“I see….”

Kisa couldn’t hide her disappointment.

She had been counting down the days to visit St. Pavela Monastery for nearly two months.

Half of it was a pure desire to learn about Seyrod’s past, and the other half was hope to quickly clear up all doubts and feel at ease.

No, perhaps the latter was much greater now.

For the past two months, Kisa had been plagued by guilt for suspecting such a kind Seyrod, along with anxiety that he, being perceptive, might discover her intentions at any moment.

As such, she wanted to go to the monastery as soon as possible to end this painful time.

To meet the monks together with Seyrod and see them conversing amiably without any hint of unrest.

If that happened, Kisa was confident she wouldn’t be swayed no matter what Daniel said.

She was also confident that she would never harbor uncomfortable suspicions about Seyrod again.

But to think that Seyrod couldn’t go due to a sudden circumstance on the very day.

“I’m really sorry, Kisa.”

However, it wasn’t his fault. It wasn’t that Seyrod deliberately chose not to go, and if an urgent matter arose in the domain, prioritizing it was the natural attitude of a lord.

Kisa tried to control her emotions and replied in her usual tone.

“It’s alright. It’s disappointing, but it can’t be helped. Did something big happen in the domain?”

“I heard that due to more rain than usual in some areas, the river has overflowed. I need to go quickly as there are concerns about additional damage.”

“Oh my, please be careful on your trip.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep my promise, Kisa.”

“This isn’t something Seyrod should apologize for. I’m really fine.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“It’s nothing. We’ll go to St. Pavela Monastery after you finish your work in the domain.”

As Kisa was taking comfort in the fact that, thanks to him being a prominent patron, she wouldn’t have to wait up to a year aiming for the next open period, that’s when it happened.

“Why go next time?”

Seyrod asked a puzzling question.

“Well, because Seyrod has to go to the domain right away…”

“Just because I can’t go to the monastery doesn’t mean Kisa can’t go. It’s a shame, but this time, go by yourself.”

“What? Is that really okay?”

“Of course. I’ve already made you wait for two months, I can’t make you wait again because of my stubbornness. Besides, you’ve already completed all the preparations for the trip, haven’t you?”

Seyrod gently gripped Kisa’s shoulders.

“This isn’t the only opportunity, so I can explain the place to you directly later. Please go with peace of mind.”

“Seyrod…”

While feeling warmth from his consideration, Kisa also wondered if he really had no past to be concerned about.

Otherwise, she didn’t think he would so readily tell her to go alone like this.

Anyway, apart from the disappointment, Seyrod not accompanying her was an opportunity for Kisa to act more freely.

“Thank you. I’ll go with gratitude.”

Deciding to embrace this luck that had rolled in of its own accord, Kisa bid him farewell.

“We’ll be apart for a long time again.”

Seyrod intertwined his index finger with Kisa’s hair, as if sad about the parting.

In fact, for about half of the past two months, he hadn’t been able to meet Kisa because he had to go to the domain.

“It’s not that long this time, is it?”

Bonzmos was a region relatively close to the capital, taking a week at most round trip.

The stay in Bonzmos was planned for three days, so she should be able to return to the capital in about ten days.

But the man, not relaxing his expression despite Kisa’s consolation, suddenly made an unexpected move.

He grabbed Kisa’s arm and pulled her into his embrace.

The fresh citrus scent unique to Seyrod suddenly filled her nostrils.

“Uh, uh…”

Kisa’s body stiffened at the sudden hug.

Even with her former fiancé Daniel, she had never been this physically close since growing up.

When they were young, they had something like a hug once, but it was just Daniel reflexively catching Kisa when she was about to fall after tripping on a stone while following him.

It was similar even with family. Count Vanspelt wasn’t a caring father who would hug his daughter, and her younger brother, who was his spitting image, was even less so.

So this was Kisa’s first proper hug with someone of the opposite sex in her life.

As she tried to pull away unconsciously due to the rising embarrassment, Kisa noticed the Ducal house’s servants waiting nearby.

That’s when she realized Seyrod’s intention.

According to what was known to the public, the two were lovers who couldn’t live without each other.

For such lovers to be separated again for a long period after just a few days, it would seem odd to part with just verbal greetings.

In other words, this was an act.

“I’ll miss you, Kisa.”

As if to prove this speculation, Seyrod murmured in a very heartfelt tone with his face buried in Kisa’s nape.

It was such a convincing plea that even Kisa, who knew it was an act, felt as if her heart had dropped.

As she had thought before, he seemed to have the qualities of an actor.

“…Me too, Seyrod.”

Kisa managed to respond as if speaking to a real lover and wrapped her arms around Seyrod’s back.

Although neither of them said anything else, the hug continued for a while.

It was only when Kisa was seriously considering how long a hug would typically last in such a situation between real lovers that Seyrod finally released her from his embrace.

“As much as I’d like to hold you longer, I think I should start leaving soon. I’m sorry for missing the breakfast we were supposed to have together.”

Originally, they had planned to have breakfast together at the Duke’s residence before departing, which was why Kisa had left the Vanspelt mansion early in the morning.

“Doesn’t Seyrod need to eat?”

“I had a light meal before you arrived.”

He looked at Kisa intently before speaking.

“By the way, Kisa, I have something important to tell you when we meet again next time.”

“If it’s urgent, you can tell me now.”

“No, it’s something I need to convey in a more relaxed situation.”

What could it be that he’s giving advance notice?

Kisa nodded, suppressing the strange speculations rising in a corner of her mind.

“Alright, I’ll be waiting.”

“I’ll most likely return to the capital later than you, but if it seems like I’ll be too late, I’ll contact you. Well then, goodbye.”

“Take care on your trip.”

Seyrod responded to Kisa’s farewell, which was the same as earlier, and headed towards the carriage.

Kisa watched from the entrance until the carriage carrying him disappeared beyond the gate, then turned her steps into the mansion.

The servants then guided her to the dining room where the meal was already prepared.

All were excellent dishes befitting the status of the Hyllan family.

‘Hm?’

However, after sitting down and taking a few bites, Kisa recognized a strange sense of incongruity.

It was delicious, but somehow the taste seemed slightly inferior to usual.

It was strange. She had dined here several times, but this was the first time something like this had happened.

She had always eaten the food here with relish, praising the Duke’s chef whom she had never even seen.

‘The taste doesn’t seem to have changed particularly.’

Pondering the reason throughout the meal, Kisa finally found the answer when she happened to notice the seat opposite her.

The person who had always dined with Kisa in this seat, whether busy or free, was now absent.

It was a moment of realization that the presence of a dining companion unknowingly plays an important role in the act of eating.

She only realized it now because she had never dined at the Duke’s residence without Seyrod.

‘It feels somewhat empty.’

Chewing the meat that was tasty but felt like something was missing, Kisa thought.

“Hello, Miss! Once again, I, Lily, will serve you wholeheartedly for the next few days.”

For this journey to Bonzmos, Lily, the maid who had assisted Kisa during the engagement ceremony, accompanied her.

To be honest, Kisa found Lily a bit more comfortable to deal with than those who had served her for a long time in Vanspelt, which was fortunate for her.

They weren’t bad people, but the nanny tended to nag a lot, and Marsha had a somewhat sullen side.

As expected of Hyllan. Even the kindness of the servants seemed to be on a different level.

Besides Lily, a coachman to drive the carriage and security personnel to escort them during the not-so-short journey accompanied them. All were Hyllan’s people, by the way.

On a late summer day, a carriage bearing the Hyllan family crest set out for Bonzmos.

The heat had already subsided by this time, so there was no situation of sweating profusely inside the carriage.

Kisa could somewhat enjoy the carriage journey she was experiencing after quite a while, feeling the sweet breeze coming through the open window.

Lily, sitting opposite her, was a good conversation partner, but they couldn’t always chat, so Kisa spent much time quietly contemplating.

Various random thoughts came and went in her mind.

Daniel had not shown himself since their meeting two months ago.

However, he would send unwelcome news of himself through letters just when she was about to forget, and recently he seemed to be meddling with the Hyllan branch that was at odds with Seyrod.

He was diligent only in unnecessary areas.

As for Gabriel, Seyrod had informed her that he was busy adapting to his newly settled place.

On the other hand, Princess Arta didn’t seem to be doing well, as rumors were quietly circulating in social circles that the youngest princess’s nerves had been on edge recently.

‘I wonder how things will turn out…’

Anyway, filling her head with such thoughts, time passed more quickly than expected.

Before she knew it, they had arrived in Bonzmos.