***
Helene stood motionless in front of the duke’s mansion.
The servants of the ducal family were loading her luggage onto a carriage.
“Since you signed the divorce agreement, it will be finalized within the next week.”
She recalled the assistant’s businesslike words.
While the count was unconscious, the divorce proceeded swiftly.
“Originally, you should have received more alimony, but the duke decided to cut it off because of the Diem region. And considering your past relationship, the Dowager Duchess has provided you with a house in the capital, a vehicle, and several years’ worth of living expenses to maintain your status.”
Is this charity for a daughter-in-law being thrown out?
Helene let out a dry laugh as she got into the car.
“Hello, Princess. I’ve come to escort you.”
The black-haired man in the driver’s seat turned to her with a smiling eyes.
Helene’s expression turned to surprise when she recognized the man’s face.
“Capitano? How are you here…? Where did the original driver go?”
“He’s probably doing well. In a suitable place.”
He joked as he started the engine.
Helene’s eyes widened as she saw the driver stuffed in a trash can outside the car window.
“That driver, you don’t recognize him, do you?”
Helene’s expression subtly changed at his question.
He chuckled softly as he turned the steering wheel onto the main road.
“You’re right in what you’re thinking, Princess.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Helene was gripped by a chilling feeling and anger simultaneously.
‘The duke must have tried to have me killed through the driver. I should sell the house the Dowager Duchess gave me and look for a new one.’
While she was worrying about where to stay until then, he spoke up readily.
“It would be best if you stay with me for a while. It’s dangerous.”
“Why are you going so far for me? I’m not the duchess anymore, and with my failed gold mining business… I should be useless to you.”
‘The organization used my weakness to demand money, but this man kept helping me.’
She was worried he might face disadvantages from his superiors for this.
Makia slowly turned his head to look at her.
“Were we just in a simple business relationship?”
At his question, Helene felt a resonance inside her chest and hurriedly averted her gaze.
Makia’s lips relaxed as he looked forward again. Having succeeded in completely isolating Helene and making her dependent on him, his next target was Princess Cynthia.
He sneered imperceptibly.
***
Official residence, Masera’s office.
「Suspect Information」
Young man with large build, tattoo on wrist.
Potentially a contract killer.
On Masera’s orders, the soldiers immediately captured the suspicious servant, but he bit into poison hidden in his mouth and committed suicide as soon as he was caught.
Masera, reading the investigation documents, looked out the window.
Cynthia, who had seemed depressed since the count collapsed, was practicing tennis alone.
“Being intensely focused on something can be a sign of emotional distress.”
Recalling the doctor’s words, Masera sighed and stood up.
She had been showing signs of excessive practice lately.
He headed to the tennis practice area and approached Cynthia, who was sitting and resting.
“Are you planning to compete in the Olympics?”
At his joking question, Cynthia, with her hair tied up high, shook her head.
Then she looked up at him and smiled brightly.
“Brigadier General. Want to make a wish bet with me?”
Masera nodded.
Cynthia gripped the tennis racket and put on a determined expression.
“I’m definitely going to win. I’ve practiced a lot.”
“I won’t let you win easily.”
He wanted to let her win, but he was afraid her wish might be to let her go.
At that moment, Cynthia bounced the tennis ball lightly and tossed it.
It was a great improvement compared to the past when she struggled even to hit the ball with the racket.
‘She’s quite good.’
It seemed her practice hadn’t been in vain.
He tensed his arm and lowered his stance.
As they both were determined not to lose, an intense match unfolded.
“Haa…”
After the third set ended, Cynthia, her face flushed red, wiped the sweat from her forehead and sighed.
In the end, she couldn’t beat Masera.
“I lost.”
Seeing Cynthia’s shoulders slump, Masera felt guilty. He had broken the golden rule that a husband should always let his wife win.
Thud-
The tennis racket Cynthia was holding fell limply to the ground.
Noticing her complexion rapidly worsening, Masera hurriedly supported her.
“I told you not to overdo it.”
Cynthia rubbed her face with her sleeve and spoke in a weak voice. Her eyes, tinged with the sunset glow, were filled with disappointment and sorrow.
“…I tried so hard.”
“I know.”
“If you know I tried this hard, and you let me win everything else, why didn’t you let me win at this?”
Cynthia started complaining like a child throwing a tantrum.
“That’s… I’m sorry.”
“Really, you’re mean.”
What could her wish have been to make her look so sad? He couldn’t bring himself to ask first, fearing a difficult answer.
“I didn’t mean to be cruel.”
Cynthia’s shoulders trembled as she lowered her head and rubbed her eyes.
“You took all my desserts at the reception too.”
Noticing the sob in her voice, he panicked and tried to comfort her.
“I’ll apologize for that too. I’ll take you to your favorite dessert shop…”
Tears dripped onto Masera’s hand that was holding Cynthia. She was wearing a very angry expression with tears welling up in her eyes.
“You were considering the possibility of a poisoning attempt that day, weren’t you? Why did you do such a dangerous thing? What if there really had been poison?”
Masera had taken bites of her desserts to check for poison in advance.
Realizing his intention had been discovered, Masera lowered his eyes and sighed.
“Risking one’s life to protect someone… is a natural thing for me.”
Cynthia clenched her fists and started hitting his chest.
“If that’s a soldier’s duty, I’ll support you so quit your job! Just live long and cowardly!”
Her punches were so soft they didn’t hurt at all, but seeing her upset face was a little, very painful.
“It’s not a soldier’s duty-”
Worried her hands might hurt more, he grabbed her wrists to stop her and continued speaking.
“It was my own way of protecting someone precious. I’m clumsy because I’ve never had anything precious before.”
Cynthia stared at him intently. His silver-white hair swayed, carrying the sunset glow.
The wish she originally wanted to make was ‘Don’t hate me.’
But once she became certain that he wouldn’t hate her, she only worried about him.
The recent incident had also taken away her peace of mind.
Cynthia reminded herself that someone’s gun was always aimed at Masera and herself.
‘I don’t want you to die either.’
Him dying while she lived alone was meaningless.
But even if she wished for him to prioritize his own life no matter what, that stubborn man would never listen.
Cynthia wiped her tears and shook off his hand.
“Don’t talk to me until tomorrow. I’m angry.”
“That won’t do.”
“You’re trying to beat me until the end…”
Strangely, she felt all her strength leaving her body and couldn’t argue anymore.
‘Did I eat too little lately?’
Cynthia’s face quickly turned pale as she felt her body and mind draining.
As she walked ahead, she staggered and then collapsed on the spot.
Masera hurriedly picked Cynthia up in his arms.
Her body went limp in his arms.
***
Cynthia fell asleep after receiving an injection and IV fluids. Masera, who came out of the bedroom, roughly messed up his own hair.
Captain Carlton, who followed him out, chided Masera.
“She’s exhausted. Apart from that, she’s sensitive to sunlight, how could you let her practice so hard under the blazing sun? It’s not like she’s going to the Olympics.”
“Sensitive to sunlight?”
Masera questioned, completely unaware of this fact.
He hadn’t thought it strange that she used parasols and avoided the sun, as other noble ladies did the same.
‘Was it a wish so desperate that she endured the pain just to practice?’
Seeing Masera’s blank face, Captain Carlton let out a deep sigh.
Nobles tend to think of illness as a flaw, so the princess herself probably didn’t show it, but…
In any case, her husband, as her guardian, should know the truth.
“The princess is a patient with a little-known genetic disorder. It’s a royal lineage packaged as the Goddess’ blessing.”
