“If it’s not that, then there’s no other reason.”

After Rian died like that, mother said the flowers had fully bloomed, so it was time for them to fall.

But it wasn’t certain.

Despite researching the pattern for a long time, nothing had been discovered.

“Whatever the reason, what’s certain now is that there’s no cure for my illness.”

I continued speaking with my back still turned to him.

It didn’t matter.

Sadly, because I knew I would die in the near future.

And I knew well that what I could change wasn’t my life, but how I lived until I died.

Seeing him quiet, he seemed deep in thought. He had reason to worry. I kept collapsing here and there, and wandered outside as I pleased, so he might regret marrying me.

Then he quietly pulled the blanket up to my neck. Glancing at him, I saw him blow out the candle. When the last candle went out, darkness settled on his face. Then he suddenly began to speak.

“Once upon a time, there was a boy who lived in a forest village.”

“Hertian?”

“Didn’t you say you were curious about the book’s contents?”

Ah, so it was about the book.

He seemed to be trying to change the heavy atmosphere. I didn’t want to talk about painful things anymore either.

“Please continue.”

“A witch came and cast a wicked curse on the kind boy, turning him into a monster. People called him a monster, threw stones at him, and cursed him. The boy couldn’t meet people or leave his house.”

“It’s a typical fairy tale.”

It had been a while since I’d heard a story like this.

“Do you know it?”

“It’s my first time hearing this one, but I know they all end similarly.”

“Then do you know how the boy broke free from the curse?”

“I guess he met a woman he loved and realized true love, or broke free with a passionate kiss?”

Isn’t that how fairy tales usually go?

“I think your illness might be a curse too. Since there’s no cure.”

So that’s why he was reading fairy tales.

Thinking my illness was a curse.

“I agree. It’s as good as a curse.”

I can’t even die from eating poison. If that’s not a curse, what is?

“Then couldn’t you break the curse the same way?”

He said softly.

So for a moment, my mind went blank.

The same way?

I immediately sat up. My eyes, now adjusted to the darkness, could faintly see his face.

“You mean I should meet someone I love?”

He nodded slightly.

“But that’s just a fairy tale.”

“But there’s no harm in trying. We have nothing to lose.”

It was truly an absurd suggestion, but strangely persuasive.

Suddenly, the fact that this was also a novel became vividly clear. A world where impossible things happen and magic exists.

As he said, we had nothing to lose. It would be a waste of life to die without trying anything, just because I might die soon. In my previous life, I couldn’t do anything because of illness, and I didn’t want to die in vain in this life too.

I married Hertian, and I’m on good terms with Violet, the original female lead, so aren’t I somewhat in the safe zone?

Only now did the bitter feelings begin to fade a little.

I fumbled to hold Hertian’s hand.

“Hertian is right. If I die like this without trying anything, I wouldn’t be able to close my eyes in peace.”

In the darkness, I could faintly see him smile.

“If you find someone you love, you’ll be much happier.”

He spoke like someone who had experienced love.

Hearing that, Lili’s words came to mind again.

‘So Hertian had a hidden unrequited love.’

And an unfulfilled one at that.

I decided to pretend not to know about his private life.

“You’ve never been in love before. If you open your heart and approach, you’ll see.”

“How did you know I’ve never been in love?”

Is it that obvious that I’m a ‘lifelong single’?

“Don’t they say that those of the same kind can recognize each other?”

“You’re right about that.”

I burst out laughing.

“I’ll enjoy myself and look for a way, whether it’s love or whatever!”

“Don’t look too far…”

“Then who should I meet first? Should I look among the knights?”

“My lady. Just a moment…”

“Hertian, help me look too. If you know any good men, introduce them to me.”

I deliberately ignored Hertian’s words and rattled on. For some reason, I felt a bit annoyed with him.

Right. It’s not fair for only Hertian to have someone.

I should go out and find a match too.

Hertian drank the bitter cup of unrequited love again today, watching the sleeping Anette.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the fairy tale.”

He was worried that Anette seemed to want to look for other men, contrary to his intentions.

He roughly rubbed his face and smirked.

How long had it been since he lived a life of such constant anxiety?

He hadn’t been this nervous even in his first battle.

“It’s grown quite a bit, by the way.”

Hertian carefully closed Anette’s gown that had come undone. He had been quite surprised to see the Belladonna pattern changed after so long. As Anette said, there was no other way to explain the symptoms except for the pattern.

“I wonder if it’s related to the pattern.”

He pondered the relationship between the newly established hypothesis and the pattern. What if this pattern, which only appears on people of the Leanberia Count’s family, is related to possession?

Then they might find a way.

The repairs to the Grand Duchy were carried out sequentially.

Thanks to that, the castle was filled with vitality.

The servants and knights also united to help with the repairs. Even though they helped day and night, joy bloomed on their faces.

And in the midst of it all, Lili stood with a sullen face. Next to her was a large luggage bag.

“Where are you going?”

“Are you afraid I might run away? That would be good news for you, sister-in-law.”

Things were still like this with Lili. I didn’t say anything because I felt it would be irreversible if Hertian intervened, but there was no improvement in our relationship either.

“What are you saying? I need to know where you’re going.”

Lili glared at me once before answering.

“I’m going to visit my aunt in the capital. I plan to stop by Princess Violet’s place while I’m there.”

“I see. Travel safely.”

Knowing that she often went to play in the capital, I readily gave permission. She’s at an age where she should be out having fun, and being cooped up in the castle with no one around might be making her sensitive.

“Please tell Brother Hertian too. I’ll be back within a month.”

She spoke in a more relaxed voice, probably not expecting to get permission so quickly. I nodded, saying I understood as I fixed her clothes.

I watched as Lili’s carriage disappeared into the distance.

And four days later.

A horse came galloping urgently towards us on the same road Lili had left on.

“A knight?”

Looking closely, I could see a green emblem signifying the Imperial Knights over the white uniform.

‘Why would an Imperial Knight come here?’

It hadn’t been long since Serdis left the Grand Duchy. There was no way to know if he had caused some trouble again. For now, I went inside the mansion and asked the butler to report to Hertian.

Then I looked at them pulling on the reins in front of the castle. My face hardened a bit with tension.

“Greetings to Her Highness the Princess Consort.”

The knight in front dismounted and bowed to me. A delicate voice and thin waist. Despite the short hair, I immediately recognized that the knight was a woman. The knight who followed her also greeted me.

“What brings Imperial Knights all the way to this remote northern region?”

The female knight looked flustered at my sensitive tone.

“We haven’t come for any particular reason, so please don’t be alarmed.”

“Why have you come without making an appointment?”

“That’s…”

Before she could finish her answer. Her eyes rolled to Hertian who had approached behind me.

“Eleanor?”

“Heri!”

At Hertian’s call, she brightened up and approached him. Eleanor smiled happily and bounced over to him. It was a light movement befitting a knight.

“Why did you come all the way here?”

“I couldn’t make it to your wedding, so I should at least show my face once.”

They seemed to know each other. Moreover, seeing them use informal speech, they appeared to be quite close.

I observed the two of them closely. Soon Hertian turned his gaze towards me.

“Let me introduce you. This is a comrade I once fought alongside in war.”

She abruptly extended her hand to shake mine.

“I’m Eleanor Creaye, Deputy Commander of the Second Imperial Knights. Introducing me as a comrade sounds too dry, but Hertian and I have been close since before he became Grand Duke. We received the same training under Calix.”

I had heard that the previous Grand Duke, Calix, was one of the top knights in the empire. There were several people who revered him as a master, and Eleanor was one of them.

She was recognized for her skills and entered the Imperial Knights despite her family’s opposition, and since then she and Hertian had only occasionally kept in touch.

Hearing the explanation, their relationship made sense. Rather, it was somewhat reassuring.

I was glad that Hertian hadn’t lived a completely lonely life.

I immediately let go of my wariness and shook her hand.

“I’m Anette. You must have had a hard journey coming all the way to the north.”

She smiled, her eyes crinkling. The dimple below her deeply creased mouth was charming.

“I didn’t know he had married such a beautiful bride. Hertian, you’re quite lucky.”

Hertian pulled up one corner of his mouth at her casual speech.

“The luckiest I’ve been in my life.”

“That’s right. I thought you only knew about war, when did you meet Her Highness? They say the quiet cat gets the fish first. It fits you perfectly.”

“I wasn’t exactly quiet about it.”

“You… Are you really the Hertian I knew?”

Hertian wrapped his arm around my shoulder as if to show off. It was unfamiliar to me too. This was the first time I had seen Hertian so disarmed.

I looked back and forth between the two of them as they talked, leaving me out.

And suddenly I realized.

‘Could Eleanor be the person Hertian likes?’