"Estelle."
If Estelle were to die while still being Lady Winteren, the vast fortune she owned would revert to Winteren.
If Estelle dies and I can't inherit that fortune…!
The count's grip on Estelle's shoulder tightened involuntarily.
"Do you have any idea how harsh the North is? I'm worried it might harm your health."
"But I've already accepted the proposal. You know the duke's infamous reputation as well, Count. If I suddenly say I won't marry him because of my health, I'll face consequences."
Those consequences would be incomparable to what she faced when breaking off the engagement with the dying Count Blim.
Considering the backlash, the only option was for Estelle to marry first and then divorce while still alive.
"Count, please don't worry so much."
The count's half-resigned grip loosened.
Estelle, seizing the moment, brushed his hand away.
"I will live for my family."
"…Estelle."
"You said it yourself, Count — to live for my family."
She would survive to the very end… for their ruin.
The count, unable to even guess what Estelle was truly thinking, finally nodded.
"All right. If there's anything urgent, you must contact me. And if you ever find you truly can't live there, you can always come back."
Because only as a Bellonsa, not as Estelle Winteren, could she claim the entire fortune.
"You don't need to bring back money. No matter when or why you divorce, I'll welcome you warmly, so don't feel burdened."
"Of course. My family is here — where else would I go?"
Leaving the restless count behind, Estelle stepped outside.
"Is the conversation over?"
"Yes."
Lennox's gaze lingered briefly on Estelle's empty hands.
But, seeming unwilling to meddle, he said nothing in the end.
Estelle, keeping a slight distance out of consideration for his aversion to uncleanliness, climbed into the carriage first.
However, Lennox did not follow her in.
When Estelle gave him a questioning look, Lennox spoke with a stiff expression.
"I have something to attend to, so go on ahead to the main estate."
"..."
"Since a marriage is only recognized once the consummation is done, be sure to return before the night is over."
"If it's the wedding night you mean…"
"We're not even holding a wedding ceremony, so if we also skip the wedding night, there'll be gossip. We'll just spend one night together in the bridal chamber."
It would be a wedding night where nothing actually happened.
Understanding Lennox's intention, Estelle nodded.
Clack—
The carriage door closed.
Ordinarily, it would be impossible to reach the Winteren territory in a single night by carriage.
However, by passing through warp gates in each major city, even long distances could be covered in the blink of an eye.
Before long, the carriage, racing at full speed, arrived at Winteren territory.
So this is Winteren…
Buildings of a lower saturation than in the capital and a bleak landscape passed by outside the window.
Even the sky here seemed tinged with gray.
As she quietly observed the scenery, an odd certainty welled up inside her that she would be able to survive here.
Correction.
"Ppu-aeng-chwi!"
A person with a weak constitution should never come to the North.
The moment she stepped out of the carriage, Estelle was wracked by a fit of coughing, realizing all too painfully how much she had underestimated the northern climate.
While it was already full spring in the capital, Winteren territory was still much closer to winter.
Even with the towering fortress of imposing grandeur standing right before her eyes, the overcast weather made it difficult to see clearly.
As she drew her clothes tighter around herself, a maid approached.
"Lady Estelle, correct? His Grace has informed me in advance. This way, please."
Inside, it was comparatively warm.
Only now able to breathe more easily, Estelle cautiously took in her surroundings.
The old-fashioned interior, reflecting the owner's personality, was spotless — not a single speck of dust in sight.
It was so immaculately clean that she half-wondered if her foot might slip on the floor or her hand on the wall, and she couldn't help but let out a murmur of admiration.
"I'll help you prepare for the wedding night."
Estelle was immediately shown to the bath, where she was immersed in warm water.
The maids washed her thoroughly, over and over, then applied fragrant oil to her body and hair.
It was already the fifth time she'd gone through this tedious wedding-night preparation. By the time it was over, it was late into the night.
Will he really come back for the wedding night?
From their earlier conversation, she had gathered more than enough to understand that Lennox was an extreme misanthrope.
Yet, sitting all alone on the wide bed, she began to feel uneasy.
What if His Grace suddenly changes his mind… and breaks his promise not to touch me?
It took more than a few sheets of contract paper for Estelle to completely trust him — especially on the wedding night, when so much could happen.
If only some unavoidable circumstance came up so that he couldn't come…
But Estelle's wish was never granted.
Creaaak—
Lying wide awake through the night, she heard the door open.
When a massive, shadow-like figure entered, Estelle flinched instinctively.
And so did the other party.
"Ah…"
The room, lit only by a single candle, was dim.
In the faint glow, Lennox's pupils widened as he caught sight of Estelle's silhouette.
"Right… we got married today."
He murmured it with a weary face.
It was as if he had completely forgotten that he'd brought her here.
It hasn't even been a full day since you proposed.
She was dumbfounded.
Was this man doing this on purpose just to slight her?
"You must be tired. Go wash up."
But from his pale complexion and the sheer exhaustion in his voice, she could tell he really had forgotten.
He must have been out hunting monsters.
From his back, turned toward her, traces of unwashed demonic energy dripped away.
Just as she thought his retreating figure looked oddly unsteady—
Stumble—
Lennox faltered.
Instinctively, Estelle's body moved to catch him before he collapsed.
Smack—!
But the instant her hastily outstretched hand brushed against him, it was shoved away with force.
Knocked back a step from the blow to her hand, Estelle met his eyes — eyes carrying an awkward, conflicted look.
"This is…"
Lennox started to make some sort of excuse.
When the silence stretched, as if he couldn't find the right words, Estelle spoke up so he wouldn't feel embarrassed.
"Are you hurt somewhere?"
"…It'll be fine once I wash."
Could it be that his strength is drained just from feeling unclean?
With that level of obsessive cleanliness, perhaps keeping her distance was the better way to help him.
"Go wash up."
Seeing Estelle step a pace farther away, Lennox gave a quick, dry wipe to his face before disappearing in a hurry.
Watching his retreating back, Estelle felt certain.
Really…
She had spent the whole day worrying over nothing.
Tonight, there would be no chance of even the briefest brush of fingertips with that man. Absolutely not.
Before long, Lennox returned, looking perfectly neat and composed.
"Are you all right now?"
"I showed you an unsightly scene. It's nothing — no need to worry."
Indeed, his complexion looked much improved.
"That's a relief. I was worried I might have to deal with my husband's corpse."
Saying this, Estelle adjusted her robe.
The bridal nightgown, threatening to slip with the slightest movement, was rather bothersome.
Glance.
Even knowing he wouldn't touch her, it still made her uneasy.
From the corner of her eye, she caught Lennox subtly turning his head away.
So even a cold-hearted man like him has a shred of decency. Maybe he felt bad about slapping my hand away earlier, so he's not being openly hostile.
Not that it made much sense — he had already once held a blade to her throat, so what was a mere hand compared to that?
As Estelle idly rubbed the side of her neck, Lennox cleared his throat and pulled something from his breast pocket.
"I should have given you this first, but I forgot."
"..."
"Look it over and sign it."
It was a stack of papers.
And the first word that caught Estelle's eye was—
Divorce.
On their wedding night, her husband was handing her a divorce agreement.
"I've also prepared the contract, so we can sign them together."
Flip, flip.
Estelle turned the pages.
Behind the divorce papers were a marriage certificate and the contract.
After carefully reviewing the contract, Estelle spoke.
"I'd like to add one more clause."
"What is it?"
"Whether I'm the one to request the divorce first, or I die because of demonic energy — whatever the reason — if I fail to complete one full year, I want a clause stating that all my assets will be transferred to Your Grace."
"…What?"
"I'm saying that if I fail to fulfill the contract, everything I own will revert to Winteren."
"No, I understand the meaning. But isn't that a clause disadvantageous to you?"
Even Lennox found it toxic enough to think, This is going too far.
"Your Grace's goal is to maintain the marriage for one year, and my goal is money."
"..."
"We're in an equal relationship, so shouldn't we both do our utmost to ensure the terms of the contract serve each of our interests?"
It was an excuse neatly wrapped in logic.
This way, even if I die, not a single coin will go back to Bellonsa.
And it would also serve as a kind of insurance.
If he later finds out I'm so weak I might be diagnosed as terminally ill, he could try to claim the contract was fraud.
The one thing Lennox wanted was simple — a woman who could last the year.
This was her move to prevent him from unilaterally breaking the agreement.
But to Lennox, who didn't know her true intent, it just seemed like a clause disadvantageous to her.
He studied her, as if trying to judge the sincerity of her words.
Estelle answered his gaze with a faint smile, as if to say, Is there a problem?
"Fine. I'll add it — but don't go back on your word later."
"Of course."
"I'll show you the revised contract later. For now, sign the divorce papers and the marriage certificate."
Estelle signed without hesitation — and immediately revealed the location of the land where mandrakes grew naturally.
"Near the village of Sentia in the East, there's a forest where mandrakes grow."
"I see."
He didn't press for details.
Because for now, he doesn't realize it's barren land that no sane person would ever pay for.
Letting it pass, Estelle continued flipping through the papers, while Lennox took a seat on the nearby sofa.
"I'll be leaving early in the morning, so just sleep in the bed without worrying about me."
"Won't it be uncomfortable to sleep on the sofa?"
"Sharing a bed with you would be more uncomfortable."
Lennox suffered from insomnia.
Even without his obsessive cleanliness, he was sensitive to the presence of someone next to him, so he would naturally choose the sofa.
If he gets even a short nap tonight, that will be lucky enough.
Lennox slowly closed his eyes.
And then, the resentment of someone became clearer in his mind.
[todcbab98n]
[Pathetic thing. Just die already!]
[No, no, no!]
Whenever he came into contact with demonic energy, he would always hear these kinds of desperate grudges from countless, nameless voices.
Voices no one else could hear — only him.
I'm so sick of it.
Even after washing away the demonic energy, the pounding in his head persisted.
The staggering from earlier, the constant insomnia — it was all because of these hallucinations.
So vicious were the phantom voices that even a sane person would quickly go mad. Blocking his ears did nothing to stop them.
Lennox instinctively tightened his closed eyes.
And then—
"Ppu-ing-chwi!"
A loud sneeze rang out.
"…Estelle Bellonsa, what exactly are you doing right now?"
When Lennox opened his eyes, he saw Estelle — not on the bed, but kneeling on the floor right in front of him.