“Ah, I see.”

At Kisa’s deeply sunken voice, the smile on Seiard’s face changed to one of embarrassment.

“I’m sorry. I have quite a few things to take care of, and it seems I should go down to the territory soon. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it for the monastery’s open week.”

“No! It’s okay. It’s because of work, after all. I completely understand.”

In fact, as a lord, he should have been spending much more time in his territory than he was now.

Moreover, the territory belonging to the Hillan family was the most extensive in the Sorbi Kingdom, except for the royal family.

Originally, after finalizing the succession of his title, it would have been right to show his face in the capital for a while, interact with other families, and then immediately go to the territory to focus on its management.

However, unexpectedly entering into a contract marriage with Kisa extended the time he had to stay in the capital.

This was because important family events like engagement and wedding ceremonies couldn’t be held in a one-sided location, and it was customary to hold them in the capital so that as many people from various families as possible, including royalty, could attend as guests.

Of course, this doesn’t mean that Seiard had been neglecting the management of his territory all this time.

He had been busy dealing with issues coming up from the territory every day, and when he had time, he would make brief visits to the territory.

‘But it seems I’ve reached my limit in enduring with just that.’

It seemed that Seiard was planning to go down to the territory and stay for an extended period soon.

Kisa, bringing a piece of beef to her mouth with her fork, honestly thought it was disappointing.

Even if it wasn’t for this particular occasion, she had originally wanted to visit the monastery where Seiard grew up together with him.

“One of the monks I knew often used to discern people’s lies in this way. Whether it was really because the heart beats faster when lying, or if he knew through other means, he was someone who could see through human hearts. Once, a young monk who had just entered the monastery bore a grudge against him for being scolded and…”

Ever since that day when she heard Seiard’s reminiscences in the garden of the Vanspelt mansion, Kisa had been curious about what kind of place he grew up in.

She thought that someday she would like to go there in person and hear his small memories again.

And then imagine his ordinary daily life of eating, sleeping, studying, and chatting there.

‘But.’

Currently, Kisa’s main purpose was not such a lukewarm wish, but to find out what kind of person he was through the monks.

For that purpose, it was actually better that Seiard couldn’t make time due to territory business.

“Um, then would it be alright if I go alone?”

This way, she could steer the conversation like this.

“Kisa, by yourself?”

Seiard’s eyes widened as if he had heard something unexpected.

“It’s disappointing that we can’t go together, but I still want to go. Because it’s where you grew up, Seiard.”

Kisa spoke, trying hard to appear natural this time as well.

“Besides, if I miss this opportunity, I’ll only be able to see it a year later, and by then I might be in Yomos.”

Yomos was a city located in the center of the Hillan duchy’s territory.

Although she had never been there, she had heard that it was a much more prosperous place compared to the quiet territory of the Vanspelt family, and that the Hillan family’s castle was also there.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, after marrying Seiard and becoming the Duchess of Hillan, Kisa was also planning to spend most of her time there.

And Yomos was farther from Bonzmos, where St. Pavela Monastery was located, than the capital.

‘So it’s not strange for me to insist on going alone.’

Kisa waited for Seiard’s answer with an anxious heart.

For her part, she wanted to visit the monastery alone just this once.

Originally, sincere stories only come out when the person in question is absent.

Even if the monks tried to say only good things about Seiard, a major patron, there was a clear difference between him being present and absent.

Unaware of Kisa’s true purpose, Seiard tilted his wine glass with a leisurely attitude.

“Indeed, if it’s that place, it would be better to visit while staying in the capital.”

Just as relief was about to bloom in Kisa’s heart, thinking the desired words were coming out, that’s when it happened.

“Still, I’d like to recommend that we go together if possible.”

“What?”

“I’d like to introduce that place to you personally, not someone else. Let’s go when we both have time later.”

Kisa momentarily tried to argue, saying “But,” but then closed her mouth.

If she continued to insist on going alone here, there was a high possibility it would look suspicious.

‘What should I do.’

Should she aim for next year’s open week?

But that was still in the distant future, and by then they would already be married.

Kisa’s honest feeling was that she wanted to shake off the uneasy feelings about Seiard at least before the wedding.

‘Then, without Seiard knowing…?’

No, that’s out of the question.

Seiard seemed to have a close relationship with St. Pavela Monastery.

If a person presumed to be Kisa appeared, the news would surely reach his ears.

Moreover, going there without telling him was tantamount to openly saying, “I don’t trust you.”

In addition, considering that Daniel had returned without much result, the method of sending someone to find out on her behalf didn’t seem to be effective either.

Should she give up on going to the monastery like this?

But as Kisa’s heart was sinking heavily, Seiard made an unexpected suggestion.

“In that sense, after I return from Yomos, so about two months from now. Let’s go to Bonzmos together then.”

“Two months later? But isn’t that not during the open week?”

“Didn’t I tell you before? It’s a place I’ve been indebted to for a long time, and in fact, I recently donated quite a large sum of money to St. Pavela Monastery. It’s not like it’s a closed monastery, and if we just talk to them, they’ll welcome my visit anytime.”

“I, I see. I didn’t know.”

While Kisa was inwardly flustered by this unexpected turn of events, Seiard said with a smiling face.

“I’m looking forward to two months from now for many reasons. Not only can I see familiar faces after quite a while, but you’ll be with me too. They might even say I’ve found a match too good for me.”

“Oh, that’s too much praise.”

Seeing him speak as if genuinely happy, Kisa was overwhelmed by a strange feeling.

If Seiard really had a past he wanted to hide, could he speak so unhesitatingly about taking Kisa there?

She felt uneasy, wondering if all the doubts in her heart were just her misjudgment, falling for Daniel’s instigation.

‘Seiard always shows me kindness, and I…’

However, regardless of such guilt, she was purely glad to be going to St. Pavela Monastery soon.

It was both disappointing and not disappointing that she would be going with Seiard instead of alone.

It was a contradictory sentiment, but that’s how it was.

As she was thinking that she wished the two months would pass quickly, Seiard changed the topic.

“By the way, Kisa, do you have any worries these days?”

Although she actually did have worries, they were worries she couldn’t tell him about, so Kisa shook her head.

“No, nothing in particular. Why?”

“Then that’s good. Actually, about a week ago? Anyway, it was the day you visited here later than usual due to your afternoon nap.”

For a moment, Kisa’s heart sank. It was the story of the day Daniel had jumped into Kisa’s carriage.

“I’m not sure if it’s my imagination, but since that day, I felt like your demeanor was a bit different from usual. I wondered if you had some worries you couldn’t talk about.”

“Well, nothing happened… Oh, maybe it’s because of fatigue. Actually, I’ve been feeling inexplicably lethargic these days.”

“Oh dear, it could be due to the strain from the engagement ceremony. I should tell Gilliam to send you some medicine good for energy recovery.”

“There’s no need to go that far. I just need to rest well.”

Kisa said this despite already having minimized her social activities and resting well at home.

She felt her fingertips go cold at the thought of whether Seiard would fully believe what she had just said.

It wasn’t the first time Seiard had seen through Kisa’s heart with his sharp intuition, but strangely, this time she was overcome with fear.

He was just worried about Kisa, that’s all.

After that, the meal continued in a warm atmosphere, but her inner thoughts were not so.

She couldn’t relax at all, fearing that the moment she showed even a slight gap, he would fully grasp the real reason why she wanted to go to the monastery.

And the more Kisa worried, the more Seiard looked at her with concerned eyes and said he would send medicine as soon as possible.

The two months passed somehow in Kisa’s anticipation, and the day came when she was supposed to leave for Bonzmos with him.

However, when Kisa arrived at the Hillan mansion early in the morning, ready to depart, she had to face an unexpected situation.

“What did you say?”

Faced with Kisa asking this, Seiard wore a truly apologetic expression.

“I’m so sorry. I received an urgent message from Yomos last night, and it seems I need to go down there.”

It was like a bolt from the blue.