Through the narrow path, Kaius appeared mounted on a large black horse. His presence alone was intimidating, and when he smiled slightly, Ariel unconsciously swallowed hard.

“What’s the matter……”

The thing he started to indulge in for fun, that is, playing along with Ariel’s pranks, was no longer enjoyable at all. For a while, he found the woman fluttering to get away from him cute, and then thought she might need time to overcome the incident in the library, but not anymore.

Now, facing the naked wariness in her golden eyes, it became even clearer. Ariel’s attitude had changed since returning from the capital. So he needed to find out why.

Kaius, who was looking at her with narrowed eyes, reached out his hand.

“Come here.”

Ariel, who was staring blankly at his outstretched hand, approached him quietly with a soft sigh. The fact that he was blocking the narrow path on horseback meant he had no intention of backing down. She knew well that in such cases, things usually ended up going his way. He snatched Ariel as she approached and lifted her to sit in front of him.

Turning the horse around in front of the narrow greenhouse door, he started to head back out.

“Where are we going?”

“The lake.”

Ariel nodded slightly at his low answer and recalled the worries that had been troubling her mind lately.

The next task was to save Aliw’ne and breed it to make large quantities of antidote.

For that to happen, the dragon had to wake up and undergo its first growth. Even for Kaius, it was nearly impossible to handle the dangers of the demon realm alone. Then, either tell Kaius the truth, or have him come along without asking why. Since he wouldn’t go to the demon realm just to save a plant, in the end, there was only one option.

Still, maybe I should ask. The warmth from his back gave her a bit of courage.

“…Kaius, have you ever been to the demon realm?”

“No.”

“Then is it difficult to go to the demon realm?”

“It’s not difficult if you have a demon realm pass, but it’s dangerous. Enough to risk your life. Even though there’s a ceasefire now, that only prevents them from invading the human realm.”

Kaius glanced down at Ariel, who was listening quietly, and spoke again.

“You got a demon realm plant guide, but surely you’re not thinking of going there just to get some plants? If that’s what you’re thinking, give it up. It’s impossible unless you have two lives.”

Ariel felt hopeless at his response, which was worse than expected. In the end, the time she could naturally face Kaius was only about two months from now. After that, it would depend entirely on his will.

“I have a question.”

Ariel opened her mouth again, trying to guess his intentions.

“About the recent incident. Between Rosalyn who ordered to harm me and those who actually committed the crime, who do you think is worse?”

“Are you still not over that incident?”

“……”

Kaius sighed softly and spoke.

“They’re both bad, but if I had to choose, it would be Rosalyn.”

Ariel felt relieved at his words, stroking her chest.

“But I don’t think there’s much difference. If there weren’t people willing to do such things, Rosalyn wouldn’t have been able to carry out her plan.”

“But, but what if it wasn’t Rosalyn, but someone more powerful who threatened and ordered them to do it?”

“That doesn’t erase their crime. Let’s stop talking about this now. It’s not a pleasant topic.”

“Yes……”

I know. That his words are right. If she didn’t have the ability to grow, it wouldn’t have happened in the first place. With this, Ariel made up her mind.

As late as possible. Let’s tell him after the dragon has undergone its first growth.

After making the decision, she felt rather relieved. It was something she had prepared for from the beginning, and nothing had changed. Ariel closed her eyes and recalled the words she had been repeating to herself for the past few days.

‘Ludvian is a demon. You know he’s forcing me to grow flowers, right? Those flowers are called Lilas and Jafaros from the demon realm. The characteristics of the two flowers are…… So the reason you’re being attacked by demon beasts is because Ludvian is trying to kill you using these two flowers. If not neutralized, you’ll die in less than a year. So will you come with me to the demon realm to find an antidote?’

She practiced and practiced these words.

Checking and organizing how to minimize his anger when speaking. But when she actually tried to recite it, it often came out jumbled and disorganized.

When Ariel, lost in thought, opened her eyes, she saw a beautiful lake dyed golden before her. The lake was beautiful enough to clear her complicated mind.

“Ah……”

Kaius, who had dismounted first, gently helped Ariel down. He laughed softly at the sight of her running lightly to the lake.

Ariel’s gaze, which had been looking at the round, large golden moon and the lake holding that moon, rested on one spot. It was on the dark moon shadow of Kaius and the horse reflected on the lake’s surface. She turned her head slightly to look at him. Kaius, looking at the calm lake with a quiet gaze, looked too peaceful, as if there were no problems at all.

A night with a bright moon. A lake dyed golden.

In the shattered moonlight, their eyes met.

***

“Tell me, Ariel.”

Ariel’s eyes filled with confusion at his sudden words.

“What? What……”

“What you’re hiding from me.”

At Kaius’s words, who was looking at her persistently, Ariel barely swallowed the scream that was about to burst out. Holding her breath, Ariel unconsciously stepped back.

“I, I’m not hiding anything.”

Kaius chuckled in disbelief at her pale face saying she wasn’t hiding anything. He closed the gap as much as Ariel had retreated. Even though there was no way he could know, Ariel was terrified at the thought that he might have seen through her heart.

“…I’m not hiding anything. You already know what I told you before. There’s nothing else besides that.”

“Then let me change the question. Why are you avoiding me?”

Ah, Ariel let out a short sigh and was finally able to calm her anxiously beating heart. He hadn’t found out.

“Tell me. Ariel.”

Ariel knew that he wouldn’t be patient forever. Thinking that it would be better to clarify this issue once and for all at this opportunity, Ariel looked at him with a straight gaze.

“I was being considerate of you, Your Grace.”

Considerate? The tone that sounded as if she was doing him a favor piqued his curiosity. Wondering what she would do to amuse him this time, Kaius crossed his arms leisurely, letting go of the reins. As if to say, go ahead and chatter.

“As you well know, we have a predetermined end, don’t we?”

Kaius nodded slowly at Ariel’s gaze that seemed to be seeking an answer. Ariel convinced herself. It was just mixing a little lie with the truth.

“The incident in the library gave me one worry.”

Kaius, who was looking at Ariel with an interesting gaze, moved a little closer to her. But as much as he approached, Ariel stepped back. He frowned lightly at that reflexive action. Kaius, who was about to approach again, decided to stop there at her voice that followed immediately.

“At that time, you saved me even though your body was in a terrible state.”

“I told you, didn’t I? That it’s just a husband’s duty.”

Kaius truly thought so. It was just one of the responsibilities and duties he had been educated about since childhood.

“Even so, I couldn’t help but consider it. I’m definitely planning to divorce as per the contract, and if you were to hold me in your heart, you might get hurt when we divorce.”

“…What?”

Hurt? Kaius von Elbartan?

Kaius stared blankly at Ariel for a while, so absurd that his head was spinning. But Ariel continued to speak clearly with a straight gaze.

“That’s why. The reason I was considerate.”

In other words, she was worried that her husband wouldn’t divorce her, and since she would ultimately divorce him, she was considering the man who might get hurt then in advance?

Kaius, who had been staring blankly at such an Ariel, burst into laughter. This caused Ariel’s face to turn bright red, and even the horse that had been quietly staying beside them seemed startled, with the sound of its hooves and neighing not stopping for a while.

It was a first. Laughing so heartily like this.

How could she be so recklessly cunning?

The fact that she rejected him for such a reason was quite irritating, but the thought that she had considered him in her own way made him laugh again.

Ariel, bewildered by his appearance laughing so innocently that he looked pure, stared at him for a long time, forgetting even the serious situation. At some point, Kaius stopped laughing and looked at her deeply.

Kaius, who had approached with a stride lest Ariel run away while they were silently looking at each other, wrapped his arms around her waist. He sighed involuntarily at the soft and fragrant body he was holding after days. Ariel, surprised by his sudden action, struggled for a moment but soon became docile as if resigned. Not that her eyes became docile as well.

“Wife, I’d like to decline such consideration.”

Kaius, who had been looking down at her eyes filled with stubborn strength, lowered his head, and Ariel hurriedly twisted her head. Kaius, who chuckled, kissed her hair.

His wife didn’t know what kind of man Kaius von Elbartan was.

Hurt? That was absurd.

He kept her by his side out of necessity, and possessed her because he could. After having her body, he wanted to possess other things as well. But all of that had nothing to do with his heart. Just like now.

Kaius already desired her. He didn’t know how long this feeling would last. Maybe it wouldn’t even last until the end of the contract period, or it might far exceed it. So, regardless of the contract, he would keep Ariel by his side as long as he wanted. Also, in return, he intended to do many things for her that he could do. He had enough power and ability to make that possible.

“Then….. You might regret it.”

Kaius smiled at Ariel’s words, which were whispered so softly.

“That will never happen. Ariel.”

His voice, tinged with laughter, was low and gentle.