I couldn’t understand quickly.

As I just blinked blankly, he lowered his gaze as if he was about to burst into tears at any moment.

Then his mysteriously colored silvery-white eyebrows covered half of his red eyes like curtains.

It was a harmful sight that made my heart ache on its own. Why does that man look so pure and beautiful like a fairy every time I see him?

At least it was clear that he misunderstood me. Honestly, that face is so unadaptable even if I see it every day…

“If not that, then is it because now that we’re married, I’m a caught fish…”

“Joseph, why are you suddenly saying such things?”

“Just, I thought I might not be family you want to spend a vacation with.”

Ah.

It felt like I had been hit on the head. I also seemed to understand why he suddenly became so melancholic, which didn’t suit him.

“You don’t need to speak in roundabout ways, Joseph.”

I said, narrowing my eyes slightly.

“Things have turned out this way, but it can’t be helped. We can have a special vacation together next summer.”

“A special vacation.”

“Let’s make it so enjoyable that all the children will be envious. We’ll use all the new facilities being introduced at Hotel Chronos, and take walks too.”

“Indeed. Lieselotte, you’ve never really had a proper rest until now, have you?”

Oh, was that so?

Now that I heard it, it did seem that way. For a moment, I had a realization as if something had pierced through my mind.

‘No wonder. I’ve been feeling strangely empty ever since I handed over all of Daiern’s affairs to Kardiel.’

Come to think of it, I had never really rested properly in my life until now.

In my childhood, I was busy with successor education, and after marriage, I was busy running Daiern in place of my incompetent ex-husband.

Even during the non-social season when all the nobles enjoyed leisure and spent the seasons, I had never once rested.

At that time, leisure was a luxury for me, and rest was a sin.

‘…Well, to be honest, that’s partly my fault too.’

I did enjoy being busy in my own way.

But now there’s no need for that.

Kardiel has become the Grand Duke, and Euphemina has started a new family.

Chersion is deciding his own path and working hard without needing my help.

Moreover, I have enough free time, surplus funds earned through my private business, and above all, a fairy-like handsome husband.

…No, correction. A beloved husband.

‘Well, it’s rather fortunate.’

The disappointment of being rejected by all the children had already completely vanished.

Instead, I was even excited at the prospect of being able to spend time solely with Joseph.

“That sounds nice, a vacation for just the two of us. Actually, Joseph, we haven’t even had a proper date yet, have we?”

“Was it just the date we missed? We skipped the engagement with just an announcement, substituted a simple ceremony for the wedding, and boldly omitted the honeymoon.”

Well, that was because the situation at the time was not favorable…

And the children were anxious about me being away…!

“Of course, I’m not trying to say anything about past events. Just that it was like that.”

“…”

I suddenly felt like a great sinner.

It seems I’ve been too unkind to Joseph.

Especially just now, when I was about to cancel the entire plan because we couldn’t go on vacation with the children.

My conscience was not just pricking, it felt like it was being slaughtered.

“From now on… as all the children become independent. We’ll have more time with just the two of us.”

“That’s quite sad for me too, but.”

It was then that a satisfied smile played on Joseph’s lips.

“On the other hand, hearing you say that makes me quite look forward to it.”

Fortunately, it seemed Joseph’s mood had improved a bit, perhaps due to my emotional labor.

“…Then how about we think of next summer’s trip as the honeymoon we couldn’t go on?”

“Hmm?”

“Euphy is going too, so there’s no reason we can’t go.”

Then, like a bright flower blooming, Joseph smiled with his eyes gently closing and leaned in to softly kiss my cheek.

“Hearing you say that makes me very excited, Lieselotte. Then I’ll just have to wait with anticipation until then.”

Huh?

“What do you mean?”

But hearing those words, I could only blink in confusion.

“It’s almost December. There’s only half a year left until next summer, shouldn’t we make plans for how to spend the vacation productively? We need to start moving busily from now.”

“…Lieselotte. Didn’t you just say you’ve never had a proper rest before?”

“I did. Why?”

“But you’re saying you’re going to make plans… to rest?”

My brows naturally furrowed.

“Joseph, you’re saying incomprehensible things. Vacations are inherently limited in duration and time, aren’t they?”

Then, to consume those limited resources more productively, we need to prepare thoroughly in advance.

It’s basic to decide when, where, and what to do, how much to spend, and even calculate the optimal route.

Is that all? We should also think about what to do if variables arise and the planned schedule gets disrupted.

“Don’t worry. I’ll plan everything from the first day to the last of the vacation, minute by minute.”

Just trust and follow me.

I smiled, raising the corners of my mouth with a triumphant expression.

Joseph’s expression was, well… let’s insist that it’s not a look of disgust, but one of admiration.

And so, a year passed and summer arrived.

This year’s summer in the Imperial Capital was exceptionally good.

After the long rainy season of late spring passes and summer finally begins, there’s almost a month of clear days.

In other words, it was perfect weather for a vacation.

And yet…

“Your expression doesn’t look good.”

“…”

I couldn’t be in a very pleasant mood. The reason being…

“Are you so upset that the vacation plans have become useless?”

“Haa.”

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

Today was the first day of our vacation at Hotel Chronos.

To be honest, until a few days ago, when I received a letter saying that Euphemina had left for the summer palace with the Imperial couple, my heart was pounding with excitement.

Before leaving Daiern, I had instructed Kardiel to contact me anytime if he needed help.

I had also chosen gifts for Chersion, who would be studying hard in the Imperial Capital.

So, Joseph and I set off for the Imperial Capital with light steps and a tourist mindset.

Oh, by the way, we had sent the luggage to be used at the hotel to the Imperial Capital in advance. Since it was a vacation planned months in advance, there was quite a lot of luggage.

After all, with so much luggage, the carriage speed would inevitably be slower.

That was the problem. Sending the luggage carriage separately.

It was all good until Joseph and I arrived in the Imperial Capital right on time for the summer vacation season. The luggage carriage should have arrived in the Imperial Capital before us, but…

“It was my mistake.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t anticipate that the luggage carriage could encounter an accident due to the spring rainy season.”

Fortunately, the servants driving the luggage cart were all safe, though they suffered minor injuries.

I heard that a mudslide, weakened by rain, had hit the carriage. It was a stroke of luck that no one was riding in it.

“Lieselotte, no one can predict natural disasters.”

“We might not be able to predict them, but we could have not overlooked the possibility.”

“That’s an excessive thought, I’d say. If we go by that logic, it’s also my fault for not being able to tell you about future events unlike before.”

“That’s different. Joseph, you don’t know the future beyond the age of thirty, right?”

“That’s exactly my point, Lieselotte. No one can accurately predict a future they haven’t experienced.”

“…”

“So, first, let’s calm down.”

…I understand what he means. I stroked my chest as he said.

Nevertheless, I couldn’t help but sigh again. I felt truly dejected.

“I had organized all the clothes to wear throughout the vacation period, matched for morning, afternoon, and evening…”

Surprisingly, for someone who had been a Duchess for 10 years and a Regent Duke for 3 years, I didn’t have as many luxury items compared to other noble ladies.

As a result, the luggage I had sent for a month’s vacation contained practically all of my summer dresses.

This included hats, shoes, fans, parasols, and jewels.

So this wasn’t just a matter of plans going awry.

It was a matter of my immediate survival.

“Well, it seems that along with the luggage carriage, your vacation plans have also been buried under the mudslide. How about following my plans for the vacation from now on?”

My gaze turned at those words.

Could it be that Joseph had made his own plans in preparation for such an incident?

As I blinked with expectation, he opened the door of the carriage we had ridden in again and extended his hand to me.

“How about we start by getting new clothes for us?”

“You had… such a plan?”

“I just made it now.”

He continued in a refreshing tone.

“Let’s call it a plan to ‘do what we want at the moment’.”