Instead, I felt relieved after getting it off my chest.

This moment felt as comfortable as before, rendering the awkward times until now meaningless.

“Are you feeling alright?”

He stroked my cheek with his hand. My head tilted towards his hand at the warm sensation.

“I’m worried. You’ve fainted twice already even though you haven’t been here long.”

“I’m really fine… This happens to me often.”

“It’s upsetting when you lie even now. Please be honest about your health.”

He nagged like a personal physician.

“Alright.”

He came closer and hugged me lightly. I felt a warm heat through his clothes.

“Your body is still cold.”

“Hertian’s body is always warm like spring.”

“The conditions here are too harsh for you to live in, my lady.”

“I’ve gotten somewhat used to it though.”

The cold had become more bearable. If Serdis hadn’t acted so concerningly, I wouldn’t have collapsed.

“Still, it’s dangerous for you to come all the way up here to meet foreigners.”

“I thought that if we had to pay money to Kursia, it should rightfully come from their side. We can’t pay with the empire’s money for the lives of our imperial citizens that were taken from us.”

“So you used your precognitive abilities?”

“…Yes.”

It was a hesitant answer.

To Hertian, it might seem like I was using my abilities for convenience.

“But… did you really start this business just to renovate the castle? You don’t need any jewels or dresses?”

“It’s hard to believe, but that’s right. Cold wind blows in as if the Grand Duke’s castle has the air conditioning on.”

“Air… what did you say?”

“Ah, it’s nothing.”

I had become so comfortable in his arms that familiar words slipped out without me realizing. Even after 10 years of transmigrating, words would pop out occasionally.

Of course, no one understood, so it had been happening less frequently these days.

“Anyway, shall we return to the castle now?”

I gathered my belongings, leaving Hertian’s warm embrace.

I didn’t notice his face darkening as I did so.

[This is the timeline separator]

“My lady!”

As we returned to the castle, Violet, who had been pacing anxiously in front of the door, came running out.

“I was worried since you didn’t return until so late.”

“Why are you outside in this cold?”

“How could I sleep when I was so worried?”

I was just as concerned that she might catch a cold.

I wanted to hold her hands and warm them up, but I couldn’t.

“By the way Hertian, aren’t you going to put me down?”

Hertian had been carrying me in a princess hold the whole time. Even in the carriage, he had kept his body pressed close to me saying I would be cold, and after arriving at the castle, he still wouldn’t let me go.

I liked that he was warm, but he could put me down now.

“I’ll carry you like this.”

He steadfastly carried me to my room, not caring whether Violet or the servants saw.

I buried my face in his chest. It’s not that I disliked it. I was just embarrassed since Violet was watching.

After washing in warm water, my body melted into drowsy relaxation.

As I was nodding off sitting by the bed, Hertian entered the bedroom.

“I’m going to start renovating the castle tomorrow.”

With that unexpected news.

“But we don’t have the budget. The money I earned from the business is barely enough to rescue our people from the territory.”

He sat across from me and met my gaze.

“There was a budget allotted to me from the imperial family when we married.”

“But that’s money you should use when you need it, Hertian.”

“There’s no more meaningful way to use it than renovating the castle.”

A smile spread across my face without me realizing.

“Are you that pleased?”

“Yes. I can wear warm clothes, but the servants can’t. Even the water is so cold that their hands are all chapped.”

It was partly because I was cold, but I had been concerned ever since I saw Bonisa’s chapped hands. If Bonisa, who hadn’t been here long, was like that, the other servants must be worse.

“It’s something I should have done first thing after becoming a lord. I finally have the means now.”

It was an issue that could have been postponed, but Hertian had rushed it for my sake. Even if I earned money, the final decision lay with Hertian as the lord, so I was grateful.

I handed him the cup on the table.

“Hertian. Drink this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s water boiled with herbs that are good for arrhythmia.”

It was a gesture of gratitude.

“When did you prepare this…”

“Just now.”

His face quickly scrunched up. The medicine must have been quite bitter.

“Can’t I drink it later?”

“Your heart was acting up earlier. Hurry up.”

“Ah…”

Hertian slumped his shoulders like a child. I chuckled watching him.

“I’m kidding. Drink it when you’re comfortable. But don’t forget to have it once a day without fail.”

“I promise.”

Hertian set the cup down and continued speaking.

“There were people tailing you yesterday.”

“Tailing me?”

“They were watching as you tried to go up to the border. We captured them, but they all had their tongues cut out so we couldn’t find out who was behind it.”

“Huh…”

I couldn’t respond.

Because there was only one person I could think of.

And it seems Hertian had the same thought. His dark eyes blinked slowly.

“I don’t want to suspect, but it’s suspicious that he came all the way here and left without doing anything.”

The person he was referring to was Serdis.

“I think so too.”

I thought getting married would completely deviate from the original story, but that wasn’t the case.

Judging by the timing, he should be regretting and feeling guilty towards Violet by now, but he still has lingering feelings for me.

‘How much more does he intend to regret?’

Would Violet be able to forgive a man who goes after a married woman?

Of course, I wouldn’t fall for his petty tricks.

Besides, there wasn’t much Serdis could do against us as a married couple.

At most, he could try to drive a wedge between us or spread strange rumors.

“I thought he’d quiet down after we got married. He’s more persistent than I expected. Don’t worry about it too much.”

“Serdis has had strange habits since childhood.”

Hertian’s face turned quite displeased as he recounted a story.

“I had a toy. It was the only toy I had, given to me by my mother. One day, Serdis coveted it. I should have just let him play with it once, but living in a corner of the palace always watching my step, I became stubborn. Even when my mother told me to share, I absolutely refused to lend it.”

His voice continued, sounding dejected.

“The next day, that toy was so damaged it was barely recognizable. It was ruined beyond repair. I never found out who did it, but I could sense it.”

Having read the original story, I knew.

It was Serdis, who had been greedy since childhood. As the only child of the Empress, he had nothing to fear. That’s why he’s still so self-centered now.

“After that, I pretended not to desire anything. That way Serdis wouldn’t covet it. But it’s hard to let it go when he’s coveting you too, my lady.”

“Hertian.”

“I’m afraid you’ll be ruined because of me.”

I think I understood a little why Hertian had been helping me all this time.

I gently wrapped my hands around his. I steadied his wavering gaze with my firm one.

“That won’t happen.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After Anette fell back into a deep sleep, Hertian went to find Serdis.

He was tilting a glass full of wine as if this place was his own home.

“When do you plan on leaving?”

Serdis handed a glass to Hertian.

“The wine in the North has a unique taste. Have a drink.”

“I don’t have the leisure to casually drink wine.”

“How stiff.”

Serdis smirked and sipped his wine with a still relaxed expression. At some point he had risen from his chair and was looking out the window, his legs perfectly fine. Though still bandaged, he was standing normally.

Hertian spoke to him with an unsurprised gaze, as if he had already expected this.

“How long do you plan to cling pathetically to Anette? Is the position of Crown Prince one that allows you to look elsewhere?”

“Why? Does it bother you?”

“More precisely, it’s annoying.”

He looked at Serdis as if looking at filth.

“I was wondering if you were trying something dirty, not content with just having lingering feelings for a married woman and sending people to tail her. I can’t even bear to watch your lame act. You should practice more.”

Serdis’s smooth face gradually hardened. Soon he let out a scoffing laugh as if dumbfounded.

“What tricks? I just came to try and get along well. Sorry for pretending to be injured. I wanted to stay longer, but you and Anette were so eager to send me away that I pretended to be hurt. But it seems you still have something left for me. I’ll leave early tomorrow, so lighten up.”

Even knowing that Hertian had already noticed, Serdis kept up the pretense until the end.

He still had a card he hadn’t played.

The fact that Anette didn’t know Kasian’s true identity.

The fact that Hertian wasn’t revealing his identity.

Judging from the letter, their relationship had gone beyond mere closeness. Among the people Serdis knew around Anette, there was no one quite like Kasian.

If they were that close, they could have married even without it being a contract marriage, but the fact that they didn’t say anything means there must be a good reason.

Serdis smirked invisibly while pretending to drink wine.

It meant there was still a chance.

[This is the timeline separator]

The Grand Duke’s castle was unusually quiet even though morning had broken.

“His Highness Serdis left?”

“Yes, my lady. He left early at dawn, and when I was going to wake you, he asked me not to tell you.”

The uninvited guest had left the castle without saying goodbye.

I stared blankly at the place they had departed from.

“He left just fine for someone with an injured leg.”

He must have fled after failing to tail me.

By the way, Serdis left without a word, leaving Violet alone in the castle.

He clung to Violet to come here, but now he just abandons her.

He truly was the epitome of a trash male lead.

“My lady, more importantly, come outside!”

Bonisa had been excited since earlier. With a face saying there was something more important, she gently grabbed my arm.

“Come to think of it, today is the last day to go to the village.”

Today was the last day I had promised Kantad. Now that the 3 billion was resolved, there was 4.5 billion left. That’s all I needed to earn.

“No, you don’t need to go to the village today!”

My eyes widened reflexively.

For a moment I thought my 3 billion had disappeared.

But the situation that unfolded was completely opposite to what I expected.

“3 billion gold has arrived for you, my lady.”

Kantad had given me the gold a day early. Come to think of it, I lost consciousness in front of Kantad yesterday. Hertian said the villagers brought me when they saw me collapsed on the ground, but I clearly remember fainting in front of Kantad.

Moreover, that strict person wouldn’t have overlooked me missing a day.

“Aren’t you happy, my lady?”

“No, I am happy.”

When I smiled again, Bonisa smiled along.

Well, I’m grateful if he gives it early.

“You’re finally receiving the reward for all your hard work, my lady.”

“You worked hard following me around too. Here, Bonisa. This is a gift for you.”

I handed Bonisa an amber necklace that suited her well. I knew how much Bonisa had struggled, following me to make herbs and going up and down the mountains.

“No, it was just my job…”

“I’m giving it to you because I should.”

The hand that had been firmly refusing finally accepted the necklace and clutched it preciously. Gilrota and Jackson, who had come down after hearing the news, were also unable to close their mouths in surprise.

“My lady… you are truly amazing.”

“I also heard from Gilrota. Did you really sell 50 million gold worth of herbs for 3 billion, my lady?”

I winked.

“I told you I could do it.”

Others were also curious where this money had come from. But I couldn’t reveal it to everyone.

Like Lili, the people of the territory had strong antipathy towards Kursians.

While people living in the border village might see it as a mutually beneficial relationship, to ordinary villagers they were simply an enemy nation.

So the details of this transaction would remain a secret.

“Please use all of it to rescue our people in Kursia.”

“All of the money?”

“Yes. The longer we wait, the more the price will go up.”

Knowing it was a large transaction, the Kursians were gradually raising their prices. Bringing them back as soon as possible was urgent.

Of course, I’m also reluctant to immediately use the 3 billion I worked so hard to earn. Tsk, what can I do?

“My lady. Won’t you reconsider…?”

“No.”

Jackson looked more regretful than me. I smiled at Jackson, who was tightly hugging the money box, and said:

“Hurry.”