Kei, whose head was filled with thoughts about Rishi, didn’t catch the playful tone in his father’s voice.

+++

In the past life, for Rishi, sleeping alone was not a difficult thing at all. No, on the contrary, the nights spent alone without Alford were more enjoyable.

“Sometimes it’s more comfortable when the husband doesn’t come in.”

“That’s true. It’s not that I don’t love him, but being together every day is a bit…”
“That’s right. It’s not that I don’t love him, but being together every day is a bit…”

There was a time when conversations among noblewomen were overheard at a party. Rishi thought that spending the night alone was something everyone desired.

But in this life.

Why does her heart feel so cold when he vacated the bedroom for a few days?

Was she always such a lonely and dependent person?

‘I don’t like it…’

Rishi thought.

She didn’t want to become dependent. She didn’t want to be a lady who couldn’t do anything without her husband.

She wanted to live as a woman who could confidently walk alone.

She didn’t want to live as a pitiful woman, worrying and hesitating just by thinking of the back of her husband who got angry and left.

When she found out that she was given a chance after dying once, she had resolved to live with a strong heart that wouldn’t be shaken by anything.

But to retreat like this in just a few months.

Rishi looked out at the azure sky visible through the window, pondering what had made her chest feel so chilling.

+++

She walked out of the room while looking at the sky outside the window. When she entered the kitchen on the first floor, the kitchen maids, who were resting, were surprised, stood up, and bowed their heads.

Rishi still found this kind of reaction fascinating.

Whether it was at the Witley Marquis’s estate or as Alford Hughes, the artist from her past life, the maids never showed such polite attitudes to Rishi.

“I want to have a drink.”
Tilting the bottle, taking a sip of alcohol, and leaning back, Rishi stared at the azure sky. The moon, which had been round at the wedding, seemed to have tilted a lot but was regaining its circular shape.

Soon, the full moon, challenging for the water beings to restrain their power, would rise.

‘How does it feel?’

Rishi had heard that Kay could transform into a water being from a very young age.

If that’s the case, did an inexplicable impulse dominate the body and cause suffering from a young age?

If so, it’s too cruel.

‘I’m thinking about Kay again.’

Trying to fold it neatly and put it in the box for a moment, thoughts about Kay in Rishi’s mind didn’t fold away easily.

It was a very unfamiliar feeling for Rishi.

In his past life, there had never been a moment when a presence filled his mind to the point of overflowing.

The thoughts and emotions that swelled to the point of being difficult to handle were somewhat scary. Should he just leave this emotion, which moved on its own as if it had a life, alone?

‘No, not now.’

Rishi shook his head and took another sip of alcohol.

‘No matter how much I think about it here, Kay’s feelings won’t be relieved. I have to go and relieve them myself.’

There’s a very easy way, but it felt incredibly difficult for Rishi.

If he went to apologize and asked Kay to feel better, what if he still remained cold? What should he do if he turned away without a word with a cold expression, and he had to see that cold back again? Could he endure that sadness?

Knowing how foolish it was to be afraid without trying, it was more difficult than anything to put it into action. It seemed easier to go to the battlefield.

‘If I can’t go and apologize, don’t even think about it. There are more important issues than that.’

With many problems to ponder and solve, relieving Kay’s feelings seemed like the most important issue.

‘It won’t work. I should definitely go and see Kay.’

Even if his cold gaze became even colder, even if he kept silent and turned away, he had to try.

In this state, it seemed like he couldn’t do anything.

Rishi suddenly stood up, stepped on the hem of his robe, stumbled, and almost fell. Someone firmly grabbed his arm to prevent him from falling.

It was Kay.

The moonlit azure eyes, casting shadows, were not at all cold. As always, within the warm and clear eyes, there was a surprised expression of Rishi.
The moment I saw his eyes, nearly identical to before, a sense of relief washed over me. My legs went weak, and I staggered again, but he held me firmly, preventing me from falling.

“Rishi, it’s easy to get drunk when you’re troubled. Besides, there’s no appetizer.”

His voice was still warm.

In an instant, an emotion that was hard to name filled Rishi’s chest, and he almost pulled him into an embrace, intending to kiss his cheek.

“Kay, I…”

“Shh.”

Kay’s index finger gently pressed Rishi’s plump lips.

“I’ll speak first, Rishi.”

He whispered softly.

As Rishi nodded, he met Rishi’s gaze and spoke seriously.

“From now on, I’ll prostrate myself before you.”