Natasha, who entered without asking for permission to visit, walked forward with heavy steps. As if she had decided that greetings were unnecessary, she went straight to the point with composure.

Between the sleeves of her dress, an arm tightly wrapped in bandages like a mummy was revealed. She placed the paper she had been holding onto the table.

“I have something to tell you.”

Eventually, he turned his gaze away from silently observing his companion.

The first thing that caught his eye was the neat handwriting. The proper handwriting, as proper as her tidy appearance and character, belonged to Natasha.

Next, the title written in the center captured attention.

Marriage Contract.

The man who read the title gave a wry smile and then quietly exhaled in resignation. As if he already anticipated why she had brought this.

“You remember, don’t you?”

A voice torn in several ways split the momentary silence. Meanwhile, Sieghart still maintained his silent demeanor.

“I unintentionally failed to fulfill my duties as a duchess for the past few days. I sincerely apologize for that.”

Even though she knew the man wouldn’t hold it against her, Natasha deliberately apologized for her mistake. A clever man would have noticed by now that this was a stepping stone.

“I’ll do my best as before until the contract expires. So, as promised, I hope you’ll divorce me cleanly after the contract period ends.”

The body that had been stiffly rigid like a prisoner awaiting sentencing relaxed as soon as Natasha’s words ended. Like rippling water losing its calm and stirring.

“Divorce, you say.”

The man’s gaze suddenly became harsh. The concerned look he had been giving Natasha completely vanished. Now, only hardened emotions existed in his red eyes.

“That’s nonsense. How could I send you out into the harsh world? I’ve built a perfect fence to protect you, do you think I’d let you leave this place?”

“…What did you say?”

“Natasha, I can give you everything you want, but divorce is absolutely out of the question. I’m saying you can’t be separated from my side even a little.”

He could grant everything but couldn’t tolerate her leaving his side. The man knew it was his selfishness, but he couldn’t give up his last desire.

Because he didn’t want to face the terrible sight of the woman letting go of him again.

Sieghart turned the contract that was facing him back towards Natasha. It was an attitude of even refusing to look at it.

As if finding his shameless response outrageous, she soon shouted.

“Are you crazy? This is a contract. It’s clearly written in the contract!”

“We don’t have to follow all the clauses in the contract. Isn’t it all resolved if we just pay the penalty?”

Though it was irritatingly brazen, what he said wasn’t wrong. As he said, if one had the confidence to pay the penalty, they didn’t have to follow the contract’s clauses.

“I’ll give you half of the Asthart duchy’s assets as written in the contract. I can offer that as a sacrifice anytime if it means keeping you by my side.”

But the problem was that the collateral was 50% of the Asthart duchy’s assets.

“Are you…”

“I’m not joking.”

Natasha, who was about to raise her voice, was stopped right there. The lowered voice reflected the man’s sincerity.

As Natasha closed her mouth, surprised by the clear obsession, the man spoke again.

“I’ve told the Grand Duke of Kshant as well. That the duchy will help the principality’s rebellion in exchange for keeping you here. The Grand Duke also preferred this method, saying it’s better than you leaving for the principality and arousing suspicion.”

“…You mean you made a contract with the Grand Duke of Kshant about me?”

“A negotiation.”

It was an unbelievable story.

So, he arbitrarily went to the Grand Duke of Kshant and proposed to help the principality in exchange for keeping her tied to the duchy?

To keep Natasha, who would have originally returned to the principality and been guaranteed accommodation through the Grand Duke of Kshant, confined here?

She had known about the man’s selfishness for a long time, but she didn’t expect him to be this unreasonable.

“So stay by my side, Natasha. As if there was never any contract.”

She glared at her oppressor with eyes full of indignation. Despite her pride not allowing it, liquid welled up in her tear ducts.

He had risen from his seat and was already in front of Natasha. Wearing a lonely expression that someone else should have worn, he silently embraced her.

Very carefully, as if her body would crumble like glass when touched.

“I’ll do anything.”

There was no time to check the face resting on her nape. Yet she seemed to know. What expression Sieghart Asthart was making. How much he was suffering.

Natasha had no reason to be swayed by such a thing.

He was the sworn enemy of the Charliee family, a deceiver who had tricked Natasha several times.

Sympathizing with him even a little was like a mouse worrying about a cat.

But why.

‘How stupid, how foolish, how idiotic.’

Had Natasha been shaken, even if just for a moment?

She opened her eyes wide, filled with rebelliousness. She couldn’t tolerate herself for being swayed even for a brief moment. Intentionally trying to atone for the regrettable past, she pushed Sieghart away with all her might.

“It seems your love for me was a lie after all. If you truly loved me, you would have wished for my peace. Knowing that I’m unhappy by your side yet doing this is selfish behavior!”

Natasha, who had detached herself from him, cried out.

Yes, he’s a selfish man. That man always pretended to care for her, but in reality, he only acted in ways that benefited himself.

That’s the proof that he doesn’t love me.

So there’s no need to be swayed by that man. His words are blatant lies and deception―.

Natasha repeated this to herself several times to restrain herself.

“I love you.”

Yet, faced with a tone that seemed to plead not to condemn her heart, she helplessly lost her composure. The man’s strong voice lingered persistently in her ears, refusing to fade away.

“So I want you to be happy.”

“…”

“That’s why I want to keep you by my side. Natasha Asthart, you’ll be happy only when you’re by my side.”

It was ridiculous.

Having participated in Natasha’s misfortune, yet saying she would be happy only with him. It was no different from reopening the wounds of an already hurt person.

“There’s no reason to talk with someone who doesn’t understand, I’ve been wasting my time. I’ll be going now.”

She dismissed it as nonsense and moved on.

Natasha, who had left the office, soon sought out Meliana.

Pleased yet nervous that the duchess was looking for her, Meliana was calmer than usual.

“I’m thinking of going out tomorrow, could you prepare a carriage? Oh, I’d like it to be a village carriage, not the duchy’s. I plan to go out without them knowing.”

“Are, are you saying you’re going out secretly?”

“Yes.”

The surprised face seemed to admonish that it was some outrageous plan.

“Where are you going in that condition! If you’re going out, you should move with Duke Asthart in the duchy’s carriage!”

Meliana persuaded her that if she was going out, she should move under everyone’s protection.

However, the person Natasha really needed to avoid was Duke Asthart.

Unable to say that she had to do it without Sieghart knowing, Natasha cleverly evaded answering.

“Please.”

She grabbed the other’s hand and then steadily met her eyes. Her unwavering red eyes overlapped with Meliana’s shaking ones.

Usually, this would make the other person listen to her.

Meliana was no different.

“…Ugh, just this once.”

However, saying she couldn’t allow Natasha to go far alone, she assigned three knights.

She told them that she had already gotten permission from the duke. She added plausibly that the carriage was just for show.

Perhaps because rumors of the good relationship between the duchess and the duke were widespread, they didn’t doubt it either.

Yes, it would be better to show the Grand Duke that she’s going with knights rather than completely alone. Natasha thanked Meliana for her thoughtful consideration and got into the carriage.

The knights, thinking Natasha was going on an outing to a nearby village, found the increasingly long travel time strange.

“Excuse me, my lady. Where exactly is this carriage headed?”

“We’ve arrived!”

And finally, when they gathered the courage to speak to Natasha, the carriage stopped, and the coachman’s announcement rang out loudly.

Natasha slightly pushed the curtain aside with the back of her hand. The scenery visible through the gap caught the knights’ attention. She smiled slightly as if to say that should answer their question.

The destination was none other than the Grand Duchy of Kshant.

“I always seem to visit you in such an unsavory manner, Your Highness.”

Natasha smiled faintly towards the Grand Duke of Kshant who welcomed her sudden visit.

The Grand Duke of Kshant was the person she turned to when she was desperate.

It was natural. He was the only person holding the key.

“I didn’t expect you to betray me.”

However, both then and now, the Grand Duke of Kshant chose Sieghart Asthart.

“It seems Your Highness doesn’t want the seal.”