The First Night.

The newlyweds’ first night after the wedding ceremony.

The first night of the couple who officially became husband and wife was a grander and more magnificent event than anything else in the ducal household. Numerous servants contributed to blessing today’s ceremony.

The bride who entered the lavishly decorated room seemed unexpectedly unimpressed. She scanned the interior with eyes as dry as a dead fish, then sat on the bed as if she had lost even a shred of interest.

After a while, the sound of someone entering was heard. The graceful footsteps vaguely revealed the identity of the visitor.

Natasha raised her voice without turning around.

“You don’t need to show me any kindness.”

As if pleading, please don’t approach me.

“Your Excellency… You dislike me, don’t you?”

In truth, Natasha had no desire to uncover his emotions. Her fatigue outweighed the disgust she felt towards the man. Until now, even the desire to peel away Sieghart’s false shell had been minimal.

Moreover, in the foundation he had earnestly established, Natasha was an absolute weakling. That was regardless of whether she despised Sieghart or not.

If she stayed still, it would resolve itself. Someone as prideful as him would likely grow tired of Natasha’s minimal reactions and leave first.

But the other’s deception kept making Natasha feel smaller. Watching his false kindness made the days she had spent crying in misery seem insignificant.

‘The things that once made me cry sorrowfully because I couldn’t have them, now I obtain so easily.’

The nights she couldn’t help but feel disappointed when the man didn’t visit her until the wedding, the moment she cried in shame when denied the vow’s kiss.

All those moments had been completely reversed simply because she didn’t give the man affection.

“All the actions you show while pretending to be kind to me are fake.”

“On what grounds?”

The low, extinguished voice urged for an explanation.

Grounds…

Of course, there were none.

It’s not like she could answer that you did so to me before the regression.

There was a good answer that as the one who annihilated the Charliee royal family, he couldn’t possibly love a survivor. However, the problem was that at the time, it was confidential information known only to Kyle and Sieghart.

So indeed, there were no grounds.

“I have no grounds, just… There’s no reason for Your Excellency to love me. I’m just a woman you’ve seen for a day.”

Sieghart had already approached in front of the speaking woman.

A crack appeared on his refined face. Tilting his head slightly, he muttered in a mischievous voice.

“So in the end, it’s just a baseless assumption.”

It was a strangely barbed remark. No matter how it was covered with a calm and elegant voice and tone, the essence remained unchanged. Interpreting it based on the man’s usual rough speech and behavior, it meant to shut up and not make up rumors without evidence.

Not wanting to provoke the man’s anger, Natasha followed the other’s request. Soon after, he approached and added.

“Your expression is full of resentment.”

“…That’s a baseless assumption.”

Despite denying it, her face remained sulky, causing the man to smile subtly.

“Even though I pointed out it was a baseless claim, you still react so negatively. Even if I were to argue otherwise, nothing would change. Because you wouldn’t believe it.”

“Are you saying you don’t dislike me?”

“If only there were a way to prove it.”

This time, Natasha’s lips curved upwards. It was a wry smile.

“I have nothing to tell you even if you ask me.”

She wouldn’t believe it. She knew his confession was the devil’s whisper to bind her feet.

Therefore, there was no way to prove it. No matter what he did, Natasha’s stubbornness and distrust wouldn’t be broken.

“Still, I can assure you of one thing. Conventional methods won’t work. For example, giving flowers or jewels as gifts, coming to nurse me when I’m sick, or rushing to save me when danger strikes. Such boring tactics won’t be effective.”

Though the person in question might not realize it, Natasha spoke while recalling a familiar person. The man who had the same face and voice as the one before her, who had been so cruel.

Sieghart looked as if he had understood the story.

“I’ll make an effort.”

He, who had been staring into space as if lost in thought, made a strong promise before the silence wore off. It was an unfamiliar voice condensed with several emotions.

Saying that they, who married without love, didn’t need to follow the usual rules of newlyweds, Natasha refused the relationship expected on the first night.

Unexpectedly retreating easily, he later scattered animal blood on the white sheets in consideration of people’s gazes.

Natasha lay down to sleep with her back turned to Sieghart, who had become her husband. As if the tension that had kept her upright all day had been released, the fatigue she had been ignoring rushed in like a wave in an instant.

She fell asleep to the faint ticking of the clock and the languid beating of her heart as a lullaby.

It was the next day.

A streak of light escaping between the closed curtains attacked her vision. The beautiful face wrinkled at the brilliant flash felt even through closed eyelids.

With a soft groan, she rose from her lying position and looked around. The clock she unconsciously checked indicated that she had woken up at a not-too-late hour.

‘Sieghart…’

Even though it was early dawn, the space beside her was empty. Judging by how neatly it was arranged, it didn’t seem to be a brief outing.

‘It seems he’s gone out.’

As she looked around, a teacup placed on the side table next to the bed caught her eye. She thought she smelled a fragrant scent coming from somewhere, and it seemed this was the source.

Beside the still-warm teacup was a small note. Natasha, who had soothed her stomach with morning tea, soon picked up the tiny piece of paper.

“Good morning, wife.”

The owner of the handwriting was Sieghart.

After passing over the awkward title with amusement, she read the rest of the content.

The letter stated that there was early morning training on the day he commanded the Asthart Knights, and Natasha would have to stay alone until lunchtime. It also included useful information that servants to assist her were all prepared, so she should call them when needed.

The finished note was thrown into the trash bin. The teacup with plenty of tea left was placed back on the saucer.

She approached the vanity prepared for her and brushed her hair. After lightly preparing, Natasha then rang the bell to call a servant.

Those waiting from the door asked for permission to enter, knocking as soon as the bell rang.

Shortly after, among the group of servants who entered, a familiar face was seen. She, too, noticing Natasha’s gaze, made eye contact and approached to greet her.

“Pleased to meet you, my lady. I am Anna Criot, the head maid of the ducal residence, overseeing and directing the servants.”

It was proper for the head maid to come and introduce herself on Natasha’s first day as the duchess, but even this obvious thing had never happened in the past. Well, it must be the difference of whether Sieghart intervened or not.

Afterward, the head maid introduced three maids who would be exclusively in charge of Natasha from now on.

Anna further explained that they couldn’t entrust the precious task of serving the mistress of the great Asthart family to incompetent individuals, so they had selected intelligent maids from reputable households.

“According to the schedule, His Grace the Duke will remain at the training grounds until the lunch banquet, so until then, you may accompany the maids.”

After the greetings, everyone except the three maids and a few servants to help with grooming left the room.

“Pleased to meet you, my lady.”

The three standing with their hands politely on their stomachs began their self-introductions. From right to left, they were Charlotte Tristana, Meliana Rayon, and Vanessa Wilts.

While the maid helped with Natasha’s hair and grooming, the maids selected and recommended clothes from the dressing room attached to the bedroom.

Natasha quietly spoke to Charlotte, who was inserting a hair ornament while brushing aside her side hair.

“Lady Tristana, may I ask you something?”

Charlotte Tristana was the only one among the three who had been working at the ducal residence before.

“Of course, my lady. Please ask anything.”

“There should be a girl named Cayena Ten working here, do you know her?”

After adding a description of Cayena’s appearance, Charlotte nodded as if she understood.

“I haven’t seen her around the ducal residence. I don’t think she quit, so I was wondering if you knew her whereabouts.”

“Ah, Cayena has temporarily returned to her hometown. Her family is suffering from a chronic illness and needs nursing care. I believe she’ll return in about ten days.”

“A vacation, then. Thank you.”

No wonder Cayena wasn’t seen.

She remembered that when the two reunited, it was also after Cayena had returned from her hometown. At that time, she had been away for more than a month, hadn’t she?

“Breakfast will be prepared in an hour, would you like to rest until then? We’ll come back to escort you at the scheduled time.”

“Yes, I’ll see you then.”

With the promise to return as soon as breakfast was ready, the three left the room.

‘Shall I go to the study?’

As she pondered activities to pass the time, she decided to go to the library and bring back a few books.

Since she would need a maid’s help to go, it would be better to leave quickly to avoid inconvenience. Just as she roughly draped the shawl hanging on the chair and grabbed the doorknob, it happened.

“To think that asking us about Cayena Ten’s whereabouts would be the lady’s concern, how remarkable.”

From beyond the door, the voices of those who had not yet left could be faintly heard.

“Even though she should be ashamed of her lowly bloodline. Well, seeing how Lady Ten also works shamelessly at the ducal residence without an ounce of embarrassment, it might be a trait of theirs.”

It seemed their purpose was largely to disparage someone who wasn’t present.