Even as a bride acquired through a fraudulent marriage, Adelheit was, undeniably, the Duchess of Ansagar. Naturally, there was a sum of money allocated to her annually.

Though meager compared to other noblewomen, it at least saved her from living in utter destitution like a maid.

That Greta had been siphoning off these funds, with Herman and Margaret turning a blind eye, was not lost on Adelheit.

“In truth, I’ve known all along. I just thought it was okay and let it be.”

“…”

“She wasn’t always like this.”

Greta, who once cherished her like a niece, had become desensitized over years of hardship. Her pretense of care eventually morphed into viewing Adelheit as a burdensome object.

After being exiled to the North with her, there were times Greta even forgot to maintain this pretense.

Blaming Adelheit in anger for her sufferings, yet begging forgiveness the next day, referring not to Adelheit but to Laura, the maid who was her mother.

Adelheit’s sense of indebtedness to Greta deepened over the years. Perhaps it was all her fault. If Greta hadn’t pitied her for losing her mother, she might not have fallen out of favor with the Countess of Raihenau. She might still be enjoying the warm sunshine of the estate.

She wouldn’t have been virtually sold and exiled to the North with Adelheit…

Every time Greta erupted and then calmed down, she became doubly affectionate for weeks. She cared diligently, brought meals, warned about men, and secretly brought sweet snacks.

That lukewarm warmth was enough for Adelheit to endure anything.

‘I don’t want to be lonelier here.’

So, it didn’t matter how much Greta had embezzled, or how she tarnished her reputation. People change. Just as Greta’s foolish sincerity changed, so did Margaret’s indifferent attitude.

She just had to remember how precious Greta was to her at first.

‘I just need not to change.’

Adelheit forced a smile at Margaret.

“Thank you for caring. But really, it’s okay. Don’t worry too much.”

The fact that someone was worried about her felt so foreign. She didn’t know how to react or what to say.

‘Just wish to be out of this situation soon…’

While she fidgeted, Margaret stepped back, her face a mix of emotions. As she was about to say something, the bedroom door opened.

Adelheit instinctively brightened up, looking at Valentin who entered.

“Your Highness.”

Valentin paused, his gaze on Adelheit shifting from confusion to captivation. The intensity in his eyes was different from the warm affection of the morning. His perfect face gradually became tinged with human desire, moving over her cheek, lips, neck, collarbone, chest, waist, and further down…

His throat moved slowly up and down.

“…”
Adelheit stepped back hesitantly, clutching the front of her robe. The thin garment underneath felt too sensitive against her skin. Overwhelmed by his gaze, she lowered her head, only to find Valentin’s shadow looming over her. He had moved closer and was now gently lifting her chin.

“Why…”

In his usually cool eyes, a flicker of intense emotion was visible. He slightly distorted his perfect gaze.

“Why do you keep… avoiding my eyes?”

“…”

“Adelheit, is it because… you dislike seeing me?”

“No, Your Highness. That’s not it at all,” Adelheit hastily added, shaking her head.

“And Your Highness, you shouldn’t be so formal with me.”

“But, I like… being formal with you.”

“You’re younger than me, and it’s unusual for nobles to be so formal with their wives. It would only make us a laughingstock.”

“Still, I like it. It makes us… equal.”

He narrowed his eyes as he spoke.

‘Equal’. It was a strange choice of words. Adelheit didn’t think he meant he wanted to mimic everything about her. It seemed more like, regardless of his true nature, he wanted to live as an equal human being.

‘Am I being too optimistic?’

Perhaps she was interpreting things too favorably. From the moment she wished he was just a human blessed by Morigh, she might have become irreversibly attached to him.

Caught off guard by his deepening smile, she blurted out.

“Let’s go to bed.”

He gently stroked the tip of her chin and leaned down to whisper in her ear.

“We should sleep. Together.”

Startled by his blatant words, her light green eyes widened. Could this really be the same man who had forgotten how to speak just days ago?

“Adelheit.”

Overwhelmed, she closed her eyes, unable to think of escape, almost consumed by Valentin’s shadow.

Hearing her innocent reaction, he chuckled softly, his breath stirring her hair. Adelheit mustered her courage and pushed him away.

“I’m tired. It’s really time to sleep. It’s late.”

“…”

“You must be tired too, Your Highness. You were outside for the first time in a while today.”

Pushed away, he looked almost amused.

“You seem… tired.”

“I feel like I could faint any moment.”

She glanced at the basket hidden under the bed as she spoke nonchalantly. Unaware of how obvious her act might seem.

“You should lie down first. I’ll just read a little more before joining you.”

“Surely, about to… faint.”

“It’s important for you to rest comfortably, Your Highness. You’re just recovering. My presence might just be a distraction.”

Before she could finish, he swiftly lifted her in one arm, as if holding her earlier in the day was just to avoid onlookers.

Striding across the room, he gently placed her on the bed, back first.

“Seems like I can’t… really think of sleeping… yet.”

Holding her wrists, he looked down at her, his silhouette backlit by the fireplace, looking almost sacred.

The room darkened as if swallowed by a giant shadow, making everything around her feel consumed by darkness. His golden eyes, more vivid in the absence of light, stared intently at her.
The moment Adelheit realized what was happening, her breath constricted with tension. She gently pushed against Valentin’s firm chest.

“Stop joking around.”

“This is not a joke, Adelheit. I want to… be by your side.”

“I meant to put a chair or a couch by my side, of course.”

“But before, we… slept here together.”

“That was because you held on to me, Your Highness.”

“Then, I can… do the same now.”

No matter what she said, she felt cornered. She was on the verge of tears. In truth, she wasn’t in the right state of mind to continue this conversation. She hadn’t anticipated such a situation. Her vague resolutions of the past were meant for ‘someday’.

According to Padre, Valentin should have fallen asleep by now. Her composure until now might have stemmed from a deep-seated belief that Valentin could be a monstrous creature.

A creature, thus affected by holy oil, not water, should have succumbed to an overwhelming sleep…

And so, she had hoped this difficult situation would not arise.

“…Ah.”

A short gasp escaped her as Valentin’s thick fingers slipped between hers, tightly clasping her hand.

“…”

Was it fear? Was that why her heart was fluttering so wildly? It felt as if a small fish had entered her heart.

Adelheit shut her eyes tightly.

“Adelheit.”

He called her name soothingly. Her jaw trembled as his warm lips brushed her forehead, eyebrows, temples, soft cheeks, and the round of her ears.

Languid, or maybe tenacious.

“Adelheit.”

At that call, she helplessly opened her eyes, only to be captured by his golden gaze. Valentin’s sturdy back arched like a bow, his head tilting close.

His warm breath scattered across her lips.