chapter 04
Just as Raphael was glaring at his watch, the youngest researcher spoke cautiously.
“Still… I think Your Grace was a bit too cold. She is your wife—shouldn’t you treat her kindly?”
“Yes, she is my wife.”
He said it with the slightest curl of his lips.
“An outsider.”
“……”
A brief silence followed his ambitious joke.
Then the researchers burst out laughing, clutching their stomachs.
“H-ha, hahaha!”
“As expected of Your Grace’s sense of humor!”
“That was hilarious, Your Grace!”
Once again, he had made others laugh today.
But the corners of his lips soon returned to complete stillness.
‘Even making one joke a day is part of the plan.’
Bringing laughter to the researchers of the Cairocen Castle Reconstruction Team, who worked tirelessly every day—
that, too, fell under his controlled nature.
With a faintly satisfied expression, he glanced at the tightly shut door.
At that moment, one researcher carefully muttered,
“Still… wouldn’t it be better if you treated her a bit more kindly?”
“No. That won’t do.”
The researchers cast sympathetic glances toward the door Serentia had exited through.
But Raphael had his reasons for not getting involved with such a “strange” woman.
This was something only he and the chairman of the council of elders knew for now.
So instead of thinking further, Raphael replied indifferently,
“Why? Do you have an objection?”
His expression looked as if he might kill them for disagreeing.
“N-no…”
“Then stop making noise.”
Serentia Rosemary.
As an outsider, she too would carry out her days under his control.
According to the schedule, they would meet exactly three times over the next three months.
That was a rule that would never change.
Just wait. One day, I’ll make you call me ‘darling’!
…With that determination, I was boldly preparing a “new opportunity” to meet him—when!
The next morning, while taking a “walk around the Grand Duke’s castle” with Head Maid Melosi—
Melosi spoke with a troubled expression.
“I’m truly sorry, but after yesterday, the research institute has been completely closed off.”
Standing in front of the lab, I stared blankly at the sign.
[No Entry for Outsiders]
But maybe because the character for “out” was written a bit small…
it somehow looked like it said “No Entry for Wives.”
The moment I realized that—
“Pfft—hahaha!”
I burst out laughing, clutching my stomach.
“…Pardon?”
“Ha, it’s just too funny.”
Raphael really was a “funny” person.
Even before my regression, he used to faithfully make one joke a day.
Ah, he’s totally my type!
As I laughed for a while, Melosi glanced at me with concern and carefully said,
“It seems you were shocked to learn that there are no scheduled opportunities for you to meet His Grace for the next month.”
My laughter stopped abruptly.
“His Grace specifically instructed me to inform you: ‘If the future Grand Duchess comes to see me inefficiently without purpose, I will cancel even the scheduled meetings.’”
At her firm words, I felt my strength drain for a moment—
This man really is an impenetrable wall, huh?
…but I didn’t give up.
I clenched both fists with determination.
I can break through Raphael’s walls!
Firming my resolve, I left the research institute and casually probed Melosi, recalling the materials I had seen there yesterday labeled “(Territory Reconstruction) Enhanced Experimental Materials.”
“…Well, it is a busy time because of the reconstruction project.”
“Yes, that’s true.”
Aside from the main structure, most buildings were marked with labels like “ruins” or “under restoration.”
Just like before… Raphael has to rebuild all of this by himself.
Come to think of it, there might have been a bit of shadow in his otherwise wild expression… (or maybe not).
“I’m worried…”
…I wanted to say that I wanted to help him, even just a little.
And if I could stick close to him while doing that, even better.
I had knowledge of architecture—and I knew the future.
Maybe I could use that to help him?
That day, I wandered around Cairocen Castle, thinking deeply.
And then, just as I was looking over the collapsed ruins—
suddenly, a strangely familiar voice echoed in my ears.
“Lady Serentia, please come to the sanctuary!”
This voice…
It’s the same voice that brought me back in time.
I murmured under my breath,
“…The sanctuary?”
As I stopped walking, Melosi spoke brightly,
“Ah, yes. It’s mostly collapsed, but it was once a place where a sacred being resided… Would you like to go inside?”
I quietly looked at the half-ruined remains of the sanctuary in front of me.
Most people would be repulsed.
But I simply nodded.
For some reason…
it felt like I had to go.
As if that place held the key to bringing Raphael and me together.
