Silence lingered between the two.

Kisa glanced at the tightly closed door before turning her gaze to Seierd.

“…No matter what happens?”

“That’s right.”

He affirmed her question with his usual expression.

Honestly, being told a room must never be entered under any circumstances was quite baffling.

“But wouldn’t the servants need to go in to clean and such?”

“It’s alright. I clean it myself.”

“You do, Seierd?”

“Yes. Although it only amounts to some sweeping and wiping whenever I occasionally enter.”

Even so, it was hard to imagine the esteemed Duke of Hillan rolling up his sleeves and doing menial labor himself.

Perhaps her feelings showed on her face. He burst into laughter.

“Don’t worry. Despite how I look, I managed my own room back when I stayed at the monastery. I’ve been mobilized for major cleaning quite a few times too.”

“Ah, is that so. But still…”

Kisa hesitated for a moment before continuing.

“If the items inside are that precious, wouldn’t it be better to move them to a different storage location? Of course, the ducal residence’s security is excellent, but you never know what could happen. There could be thieves.”

It would be several times safer to rent a bank’s safe deposit box rather than keeping them in an ordinary room.

However, Seierd shook his head firmly.

“No, there’s little risk of that. Because while they hold personal importance to me, they have almost no objective value. You could say they’re objects imbued with memories.”

“I-Is that so?”

Kisa waited a moment, thinking he might explain what kind of memories they held, but the words she hoped for didn’t come.

“Anyhow, you need not concern yourself with this room. I’ll take care of everything.”

“…”

Kisa blankly stared down at the key she had received from him earlier.

The antique key with a brass ornament. This key that could open every room in the mansion was truly the symbol of the Duchess of Hillan.

From the treasure vault storing the family’s assets and the Duke’s office containing various important documents, to the Duke’s most private space – his bedchamber.

As the lady of the house, Kisa would have to manage those places together with Seierd, and in unavoidable circumstances when he was absent, she would have to take on full authority over the household alone.

In other words, handing over this key signified bestowing that immense and heavy right.

In reality, many family heads delayed in passing such rights to their wives.

Even if she was his wife, in the end she was still someone from a different family. How much deep trust could there be in a political marriage?

For that reason, it was common to only hand it over after several years of marriage, when one felt they could finally trust their spouse to some degree.

But Seierd had given Kisa the key before they even formally wed.

‘It means he trusts me that much.’

At the same time, it also meant there was a room he didn’t want to show even to Kisa, whom he trusted so.

What was this feeling?

As Kisa was trying to examine her emotions, Seierd pointed in the direction of his office.

“Now, shall we head back?”

“Ah, yes.”

Because of that, Kisa missed the chance to mention the room in question and followed him to the office.

Afterwards, he casually made light conversation as if nothing had happened, and when dinnertime came, he led Kisa to the dining room.

Dinner also flowed smoothly as usual, and before long, it was time to return to the Vanspelt estate.

Only in the carriage ride back could Kisa finally take the time to reflect on what happened today.

The secret room. Seierd’s secret. A room where he gathered secrets he didn’t want to reveal even to Kisa.

Suddenly, her true feelings spilled out.

“…I’m disappointed.”

Kisa was inevitably disappointed that he had secrets he was hiding even from her.

But approaching it rationally, she couldn’t blame him for it.

No matter how close and intimate a relationship, did one exist in this world that had absolutely no secrets?

Kisa herself hadn’t laid bare her entire being to Seierd either, and she had no confidence she would in the future.

Setting aside her surging emotions for now, she tried to judge based only on objective facts.

“Right, I’m the same way.”

Come to think of it, Kisa also had a place where she stored personal items away from others’ eyes.

It was none other than the jewelry box slumbering in the bottom drawer of her vanity.

In Seierd’s case, that place was just a bit larger, that’s all.

Perhaps it was because he had a large number or volume of items to store.

“What, it’s no big deal.”

With a much more at ease mind, Kisa returned home and headed to her room.

Since the thought occurred to her, she opened the very bottom drawer of the vanity to check the jewelry box.

“…”

She jerked back her hand that touched the jewelry box as if she had touched a red-hot object.

Because a certain memory she had tried to forget resurfaced.

The item she had most recently stored in this jewelry box – the memory tied to Seierd’s old diary.

The chilling passages she still remembered clearly.

Since coming here, not a single day has passed without thinking of death.

It was my own death at times, but mostly the deaths of others.

The death of Father Makio who forced his twisted faith upon others.

The death of the monastery head whose mind was preoccupied only with the money from the Hillan family.

The death of the arrogant and foolish Covy.

Kisa unknowingly muttered a name.

“Covy…”

Why in this moment did that name strangely linger in her mind? And with such an ominous echo at that.

To stop her thoughts from spreading in an unfavorable direction, she hurriedly shook her head.

“It’s because I met Covy not long ago.”

So it merely came to mind without any special meaning.

Why was she taking it so ominously? He should be living well at the Hillan family’s villa around this time.

In the first place, this diary was written during a period when Seierd harbored much resentment toward the world.

Kisa knew it was merely a passing phase, having also experienced a time when she disliked most people including her heartless father.

Didn’t they say Seierd and Covy got along without incident afterwards?

“I’m worrying for nothing.”

Even as Kisa persuaded herself as such, she couldn’t open the jewelry box as originally planned.

For some reason, she didn’t want to check that old notebook for the time being.

A few days later, Kisa met Seierd and returned the brass key she had received before.

She was grateful for the sentiment but requested he entrust it to her after they married.

It was because Kisa’s room safe wasn’t that expensive, so it felt unwise in many ways to store such an important key that could even influence the fate of the Hillan family.

And she couldn’t exactly keep it in the Vanspelt estate’s safe either.

Seierd accepted Kisa’s explanation and took back the key without showing any particular disappointment.

Responding as always with “I see.”

The existence of the secret room left an indescribable unease in Kisa’s heart, but the flow of time helped her bury it in her subconscious.

The fact that the year changed and the bustle of welcoming a new year spread through the streets also played a part.

Kisa spent time not only with the people of the Vanspelt estate but also with Seierd, eating holiday foods and telling fortunes with cards for the year’s luck.

Around then, a certain change occurred within Kisa.

“Kisa.”

“…Yes?”

“Let’s call it a night. It’s late.”

“Oh, Seierd.”

Kisa looked at Seierd sitting across from her and raised her index finger in appeal.

“Just one more glass. Just one more drink.”

Hearing that slurred speech, he smiled awkwardly.

After appearing to ponder briefly, the man soon shook his head and took the glass from Kisa’s hand.

“No can do. You’re already plenty drunk.”

“I’m fine though.”

“You don’t look fine to me.”

Kisa made a pouty face but obediently followed her lover’s wishes.

In truth, contrary to her spoken words, she was aware she was quite drunk.

Looking out the window, darkness had long fallen. It was time to head home.

“I’ll get going then.”

Saying so, Kisa rose from her seat.

But upon seeing her severely staggering steps, Seierd supported her.

“You seem to be enjoying alcohol more often lately compared to before.”

It wasn’t just seeming so – she certainly was.

“Yes, I’ve acquired a taste for it. Having a drink or two with meals and all that.”

Originally it was to forget the anxiety that came for no reason even a little, but at some point she began to enjoy alcohol itself.

Wasn’t that nice? When pleasantly drunk, she could sleep soundly without any worries.

“…”

Seierd gazed at her giggling self for a moment before only chiding her in a gentle voice.

“It’s all fine, but if I think you’re drinking to the point of harming your health, I will stop you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“And it would be best for you to stay the night here and return tomorrow.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re too drunk. I’m worried you might fall over on your way back.”

Since his words made sense, Kisa agreed with her mind spinning from the intoxication.

“Ah!”

With that, Seierd suddenly lifted Kisa in his arms.

Ignoring Kisa saying she could walk on her own, he swiftly moved her to the guest room. It was where Kisa had stayed during their engagement ceremony.

Lily, following the Duke of Hillan’s orders, quickly tidied up the place and soon the room preparations were complete.

It seemed the servants periodically cleaned so it could receive guests at any time.

While Lily went to fetch water for washing, Seierd laid Kisa on the bed.

“I’ll be going then. Rest well.”

After he bid farewell and tried to leave, that’s when it happened.

“Wait a moment.”

Kisa grabbed his sleeve and their gazes intertwined.

“…Don’t go. Seierd.”

Kisa, gulping like someone nervous, sent him a desperate look.

“Stay by my side tonight. The whole time.”