Snow was suddenly pouring down outside the window.

It had snowed like this when she entered the duke’s residence last year, and Natasha realized anew how much time had passed. The calendar that suddenly caught her eye announced that tomorrow was their first wedding anniversary.

‘No wonder.’

She had been hearing more from her family lately, which was unusual.

They seemed quite angry that Natasha was continuing her relationship with Sieghart for a year now.

Vanessa, who was preparing refreshments saying they were biscuits given by the marchioness’s daughter, noticed her mistress’s gaze lingering on the calendar and smiled faintly.

“Come to think of it, tomorrow is your wedding anniversary!”

“Time flies, doesn’t it?”

“It certainly does! To think it’s already been a year since we’ve been together, I suddenly feel the passage of time. Oh, what are your plans for tomorrow?”

“Well, I suppose work as usual…”

“No, no. Work? I’m telling you it’s your wedding anniversary tomorrow!”

The raised voice expressed shock. Goodness! Her widened eyes seemed to be saying just that.

Natasha was about to ask what the big deal was about a wedding anniversary, but quickly withdrew the question. If she responded carelessly, it seemed Vanessa might shudder as if having a seizure.

No, the other party already seemed quite shocked by the lady’s claim that she would work on their first wedding anniversary. Soon, Vanessa began lecturing on how important tomorrow was for them.

The lesson continued until all the tea in the teapot had grown cold.

“Okay, okay. I understand perfectly. That’s enough now!”

“Never, ever again! You must not say you’ll work on your wedding anniversary! Other noble ladies are upset because their husbands do that, but in our household, the husband would be upset because of his wife doing so!”

Who would think this passionate lecturer was the same maid who had been quietly pouring tea just moments ago? Even Natasha, who had known her for a year, no longer saw that fussy teacher as her intimate maid.

“Please, stop…”

As Vanessa said, a wedding anniversary was indeed an extremely important day for couples.

But they were an exception.

They had no reason whatsoever to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Bluntly put, weren’t they going to part ways next year?

Vanessa desperately trying to persuade, and Natasha pretending to listen while letting it go in one ear and out the other. This battle between spear and shield was interrupted by a man entering the room.

“It’s good to see everyone so energetic in the morning.”

“Good morning, sir!”

The passionate teacher had instantly reverted to being a docile maid. Vanessa greeted Sieghart with a gentle face as if nothing had happened.

The man who had quietly approached placed his hand on Natasha’s shoulder. His large hand covered her entire shoulder with room to spare.

“It seems you were discussing tomorrow’s anniversary. So Natasha, what would you like to do?”

“What do you mean… do?”

Natasha immediately questioned back. The corners of Vanessa’s mouth, who was standing demurely beside them, twitched.

Sieghart also seemed to have a similar feeling, as he was silent for a moment. Only then did Natasha realize that the question contained the same purpose Vanessa had mentioned.

Was this man also going to participate in the make-believe?

Well, he might as well, since he was so immersed in the role of a husband who adored her terribly.

“I’d like to keep it low-key. Not really interested in a banquet or anything like that… Besides, it’s too late to prepare now anyway. Were you planning a banquet?”

“I hadn’t thought of anything specific, figuring you wouldn’t want a banquet.”

“Then we can just reject that idea again.”

Natasha quickly accepted the consideration, surprised that Sieghart was going along with her wishes for once.

She didn’t want to go around boasting about past joyous occasions by hosting an extravagant banquet. There was no benefit in having people recognize today as their wedding anniversary.

Bluntly put, wouldn’t the two of them be parting ways this time next year?

“You don’t want a banquet, but what about other things?”

“Pardon?”

“It seems I need to investigate if there’s anything else you’re averse to. Are there any activities you don’t want?”

Natasha tilted her head at the persistent question.

If she didn’t want a banquet, couldn’t they just stay at the mansion and spend a similar day? With perhaps a more varied dinner menu and slightly more elaborate desserts to mark the difference.

Sieghart seemed to want a more definite change than such subtle differences.

“…Not particularly?”

“Then I’ll decide on my own.”

“Yes, do as you please…”

She answered indifferently.

Apart from changes to the meal menu, even if other events were added, it wouldn’t make much difference.

However, contrary to expectations, the planned schedule turned out to be more substantial than anticipated.

“…Wait a moment, Sieghart. What did you just say?”

Natasha asked again, seemingly surprised.

“What are we doing?”

“We’re going on a two-week trip to commemorate tomorrow. Did I communicate that clearly this time?”

He repeated the same answer with clearer pronunciation, as if teasing her attitude of clearly having misheard.

What? A trip?

Moreover, for two weeks!

Natasha was utterly shocked by the sudden travel plans. It wasn’t even a light trip of a few days, but a long journey scheduled for a whole two weeks.

“Two weeks… Isn’t that too grand for a spontaneous trip?”

“We skipped the honeymoon, so it’s good to enjoy a long trip at a time like this. And it’s not that grand. I’ve allowed ample time because we have many places to visit.”

Sieghart shrugged his shoulders. Unlike Natasha, who was flustered by the surprising news, he calmly cut a lobster tail and personally moved it to his wife’s plate.

She wondered what on earth this was all about.

Alright, let’s put aside deep thoughts. It doesn’t matter much how grand or long this spontaneous trip is. It has nothing to do with the honeymoon they missed a year ago!

The important thing is that the two of them don’t have such leisure, right?

“Above all, we have a lot of work left to do. Did you forget we’re supposed to go on an expedition to the south next month? You shouldn’t neglect the knight training, and we need to handle work in advance to prepare for that time…”

Natasha began arguing about how rushed and reckless the travel schedule was, rattling off the man’s agenda that she hadn’t even particularly considered before.

“I’ve already finished it all.”

“…Pardon?”

“I told you, I’ve already completed everything you’re concerned about. Did that get through this time?”

“Everything?”

“Yes.”

“…Really, everything?”

“Yes, everything. And I finished it all by yesterday. If you don’t believe me, I’ll bring the results for you to inspect yourself.”

However, all her efforts were rendered futile by Sieghart’s single statement. Natasha, who had been channeling a teacher and passionately arguing, stopped her agonizing and accepted the outcome.

In the end, she reached a state of enlightenment.

Right. Her arguments were just feeble excuses, mere sophistry of the weak.

“…Alright. I won’t try to stop you anymore. So where are we traveling to?”

Whether she had given up or Sieghart had finally made her give up wasn’t exactly clear. However, the man seemed satisfied just with his wife getting on board with his well-laid plans, as he narrowed his eyes.

“Starting from the western region of the empire.”

“…”

“All the way to the Duchy of Kshant.”

Sieghart’s claim that he had allowed ample time because there were many places to visit wasn’t just an exaggeration to push his argument.

It took three days one way to travel from the duke’s territory to the south of the empire. Round trip would require six to seven days. Adding the time to visit other regions in between, half of the trip would be spent traveling.

Time flew by, and they were nearing their destination. The coachman, who had taken the reins again after enjoying a sweet rest, informed them that they would arrive after one more night’s sleep.

They were scheduled to arrive in her long-lost homeland after waking up.

Excited to face this long-awaited moment, Natasha couldn’t sleep at all. When she gently opened her eyes, she met Sieghart’s gaze sitting opposite her.

At that moment, Natasha’s lips almost moved on their own. She almost vocalized the question she had been wanting to ask all along.

She was curious about why Sieghart had chosen this place as their travel destination.

All the regions he had chosen were Natasha’s hometown, belonging to Charliee. The western part of the empire was territory that had been incorporated from the Kingdom of Charliee, and in fact, the first destination Sieghart had set was Skandilland, former territory of the kingdom.

What was the man’s true intention in choosing this place as their wedding anniversary trip destination?

While it was you who took away my happiness, you bring me back to the territory where my past happiness and glory reside.

It was just, truly, laughable.

Both the detestable man’s choice, and her own reaction of feeling her heart flutter with excitement.

Natasha, who had been staring intently at Sieghart, turned her head.

She shifted her gaze slightly and blankly stared out the window. Then, compromising with the fatigue that suddenly came over her, she closed her eyelids.

When she opened her eyes again, the scenery she had longed for filled her vision completely.