After the embarrassing and strangely peculiar wedding night, Kaella woke up and tried to quickly regain her composure in the bright morning sun.

Although it was her first time experiencing such things with Peon yesterday, in their one-sided relationship that had been so tedious and foolish, wasting emotions on such matters would only be a loss for her.

‘Remember. He was originally a person with high popularity. He’s being kind because I still have a father and my title is still guaranteed…’

As she continued her thoughts, determined to pull herself together, Kaella hesitated. Was the Grand Duke of Lucenford originally someone who changed his attitude depending on the person?

While she was thinking, people came out to see off the newlyweds heading to Lucenford. Peon greeted the Emperor first among them.

“Thank you for your care, Your Majesty.”

“What care did I provide?”

He wasn’t even someone who usually gave such courteous greetings to the Emperor. Thump thump, thump thump, her heart started to beat with anxiety.

“Kaella.”

She turned towards her father. Adeo affectionately embraced his daughter who was about to leave for Lucenford.

“You’ve been very busy these past few days, haven’t you? Are you feeling alright?”

With all the receptions, banquets, the main ceremony, and even the public ceremony, the wedding schedule alone lasted for three nights and four days.

Although it was said to have been reduced due to the Empress’s collapse, the Emperor insisted that it should be done on a scale befitting the royal family since the Grand Duchess of Ostain and the Grand Duke of Lucenford were members of the imperial family. As a result, Kaella, who was physically weak, had to endure an extremely grueling schedule.

Adeo worried about his daughter who, taking after her mother, would immediately fall ill when difficult tasks piled up.

“I’m fine.”

With people somewhat distant and Peon engaged in conversation with the Emperor, Adeo seized the opportunity to speak privately with his daughter.

“Kaella. I didn’t have a chance to say this before, but honestly, I’m glad you’re marrying the Grand Duke of Lucenford.”

She looked up at her father, who was speaking carefully.

“Actually, I had hoped you would marry someone you love, like your mother and I did, but it’s really difficult in times like these.”

Adeo’s voice lowered even further. While the Emperor had pretended to be proper and acted as the head of the imperial family when marrying off the Grand Duke of Lucenford, it was widely believed that he might go mad after the wedding was over.

“I don’t mean the Grand Duke is a perfect groom. But he’s certainly the best we can find right now. I never dreamed he would write the marriage contract with such consideration for you, almost to an excessive degree.”

“I’m glad it pleases you, Father.”

“He seems to have a very cautious and decent personality. Above all…”

Adeo looked around and lowered his voice even more so that only Kaella could hear.

“He’s a strong person, isn’t he?”

That statement contained everything. Lucenford had military power that Ostain lacked. Even the Emperor, while considering him a thorn in his side, kept the Grand Duke as the strongest shield against the evil dragon Ghasalante.

“But as I’ve always said, it doesn’t matter if I like him. You should like him. I hope you’ll be happy there.”

Knowing that after the tedious procedures and minor events conducted according to tradition, it would ultimately be the frigid Lucenford, Kaella had been almost silent for the past few days.

The fact that Peon was a bit, no, very strange made her even more anxious. Her fear grew until it eventually disappeared when she thought of death as an escape. Why worry when she was going to die anyway?

“Yes, Father. Thank you for your blessing.”

“I’ve been very worried about what would happen to you if I wasn’t around.”

That worry had made Adeo even more troubled after the Emperor pulled the trigger against him. What would happen to his only daughter? The Emperor, who could hardly be called a brother, would surely not leave her alone.

“I hope you’ll be very happy.”

Every word was filled with worry and love. His gaze was also full of affection. Kaella knew well that the love her father had promised to fill, even taking the place of her mother who was no longer there, continued even now.

Unlike nobles who remarried immediately, her father never remarried and raised Kaella himself. She regretted not being able to show a happier side to her father.

To Kaella, who constantly worried about when she would die and when she should die to avoid harming Ostain, her father was the only existence that made her hesitate even a little about thoughts of death.

“Be yourself in Lucenford too. You are wise and intelligent, so have confidence. You’ll do well. Write often. Come down in the summer.”

“Yes, I will.”

Kaella made promises she couldn’t keep as she saw Peon approaching. It seemed it was time to depart now.

“Father. You’ll go straight back to Ostain, right?”

“Of course. Naturally.”

Adeo knew well why his daughter was sensitive about his whereabouts.

“You must stay healthy. Go horseback riding, and please, avoid anything dangerous.”

Before Adeo could answer, Kaella quickly stepped away from her father. Then Peon approached immediately.

“I will keep in touch often. Please stay healthy.”

“I’m fine, but I’m worried because she often falls ill.”

At those words, Peon’s cold eyes looked at Kaella.

Does he think it’s troublesome? Well, it doesn’t matter now. Wasn’t Lucenford a place where the weak couldn’t survive originally? Someone sickly like Kaella would immediately die in the harsh cold and raging snowstorms.

Before dying, she had tried to endure with sheer willpower, fighting desperately. She believed that if she fulfilled her duties as the Grand Duchess without losing dignity and honor, someone would eventually recognize her efforts.

But not only did no one acknowledge her, Kaella now lacked the strength to endure on the road to Lucenford. It seems she had exhausted it all when she ran to save her father after opening her eyes again.

“I will pay closer attention and always be mindful.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Peiron alternately looked at the Emperor and Adeo who had come close.

“Your Majesty and Your Grace must stay healthy as well.”

“Don’t worry about us. We’re still hale and hearty no matter what.”

“If you permit, I shall visit you often.”

“There’s no need for permission. Come often. Come frequently and fill your place. The palace will be lonely again when you leave. Adeo is also going down to Ostain.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as the wedding ends, the son-in-law goes to the north, and the father-in-law goes to the south. Kaella, who had confirmed this fact several times, was relieved that her father would not remain in Klein.

“Tsk tsk, father and daughter will be further apart. Write to each other often, and visit Ostain from time to time.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“Go now. The sun will set.”

The Emperor gestured, acting like the father of the groom until the end. The newlyweds, who had paid their final respects politely, boarded the carriage.

Kaella smiled sincerely only when waving to her father. However, as the carriage departed and her father was no longer in sight, she lost her smile.

*

The journey to Lucenford was very long and tedious. They had to travel by carriage for several days across the vast Krania Empire.

She thought it would be an arduous, or rather crazy journey, covering that long distance in just a week. At that time, Kaella had to be supported out of the carriage, half-dead.

The carriage that quickly left Klein rushed madly. The road conditions were relatively good in the center of the capital. But as they went further north, it was madness to drive like this.

“Aren’t you cold?”

No matter how warm the spring they married in was, the temperature dropped as they went further north. Peiron asked Kaella, who was sitting quietly without a word.

“I’m fine.”

This would be the words she would tire of saying in the future. What if it’s a bit cold? She’d die soon anyway.

“We’ll rest often. But we’ll arrive early, so don’t worry too much.”

Kaella listened quietly and then looked up at Peiron.

“I’m not worried.”

“You seem tense.”

“I’m fine.”

‘I’m fine’ again. Kaella, whose expression had noticeably dried up since leaving Klein, quietly repeated the same words.

Mother is fine.

I am fine, Your Highness.

Both his mother, the Empress, and Kaella, who had died before regressing, said the same thing.

It was Beatrice, the Emperor, and the traitors in the north who said they were not fine. They made a fuss, moaning and pressuring him.

In the end, those who said they were fine died, and only those who said they were not fine lived. Peiron too had died, saying he was fine while enduring everything alone.

So those words ‘I’m fine’ sounded too ominous to him. He shouldn’t let it pass thinking she’s really fine when she says she is.

It was highly likely that she was saying she was fine not because she was actually fine, but because she was indifferent, or annoyed, or had nothing more to say. In the first place, it couldn’t be sincere to say she was fine with such a dried-up face.

“Are you feeling nauseous?”

He had deliberately ordered to pile soft cushions on the carriage seats and prepare pillows to lean on comfortably, but she was clearly struggling, being such a frail person.

“No”

Kaella shook her head with a pale face.

“I’m really fine.”

If she just quietly said yes, yes, it would be less tiring and troublesome.

Anyway, Peiron was also a taciturn person, so he didn’t say more to her. However, she noticed that the carriage speed slowed down once they were somewhat far from the capital.

As the sun set, the grand entourage of the Grand Duke of Lucenford arrived at the lodging to stay, as if it had been planned, and the lodging was suitable for the Grand Duchess to stay.

It was something the Grand Duke, who had been saving and saving to increase the military funds, would not have done. And they departed late, waking up late.

“Don’t we travel at night?”

On the fourth night of staying at the lodging, Kaella finally asked Peiron. He was very perplexed, having been on edge all along, not knowing what she liked or found uncomfortable because she was so quiet. It didn’t seem like something a person raised gently as a princess would say.

“Where did you hear such a thing?”

“I heard it’s a basic thing for northern knights.”

Which bastard told the Grand Duchess such nonsense while moving? Peiron’s eyes rolled calmly, already planning to weed out the traitors as soon as he returned to Lucenford.

“I wonder which northern knight told Your Grace the Grand Duchess such a thing?”

At the chilly question that sounded like a joke, Kaella’s eyes widened, blinked, and then answered.

“I just… heard it somewhere.”

Someone who had never been to Lucenford couldn’t say they heard it in Lucenford.

“Marching at night is only done when there’s an urgent matter. The new Grand Duchess’s journey should be comfortable, speed isn’t important.”

Which bastard said such a thing? Peiron managed his expression while forcefully straightening his furrowing brows.

This time, he was determined to ensure Kaella received proper treatment as the Grand Duchess. A proper Grand Duchess had no need to know about forced marches day and night.

“But how did you come to think about moving at night, Kaella?”

A typical noble lady wouldn’t have even thought of such a thing. Beatrice, for one, would be horrified. But she thought we would do that? It’s not something a lady with a weak body should be thinking about, is it?

“Just… Just.”

Peiron quietly watched Kaella as she mumbled, slightly averting her gaze. The back of his neck felt somewhat chilly. Small inconsistencies tugged at his nerves.

“No matter how much training the northern knights have and how specially selected they are, we don’t do such things when escorting the new Grand Duchess. They’re just the same as other knights.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know well.”

“No, I didn’t say it to hear an apology.”

Could his words possibly be heard as criticism? Beatrice often pointed out, ‘You’re too blunt.’ Peiron shook his head, wiping his mouth.

“The Grand Duchess cannot be allowed to suffer. Don’t worry about such things.”

Kaella, who had been slowly blinking her eyes open and closed, looked at him with slightly widened eyes.

“Yes.”

Peiron looked down at her and chuckled. Kaella stared at him, not understanding, but he turned away with a grin.

“Rest.”

“Yes.”

Why was he laughing? Every single action of Peiron’s was a mystery. Did he always laugh this often? Was her way of answering amusing? Kaella, who had been touching her face, dropped her hand.

No, why bother caring when she was going to die anyway? Death was her place of escape and avoidance, and it was now close at hand.

*

One morning, Kaella, wrapped in the cloak Peiron had given her saying she must wear it as it was now cold, looked out the carriage window at the familiar Lucenford scenery.

The people waving to the Grand Duke returning on horseback and the citizens looking at the new Grand Duchess in the carriage with curious eyes were familiar.

The Lucenford city streets, still covered in snow that had only just begun to melt, the northern-style architecture with pointed roofs and thick pillars designed for snow, and Lucenford Castle boasting deep moats and intimidatingly high walls were all familiar.

So her first day entering Lucenford didn’t feel new to her at all.

“Welcome, we bid you welcome.”

The northern nobles and castle administrators had come out to greet the Grand Duke who had married the new Grand Duchess. Kaella glanced towards the north where she had been confined and met her death, then stepped out of the carriage.

“Watch your step. And keep your cloak wrapped tightly.”

It was their first meeting with the nobles. He spoke in a low voice, deliberately changing his tone, and offered his hand. She took his hand and descended, facing the faces she already knew.

“Welcome to Lucenford, Your Grace the Grand Duchess. Congratulations on your marriage.”

These were all faces she knew. It made her breath catch a little. This much was fine. Yes. It was fine.

“Allow me to introduce. This is…”

“In this cold?”

Just as the tedious power struggle was about to begin, with introductions and greetings from those dressed in fur and wool coats while the young Grand Duchess stood in the chilly wind, Peiron abruptly cut off the words.

“Let’s not do foolish things. Let’s go inside first. The long journey’s fatigue hasn’t worn off and I’m tired. Let’s go in. It will be warm inside.”

Speaking coldly, he pulled up the heavy Grand Duke’s cloak draped over the Grand Duchess’s shoulders and walked inside.