It was mere curiosity. After all, her appearance had nothing to do with marriage.

“…What?”

But then…

Seeing her suddenly pale face, trembling eyes, slightly shaking shoulders, and hands clenched so tightly the veins showed, Kaius tilted his head.

It was a sight he had often seen before. Usually it was subordinates who feared him after making mistakes on the battlefield, and it was the same when he rooted out spies who had infiltrated the duke’s residence.

With a deep sigh, Kaius took another sip of wine and quietly observed her. If she was in such a state without even asking a specific question. He became quite curious what answer she would give to this question. Would she simply say she changed, like King Leon?

“When I saw your old portrait, the colors were different. I wonder why that is.”

Surely Ariel had prepared a response for such a case. However, perhaps because her tension had eased from the talk of marriage, her mind went blank at his question. Cold sweat kept forming and she swallowed dryly as she felt at a loss.

What answer had she prepared?

You disliked it. My silver hair and golden eyes. So I changed them.

No. That wasn’t the answer. Shaking her head slightly and squeezing her eyes shut before opening them, Ariel was able to recall the answer she had prepared. Meanwhile, her rapidly rising and falling chest gradually calmed.

“Well… I’m not exactly sure why myself. But I suspect it started changing little by little as I grew the flower Ludvian gave me, so it’s probably due to that flower’s influence.”

Watching her speak casually, Kaius nodded as if somewhat convinced.

“It must not be an ordinary flower.”

As she gazed at him blankly, Ariel felt relief wash over her when his gaze left her. While a servant approached from afar to refill his empty wine glass, Ariel reached for a plate of fruit.

As she put a grape in her mouth, the burning thirst she had felt in her throat disappeared.

She had gotten through it safely.

Even if it was discovered someday, it would be fine as long as it was after the marriage. However, she felt a bit uneasy until then. Though she knew he wasn’t the type to go back on his word, she nodded to herself thinking it would be safer in many ways to draw up a contract.

Putting another grape in her mouth and chewing, Ariel leaned in close to him.

“Let’s write up a contract too. There are too many eyes during the day, so… We’ll need about a day to think it over, so not today but tomorrow night at the annex.”

As Ariel whispered in a very small voice so only he could hear, Kaius raised an eyebrow.

He couldn’t help but chuckle at her words suggesting they meet separately at night with the man who would soon be her husband.

Was she naive or bold?

“Alright. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

[This is the timeline separator]

“Your Majesty, please try this.”

Three plates of steak were placed before Emperor Hart. Smirking at the sight, the emperor looked up at Catherine.

“Are you asking me to taste test and judge for your competition?”

“It’s not just for us. You want Elbartan to lose too, don’t you? So please cooperate a little. Okay?”

Catherine added as she massaged Emperor Hart’s shoulders. Pretending to give in to her aegyo, the emperor picked up a knife and fork.

“I sent dessert to the Silver Palace.”

After confirming that a piece of meat had entered Emperor Hart’s mouth, Catherine sat down in the chair next to him.

“To the Empress Dowager? She has quite particular tastes.”

“Yes, that’s why I sent it. If it can pass her test, victory is certain.”

Emperor Hart fully agreed with that thought. After tasting all three steaks, he pushed away all but the middle plate.

“This one is the best.”

“As expected, it’s the spice blend developed by Berryhouse’s head chef.”

Catherine smiled beautifully, already caught up in the intoxication of victory. Not just the food, but she had unwavering faith in the nobles.

Those of her own kind.

They would not support Kaius von Elbartan.

[This is the timeline separator]

The expressions of Lemon, Carsen, and the physician Hearn were all different, but it was clear they were all surprised.

From preparing to return with Ariel. To sending a telegram to prepare the duchess’s bedroom in the duke’s residence. To telling the butler Raymond to start preparations for the wedding.

“Your Grace, you’re getting married?”

When Lemon asked in apparent shock, Kaius merely responded by tilting his chin for such an important matter.

“Why?”

Lemon was astonished by the change in his lord. He had never pursued something so impulsively before. This trip was ostensibly for an engagement, but in reality the purpose was to break it off.

“Lemon, restrain yourself.”

“But Carsen, this is too radical. Hearn, please say something too.”

Even with the three of them staring intently, Kaius remained silent as he put a cigar in his mouth. Except for Lemon, they all had enough experience to hold back, but were equally curious. Only when the puff of white smoke dissipated did Kaius finally speak.

“It’s a marriage I’d have to do anyway, so an engagement would be a waste of time. Moreover.”

Another puff of smoke drifted between them.

“I’ve been attacked twice since coming here, and one time the injury was quite serious.”

At the mention of injury, the three men’s eyes widened as they began scrutinizing every inch of Kaius’s body.

“But you look perfectly fine?”

Lemon said, still turning his head this way and that to examine Kaius in disbelief.

“I don’t see any signs of injury either.”

The physician Hearn agreed with Lemon’s opinion, and Carsen nodded as well.

“Did you perhaps take a potion?”

Since potions were to be saved as much as possible except in critical cases, that was why Hearn had accompanied this delegation. To treat Kaius.

“Princess Ariel healed me. She has healing abilities. And that fact was a secret until now, and should remain so in the future.”

When Kaius finished speaking in a low, quiet voice, they all wore expressions of shock. After letting out deep sighs, they soon nodded as if understanding everything.

Complete agreement on this marriage.

Hearn was the first to speak.

“May I see where the wound was healed?”

Instead of answering, Kaius unbuttoned his shirt. Normally he would never do something like proving himself to subordinates, but this time was different.

Because it was about proving Ariel’s value.

“It really is perfectly healed.”

Once again, exclamations of surprise escaped from them.

“When will we bring the princess?”

Kaius smirked at Lemon’s suddenly changed attitude. In that moment, Ariel was engraved in their hearts as both the Duchess of Elbartan and their benefactor.

[This is the timeline separator]

That night, Ariel fell into a deep sleep.

[Ludvian, I’m getting married…]

By Emperor Hart’s order, Kaius visited the kingdom again, and Ariel left with him for the empire to hold their wedding.

On their wedding night, Ludvian secretly came to see Ariel. Though she loved him, she had never once crossed the line that shouldn’t be crossed, but that day he acted strangely. But since she was already another man’s wife, she soothed him well and sent him away.

And she waited for her husband, but he didn’t come until the morning sun rose.

[Shall we have a meal together, Duke?] [I’m sorry, but I don’t have time.]

Kaius, who had been cold and blunt, gradually became a scary and cynical person. He would inform her of his outing times and warn her to stay out of his sight if possible. On the rare occasions when she failed to keep time and happened to see his face, he would speak so coldly with arrogantly downcast eyes.

[I’m sorry…]

Ariel also gradually didn’t want to see Kaius.

The empire was too unfamiliar to her, a place where she knew no one. Ariel lived each day shut away in the mansion, relying on Anna and Ludvian who sometimes visited disguised as a merchant.

Time passed as she lived without hope, and around 6 months after marrying Kaius, an unthinkable thing happened. Ariel went out for a morning walk and found Kaius collapsed.

[Duke, Duke.] [Kaius.] [Wake up. Get up.]

That was the day the supposedly strongest man on the continent, Kaius, was found dead in his own garden, and it had been 2 years since Ariel started growing the demon realm flower.

“Gasp!”

Ariel woke with a start. Her chemise was damp with sweat all over her body. Though she realized it was a dream as she sat up and looked around, her stomach still felt like it was twisting.

The memory of that day, which had felt so distant, was as vivid as if it happened yesterday. It was probably a dream she had because of the fact that she was going to marry him again.

“Kaius, this time no matter how coldly you treat me, I’ll understand it all. So let’s get along well for the next year.”

Ariel’s eyes gleamed as she murmured softly. Saving Kaius was saving herself, and saving her parents and humans.

So she had no choice but to do her best.

Ariel’s steps were light as she headed to the bathroom to wash her sweat-soaked body. The sounds of birds heralding the morning broke the stillness of the still-dark dawn.

[This is the timeline separator]

The morning sunlight shattered across Ariel’s face as it rose.

Having prepared earlier than usual, Ariel headed to the greenhouse without Anna. With their imminent departure, there were many things that needed attention. Her long hair, braided into a single plait, swayed with each step she took.

As she neared the greenhouse, Ariel’s pace gradually slowed at the familiar yet strange sight. Kaius, who had turned at the sound of her approach, stared at her without any change in expression.

Why are you here…

Inside was something she absolutely did not want him to discover. Of course, even if he saw the flower, he wouldn’t be able to tell anything. Only she would be tormented by guilt.

“Will you show me the greenhouse?”

“The flower I’m growing is dangerous. I think it would be better if you just went back.”

It seemed reasonable to refuse at least once. If he would just turn back now, that would be ideal. But Kaius just smirked and looked at her.

“There aren’t many things in this world that are dangerous to me.”

It was an arrogant, almost manic statement, but it oddly suited him very well. She had said it without much expectation anyway.

Nodding slightly, Ariel swallowed dryly and opened the greenhouse door. Kaius passed by her as she stepped aside, entering inside.

The greenhouse was quite large in scale. The overall width and height, the table in the corner, and the storage area for greenhouse supplies. Surprisingly, there was even a swimming pool and changing room inside. Thinking there must be some reason for it, he didn’t ask in detail. However, Kaius carefully examined the structure of the greenhouse, meticulously committing every detail to memory.

Watching the scene while holding her breath, Ariel thought of a clause to add to the contract tonight.

No entry to the greenhouse.