“Ugh…”
As Anette recalled the earnest request that Kardin had made, she groaned softly and buried her head in her hands.
‘Do what I want… without asking for permission… just do as I please?’
That was too difficult a demand for someone like Anette, who had lived her entire life in confinement at a detached palace under the king’s orders since birth.
The only act of rebellion she’d ever committed was barging in to demand that she be allowed to go on a beast subjugation expedition.
But thinking back on it, she wasn’t even sure if that was something she truly wanted.
Was it because of the nanny’s words that she’d one day do something great?
Or maybe it was a hope that gaining recognition through such feats would somehow change her situation and how she was treated?
‘No, it wasn’t that.’
It was just that the beast subjugation was the only way she saw to escape the stifling detached palace.
‘Yes… what I really wanted was…’
To walk out of that place with her head held high.
But even if she fought monsters, Anette had never once thought of leaving the palace alone.
Her red hair and red eyes were too distinct—wherever she went, people would surely recognize her.
She believed the whole world would fear and scorn her, just like the maids who once served in the detached palace.
That’s why she’d never even dared to dream of living a normal life.
And even now, nothing had changed.
If she’d thought it possible to enjoy a normal life, she wouldn’t have come to the Alcan Empire in the first place.
She had thought warm meals and a safe place to sleep were more than enough.
She never even imagined she’d have a family.
‘But now, all of a sudden…’
Groaning, Anette pressed a hand to her forehead—but at least she felt some relief.
Fortunately, the Archduke had added a condition.
That she stay by his side. That she remain his wife.
“I don’t mind if you spend the entire day lazing in bed or even bankrupt the duchy’s assets. Just… please respect me as your husband. Of course, I’ll do the same.”
His condition that they respect each other as husband and wife tied directly into his earlier plea to take their marriage seriously.
Moreover—
‘He got so sensitive when I brought up the subject of lovers…’
Anette had nodded blankly when Kardin said he didn’t want to see her getting too close to any other man.
It had never crossed her mind that the conversation about lovers or illegitimate children would apply to her, so she was caught off guard.
After all, she had never even been close to anyone in her entire life—let alone a man.
At any rate, contrary to her expectations, the Archduke seemed surprisingly sincere about their marriage.
She felt a tinge of regret for acting like she had no expectations at all.
Still, she was grateful that he had at least been clear about what he wanted.
If he hadn’t even given her that much of a guideline, she would’ve felt like a prisoner who’d suddenly been granted freedom—overwhelmed and lost.
Just then—
“Lady Anette, may I come in?”
Knock knock.
At the sound of a voice from beyond the door, Anette jumped to her feet.
“Your Majesty! Please come in!”
Running to open the door, Anette realized with surprise that the time had already come for her appointment with the Empress Dowager.
After parting with Kardin that morning, she had returned to her room.
She had lunch while enduring Serina’s subtle barrage of questions, then finally had a moment to herself to reflect on her first encounter with the Archduke—but somehow time had flown.
In hindsight, they’d shared quite a long conversation.
But the time had passed in the blink of an eye.
It was her first time talking to someone for so long, and yet she hadn’t felt uncomfortable at all.
Even when speaking with the Empress, who was always kind to her, she’d never felt this way.
‘Maybe that’s a good sign.’
According to Kardin… they were to spend the rest of their lives together.
It wouldn’t do if being with him was unbearably uncomfortable.
She was certainly nervous, but even though difficult topics had come up, she hadn’t found it all that painful or exhausting—which she found quite surprising.
“I’m sorry, Lady Anette, for making you eat alone.”
“No, Your Majesty. I’m not a child. And Serina was with me, after all.”
Anette smiled as she replied to Charlotte, who apologized the moment they met.
She didn’t mention that she had always lived without anyone to wait on her and that eating alone was actually more familiar.
“Did Your Majesty enjoy your meal?”
“Hmm, I heard plenty of amusing stories, but as for the food… I honestly couldn’t tell if it went down my throat or up my nose.”
Apparently, Charlotte had been so busy catching up on news from the capital during a prearranged lunch with noble ladies that she barely noticed the meal.
Anette looked at her sympathetically.
Charlotte then took Anette by the hand and led her toward the Empress Dowager’s palace, with only Serina following behind.
“By the way, Lady Anette… you and Serina seem much closer now. You’re calling her by name and all.”
At Charlotte’s slightly teasing tone, Anette flinched.
She cleared her throat and replied,
“Um… Your Majesty, I still find it difficult to call Your Majesty by name. But… if you wish, you may call me by mine.”
It was the first time she had ever told someone they could call her by name.
Her fingers fidgeted nervously, and Charlotte asked in surprise,
“Oh my, really?”
“Yes. But… if it makes you uncomfortable, you don’t have to…”
“Of course not, Anette!”
Charlotte hurriedly called her name, delighted by Anette’s hesitant offer.
Seeing Anette’s widened eyes, Charlotte chuckled.
“I just never thought you’d give me permission to call you by name. That’s why I was surprised.”
Anette, flustered by Charlotte’s playful smile, awkwardly averted her eyes.
As they walked toward the Empress Dowager’s residence for tea time, the palace halls were once again empty of people.
‘Just being in the palace like this is already a burden…’
Anette murmured with a tinge of bitterness.
“Even being addressed as ‘Lady’ feels odd in this body.”
And by the time she returned to her original form—when that title no longer felt strange—she would no longer be “Lady Anette,” but the Archduchess.
“Is that so? I didn’t mind at all. Though I do prefer calling you by name.”
Charlotte replied cheerfully, unaware of the odd feeling stirring inside Anette.
She was curious about something even more than the delight of being allowed to use her name.
“So, how was your conversation with the Archduke? I honestly thought you’d be eating lunch together, so I was quite surprised when I heard you ate alone.”
Hearing the main topic brought up at last, Serina, who had been silently following them, perked up her ears.
She had subtly tried to get Anette to talk about her first impression of Kardin, but Anette had kept her lips sealed, too shy to respond.
“Ah… His Grace went to the temple.”
When Kardin was mentioned, Anette averted her gaze awkwardly.
“The temple?”
“Yes. To get our engagement contract notarized.”
“Oh, I see.”
Charlotte had wondered what was so urgent that he couldn’t even share a meal after rushing to the capital in such poor health. It turned out to be something important.
“Then, I suppose your engagement has been made official by now!”
Charlotte clapped her hands with joy, and Anette blushed slightly and turned away.
Then she added casually,
“Yes, I even gave him some of my hair, so probably…”
“Your… hair?”
“Yes. He said it might be needed for the temple.”
Normally, both parties are expected to appear at the temple for notarization of the engagement.
But since Anette couldn’t go herself due to her condition, Kardin had offered to go alone.
He said he would explain that she had been injured when the Hayworth delegation was attacked en route to the Empire and was currently in critical condition.
He also asked for strands of her hair to present to the priest as proof of her identity.
Her fiery red hair was rare enough to serve as solid evidence.
“Your Highness… could you spare a strand of hair? No, maybe two?”
As she recalled Kardin’s polite and bashful tone when he asked, Anette nodded once more to herself.
“Good heavens…”
Charlotte was aghast.
Typically, nobles send representatives for notarization, and the family head’s seal is usually enough.
Even though the Hayworth delegation was entirely absent, Anette was royalty.
Alcan Empire royals were blessed by the divine—proof of the gods themselves.
The temple adored them, practically worshipped them.
There was no way the temple would ask for further proof.
Knowing this, Charlotte and Serina were left speechless, mouths agape.
Sensing something was off, Anette tilted her head.
“Is something wrong?”
“No… it’s nothing.”
To Charlotte, Kardin was not only her brother-in-law but practically a younger brother.
She’d even been the first to realize when teenage Kardin was going through his first crush while she was dating Lucius.
Curious about who this mysterious girl was, she’d investigated and ended up becoming one of Anette’s supporters.
So while Charlotte’s tongue itched to spill the truth, she forced an awkward smile and kept it in.
She couldn’t very well expose Kardin’s true feelings here.
She felt bad for Anette’s innocence and couldn’t believe Kardin had used it to pursue his personal desires.
But at the same time, she didn’t want Anette to be shocked or disillusioned too soon.
This was someone who had wielded a sword her whole life for a country that had done nothing for her—and now, she was even going through with a political marriage.
Charlotte didn’t think she’d run away upon learning the truth, but still…
‘At the very least, let her find out after the wedding… maybe even after a child or two…’