"...Kaian."
I was overcome with emotion as I spoke his name. I knew that regardless of our status before marriage, when we became a couple, we would call each other by name instead of title.
I'd had no idea that I would receive permission to call this man by his first name—the same man who had made a disgusted expression upon seeing Vermont's red hair when he'd entered the room to spend our wedding night. He hadn't even known the name of the bride he'd married.
*"Don't make me say it twice. I asked what your name was."*
*"Claudel Quinn... Vermont."*
*"Whether you become Claudel Quinn Temnes depends on your efforts tonight. I hope you try."*
Since then, Kaian had never spoken my name. He mainly called me "you" or referred to me as "the Duchess" when scolding, mocking, or insulting me.
What was wrong with liking the man who'd become my husband? Still, it wasn't long ago that I'd told myself there was no problem with that.
"Kaian."
Even when I called him by name, he didn't seem offended or angry. As if my calling his name pleased him, he deepened our kiss each time.
The first kiss was far too sensual for me to handle. I'd never even held hands with a man other than Kaian, so all my understanding of intimacy between a man and woman came from what he'd taught me.
As he touched me, something invisible and heated seemed to melt my mind, heart, and very core.
"Ah..."
As pleasure exploded throughout my body, I kept twisting and making uncontrolled sounds. For me, it felt as though I was drowning in the pleasure this man was giving me.
Now I understood why touching lips was called "kissing"—because it was special.
A small tear of moisture escaped from the corner of my eye. I could have dismissed it as nothing. Still, it felt wonderful to see him so passionate, as if he truly wanted me.
The only time I came back to my senses was when he pulled away and tried to remove my wet, clinging undergarments.
"Kaian... please... let's go to the bedroom."
I hadn't been intimate with him since my health had improved. The man who came to my bedroom every night at my request had only slept. I'd been suffering from terrible insomnia and desperately needed relief, so he'd held me like a doll while sleeping. I'd felt guilty about him.
More precisely, I'd felt self-conscious. I wasn't naturally that thin. I'd had a body with everything needed to look womanly. But I'd belatedly realized that after not eating properly for months and suffering from illness, I'd shown him my gaunt, unseemly body.
Now the lost weight was gradually returning and I was recovering my former appearance. I'd thought he wasn't interested in me. But seeing the determined look in Kaian's eyes as he gazed at me lying in the flower garden made my heart pound—because I felt as though I was someone special and beautiful to him.
"Anywhere except here, please?"
It would be fine as long as it wasn't outdoors. As I spoke soothingly, Kaian replied, "I can't make it to the castle."
Why couldn't we go? The castle was just a short distance away!
"I can't wait that long."
At the sound of his voice—strained as if barely controlled—I surrendered.
*I have a weakness for beautiful men.*
I wanted to agree to everything he asked. But being outdoors was impossible.
Kaian had said no one would come near this spot, but if that were truly the case, why would there be rumors? Stories circulated about certain castle lords and their escapades.
"Please. I don't want to do this outside."
Then Kaian lifted me and carried me down a narrow forest path. A small building became visible between the dense trees. It seemed too large and well-constructed to be called a treehouse, but too small to be called a proper house.
"This is..."
"This is the study I used before becoming head of the family."
The small space, built with luxurious dark wood, appeared to be an outbuilding for the heir. Built-in bookshelves in a tone similar to the main castle were filled with books in each section, and various desks, chairs, and weapons like swords were elegantly displayed on the walls.
Beyond that space lay a simple bedroom in the back. The wet clothes came off in an instant.
"Claudel."
The moment Kaian called my name in that passionate voice—I thought I would never forget it.
---
The royal castle of the Oberon Kingdom was situated at a high elevation, providing excellent views. King Valquiterre quite enjoyed the terrace, which seemed to overlook the entire capital city spread beneath his feet.
Sitting on the terrace drinking tea, he looked like a painting or sculpture from myth or legend. The most perfect king the Oberon royal family had ever had. The voices of concern about him inheriting the throne at such a young age had all but disappeared.
Now, the very existence of Valquiterre—young and possessing outstanding leadership—was almost venerated like an idol. His lemon-blond hair, vivid blue eyes, and pale skin were exactly like those of the late Queen, as if Queen Silvia had been transformed into a man after her sudden death.
The old nobles who belonged to the loyalist faction would have tears in their eyes when they saw him, saying, *"It seems Her Majesty the late Queen has returned to us."*
However, even during his leisure time, the diligent King remained busy reviewing agendas that needed attention and reports arriving continuously.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
Without lifting his eyes from the document he was reading, the King gestured. Imperial Courtier Makie placed the letters on the table and stepped back.
"This is a report from Rowan. And this is a message from Valmonde."
"Ah, it's about time."
Valquiterre smiled pleasantly and finally set down what he'd been reading.
"Let's see if there's any interesting news."
He opened the envelope, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. However, when he read the contents, one of his eyes narrowed abruptly.
"What is this? I can't believe the Duchess's illness has improved."
Consumption was not a disease that could be cured. It was a disease she shouldn't have contracted in the first place. Since prevention was discovered three hundred years ago, no one had contracted it, and consequently there was no longer medicine for it.
"That bastard!"
Valquiterre crumpled the letter in his fist. He hadn't wanted to see this happen—that's precisely why he'd deliberately arranged for Kaian to marry Vermont.
On one hand, Valquiterre had to admit he'd underestimated Kaian's stubbornness and resourcefulness.
"I never imagined this man who supposedly couldn't tolerate Vermont would actually try to save the sickly daughter of his enemy family."
It was an unexpected variable. The letter concluded with news that the Duchess was recovering from her illness and that Princess Irena of Valmonde was planning to visit Rowan soon.
"Then that other letter..."
It couldn't be coincidence that this report from Rowan and the letter from the Duke of Vermont at Valmonde had arrived simultaneously.
Valquiterre reached out and opened the letter from the Duke of Vermont.
"The condition of the daughter married off to Rowan has improved, so he claims to have no reason to fight territorially with Temnes? Ha! Look at this—the old fox has reconsidered his position."
It had been Valquiterre who'd leaked information to the Duke of Vermont that Kaian was preparing for territorial war. At those words, the Duke of Vermont had ignited like oil on flame, burning brightly as expected.
On the surface, the Duke of Vermont had claimed he was trying to reconcile the two families by honoring the King's marriage command. But in reality, he'd planned to attack Temnes with Valquiterre's backing as soon as his sick daughter—married off to Rowan—expired.
However, Vermont truly didn't have the strength to fight Temnes by force due to the prolonged drought. The Duke of Vermont probably didn't acknowledge this—his pride was too inflated to admit it. It had been assumed he would spare no effort to crush Temnes, whether by mobilizing mercenaries or borrowing soldiers from other nations through his connections.
And now he wouldn't fight Temnes? And why bother sending Princess Irena—who was rumored to be so pampered—from the northern tip all the way to the southern tip at Rowan?
"It appears he's planning to replace the Duchess of Temnes with his own daughter."
After considering it carefully, the biggest variable was Kaian.
"He made such a fuss that he wouldn't spare a single living, breathing red-headed Vermont. This is unexpected."
Even under the King's command, it should have been the same. He hadn't known Kaian would take this marriage seriously.
"What do you think?"
The white-haired man standing silently beside him possessed handsome features and a distinguished bearing despite his middle age. Courtier Makie, who had served the Queen and naturally sworn allegiance to the new King, was one of Valquiterre's most trusted advisors.
Makie answered the King's question. "Princess Irena is said to be dazzlingly beautiful and outstandingly accomplished."
"Oh? I seem to have heard something of that."
"If one is to remain married, wouldn't it be preferable to have a beautiful, accomplished woman rather than a sickly wife?"
"Indeed."
That was probably what the Duke of Vermont was calculating.
"I didn't want to see that outcome, which is why I had him marry Vermont."
By all accounts, Kaian was a wealthy and excellent match. Valquiterre himself should have found him the finest bride in the kingdom.
"Is Princess Irena truly that beautiful?"
"Other ladies have said it was unfortunate she had a northern debut. They claimed that if Princess Irena had attended the capital's debut season, none of them would have been able to secure marriages."
"That remarkable?"
"Women possess such fierce pride that they rarely compliment other women so lavishly. It means her beauty is universally acknowledged."
"Hmm."
Was such an accomplished woman going to seduce her younger sister's husband at her father's scheming behest? Valquiterre's interest was piqued.
"Prepare for travel to Rowan. I should write a letter to Kaian."
What had once been tedious was becoming somewhat entertaining. Valquiterre intended to go observe firsthand the game unfolding from the dice he'd thrown.
---
Kaian was elated. The specially commissioned necklace set he'd ordered from the jeweler had finally arrived. The pieces delivered to his office were crafted with exquisite elegance and satisfied him completely.
"I wonder if she'll like this?"
Claudel seemed somewhat peculiar, which made him anxious. When he'd taken her to the jewelry shop, she'd said rather indifferently that everything was pretty. But then he'd watched her read the café menu for an hour without skipping a single word.
He'd even considered that rather than purchasing such jewelry, it might be better to establish a private garden café by the lakeside behind the castle—with menus containing as much text as possible.
*Knock, knock.*
Kaian cleared his throat as he knocked on the door.
*I'm being ridiculous.*
In the past, he would have simply opened the door and entered Claudel's room directly. However, the reason he'd developed this habit of knocking was none other than...
"Kaian?"
When he knocked and waited, Claudel opened the door herself, and he loved the feeling of being welcomed by her.
"Sit here."
As he guided her to the dressing table with its mirror, the woman wearing a light purple dress—like a freshly picked wisteria blossom—followed gracefully.
"What's this?"
Claudel looked at his face, then at the jewelry box on the dressing table. She opened it, her eyes widening.
"Oh, how beautiful!"
Though he couldn't even see the necklace because he was watching the woman's delighted expression, Kaian agreed.
"It's a gift."
"So suddenly?"
"You should try it on."
Claudel carefully lifted the necklace and held it beneath her throat, then looked up at him.
"Please?"
"Of course."
Claudel, who'd been wearing her hair down, quickly gathered it up. Gazing at her pale, slender neckline, Kaian picked up the necklace and fastened it on her.
"How does it look?"
"Beautiful."
Not the necklace—you.
---