As Aidel woke from sleep, she slowly opened her closed eyes. Through the large bay window in the room, the pre-dawn scene before sunrise came into view.

Aidel carefully turned her head. She gazed intently at the face of the man sleeping beside her.

Even in the blue-tinged twilight of dawn, his appearance looked vivid.

As if it was now deeply engraved… she felt like she could picture his face even with her eyes closed.

As daybreak brightened, the man’s godlike features began to emerge more clearly.

But the more they did, the hazier his image became in her vision.

‘Why on earth…’

Pressing down on her aching chest, Aidel slowly blinked. Her blurry, tear-filled vision became somewhat clearer.

‘How…’

The more she experienced the initially unfamiliar and embarrassing moments of duty, the more Aidel felt herself changing bit by bit.

It was like that since she realized she wanted him and willingly accepted it. Even the last remaining hesitation melted away with the tenderness he showed.

The pain that felt like her whole body was being torn apart gradually changed to a tingling pleasure coursing from fingertips to toes.

She was captivated by the feast of sensations he gave, surprising even herself, and the more she was, the more sensitively her body responded to his gaze and movements.

So she could tell.

That his demeanor last night was somehow different.

As it had been all along, their time together was intense. So much so that his probing gaze and touch exploring every part of her remained vividly in her memory…

However, unlike his scorching movements that seemed to melt her entire body, the temperature in his eyes was different from usual.

In his eyes that swirled like blue lava, there was a coldness that wasn’t there before. It was a look that seemed to be driving something harshly, as if wielding a whip.

“Caeron…”

She called his name in a choked voice. With a gesture full of pity, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

Though she knew her body was incomparably small compared to his large frame… she wanted to embrace him in her arms as he seemed like a wounded beast. It was an instinctive impulse.

For a moment, his rough breathing stopped, as if surprised by her sudden action.

He felt the warm temperature from her slender body embracing him. His deep blue eyes shook violently.

“Ha, you…”

Caeron ground out a breath filled with passion between his teeth as he pried her arms from around his body.

Raising his upper body, he looked down. As their eyes met – hers full of pitifulness containing only him – he clenched his teeth again.

“Embracing me like this… does it mean it’s not enough?”

He smiled bitterly. Like the scent of blood in his mouth from biting down so hard.

“That’s not…”

Cutting off her words as she shook her head to say that wasn’t the meaning, he embraced her again from behind.

“I’ll do as you wish.”

It seemed better not to meet her eyes. Looking at her wheat-colored hair, he mocked himself darkly.

For the first time in his life, he chose avoidance. From this emotion that threatened to consume him if he wasn’t careful…

He tried to focus only on the fragrance he desired to explore. Yet, the fullness from before did not dwell in his distorted eyes.

Aidel felt herself slowly falling into an abyss, separate from the rising sensations.

‘Why do I feel this way…’

Even when she opened her eyes after losing consciousness again, this feeling remained.

The humidity was high inside the villa surrounded by sea on all sides.

Perhaps because of that, or because of the intense time of duty that had swept through, the moist air touched her skin as if night dew had fallen.

Aidel wanted to believe that the inexplicable emotion seeping into not only her eyes but deep into her heart was because of the air in this room.

She deliberately turned her gaze away from him and tightly closed her eyes, moist with unshed tears.

Even with her eyes closed, the man’s image, engraved as if etched onto her retinas, continued to linger in her mind.

All the servants were gathered in front of the main gate of the Ellios Grand Duke’s residence in the capital.

“Here they come!”

Eyes filled with anticipation turned towards the carriage of the ducal couple just returning from their honeymoon.

“Welcome back! Your Grace! Your Grace!”

“Congratulations on your safe return.”

Led by Marlin and Gregory, the servants of the ducal residence joyfully welcomed the ducal couple. Beside them stood Shade, holding a bouquet.

Shade held out the bouquet he was holding to Aidel, who had just stepped down from the carriage.

“We’ve been eagerly awaiting your return, Your Grace.”

“Ah, Lord Shade.”

As Aidel received the bouquet in bewilderment, Shade smiled more radiantly than the flowers. Then, conscious of Caeron’s piercing gaze fixed on his face, he hastily added:

“It’s a bouquet made of lisianthus. I included the meaning of ‘unchanging love’ for the two of you.”

“…Thank you.”

The pale pink flower petals with the flower language of ‘unchanging love’ were lovely. However…

“You’re still the same. Viscount Shade.”

The cool voice snapped her back to reality. As Caeron frowned with a displeased expression, the faint smile that had settled on Aidel’s lips disappeared.

‘Unchanging’…

‘This relationship cannot remain unchanged…’

The fact she had momentarily forgotten, intoxicated by the sweetness of the honeymoon, became clear after last night.

That she and he were in a temporary contractual relationship.

‘A contractual relationship that will end someday…’

It was even more impossible for it to be ‘love’.

Aidel’s expression darkened in an instant as she held the bouquet. A lonely aura swirled around her.

Noticing her change, Shade laughed exaggeratedly, almost seeming overdone, to change the atmosphere.

“Haha! How could I have changed in that time? I have urgent matters to discuss with His Grace, so shall we move inside?”

Shade turned his head and gave Marlin a meaningful look. Understanding his intent, Marlin nodded and opened her mouth.

“I’ve prepared His Grace’s office for the two of you to talk. And…”

Marlin continued, smiling warmly at Aidel.

“We also have a gift prepared for Your Grace. Would you like to come see it together?”

Aidel’s eyes widened in surprise at Marlin’s words about preparing a gift.

“A gift?”

“Yes. We all prepared a congratulatory gift while you were away on your honeymoon.”

As Marlin answered, Gregory beside her nodded and added an explanation.

“All the servants pooled a little from this month’s wages to prepare it.”

A soft warmth began to spread across Aidel’s previously stiff face.

“I never expected this. Thank you all.”

Looking at the faces filled with heartfelt goodwill, she felt her cold heart warming.

“You spend time with the servants then. I’ll talk with Viscount Shade.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Gregory, bring the report documents and follow me as well.”

To hear the reports that had piled up in the meantime, Caeron disappeared first with Shade and Gregory.

Aidel also immediately followed Marlin’s guidance, surrounded by maids, and stepped into the mansion.

Having arrived at the mansion and climbed the stairs, Aidel tilted her head in confusion. This was because Marlin, walking ahead, had passed right by the Grand Duchess’s room.

“Where is the gift?”

“You’ll see when you follow me.”

As Marlin gave a meaningful smile, the maids following beside them also giggled with sparkling eyes.

Soon, Marlin stopped in front of a room door close to the Grand Duchess’s room.

“Wasn’t this an empty room?”

“Why don’t you go in and see?”

Marlin stood in front of the door, waiting for Aidel to open it herself. At Marlin’s urging, Aidel slowly grasped the doorknob and turned it.

“…!”

As the door opened, Aidel froze in place.

“This is…”

Her face went blank, as if unable to believe the sight before her eyes.

“We prepared it in advance.”

“Could it be…”

The room bathed in warm sunlight was filled with various baby items, including a cradle.

“It’s a nursery room. A space for the future young lord or lady to be born.”

Marlin had long ago noted this spot as the sunniest place in the ducal residence, close to the ducal couple’s bedroom.

While the ducal couple was away on their honeymoon, she worked with the servants to decorate the baby’s room.

The baby cradle, made of the finest wood and decorated with ivory and silver, had been passed down for generations since the days of the Roman Marquis family. They maintained the original antique circular shape, only updating the decorations on the cradle’s headboard.

The bedding for inside the cradle, along with gauze handkerchiefs and baby clothes, were made by purchasing fabric through Madame Pomfenu and embroidering them directly with the maids.

It was a gift prepared by everyone with one heart for the ducal couple returning from their honeymoon, anticipating the future healthy birth of the young lord or lady.

‘A honeymoon baby would be even better.’

Marlin smiled, indulging in pleasant imaginings.

“Your Grace, do you like it?”

The maids asked with shining eyes, looking at Aidel who still wore a dazed expression of surprise.

“Ah, yes… I like it.”

Not wanting to disappoint their expectations, Aidel forced a smile and nodded.

“I’m glad you like it.”

“You must have all worked hard to prepare this. Thank you so much.”

As Aidel carefully examined the items in the room, she discovered their heartfelt sincerity in every corner. The bridge of her nose and the corners of her eyes stung.

“I hope the young lord or lady is born soon!”

“How beautiful and brilliant they would be if they take after Your Grace and His Grace.”

The maids chattered, each expressing their own expectations. Amidst their cheerful commotion, Aidel alone felt her heart grow heavy.

‘A child…’

She now knew well that among the duties of a Grand Duchess was the raising of an heir, or rather, the production of an heir before that.

But she only had three years. If she were to bear an heir within that time…

‘We would have to part…’

With the child as well…

Aidel’s gaze moved from the baby items to Marlin and the maids beaming with bright smiles.

With them too…

Her eyes grew distant. The face of the man, deeply engraved in her mind, arose.

And with… him…

At the stark reality striking her heart, the color drained from Aidel’s face. For a moment, she was seized by a vague feeling as if she might forget how to breathe.