“Yes, Her Majesty the Emperor and His Grace the Duke never accomplished this feat. Perhaps Her Grace the Duchess intends to.”

Jackson rubbed his moistening nose.

I felt he was extraordinary from our first meeting.

He directly proposed a business deal when I asked about the secret behind his smooth hands.

It’s implausible for him to just stand by after losing his territory.

Indeed, a woman worthy of being chosen by the Duke.

Jackson felt his chest swell with pride.

“We may need to stock up on more weapons. No, we might even have to create a new map!”

“I had no idea the lady intended this. I was ignorant.”

“Hmm, she’s really cunning. Let’s just pretend we haven’t noticed. It’ll make her more comfortable.”

“Sure, sure.”

Just as both were caught up in their excitement,

The door creaked open.

Gilota was the first to notice the man leaning against the door.

“MaMaster?”

It was Hertian, who should not have been there. He spoke softly, arms crossed.

“I’ll give you a chance to report honestly.”

(Here is a time marker.)

Three weeks had passed.

I went to remote villages every day to teach soldiers medical treatments.

Each time, I had to lie to Hertian.

“Are you going out again today?”

“There are still places I need to see. I think I can finish in about a week.”

Even though it seemed suspicious, he only responded affirmatively, staring at me intently.

Each time, I wondered if he was asking knowing my circumstances.

But that can’t be.

‘If so, he would have stopped me long ago.’

Just then, the library door opened and the butler rushed in.

“Master, Lady! A guest has arrived at the castle.”

“A guest? We haven’t invited anyone.”

“Well, it’s Crown Prince Serdis.”

A guest we didn’t invite had come.

Our eyes met at the same time. I sighed lightly.

“I guess I can’t go out today.”

(Here is a time marker.)

Blan Diche was a name I had completely forgotten since arriving.

“Crown Prince Serdis.”

“Anette, it’s been a while.”

I never expected to see him coming all the way from the north.

Hertian seemed to feel the same as he glared menacingly at him from the side.

Although we could have easily turned away uninvited guests, we didn’t.

“Lady Anette, or should I say Your Grace the Duchess now, it still doesn’t roll off the tongue.”

It was because of the lady who timidly followed behind Serdis.

“Lady Violet.”

I did remember inviting her to the territory, but I hadn’t thought she would come with Serdis.

I looked back and forth between the two with a slightly puzzled expression. I didn’t get the impression that they had grown closer.
It seemed Serdis had recklessly followed Violet.

I looked at Serdis with a bored face and finally resigned myself.

“Come in for now.”

The sight of the four of us sitting side by side in the living room was amusing. After all, this marriage happened because of Serdis.

“Lady Violet!”

Just then, Liri broke the silence and entered. She sat next to Violet and struck up a friendly conversation.

“You never said you were coming to the north. How did you get here?”

“Liri, it’s been a while.”

It seemed they were acquainted. Her face was happier than when she dealt with me.

I ignored Liri and scrutinized Serdis.

‘What is his motive for coming all the way here?’

He had no reason to thoughtlessly come to this distant north. Whether to see how well we’re doing or if he has other motives. There would be a reason for his visit.

“What brings the Prince here?”

“I was curious about how you’re living. And wow, the north is as barren and cold as I heard. Even the castle is crude.”

He feigned innocence and merely looked around the castle.

“If you’ve seen we’re doing well, please have dinner and go. If you leave today, you’ll be back in the castle by tomorrow afternoon.”

“Anette. Why have you been so cold since getting married? Did something happen between you two?”

Hertian slammed down his glass loudly.

I glanced at him and spoke. Since that day, I hadn’t had many conversations with Hertian. All he did was hold me warmly when he entered the bedroom at dawn.

‘This is not how it was supposed to be.’

I just hoped that he wouldn’t get more exhausted because of me.

However, our relationship cooled overnight. It was too late now to pick up what I had said. Or at least, I felt that I could only be at ease with him once the minimum deal was done.

“You sound like you want something to go wrong between us.”

Hertian’s voice interrupted my thoughts. Serdis shrugged his shoulders and spoke in a cocky manner.

“Why are you making such a fuss? I was the one who sincerely congratulated you the most, both before and during the wedding. Have you already forgotten?”

“I haven’t.”

It was I who answered.

“You congratulated us so ardently that we didn’t even realize the Queen’s drink was poisoned. I almost drank the poison too.”

I deliberately mentioned the incident that Serdis had orchestrated. It was a warning for him to leave, since I was aware of the whole story.

However, Serdis wasn’t the kind of man to back off that easily.

“That’s what I’m saying. I also had a hard time with that. Why did the poison go to the Queen only? I wonder if it was aimed at someone.”

He steered the blame toward someone else with his usual sly tone.

“There was only one person in that place who could poison my mother. Right?”