I think I just heard something wrong.

Hertian has a woman he likes?

“Don’t joke around.”

A woman for someone who’s asexual and has been advocating lifelong bachelorhood while being pestered by vassals for years?

That’s a ridiculous story.

“I wasn’t going to say anything. But I’m telling you this because I feel sorry for you trying so hard here for yourself and the family, elder sister.”

Lili spat out viper-like words with a cute face. Apparently, she was talking because she didn’t like me. A kind of warning that there’s no place for me here, so don’t act like family.

“Even if that’s true, it’s not for you to say now. Just say outright that you don’t like me. What you want is to stop me from playing my role here. You want to let me know I’m below you in the castle. Isn’t that right?”

When I snapped back in a low, harsh voice, Lili replied in a more serious tone.

“You may find it hard to believe, but I’m not stupid enough to mess with Elder Brother Hertian. You make the judgment, elder sister.”

I stared at her intently.

The story about Hertian didn’t seem like a lie.

Even so, there was no doubt that she was saying this because she disliked me and wanted to clearly show her position in the castle. She must have disliked an outsider nagging her after living here like the owner for years.

I sighed, putting my hands on my hips.

“Fine. Let’s bury the story here that the Grand Duke has someone he’s interested in. Don’t bring it up again.”

I was worried about unnecessary rumors spreading, aside from her looking down on me.

“Aren’t you curious who that person is, elder sister?”

Should I pretend to be curious here?

I wondered if I should be swayed by such rumors while acting as a deeply in love newlywed couple.

If it was true, I was a bit curious too.

“If I say I’m curious, will you tell me?”

“Of course.”

Lili answered readily for once.

I looked at her with a surprised expression. She took a step closer to me with a confident attitude, arms crossed.

“Instead, apologize for last time. For taking the side of the territory people who returned from Kursia instead of mine. Then I’ll tell you who that person is.”

I knew it.

It was my fault for expecting something from Lili.

“That was your mistake. And aren’t you the one who should apologize to me? Isn’t it pricking your conscience to expect an apology after what you did to the birthday cake and gift I gave you?”

Of course, I didn’t expect her to apologize.

“If you tell me who it is, I might overlook this incident.”

This time I looked down at her, lifting my chin high.

Lili, who was about a span shorter than me, looked up at me and bit her lip tightly. Then she stuck out her tongue.

Nyah.

“I won’t tell you.”

She left the room, dragging the hem of her dress.

I shrugged, watching her back. I guess I’ll have to give up on becoming friends with Lili.

Suddenly, I had such a doubt.

‘What was Hertian like in the original work?’

I was lost in thought, staring blankly at the water in the warm bathtub.

I didn’t care much until I talked with Lili, but thinking about it alone, many thoughts came to mind.

All I knew was that Hertian didn’t marry because he was asexual.

That he never married in the end.

“Is that really true?”

I had never thought about it.

I just believed it as it was because that’s how Hertian was described in the novel.

It didn’t go into detail about why he became asexual, or if he really was asexual. Hertian, like me, was just a supporting character for the main characters’ romance. So I put the original frame on Hertian without any particular doubt.

“Could he really have had someone he liked?”

I don’t fully believe Lili’s words. I’m just concerned that he married me even though he has someone he cares about.

‘It’s strange.’

Why didn’t he marry that person, both in the book and here?

When all sorts of thoughts were swirling in my head,

“My lady, you’re staying long today. The Grand Duke has already gone to the bedroom, they say.”

Bonisa entered the bathroom with a towel.

I quickly grabbed Bonisa’s hand as she tried to dry my hair.

“Bonisa, I have a question.”

She answered with a bright smile.

“Are you going to ask about the clothes you gifted us? I was about to tell you anyway. Life in this Grand Duke’s castle is so much easier thanks to the clothes you made. The other maids are also wearing them like they’re dresses.”

Ah, that too.

No wonder the maids’ expressions towards me have softened lately.

I had forgotten about it because of all the work here and there.

“I’m glad everyone likes them.”

“It’s all thanks to you, my lady. And they say the Grand Duke’s castle is also being renovated? Everyone is so excited.”

“Huh? Oh.”

It seemed Bonisa had more to say than my question.

Bonisa continued to praise me until her mouth dried up.

The conversation continued until I put on a thick fur robe. Feeling like I might not get a chance to ask at this rate, I grabbed her once more.

“Bonisa, it’s about someone I know.”

Unable to directly talk about Hertian, I pretended it was someone else’s story.

“Who? Lady Violet?”

“No, it’s about another friend.”

“You… had friends, my lady?”

Ah right. I didn’t have friends.

Even during the academy, except for Cassian, I only interacted with professors.

I was so focused on researching the disease that I didn’t even have acquaintances, let alone friends.

“It’s about a professor I know.”

I continued, making up a story.

“The professor had an arranged marriage, but he had a woman he liked at the time. Why did he marry another woman?”

It felt strange even as I asked.

Bonisa thought hard about the odd question and answered.

“Well. Maybe it was a marriage his family opposed? Since you said he’s a professor, it must have been difficult to marry someone like a maid or commoner like me.”

“That could be it.”

I thought there would be realistic obstacles. But if he had declared celibacy like in the original work, wouldn’t the vassals have reluctantly allowed it?

Or he could have married first and then taken a mistress later.

There were parts I couldn’t understand if that was the reason.

“Or maybe that person was already married? Or had someone else they liked?”

This assumption was quite plausible.

“If that’s the reason…”

It made enough sense.

The curious part was resolved.

Bonisa had already put a thick nightgown on me.

“Are you close to that person? You look serious, my lady.”

Bewildered by her words, I touched my face.

“Do I?”

I must have been frowning without realizing it. Over something like this.

Whether Hertian had someone he liked or not, it didn’t matter much to this contract marriage.

I decided to forget Lili’s words and put on a mechanical smile.

“It’s nothing.”

As I entered the bedroom, I saw Hertian sitting by the bed, turning pages of a book.

Is it because of Lili’s words that he looks different today? Or because of Bonisa’s words?

I slowly approached him. He was so absorbed in the book that he didn’t notice me come in.

He didn’t take his eyes off the book even until I sat down next to him. I slowly looked him over.

Black hair that gives a clean, plain image. But in contrast, his striking features are attractive enough for many women to like, no less than Serdis.

‘He’s not even passive like Serdis.’

He wasn’t the type to beat around the bush in front of someone he likes.

I couldn’t understand a woman who would like someone else over this perfect man.

“When did you come?”

Oh no.

I was lost in strange thoughts about him again.

I gathered my serious expression once more and asked him.

“I was wondering what you were reading so interestingly.”

“Ah.”

He hurriedly closed the book and put it on the bedside table. I glanced at the book. The cover was flipped over, so the title wasn’t visible.

“It seems like a book I haven’t seen before, what’s it about?”

“It’s nothing special.”

“What kind of content is it?”

He suddenly closed his mouth. I wasn’t really that curious, but a strange suspicion arose.

Could it be related to the woman he likes?

I almost forgot we were in a contract marriage because we’re in the same bed. Bringing up a topic he doesn’t want to talk about would be an invasion of his privacy.

I understood him enough and lay down, turning my back.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to tell me. Then keep reading and go to sleep. I’ll sleep first.”

And I hoped Hertian would forget that woman soon.

That way, he’d be less hurt.

But why do I feel bitter since earlier? No matter how much I think about it, it’s hard to understand.

Just then, I felt a warm touch on my shoulder.

“May I take a look for a moment?”

Hertian had gently put his hand on my shoulder. Unlike usual when he would embrace me, he was trying to slightly lift my robe.

To see the belladonna pattern drawn on my wing bone.

“Of course.”

I willingly turned my head to the other side, flipping my hair. My body twitched as his careful touch met my skin. It felt strange, as if I could feel his gaze on the pattern even though I couldn’t see it.

“You said you’ve had this since birth, right?”

“Yes. Father, Rian, and I all had it from the moment we were born into the Count’s family.”

Before we got married, I showed him the pattern and told him about it.

That anyone born into the Leanberia Count family is born with this pattern on their body. The belladonna bud doesn’t change, but my elder brother Rian sprouted and bloomed its flower. And at the end of that was death.

“The leaves have spread a bit more than before.”

It was as he said.

After Rian died, my pattern began to sprout as if it had been waiting for the right time.

My body weakened rapidly, becoming prone to collapsing at any time.

“It’s not growing as fast as Rian’s.”

Rian lost his life 2 years after the pattern started changing.

But not me. It’s been five years since Rian passed away, but I’m still alive and well.

That doesn’t mean it’s hopeful though.

‘In the original work, Anette died not long after marrying the Margrave.’

I suddenly recalled my relationship with Hertian in the original work.

There was no connection at all.

In the original, Serdis started rolling, leading to Anette’s death, and only after sweeping away all his ex-girlfriends did Hertian, who had been roaming the battlefield, appear before Serdis.

It’s a painful reality to think about again. That both Hertian and I were just sacrificial lambs to make the two protagonists shine.

As I was feeling a bit dejected, he asked in a muffled voice.

“Do you also think this pattern makes the body ill, my lady?”