“We didn’t ask about each other’s circumstances because we were a contract couple. Just as Hertian didn’t ask me why I avoided Serdis.”

I made excuses, pretending to have maintained a minimum level of courtesy towards each other.

However, after saying it, I felt a bit stung and unfair.

Because Hertian also rarely asked me questions. In fact, I knew very well that he hadn’t asked me many questions. For instance, about my food preferences. Or my clothing preferences.

But I couldn’t argue about it.

‘Obviously, mother or father must have told him everything in detail.’

As I parted my lips and then sighed, Hertian spoke in a much gentler voice.

“I wish my lady would be curious about me. Very much so.”

I snorted softly at his somewhat pleading tone.

“Are you going to answer if I ask?”

He nodded, following my smile. Looking at him, I blurted out the question I had been curious about all along.

“Can you tell me which academy Hertian attended?”

Despite appearances, I’m a woman with a vengeful streak.

I wanted to know the secret that only Eleanor and he knew.

It didn’t matter which academy he attended. It was certain that there was no connection between me and Hertian regardless of the academy.

I just wanted to wash away the uneasiness I was feeling now.

“Can you tell me where it is?”

A heavy silence fell. If he’s going to be like this, I really can’t stand the curiosity.

“You asked me to be curious, but now you’re backing out like this?”

“Is that really what you’re curious about?”

His black pupils shook for the first time.

Oh? He’s genuinely troubled. That makes me even more curious.

“Yes. I want to know.”

“Now that I can’t take back my words, I should tell you. But I’m more nervous than I thought.”

He moistened his dry lips at the mere question about the academy.

Whether he disliked the name. Or if he had bad memories there too. He seemed afraid to speak it out loud himself.

If I were to withdraw the question here, that would be strange in its own way.

“Shall I guess?”

I decided to say it myself and quickly move on.

“Did you already know?”

“I’m the duchess, even if on contract.”

In fact, if I wanted to, there was nothing I couldn’t find out. How long have the people of the grand duchy been with Hertian since he was young?

‘Why are you acting like you’ve hidden something?’

His black pupils trembled. He looked down at me with a tense face, like someone whose long-kept secret had been discovered. His eyes gripped me tightly, making me afraid to speak. Finally, after a brief silence, I opened my mouth.

“It’s Zakaban Academy, right?”

“……”

At the same time, he lost his words. Is it just my feeling that he looks disappointed?

“Why is this something to hide? I know Hertian inherited the grand duke title at a young age. That’s why you couldn’t properly attend the academy. What’s there to be ashamed of? You had more important life experiences than at the academy.”

He’s like this because he couldn’t enjoy a proper academy life. I understand that feeling a hundred times over. Wasn’t I a mess of a student too?

“I attended the academy for 8 years but have no friends. And it’s not like I achieved anything, I just stupidly focused on research. Hertian is much better than me, right?”

“Who told you?”

“…Surely you’re not going to punish whoever told me?”

As I narrowed my eyes at him, he relaxed his expression.

“No. Absolutely not.”

“Actually, no one told me, I figured it out myself. Both Osen and Eleanor attended Zakaban Academy, right? Then of course Hertian must be from Zakaban too?”

Having guessed correctly, I laughed cheerfully. On the contrary, Hertian had a face like a doctor who had failed an experiment.

“Hertian? Nothing will change just because I found out. If it’s a secret, I won’t tell anyone.”

“Ah. No. It’s just… somewhat anticlimactic.”

“Was my deductive ability that surprising? Hmm. I suppose it would be.”

As I shrugged my shoulders slightly, he asked in return.

“Can your ability not see your future with me?”

“What?”

“Can that ability not see your own future?”

It was a question that struck at my core.

In the original book, I only married the Marquis of Byeongyeong and died lonely. There was no future where I had a contract marriage with Hertian.

Flustered by the unexpected question, I could only repeat, “Well……”

That’s when it happened.

Footsteps began to be heard in this castle where it seemed no one would come.

Hertian must have sensed the presence too, as he gripped my shoulder and looked around warily.

“Anette~.”

And the voice that was heard was familiar and chilling.

At the same time, Hertian and I exchanged glances.

“It’s Serdis.”

He had come to the castle in person.

The sound of footsteps grew closer. Along with that, the sound of doors opening was repeatedly heard.

“Where are you, Anette?”

My heart pounded in sync with the footsteps.

“Is there a place to hide? I’d rather not run into him if possible.”

He quickly scanned the room and then grabbed my wrist.

“This way.”

I followed behind him on tiptoe, carefully. It was none other than the wardrobe. And like the bed, it was of an unusually large size. This was truly the only place to hide.

“Stay here, I’ll go and drive him away.”

Hertian said, opening the wardrobe door. I shook my head.

“There’s no good in confronting a madman like that. It’s best to avoid anyone until we meet His Majesty.”

I couldn’t add the oil of Serdis to him who was already sensitive about the war participation issue. I entered the wardrobe first and gestured to him.

“It’s too narrow for two to sit.”

“We’ll have to squeeze in somehow.”

He made a troubled face, but hearing Serdis’s approaching footsteps, he stepped into the wardrobe.

“Ah, is this the only room left?”

Serdis’s voice was heard right outside. Just as he turned his gaze towards the door, fearing it might open, I grabbed his arm and quickly pulled him into the wardrobe. In an instant, his huge body tilted.

“Huh?”

“Shh.”

I spoke to him in a small voice, looking at the still unopened door.

“Close the door.”

As the wardrobe door closed, my vision was immediately cut off. But something felt odd. He who should have been opposite me was in front of me.

Feeling around, I confirmed it was indeed his flat back. It seems I had misjudged the direction. We ended up in a position as if riding a horse together. But that wasn’t the important thing.

“She’s not here either?”

Serdis’s voice was heard from outside the wardrobe. He had entered the room. I strained my ears while trying to suppress even my breathing.

“This is the only room left, isn’t it?”

Click, click.

Serdis walked around various parts of the room. Then the footsteps stopped near the wardrobe. I swallowed hard. Thinking about it now, not only was meeting Serdis a problem, but being discovered like this would also be laughable.

‘I should have just run away openly.’

But it was too late for regrets. Our game of hide-and-seek with Serdis had already begun.

“Anette is good at running away here and there, so she couldn’t have hidden somewhere again, right?”

Instinctively, I pulled Hertian back to lie down. It was to prevent his face from being visible through the wardrobe gap. I whispered in his ear while holding him close.

“Just stay like this for a moment.”

He flinched and his lips moved. I covered even his mouth with my hand.

No sound could be heard from outside. The silence strangely choked me. And a shadow fell across the single ray of light coming through the wardrobe door crack. Serdis was standing in front of the wardrobe. I could feel our irregular heartbeats through our touching bodies.

I glanced at Hertian, frozen in the darkness. Though he didn’t show it, this situation seemed quite tense for him too.

And not long after, the door was roughly opened.

“Your Highness.”

The room door opened and someone entered with hurried steps.

“Anette?”

“Is she not here?”

It was a male voice, seemingly a servant.

“Would I be asking you if she was here?”

“I’m, I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Quickly go out and find out. Report back immediately.”

“Yes!”

Thanks to the servant, his shadow disappeared. Soon, the footsteps of the two people faded away, and the sound of the door closing was heard. Only then could I exhale a little of the breath I had been holding.

“My lady.”

“Just a moment. Let’s go out after a little while. There’s a possibility he might come back.”

“Th-that’s not it, on my back……”

He and I were in a state of complete contact, without any gap. To the extent that I could still feel the thumping heartbeat. I sighed briefly at that.

“I’ll prescribe you arrhythmia medicine again.”

No matter how tense, for the heart to beat this fast, there must be some problem.

“That’s not it……”

“You don’t want to take the medicine?”

“No. Rather, on my back, my lady…… No. I think we need to separate a bit.”

We had hugged and slept every day, so I wondered why he was saying such things now. What’s wrong with me being a bit close to his back.

However, a little later, I could understand why Hertian had said such things. The crumpled front of the dress. A place that shouldn’t be touching was pressed against him.

‘I must be crazy!’

I let go of him and hurriedly closed my clothes.

“I-I’m sorry.”

Then, saying it had become quiet outside, I hastily opened the wardrobe door. I could see Serdis’s figure moving away through the window.

“Fo-fortunately, Serdis has left completely.”

I spoke with my gaze fixed on the window, my words stumbling out without my realizing.

“…That’s good.”

“It’s almost evening now, so he won’t come looking anymore.”

I fiddled with the curtains for no reason and then whipped them shut. Gathering courage to turn around, this time he was showing his back to me. I quickly lowered my gaze.

‘He probably didn’t even feel it.’

We sleep hugging each other every night, yet he disliked this. Well, I guess it would be unpleasant to have someone you don’t like rubbing their body against you indiscriminately. Still, I thought we had gotten somewhat closer, but I guess Hertian isn’t there yet.

‘I don’t want to be this awkward when we have to sleep together in that small bed.’

As long as we were in the palace with him, we couldn’t stay cold towards each other. Because if we showed a gap, Serdis might rush in to tear us apart. There was a tea table in the yard, I should ask if he would like to have tea time together.

I carefully took one step towards him. At that moment, Hertian, startled by the sound, called out to me in a loud voice.

“My lady!”

Surprised, I stopped in my tracks again. Without even turning to look at me, he became half-crouched and only slightly turned his head.

“Please don’t come closer.”

“Hertian?”

It was a somewhat frightening voice. It was the first time he had stopped me from approaching.

‘What should I do. He must be really angry.’

“Were you disgusted because I clung to you?”

“It’s not that. Please leave me be like this for a moment. I beg you.”

Watching him speak in a voice as suppressed as possible, I had to stand still in that spot with my mouth tightly shut.