After kissing the Captain, I completely erased Bertha from my thoughts.

I figured there was no need to worry further since the Captain said he would handle it.

However, I quickly learned the next morning that not everything in the world resolves so easily.

“Are you trying to kick me out now?!”

Bertha’s shrill scream, like a shriek, echoed through the castle early in the morning.

Startled by the commotion, I immediately ran to the Great Hall where the cry came from.

There were already many people gathered there, drawn by the noise.

At the center was, of course, Bertha.

Bertha stood in the Great Hall, shouting in a booming voice towards the Captain…

“How could you do this?! You used me when it was convenient, and now you want me to leave?!”

Just hearing that much, I could quickly grasp the situation.

It seemed the Captain had asked Bertha to leave, as he had promised me yesterday.

Bertha apparently couldn’t accept this.

The Captain, who was weak against those weaker than himself, looked quite flustered seeing Bertha in tears.

Bertha, emboldened, shouted even more fiercely at the Captain.

“If my father finds out about this treatment, he won’t stand for it!”

As the matter was escalating to involve family, the Captain finally responded.

“This was merely a suggestion for your own benefit, my lady. We’re not even formally engaged. Staying so long in the castle of a man you’re not betrothed to would be a waste of time for you—”

“How can you say we’re not engaged?! I’ve been fulfilling the role of the Duke’s wife in your castle all this time!! Are you saying that means nothing?!”

“Of course you have, but that was your unilateral decision—”

“Even if it was my unilateral decision, it’s already happened!! I’ve been acting as your wife all this time!!”

The Captain fell silent.

Indeed, even I would have been at a loss for words in that situation.

Of course, as the Captain had just tried to argue, he wasn’t at fault.

Bertha had simply settled in the castle on her own, and the Captain had been unable to refuse.

But pointing that out now would do no good; Bertha, in her agitated state, showed no signs of listening.

Knowing that saying anything would only result in repeating the same conversation, the Captain kept his mouth firmly shut.

Should I step in and try to help somehow?

Just as I was thinking that, the Captain suddenly looked in my direction.

We held each other’s gaze for a brief moment.

I’m not sure what thoughts went through his mind in that short time.

But what was clear was that his tired eyes regained their vitality the moment they met mine.

With that unwavering, clear gaze, he turned back to face Bertha.

“My lady.”

“Why are you calling me? Have you finally decided to apologize—”

“I sincerely thank you for taking charge of the estate’s affairs until now. If you wish for compensation, I’m willing to provide it generously. However.”

He paused briefly before continuing in an even more resolute voice.

“As you said, managing my castle and my domain is indeed the duty of my wife.”

“…”

“I already have someone in mind for marriage. For the sake of my fiancée, I’d appreciate it if you could vacate your position.”

Bertha stood frozen as if struck by lightning upon hearing the Captain’s words.

Especially when she heard “I have someone in mind for marriage,” her body visibly flinched.

After being stunned into silence, Bertha slowly moved her lips to speak.

“You’re lying.”

“…”

“You’re lying, aren’t you? You’ve made up a non-existent marriage partner just to get rid of me.”

In response to Bertha’s tearful accusation, the Captain shook his head firmly, his expression unwavering.

“No, I’m not.”

“Then tell me. Who is this marriage partner?”

“…”

“See, you can’t say. That proves you’re lying.”

Even when accused of being a liar, he didn’t reveal who he had in mind for marriage.

I could guess why.

If he revealed it now, it would put that person in an awkward position.

Meanwhile, Bertha spoke up again.

“Since it’s a lie, I’m not leaving. I’ve already devoted my time to managing your castle and domain. So trying to drive me out with such lies won’t work. I won’t budge unless you actually bring the person you’re going to marry before my eyes.”

“Then if I bring that person before your eyes, will you step down?”

Those words just now weren’t spoken by the Captain.

Hearing the words that flowed from my mouth, Bertha turned to look at me with a dazed expression.

I pushed through the crowd gathered in front and approached Bertha.

Of course, I knew in my head that I shouldn’t step forward so openly like this.

If I intervened here, the castle staff would start gossiping about my relationship with the Captain, adding their own imaginative details.

Then it would only be a matter of time before those stories spread to high society.

But I couldn’t bear to watch the Captain suffer alone any longer.

So I willingly stepped into the center of the commotion, where everyone’s attention was focused.

“Lady Bertha. You just said, didn’t you? That you won’t leave unless he brings the person he’s really going to marry before your eyes.”

“…”

“So, if he really does bring that person, will you leave?”

Bertha froze, unable to give any response.

Meanwhile, the Captain looked at me worriedly and asked.

“…Are you sure about this?”

It was likely a question asking if I was okay with revealing our relationship like this.

Since I had already made up my mind before coming out, I nodded and immediately said to Bertha.

“It’s me.”

“…”

“The person who is… no, the person who is meeting with His Grace Duke Martin von Havicht with the premise of marriage is me.”

“…”

To Bertha, who remained frozen, I continued speaking.

“I understand your feelings completely, my lady. Of course, I’m also aware of the considerable effort you’ve put into this castle and domain. But, my lady, relationships formed from one-sided feelings usually end in tragedy.”

“…”

“You’ve been working silently without complaint all this time. You’re a diligent person, my lady. That’s why I hope you won’t suffer by harboring unrequited feelings.”

This was sincere advice from someone who had long suffered from unrequited love.

I knew all too well how much unreturned feelings could sicken one’s heart.

I could only hope that my sentiments would reach Bertha.

“…”

Bertha looked at me once with a blank face, then at the Captain once.

And then.

“Hic… hic… hic…”

She burst into tears.

Bertha’s sobbing continued for a long time after that.

As if trying to release all the emotions she had built up over a long time at once.

I worried she might start shouting again, but fortunately, after her crying subsided, Bertha quietly left her seat.

Our knight order ended up staying one more day at the castle, unavoidably.

The Captain and I had been so preoccupied with the Bertha incident that we hadn’t had time to prepare for departure.

So, when evening came, the Captain visited my room to inform me about Bertha’s situation.

“She left in the afternoon.”

“Was there any other commotion?”

“No. She quietly packed her belongings and left without saying a word.”

“I see…”

The Captain gazed at me while leaning quietly against the railing of my room’s terrace.

I, also leaning against the railing, briefly returned his gaze before silently looking down at the garden.

Amidst the silence, the Captain’s lips suddenly parted.

“By the way, about revealing our relationship in front of everyone—”

“Ah, I’ve already handled that.”

“Handled it?”

“Yes, the squad members came to ask me about it. About the relationship between you and me. So I just told them it was a lie because you seemed to be in a difficult situation.”

The Captain’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

“Why did you say it was a lie? We are seriously dating, aren’t we?”

“I thought it would be better for you if our relationship wasn’t revealed.”

“…Why?”

To his question, I hesitated a little before answering honestly.

“You never know what might happen. We might part ways in the future.”

“…”

“If that happens, you’ll need to find another partner, and having a long-term relationship experience with me might become an obstacle.”

“…”

“Are you upset? For bringing this up.”

The Captain responded with silence to my careful inquiry about his mood.

Translation complete. 100% of original text translated.