Riri came closer to me.

“You’re pretending to be married to Hertian, aren’t you?”

“What?”

My body wobbled in surprise.

“You thought I wouldn’t know? If you don’t want your secret exposed, stop ordering me around.”

Riri looked me up and down, then turned her back on me with a sneer. I stood frozen.

‘Did Hertian tell Riri?’

I had noticed that his close aide, Osen, knew.

But Riri knowing…

“Riri!”

I sent the fallen woman away first, then chased after Riri. But I couldn’t get to Riri’s room in time. As soon as I entered the castle, my body swayed, and I collapsed.

When I opened my eyes, Hertian was there.

Sitting by the bedside, he seemed to be praying while holding my hand tightly.

‘I must have fainted again.’

It seems the strain on my body from breathing the cold air outside the castle had been too much. My cursed body couldn’t withstand it and had collapsed.

“I’m healthy.”

I said it out of habit.

When he heard my voice, he inhaled and raised his head. Shadows cast over his pale face beneath his tousled hair. He seemed like a child who had played heedless of his parents’ words and gotten hurt. I cautiously continued speaking, sensing his mood.

“I didn’t realize the North was so cold…I got excited about seeing the snow, and…”

So I made a needless excuse.

It’s better not to talk about Riri. If he knew there was discord in the family, he would worry more.

“I’m frustrated.”

Those were the words he spat out with a ragged voice.

It was reasonable to be frustrated, seeing that I had been roaming around despite my weak constitution and ended up like this.

“I managed to make you comfortable, but you collapsed immediately. I’m at a loss for words.”

“I’m frustrated because there’s nothing I can do for you.”

Again, it wasn’t what I thought he meant. He added an explanation.

“I heard your body doesn’t respond to herbs, magic, or divine power. It’s frustrating to see you keep collapsing when I can’t help and can only watch.”

His voice sank heavily. I too felt frustrated, but why would he directly mention it?

“I’ll be careful.”

I took his words as a warning to me.

If rumors spread about the newlywed bride fainting frequently, it would also affect him.

So that was his concern.

Hertian briefly washed his face and changed the subject.

“I heard you met Riri.”

I was going to keep it a secret until it was resolved.

But it seems it has already reached his ears.

“It’s difficult even though I want to get along.”

“I’ll handle it well.”

I nodded slightly and asked in a low voice.

“Hertian. Does Riri know about our contract?”

“I don’t know.”

“But Riri believes our marriage is fake.”

If he hadn’t told Riri, the most likely thing is…

‘Riri realized that Hertian is asexual.’

Since she had been living with Hertian in this castle since childhood, she probably knew that much.

It would be suspicious that he had no interest in the opposite sex at an age when his hormones should be raging.
“I will keep an eye on Lily. So, please do not overdo yourself. My arrhythmia feels worse.”

“Okay.”

“Come here. I feel cold.”

Finally, seeing Hertian relax his serious expression, I too let go of my tension and leaned into his embrace.

Despite Hertian’s words not to overdo it, I hastily started searching for someone as soon as the new year dawned.

“Jackson!”

The blond estate manager, Jackson.

He was my opponent today.

“Madam?”

But he was not there.

“Where is Jackson?”

“Mr. Jackson has left for a business trip to the capital.”

In his place, another man with a bushy beard was sitting.

“So, you are managing the budget instead of Jackson?”

“Yes, my name is Giltar.”

Giltar glanced at me and belatedly showed me to my seat.

“I must carry out my duties as the duchess from today. I count on you.”

“Are you going to manage the budget yourself?”

“Yes, the Duke is burdened with the construction, I can’t add my load too.”

He scratched his head slowly and spoke with a troubled expression.

“But until the Madam adapts to the castle…”

“Let me take care of it. Definitely.”

I had a reason to step forward.

“I need to repair the entire Duke’s castle.”

“Don’t you like the castle?”

“Rather than that, various places inside the castle are broken and rusted. Even if the Duke had been absent due to war and maintenance was difficult, it’s going to cause a stir if the castle stays this way now that we even have a duchess.”

Of course, this was an excuse.

‘I can’t live because the castle is too cold!’

This was the real innermost feeling.

As for the budget, it would save unnecessary heating costs by fixing the holes, it was good for both sides.

“First, give me the budget statement.”

Without a word, Giltar handed me the budget statement.

The annual budget of the Blondyche Territory was approximately 3 billion gold. Even if the funds needed for the duchy were excluded, there was enough left to repair the whole castle.

“Giltar. By tomorrow, please check all the places in the castle that need repair and determine the cost.”

“No, it’s not possible.”

Just when I thought there was no room to resist and we could proceed, Giltar blocked it.

“It’s not possible?”

“The castle’s budget is insufficient.”

“Even if we have a big event, at least 500 million gold will be left over, and this is insufficient? Even if it’s tight, the indemnity the Duke brought from the war this time will be hundreds of millions. Or is the castle so old that it needs to be rebuilt?”

“The castle is enough for repairs, but it will be difficult to operate the territory.”

It was a strange story. Despite being a large sum compared to other territories, it’s said to be insufficient.

“So, are you saying there’s money being used elsewhere?”