let’s return to the castle for now.”

 

“It’s late, so I’ll stay here and go tomorrow. You should go back too, Ruslan.”

 

“Are you saying you want to stay with that man?”

 

Ruslan growled. Ah, Cayenne was here too. He had been so quiet I forgot.

 

“Nothing will happen with him. Believe me or not, but it’s the truth.”

 

“No, I believe your words. It’s him I don’t trust.”

 

Ruslan looked like he wanted to wring Cayenne’s neck this very second. I couldn’t let my savior cross the River Styx. I held Ruslan back.

 

“The rooms are full today, so this is the only place to stay. I’ll be back tomorrow…”

 

“Whenever you are going through something hard or bad, you don’t confide in me and instead go somewhere to hide alone. You’ve always been like that. Always alone…”

 

Ruslan’s words made my blood run cold. I have never acted like that while living with Ruslan, except for today.

 

‘Always?’

 

We only met a few months ago and were strangers before that; how could he know my past?

 

This confirmed it. He was truly seeing someone else through me. Ruslan’s lover, that woman I met today.

 

Anger flared within me. There’s a limit to how much you can look down on someone. Even though his lover is back, he’s going to treat me like that woman until the end? I was so angry that my head grew cold instead. I spoke calmly, without raising my voice.

 

“Go back. I’m not going back today.”

 

“Are you saying you will stay with him?”

 

“Don’t worry, nothing will happen with Cayenne. I know my place.”

 

“Bea…”

 

“Go back. I don’t want to see you right now, Ruslan.”

 

I slammed the window shut before I could hear his answer. I felt Cayenne’s gaze, but I ignored it and flopped face-down onto the bed.

 

‘Why did I have to fall for a man who can’t forget his past?’

 

I didn’t know that liking someone could be this painful.

 

***

 

 

“I don’t want to see you right now, Ruslan.”

 

Watching the window slam shut with those final words, Ruslan felt that something had gone terribly wrong.

 

‘What did I do? Did Beatrice regain her memories of her past life? If she didn’t, then what was that question she asked earlier today?’

 

When she asked if he had a lover from long ago, Ruslan assumed Beatrice had recovered her memories. She had dashed outside before he could ask for clarification, but he needed to ask her again. He reached out toward the window to speak with her.

 

“Duke. Forgive my boldness, but I believe it would be best to step back for now.”

 

Ruslan turned toward Ivan. He didn’t need to speak to ask what Ivan meant.

 

“I haven’t lived as long as you, Duke, but in my experience, when a woman is that angry, trying to ‘fix’ it by talking right away usually backfires.”

 

Ivan’s words held logic. However—

 

“I cannot simply leave my wife alone with a strange man.”

 

“I will remain here. I doubt it will come to this, but if that man so much as lifts a finger against My Lady, I will stop him.”

 

Knowing Ivan was staying provided some relief, but Ruslan remained inexplicably anxious. He had the confidence to stay by Beatrice’s side forever, but Beatrice was capable of leaving him.

 

Beatrice had not regained her memories. Perhaps she never would. He loved her even as she was now, but what of a Beatrice who didn’t remember and didn’t love him? She could abandon him and leave with someone else.

 

The fear of a loved one not returning that love was an emotion Ruslan was experiencing for the first time. To make matters worse, his contract with Beatrice was set to expire next spring.

 

‘I thought it wouldn’t matter if she left because I could watch over her from anywhere, anytime. How could I have been so arrogant? When even now, the fact that she isn’t before my eyes is this terrifying?’

 

Ruslan quickly sifted through the immigrant records in his mind. Moments later, a portrait matching the dazed man behind Beatrice appeared. From the documents attached to the sketch, Ruslan quickly found what he was looking for.

 

[Place of Birth: Grevena.]

 

“…I leave this place to you. I have somewhere I must go.”

 

Ivan felt an instinctive urge to grab Ruslan after seeing an expression on his face he had never seen before. But Ruslan vanished far faster than Ivan could move.

 

 

***

 

 

Darkness fell over the room where Cayenne and I were staying. The only light came from the moonlight filtering in from outside. Despite everything that had happened today, sleep wouldn’t come to my troubled heart.

 

“Um… My Lady, are you asleep?”

 

“Yes. I’m sleeping.”

 

“…….”

 

I couldn’t sleep, but I didn’t want to talk to Cayenne either.

 

“Then just consider my story something you heard while drifting off. It’s a bit sudden, but I’m originally from a kingdom called Grevena, not the Empire. It’s a small kingdom you reach by taking a long boat ride from the southernmost port of the Empire. It’s always warm like spring, and the people are kind and good.”

 

“It sounds like a lovely place.”

 

I could hear the nostalgia and warmth in his voice as he spoke of his home. Suddenly curious about his expression, I turned toward him. The moonlight hit his face, revealing he had been watching me for a while.

 

“…This is sleep-talking.”

 

He chuckled and continued.

 

“I brought this up because I remembered you said you’d go to another country after your divorce. If you haven’t decided on a place yet, how about Grevena?”

 

I remembered reading about Grevena in a book at the library. There wasn’t much information because it was so far from the Empire, but I knew it was a place where winter never came—perfect for growing medicinal herbs. Most high-quality herbs came from there.

 

“It’s not a bad idea. I’ll keep it as a candidate.”

 

“If you go there, I will escort you safely to Grevena myself.”

 

‘There he goes with the knight talk again.’

 

But I was too tired to argue. And as Cayenne said, Grevena sounded alright. Since it was far from the Empire, it would be easier to forget Ruslan. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

 

“Sure. If I go there.”

 

For a moment, Cayenne’s eyes seemed to sparkle like a dog being told it’s time for a walk. I ignored that expectant look and turned back the other way.

 

“This is sleep-talking, too.”

 

Since it was “sleep-talking,” I hoped he wouldn’t take it too seriously.

 

 

***

 

 

The next day, I actually returned to the castle. I didn’t want to go back to the place where Ruslan and that lover were, but I had said I would return, and staying out as the Duchess didn’t look good.

 

Instead, I used the excuse of intense potion research to live entirely within my laboratory in the tower. There was a cot inside for sleeping, and since the servants or Elizabeth brought my meals, it wasn’t uncomfortable.

 

Once this winter passed and spring arrived, my life as Duchess Itenas would be over. I needed to continue the research I’d postponed while managing the estate to ensure I had the skills to make a living in another country. Fortunately, I had finished most of my administrative work in advance, so I could focus on my research.

 

I only descended from the tower occasionally to hand over duties to Felix in preparation for my departure. For some reason, Ruslan was nowhere to be seen. It was a relief not to have to dodge him.

 

However, I occasionally crossed paths with Ruslan’s lover. She didn’t say anything to me, but her presence served as a reminder of where I stood. It was deeply unpleasant.

 

“So, you can handle this later, and for the housing welfare project, just follow the dwarf’s blueprints once they arrive.”

 

“Are you truly planning to divorce the Duke?”

 

“How did you know?”

 

“Ivan told me. He said he overheard while guarding you during your night away.”

 

‘Ivan was there?’

 

Come to think of it, Ivan was almost always by my side on Ruslan’s orders, so he might have been. Felix looked at me with worried eyes. I gave him a bitter smile.

 

“That was the agreement I had with Ruslan when I came here. Besides, Ruslan’s real ‘lover’ has returned.”

 

“By ‘lover,’ do you mean that woman with the same hair color as you who wanders the castle occasionally?”

 

I shrugged in affirmation. Felix narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose.

 

“That supposed lover… I’ve been watching her, and she does absolutely nothing in this castle.”

 

“That’s because I’m the Duchess. As long as the Duchess is here, a lover—who is essentially an outsider—can’t just go around giving orders, right?”

 

“I suppose… but I wish you would stay in this castle, My Lady.”

 

I could hear various emotions in Felix’s voice. Even though he was a ghost, he seemed more honest with his feelings than most humans. Perhaps it was because he lacked physical constraints? Felix was about to say more when Edward opened the door and entered.

 

“I’ve brought some warm tea.”

 

I took a sip of the tea. The ginger and honey sent a wave of heat through my body, perfect for a cold day like today.

 

“Is there none for me?”

 

“You are a ghost, aren’t you?”

 

“Still, it would be nice to have some tea. Just so I can pretend to drink it.”

 

“That would be more agonizing than not drinking it at all.”

 

When Felix complained about the sorrows of being a ghost, Edward reluctantly brought an empty cup. Felix lowered his head, looking even more depressed.

 

“That aside, My Lady. Do you truly intend to divorce?”

 

Edward asked. It seemed Ivan had blabbed to everyone in town.

 

‘Just wait until I catch him!’

 

“Ivan mentioned it. That you planned to go to Grevena with that freelance knight after the divorce.”

 

Pfft—!

 

I nearly spat out my tea. He heard that part, too?

 

“Cough, cough… Grevena is just a candidate. I haven’t decided to go yet.”

 

“My Lady, if you’ll excuse me, did the Duke do something wrong?”

 

“The Duke is always doing something wrong! Do you know how shocked I was when I first saw the budget records here?! Just thinking about it makes my blood boil!”

 

Felix looked ready to go grab Ruslan by the collar. Edward calmed him down and made him sit again. After smoothing his beard, Felix spoke again.

 

“Others think the Duke is an impenetrable, cold-blooded man, but he actually has many clumsy sides. Perhaps because he isn’t human, there are things an ordinary human would understand that he simply doesn’t.”

 

“You knew Ruslan wasn’t human, Felix?”

 

“The fact that he isn’t human is an open secret among the elders living in Ishelbach,” Edward replied this time.

 

‘Wait, I thought Ruslan’s identity was a secret… Ruslan, I think everyone already knows who you are.’

 

“Anyway, even if he is that kind of man, he isn’t someone who would intentionally hurt you. If he did something to upset you, you should talk to him.”

 

“What is there to think about? Just knock him down. Once a husband and wife go into bed and come back out, they’re all lovey-dovey again as if they never fought. There’s a saying that a couple’s quarrel is like cutting water with a sword.”

 

Felix said something quite outrageous with a straight face.

 

‘Excuse me? What are you saying in broad daylight?!’

 

Edward looked ready to say something to Felix.

 

‘As expected of the polite—‘

 

“That’s a good method. No matter how the Duke is, if you were the one to make a move, he wouldn’t say no. In fact, he might have been waiting for it.”

 

Even Edward, whom I trusted, added fuel to the fire.

 

‘These grandfathers, honestly…!’

 

 

***

 

 

Realizing I couldn’t stop the two elders from their heated and embarrassing lecture on “How to Take Down Ruslan,” I quietly stepped outside. The silence was peaceful.

 

“Hello.”

 

And immediately, it was uncomfortable again. I should have stayed inside.

 

“I’ve been wanting to meet you. I’m Beatrice. Oh my. We even have the same name!”

 

Whether intentional or not, Ruslan’s lover smiled brightly while grating on my nerves.

 

‘Ha, even the name is the same?’

 

If our faces weren’t different, I’d suspect we were doppelgängers.

 

“Are you always this quiet?”

 

“Yes. I’m naturally quiet.”

 

It came out blunter than intended, but I had no desire to be kind, so I let her misunderstand however she wanted.

 

“Then how did you seduce Lord Ruslan? Did you pretend to be me because of your hair color?”

 

Her voice was so cheerful that for a moment, I thought I’d misheard. I glared at her coldly.

 

“What did you say?”

 

“Think about it. Why would Lord Ruslan, with all he has, marry a lady from a ruined noble family? Your face is pretty enough, I suppose, but he isn’t a man to be swayed by that. I heard you’re divorcing soon anyway. So be honest. Did you marry him for money? How much alimony did he promise you?”

 

‘Wow, look at this.’

 

For a brief moment, I saw she was nothing like the woman in Ruslan’s past. She was an expert at throwing garbage wrapped in pretty smiles.

 

“Why aren’t you saying anything? Ah, you said you were quiet. Then how did you seduce Lord Ruslan? With your body—Eek!”

 

To shut that flapping mouth, I grabbed her by the hair and shoved her down. I’d been staying quiet, and now she was crossing the line.

 

“It seems you don’t know how to speak politely to the Duchess, ‘Plain Beatrice’-miss.”

 

“Y-you! Let go! AAAHHH!!!”

 

“Listen closely. Unless you are of imperial blood, you greet the Duchess with respect and keep your mouth shut until I tell you to speak. Don’t blabber like you just did.”

 

“W-what kind of human woman is this strong? Let go! I said let go—”

 

“What is going on?”

 

Ruslan looked at us with a startled face. Seeing him for the first time in a while, he looked a bit more tired than before. Without a word, I released ‘Plain Beatrice’s’ hair and tossed her to the ground.

 

“Listen well, Ruslan. I am Beatrice Itenas, and I am not anyone’s replacement. Do not look through me to see someone else just because I resemble them. It’s disgusting.”

 

After saying my piece, I left without looking back. I was furious. Furious that Ruslan’s “lover” was such a person, furious that Ruslan would never look at me with tender eyes again, and furious at myself for still liking him despite everything.

 

 

***

 

 

“…Hmph, what is up with that woman?”

 

I was just wandering around in this form to tease her while Master was away from the castle. I poked her a little, and she turned into a total thug and grabbed my hair? Why is Lord Ruslan so obsessed with a woman like that? Other than her face, she’s nothing like this form, and she doesn’t even know Master’s past—wait.

 

“I believe I told you I wouldn’t let it slide if you appeared in my sight in that form again.”

 

The God of the Underworld—no, Lord Ruslan—was glaring at me as if an ice storm were about to erupt.

 

“L-Lord Ruslan. First, let me—”

 

I hurriedly undid my transformation and knelt before him, but it was no use.

 

‘AAHH! Incubus down!!!’

 

 

***

 

 

I marched into my room and slammed the door. I was still huffing with rage. I didn’t care how Ruslan saw me anymore. Why did I have to walk on eggshells in the first place? He never mentioned he had a woman from the past.

 

When I finally regained my senses and looked around, I realized I had walked into the room I used to share with Ruslan. Living here for so long must have made it a habit. Habits are terrifying.

 

While I was here, I decided to grab my things and move back to the tower. I packed a few items into a bag. I also searched the desk drawer for the contract I’d signed with Ruslan, wanting to take it with me. But the document was gone. I was sure I’d put it here; where did it go?

 

No matter how much I searched the desk and the room, there wasn’t a trace of it.

 

‘That’s strange. I couldn’t have lost it.’

 

Just then, Ruslan entered the room.

 

“Something terrible happened! The contract is gone!”

 

“Is that so?”

 

“I’m sure I put it safely in the drawer… I’m sorry. Let’s just write a new one.”

 

“I’ve thought about it, and does a marriage really need a contract?”

 

“…What?”

 

“A marriage only needs a vow. And we are husband and wife whose names are written on that vow.”

 

“But you and I have a contract—”

 

“My Lady, what I am saying is that I have no intention of letting you go.”

 

I couldn’t tell what his intention was. So, I asked instinctively: “Why?”

 

I asked because I truly didn’t know the reason. We were a contract couple from the start, and Ruslan’s lover had returned. The contract was almost over, so signing the divorce papers would have cleanly ended the relationship. So why say this? It was almost as if—

 

“It is because I love you.”

 

‘He loves me… wait, what?’

 

As I asked “Pardon?” with a dazed voice, Ruslan stepped closer. He knelt on one knee, kissed my hand, and buried his face in it.

 

 

***

 

 

Ruslan looked up at Beatrice, who was staring at him with wide eyes. Ruslan, who looked down even on the Emperor, was a man who would only ever kneel and look up to one human: Beatrice.

 

“I am sorry for making you anxious. But I have never once thought of you as a replacement for someone else.”

 

‘Of course, you could never be a replacement. You are unique in this world.’

 

“B-but… don’t you have a lover you haven’t been able to forget? She’s here in this castle right now.”

 

“That… was just a prank by one of my subordinates. I’ve ensured they will never do such a thing again, so you can rest easy.”

 

It didn’t matter if Beatrice never remembered him. His own memories were enough.

 

“The past does not matter. If I did something to upset you, you can be angry with me or even hit me. But please, do not give up on me. I don’t think I can endure it if you disappear from my sight again.”

 

Ruslan rubbed his face against the hand he had kissed. A sticky sense of possessiveness seemed to emanate from him.

 

 

***

 

 

I flopped onto the cot in the tower and buried my face. My mind was blank from the sudden turn of events. What happened after Ruslan’s confession? I didn’t answer and just ran away. I ran all the way to this tower.

 

“I should have said it!! I should have said I like him too! Why couldn’t I speak?!”

 

I thrashed around on the bed. I never understood why characters in romance novels couldn’t just say they liked each other, but now that it was happening to me, I understood.

 

It isn’t as easy as it sounds. In that moment, my mind went blank and no words came out. If I had opened my mouth, I probably would have just stammered “I… I… I…” over and over. I couldn’t give such a pathetic response to the man I liked!

 

‘AARRGH!!!’

 

After thrashing in internal shame, I finally calmed down and thought back on everything, eventually remembering Ruslan’s lover. She wasn’t actually his lover; it turned out to be an Incubus subordinate who had transformed to play a prank.

 

That meant I had been misunderstanding and putting on a one-woman show this whole time. A wave of embarrassment hit me. I was ashamed that I’d acted like that just because of a bad dream and some anxiety. I should have at least asked Ruslan properly.

 

No. The root of all this was that Incubus. If he hadn’t done that, I would have had a normal conversation with Ruslan. Next time I see him, I’m going to hit him.

 

It didn’t take long to run into the culprit. When I met the Incubus in the hallway, he immediately prostrated himself on the floor.

 

“I am truly sorry, Duchess! This lowly creature is deeply reflecting on upsetting you!”

 

The Incubus’s face was swollen as if he’d been thoroughly beaten by Ruslan, and he begged for forgiveness while banging his forehead against the floor.

 

“I know nothing I say will soothe your anger, but if hitting me would help, I will gladly take the punishment.”

 

“Really? Then stand up.”

 

Muttering “This wasn’t supposed to happen” with a dazed expression, the Incubus slowly stood up. As soon as he was on his feet, I balled my fist and struck him hard in the solar plexus.

 

“Guh… how is a human this strong…?”

 

“Don’t ever play a prank like that again. No matter your intention, if the person on the receiving end feels bad, it’s just a malicious prank. I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”

 

I left the Incubus clutching his stomach on the floor and headed to the library. Since he looked like he’d been beaten by Ruslan already, I’d at least spared his face.

 

 

***

 

 

A few days later, I heard unexpected news from a merchant who regularly visited the castle.

 

“Why are there so few herbs? It’s been over three months since I ordered them.”

 

“Oh, My Lady. I searched high and low across the continent to find the herbs you requested. But the ones you are looking for are primarily produced in Grevena.”

 

‘What does that have to do with this?’

 

I raised an eyebrow and waited for the merchant to continue.

 

“But I’ve heard that the port leading to Grevena has been severely damaged by an unknown disaster. Actually, it’s beyond ‘damaged’; the port has completely collapsed. Not only that, but all the ships that regularly traveled between Grevena and the Empire have been destroyed, so we won’t be able to get herbs from there for a while. Since it’s an island nation so far from the Empire, you can’t go there by land either…”

 

‘Grevena… Grevena… wait.’

 

I wondered why that name sounded familiar—it was the kingdom Cayenne had mentioned! Wasn’t it one of the places I’d considered settling after divorcing Ruslan? Could it be…?

 

Come to think of it, Ruslan hadn’t been seen in the castle for the past few days.

 

‘Haha, no way. It’s just a coincidence. The port to Grevena is so far from here… yeah, there’s no way.’