First Love Never Dies

This is so capricious.* Rashid sighed briefly. Black hair, like ebony, fluttered into small strands in the air.
(t/n: he means his behaviour)

It has been 15 days since his wife fell into the river while taking a walk. Still, I could care about when I would wake up for a day or two, but on the third day, I had to go to Cameli.

Duke Penvernon’s dukedom borders the western border. The mountain range that created the boundary was so rugged that it was virtually impossible to interact with anything beyond it. People called the mountain range Dragon’s Breath. There was a legend that said the evil dragons in the founding myth fled to the west, setting up the mountain range so that humans could not follow them.

It is said that there is a fairy country on the western continent beyond the border.

No living human being has ever been there, and they also did not invade the eastern continent, which led to a long disconnection.

Now, only the occasional appearances of fairies proved the existence of this race.

To the west of the dukedom’s borders, beasts often appeared. They were called the remains of evil dragons. It was rare for them to invade private houses, but they prevented people from living in areas they frequented.

But that rare thing has suddenly increased in recent years.

Frustrated local lords asked Rashid for help, and Rashid visited the West to protect them as the duke of the local lords. Not to mention that his duties as a duke are far more important than the safety of his wife, who he married politically as the emperor hoped.

The woman forced by the emperor was a nuisance just in case he was confused with a powerful man. If I was too negligent, I would think that the emperor would not obey me, but I had no intention of cherishing it.

Then I’d only have to treat her to the extent, he (the emperor) couldn’t find fault with him. Is it necessary to value a woman like a shackle put on by the emperor? The decision was sensible at first glance, and the relationship with her was as callous as could be.

Alyssa’s complexion, which was an obligatory check in the Duchess’ bedroom, was better than expected. She was still pale, but she was probably like that because she saw a stranger as she was struggling while lying down.

“I thought you weren’t feeling well yet, but you look pretty good.”

Rashid uttered a formal greeting.

He knows what she’ll say next. I’m sure she’ll be embarrassed and sorry for the trouble. I could see her clenching her hands, not knowing what to do. Her blue-gray eyes will look even bluer, frightened.

She’s a normal woman anyway.

It’s rare to see eye to eye with her. She was afraid of me and almost hid her eyes. Shoulders huddled like a battered rabbit was portrayed. Like any other human being who treats him, the frightened attitude made him even less willing to not be bored.

Then he can tell her to rest in peace and recover before leaving. His relationship with her was just about that.

“…Yes, it’s been days.”

But Alyssa betrayed Rashid’s expectations in a pleasing way.