He seemed as if he was about to cry. Beneath his trembling eyelashes, his golden eyes gazed at her gently, a hint of moisture perhaps glinting in them. He appeared utterly clueless, like a child who doesn’t know what to do.

His desperation struck a chord in her heart. He seemed like a fledgling bird, isolated from its flock. It was somewhat amusing. How could she feel such youthfulness in a man who was much larger and stronger than her?

Moreover, he was still under suspicion of being ‘the Shadow.’

“Huh? Adel.”

As if urging her to respond, he called her name in a blurry smile, fragile as if it would crumble in a light breeze.

Impulsively, Adel reached out with her free hand to gently caress Valentin’s cheek. He seemed so startled by her touch, Adel wondered for a moment if he mistook her hand for a knife.

“…”

Valentin, as if threatened for his life, gasped for air. The grip of his other hand, holding her, tightened.

Adel belatedly realized that her action might have been interpreted as seduction by men.

“My goodness.”

Adel’s face flushed instantly.

“Well, naturally…”

“…”

“Because you are my husband…”

She added, just following the customs of the North.

“Ah.”

After a long silence, Valentin exhaled, almost like a sigh. His expression, filled with confusion, looked at Adel, veins bulging on the back of his hand. And then.

Snap, rip.

The seam of the sleeve he was holding tore. Adel’s face fell in dismay. Already short on clothing, she worried about what to wear tomorrow.

“I’m, sorry…”

Startled by her distressed expression, Valentin hastily let go of her hand, as if he had made another mistake, his ears slightly reddening.

“I’m, not, used to, this body… sorry…”

Adel examined the torn part near her shoulder. Fortunately, only a few stitches were needed.

‘That’s a relief.’

Despite the recent kindness from the household, Adel’s situation remained unchanged.

Hermann, the butler, had received the keys to the castle from Duke Valentin. Even as a long-time servant, his discretionary funds were limited.

If Valentin had allocated a generous budget for Adel annually, it would have been different. But the butler couldn’t spend beyond the master’s approval.

‘I didn’t even receive all of that.’

Regardless of Valentin’s recent change in attitude, he was currently unable to make proper decisions or approve documents. And without her husband’s permission, Adel couldn’t even own a dish on her own.

Apart from helping the butler and earning money from sewing…

“Wha, tever… tell me… your clothes… I’ll, compensate…”

Adel quietly observed Valentin’s earnest face. His lips were lightly closed, and his golden eyes shone with firm determination.

At least for the moment, he seemed sincere.

Long ago, his malice towards her seemed to have vanished completely.

‘If he’s not the Shadow, and he’s just confused due to the shock of coming back to life, mistaking me for someone else…’
Requesting compensation for the dress or a budget for maintaining the dignity of a duchess would have made me seem like a woman exploiting the situation for personal gain. I didn’t want to be pushed into such a corner, seen like my father, feigning concern to fulfill selfish desires.

Even if it was just a matter of pride, not gaining any real advantage.

“Tell… me. What, you, need… I, can, do… for you.”

Valentin’s voice was becoming increasingly difficult to understand, laced with urgency and anxiety.

It was a rare opportunity for me. I knew I shouldn’t waste it, even in my ignorance. But what should I ask for?

Biting my lip in deep thought, a habit of mine, I chewed and sucked on it unconsciously.

“…”

Valentin’s gaze was drawn magnetically to my lips. The small teeth, the red tongue peeking through, and the soft petals of my lips trembling each time they were pressed together.

Why he yearned for it with such burning eyes, he seemed not to know himself.

“Well, then.”

After much deliberation, I finally spoke up.

“I have a wish I’d like you to grant.”

I looked at my husband with innocent eyes, his awkward smile spreading across his face.

“Tell… me.”

“Lately, even though you’ve been unwell, I’m worried that you’re spending too much time indoors… Perhaps a walk in the garden now and then would be good?”

“Walk…?”

“Yes. Fresh air is beneficial for health, and since you’ve been confined indoors, going out might be a nice change. It might even help bring back some memories.”

As Valentin remained silent, I added hurriedly, my heart pounding.

‘Creating an opportunity to meet Padre naturally seems most appropriate. Plus, if we walk, you might tire out by evening and fall asleep early…’

That might make it easier to catch him off guard. Whatever Padre planned, it would be easier than if Valentin was fully conscious.

“…”

Lost in thought, Valentin remained smiling. That made me more anxious. I clasped my hands tightly, waiting for him to speak, then cautiously added another word.

“Wouldn’t it also be good for building your strength? Staying in the room might make you more tired later…”

Of course, I knew nothing about exercise. Maybe men had more stamina than women, but that was about all I knew.

“Why… staying in, room, tired?”

Caught off guard by Valentin’s sharp question, I hesitated.

“Curiosity.”

“Well, because… consistent exercise helps build stamina. You’ve been lying down a lot, so your stamina might have decreased. A regular walk might help…”

“How… often… regular?”

“One or two laps around the training ground every day…”

I trailed off, unsure.

To be honest, I had no idea how much stamina a typical knight had or how much pain they could endure. If laundry maids were exhausted after one lap around the training ground, I vaguely guessed healthy men might manage two or three.
‘Considering His Highness is a knight among knights, and inherently strong, perhaps adding one more lap to the minimum two would be enough to tire him out?’

As I pondered this, Valentin, who had been silently watching me, chuckled and shook his head.

“Adel, it’s okay not to know everything. You don’t have to answer everything.”

“…It’s not that I don’t know.”

“It’s fine… If you want, anything. Just ask.”

“Really? Will you really follow whatever I wish?”

I brightened up involuntarily at his assurance, then quickly composed my face, fearing he might find it odd. Unaware that in hastily pulling down my lips, I ended up looking more suspicious and awkward.

“…”

But Valentin didn’t press or mock me; he just quietly observed. His face seemed unfamiliar, as if he had forgotten even to breathe for a moment.

After a while, he finally smiled faintly with a hoarse voice.

“Yeah, Adel. If it makes you happy, anything.”

“I’m okay anytime. How about starting from three days from now?”

“Three… days?”

That day would be a full moon. I nodded, skillfully hiding my ulterior motive.

“It would be best to go once in the morning and once in the afternoon, but we can gradually adjust the schedule after consulting with the steward.”

“…”

“Your Highness?”

“Ah, uh-huh.”

Valentin seemed to suddenly realize he had been staring intently at me. Embarrassed, he scratched the back of his head and looked away.

“Adel. Do, what, you want, to your heart’s… content.”

“Really?”

“Yes… it, doesn’t matter.”

This was exactly the response I had been hoping for. Relieved, I finally smiled genuinely.

“Then, it’s a promise for three days from now.”

On the promised morning, the maids came in early at dawn.