It seemed like an apology conveyed while holding onto the events of that day.

Sieghart, as the lord of the duchy, unusually restricted the festival. She felt strange whenever the servants who had been looking forward to the festival showed disappointment, saying it was a shame.

The Asthart Duchy, the only region in the empire that does not hold a festival on such a commemorative day as today. People were even more shocked because it was one of the regions that held the grandest festival last year.

Low-quality newspapers called him a traitor who turned his back on national achievements, crazed by love, but the nobles, especially the ladies, were impressed by the man’s romantic decision and sent their support.

Natasha thought even that was just for show. To claim that he was sincere to her, who didn’t believe in a man’s pure love.

Yes, like the man who came to see Tisha Winter regularly for over half a year.

‘Why do you say that?’

When the fact she believed was denounced as false, she felt a strange sensation as if her insides were twisting. She gripped the sheet with rough hands.

‘Why are you acting like you’re really apologizing to me?’

Sieghart Asthart, who was said to have joined hands with Kyle to overthrow the royal family. Natasha couldn’t fully resent that man. If he had sincerely apologized, the resentful anger nestled in her heart would have subsided.

It wasn’t impiety committed for a moment’s pure love. As Kyle Letius’s new toy, as a victim who experienced the emperor’s atrocities, she tried to understand Sieghart.

Because she couldn’t have imagined what the title “the royal family’s dog,” which she thought was simply a shameful nickname, actually meant to him.

So she was going to give him a chance.

‘Later. I have an urgent appointment now, so let’s talk later. Assign maids and servants to the princess.’

But he casually trampled even the last chance, as if he never wanted it.

‘…Festival.’

‘…Festival.’

‘Yet how could I love today.’

‘…could. To you…’

‘How could I, feeling guilty towards you.’

‘How.’

The voice of the benefactor who cared for her in her past life now overlapped with Sieghart’s voice. The fragmented paragraphs seemed to reveal the whole story due to the words just now.

‘Did he apologize to me in the past?’

No. That can’t be. It absolutely can’t be…

That man couldn’t feel guilty about my misfortune. It’s just a misunderstanding. My head is strange, I must have misheard everything. That man is a mistake, and the benefactor is a mirage.

Natasha denied everything.

She had to.

The next day’s condition was frustratingly fine. It wasn’t much different from the past. In another sense, it meant that the herbs the benefactor served had the same effect.

Though not fully recovered, she had gained enough strength to move. Except for feeling limp as if her body was soaked in water, there was no discomfort in moving.

She quickly went outside, as if boasting of her improved condition. It was very late at night, and most people had gone out to enjoy the festival, so there were no servants encountered in the corridor.

Being conscious of her surroundings, she moved with light steps and stopped at a room. Seeing that the lights were off, it seemed no one was there. He said he had to live in his office due to a lot of work, but it was just an excuse to stay away from her.

‘…Sounds of pain?’

Just as she was about to move on, a faint voice flowing through the door crack stopped her action.

It was unlikely that someone would dare to enter the duke’s office without fear, and it was clearly Sieghart’s voice, the owner of the room.

However, it was too weak for a man’s voice, which made her curious. She, who was about to pass by the room, unknowingly focused on the other side of the wall.

Groans of writhing in pain could be heard.

At first, she was just amazed that even that man could feel pain. Then suddenly, a conversation she heard in her past life came to mind.

‘Is the Duke suffering again?’

‘He’s always been in pain at this time. Especially for the past two years…’

‘How strange that he’s in more pain since it became an anniversary. Take good care of him.’

‘He won’t even allow anyone to enter. I’ll tell the chef to prepare food that’s good for his health.’

Judging by the situation, he seemed to be in pain like back then. It felt like confirmation that this past hadn’t changed, and Natasha somehow didn’t want to acknowledge it.

Yes, it can’t be.

Natasha grabbed the doorknob to confirm. It was with a feeling of it being truly the last. A feeling of grasping at straws, hoping that even one thing would be wrong despite all the circumstances.

The office she entered was filled with cold. The chilly air rising from the floor grabbed at her ankles as she took steps.

Soon after, a body slumped on the couch came into view.

“…”

Although she had hoped it wouldn’t be, the owner of the body was none other than Sieghart.

She approached the man who looked so weak it was unbearable to see.

His body, drenched in cold sweat, moved irregularly. Groans of pain leaked from between his clenched teeth.

Whimpering like talking to himself could be heard. As Natasha was about to hurriedly leave her seat, thinking Sieghart had woken up, a weak voice approached her again.

“…Mother, Father…”

The action of trying to move her feet stopped. The woman who had ceased movement half-turned her body and fixed her gaze down on Sieghart.

“Don’t go…”

His voice, cracking like drought-stricken land, unexpectedly held moisture.

“…Sieghart?”

At the sound of calling the man’s name, the hand that had fallen to the floor twitched. As if mistaking her voice for someone else’s, Sieghart suffered even more.

The voice calling for his parents was unbearably pitiful. Just like when Natasha, buried in longing, searched for those who no longer existed in this world.

Come to think of it, there was nothing known about the parents of Duke Asthart. He who appeared like a storm was alone from the beginning and remained alone thereafter.

The public claimed that he was hiding his true humble origins, but a series of events revealed that he had lost his parents.

“You can’t be there…”

‘Mother, Father… Flee from the palace. Quickly… Far, far away…’

The woman’s figure wavered over his face.

She fully turned her body and faced Sieghart. She moved her steps carefully and reached the couch, then slightly bent her body.

Her shadow in her own shape fell over the other’s face. The man who couldn’t be looked down upon was now younger and smaller than any boy.

‘There’s no need to worry.’

She unknowingly gave him a long look. The eyes quietly observing the man twitched.

‘Nothing will change just because this man misses his parents.’

It’s like a mouse worrying about a cat.

‘Because my parents were killed by that man.’

But…

Natasha knew well the sorrow of a child who had lost their parents.

That’s why,

‘…I would have done this for anyone else too.’

She couldn’t easily pass by.

She’s just repaying the compassion she received yesterday. She definitely didn’t want to receive pity from the man.

That was all it was.

She brought a dry towel and carefully wiped the man’s body. She dropped water drops onto his dry lips and then placed the wet towel on his forehead.

Without herbs to feed him, she brought a medicine packet given by the maids from the room, mixed the powder with a small amount of water, and slowly poured it into his mouth. The medicine entered through the slightly opened gap.

The eyelids that had been closed all along opened. Natasha’s face was reflected in the red irises that were slightly exposed.

Her expression, which she unintentionally confronted, was extremely kind for one directed at the man. It looked just like she was worried about Sieghart.

“…”

Concerned that he might have caught her momentary expression, Natasha stepped back.

Sieghart hurriedly tried to raise his body as if to grab her. But then he violently grabbed his head as if writhing from the oncoming headache. His body finally settled, almost collapsing, against the back of the couch.

“Why is my wife here…”

“Don’t misunderstand. It’s just to repay you for that day.”

She shot back as if making an excuse. Even though that wasn’t her intention, a sensitive reaction popped out abruptly.

Natasha put the medicine on the table and prepared to leave.

“Since you’ve woken up, I think I’ve done my duty. If your headache continues to be severe, please take more.”

It was just as she was about to leave, as if fleeing. The door she faced as she turned her body disappeared from view. Soon, what the woman faced was Sieghart. The man whose expression looked more peaceful than ever, despite sweating profusely from pain, with his pride disgustingly strong.

“I have something to say.”

“I don’t particularly have anything to hear.”

“Tisha, I…”

“Don’t call me that!”

Natasha shouted as if she disliked the nickname being used to hold onto her.

The man occasionally called her ‘Tisha’, and she disliked how he pronounced it so familiarly as if he had called her that often. Also, the strange expression he showed each time kept bothering her.

“Don’t you remember what I said last time?”

“…”

“I know everything. That you joined hands with the Letius Imperial Family and destroyed my foundation. That you ordered the annihilation of my family, everything!”

She searched for a way to make the man shut his mouth.

At last, she found it. The charge that would make Sieghart Asthart an eternal sinner.

As she wished, Sieghart closed his mouth as soon as Natasha opened hers. He withdrew all other actions as well. Even the act of breathing seemed to have stopped, as the man’s body stood blankly still.

“So stop everything. The affectionate nickname, the voice, the gestures, the actions, everything, everything is so sickening…”

Natasha, who shouted for the last time, turned her body resolutely. However, the grip that caught the woman’s wrist boasted strong force and controlled her action. Sieghart eventually pulled her with a force that was almost rough.