I didn’t think it was love.

When I first saw her on our wedding day, I was surprised by how thin she looked, but I was touched by the look in her eyes worrying about others’ gazes, so I entered wearing a cloak. And when Mercian asked if I, being addicted, could properly spend the night, I thought her boldness was cute and only teased her.

Since she was going to be my wife for 6 months anyway, I just hoped we wouldn’t have a bad relationship…

At some point, this unexplained pounding of my heart whenever I looked at my wife, this feeling of wanting to see her when she’s out of my sight even for a moment, and not wanting to let her go when I hold her in my arms – I’m not sure if this is the emotion that Cassel, Tablo, and Moses call love, but what’s certain is that I don’t dislike this feeling.

No, if possible, if I really don’t die, Ruan didn’t want to ever let Mercian go from his arms.

Ruan pulled Mercian, who was looking at him with wide eyes at his words, into his arms and asked.

“So, my lady, if I don’t leave in 3 months, can I kiss you now?”

“…. No?”

“What?”

Seeing Ruan’s disappointed expression at Mercian’s rejection, she spoke with a tongue-tied voice, tapping Ruan’s nose with her finger.

“Of course not. Ruan, whether you leave in 3 months or not, our contract is for 6 months regardless. So even if you don’t leave in 3 months, I will leave this place. I’ll go somewhere no one knows and live comfortably alone. I’ll raise chickens, ducks, grow vegetables, cook delicious food, and live happily alone without anyone’s interference.”

“Leave…”

So she’s not returning to the viscount’s estate after all.

Ruan felt bitter as he watched Mercian, drunk, detailing what she would do after leaving the duke’s estate.

Is that why she treated the viscountess and young lady so harshly?

To cut off her attachment?

Then will she do the same to me soon?

No, she thinks I’m going to die soon, so she won’t.

Ruan’s heart ached strangely at Mercian’s words about leaving.

“But! Since today is the last day of the year. And since it’s your first and last home party, I’ll give you a special gift. Come here!”

Mercian smiled brightly, wrapped her arms around Ruan’s neck, and pressed her lips against his.

The moment her soft lips touched his, the sweet scent of wine entered his mouth.

“Haa, my lady, you clearly started this. So all of this is your responsibility.”

Ruan supported Mercian’s head as she tried to pull away from him, laying her down on the bed and taking in her breath.

“Hup. Ru. Ru…”

Mercian couldn’t gather her thoughts under Ruan’s deep and intense kiss.

After exploring every corner of her mouth for a while, Ruan caressed Mercian’s face lovingly as she looked at him, unable to say anything out of shock from his deep kiss, and said.

“My lady, since you won’t remember any of this today, let’s stop here. Sleep well, my lady.”

With Ruan’s soft and sweet voice as a lullaby, Mercian fell asleep.

The next day.

“Madam, are you feeling alright?”

Mercian frowned at the pain in her head as she opened her eyes to Charles’s voice.

“How much did I drink yesterday? Charles, my head hurts so much.”

“Hohoho. The chef has made a stew that’s good for hangovers, so please get ready and come down.”

“Thank you, but where’s Ruan?”

“The master is of course waiting for you in the dining room.”

“Is that so? But how did I get to my room yesterday?”

“Didn’t the master bring you?”

“Really? But I’m sure I said I would walk…”

Mercian couldn’t remember anything that happened after she left the dining room last night.

.

.

.

“Did you sleep well, my lady?”

“No, I think I drank too much yesterday, my head hurts. Are you alright, Ruan?”

“I don’t get drunk on that amount of alcohol. You seemed to have a low tolerance usually. Why did you drink so much?”

“Actually, it was my first time drinking alcohol, haha, the wine was so delicious that I drank it, but I guess I drank too much. By the way, how did I get to my room yesterday? I can’t remember at all. I’m sure I said I would walk.”

“Oh my, you don’t remember anything at all?”

At Ruan’s words, Mercian put her hand to her head, thought for a moment, then waved her hand and said.

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything at all. All I remember is Ruan asking if I had drunk a whole bottle of wine… I didn’t make any mistakes, did I?”

So she doesn’t remember kissing me yesterday.

Then she probably doesn’t remember us kissing each other either?

Ruan’s expression showed a bit of disappointment as his hopes were dashed.

“Well. It’s not exactly a mistake, but you did give me a nice gift.”

A gift? When did I prepare a gift?

“A gift? Me? What kind of gift?”

Seeing Mercian’s expression of complete confusion at what he was saying, Ruan made a mischievous face and said.

“That’s a secret. The gift you gave me yesterday was a secret gift, so if you happen to remember later, we’ll talk about it then.”

Wh-What? Is he playing word games with me now?

Mercian tilted her head at Ruan, who was smiling strangely.

“That gift didn’t offend you, did it?”

“Offended? It was the most thrilling and happiest gift I’ve ever received in my life. I really, really liked it.”

Th-Thrilling and happy, and he really, really liked it? What on earth could it be?

The more Ruan spoke, the less Mercian could grasp what this ‘gift’ was, but her throbbing head made her not want to think about it anymore.

Well, as long as it wasn’t an unpleasant gift, that’s good.

Mercian finished her meal, watching Ruan chuckling to himself throughout, curious but hoping her memory would return on its own later.

.

.

.

Imperial Year 518.

A new year had dawned.

Two weeks after the turn of the year, news arrived that Prince Harmen had safely arrived in the Kingdom of Alromande, completed the wedding ceremony, and was returning to the Empire with the princess. The imperial palace was busy preparing to welcome the new family member.

Along with this, strange rumors began to circulate in the imperial capital.

“What are you talking about? Wandering vengeful spirits full of resentment in my territory? Are you questioning me about such trivial rumors in this sacred meeting room now?”

As Duke Kaimen Craft, the empress’s father, frowned and spoke, Count Reymond Forest, who had always been displeased with Kaimen, said.

“Trivial rumors? Duke, haven’t several people already appeared who have seen the sorrowful female spirits crying every night in Markain village, your territory? What’s strange is that they were all around the village outskirts, and the appearances of the women were all different. Can you really say it’s all lies?”

“Do you think everything Lord Reymond says is true? Are you suggesting that I killed women and secretly buried them or something?”

“How could the Duke possibly do such a thing? I’m just saying there are such rumors about your territory.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard some strange rumors too. Lately, single women living on the outskirts of the capital keep disappearing. I hear that a wealthy young master is looking for women to spend the night with and takes them away. Some women return, but some don’t. Perhaps those women…”

“What nonsense is this!”

Unlike Kaimen, who angrily insisted it had nothing to do with him, Daemond’s expression darkened at Silan’s words.

What? Are such rumors really circulating? Surely they don’t think it’s me?

I should divert attention elsewhere for now. I’ll have to tell them to dig up the duke’s land.

I have to survive first, so I have no choice.

“Then we should dig up that village once.”

“Cr-Crown Prince, are you suspecting me now too?”

That crazy bastard, what did I bury there…

Kaimen looked at Daemond, who didn’t know what was buried there, barely restraining himself from grabbing his collar, and said.

“Crown Prince, I am a person without a single thing to be ashamed of. Of course, I could dig up the land right now to prove my innocence, but I fear that if it becomes known that we dug up my ducal territory based on rumors circulating among mere commoners, it would further lower the imperial authority in the eyes of the imperial citizens.”

“What are you saying now, Duke? What does women’s vengeful spirits wandering in your territory have to do with the imperial family?”

It has nothing to do with the imperial family, but it has a close relationship with you, Daemond, you bastard!

Kaimen forcibly suppressed the urge to shut Daemond’s mouth as he spoke without knowing anything, and replied with a forced smile.

“Ah. No, that’s not what I meant.”

At Kaimen’s words, Biselluke asked Daemond.

“Crown Prince, how would you like to handle this matter? Do you think we should let it go as the Duke says, or do you think we should investigate the truth behind the rumors?”

Haa. Are you testing me again? Are you trying to teach me that an emperor shouldn’t show favoritism to relatives while governing?

What does it matter to me what comes out of the Duke’s land?

Daemond was starting to get bored with the increasingly long meeting.

“Your Majesty, I think we should check the territory once. No matter how much it’s just a rumor, if a rumor from such a distant territory has reached the capital, there must be something there. Isn’t that right? Duke Kaimen, if there’s nothing to hide, there’s no reason to prevent us from digging up the territory, is there?”

“Do as you please. I have nothing to fear.”

Thinking he should immediately dig up the bodies and move them elsewhere, Kaimen stood up abruptly and tried to hurry out of the meeting room when Biselluke called him.

“Duke!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

“I believe in you.”

“Pardon?”

“So stay here while we go check the territory. There’s no need for you to be subject to rumors that you moved something in your territory elsewhere by avoiding your seat.”

You sly old fox.

Kaimen looked at the kindly smiling Biselluke, unable to say anything, just clenching and unclenching his fists.

A few days later.

An incident that shook the empire occurred.

In Markain village, Duke Kaimen Graft’s territory, the bodies of over 20 unidentified women were discovered, all confirmed to have died from severe beatings.

Kaimen claimed it had nothing to do with him, but the location was close to the ducal mansion, and villagers testified that they had seen people from the duke’s household coming and going there every few days.

“Kaimen, I don’t believe you did such a thing either. But the atmosphere is not very good right now. I’ll do my best to prove your innocence, so for now, stay in self-reflection at your ducal residence.”

“Yo-Your Majesty… I…”

Kaimen couldn’t reveal that all those bodies were the Crown Prince’s doing, so he had no choice but to follow Biselluke’s words.