Despite Miss Callent’s criticism, Natasha returned without properly making a scene.

She may have been afraid of provoking the other person further and having her secret exposed by Miss Callent.

Natasha returned to her lodging and lit a candle with a match. As she looked around the brightened surroundings, she was startled moments later.

“…….”

There was a black figure in the center of the lodging, that is, on the table.

It was in a sitting posture, and it was a man with a large, beast-like build. He was much bigger than even Sir Dante, who had trained his body extensively.

To have a strange man presumed to be infiltrating the lodging so suddenly.

Despite the quite scary situation, Natasha remained calm. She was only startled when the melted candle wax settled on her finger.

Perhaps her heart had turned into a dull lump, having experienced this situation once before.

Natasha spoke first to the person whose identity she somehow guessed.

“I told you not to follow me, Your Excellency.”

As if not wanting to confirm the other person’s face, she didn’t move the light towards them.

A resolute voice cut through the long silence and filled the interior.

By coincidence or not, the moon that had been hidden by clouds revealed itself. The dim light filtered into the room, faintly illuminating the figure. Subsequently, Sieghart’s face appeared hazily.

Red eyes looked at each other all at once. Between their locked gazes, an unclear emotion clashed.

The man uncrossed his legs. His tilted head straightened.

“Yes, Natasha. I acknowledge it.”

He finally opened his mouth.

“That you don’t love me at all.”

“…….”

“And that you won’t love me.”

The usual affection that had always blended in suddenly left its place. The pronunciation that used to soften gently was now as neat and hard as the man’s straight head. The change in the pitch of his voice was so minimal it was barely noticeable.

It was a face of the man familiar to everyone, but utterly unfamiliar to Natasha.

“I understand very well that love doesn’t work between us.”

Following that, he stood up and strode towards Natasha.

“Then let’s be a bit more logical.”

“…….”

“Shall we make a contract, Natasha Charliee.”

Sieghart, who had come close, murmured in a low voice.

……A contract?

Before she could ask his exact intentions, the man’s lips parted again.

“I’ll help you.”

The old-fashioned question of ‘with what’ was similarly not conveyed. There was no chance for it to leave her mouth.

“I’ll only assist with your well-being. Since you can be free from me the moment you succeed in your rebellion, I hope you’ll cooperate.”

The man’s request had already changed. As if he finally acknowledged that Natasha couldn’t be happy by his side.

“No, let me correct that. Please help me, Natasha.”

A plaintive voice slowly invaded Natasha’s ears.

A low sound, a slow pace, deep breaths, undisguised emotions…….

Along with those things.

“Just until you reclaim your place, let me protect you.”

“…….”

“After that, you can let me go. If you want, you can discard me as you please. I’ll gladly accept it even if you resent me for a lifetime until that feeling is exhausted. So―.”

“…….”

“Can’t you help me just a little?”

It felt strange.

Natasha deliberately ignored the man who was acting so weakly as if he would kneel at her feet. She focused on her situation rather than the emotions Sieghart was showing.

He was someone she had to meet anyway. It was just that the timing was a bit earlier, but there was nothing wrong with facing him.

Especially since the Galonde Emperor had ordered her to bring results.

She tried to engage in conversation flexibly, pretending not to be surprised.

“There’s no need for such cumbersome words. I need you, no, the Asthart ducal family for the time being anyway.”

The man didn’t answer.

As usual.

“I went to the Galonde Empire and requested cooperation. They said they needed to see the feasibility of my plan and told me to show results.”

So Natasha continued speaking.

Also as usual.

“I need a suitable excuse to visit the imperial palace. And an appropriate status too. You, who were once Letius’s loyal dog, will take care of the former, and the Asthart duchess will be able to handle the latter, right?”

Despite Natasha’s mockery, the man’s posture remained firm. As if her criticism no longer had any impact on him.

She didn’t have the bad taste to keep criticizing him either, so she stopped.

“And thanks for the offer, but I don’t need a contract. After I achieve my goal, I’ll leave that place somehow. Whenever and however I want.”

Just like now.

She didn’t bother to add the last words, but Sieghart seemed to understand sufficiently.

As she said, she was now not only skillfully avoiding Sieghart’s traps, but even when caught, she would run out again without caring and evade the hunter’s eyes once more.

It was time for Sieghart Asthart himself to acknowledge that shallow tricks no longer worked on her.

“……Yes, by then there will be no one threatening you. If you want to leave, you can leave.”

The other person nodded as if understanding. He seemed to acknowledge that by then, Natasha would be much safer than now, and therefore his protection would not be necessary.

When Sieghart readily agreed, the feeling became peculiar. It was even awkward to see Sieghart silently agreeing and only affirming.

“……I’m not sure if you understood me properly. I’m saying I’ll use you. I’ll use the Asthart family name because I need it now, and when it’s no longer useful, I’ll leave as I please…….”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“…….”

“As long as you’re safe, that’s all that matters.”

So Natasha deliberately pushed the other person harder. But the more she did so, the more she found herself at a loss for words.

It felt as if she had become the villain tormenting the man, and in the end, it even became frustrating.

It was while Natasha was staring blankly at the man. The other person had unknowingly taken a step closer.

When Natasha belatedly noticed Sieghart and tried to hastily compose her expression, the man approached even more closely, making her efforts futile.

It was because he didn’t actually meet Natasha’s eyes, but lowered his head. Where Sieghart’s head was directed was above Natasha’s shoulder.

“Let’s go back.”

He whispered after burying his face in her thin shoulder.

“Just for a very short while.”

And moments later, a cold hand enveloped the woman’s hand. The man’s hand was as cold and hard as ice, almost unbelievable to be from a living being.

Sieghart hurriedly pulled Natasha’s hand into his grasp as if not wanting to lose something precious, but for some reason, the trapped hand didn’t become warm.

Natasha disappeared suddenly, leaving a note for Sir Dante saying ‘I will return to the Asthart mansion briefly for the operation, and will attend the training gatherings once every two weeks, if not weekly.’

Returning to the mansion with Sieghart, she was welcomed. Somehow, they had made up a good excuse to the servants, who didn’t seem to find the duchess’s recent absence suspicious.

Meliana and Jenkins, who had directly faced the conflict between the two a few months ago, were different though.

Perhaps as a result of that, the two focused on managing Natasha.

It was natural for Meliana, the dedicated maid, and Jenkins, the mansion’s butler, to share a lot of time with the duchess. But it felt like that time had noticeably increased compared to before.

Considering Vanessa’s recent complaint about Natasha spending time only with Meliana, maybe it wasn’t just a feeling.

In fact, Natasha didn’t mind much about that part. Rather, it was convenient. Because in front of them, she didn’t have to make an effort to pretend to have a good relationship with Sieghart.

“Jenkins, could you tell me about the recent situation of the Letius imperial family? I’d be especially grateful if there are any officially announced schedules.”

Natasha asked Jenkins, who had approached as always asking if she needed anything.

Jenkins, lost in thought to answer, replied promptly afterwards.

“A banquet?”

“Yes, I heard they plan to hold a grand banquet around the time when winter ends. I expect it might be an event to completely regain the morale that has returned.”

“A banquet, come to think of it, there was no imperial banquet last year.”

“That’s right. So the banquet to be held this time is likely to be much bigger and more splendid than before.”

Hearing this, it seems the state of the Letius imperial family has improved a bit more than expected.

Apparently, it was thanks to an award given by the temple a few months ago. Anyway, the imperial family, which had been fading due to lack of spotlight, suddenly rose to prominence after being recognized by the temple.

Natasha, or rather everyone, knew that the award was just for show, to make up for the incompetent emperor who had lost the ‘Knight of Honor’ position to the Duke of Asthart.

“A grand banquet……. Then surely the imperial knights will attend the banquet too.”

“Yes. I think probably more members than usual will attend and form ranks.”

The hand that had been writing something suddenly stopped in mid-air, and the head that had been fixed on the table slowly raised.

Moments later, Natasha’s eyes, meeting Jenkins’, sparkled.