Eric and Beliar, who arrived first, were walking side by side with their shoulders close.

‘Look at him trying to appear affectionate.’

Dowana was quite displeased seeing Beliar walking affectionately beside her man. Eric, who didn’t care for her, also weighed heavily on her heart.

‘Tired, huh? Maybe he can’t take care of me because he’s exhausted. Anyway, they’re just in a strategic marriage. There’s no need to be impatient.’

Gnashing her lips, Dowana quickly caught up with them with brisk steps. Then, she confidently inserted herself between them.

‘There’s no room for you, Beliar.’

Dowana glared at Beliar with a cold gaze and subtly pushed her aside.

Beliar didn’t react to Dowana’s actions. Exhausted from the long journey, all she wanted was to get some rest.

The maids frowned at Dowana’s behavior and, at the same time, became curious.

“The new Countess seems surprisingly quiet.”

“Isn’t it because the Count is watching? He might call her separately later and won’t let her off easy. It could cause problems in their marriage if she mistakenly stirs trouble in front of him.”

“I think so too. Unfortunate as it is, Dowana does receive favor.”

The maids whispered, glancing at Beliar.

No one could tell that the seemingly stern expression on Beliar’s face was just a result of exhaustion.

Dowana hooked her arm with Eric’s and snorted.

“It’s too late for a stroll. How about having a glass of wine and chatting?”

Eric glanced at her briefly in response to Dowana’s words. Dowana’s discreet gaze felt quite annoying.

“Haven’t you heard me say I’m tired?”

At Eric’s cold words, Dowana’s mouth curled up. She didn’t feel good about showing an amusing sight in front of Beliar.

However, Dowana, still with a smile, slowly let go of Eric’s hand.

“I wanted our child to hear the Count’s voice.”

She murmured in a low voice while gently touching her belly with both hands.

Eric raised an eyebrow and pulled the cravat around his neck. The tight cravat loosened with a sigh.

He threw the untied cravat to the servant beside him and walked away, leaving his seat.

The servant beside him swiftly caught the cravat and followed Eric.

As Eric left, the maid beside Dowana tilted her head and spoke to Beliar.

“I’ll guide you to your room, Countess.”

Beliar nodded elegantly and followed the maid.
Dowana looked at Eric and Beliar with a puzzled expression and then breathed a sigh of relief.

Since Eric and Beliar entered separate rooms.

‘I don’t have to worry about tonight.’

Dowana, who had been anxiously wondering if Eric and Beliar would share a bed, smiled and commanded the servant.

“Hey, what are you doing? Guide me.”

Upon hearing Dowana’s sharp voice, the maid made a displeased expression.

‘Put on a poker face.’

Why did she chase them even on their honeymoon?

Muttering to herself, the maid assigned one guest room to Dowana.

The room was quite spacious. As soon as Dowana entered, she collapsed onto the bed as if she had fainted.

“Ugh… I’m sleepy.”

Her eyelids drooped heavily.

“I shouldn’t sleep…”

She had to keep an eye on them to prevent them from consummating the marriage, but it was hard to stay alert.

Not only physically exhausted but also mentally and emotionally drained, Dowana closed her eyes within less than a minute of lying on the bed.

Dowana dreamed.

Swoosh.

The gentle sound of waves.

She stood alone on a clean beach with no one around.

The emerald-colored sea, even at a glance, was incredibly clear and beautiful. The sand on the beach was unusually white.

It was a sea as beautiful as the White Beach in Seychelles, where she had visited during her study abroad days.

“It’s the sea.”

As soon as Dowana saw the vast expanse of the sea, she grinned and shouted.

The feeling was so refreshing that the stuffiness in her chest, which had been bothering her, felt like it was being pierced through.

Carefully, she took off her shoes and placed them on the sand. Then, she ran towards the sea.

Staring at the surging waves, she stealthily dipped her feet into the water. The tingling sensation between her toes was strangely pleasant.

“Ah, it’s cool.”

She walked lightly on the sandy beach barefoot. The feeling of sand grains between her toes felt ticklish.

The waves irregularly swept over her instep.

There was no one on the vast beach except Dowana. It didn’t feel strange at all, as if it were a dream.

“Should I go for a swim?”

Dowana threw her outer garment onto the sandy shore and jumped into the sea as if diving.

The cold seawater pleasantly enveloped her entire body. She frolicked in the sea as if she had become a mermaid.

After swimming for a while, she lay down, looking at the sky. The feeling of floating on the sea wasn’t bad at all.

The sky was clear without a single cloud. Dowana lay on the water, enjoying the warmth of the sun all over her body.

Swoosh.

Only the refreshing sound of the waves echoed in her ears. She closed her eyes and decided to savor the current moment.

“It’s nice.”

It was incredibly peaceful.

However, that peace didn’t last long.