IMNTI CHAPTER 4

“I’ll do as you wish. Just… don’t keep secrets from me.”

“Okay.”

A soft, drowsy groan escaped from Louisa’s lips.

“Thank you. You’re such a good sister.”

Completely unaware, Damian smiled wistfully, wearing a face full of tragic meaning. It was a perfect emotional ending.

***

“Father’s returned?”

“Yes! I heard he’ll be entering a meeting in about ten minutes!”

“Let’s go. Right now.”

It wasn’t until the afternoon of the following day that the Duke returned home. Louisa, who had been enjoying a leisurely snack, jumped to her feet the moment she heard Mary’s words.

“My lady, are you going to see His Grace?”

“Yes. Can I speak with him for a moment?”

Brown, the aide who had just stepped out of the Duke’s office, smiled as he made way for her.

“Of course. Would you like some tea prepared?”

“No need. He’s a busy man.”

Louisa gave the aide a polite nod of thanks and entered the office.

“…Louisa?”

The Duke, who looked a decade younger than his age in his 40s, looked up from his desk. With a stern and commanding presence, he seemed more suited to wield a sword than a pen.

Though both father and son were undeniably handsome, the Duke’s cold and indifferent aura was the opposite of Damian’s gentle, intellectual demeanor.

‘Hmm… Maybe it’s actually Damian’s softer personality that seems out of place, considering his sharp looks.’

Louisa brought her hands together neatly and smiled slightly.

“I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so busy. I came because I have a small favor to ask.”

“Is it serious?”

“No, just a minor request.”

The Duke’s dark violet eyes calmly reflected Louisa’s composed expression.

“Actually, I fainted yesterday. I think it was because of my corset.”

“You fainted? Where was the doctor? Don’t tell me you didn’t get examined?”

The rapid barrage of questions made Louisa blink slowly.

“…I did. I spoke to the doctor yesterday. I just asked him to wait because I wanted to tell you myself.”

“You wanted to tell me directly?”

Louisa gave a small nod.

She had actually come to see him right after he returned, not leaving any time for the doctor to report. Still, had she not asked, a message surely would have been sent ahead—so the doctor had honored her request after all.

“Yes. The doctor said corsets can sometimes harm internal organs and that drinking holy water might help. I was wondering if there might be any available.”

“I’ll have Brown bring some to your room.”

His answer came so quickly it was almost startling. Holy water was a precious commodity, yet he handed it over for such a flimsy excuse without hesitation.

“…Thank you.”

“Is that all?”

The Duke, having now set down his quill, stared at Louisa, waiting for her to continue.

‘Ah, right. He has a meeting soon.’

Louisa shook her head and gave a polite bow.

As she turned to leave the office, a quiet voice called after her.

“From now on, don’t wear a corset.”

That was exactly the response she had hoped for when she brought up the corset. Smiling with satisfaction, Louisa strolled down the hallway, earning surprised looks from Brown and Mary, who had been waiting outside.

Louisa smiled as she looked inside the box Brown had brought.

So much holy water—enough to last her three or four months at least.

‘In the original, it only said I needed to drink it regularly for six months, but it never said how often. There are thirteen bottles here… I guess I’ll start with one today and try drinking one a week?’

A week might be too long, but holy water wasn’t something you could waste. After all, getting it required donating—well, paying ransom to—the temple in an amount equivalent to a house.

‘You really can tell when someone’s used to spending money. On the outside, I’m a noblewoman, but inside I’m a broke commoner—it’s hard to adjust… The temple’s the real problem. For people who serve the gods, they sure do love capitalism.’

Still, she couldn’t help but worry about what would happen once she ran out.

According to Brown, these were leftovers from the temple’s official distribution, and even that made her nervous—just how expensive was this stuff?

When she finished this stash, she’d likely need to find another source. Gathering a stockpile probably wouldn’t be enough. Maybe she’d have to… earn money?

‘I can hear it… the sound of my dream jobless life slipping away…’

Louisa drank the holy water like it was an energy tonic. It was colorless and tasteless—like plain water—but the sensation of it going down her throat was anything but ordinary.

The effects were instant. Her chest, which had felt tight, now felt refreshingly clear, and her heavy body felt light again.

Even the air felt fresher, and breathing became so easy that she couldn’t deny the cost was worth it.

“My lady, will you be able to go out today? A message arrived saying someone will visit at noon.”

“Huh? I have to go out today?”

Mary, who had been retrieving the box, looked concerned.

“Ah… Today is the day you’re supposed to meet the First Prince.”

So that’s today.

The emperor’s decree for Louisa to meet Raphael twice a week was already becoming a thorn in her side.

“…I guess I can’t cancel, huh?”

“If you say you’re unwell and can’t go out, I’m sure he’ll understand.”

She could say that. But with the whole blood-vomiting incident still fresh, she was worried rumors might spread, so it felt wrong to use it as an excuse.

“Ugh, I really don’t want to go.”

Mary chuckled gently. That grumbly sigh was her subtle way of giving in, and it was endearing.

Louisa might complain, but once someone asked her for something, she always ended up doing it—so Mary hurried to prepare before her lady changed her mind and flopped back into bed.

“Then since it’s a lovely day, how about the sky-blue dress?”

Louisa was like a personified spring.

Her soft light brown hair, pale violet eyes, and rosy lips harmonized beautifully with her refined features.

These light, bright colors helped soften the chill her slightly upturned eyes could sometimes give off.

With elegance and grace perfectly balanced, Louisa could pull off any style effortlessly, making this Mary’s favorite time of day—preparing for outings.

“Just keep it simple. It’s just lunch. I’m coming straight back anyway.”

Sleepiness crept back into her expression. As Mary gently brushed Louisa’s waist-length hair, she could see her growing drowsier again.

If this took any longer, she’d be sprawled out like a sun-soaked cat, so Mary wrapped things up quickly.

“My lady, all done!”

Louisa, rubbing her sleepy eyes, was intercepted by Mary, who gently pulled on her hands and slipped lace gloves onto them. Resigned, Louisa stood up.

‘Ahh, not wearing a corset feels like heaven.’

Normally, she would’ve been frowning from the discomfort, but today she felt so free it jolted her out of her drowsiness.

‘Maybe it’s the holy water?’

Louisa let herself be pushed out the door by Mary, who reminded her it was almost noon.

“My lady, His Highness the First Prince has arrived.”

A butler met her as she exited the room, as if he’d been waiting for just the right moment.

Louisa gave a small nod and walked down the stairs. As she stepped outside, she saw a man in gleaming white knight’s uniform standing beside a brown carriage.

‘Ugh. That face really is unfair.’

As always, Raphael’s face practically glowed.

With finely sculpted features beneath a noble forehead and deep, mysterious eyes that seemed to hold a thousand stories, he was unrealistically beautiful.

‘Too bad his bad attitude makes him all too human.’

Louisa drank in his face for some visual pleasure and greeted him.

“Good afternoon, Your Highness.”

“I’m only out for lunch, so we’ll head to a nearby restaurant.”

He skipped formal greetings and got straight to the point.

It was deliberate. His goal was to either drag this engagement out for as long as possible or push her into breaking it herself. And if that meant being rude, so be it.

‘Is he going to snap at me now? He was weirdly quiet during the engagement ceremony, but now that it’s over, maybe he’s back to his usual self.’

Raphael thought that if only Louisa would stop clinging to him, he wouldn’t mind so much.

Plenty of women had fallen for him before, and he’d always shut them down cold. But Louisa was different.

She never confessed, yet followed him everywhere. She even tried to sneak in physical contact now and then.

What unsettled him most was how much she reminded him of his late mother—the obsession in her eyes, the suffocating possessiveness. It gave him chills.

“Do not come near me. Even looking at you like this is unpleasant.”

Raphael had once warned her coldly.

Any noblewoman with self-respect should’ve been deeply insulted by such words—but Louisa, perhaps hardened by growing up with the intimidating Duke, didn’t even flinch.

And somehow, she’d clung to him with such grim determination that the engagement had actually gone through.

‘She’s been quiet for a month since we set the date. I almost thought she’d changed… or maybe it’s her personality that changed, not her feelings.’

Raphael looked down at Louisa’s long golden lashes, glowing in the sunlight, and clicked his tongue inwardly.

She had been looking up at him a moment ago. Now, she had lowered her head.