“I think I’ll live.”

A few days later.

My physical condition was recovering safely.

“I’m really glad, my lady.”

“We were truly worried. Sniff.”

Mari and Siena, who had stayed by my side the longest, had tears welling up in their eyes at the sight of me regaining my health.

No, wait. Siena is already crying.

My nose tingled in sympathy. I was reminded once again that having someone genuinely worry about me is truly heartwarming.

“Thank you both. You were worried, weren’t you?”

“How can you even ask that…! I really thought something terrible had happened to you, my lady…!”

“Siena.”

“Hic.”

I let out a laugh as I looked at the two of them, just like always.

Well, I guess even I was slightly worried that I might die this time.

For these two who are already overly protective, they must have been extremely concerned.

“I’ll be healthy from now on. I promise.”

“…Yes. Really, please don’t get sick.”

“That’s right. You have to keep your promise, okay?”

“Of course. From now on, I’ll only be healthy.”

Huh? Why are they tearing up again?

At my promise to stay healthy, the two of them showed expressions of being choked up once more.

I’m not sure about this sudden flow of emotions, but I wrinkled my nose along with them.

‘Just fight already!’

That’s what I often thought when watching the frustratingly indecisive protagonist of the original work.

It seemed more satisfying to have a big fight rather than keeping quiet and digging oneself deeper.

After all, there’s a saying that married couples’ fights are like cutting water with a knife.

I thought it would be better to fight once and make up.

Yes, I certainly thought that way, but…

“My lady, are you really not going to reconcile?”

It’s not like I wanted to have a marital dispute.

“No. I’m not going to make up.”

I shook my head firmly at Mari’s worried question.

Meanwhile, my nose was still running due to the lingering effects of the cold.

Mari handed me a handkerchief with a sigh.

…I hope she didn’t sigh because of my runny nose?

Fortunately, it seemed that wasn’t the case.

“How did you end up fighting? You two were getting along so well.”

How did we end up fighting?

Ha. Just thinking about it made me feel indignant and wronged.

“I don’t know. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Yes. I really didn’t do anything wrong. I’m the one who’s been wronged!

The prelude to our marital dispute goes back to yesterday evening.

Yesterday evening.

Thanks to my improved condition, I had just finished a hearty meal when Dante came to see me.

“Dante!”

Perhaps because of what happened when I was sick, seeing his face while clear-headed was more welcome than ever.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yes. I’ve improved a lot.”

“That’s a relief.”

I could feel his sincerity in the way he greatly relaxed.

He must have been very worried.

My heart resonated with a twang of emotion. As expected, he’s a man who’s tough on the outside but soft on the inside.

A caring man wearing the mask of a regretful one.

I made up my mind once again.

I would do my utmost best to ensure that Dante could be happy.

So, I was concerned about the worry still evident on his face.

Well, I guess he might still be worried since I’m not completely recovered yet.

Intending to ease his worry, I exaggerated a bit, clenching my fist as I added:

“I really feel great. I feel like I could do anything right now.”

But that’s when it happened.

“…Are you talking about that again?”

Dante’s face suddenly turned cold.

“Pardon?”

I blinked at the abrupt chilly change in atmosphere.

Judging by the atmosphere alone, it seemed like I had done something wrong.

Did I make some mistake without realizing it?

But I couldn’t think of anything. While I was standing there blankly, Dante added, as if grinding his words:

“Please, just stop it.”

…What’s this? Why is he acting like this?

I didn’t know what was what, but I started to think there was no need for him to speak so firmly.

Especially to someone who had just barely recovered after being sick enough to be on the brink of death.

“What do you want me to stop?”

I couldn’t help but use a somewhat aggressive tone.

It was unpleasant to feel like I was being scolded without knowing the reason.

I felt a bit hurt too.

“What did I do?”

“I mean, don’t do anything.”

“What? What do you mean…”

“I’ve told you many times not to overexert yourself. But you keep starting things and pushing your body too hard, and you ended up seriously ill as a result.”

I tried hard to interpret the meaning of his words.

So, what he’s saying is…

“Don’t tell me… you’re talking about the tea party?”

“…”

What? Really?

Wow. It seems it really is.

His lack of response and his unwavering gaze fixed on me meant affirmation.

I was beyond dumbfounded; I was flabbergasted.

What kind of logic is that? What does the tea party have to do with catching a cold?

I just caught a cold because of the change of seasons.

Soon, sorrow began to swirl like a storm.

Who was it for, that I started such an event?

I hoped that Flora, whom Dante would come to love, wouldn’t be unfairly attacked.

If he found out that the woman he loves was being attacked without her knowledge, knowing Dante’s personality, he would probably blame himself.

And there was also the reason that I was concerned about Dante blaming himself after the recent incident with Count Vietsa.

I thought that if I showed interest in the northern nobles, it would surely improve Dante’s image among them as well.

Of course, I didn’t do it hoping to be acknowledged.

It was all done out of my own desire, not because anyone told me to.

But hearing such words made me feel so wronged that I couldn’t bear it.

“I wanted to be helpful to you. I wanted to fulfill my duties as the mistress of the house…”

“I never asked for that.”

“W-what did you say?”

I stumbled over my words, unable to believe the coldness.

“If you really want to do something for me, then just stay still. Don’t do anything, and don’t needlessly overexert yourself. There’s no one who would dare impose such duties on you.”

However, there wasn’t even a hint of wavering in his blue eyes.

…Ah. I could fully understand Flora’s feelings.

If I were told such things to my face, even I would want to cry, thinking, ‘This man must hate me.’

But instead of crying, I coolly regained my composure.

Right. He probably doesn’t mean it with bad intentions.

The Dante I know isn’t someone who would say such things with malicious intent.

If it weren’t for me, who can understand the meaning behind his poorly worded statements, there would be a serious misunderstanding.

Is he saying this out of concern?

Yes. It must be concern.

He tends to be overprotective of me, and he thinks I’m a frail and delicate person who might blow away if he breathes on me.

Wow. How touching.

He takes care of me when I’m sick, and he worries about me. I was so moved that I felt like I was about to overflow with emotion.

But you know what?

I have my limits too.

It’s nice to be worried about when I’m sick, but it’s quite unpleasant to be treated like a patient when I’m perfectly fine.

He’s trying to confine me with his worry and arbitrarily restrict my activities.

See? That’s his logic right now.

“So, what you’re saying, Your Grace, is that because I’m weak, I shouldn’t step up and start things? Because you’re worried I might fall ill again.”

Once again, Dante affirmed with his silence.

Now, even that was starting to annoy me.

Why aren’t you answering?
This is why you’re always making blunders with Flora!
“I’m tired of this now. I’m not as weak as you think, Your Grace. I’m not a patient!”
Well, well.
I don’t understand why he’s the one looking hurt when I’m the one who’s been wronged.
Dante’s lips quivered as if he had a lot to say, then he sighed and rubbed his face.
Again, he’s not speaking. Again!
“Say something. Stop avoiding it all the time, it’s frustrating.”
“You’re the one who’s avoiding things right now.”
“I’m avoiding things?”
Has all the avoidance in the world frozen to death? Is there anyone more honest than me right now?
“You’re lying.”
…Me? What lie?
“You keep lying, making it impossible for me to even dare to inquire.”
“What lie did I… Cough, cough.”
I started coughing in the middle of shouting in excitement.
Ah. This ill-timed throat.
My pride was hurt, trying to insist I wasn’t weak while coughing.
Even if I wanted to suppress it by concentrating, as they say love, sneezes, and such can’t be hidden, the coughing wouldn’t subside.
What made me angrier in the midst of this was:
“Are you alright? Here’s some warm water.”
Dante’s attitude, seeming genuinely concerned about me at this moment, when he had just accused me of being a liar.
He stepped closer to me, worriedly offering a glass of water.
It’s really laughable.
It’s not even a case of giving the disease and then the medicine.
I pushed away the offered glass with my palm.
“Cough. Get out of my way.”
Whether it was due to the violent coughing, or the feeling of being wronged, angry, dumbfounded, and even sad.
My eyes heated up and tears welled up.
I roughly wiped my eyes and pulled the blanket over my head.
“I don’t want to see your face, Your Grace. I don’t want to look at you.”
“…”
“I’ll stay in the room without moving as you said… so please leave now.”
After a long silence, heavy footsteps gradually faded away.
Creak. Bang.
With the sound of the door closing, the room sank into silence.
That was the beginning of the cold war.