Did Sieghart really feel ashamed? Did he choose to run away because he wasn’t ready yet?

It was Natasha who turned away from the obvious answer and ran. She was busy defending him with ridiculous hypotheses. In the end, she came to the absurd conclusion that they should hear his side of the story at least once.

After the meal, Natasha returned to the mansion and waited endlessly for her husband in her room.

How much time had passed when suddenly there was a presence outside the door? Natasha swallowed hard as she noticed the faint sound that could barely be heard. She straightened her back, which had been slightly hunched from waiting, to greet the person.

She couldn’t tell who was coming through the door behind her, but Natasha hoped it would be Sieghart.

Though she was disappointed when she realized the visitor’s footsteps were completely different from a man’s.

She turned around with disappointment, only to be startled when she confirmed the identity of the person.

“…Cayena?”

Bright wheat-colored hair, straight without any curls. Cat-like eyes with prominent dark green irises.

Cayena Ten. A precious friend who had spent a long time with Natasha as a maid in the royal palace.

“Yes, Princess. It’s me.”

Natasha was surprised twice – once at the unexpected appearance of her friend, and again at the outfit her friend was wearing. Cayena was dressed in the maid uniform of the Asthart ducal family.

“Why is Cayena here…”

“Why? As you can see, I’ve been working for the ducal family.”

Cayena approached first and took Natasha’s hands. Her soft hands were full of warmth.

“I heard about Lord Dante. They said he’s staying at the suburban villa. I heard a little about you while exchanging letters. It must have been very difficult for you?”

There were so many things she wanted to ask, but Cayena’s words made all the questions in her head disappear.

The waves in her mind that had been calm with occasional ripples suddenly surged and engulfed the pier. The emotions that had been weighing her down finally burst forth.

“Yes, a little…”

“I regret not being with you when you were having a hard time. If I had been by your side, you might have been a little better… I really missed you, Princess. I eased my curiosity by often asking Lord Dante about your well-being.”

As Cayena comforted her about the difficult past, Natasha finally shed tears. She tried to hold them back, but the collision of emotions overcame her will.

And for the first time, she poured out the words and feelings she had been holding back. Things she had kept to herself, not wanting to worry Lord Dante. For example, the guilt she felt after losing her family, and the fear and depression towards an uncertain future.

“It must have been very hard for you. Now, don’t hold back and tell me everything. I’ve always been on your side, Princess. I’ll take care of you, no, Madam, with all my might here as well.”

Cayena slowly stroked her cheek. A gentle force guided her head to face Cayena.

“I really, really missed you.”

The deep green eyes scrutinized Natasha intensely. She felt embarrassed for no reason under the gaze that carefully examined everything.

“By the way, may I ask when Cayena started working here? I don’t think I’ve seen you for a month…”

“Ah, I had some business to attend to in my hometown. I’ve been working for the ducal family for quite a while. It’s been over a year already.”

Cayena then explained the background of how she came to work as a maid for the ducal family.

Sieghart recognized Cayena disguised as Natasha and saved her life. Afterwards, she needed to find a job, but no place welcomed a maid who had worked for the fallen royal family. Among them, only the Asthart ducal family hired her, she added.

“You tried to die in my place? What recklessness…! If His Grace hadn’t recognized you, you could have died just like that!”

“I was just doing what I had to do. I was a maid who took care of the Princess. Anyway, if you hadn’t taken me in, I would have died painfully in poverty and oppression.”

Cayena smiled brightly and changed the subject to lighten the gloomy atmosphere.

“Actually, I often heard about you from the Duke. He would ask me about the things you liked. I didn’t expect you two to get married while I was away!”

It was about Sieghart Asthart, whom Natasha didn’t want to think about at the moment.

“His Grace is really a good person. You know that too, don’t you, Princess?”

Natasha, who had spent the past half year with him, knew better that Sieghart was a good person.

However…

“But, Cayena…”

After a moment, Natasha gathered the courage to speak.

But the rest of her words were left unspoken. The door opened without warning, drawing both of their attention.

“Oh my.”

“…”

“It seems I’ve unintentionally interrupted your time together.”

The man who had been scrutinizing the scene of the two of them together eventually nodded. Unlike his words, he didn’t seem apologetic. Rather, he seemed confident that Cayena would vacate her seat at his arrival.

“Not at all. I was the one interrupting your time. I’m sorry! I’ll leave right away.”

Cayena jumped up and left her seat. The door that had just opened closed again, causing a commotion. After the commotion, only silence remained between the two.

“Princess.”

Sieghart, who had approached her, eventually bent down. He stared intently at the clear tear stains on Natasha’s cheeks and reached out to caress them.

Natasha subtly considered what the man might say next.

Would he explain the unfortunate incident that occurred at the wedding now?

“Marriage.”

Yes, if it’s just the two of us now, he’ll explain in detail so that I won’t feel hurt.

“Congratulations.”

“…Pardon?”

“And welcome to the ducal family.”

Sieghart said with a small smile. His clear smile, free of any unnecessary elements, proved his innocence.

‘Ah…’

Ironically, the first words from his mouth were not an explanation.

It wasn’t an apology saying there was no room for excuses, and ridiculously, it was a congratulation and welcome completely off-topic. As if he had completely forgotten about the wedding incident.

The shattered expectation gave birth to disappointment. Natasha changed her expression and eventually removed the hand lingering on her cheek.

“Your Grace, about the wedding… Why didn’t you kiss me?”

She suddenly felt wronged, as if she had been suffering alone all this time. The resentment she had suppressed for three weeks finally exploded due to today’s events.

“And that’s not all. How could you not visit me even once for three weeks? Thinking about it again, is the princess of a fallen country not suitable to be a duchess? Have you come to dislike me? If you feel that way – not wanting to dine together, not wanting to kiss – then I’ll go back to where I was originally, even now. Please let me go.”

She didn’t have the courage to mention the word ‘separation’ while facing him. Natasha stared at the distant view and muttered.

It takes about two days from the wedding ceremony until the couple becomes legally married. Before that, they can easily annul the marriage without going through divorce procedures.

So she can go back even now. She can pretend that the sweet time she shared with Sieghart was just a dream and forget about it.

Yes, the commoner status of Tisha Winter would suit the princess of a fallen country who survived alone better. Natasha Asthart – what an inappropriate position.

“Tisha.”

The man approached Natasha, who had a pained expression. Sieghart, who had been staring at her teary red eyes, caressed her eyes and cheeks in turn.

Finally, the first word he uttered was calling the woman’s nickname. A special name that he was never allowed to use, but one that could be used anytime between a married couple.

Sieghart brought his face close. It was so close that their noses almost touched.

The hair that occasionally touched her forehead tickled. The increasingly thick breath was so sweet that it felt like she would suffocate if she inhaled it. Their noses bumped against each other.

Everything suddenly became closer. Their lips were no exception.

He alternately sucked on Natasha’s upper and lower lips. He pushed his hot flesh into the gap that opened in response to the unfamiliar stimulation.

What invaded her mouth found its way familiarly. After lightly brushing her teeth, it gently swept across the roof of her mouth as if scratching it. It also touched the root of her tongue while messily intertwining. It was a greedy desire following instinct.

After a while, Natasha let out a sigh. A thin thread hung between their lips. The unfamiliar scent was mixed with the moist liquid pooled in her mouth.

“…Your Grace?”

“You’re having a cute misunderstanding.”

Sieghart continued speaking while cupping Natasha’s flushed cheeks. He seemed to be adding an explanation that was long overdue.

“Not kissing at the wedding ceremony was my own consideration. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to control my desire and might explore the princess indecently in front of everyone.”

“…”

“I also didn’t like the idea of others watching our glorious first kiss.”

Having finished his explanation neatly, Sieghart moved his hand to settle on her white nape. After tracing the delicate line, he eventually grasped her head.

The man and woman who naturally closed their eyes rubbed their bodies together. It was a signal announcing their second indulgence.

Natasha woke up to the sound of birds chirping. She was about to get up when she felt a dull pain around her waist, so she lay back down. Once she became aware of the pain, her waist felt tingly even when she was still.

“You’re awake.”

The low baritone voice startled her fully awake. She who had been squirming under the blanket, poked her face out in surprise. Sieghart, who had woken up earlier, was sitting at the table.

He closed the newspaper he had been reading and came over to kiss Natasha’s forehead. He then handed her a steaming cup of tea, freshly brewed.

“Good morning, Princess.”

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.