“Huh?”

“Huh?”

“Madam, what are you doing there? And how did you climb up that tree? If you can’t come down…”

“W-wait a moment, Ruan. Haha. Let’s talk one thing at a time. The first question. Ah. What I’m doing here is eating the apple pie that the chef made. This was one of the places where I could feel at ease when I was at the viscount’s, so I climbed up the tree without realizing. I hope it’s not a problem?”

“Of course there’s no problem with what you’re doing, madam, but…”

“Ah. How did I climb this tree? Heh. I may look like this, but I’ve been climbing trees since I was young, so I’m quite good at climbing most trees. And I’m just as good at coming down as I am at going up, so don’t worry.”

“Ah. I see.”

“Yes…”

…..

As the conversation suddenly cut off and an awkward silence fell, Mercian took an apple pie out of the basket and handed one to Ruan, saying:

“Would you like a pie?”

Although Ruan usually didn’t like sweet foods, he smiled and reached out his hand, thinking that the pie Mercian was offering might taste good.

“If you’re offering, I won’t refuse. Well then.”

Ruan took the pie and closed the window.

Phew, what a surprise.

I climbed this tree because the branch was the biggest and widest…

Now I can’t climb this tree anymore. Should I climb the tree near my room?

Just as Mercian calmed her startled heart and was about to take another bite of the pie, Ruan’s window opened again.

“…”

“Ah, madam, I forgot to say something.”

“What is it?”

“Madam, I’m back safely.”

“Ah. Ruan, you’ve had a hard day.”

“Thank you for your concern. Madam, you might catch a cold if you stay in the tree too long, so please come down after a little while. And I’ll see you at mealtime later.”

“… Alright.”

He’s clearly someone who was supposed to keep a proper distance and live as if he wasn’t here for 6 months.

Why is he treating me so well?

And why don’t I dislike this behavior of Ruan’s?

Mercian suddenly felt strange when she saw Ruan smiling as if he was quite enjoying himself.

Sigh. Is it because of the madam after all?

Ruan, who had slept alone hoping that perhaps his insomnia had been cured, tossed and turned all night and ended up greeting the dawn without having slept at all.

Due to not having slept, just as he was about to get up from the bed to find medicine for his throbbing head, suddenly he couldn’t breathe.

Ugh!

Ruan collapsed right there with his hand on his heart.

Thud!!

.

.

.

What was that?

Mercian, who had woken up unusually early and was enjoying the dawn with a warm cup of tea, was startled by the sudden noise and jumped up from her seat.

It definitely came from Ruan’s room?

Mercian hurriedly put on a shawl and went to Ruan’s room, knocking on his door.

“Ruan?”

…..

When there was no answer to Mercian’s question, she said:

“Ruan, I heard a noise, so I’m coming in.”

When Mercian opened the door and entered the room, Ruan was collapsed on the floor.

“Oh my, Ruan!”

Mercian quickly went to the bed and pulled the cord, then hurried to Ruan, lifted him up, and laid him on the bed.

“He… He’s not breathing?”

Mercian put her finger to Ruan’s nose, but couldn’t feel any breath.

“Surely not already… No. It can’t be, right?”

The groom dying two days after the wedding? This must be a dream.

To check if Ruan’s heart was beating, Mercian unbuttoned his nightshirt and put her ear to his heart.

Is… is his heart beating?

Mercian couldn’t distinguish whether the thumping sound she heard in her ears was her own heartbeat or Ruan’s.

Sigh. Why isn’t anyone coming?

Just as Mercian was about to lift her head from his chest to go call Edward herself, Ruan’s arms wrapped around her body.

“Madam, I didn’t know you were this forward.”

“R-Ruan, are you alright? J-just a moment, please let go of this arm. I was so surprised when you collapsed earlier…”

Mercian, who had been struggling, only now realized that she had her face pressed against Ruan’s bare body and tried to get up quickly, but Ruan didn’t loosen his arms.

Bang!!

“Master! What’s the matter- Oh my, madam, I’m terribly sorry.”

Edward, who had rushed in as the door opened, saw Mercian struggling in Ruan’s arms with his upper body exposed, hastily bowed and left the room.

“Ah… No, Ed, it’s not like that… Ruan, this arm…”

How can a man half my size be so strong?

As Mercian struggled, unable to escape from the arms of a man smaller than herself, Ruan trapped her even more in his embrace and said:

“Hah. Madam, please stay still for a moment. I couldn’t sleep all night yesterday and my head feels like it’s going to split open, and you struggling is making it worse.”

“Ah. I’m sorry. But didn’t you take a sleeping pill yesterday?”

“I somehow forgot. I think I’ll be fine after getting some sleep, so just for a moment… just for a moment…”

“Ruan?”

What? Did he fall asleep?

Mercian, seeing Ruan who had fallen asleep while tightly embracing her with his thin, long arms, couldn’t bring herself to escape from his arms for fear of waking him up and remained still.

Sigh, he really is a strange person.

He said he needs to take sleeping pills to sleep… yet he falls asleep so easily like this…

Mercian wriggled a bit more to create some space and then buttoned up Ruan’s nightshirt.

Could it be that he collapsed from exhaustion because he couldn’t sleep all night yesterday?

Or is it because of the poison?

What must it feel like to know how long you have left to live?

To live out a life with only 6 months remaining…

Mercian felt strange as she recalled Ruan talking about his own death as if it were nothing.

Although he didn’t express it in words, every day must be really precious to this person right now, right?

He’s so thin… if he keeps getting thinner, will he be able to walk properly?

Mercian looked at Ruan’s extremely thin figure with a concerned expression.

And shortly after, Mercian also fell asleep in his arms, listening to Ruan’s steady heartbeat as a lullaby.

It was strange.

While it was true that Ruan’s insomnia had worsened after going through war and being cursed, in fact, it had been a symptom he had had for a very long time.

At the young age of 5, after his parents died in a carriage accident, out of his childish fear that something might happen to Olivia, his only blood relative and guardian, he would wake up several times during the night to make sure she was still alive.

In a way, insomnia had been a part of his life that had always been with him…

He had taken sleeping pills not so much because they helped him sleep deeply, but for the one benefit of not having to try to fall asleep…

But why is it that when I’m next to the madam, I can sleep so soundly like this, without having a single one of those frequent nightmares or waking up even once?

At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but…

How should I explain the second time?

Ruan couldn’t believe that he, who would always wake up at 5 AM sharp even after taking sleeping pills, had slept until 11 AM while tightly embracing Mercian, and he looked at Mercian sleeping in his arms.

“Could it be that the madam is my sleeping pill?”

“Mmm… Chef, the soup is really delicious.”

“You’re still dreaming about eating. I’m curious. What food are you eating that makes you smile so happily?”

“Lamb stew and mushroom soup, and a salad with plenty of yuzu sauce on top.”

Ruan looked at Mercian, who smiled and answered his question, wondering if she had woken up.

“What? Did you answer my question while sleeping? This really is unfair. It’s too adorable.”

It really was strange.

Why was he, who had never been interested in women at all, constantly drawn to this woman?

She’s only been his wife for two days, yet why does he find her cute and lovable every time he sees her?

Ruan kissed Mercian’s forehead as she slept soundly in his arms, then gently laid her down straight before getting up and leaving the room to call Edward.

.

.

.

What? Did I sleep all morning?

Oh my.

Mercian opened her eyes and looked at the clock, which was already past 12 o’clock.

“Oh? Madam, you’re awake?”

“Charles, where’s Ruan?”

“The master has already had a light breakfast and gone to the imperial palace. He said not to wake you because you were sleeping soundly, madam.”

“Is that so?”

He went to the imperial palace, so does that mean he’s alright?

Was he just tired from not being able to sleep?

Mercian was briefly worried about Ruan who had collapsed in the morning, but soon shook her head.

Don’t pay attention.

I decided to live as if I’m not here for 6 months, right?

“Shall I prepare a meal?”

At Charles’s words, Mercian suddenly felt hungry.

“Oh. I’d like to eat on the second floor terrace today.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it.”

“And please call Clea.”

“Yes, madam.”

After Charles left, Mercian got up and stretched big.

Returning to her room, Mercian quickly washed her face and then went to the wardrobe to take out a dress and bring it to the bed.

“Oh my? Madam, I could have helped you.”

Charles, who had returned after speaking to Clea, was surprised to see Mercian changing into the dress by herself and spoke, to which Mercian shrugged and replied:

“It’s okay. I’ll have to do it all by myself eventually anyway.”

“Pardon?”

“No, it’s nothing. Ah, I’m hungry. Wow, what’s all this?”

“It’s lamb stew and mushroom soup, and a salad with plenty of yuzu sauce on top, they say.”

“Huh? Really? That’s strange. Why does this menu feel familiar?”

Mercian felt like she had seen the food on the table somewhere before.

Did I see it in a dream?

Haha, surely that can’t be? I’m not some kind of prophet who can dream about the food I’ll eat in the morning in advance, right?

As Mercian sat down and started eating, Charles smiled contentedly and said:

“It seems the master really cares for you, madam.”

“What?”

“Yesterday morning and today as well, these are all menus that the master personally ordered for you, madam. And he always smiles when he talks about you.”

Ruan asked the chef to do this? And he smiles?

“Is that so?”

“You may not know the master well yet, madam, but the master’s current behavior is really amazing. From the moment I’ve known the master until now, he has never been interested in food at all. He always ate with a displeased expression no matter what the chef made, and moreover, this time he’s sick…”

“Charles, stop with the unnecessary talk and go do your work, will you?”

At Clea’s words as she entered the room, Charles quickly bowed his head and left the room.

“Madam, did you sleep well? Was your bed uncomfortable by any chance?”

“No, I slept well thanks to everyone’s consideration. Sit down for a moment.”

“No, madam. I’ll just listen standing.”

Mercian was about to speak again when she saw Clea politely refusing her invitation, but then gave up and continued:

“Clea, Ruan said there are no rules in the duke’s household, but surely there must be some rules in a family as prominent as a duke’s? I know you’re busy, but could you teach me a little?”

At Mercian’s words, Clea looked at her with a slightly different gaze.