“Madam, are you alright?”

Shortly after Penelope left, Charles, who was entering with food, asked worriedly as he saw Mercian sitting with a tired look.

“I’m fine. Just hungry.”

Mercian smiled and replied to Charles’ warm words.

“I thought so, that’s why I brought our chef’s special dish. This stew is something you can only eat in a duke’s household. First, let’s get you out of that wedding dress.”

As Charles pulled the bed cord, three or four maids entered the room.

“We’ll help the madam remove her dress.”

The maids quickly removed Mercian’s wedding dress, changed her into another dress, then bowed and left the room.

“Madam, please eat first and then rest a bit. Don’t worry about the reception, the Duchess is attending so it should be fine.”

“Thank you.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave now.”

“Okay.”

“Oh, Madam?”

Charles, who was about to leave, approached Mercian and bowed his head as he spoke.

“Once again, congratulations on your marriage.”

“Thank you, Charles.”

After Charles left, Mercian sat there blankly for a moment.

It was strange.

Why did Charles’ congratulations touch her heart more than when she heard it from Lucienne and Penelope?

Ah, and why are these tears falling again?

Clearly, she had felt nothing, but Mercian wiped away the tears that flowed against her will and swore to herself that she would never cry over something like this again.

.

.

.

As time passed and Mercian calmed down somewhat, she looked at the stew Charles had left.

If I don’t eat it, Charles will worry, won’t he?

Mercian took a bite of the stew placed on the table.

Though not as hot as when it was first brought, the still warm broth of the stew sliding down her throat made her feel warmth throughout her body.

Somehow, she felt her heart, hurt by Penelope, was being comforted a little.

Yes, I can’t keep crying forever. From now on, I’m part of the Canoloup duchy, so I should get used to life here.

As Charles had said, the stew had a taste Mercian had never experienced before.

After finishing the stew, Mercian lay down on the bed and fell asleep.

[This is the timeline separator]

In the dining room of the duchy.

“Did you take the stew to the madam?”

Charles nodded at Clea’s question.

“She must be very hungry. Maybe I should have brought some bread too?”

Charles hesitated for a moment at Clea’s words, then blocked Clea who was about to go out with bread and said:

“Head maid, I think it would be better if you don’t go to the madam.”

“What happened? Don’t tell me that lady who claims to be her sister came again?”

“No. The Viscountess came to see the madam, and I don’t know why, but the madam looked very sad.”

“She looked sad?”

“Yes, I think both the lady who claims to be the madam’s sister and the Viscountess are bad people.”

“Charles! Don’t speak so carelessly!”

At Clea’s scolding, Charles shrunk his shoulders and muttered.

“But both of them make the madam sad.”

“Charles, you’ve only met her today, and you’ve already opened your heart to the madam?”

At the chef’s words, who was preparing food for the servants and maids, Charles replied with sparkling eyes.

“Chef, it’s because you haven’t seen the madam. She’s such a kind and nice person. Even when she talks to me, she speaks gently and doesn’t look down on me as a maid. That lady who claims to be her sister, she acted as if she were the mistress of the duchy…”

“Charles, didn’t I tell you to stop?”

At Clea’s warning, Charles sat down without saying anything more, and the chef said as he placed the stew in front of her:

“If Charles says so, then it must be true. That’s fortunate. It’s good that a nice person has come as our madam. Head maid, it seems you don’t disagree with Charles’ opinion.”

“She is a good person. And a delicate one too. But Charles, once we’ve accepted someone as our master, we shouldn’t casually evaluate them in front of others. Understand? The same goes for other nobles.”

“Yes, head maid!”

“Come on, my stew doesn’t taste good when it’s cold, so let’s eat.”

At the chef’s words, Charles and Clea started eating the stew without saying anything more.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Madam? It’s time to wake up.”

Mercian opened her eyes at Charles’ voice and got up from her bed, seeing that it was already dark outside.

“It’s already evening?”

“Yes… It’s time to go to the bridal chamber.”

“Bridal chamber?”

“Come on, there’s a lot to prepare, so please get up quickly.”

What is there to prepare?

.

.

.

“Ah. Ahh. Charles, th-that place is a bit…”

Mercian let out a scream-like cry as Charles and the maids kneaded her entire body in the bathtub as if they were kneading dough.

“I’m sorry, madam. The first thing to do on the wedding night in a duke’s household is to give a full body massage to relieve tension throughout the body. Please bear with it even if it hurts a little.”

A-a little? It’s not just a little… Ah. No. Please, I wish they wouldn’t touch my belly fat…

30 minutes later…

“Madam, now we’ll apply fragrant oil.”

Mercian, who was almost dead from the full body massage, nodded her head as she had no energy to answer, and the maids applied fragrant oil all over her body.

“Is… is it over now?”

“Yes. Now you can get dressed and go to the bridal chamber.”

“Clothes. Thank you.”

…

“Charles? Is this clothes?”

“Hohoho, this nightgown was specially prepared by the Duchess.”

“Ah. No, this is more see-through than clothes? How can I wear something so embarrassing?”

“Oh my, madam. You’ll have to take it off anyway, so isn’t it better to wear something easy to remove to save time?”

Ta-take off. Haah…

If I had a pretty figure it might be okay, but this shows my belly fat too clearly.

I absolutely can’t wear this!

Mercian stubbornly insisted that she absolutely couldn’t go out in this outfit, and finally left the bathroom wearing a bathrobe over the nightgown prepared by Olivia.

“Huh? Where is this?”

It was clearly the bathroom in her room, so why is there a different room?

“Ah, the master and madam’s bathrooms are connected.”

“… What?”

The bathrooms are connected? Then by mistake. The two of us in the same bathroom?

Seeing Mercian’s face suddenly turn red, Charles smiled and said:

“Hoho. Don’t worry. The master hardly ever uses the bathroom on this side. Now then, you can wait for the master here. Have a good time. Then we’ll take our leave…”

After Charles and the maids left, Mercian slowly looked around the room.

The room, slightly larger than Mercian’s room, was neat and tidy, reflecting Ruan’s personality, with only a bed, desk, and a simple clothes rack, making the spacious room look empty.

I really did get married, didn’t I.

.

.

.

At the same time, in the duke’s study.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah, I’m fine Ed. I feel a bit better after eating something.”

“Master, you should see another doctor…”

“Ed, I’m fine. Stop worrying and go out.”

Edward left the study with a tray containing the plate Ruan had eaten from, unable to hide his worried expression.

Ruan slowly got up from his seat, took out a bottle of alcohol hidden in the bookcase, poured it into a glass, went to the window and took a sip.

Has it been about 2 weeks since that incident?

Ruan quietly looked at the red line that had slightly extended from his wrist.

“Duke, are you ready?”

Lost in thought, Ruan drained the remaining alcohol in his glass at Cassel’s question as he entered the study, and asked:

“The people?”

“The Duchess just sent everyone away, saying there was no need for a long reception when the Duke’s complexion was not good.”

“The Crown Prince?”

“He left immediately with a satisfied expression after seeing your almost dying complexion.”

“I see. Then I should go now, right?”

“Will your body be alright?”

“What?”

“I mean, didn’t you starve yourself for two days to show a haggard appearance to the Crown Prince today? What if you collapse on your wedding night with the madam… D-Duke!”

Ruan opened the door of the study and left without needing to hear any more of Cassel’s words.

“Ah. No, this is really important. That. Since it’s your first time, you might not know, but it requires quite a bit of stamina.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Huh?”

Cassel, who had been muttering to himself, waved his hand dismissively at Edward’s question and said:

“It’s nothing, Ed. Just talking to myself.”

[This is the timeline separator]

In front of Ruan’s room.

Haah. I shouldn’t keep my wife waiting any longer, should I?

Ruan took one more deep breath and slowly opened the door.

As Ruan slowly walked into the room, his eyes met with Mercian, who was looking around the room.

“Ah. I’m sorry. I was just looking around the room because I felt awkward just standing there.”

“It’s alright. This room is as much yours as it is mine, so feel free to look around.”

“…”

After a moment of silence, as the atmosphere became awkward, Mercian tightened her robe, and Ruan looked at her and asked:

“Isn’t the robe uncomfortable? Should I have nightwear prepared?”

“Ni-nightwear? No. I’m wearing nightwear.”

“Pardon?”

“Ah. I mean, the nightwear is a bit too thin, so I put on the robe because it was co-cold.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. I like to sleep with the window open, just a moment.”

Mercian hurriedly approached Ruan, who was about to close the window that was thicker than her wrist with a body that looked like it might collapse at any moment, and said:

“I-I’ll close the window.”

“…”

After Mercian closed the window, there was another moment of silence before Ruan looked at Mercian and said:

“First, I’d like to say a few things before we go to sleep.”

“Ah. Yes, there must be rules of the duchy, please tell me.”

As Mercian sat at the table, Ruan sat across from her and said:

“There are no rules in the Canoloup duchy. As I mentioned earlier, Edward currently manages the duchy’s finances, so if you need any money, you can tell Edward. And you will be given a separate monthly living allowance. Usually, 300 gold coins are given as a monthly living allowance, so you can use that to buy your dresses or jewelry. Ah, of course, if it’s not enough, tell Edward.”

“300 gold coins? I don’t need that much. I don’t have much use for money, I already have many dresses, and since it’s only for 6 months, I’ll only go through two seasons, so the clothes in that dressing room are enough.”

“That money is yours, so I won’t interfere with how you use it. And is there anything you’d like to ask me?”

“Well. I have a question.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“Are you planning to spend the night with me?”

“Kack! Cough, cough, cough.”

Ruan, who was drinking tea, choked on Mercian’s sudden question and started coughing.

“Oh my, I’m sorry. Are you alright?”

“N-no. It’s fine. Cough cough. Ahem. S-so, your question just now was?”

“Well, I mean, we’re married, and the marriage contract stipulates that we should spend the night together four times a week to have a child. Of course, I have no intention of refusing that proposal. However.”

“However?”

“W-well. You seem so weak, I’m worried that if we spend the night together, something might happen to you… Oh my!”

Before Mercian could finish speaking, Ruan approached her, picked her up in one swift motion, and whispered in her ear.

“My lady, don’t judge everything by appearances alone. And if you don’t want to, I have no intention of forcing you to spend the night together, but if you’re this eager, I have no reason to hold back.”

Ruan carried Mercian, who was too shocked to do anything but blink, to the bed and gently laid her down, saying:

“Say no now if you don’t want to. I’ll be fine even if you reject me.”

Is-is this man really the same one who was staggering as if he was about to collapse at the wedding ceremony earlier?

Mercian was stunned at the sight of Ruan effortlessly lifting her, who was twice his size, and stared blankly. Ruan looked at her with gentle eyes and said:

“My lady? Answer me!”