Karina and Mikhail returned to the Grand Duke’s residence.

It had gotten later than expected.

By the time they set foot in the mansion, the sun had already set and night had cast its gloomy shadows.

As Karina headed up to her room, she said to Mikhail:

“It’s gotten so late. Thank you so much for today. You should go back and get some rest too.”

Karina forced a smile, but her exhaustion was evident. It was due to all she had been through today.

“Go back where? I was planning to stay by your side until you fall asleep tonight.”

Mikhail said this as if it were obvious, taking Karina’s hand.

She felt the warmth from his hand.

“Your hands are still cold. Even if you’re okay now, won’t you get scared again when you’re alone and the thoughts come back? I’ll stay by your side all night to keep the scary thoughts away.”

“…”

Karina looked at him with a bewildered expression.

And she concluded that her earlier thought had been correct.

Karina raised one eyebrow and said:

“You’re not treating me like a 4-year-old child, are you?”

Her voice had a playful tone.

“If that’s the case, can I sleep with you until tomorrow morning?”

Mikhail immediately asked.

With a meaningful smile.

“What…?”

Karina was taken aback by the completely unexpected response.

‘Was he really treating me like a child?’

Karina stared at Mikhail with even wider eyes than before.

Mikhail chuckled, seeming to find her reaction amusing.

Just then, she saw maids carrying lamps to light the corridor on the opposite side.

Late evening, in a gloomy hallway.

It wouldn’t be good for them to see her holding hands with Mikhail.

Especially right after the unfortunate incident at the charity event, and she didn’t want Mikhail to be the subject of people’s gossip in a negative way because of his association with her.

She didn’t care what they said about her, but she didn’t want Mikhail to suffer any harm due to false rumors.

Karina said with a resolute expression:

“I’m really fine. I’m stronger than you think. This kind of thing doesn’t faze me.”

She removed his hand more forcefully than usual.

“You worked hard today.”

While Karina was speaking, the maids lighting the corridor lamps drew noticeably closer.

Mikhail, seeming to read her intentions, nodded as if he had no choice.

“Then rest well, Grand Duchess. I’ll come see you early tomorrow morning.”

He bowed politely and said his farewell, but he still didn’t leave her side.

Seeing his reluctance, Karina crossed her arms and put on a firm expression.

“Go on now.”

“Yes, yes. I’m going.”

Mikhail turned to leave.

After watching his retreating figure for a moment, Karina also headed to her room.

“We greet the Grand Duchess.”

The maids who saw Karina bowed politely and made way.

‘The maids’ behavior has changed a lot since Caroline was confined to the annex.’

In fact, their attitude had changed a bit even after the incident when they had served her inedible food in the dining room last time.

The maids who had acted arrogantly before had become more compliant, but it was clear they were doing so reluctantly and unwillingly.

Their inner discontent was obvious to see.

They had been the type to only provide the bare minimum of obligatory service, without any reverence or consideration for Karina.

But this time, did they truly feel a sense of crisis?

They seemed to be quite cautious and fearful now.

Just from the attitude of the maids she had just passed, she could feel they had become much more careful than before.

‘Even if they change now, it’s meaningless.’

Maids who changed their attitude because the situation had changed were likely to turn their backs again at any time.

She didn’t want to keep such people by her side.

Arriving at her room, Karina opened the door and went inside.

Or rather, she was about to go in when she paused.

Instead of the usual cold and chilly air she expected, she felt a warm and cozy temperature.

‘What…?’

With the lights off, the room was dark except for the fireplace quietly burning.

Though not bright, the yellowish light from the blazing logs dimly illuminated the room.

Karina momentarily wondered if she had entered the wrong room.

It was because the interior layout had changed.

To be precise, only Karina’s desk and bed remained the same, while everything else had been replaced with new furniture.

“Why has the room changed like this?”

As Karina stood there with a puzzled expression, a low voice came from inside the room she thought was empty.

“You’re back now?”

“…!”

Startled, Karina’s head whipped around towards the source of the voice.

Someone rose from an antique-looking sofa in front of the fireplace.

The flames from the burning logs stretched his shadow long.

Perhaps because of this, his back view looked even bigger and more imposing than usual.

He turned around. The flickering firelight played across his calmly composed eyes and sharp jawline.

‘Why is Jeremiah here?’

The completely unexpected situation was bewildering.

Karina blurted out without thinking:

“Why are you in my room?”

“…You’re late. I’ve been waiting for you to return.”

“…?”

‘Late? Don’t tell me, this person. He was waiting for me?’

Karina was surprised for a different reason now.

This had never happened before, throughout their entire past.

‘For what reason? Surely he must have waited because he has some business with me.’

She didn’t have a good feeling about this.

He was surely going to question, nitpick, and press her about something.

‘Is it because of the charity event? Or what else could it be?’

Her mind wasn’t working well.

Karina felt greatly burdened by having to face him in such an exhausted state.

Karina asked in a businesslike tone:

“What do you need?”

She didn’t hide her wariness and annoyed attitude towards him.

She openly displayed it.

“I’m very tired today, so if it’s not important, I’d prefer if we could do this later.”

Karina entered the room and took off her outer garment, hanging it on the chair next to the bed.

“And isn’t it rude to suddenly come without notice so late at night? Please be more mindful in the future.”

Karina continued speaking without even looking at Jeremiah.

Then Jeremiah, who had been silent, approached Karina.

Noticing the large shadow falling in front of her, indicating Jeremiah had come close, Karina turned around.

And she was startled.

Jeremiah was standing closer than she had thought.

Karina tried to step back instinctively, but the bed blocked her from retreating further.

Her voice came out sharp with surprise.

“What… what is it?”

Then a low, deep voice was heard.

“I heard you went out alone with that guard mage.”

Jeremiah’s expression was utterly serious as he asked the question.

He seemed angry at a glance.

“Tell me where you were and what you were doing out so late.”

With his back to the light, his face and expression weren’t clearly visible.

Nevertheless, she could sense his refined facial features, distinct eyes and nose, tightly pressed lips, and deeply sunken gaze.

Karina quietly looked up at Jeremiah.

The mood felt oppressively heavy.

“What exactly are you so curious about?”

“I should be the one asking. Just what are you doing?”

Jeremiah said something incomprehensible.

“Please speak so I can understand what you’re saying.”

Karina asked that, but Jeremiah gave no answer.

Rather, he seemed even more confused himself.

But it was clear he was angrier than before.

His tightly pressed lips and sharpened gaze were visible.

Veins were standing out on his temples.

Jeremiah asked, seeming to swallow down his rising anger:

“Was it because of that guard that you asked for a divorce?”

“…What did you say?”

Karina was dumbfounded by the absurd words.

“Ha…”

Karina gave a derisive laugh and her face hardened coldly, as if it wasn’t even worth answering.

“If you came to say useless things, then please leave now.”

As Karina tried to move past him, Jeremiah suddenly grabbed her arm.

“Ugh…!”

He pulled so forcefully that Karina’s body was dragged along and she tumbled onto the bed.

Thanks to the softness of the bed, it didn’t hurt.

But it was unpleasant.

Just as she was about to demand what he was doing.

He leaned his body towards Karina.

Karina tried to escape, but she couldn’t move at all, pinned down by his strong arms and body like a bird trapped in a cage.

“Tell me. Do you have feelings for that guard?”

Jeremiah’s expression was deeply furrowed as he asked.

An overwhelming aura that he failed to contain poured out.

If it had been anyone other than Karina, they would have been trembling in fear long ago.

But Karina’s inner mind became calm instead.

She didn’t like Jeremiah’s actions and words trying to implicate Mikhail in everything she did.

And also the fact that he was asking if everything she did was just because she had ulterior motives towards Mikhail, who was merely her guard.

‘Does he think I decided on divorce because I fell for a handsome guard?’

That in itself was unpleasant and irritating.

‘Just how much does he need to doubt and insult me before he’s satisfied?’

Karina narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth.

“Get off me.”

Karina tried to push Jeremiah away, but he didn’t budge at all.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Jeremiah’s eyes shone fiercely.

“Stop avoiding and answer me.”

His forceful behavior was starting to make her angry.

“If I say no, would you believe me?”

Karina asked back, not averting her gaze.

“…”

His expression hardened.

‘Of course you wouldn’t believe me.’

Having confirmed his distrust, Karina gave a scornful snort.

“I thought so. That’s why I didn’t feel the need to answer. Will you get off me now? I’m tired and need to rest.”

Karina tried to get up again, but it was useless.

Jeremiah’s hand, large enough to cover Karina’s entire shoulder, held her down.

“…Prove it.”

“…?”

“If what you say is true…”

Jeremiah’s voice lowered even more.

“If you really don’t have feelings for that guard.”

Jeremiah’s eyes held a strange heat like flames from a bonfire.

“We’re husband and wife, so there shouldn’t be any problem with whatever we do here and now.”

“…?”

‘What proof…?’

Karina looked at him with an expression of complete incomprehension.

“Are you asking because you don’t know?”

Jeremiah buried his face in Karina’s exposed white neck.