“Yes, good morning. By the way, you don’t have to call me princess anymore…”

Natasha, who had just finished her tea, said casually.

Now that they were properly married, she wanted to be called by her name or a term of endearment instead of formal titles. Besides, “princess” was a title she had long since abandoned, so it felt excessive.

“It’s to remind me that you’re a precious person.”

“But still…”

“Don’t worry, Tisha. I won’t forget your other names either.”

He kissed her forehead again, as if to soothe her. Natasha smiled slightly, enjoying the soft touch that lingered briefly before pulling away.

“Alright, Sieghart.”

She called out the man’s name for no particular reason. In response, Sieghart raised his thick eyebrows slightly.

“Oh, and I’ve decided not to move the luggage from your room.”

Sieghart suddenly said as he was putting his empty teacup back on the tray.

“Do you mean I should continue staying in that room?”

“I thought it would be more comfortable for the princess.”

“But we’re married now, so using separate rooms…”

“I considered that you might be uncomfortable suddenly sharing a room with someone else, so I made this arrangement out of consideration. I’m already embarrassed that I can’t provide you with as luxurious a room as you had in the palace. I thought you’d be more at ease if you at least had a spacious living area.”

It felt odd not to share a room as a married couple. But with Sieghart repeatedly emphasizing that it was for her sake, Natasha couldn’t strongly object.

“How about we start sharing when you’ve become more accustomed to living in the mansion, Tisha?”

In the end, Natasha went along with the man’s instructions.

After that day, Sieghart returned to his normal routine as if he had read Natasha’s concerns, spending time with her as before.

Then a month later, he left the mansion for the first time.

It was a summons from the imperial family.

Sieghart, who had acted as if he would return quickly, was late coming home. After five days without his return, Natasha finally became anxious.

‘Surely he’s not renewing ties with the imperial family…’

He had first appeared as a guard at the former emperor’s forty-fifth birthday celebration. The man, who made a strong impression and attracted much attention, continued to build his power with the backing of the imperial family.

From leading the imperial knights to being granted the title of duke.

Of course, with his outstanding abilities, he deserved what he received, but the nobles were certain that the man was backed by the imperial family due to his suspiciously rapid rise. Rumors even circulated that Sieghart might be a hidden son of the imperial family.

It was a useless thought. But the man’s absence kept bringing up needless worries.

As Natasha paced anxiously, good news finally arrived.

“Read this, madam. It’s about His Grace.”

Cayena, who knew of her concerns, rushed over during breakfast and handed her a newspaper to read.

The first thing that caught her eye was a portrait depicting the man’s handsome face. Next to it was a headline in bold letters.

“Declaration of Independence for House Asthart!”

The content stated that House Asthart, which had been formally subordinate to and assisting the imperial family, had finally declared independence from the imperial court. It meant that imperial support for the ducal house, and conversely the ducal house’s assistance to the imperial family, were no longer obligatory.

The Asthart knights were no longer supplementary forces for the imperial knights. The ducal house gained the ability to refuse imperial orders if they chose.

They no longer needed to get approval from the imperial family for projects they wanted to pursue, nor receive imperial funding to start businesses. Likewise, they no longer had to pay 20-30% of their business profits to the imperial family.

One way or another, it meant that House Asthart now had its own will and judgment.

A body that had been completely bound to the imperial family had finally found freedom. People thought this moment had come very late compared to their rapid rise.

‘He really hasn’t changed.’

Sieghart had promised to sever ties with the imperial family when they married. Seeing how he had changed after the wedding, she had worried the promise wouldn’t be kept, but the man proudly announced through a public report that he had fulfilled his vow.

‘His Grace still loves me.’

Natasha hugged the newspaper she had been reading tightly. She smiled as she gently caressed the portrait of the man drawn on the newspaper.

Natasha was certain that the things he had presented earlier as being for her sake were all just his excessive consideration. The vow kiss, the formal titles, the separate bedrooms – all of it.

The next day, Natasha went out to greet Sieghart as he arrived at the ducal residence.

“Sieghart!”

When she went down to the first floor, the newly arrived man was taking off his coat with the help of a servant. Natasha, who took the coat saying she would do it herself, promptly stuck close to the man’s side.

“The morning air was very cold, you must have had a difficult journey. Don’t go to your office, please go straight to the bedroom and rest.”

But Sieghart’s demeanor was different from usual when she faced him after a long time.

The man, who had been looking down at her expressionlessly, unfolded his crossed arms. Without responding to her greeting, he left his spot.

“…Sieghart?”

As she stood dazed, turning her head towards the man’s retreating figure and his gradually fading unique scent, he had already become a small dot in the distance.

It was the first time she had experienced such coldness from him.

He had been negligent at times, but never unkind. Even at their wedding, hadn’t he explained that it was all a misunderstanding?

‘This must be another misunderstanding…’

Natasha tried hard to remain calm.

He must be tired after staying at the imperial palace for several days.

Tomorrow, or the day after, or someday, he’ll come find me belatedly to explain the reason and soothe my hurt feelings.

That was already a week ago.

Sieghart was still indifferent. However, she couldn’t be certain it was due to his busy work schedule like before.

There was one thing she had put off acknowledging. He was now avoiding Natasha.

Sieghart didn’t dine with her, and if he had a message to convey, he did so through Cayena. He spent all his time in his office or his own room, and when Natasha came by, he always pretended she wasn’t there. Later, he would send a servant to make excuses about being busy.

“It must be a misunderstanding.”

Natasha, who had been agonizing internally, finally confided everything to Cayena. After listening seriously as if it were her own problem, Cayena finally spoke.

Her following response was so firm that Natasha couldn’t help but doubt her ears. Cayena, whom she expected to be angry, instead began to comfort her.

“…A misunderstanding?”

“His Grace has already explained everything. The formal titles are to elevate you as an important person, and the separate bedrooms are for your convenience. Even refusing the vow kiss on your wedding day had a valid reason, didn’t he say? He even came back to your room that night to kiss you again.”

“That may be true, but…”

“There are no buts about it.”

Cayena firmly grasped Natasha’s hand. Somehow feeling as if she was about to be scolded, Natasha unconsciously became timid. For some reason, Natasha was overly cautious when it came to Sieghart’s affairs.

“His Grace has already explained himself, so your doubts are ultimately just a difference in feelings, aren’t they?”

“…A difference in feelings?”

“Yes, he’s just too busy to pay attention to your every little concern. Your anxiety is because you lack faith. If you love His Grace, you should know how to be patient and wait.”

The green eyes were persistent. Natasha was helplessly drawn in by her forceful counterpart.

With Cayena, who always took her side, saying such things, it really did seem like she was the only one getting upset over nothing.

Is it really because I lack faith that this rift has formed? Is the depth of his love the same, but my sensitivity is igniting the flames of conflict in our relationship?

“He’s a man who even turned his back on the imperial family, who were like family to him, for your sake. Although their interactions had been rare lately, completely severing ties by demanding independence is a different matter.”

Cayena emphasized that the man’s love hadn’t changed by mentioning the incident that had shaken the empire for the past few days.

Her words are right.

He’s a man who kept all his promises, including cutting ties with the imperial family for Natasha’s sake.

“…I understand. I’ll wait. When time passes and His Grace becomes less busy, everything will return to normal. Thank you, Cayena.”

Having confirmed through Cayena that the real cause was herself, Natasha decided to stop worrying.

What has changed is the situation, not the relationship.

Everything is due to her own lack of faith.

However, hoping for a relationship to recover through just one side’s efforts was a luxury. The man continued to avoid Natasha under the pretext of busy work. Despite her steady efforts, the gap between them narrowed slowly.

The mansion was quieter than usual that day. Feeling puzzled, Natasha asked the maid who was draping a shawl over her about the duke’s whereabouts.

“His Grace the Duke has departed on a business trip.”

“…A business trip?”

“Yes, monsters appeared in the northwestern territory last night. He left quickly before the damage to the territory’s people became too severe.”

The maid glanced at her repeatedly. It was a look that questioned how the duke’s wife could be unaware of such an important matter.

Feeling needlessly embarrassed, Natasha laughed it off as if it were nothing. She was about to ask if he had left any message for her, but ultimately held her tongue.

Just as she had finished changing into her indoor clothes, another maid entered the room.

“…Who did you say it was?”

“It is His Majesty Emperor Letius, my lady.”

The maid who announced the visitor revealed that he was the emperor of the empire.

Kyle Letius.

The very person who had killed Natasha’s parents and brought down her kingdom.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.