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Chapter 7
The way she said it felt strangely out of place for someone who was supposedly human.
“But Your Grace ruined everything. I wanted you to protect me without drawing attention. So I could leave this castle and still live safely.”
That’s why I risked everything and even used Caspian’s weakness to bargain with him…
Disappointment darkened her expression.
Watching her quietly, Caspian let out a slow sigh.
Crossing his arms, he leaned back into the sofa.
“You really don’t understand, do you? Do you honestly think a young woman can settle alone in a town where she has no family, no husband, no connections, and live peacefully without trouble?”
“I…”
“Don’t be so naïve. A young, beautiful woman living by herself is the perfect target for criminals.”
His blunt assessment of reality left her speechless.
Still…
Wouldn’t it be better to live alone in the depths of the mountains if she had to?
To be honest, she’d grown to despise humans.
Not just because of what Delailou had done to her.
During the year she’d been imprisoned in the tower, countless servants had come simply to torment her.
Human nature was terrifying.
“You may not know this… but monsters live deep in the forests.”
Leah looked up in surprise.
What…? Can he read minds?
Monsters?
“What are monsters?”
She had spent twenty years living solely as a mermaid, and after her regression, an entire year confined to the western tower.
She knew almost nothing about the Akargen Empire.
This was the first time she’d ever heard the word.
“You… don’t know what monsters are?”
If every imperial citizen was expected to know, then her ignorance must seem bizarre.
Watching her confused expression, Caspian explained.
“In simple terms… they’re beasts. Extremely powerful creatures that even trained knights struggle to defeat.”
“And they’re hideous.”
The intensity in his voice made the image all too vivid in her imagination.
Then—
Thud!
Something suddenly fell nearby.
Leah jumped so violently that she hiccupped.
A quiet chuckle came from across the table.
Her cheeks instantly turned scarlet.
“That’s exactly why marriage is the best solution for both of us.”
He picked up his fork and cut into a slice of rich chocolate cake.
“We’ll live as husband and wife for about a year.”
“Then we’ll divorce cleanly.”
“After that, I’ll continue supporting you, and in return you’ll continue helping me with my thirst.”
He took a bite of the dark chocolate cake.
“If everything goes according to plan, both of us will finally be free from the Gwyn family.”
Freedom…
That was the one thing she’d longed for during the year she spent imprisoned in the western tower.
A single memory surfaced.
The cherry blossoms she’d glimpsed through the tiny carriage window just before her death.
The desperate struggle she’d made to reclaim her freedom for the very first—and last—time.
“Then promise me.”
She met his eyes directly.
“Promise that after one year, you’ll truly set me free.”
“And even after our divorce… promise you’ll protect me from the Gwyn family for the rest of my life.”
Sunlight shimmered across her emerald-green eyes.
“I promise.”
He placed another bite of chocolate cake into his mouth.
The bittersweet richness melted on his tongue, drawing the corner of his lips upward.
It looked sweet.
But hidden beneath that sweetness was an unknowable bitterness that made it strangely irresistible.
Just like Leah Eleanor.
His violet eyes lingered on her.
A faint amusement surfaced within them.
For the first time since becoming an adult…
He found himself enjoying someone’s company without understanding why.
***
Silence filled the duke’s office.
The room was plain and orderly, decorated with only the bare essentials.
Buried beneath stacks of paperwork, Caspian mechanically moved his pen across another document.
Knock. Knock.
“Come in.”
Without looking up, he glanced briefly at the man entering before returning to his paperwork.
“Did you find anything?”
His eyes never left the documents as Julius sat down.
“I investigated from every possible angle, but found nothing of significance.”
“There isn’t a single trace of her past.”
“No history.”
“No records.”
“It was as though she simply appeared out of nowhere.”
Julius immediately understood whom Caspian was referring to.
As I suspected… she’s not from the Empire.
She spoke about the “human world.”
She didn’t know what monsters were.
And that hair…
Light blue.
A color he’d never once seen in the Akargen Empire.
Blue hair…
He knew the Water Goddess Marisa was often depicted with blue hair, but—
“Did you find out how she entered the temple?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“I questioned the priests who were there that day and investigated the surroundings.”
“There were no traces of anyone approaching the holy water except you.”
“According to everyone present, no one else entered the temple at that time.”
Only then did Caspian finally raise his head.
Nothing?
Even there they found nothing.
That was unexpected.
Then how had she managed to slip through the temple’s airtight security?
“Could she be using ordinary magic?”
“If she were, I would have sensed even a faint trace of mana.”
“But apart from the holy water’s own magical energy… there was nothing.”
“I see…”
Caspian quietly studied Julius.
Julius Rowan possessed extraordinary magical talent.
Caspian knew that better than anyone.
Which made it all the more surprising that even Julius couldn’t uncover anything about Leah.
After all…
He was capable of stealing classified documents from the Imperial Palace without leaving a trace.
“Why… are you staring at me like that?”
Julius asked stiffly.
“No reason.”
Caspian simply lowered his gaze again and resumed writing.
***
A new morning dawned.
Today, Leah planned to visit the garden in front of the castle.
She hadn’t gone outside even once since arriving.
And every time she’d looked through the window…
The cherry blossoms had been in full bloom.
The memory of the blossoms she’d seen just before dying still lingered.
Perhaps she’d regretted never having the chance to truly appreciate them.
“It’s been exactly one year…”
She had died in spring beneath blooming cherry trees.
Now she’d returned…
To another spring filled with cherry blossoms.
The realization felt strangely profound.
“Lady Dahlia, everything is ready.”
“Shall we go downstairs?”
Leah turned toward Emily.
Even after all this time…
The maid’s face still filled her with revulsion.
She almost wanted to pull out every strand of Emily’s hair just to ease the resentment inside her.
“Let’s go.”
Her tone had completely changed.
Only moments ago she’d spoken politely.
Now her voice was cold and commanding.
Emily noticed the difference immediately.
Her brow furrowed for a split second before smoothing over.
“Yes, Lady Dahlia.”
As they walked, Leah stole a glance at Emily.
The irritation on the maid’s face was impossible to hide.
Considering Emily’s personality, this situation had to be infuriating.
Officially, both of them were daughters of barons.
Yet now Emily was being spoken down to by someone of equal rank.
Still…
As the future Duchess, Leah wasn’t someone she could openly offend.
Watching Emily force herself to remain composed made Leah smile faintly.
Since things have turned out this way…
Maybe it’s time I repaid everything she did to me.
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became.
Emily had probably infiltrated House Felix as Delailou’s spy.
Delailou adored Caspian.
Yet he’d never shown her much interest.
Planting a spy inside his household sounded exactly like something she’d do.
The only question was…
Did Caspian know?
Or was he completely unaware?
Lost in thought, Leah suddenly found herself beneath a magnificent cherry tree.
She stopped thinking about Emily and Delailou and looked up.
“…Beautiful.”
Soft pink blossoms filled her entire field of vision.
Just like the tree she’d seen before her death.
The sight was breathtaking.
I died with something this beautiful right in front of me…
A bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
That day was a memory she could never forget.
Lowering her gaze, she noticed a table covered with colorful desserts.
A white wrought-iron table and matching chairs had been arranged beneath the blossoms for afternoon tea.
That’s right.
If I couldn’t enjoy it then… I’ll enjoy it now.
Suppressing the emotions welling inside her, she sat down.
The air was fragrant with flowers.
The weather was warm and windless.
Almost perfect.
“Why are you here?”
Just as she lifted a cup of tea to savor its aroma, a deep voice sounded behind her.
She turned.
There stood Caspian again.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
As imposing as ever.
“Am… am I not allowed to drink tea here?”
His question hadn’t sounded angry.
But it hadn’t sounded friendly either.
Her voice came out much quieter than she’d intended.
After all…
This was his castle.
She couldn’t help being cautious.
“That’s not it.”
“The dressmaker was supposed to arrive this morning.”
“The dressmaker?”
Her blank expression clearly showed she had no idea what he meant.
Caspian glanced briefly toward Emily.
“You need to choose your dresses.”
“Didn’t anyone tell you the dressmaker was coming this morning?”
Dresses?
What is he talking about?
As Leah continued staring at him in confusion, Emily quickly stepped in.
“I informed Lady Dahlia that she had an appointment this morning.”
“But she insisted on having tea in the garden instead…”
