Strange and subtle days continued.

After that day when he said not to be considerate, Kaius set new rules and made it so Ariel could not refuse based on the sixth clause of the contract.

It was to join him on the evening walks he used to take alone, and to wait without falling asleep until he came at night.

[Still, isn’t this too much? It’s like we’re an affectionate married couple. We’re not…] [I’d like you to follow along even if you don’t like it, my lady. Acting like an affectionate married couple is also one of the duties of a duchess.]

As the regret that she should not have avoided him deepened like the sunset glow, Kaius waited for her at the entrance of the mansion. He grasped Ariel’s hand and leisurely walked the lakeside path in silence. It was so strange that once she spent that time in the greenhouse before coming out. That night, she had to endure a storm-like ordeal.

[If you want this, you don’t have to come out for evening walks anytime. I prefer this to walks too.]

His words whispered in the deep dawn while stroking her hair made Ariel strictly follow the rules he had set.

After that day, his strange behavior worsened.

The questions Kaius asked were about her childhood, which would be of no help to him at all. What she looked like as a child, when she discovered her ability, if she ever showed her healing power in front of others, when she started liking plants. One each day.

Was it around ten years old?

Carelessly forgetting her parents’ warnings, she healed an injured noble at the palace. Shortly after, Ariel was kidnapped and spent over a month locked in a dark place. Her father came to rescue her himself as she cried herself to sleep every day. Edward came along too. That’s when it started. Relying on Edward like family. From the day she told that story she barely remembers now, Kaius held her in his arms and slept quietly. Whether it was really for that reason, even she didn’t know.

Meanwhile, winter arrived.

Though the awaited snow hasn’t fallen yet, Ariel is quite looking forward to it. The cold, soft snow.

Wrapping a thick shawl around herself and opening the terrace door, the cold winter air enveloped her entire body. Perhaps because the day was cloudy, the winter scent was stronger than usual. It was the scent of that man, Kaius. She didn’t know what to call it, but it just was.

And she now had a messenger bird.

The large Kenji hawk was brought by Duke Rashid von Baltesran. The fierce and rough bird that was said to be untrained circled the sky several times as soon as it came out of its cage. Its majesty dominated the sky. When Duke Baltesran blew a horn, the hawk that had been flapping its wings as if in pain plunged vertically and attacked Duke Baltesran. Of course, not a single attack landed, but.

It was then that the Kenji hawk flew over Ariel’s head as she watched the scene with interested eyes.

[Eek!]

Though Ariel ran away, almost fainting from surprise, for some reason the hawk followed her closely. Laughing at the sight, the duke congratulated her, saying the hawk had chosen its own master.

[It’s amazing that you were chosen by a Kenji hawk, sister-in-law. Why don’t you leave that boring Kaius and travel the continent looking for hawks with me instead? I can entertain you better than that fellow. And while I’m not as rich as Kaius, I’m quite wealthy. What do you say?]

As Ariel was bewildered by his glib attitude, his calm voice said ‘That’s enough, Rashid.’ The sulking Duke Baltesran, and the hawk gobbling up the food Ariel gave it. The memory of that day was still vivid in her mind.

Looking at the empty cage now made her chuckle. Ariel had named her messenger bird ‘Big’, and Big was now flying to Letiana to deliver a message.

“Lady Ariel, you’ll catch a cold. Please come inside quickly.”

At Anna’s voice, she went back into the room, where Siella, who had come in to clear the lunch dishes, was waiting for Ariel without leaving. There was a letter in her hand.

[Oil trade location – Pink Rose Garden, 5 PM]

It was a message from Ludvian.

It would be their first face-to-face meeting since leaving Letiana.

***

It was a cloudy day.

Kaius had external schedules all day, so he left the mansion early in the morning. In the morning, he met with Tris Bank executives to receive reports, and now he had finished lunch with Kaldenbach directors and entered into a full-fledged meeting.

The main agenda was to not only sell steaks using Elia spices at hotels, but to create a specialized restaurant. A long discussion on this continued at the Metron Hotel.

“Your Excellency, we inquired if Elia Company could increase supply, but they said it’s difficult for the time being. They said they’re working on increasing production, but it will take at least 6 months. Moreover, it’s impossible to give us all of the increased production. Should we look into ways we can help them in that regard? Like with land, workers, or expanding processing facilities.”

Gently stroking his chin while listening to Devian’s words, Kaius recalled Ariel’s stubborn eyes.

She would surely refuse help without reason.

“The current supply is barely enough for use in hotels alone.”

At the words that flowed out as if urging, Kaius finally organized his thoughts.

“Do that. The condition is to increase the supply coming to us. Also, keep in mind that there should be no interference with them using this as an excuse, and clearly convey that fact to Elia Company as well.”

Kaius, who had come out after finishing the meeting, lifted his head to look at the sky. The sky, which had begun to darken, was heavily overcast. As if it would pour snow at any moment.

“Lemon, what’s the next schedule?”

“Now there’s an appointment with Empress Catherine at the Pink Rose Garden left.”

When Rosalyn, imprisoned, faced the reality that she could not be released on bail, she desperately sought out Kaius. After repeated requests, Kaius sent Sir Carsen, and eventually Empress Catherine’s name was mentioned from Rosalyn’s lips. As he had expected.

Kaius intended to make proper use of the opportunity that had come naturally, so he wrote a letter to Empress Catherine.

[I’m thinking of having Rosalyn Vienne, who is in prison, meet with a reporter. I’m very curious about Your Majesty’s opinion.

− Kaius von Elbartan.]

Today’s appointment was the response to that letter.

Taking out his pocket watch, it seemed he might be able to take an evening walk with his wife if he hurried to finish the last schedule. As the chattering voice of his wife came to mind, the corners of Kaius’s mouth curved gently.

Throughout the walk, even if he maintained silence, when he asked a short question, Ariel would continue talking endlessly as before. Even about things he hadn’t asked about.

As he was about to get into the carriage with a smiling face, the sound of urgent hoofbeats and a voice calling “Your Excellency” reached his ears. Viktor, who ran up to him, was the knight closely guarding Ariel.

***

Ludvian’s red eyes were chilly, unlike before.

Ariel sat across from Ludvian in the tea room of the Pink Rose Garden, with a vase full of red roses between them. Outside the curtained room, Anna and Ostian stood guard.

“Ludvian, the item is here.”

Sitting down, Ariel handed over the oil box without a word of greeting and opened the lid to show him. After staring at the box for a moment, Ludvian called a waiter and ordered coffee and chocolate cake. As usual, without asking Ariel’s opinion.

Ludvian’s gaze, turning back to Ariel, gradually narrowed.

The atmosphere had changed somehow. Perhaps because she looked a bit thinner, she seemed more feminine than before. Recalling the reason for that change, Ludvian remembered that shameful night when he wanted to kill her. Just as anger was rising unknowingly and strength was gathering in his hand, the waiter’s voice was heard.

“Sir, I’m coming in.”

Only after steaming hot coffee and chocolate cake that Ariel liked were placed in front of the two did Ludvian escape from that day’s memory and mock himself. No matter what he did now, the once-high pride of the demon race would never return to its original form.

Ludvian, who had been looking at her as if exploring, moved his seat next to Ariel. As Ariel stood up at the distance that had become too close, he pressed down on her shoulder.

“Os-”

“If the curtain opens, everyone outside will see. A duchess having an affair with her lover while having a husband. Well, if that’s what you want, feel free.”

Ludvian whispered in her ear as she tried to call Ostian. Knowing full well that he could do so if he was determined, Ariel decided to endure for now. Usually, he would leave quietly after this.

“Why did you return your eye and hair color to normal?”

Ludvian, who had removed his hand from her shoulder, now grasped her hair.

“What?”

Ludvian’s question meant that he had known about the deception all along. But so what.

“There was a reason. Let go.”

He released her hair with a smirk as he examined Ariel with narrowed eyes. Ludvian pushed the cake plate in front of Ariel and moved his coffee cup from across the table. Meanwhile, Ariel brushed her hand once over the small bottle hidden at her waist. It was a bottle containing pepper she had ground today in case of emergency.

“Eat.”

But Ariel didn’t touch the cake, only took a few sips of coffee before standing up.

“I’ll be going now.”

“Sit down. Ariel.”

“…”

“If you want the knight outside to return safely.”

Ariel’s face frowned at the whispered threat. But soon she relaxed her face. It was because she thought he wouldn’t cause problems openly in a place with so many people. As he had always done until now.

“Our business is finished for today.”

Seeing Ariel about to step away, Ludvian sneered coldly. He reached out his arm to grab Ariel’s hair and sit her down again, while with his other hand he shot red demonic energy. Precisely towards Ostian’s back, barely visible through the gap in the curtains.

“No!”

Ariel’s scream, almost fainting from shock, mixed with Ludvian’s laughter.