Blanche Hertian.

This is what I know about his background.

Hertian was born as the emperor’s illegitimate child.

However, it was difficult to survive in the palace as a prince while carrying the lowly maternal family background of commoner origins on his back. It became even more so as he began to display remarkable prowess in martial arts.

The situation worsened day by day. The empress, Serdis’ mother, was irritated by Hertian’s very existence.

Eventually, after an assassination attempt, Hertian went to live with the emperor’s brother in the Grand Duke’s territory. The Grand Duke, who was also a general leading a vast knightly order, particularly cherished his nephew.

So, when he passed away from an illness a few years ago, he readily gave up the position of Grand Duke to Hertian.

However, with the shade of the Grand Duke gone, the shadow of death once again loomed over Hertian.

The emperor had no choice but to send him to the battlefield. The first war occurred less than a week after he obtained the title.

‘It was an inevitable choice to survive.’

This is the story about the Grand Duke that I know, and everyone knows.

In fact, it doesn’t matter what kind of person he is.

However, if there’s one peculiar thing…

It’s the fact that he… is asexual.

‘I definitely remember this.’

After the emperor’s death, just before Serdis ascended to the throne, Hertian appeared.

Hertian couldn’t even aim for the throne as he didn’t bring in a Grand Duchess. On the other hand, Serdis broke up with Anette and met various women to create his own forces and power.

The Grand Duke’s retainers told him to at least expand his forces by bringing in a Grand Duchess, but he had no interest in either power or women. He just found the retainers’ nagging bothersome.

After that, I roughly skimmed through the story as I was tired of the whiny male lead, so I don’t remember what kind of ending the Grand Duke met later on.

Anyway, the important thing is that he has no interest in women!

I had to catch him no matter what.

“Your Grace, let me confirm once more. There’s no backing out of marrying me.”

I glanced around the rear garden of the mansion and quietly spoke to Hertian.

“Of course.”

And just like me, the Grand Duke also needed a superficial match. That way, the retainers wouldn’t urge him to bring in a Grand Duchess.

“I like how neat it is.”

To think that the man I’m marrying is asexual.

I barely held back my laughter that was about to burst out due to this unexpectedly rolled-in stroke of luck.

Me, who has no interest in men, and the Grand Duke, who has no interest in women.

Perfect.

He’s really the perfect partner.

I decided to thoroughly pretend not to know his secret.

“After marriage, I hope we can respect each other’s privacy.”

“Of course. Absolutely. I have no intention of touching Your Grace’s private life at all. So, let’s think of each other as comrades-in-arms and live like that!”

“Comrades-in-arms… I don’t like that title. Your Grace too. As you said, we’re in a relationship as husband and wife, so please address me differently.”

Knowing that he wasn’t heterosexual, the conversation felt comfortable even though I knew he was the Grand Duke.

“If there’s a title you’d like, please let me know. I’ll call you that no matter what.”

I have to go along with it to that extent at least.

I smiled brightly while looking at the handsome Grand Duke. It would be fun to find out who his hidden lover is while living together.

“As you wish, My Lady. But please don’t make it too formal.”

“I agree. Then how about this? Calling each other ‘darling’.”

If we have to act anyway, something provocative and sticky would be good.

To shake off Serdis, it would be best to use ‘darling’, which he wanted to call so badly.

“Darling?”

“Yes. Darling, or honey.”

The Grand Duke might be flustered, but…

“I like it. My Lady. Or should I call you darling too?”

Contrary to expectations, he didn’t show any sign of being flustered.

Rather, he even seemed a little happy.

“I think we can be good partners, don’t you think?”

“I agree.”

I talked with the brazen man for a while. Despite not having met many times, the conversation flowed smoothly and felt comfortable.

Before I knew it, we reached the end of the rear garden, and I saw branches filled with white petals on a huge tree. It was a pagoda tree that my father had brought back from a diplomatic mission when I was young. I reached out my finger towards the branch.

“Have you seen this flower before?”

“I’ve seen it on the battlefield. I remembered it because the name was unique.”

“Hertian and I are the same.”

We decided to call each other by name in normal situations. Special nicknames were to be used only when necessary and put aside.

“I really like this flower.”

“I like it too. It’s like snow that suits spring.”

I was startled to see Hertian looking up at the white flowers in full bloom.

“Me too. I like it more because it falls like snow even though it’s not, and it doesn’t disappear.”

Because he likes pagoda flowers for the same reason as me.

When it was cold winter, my condition would worsen severely, and my family wouldn’t let me go outside the mansion.

I had to watch the fluttering snow from afar every time.

‘Even though I like snow so much.’

That’s why the snow-like white petals were something that made me feel like I was playing outside in winter instead.

“It’s fascinating. No one has ever said such a thing while looking at this tree.”

And I had never spoken it out loud either.

Except to exactly one person.

“Could it be…”

I looked up at Hertian, who was much taller than me, with narrowed eyes.

“Cassian?”

My long-time pen pal Cassian.

I had been telling him about sending pagoda tree branches every spring.

“Is Hertian actually Cassian?”

Remembering the springs I had exchanged letters with Cassian, I asked even though I knew it wasn’t true.

There’s no way the Grand Duke who roamed the battlefield could be Cassian, who sent letters on colorful paper.

But Hertian didn’t understand my joke and stiffened rigidly.

“I’m just kidding.”

I smiled brightly and pinched his arm. I only grabbed it lightly, but… His body flinched and bounced away as if rejecting it.

‘Was he displeased because I touched him?’

He stood still in place, staring into the void.

“Hertian?”

When I called his name, his well-shaped Adam’s apple moved down with a gulp.

Seeing his predator-like neck, I immediately apologized.

“I’m sorry for touching you without permission.”

I heard that being asexual and disliking women are separate things, but does he dislike being touched at all?

“I’ll be careful not to touch you from now on.”

Hertian reflexively turned his head.

“You don’t need to be careful. I was just lost in thought for a moment.”

Saying that, he brought his arm closer to me. As if telling me to pinch it more. But he soon lowered his hand again.

“I think it’s better not to touch me anymore today.”

“Why?”

“I feel strange.”

It was clear that he disliked being touched. I burst into laughter at his honest reaction instead.

“Really. Your Grace, I think we’re a good match.”

It’s the first time I’ve felt such peace from a man.

Is it because I’m certain that he will never love me?

Even this moment of walking through the courtyard without any conversation was peaceful.

“But who is Cassian?”

He asked after walking for a while.

“He’s my friend whose face I don’t know. We only exchange letters.”

I explained Cassian like that.

“Are you close?”

“Yes. We’re very close.”

He was honest because we weren’t a real couple.

Since we said we wouldn’t interfere with each other’s private lives, he probably wouldn’t say anything about me exchanging letters with Cassian.

But he seemed to have become curious about Cassian.

“Is he an important person to you, My Lady?”

Seeing him ask such a question.

***

“We suddenly have to marry off Anette.”

The Count and Countess, who unexpectedly welcomed Hertian as their son-in-law, affectionately held hands and headed towards the glass garden.

It seemed like Anette and the Grand Duke had something to talk about, so they gave them space.

The Count and Countess also wanted to discuss how they each viewed Hertian.

Entering the indoor garden made of glass, a fragrant scent of flowers wafted through the air.

“I met the Grand Duke for the first time today, and he doesn’t seem like a bad person.”

“I agree. As Anette said, he’s not only wonderful but also kind. I think he’ll treat our daughter well.”

At Countess Shwelly’s words, Count Lucas also expressed his agreement with a relieved expression.

They were worried as Anette’s expression hadn’t been good after she left the banquet and stayed out overnight. She suddenly went to the guards and waited for the postman at the entrance of the mansion. She was acting strangely, but it turned out she was waiting for the Grand Duke all along.

When the Grand Duke came with a marriage proposal, her face brightened up and she was bouncing around, so they finally felt at ease.

“I didn’t know Anette was such an active child.”

“Me neither. Hehe. Did you see the Grand Duke’s face when Anette said she fell in love at first sight?”

Shwelly smiled with a pleasant expression, recalling what happened earlier.

“His ears turned bright red, and he was even cuter than Anette.”

In the eyes of a third party, Hertian was undoubtedly a man in love.

They were curious about the reason for Anette’s recent obsession with marriage, but after directly meeting the two, they seemed to understand.

“Don’t the two of them remind you of us back in the day?”

Love that ignites at first sight and burns passionately.

They seemed to be in a state where they were wearing rose-colored glasses and couldn’t see their surroundings.

“When were we ever like that? At least I made an appointment and politely visited you.”

Lucas pretended to be refined and stroked his chin.

“Oh my. I prefer someone passionate like the Grand Duke. If you had come to me right away like him, I wouldn’t have rejected you either.”

She retorted and walked ahead with quick steps.

“Honey, isn’t that too much!”

Lucas caught up with her from behind, and for the first time in a long while, the two laughed playfully like in the old days.

“It seems the Grand Duke has thoroughly captivated your heart, my dear.”

“I’m just so excited! Thinking about dressing up our pretty daughter makes me so happy.”

Shwelly’s eyes began to moisten as she smiled brightly. Lucas also felt choked up and embraced his wife’s shoulders, when a breathless voice was heard from outside the glass door.

“Count. I apologize!”