And the man spoke before she could answer.

“This may sound like a reproach, but I mean you couldn’t have come because you wanted to see me… Ah, that doesn’t sound right either.”

So what I mean is… Idren, who had been fumbling for words, sighed.

“Of course, I would be truly grateful if you came because you wanted to see me. But it’s another matter to interpret the meaning of your visit as I please.”

“……”

“I asked about the reason for your visit because I didn’t want to presume your intentions carelessly.”

His voice grew quieter towards the end.

Idren, with a reddened face, bowed his head deeply. Please say something. He mumbled in a small voice. It seemed his boldness had diminished as much as his excuses had increased.

Ophelia responded to the man who had gone from beginning to end before she could even react.

“I understand what you’re saying.”

“…Thank you.”

He’s grateful for the oddest things. Thinking that, Ophelia wondered if this too was part of love. It was one of her recently developed habits.

At some point, she had developed a tendency to interpret each of his actions. Having spent a long time with him, it seemed that some of his attitudes towards her had rubbed off on her.

But she hadn’t come here to ponder such things. Cutting off her stray thoughts before forgetting her original purpose, Ophelia spoke.

“You’re right. I came because I have something to say.”

And Ophelia felt a little nervous. Though unintended, it had been so long since she’d gone outside that the words didn’t come easily.

She also wondered if Idren would approve.

Though he didn’t forcibly suppress it, Idren didn’t particularly like her meeting other people.

Ophelia didn’t find it uncomfortable either, as she understood which aspects he worried about. It didn’t seem like good things happened every time she saw people.

But going out was absolutely necessary, if only to properly celebrate one of her partner’s few anniversaries.

If it were someone else, she might not know, but it didn’t seem like Idren would try to break her will.

She opened her mouth.

“I want to go out for a bit.”

“Go out, you say?”

“I’m thinking of visiting Galisa.”

She wanted to check on the governor’s residence once, and see what the streets were like. It seemed like some good ideas might come to her after going out like that.

In fact, in her previous life, on Idren’s birthday, Ophelia had sent whatever she pleased. She thought she had done her duty well enough by sending the most expensive, the most precious things.

But she didn’t want to do that now. Ophelia wanted to give him something memorable.

Just like how Idren wanted to give her what she needed.

However, she couldn’t say that she was looking for something to gift in front of the person himself, so Ophelia hoped Idren wouldn’t ask for a reason. She didn’t want to lie to him, but telling the truth seemed a bit embarrassing.

Fortunately, Idren didn’t ask her further.

“The weather is cold, so dress warmly when you go out.”

“…You’re not telling me not to go?”

“Why would I say such a thing?”

The question was posed in a gentle tone to prevent any misunderstanding. Ophelia answered the man looking at her with golden eyes.

“You don’t like me wandering around, do you?”

“That’s not true.”

And Idren added.

“What I dislike is unnecessary things getting in your way.”

He wanted to support whatever Ophelia wanted to do.

“Moreover, there’s no need for you to give up what you want to do just because I dislike it.”

There was a time when, unable to let go of his greed, he had often told Ophelia not to do this or that.

But even then, he knew in his head that he shouldn’t do so. He just pretended not to know, blinded by jealousy and anxiety.

Such behavior of his must have confused the woman.

Now that he would control such aspects personally, Ophelia didn’t need to worry about it anymore.

Idren restated his position to her,

“You can go out as you please. Just let me know in advance because I worry.”

Galisa hadn’t changed much from the scenery she knew.

The traces of the brief rebellion raised by the elder families had now been completely erased.

From inside the carriage, Ophelia gazed at the towering castle on the outskirts of Galisa. That building, which was once the castle of Gilrod Nebel, was now where Siana was staying.

Siana. Ophelia recalled the woman she hadn’t called for a long time.

Siana was one of the two people who had come to see her because of Anika’s death. The other was the former Lady of Rohos, Anika’s mother.

Not yet having Netepel’s neck in her hands, Ophelia hadn’t met Siana for a while, lacking the confidence to face those who had cherished Anika. It was cowardly, but she thought it better than being shameless.

Still, from what she heard, Siana seemed to be doing well.

Ophelia recalled the news she had heard through acquaintances from when Hazel or Siana stayed at the royal palace. Siana had completely driven Rochiden, who she didn’t want to marry, out of her life – the man had reportedly died on the road after being robbed – and had also reclaimed all the property that was originally hers.

They said she also attended the council regularly without avoiding it.

She had once thought her counterpart was too soft, but hearing that she was managing so well on her own made her feel relieved and sorry. Perhaps it wasn’t just her father who had misjudged Siana.

As she was thinking, the carriage passed through the main gate of the governor’s residence. The building, reached after passing through a garden adorned with winter evergreens, was familiar yet strangely unfamiliar.

When the carriage stopped, Hazel opened the door from outside. Ophelia got out of the carriage, holding the knight’s hand. Immediately, the cold wind brushed her cheeks. It was the winter air she suddenly felt after staying inside the castle all autumn.

The building was warm, perhaps pre-heated. Passing by the servants who bowed their heads to her, Ophelia entered the governor’s office.

The room, which she had considered the most comfortable place in the castle in her previous life, was now strangely cool. It seemed to be because it was maintained but untouched by the owner’s hand.

Standing in front of the desk, which looked a bit newer than she remembered, Ophelia stroked the wood so dark it was almost black.

In the past, she liked sitting at this desk. Because there was a large window behind it, she could always see outside.

It was an unusual furniture arrangement in the cold Edegrun, but the chill coming through the window cracks was bearable for the sake of the open view. Looking at the desk, Ophelia briefly recalled her daily life from her previous life.

Sitting at the desk, shuffling through papers with things written on them that she had never learned or needed to touch as Princess Reden, when she turned around, all of Galisa was visible.

She turned around as she had done in the past. The window in that same place she remembered came into view.

Looking at the people, buildings, and spires of the street spread out beyond it, Ophelia discovered something.

The villa Idren had given her was visible in the distance.

The colorful glass windows and silver main gate sparkled faintly. The villa, where she had invited acquaintances and chatted about various things in her past life, had its doors closed all the time in this life.

It was then that she suddenly recalled something Idren had told her.

“In this life, please invite me once too.”

Once, while riding in a carriage, looking at that villa, Idren had said that. It was more of a complaint than a genuine desire to visit the villa.

But at that time, not wanting to cater to every hidden intention of her counterpart, Ophelia had answered with something like, I’ll do that next time, and moved on.

Idren too had never mentioned the villa again after that day. They had many other things to deal with.

But soon the year will change and many things will be different.

So it seemed fine to try a little change. Ophelia, who had been staring out the window blankly, turned her back.

It seemed she knew what to prepare.

Ophelia returned late that evening.

Idren, seeing the royal carriage entering the castle walls just before the gates closed, immediately went out to the gates.

“Why are you out here?”

Ophelia, who had gotten out of the carriage and was talking with Hazel, turned and asked as he approached.

Idren read the faint blush on her cheeks. It was a hue mixed with something more than just the cold wind.

Taking the woman’s hand from Hazel, Idren asked.

“Did something good happen?”

“Not particularly.”

“You look more energetic than usual.”

That seemed to be true. Entering the building holding the man’s hand, Ophelia reflected on her day.

Today, she had been quite busy. She had selected usable items from her assets in the governor’s residence and decided on details by recalling memories of managing the villa.

Since these were parts that had been handled by Dahel in her previous life, it took some time, but they were tasks that achieved some results.

Having spent the day so busily, it was natural to look energetic. It was still a time when the remnants of motivation remained rather than fatigue.

And Ophelia remembered that there was something she needed to tell Idren. She began to speak.

“Come to think of it, I have something to tell you.”