He watched Anette passionately instructing, and felt an urge to crush the faces of the soldiers who were making lecherous faces at her. But then, Anette would dislike it, wouldn’t she?

After all, Anette had no interest in them. She was teaching them out of a mere obligation for money. He consoled himself with that thought.

Moments later, she came out. He leaned against the fence, hoping she’d notice him this time. But Anette, carrying a heavy basket, moved towards the large tent without giving him a glance. He felt a slight pang of disappointment.

‘The guy in that tent had strange eyes too.’

He gritted his teeth.

The man who always watched Anette leave, with a wistful expression.

It was definitely more than casual interest.

‘Let’s turn a blind eye for just two days.’

Even if he confessed his feelings through glances, it wouldn’t reach Anette. That man was just another like Serdis.

And he had himself, when it came to Anette.

Today, Anette left the tent earlier than usual. His body responded with joy at the sight.

But Anette didn’t look well. And then, she collapsed into the arms of the man with the strange eyes.

“Snap out of it!”

Hertian felt his heart slow down.

This was not what he had waited for.

Hertian’s eyes turned colder than a blizzard.

“Lower your voice?”

Only after he snatched Anette from the man did he feel regret. He should never have left Anette alone in such a backward place. Even if it meant earning her anger, he should have stopped her.

“Are you the new lord here?”

He had been wrong to expose Anette to this selfish foreigner.

“Yes.”

At the edge of Hertian’s sight, the blue herbal liquid in Anette’s hand flickered.

‘What have I done?’

During the day, he followed Anette; at night, he dealt with the matters of his fief. All the hardships, the sleepless nights—was it to see her like this?

“I was the one taking care of her until she wakes up because she’s also my business partner…”

To hear such words from the man who had lecherous eyes for his wife?

“She is not my subject, but my wife.”

Hertian failed to keep the secret Anette had until the very end.

In fact, he didn’t want to. He wanted to make it clear to that man that Anette was his wife, so he would never dare to look at her that way again.

“…Wife?”

As expected, Cantard’s eyes were filled with shock.

He had never thought about it.

The duchess, the wife of the duke.

It wasn’t just a mere proxy, but her very self.

“She was the Duchess of Blandiche…?”

“Seems like living in the boondocks has dulled your eyes.”

No.

He had chosen not to recognize her.
Her words had a charm that made them inherently believable.

No. He already knew. Such an extraordinary woman couldn’t possibly be a commoner.

He had deliberately turned away, wishing she were not the wife of the Duke.

If asked when he became interested upon meeting her, he didn’t know.

All he knew was that he wanted to return to the capital with her next time. Just being with her felt comfortable.

“Fine, go away then.”

The fleeting dream he had shattered instantly.

Kantard kept his mouth shut before opening it heavily.

“…Wasn’t it just a marriage of convenience?”

Hertian didn’t like the question. It felt as if Anette had openly divulged their private matter to a stranger. It hurt him.

“No need to know.”

That’s why he avoided making excuses and drew a line. As if dealing with a foreigner from outside the fence.

(This is a time separator.)

A long darkness ensued.

When he lifted his heavy body, several candles illuminated the dark room.

A bleak winter landscape far from the capital.

Then, memories that felt old surfaced.

“Kantard!”

He jumped up, yelling.

Must get back.

Hertian must return before he arrives here.

“Who is Kantard?”

But then.

Hertian’s voice sounded next to him.

He thought his ears were wrong.

This place was surely a remote house.

“My lady.”

Then why was Hertian suddenly here?

It wasn’t an illusion. Hertian really came to the borderland.

Everyone must have found out.

‘Just one more day to hang on!’

What could ruin his cover now after all this hiding?

I deliberately approached him with a bright smile. Jeopardizing an impending deal by provoking his anger was possible.

“Hertian…”

“I’ve never heard the name Kantard before.”

“No, that is…”

“No need to answer.”

His face looked like he needed a proper explanation.

Hertian, leaning against the wall and looking down at me, followed my movement with his eyes.

“I’ll explain everything.”

I felt like a woman caught cheating.

If it were an affair, it would have been easier. We had agreed to respect each other’s private lives. However, the business was directly connected to Hertian, the head of the household.

“Kantard is my business partner.”

I started to talk cautiously.

“I knew.”

But an elaborate explanation wasn’t needed.

He had seen and understood everything about me. Moreover, he knew I had traded with the Cursians, and that the profits amounted to around 3 billion.

“So you knew but pretended not to?”

As I asked in surprise, he lightly nodded his head.

“I thought I shouldn’t interfere. You seemed too passionate.”

“I see…”

No wonder he had readily agreed to the Duchess traveling the territory for a month.

“From now on, don’t go to the extent of injuring yourself for work.”

He took my hand and placed it on his chest.

My heart pounded wildly.

“As you can see, when you’re hurt, my condition worsens too.”