As he met the golden eyes that seemed to hold the moonlight, Kaius’s Adam’s apple unconsciously bobbed.

It was those very eyes that had not left his mind since the day he first saw them.

Her silver hair, flowing down past her waist, fluttered in the breeze coming through the window. It was dazzling like sunlight reflecting off the surface of a lake. Straightening his body that had been leaning, Kaius gazed at her quietly, taking in that surreal sight.

Ariel was quite taken aback by Kaius’s seemingly calm demeanor. She had expected to endure his cold treatment from now on, since she had shown him the appearance he disliked. Encouraged by his reaction, Ariel slowly descended the stairs one by one. Stopping at a position level with Kaius’s eyes, Ariel cautiously spoke up.

“Um, don’t you find this appearance repulsive?”

Even at her question, Kaius continued to silently look at her for a long while. It was clearly the same face as before. But it was different. It was surprising how much the atmosphere could change just from the color of her eyes and hair.

Was this why she had hidden her appearance?

It was a moment when all questions were naturally resolved.

Just as the beauty of a woman with an insignificant background could be poison. The princess of a poor and powerless country would only be sold to the country that paid the highest price.

A woman with strong pride couldn’t have endured that.

Suddenly, Emperor Hart came to mind. If the emperor were to learn of Ariel’s appearance before the marriage? He was not the type to stand by and let another man take a wife more beautiful than Empress Catherine. With the emperor increasingly showing hostility, he might revoke the imperial order and try to buy Ariel with money. That would be as easy as flipping his palm, if the emperor set his mind to it.

If it had been before going to Letiana, it wouldn’t have mattered to him even if that happened, but Ariel was already his woman.

He had decided so, therefore it was. So he had to protect what was his.

“…Kaius?”

As his expression grew increasingly cold, Ariel cautiously called out to him.

“This won’t do after all. Put the artifact back on and come down again.”

As expected… he disliked this appearance. Incomprehensibly, both relief and disappointment came at the same time.

“…I heard relatives will be gathering from tomorrow.”

“For the wedding, in your true form. However, I’d like you to refrain from going out as much as possible until the wedding, if you can.”

Watching Ariel’s eyes fill with puzzlement, Kaius climbed one step up the stairs. Ariel had to put all her strength into her body to not reject his outstretched hand. As the soft silver hair wound around his hand, a sigh escaped Kaius’s lips. The wariness in her two eyes as she looked at him seemed even more noticeable than usual, perhaps due to the brightened eye color. Kaius gave a low chuckle and released her hair.

“Then it’s not a violation of the fifth clause, is it? Since you know my appearance, Duke.”

Slowly nodding his head, Kaius leisurely folded his arms again. At that sight, Ariel headed back to the bedroom. Kaius had to summon considerable patience to block the sensation that kept drawing him towards the bedroom.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Lady Ariel, have some coffee.”

Staring blankly at the steaming coffee cup, Ariel recalled his indifferent gaze from just moments ago. But it was fine. At least the crisis of contract termination had been averted.

“Raymond the butler said that from tomorrow, the Duke’s relatives will be arriving.”

“Mm.”

“He asked for understanding if it gets noisy from cleaning the guest rooms.”

“Mm.”

Anna realized that Ariel was responding lifelessly.

“Did something happen with the Duke?”

“Mm.”

Anna thrust her face close to Ariel’s, looking at her with sharp eyes. Only then did Ariel come to her senses, pulling her head back in surprise and asking:

“Why…?”

“Why are you like this, Lady Ariel? You’re completely out of it, aren’t you?”

“Am I?”

Without answering, Anna put her hand on Ariel’s forehead.

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere?”

Her additional words were full of worry.

“No, I’m not sick anywhere. You know I’m healthy. Actually…”

At the story of Kaius discovering the artifact, Anna jumped up with joy. Anna, like her parents, had been against changing her appearance, so that’s why she reacted that way. Ariel’s eyes grew quiet, unable to tell her that it wasn’t something to be so happy about.

“What did the Duke say? Didn’t he shower you with praises about how beautiful you are? He must have. Anyone who sees Lady Ariel would do so.”

Ariel burst into laughter at Anna’s far-fetched imagination as she spoke, even nodding her head. Not wanting to dampen Anna’s mood, Ariel simply smiled.

[This is the timeline separator]

Early in the morning, a discussion about security measures for the wedding was taking place in Kaius’s office. Strengthening patrols was basic, and they decided to greatly increase the number of guards. Sir Carsen finished explaining while looking at the layout.

“This is the plan we’ve come up with. What do you think?”

Sir Carsen, who had reported on the special security system to be implemented only during the wedding period, waited for Kaius’s response.

“It’s good. However, please thoroughly strengthen the security of the greenhouse additionally. I want strict control to prevent anyone, including the relatives visiting from today, from going near the greenhouse. Also, report immediately if the Emperor’s people or Duke Beloas appear.”

“Understood, Your Grace.”

As Carsen answered, Kaius’s gaze turned to Raymond.

“Please ensure that the relatives visiting from tomorrow don’t bother the princess. No greetings either. If they ask why, first state that it’s my order, and say that the princess is not feeling well as she’s not adapting well to the weather.”

“Understood. By the way, Count and Countess Bienne are expected to arrive today. What shall we do about Miss Rosalyn?”

Butler Raymond carefully asked for Kaius’s opinion.

“Report to me immediately when the Count and Countess arrive.”

“Understood.”

After sending everyone out, Kaius took out a cigar and lit it. Last night’s monster attack was even stronger than before. His gaze turned to his abdomen where he had been injured yesterday. After defeating all the monsters, he opened the door that didn’t need knocking, but it wouldn’t open. Due to the wound being deeper than expected, he used his body to open the door, and heard the sound of something being dragged on the floor.

Incredibly, the entrance was blocked with a sofa. It was so absurd that he almost forgot about the blood flowing from his abdomen.

[Why at this hour… Oh, are you hurt?]

After checking his wound, Ariel, contrary to her cautious appearance earlier, pulled him and laid him down on her bed.

[Can you take off your clothes yourself… No, I’ll do it for you.]

Ariel unbuttoned his shirt one by one herself, then moved behind the bed screen to remove the artifact, and returned.

[Um… If you don’t want to see this appearance, close your eyes and rest. I’ll treat you now.]

It was the first time he saw Ariel healing directly. As the white, warm energy emanating through her hands seeped into the wound, the pain began to disappear.

It was the same color as his aura, but the ability was the opposite.

[Are you hurt anywhere else?]

Though she was asking him, Ariel’s eyes were already thoroughly examining his body.

[It seems there are no more wounds now. Right?]

At her smiling face that seemed relieved, Kaius forgot to reprimand her about the sofa incident and stared at Ariel’s appearance for a long time.

[Um… Please go back now.]

The active demeanor she had shown earlier disappeared without a trace, and wariness rose again in her golden eyes. Only then did she seem to realize she was in her nightclothes, even hiding behind the screen.

Kaius gave a low chuckle at the memory of last night’s absurd situation. Smoke from the cigar was exhaled slowly between his lips as he took a deep drag. As Kaius rose from his chair, his gaze naturally turned towards the greenhouse.

A large tree had appeared in just a few days.

He didn’t know what kind of tree it was, but it seemed very important to Ariel, and that tree had bloomed white flowers.

The shape was similar to a lily, but it couldn’t be a lily. He had never heard of such large flowers blooming on top of a tree like that.

It wasn’t until he had almost finished smoking the cigar that Ariel appeared at the entrance of the greenhouse. As he had requested, she was wrapped from head to toe in a cloak.

A satisfied smile appeared on Kaius’s face at her appearance.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Welcome, Count and Countess Bienne.”

Butler Raymond was about to politely greet them and start guiding them into the mansion, but the Count and Countess already knew the general situation from the letter they had received from their daughter.

“Guide us to Rosalyn’s bedroom.”

Countess Bienne, who had been looking around, ordered. She hadn’t really thought their daughter would actually be locked up, even though they knew they were arriving today. To treat them like this despite knowing they were coming.

“Please wait in the reception room for a moment first. I will bring the Duke.”

Raymond gave the prepared answer and did not step back, but the Count and Countess started up the stairs, calling Rosalyn’s name.

“Rosalyn. Rosalyn.”

Soon, the Count and Countess of Bienne walked quickly towards where the sound of someone knocking hard on a door could be heard. In the meantime, Butler Raymond instructed a servant to bring the Duke.

“Rosalyn? Are you in there?”

“Mom, Dad, I’m here. Please get me out!”

Hearing her daughter’s crying voice, Countess Bienne tried to enter, but was blocked by two knights guarding the door and couldn’t go in.

“What is the meaning of this? Move aside!”

The knight’s face frowned at the sharp voice.

“I apologize. Miss Rosalyn is being punished for wronging the Duchess.”

Duchess? Punishment?

She was already furious that someone who wasn’t even married yet was acting like the lady of the house and had imprisoned her precious daughter. But now even this lowly knight was blocking her way. She lost it.

“She will be able to come out tomorrow, so please wait just one more day and then take her back to the Count’s residence.”

The knight straightened his posture and looked straight ahead again, as if he had said all he needed to say.

Slap!

Unable to contain her anger, Countess Bienne slapped the knight who had been talking back to her and blocking her way. Due to the Countess’s nails, two streaks of blood appeared on the knight’s cheek.

“What? What did you just say? You won’t let her out even though we’ve come?”

“…”

The slapped knight let out a low sigh and wiped the bleeding part with the back of his hand. Then suddenly, that knight straightened his body and saluted towards the back of Count and Countess Bienne.

Tap, tap, tap.

The sound of light footsteps resounded throughout the Duke’s mansion.