Contrary to Barhan’s expectation that Dante would return tomorrow, Dante came back that very night.

“My lord, have you finished dealing with the monsters?”

Although it was unlikely, she was slightly worried that he might have abandoned his work and returned, intoxicated by the sweetness of their honeymoon.

Dante glanced at Barhan as he threw his tattered outer garment, covered in dirt and monster blood, into the trash can.

“Don’t worry. I finished all the work safely before returning.”

“I’m glad to hear that, but didn’t you overexert yourself?”

“Fortunately, it was a small monster. A wild raccoon.”

Of course, the problem was that the raccoon was as gigantic as a wolf, with claws as long as swords, and it drooled paralyzing saliva.

Nevertheless, it was one of the easier monsters to handle compared to others.

Dante washed himself in the bathroom attached to the office and changed into clean clothes.

For Dante, who hadn’t been able to eat properly all day, Barhan brought a few easy-to-eat sandwiches.

“Is my wife asleep?”

As he took a bite of the potato sandwich and glanced at the clock, it was already past midnight.

No need to even hear the answer, she must be sleeping.

Serpina, calling herself the adult of the new country, always fell asleep as soon as midnight struck.

A smile inadvertently escaped his lips as her image came to mind.

“About that, my lord. The lady…”

Hmm?

At the sudden ominous introduction, Dante’s face froze coldly.

“Did something happen to my wife?”

As soon as Barhan’s answer came, Dante headed to the bedroom.

In the bedroom, shrouded in darkness, a quiet, steady breathing sound could be heard.

Dante carefully reached out his hand to touch her forehead, trying his best not to wake Serpina.

〈The lady has caught a cold. Fortunately, it’s not a severe flu like last time.〉

Fortunately, as Barhan said, it doesn’t seem to be a severe cold.

She has a slight fever, but it’s just warm.

If he, whose body temperature is lower than others, feels this way, the actual fever must be much lower.

Dante let out a sigh of relief and sat down on the floor beside the bed.

As he leaned his upper body against the bed, his eyes met the level of the soundly sleeping Serpina.

Under the flickering candlelight, Serpina’s gentle face appeared and disappeared into the darkness repeatedly.

“…Being this weak, and yet trying to protect someone.”

〈Don’t worry about your younger brother. I will always be by his side to protect him.〉

Her boldly proclaimed vow came to mind, making him smile involuntarily.

It was then.

As if she had heard his laughter, Serpina groaned and furrowed her brows.

Dante was momentarily flustered and couldn’t move an inch.

It seemed like she was having a nightmare, but was it okay to wake her up?

After much deliberation, he reached out his hand slowly.

“…Hug me, Mom.”

A moist word escaped through her red lips.

It was a voice resembling the cry of a sorrowful child.

“Mom…”

Dante stared blankly at Serpina and slowly reached out his hand to caress her cheek.

As the cool touch reached her, she seemed to feel better, her expression softening.

Dante felt as if he saw his own childhood in her, who was searching for her mother.

The little child who didn’t resent, but was simply sad and lonely.

Come to think of it.

Yes, thinking about it carefully, his life had been truly miserable.

It was a terrible life.

His father passed away early, and his living mother abandoned him and left.

The one he trusted left him with a curse and betrayal.

His only reliable brother chose death on his own.

He thought everyone would eventually leave his side.

He thought his precious things would ultimately drift away from him.

Ah. Was that why he was afraid?

〈So, don’t even dare to dream of something like love. It will be for your own good.〉

He thought the words left by Julia had become a curse, but was his entire life a curse to him?

If it hadn’t been for Serpina, he would have continued to live in that terrible life.

Without any change.

He would have lived like that, not knowing what the real curse was.

Terribly lonely.

But you changed me. You saved me from that terrible life.

The child who didn’t even know he was miserable and was walking into a quagmire, the child who couldn’t grow up, slowly matured thanks to you.

Now I have truly become an adult.

I am no longer caught by the nightmares of my childhood that kept repeating.

Even when I went to the ice land, even when I visited the Richter cemetery on my brother’s anniversary.

I no longer have the nightmares that I used to have naturally.

This, too, is all thanks to you.

So. Therefore.

What I want to say now is.

Dante slowly got up from the irresistible waves of thoughts rushing in.

And he lay down beside Serpina, who was still furrowing her brows and repeating, “Hug me.”

He carefully embraced her frail body and kissed her forehead.

Hoping his warmth would be conveyed to her.

Hoping his heart would be conveyed to her.

Just as the pitiful child was saved by you.

I, too, hope I can be of some help in soothing your sad childhood memories.

I hope to be someone who helps bring you peace.

With that in mind, Dante tightened his arms around Serpina.

Her furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

The groaning sighs turned back into steady breathing.

That was enough for everything.

Fortunately, this cold recovered quickly.

Although the area under her nose got a bit rough from constantly wiping the runny nose.

Well, it’s just to this extent.

As she was vigorously rubbing the area under her nose with a handkerchief, Siena and Mari approached her, looking pale.

“My lady… Didn’t you say the people from the dressing room are coming later?”

“Yes. I did.”

“So I even did your makeup properly, but what are we going to do if you keep rubbing under your nose like this?”

“Ah.”

Right. I had makeup on.

I slowly turned my head to check the mirror.

Only the area under my nose had the makeup removed, looking quite ridiculous.

I think I’ve seen this kind of makeup gag in a corner before.

As I was recalling my past life at the wrong time, Siena let out a deep sigh and brought a brush.

“Let’s just give up, both of you. The snot keeps coming out, so how can she not wipe it? The duchess can’t greet people with a runny nose.”

“That’s true, but…”

The two, who were in agony, finally declared their surrender and cleanly removed the makeup from my face.

Rather than having the makeup keep coming off only under the nose, they chose to remove it all at once.

“I wanted to prepare properly since we’re getting a winter ball gown fitted for once. The dress is fancy, so it looks much better when tried on with makeup rather than on a bare face…”

Huh. I wondered why they were putting makeup on for a dress fitting, but it was for that reason.

I was in awe of the newly acquired knowledge and soullessly patted Siena’s arm as she was whining.

Not long after, people from the dressing room arrived.

They swiftly checked my measurements and showed me a variety of dress designs, sample fabrics, thread and button decorations.

Yeah. I’m not in my right mind at all!

To be honest, I thought they all looked similar.

Instead of me, who was just smiling with my mouth shut as my eyes were spinning, Siena and Mari passionately discussed with the dressing room staff.

After the storm-like time swept by, I crawled into bed, exhausted.

“Wow. I’m going crazy from the chaos.”

“You just nodded your head at what we chose.”

At Mari’s sharp remark, I made a hurt expression.

“I’m a patient. You should praise me for just sitting and smiling!”

Siena and Mari giggled at my shameless answer.

I also grinned broadly and leaned my back against the pillow.

Suddenly, a golden envelope caught my eye.

That was the culprit that made me hastily get a ball gown fitted.

I reached out my hand and picked up the envelope on the side table.

Inside the envelope, which was as fancy as it could be, was an invitation to a ball sent directly by the imperial family.

The theme of this ball was birthday.

The birthday of the Second Prince, Joshua.

The invitation stated that we should attend all three days of the ball without missing a single day to grace the occasion, which somehow felt like a threat. Is it just my imagination?

“It’s a threat.”

“Definitely a threat.”

Mari and Siena answered simultaneously to my question.

“Yeah. This is a threat, right?”

Having gained confidence in the opinion, I glared at the letter with a fierce expression.

Do they write such threatening phrases when sending invitations to other families as well?

Or are they only sending it to us like this?

If it’s the latter, I think my hatred towards the imperial family will deepen a bit more.

“By the way, it’s the Second Prince’s birthday banquet, right?”

Siena, being a Richter’s servant, coolly asked, omitting the royal title.

“Yes. It’s the Second Prince’s birthday banquet.”

At my answer, Siena muttered with a surprised expression.

“I wonder why they are grandly celebrating the Second Prince’s birthday this time.”