• CHAPTER 13

“Oh—Miss, I’m so sorry! I’m still getting used to this… My tongue slipped… Madam, would you like some tea?”

Lari glanced nervously at Satin’s face.

“Ah!”

Madam?

Startled, Satin let out a shriek. It brought her back to her senses—though not completely. She still needed time to adjust.

Right. She got married.

She really did get married.

Whether she married someone or got married off was still up for debate. Either way…

Satin rubbed her forehead. After hours hunched over a table flipping through thick books, her head and shoulders were aching.

Still, it was work that needed to be done. She underlined bits of tiny text, occasionally copying down passages into a notebook.

“No, I—actually, yes. Bring me some tea. Something calming.”

Since that chaotic excuse for a wedding, Satin hadn’t slept a wink.

She had to find a way out of this mess. Thankfully, Lari had stayed by her side as her personal maid. Just seeing a familiar face helped… or at least it should have helped her feel grounded.

But could she even feel grounded anymore?

She hadn’t felt at peace even in her own childhood home. And now she’d moved out of that house.

After exhausting every possible option, she’d finally found one potential solution. But she couldn’t move forward until she discussed it—with Lublier. And he’d been completely out of contact.

Last she heard, the Holy See had summoned him, and he planned to report their marriage while he was there. But that errand was taking longer than expected.

As she anxiously glanced at the clock—

“Madam, the Paladin has returned.”

Lari announced Lublier’s arrival. Satin shot to her feet. She hadn’t waited this eagerly for him in… maybe ever. This would be their first meeting as a married couple.

She wondered—

What should I say to him?

What will he say to me?

Both of them were lost in thought.

Somehow, they’d ended up as possibly the most distant couple in existence. A casual greeting didn’t feel right. Especially not for Satin. The awkwardness was heavier on her side.

“Hello?”

No. He’s the one who should explain how this absurd marriage even happened.

“Long time no see?”

It hadn’t even been that long. Not long enough to be considered a long time… Honestly, she could’ve gone much longer without seeing him.

To be honest, Satin was shocked at how quickly their marital home had been finalized.

It was true what they said—there’s nothing money can’t do. If there’d been any flaw in the house, she could’ve used it as an excuse to keep living separately for a while. But no—of course, the estate that House Cardilon had waiting just happened to be perfect.

Paintings by famous artists who’d held exhibitions in Lady Chuzanne’s salon lined the walls. Each piece of furniture bore a craftsman’s signature.

Even the servants from House Cardilon were efficient and attentive.

And that wasn’t all. Originally, she and Giyorne had chosen a home in the old city district, where the wealthy lived.

Giyorne, who loved books and studying more than anything, had poured his heart into setting up a library. A desk and chair built to his exact height, premium wood bookshelves, custom fountain pens, inkwells, reading stands, and paperweights—he’d spared no expense.

Because he spent so much time indoors, his eyesight had grown weak. To accommodate him, the house had sheer curtains layered multiple times to filter out harsh light.

The focus of the old city house had always been interior comfort over external aesthetics. Sure, it was conveniently located, but since Satin traveled everywhere by carriage, the location didn’t mean much to her.

The new house, the one arranged by House Cardilon, was out in the countryside.

It was perfect for someone like Lublier—who preferred movement over books, and the outdoors over confinement.

There was no need to fuss over delicate curtains here. Hiding or shading anything in this house felt like a crime.

Open the large front windows, and a breathtaking natural vista came alive like a painting—rolling pastures, a lake, a stretch of forest, even a nearby ranch.

Compared to the manicured gardens in the old district, this scenery was in another league entirely.

The servants said they got their fresh ingredients straight from the neighboring farms.

Yes, the commute to the Holy See and the Order of Holy Knights would be more inconvenient for Lublier, but that man could apparently ride for three days without sleeping or drinking water. For him, this was basically a walk in the park.

So the house was great, the staff was great, the setting was great.

The only problem… was her husband.

The whole thing still felt like a dream—or a hallucination.

One moment, they were engaged; the next, she was at the altar saying her vows. Before she could even blink, the reception had started and guests were offering congratulations.

House Celvio, who had been turned into a wedding side note instead of the main event, quietly disappeared from the venue.

She didn’t even remember when Giyorne or Delila had left. In hindsight, there was one thing she was grateful to Lublier for:

He made her forget about them entirely.

Even though she’d been fuming when Delila—the ex-fiancée’s secret lover—had shown up to sing at the wedding, it somehow didn’t leave a lasting emotional scar.

Let them do whatever they wanted.

Satin had more important things to figure out—like what to do with this sudden marriage.

Creak. The sound of a door opening snapped her out of her thoughts. She perked up her ears.

“He’s here.”

The servants lined up to welcome Lublier.

“Where’s Satin?”

“She’s in the parlor.”

The first thing he asked about was her. His long strides echoed down the hallway as he approached. In moments, he was in front of her.

Satin clutched her book to her chest, caught off guard.

Oh no. She instinctively avoided his gaze and took a deep breath.

Why was she flustered? They were married now. Of course they’d have to see each other.

She hated the feeling of being caught off guard. Forcing her expression calm, she raised her head.

“Fancy seeing you again, Sir Cardilon.”

Lublier gave a small laugh.

“Still calling me ‘Sir Cardilon’?”

“What else would I call you?”

Satin froze. The title had slipped out unconsciously.

Right. They were married now.

She couldn’t tell if she kept forgetting… or if she just wanted to forget.

Either way, Lublier was her husband now.

“Thanks,” he said with a wry smile. “Even after marrying me, you still treat me like some revered Paladin.”

What she meant as emotional distance, he twisted into exaggerated respect. Satin’s expression soured.

“I went to the Holy See. We need to talk.”

Lublier cut to the point. He needed to explain that he’d been summoned for a mission immediately after the wedding.

“I have something to discuss, too.”

Satin nodded, remembering the reason she’d been waiting.

Out of habit, she looked for Lari—but instead just motioned to the nearest servant.

“Can we get some tea, please?”

“Yes, Madam.”

The servant cleared away her empty teacup and brought a fresh set—two cups, sugar, and warm milk on the side.

“Please try the warm milk tea, Madam. The milk was delivered fresh from a nearby farm this morning.”

Satin stared coldly at the small silver pitcher.

If Lari had been here, she wouldn’t have brought milk at all.

“No thanks. I don’t drink milk.”

She used to enjoy sweet, milky tea. But at some point, just the sight of milk started to turn her stomach.

“You really should drink more milk if you want to grow.”

That man again.

It wasn’t like she’d hated Lublier from the start.

Back then, she was only twelve—and barely understood the complex power dynamics of the noble families. Words like “alliances” and “tension” between houses were just things adults said.

Still, her parents had told her to keep her distance from the Cardilons, so she’d been cautious.

Among the new students, Lublier stood out instantly. Even from far away, his tall, dark-haired figure was easy to spot.

So that’s the famous “Cardilon,” she’d thought.

Their first meeting had been a fluke. The academy was divided into three main areas—classrooms, the prayer hall, and the dormitories.

There were so many small connecting buildings that no first-year escaped getting lost a few times.

Satin was no exception.

One day, she’d taken a wrong turn and was hurrying through a hallway when—right at a sharp corner—she collided head-on with someone.

He barely staggered. She, on the other hand, went flying and landed squarely on her backside.

“…Ouch.”

As she struggled to get up, a shadow loomed over her. She looked up and saw a familiar face.

Lublier.

Sharp eyes, intense presence—he grabbed her hand and yanked her to her feet with surprising strength.

“You’re so small I didn’t even see you, shorty.”

And then he ran off.

Because he was from House Cardilon, he didn’t feel the need to be polite. It was meant as a joke, but for Satin—who already had a complex about her height—it was enough to put him on her permanent “annoying people” list.

From then on, every time they crossed paths, he greeted her the same way.

“Hey, shorty. You here again?”

“…”

At first, she tried to avoid him. Compared to her tiny frame, Lublier’s size and demeanor were just too intimidating.

If they weren’t in the same class, good. If they were, she made sure to sit as far away as possible. She usually stuck to Giyorne anyway.

Ironically, Lublier was the one who often roamed the school alone—other students were too intimidated to approach him.

But that didn’t stop him from constantly trying to talk to her. Maybe he wanted to make sure she didn’t look down on him?

Avoiding him wasn’t working.

One evening, in the dining hall, as she picked only her favorite foods and left the rest untouched, Lublier walked up to her and said:

“Don’t just nibble like that. No wonder you’re the only one not growing.”