News that a young Grand Duke couple was coming also reached the Imperial Palace.

Just as Serdis was relaxing and enjoying tea in the Prince’s Palace, a servant was delivering that news to him. Hearing the welcome news, Serdis’s red lips curved into a smile.

“I’ll soon see Anette’s face.”

He had bought a gift in advance, knowing this would happen. With Sertia flowers that Anette likes. He got this information by grilling Edward Beirne, Anette’s only dating partner.

It was almost creepy how much that guy, who never had a proper conversation with her, knew about her in detail. The more he thought about it, the more he felt he did well to neatly put him away. Because it would be hard to turn a blind eye to him panting like a dog while looking at Anette.

“I hope they arrive before these flowers wilt.”

He muttered, looking at the pink flowers in the vase. Then, a woman with hair the same color as the flowers on the opposite side stood up from her seat. Serdis, still fixing his gaze on the flowers, asked her:

“Are you leaving?”

“My work is done.”

“That’s a shame. I didn’t even get to buy a gift for my cousin sister I’m seeing after a long time.”

At his tone that didn’t convey any regret at all, Lili snorted, “As if.”

“My work is done.”

She had been staying at the Imperial Palace following Serdis since arriving in the capital. That was Lili’s purpose for coming to the capital. Now that she had achieved her goal, she had to leave before Hertian and Anette arrived.

“Are you going to Astaire Marquis’s house? Or the North?”

“To the Marquis’s house. My new sister-in-law is more interested in me than I expected, so if she finds out I didn’t go to my aunt’s, she’ll be suspicious.”

“Anette is indeed attentive. Anyway, it’s good that family helps each other. I look forward to more valuable information in the future.”

Serdis waved at her with a mechanical smile. During her stay in the capital, Lili had reported everything Anette had done. The reason was simple.

“I’ll say it again, I’m on elder brother Hertian’s side. I’m not helping you, elder brother Serdis, but going along with this for elder brother Hertian’s sake.”

Because she had come to extremely dislike Anette being by Hertian’s side.

Last time, she had ultimately refused Serdis’s proposal due to lingering uneasiness. But after arguing with Anette on her birthday, Lili had constantly wanted to remove Anette from the Grand Duchy.

She didn’t want much. Just back to how it was before Anette came. Back to the days when she could do whatever she wanted as the mistress of the vast mansion.

‘This is clearly for Hertian’s sake too.’

Comforting herself like that, she ended her brief contemplation and came up to the capital. And she met Serdis right away. Serdis welcomed her kindly and willingly told her about the plan.

As expected, Serdis was trying to use dirty methods.

‘This is why I disliked elder brother Serdis.’

Unlike Hertian whose outside and inside were the same, Serdis was a person with a pitch-black inside. Since he didn’t bother hiding his true nature in front of family like Lili, she had avoided Serdis from early on.

But since Lili and Serdis ultimately wanted the same destination, she decided to join hands with him just this once.

“I’ll take responsibility and put Anette back in her original place.”

“But will this method really work? New sister-in-law is, how should I say, a bit strange. She suddenly started a business not long after coming to the mansion and earned several billion. I don’t think she’ll fall for it easily.”

“This time will be different. I found a capable partner.”

“Who’s that?”

When Lili asked with a skeptical face, Serdis put his arm around her shoulders. As the strong scent of citrus perfume wafted up, Lili openly covered her nose. Treating her like a child, he whispered in her ear:

“There is one. Someone you know very well.”

The capital was sunny. It was good weather for causing a scene at the Imperial Palace after a long time.

“I will guide you.”

The Imperial servant naturally guided our carriage upon seeing it. Far past the main palace where the Emperor lives. Finally, after passing through a small forest dense with trees, the palace revealed itself.

Like a secret tower from a fairy tale, this palace was hidden in a corner even within the Imperial Palace. Up to there was understandable, but the ivory outer walls covered in moss due to neglectful management involuntarily made me furrow my brows.

‘They really put a lot of effort into welcoming guests.’

I wasn’t expecting extravagant treatment, but I didn’t think they would so openly show their attitude. I looked around the exterior of the small palace and stopped my gaze on Hertian.

His complexion had been dark since inside the carriage, and now he was looking at the palace with eyes containing many suppressed emotions. Suddenly, I wondered if there was another meaning to assigning this seemingly abandoned palace.

“Is this perhaps the palace where Hertian used to live?”

A place containing his painful past.

‘Did they push Hertian back here once again?’

The answer matched my expectations exactly.

“Yes. A place with a few shabby pieces of furniture.”

However, his voice was more nonchalant than I expected.

Is he really unbothered?

Absolutely not. This is where Hertian’s mother was murdered, after all.

Knowing that, they invited him to this palace. They don’t welcome his coming. They’re trying to remind him that in this Imperial Palace, your only place is this palace where death lurks.

‘But this is too cruel.’

The neglected, abandoned palace seemed to show the young Hertian’s appearance as it was. That’s why I felt angrier and more heartbroken.

“It’s nothing special. This palace is much bigger and wider than our mansion. It’s the fault of those who can’t manage such a wonderful castle.”

I shrugged my shoulders once at Hertian’s gaze. Then I added in a joking tone:

“Will I be dragged away for treason like Evan if I’m caught saying such things?”

“I won’t let that happen.”

“Good then.”

To show that I wasn’t bothered, I trampled through the weeds grown up to my shins as I walked. With the yard in this state, I was almost looking forward to seeing how messy the interior would be.

“It seems this place will be uncomfortable for my wife to stay. I’ll take you to the townhouse in the capital.”

“Just me alone?”

He nodded with a bitter smile. Hertian has to stay here. If he runs away, the label of fugitive will follow him around like an old nightmare. But I didn’t want to be a fugitive either.

“I can’t sleep without Hertian now. Either we go together or we sleep here together.”

If people found out the newly arrived couple slept apart, it was obvious we’d be pointed at as a Grand Duke who’s even disregarded by his wife. For now, it was best to quietly go along with the situation they set up.

As I moved towards the entrance, feeling empty behind me, I turned back. Hertian was standing still in place, staring intently at me.

“Aren’t you coming in?”

“……”

Hertian has been a bit scary lately. He often just stares at me like that without saying anything.

‘I hope it’s not something like irregular blood flow to the brain due to arrhythmia?’

It was a reasonable suspicion. Even when I secretly listened to his heartbeat while he slept, it was pounding like someone who had run several laps around the training grounds. It seemed I’d need to visit the Imperial physician while we’re at the palace.

“Hertian?”

I waved my hand above my head to call him. He flinched and blinked his eyes a few times before speaking.

“Yes, my wife.”

‘Why is he so jittery today?’

I’m not sure what country’s walking style involves waving the same hand and foot. I soon grabbed Hertian as he approached and widened my eyes. It seems Hertian is recalling his past and becoming agitated.

“Pull yourself together. We’re surrounded by enemies here.”

It’s not that I don’t understand him.

The palace contains the Empress who killed his mother and memories he wants to forget. Moreover, refusing to participate in the war could really be seen as treason. It’s understandable that even the usually steadfast Hertian would waver.

“Keep your heart strong. I’ll be by your side.”

I grabbed his firm shoulders and spoke reassuringly.

He nodded stiffly like a robot. Then he held the end of my sleeve like a child and asked:

“Will you sleep close to me even though the capital isn’t cold?”

He must have been scared to sleep alone despite pretending otherwise.

‘He’s like a child at times like this.’

I smiled affirmatively at my contract husband who seemed especially human today.

The inside of the palace was like a mansion that thieves had visited.

Shards of expensive porcelain were strewn across the floor and the curtains were torn as if someone had pulled them.

“It seems we’d better go to the townhouse after all.”

“No? Isn’t this rather exciting? When else would I get to sleep in a place like this in my life?”

I was angry but also a little excited. It felt like constantly seeing the worst of people.

‘This much is needed for me to truly not want to clash with them, right?’

Each time we opened a door, a unique junkyard greeted us. Every time, I heard the sound of Hertian clenching his fists, but I brightened my eyes and took in the appearance of this place.

“This is… the reception room.”

“This treatment is unacceptable. I’ll demand different accommodations immediately.”

“No. I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble. Let’s endure until our appointment tomorrow morning.”

If we voiced complaints here, we’d be moving as they want. So we had to hold it in until all the plans were finished.

Perhaps feeling sorry for me, Hertian kept sighing. And finally we reached the last room, the bedroom. It’s clearly the largest room in the palace. But something was off.

“This seems to be the bedroom… but is that one bed all there is?”

A small bed that two adults could barely lie on. A small wardrobe and a dressing table covered in hazy dust. The couch was broken in half and the only place to sit was a table chair with black stains.

“The condition is worse than I thought?”

At least the bed seemed usable. It was as if they had done minimal cleaning just so we could sleep here without running away.

“This was my room.”

Hertian murmured quietly. If this was Hertian’s room, then his mother’s room?

Among the rooms we passed, there wasn’t one that could be used as a bedroom.

As if reading my thoughts, Hertian added an explanation.

“To be precise, it was my mother’s and my room.”

My thoughts stopped for a moment.

‘Two people lived together in this narrow bed and unremarkable room?’

Even I, just a Count’s daughter, lived luxuriously with a bigger bed all to myself. But the Emperor’s woman and child lived together in a room like this. It was unbelievable even after hearing it.

“If you stayed here, then only your mother and you lived in this palace. But why…”

I trailed off mid-sentence.

The reason was obvious.

The Empress was wary of Hertian’s very existence and the Emperor lacked the power to protect him and his mother. So they couldn’t say anything even in this neglected situation, having started things without any power. Perhaps this state had continued since long ago.

“I wanted to show only good sides, but after marriage I feel like I keep revealing my shameful parts to my wife.”

He said bitterly as he looked around the room. When I looked at him, he quickly turned away. His shoulders that always seemed broad now felt small.

“You can show me everything.”

I approached him and patted his back.

“I’ve shown you all my unsightly sides too. I even fainted with a nosebleed in front of you. Remember?”

He smiled faintly as he glanced at me. Finally he turned around.

“So you can tell me without hiding anything. Aren’t married couples supposed to have no secrets from each other?”

Even if it’s a contract relationship.

“Are you curious about my story, my wife?”

My mouth that was about to say ‘Of course’ closed.

Actually, I hadn’t really thought about it. Since I, who had read the original story, knew Hertian’s past and future events best, questions weren’t necessary.

And that must have seemed very strange to Hertian.

“From the day we first met until now, you haven’t asked about my personal matters. You’ve understood me as if you knew everything.”