His calloused fingers from training lifted her clothing and delved downward.Each time he moved his hand, a shiver ran down her spine, and her toes curled.It was a pleasure so intense it felt like she might fall endlessly if she wasn’t careful.Rosetta clung desperately to his neck.Between her thighs, it was slick with sweat or something else.

He grasped her thighs with both hands.Rosetta, guided by him, wrapped her legs around Cardier’s smooth waist.Having never been held by a man like this, her arms and thighs stiffened instinctively.Clinging desperately to avoid slipping, Cardier raised his head.While biting the soft peak of her chest, he smiled lasciviously.

“Don’t let go, hold on tight.”

He pressed heavily into her heated core.He was always overwhelming, but now, truly…Just the touch alone made it feel like a vision of eternal snow or towering mountain peaks unfolded before her eyes.A sight she had neither heard of nor seen in her lifetime…Cardier urgently pressed his lips to hers, as if to stifle her scream.Their trembling was felt through their lips.When she instinctively closed her legs, Cardier let out a low groan.

“Don’t, ugh, don’t do that.”

A groan that seemed to break, furrowed brows, feverish eyes.He was a man too perfect in every way.Rosetta gazed at him as if entranced, then tightened her thighs slightly.An elegant beast growled in her ear.

“It’s already, ah… enough.”

He stiffened his body, then moved his hips.Rosetta rubbed her lips and nose against his neck, letting out a sound that was either a plea or a moan.Her voice, greedily demanding, was no different from a siren’s.

“Ah, Cardier, just a little… ah, ugh…”

“With a body like this, you dare… hah, talk about taking another lover.”

“Ahh, ah, ah…!”

“If you want to see how far your husband can lose himself… go ahead and try, Rosetta.”

Anyone who even lays a finger on your body, I’ll kill them all.His cracked voice reached her ear with hot breath.Even in her pleasure-dazed mind, that truth pierced her heart.Yes, that would be nice.I’ll wait for you peacefully in Siclid, and you’ll return victorious from war to hold me like this again.Living for each other, dying without causing or receiving wounds…

Rosetta bit her lips hard.Before her lips could tear, Cardier pressed his finger between her teeth.As if he’d rather take the pain himself.Even that sentiment became a source of guilt.If only everything could break, if only she could shatter into dust in his arms, if only it could all end like this.

Tears felt like they might spill.

Cardier always had more stamina than her, so her plan to exhaust him succeeded only halfway.Instead, she was the one utterly spent.If she hadn’t slipped something into his teacup midway, he’d surely still be wide awake.

“Ugh…”

Rosetta let out a groan as she tried to get off the bed.Her entire body ached, as if it had been chewed and sucked on.Just two rounds, and she was this exhausted—it was a first.Until now, it was as if he had paced himself to match her stamina…

Rosetta wiped her body with a damp cloth.Her dress… though the hem was torn, it was still wearable.Rosetta hurriedly fixed her hair and carefully put on her hood.

With the hood and cap pulled down, the marks on her chest and neck were hidden from view.As she passed the desk, Rosetta wrote a short letter.After hesitating whether to leave it, she tore the parchment and stuffed it into her pocket.With that, her preparations were complete.

Before leaving the tent, Rosetta looked back at Cardier one last time.Asleep with his face buried in the pillow, he was as perfect as an ancient god.Rosetta gently brushed his disheveled blond hair with her fingers.How did a man this fine end up entangled with a woman like her…

Rosetta bit her lips tightly.She had known from the start that a day like this would come.Right after their marriage, she had even worried about the young Duke Montrosa being left alone.Of course, after falling in love with him, she deliberately avoided such thoughts, but what was meant to happen had happened.She steeled her heart.

“Live well. Forget someone like me quickly.”

If there truly is a god, may they grant you forgetfulness.Rosetta sincerely prayed as she briefly kissed his forehead.Then, without looking back, she left the tent.If she hesitated even once, it felt like she’d be cursed to stand frozen forever.

At the dock, the sentries raised their spears to block her path.Their rude gazes scanned her up and down, followed by condescending words.

“What’s your business?”

They clearly didn’t think a shabby woman in a torn dress and messy hood could be the young Duchess Montrosa.Rosetta raised her tone to match theirs.

“I have business at the dock.”

“Orders came last night. No one’s allowed in or out of the camp.”

“Will this do? It’s urgent.”

Rosetta silently asked Hugo for forgiveness and showed her military tag.The soldiers exchanged troubled glances.The title of the young admiral’s aide was too weighty for them to dismiss.Rosetta tapped her foot, feigning impatience.

“It’s urgent. I’ll be back quickly.”

“…Come back soon.”

The spears were lowered, and someone cracked open a side gate.Rosetta walked slowly until she was out of their sight, then, certain they weren’t watching, she ran toward the dock where Melvin was waiting.

“Captain! Over here!”

Melvin, standing on a small boat, waved as he saw her.Rosetta ran, panting but not stopping.Melvin’s eyes widened as he saw her gasping.At first, that’s what she thought.

“Captain, I…”

Even as she neared the boat, Melvin, staring far behind her, raised a finger.A sudden unease surged up her spine.Rosetta bit her lip and slowly turned around.On the long boardwalk connecting the dock to the sandy beach, Cardier, who should have been sound asleep in the tent, stood there.

“Clear the way.”

He stepped forward and commanded.Without a subject, Melvin didn’t dare make a sound and stepped aside.As Melvin mumbled about limited time and urged them to talk quickly before disappearing, a deathly silence fell.

Cardier stood at an angle, his face wearing an expression Rosetta had never seen.It was as if he were looking at a complete stranger… an expression he showed so easily to others.Rosetta licked her dry lips and barely spoke.

“How…”

“You’re getting it wrong, Rosetta. You should start by explaining why you’re here.”

Despite his icy gaze, his voice was still as soft as a dream.Rosetta’s shoulders flinched at the contrast.

“Or should I start by explaining that I didn’t drink the tea you gave me?”

“….”

“Go on, Rosetta. Make an excuse. I’m listening.”

As if you’d have anything to say to me.At her reaction—turning away as if she might die—Cardier ran a hand through his hair, muttering a low curse.

“You planned this from the start.”

“….”

“From the very beginning, you meant to do this to me.”

“….”

“Rosetta. Have I ever been stepped on in your life?”

Stepped on.It hurt more than being stepped on.It lingered like a nail, like a thorn.Every moment that made her hesitate, made her weak, had him in it.But no words could be spoken.Rosetta stubbornly kept her mouth shut.Saying anything here would only deepen her own guilt.Cardier let out a bitter laugh.

“You really never loved me, not even for a moment.”

That… yes, she could only agree.If she truly loved him, she wouldn’t have caused this kind of pain.She should have turned away before he shed tears.Rosetta bit her lips.If only she could turn back time to before she met him.So that he wouldn’t be hurt.

But if she could go back to yesterday, or even to this morning…Rosetta would still have to leave Cardier of her own accord, no matter how many times.She didn’t even have the right to shed tears.

“I’m…”Rosetta swallowed hard.

“I’m sorry for not loving you that much.”

He looked at her now like a lifeless still life.Not a single twitch of his lips or eyebrows, no breath of movement.Rosetta felt something disappearing within him.Damn it, Rosetta. Don’t weaken.She clenched her fists tightly.Thankfully, her voice came out steady, like when she bluffed.

“I’ve always been a woman who only cares about herself. Didn’t you know that when you fell for me?”

“…I knew.”

He let out a bitter laugh.

“But if I’d known it would hurt this much, I wouldn’t have loved you.”

Those words stabbed painfully into her heart.After a long, heavy silence, he spoke in a cracked voice.

“Go, Rosetta.”

She looked up sharply.