I forced myself to ignore the strange feelings inside me and avoided Kallion's gaze.
"If you have nothing else to say, please let me go back now."
As I tried to pull my wrist from his grip, Kallion tightened his hold.
"I'm not finished talking."
His forceful grip made me frown, and I glared at him sharply.
What a selfish man.
Whether it was that night he left me half-naked on the bed and walked away,
Or the time he kissed me out of nowhere and then coldly told me to get out—
He always thought only of himself.
"Just look at how you're acting right now."
Kallion's expression hardened at my accusing glare.
Looking straight at him, I said each word clearly:
"You're the master of Valdormer, and yet you treat me like this. How do you expect anyone else to treat me as the lady of the house?"
For a moment, Kallion looked stunned.
Taking that chance, I yanked my hand free and said coldly:
"The person who humiliates me the most isn't anyone else—it's you, Kallion."
With that, I turned and walked away without hesitation.
Watching my back disappear, Kallion ran his hand through his hair in frustration.
***
Kallion stared at the document in front of him for a long time.
Yuliana's words kept echoing in his mind.
"You're the master of Valdormer, and yet you treat me like this. How do you expect others to treat me as the lady of the house?"
She spoke as if he was even worse than the rude vassal ladies.
Then the memory of their kiss came rushing back.
He hadn't planned to kiss her, but he forced her lips open and kissed her anyway.
Even though she struggled, clawed, and bit him, he didn't stop.
But she was the one who started it, he told himself—she was the one who undressed first.
He had let her go eventually after regaining control, though.
Still, now that he thought about it, sending her out while she was half-naked didn't sit right.
But he told himself he did it for both their sakes.
He didn't want to lose control like a starving beast.
Kallion, always generous when judging his own actions, frowned in confusion.
What did he do wrong?
Then, for the first time, he really thought about what he'd said to her over time:
"Scheduled sex? Do you have no pride?" "You're so desperate, maybe get yourself a lover. I won't stop you." "No way I'd get aroused by you, Yuliana. That's not on me—it's your fault." "Damn, Heister. This room isn't for trash like you." "Blinded by a man, did you leak Valdormer's secrets?" "Lift your skirt and get on your knees, Yuliana. I'll give you what you want."
At that point, Kallion covered his face with his hand.
"…Ha…"
But back then, he hadn't trusted her.
What about now? Did he trust her now?
He didn't say it out loud—but he did know now that she wasn't as foolish or selfish as he once thought.
In a place where not a single person supported her, she still did her duties faithfully.
Even when she was so sick she could barely stand, she showed up at the banquet.
When everyone whispered about her being a traitor, she still stayed in her place—quiet, determined, stubborn.
Suddenly, Kallion felt like a terrible person.
He didn't completely trust her yet, but he couldn't deny that he had treated her cruelly.
And whether he liked it or not—they were husband and wife.
Unless war broke out between Valdormer and Heister, this marriage wasn't going anywhere.
They would have to live like a married couple, even if it was only for appearances.
That meant sleeping together too.
But if things stayed like this…
He remembered how she had cried that night while lifting her chemise and lying down.
Back then, he thought they were tears of desire.
But now, thinking back—there was no way she enjoyed that. Not in such a cold and forceful atmosphere.
He himself had felt disgusting.
And now, there were less than two weeks until their next scheduled night together.
And frustratingly, he kept dreaming about her every night.
But in those dreams, she was so sweet and kind.
She looked only at him, whispering soft words with eyes full of affection.
A version of her that would never exist in real life.
Still, he wondered: if things got a little better between them…
Could he maybe see that look on her face, even just once?
Kallion tried to push the dream version of Yuliana out of his mind, running his hand down his face.
"Ugh… What the hell am I thinking?"
Feeling flustered, he got up and walked to the window.
He opened it to get some air—and there she was.
Yuliana, sitting in the garden, reading a book.
She smiled gently at something Kate said to her, then turned a page with her elegant fingers.
Kallion watched her in a daze, almost enchanted.
He admitted it.
He had treated her horribly.
He shouldn't have cornered her the way he did that night, or when Lloyd visited.
At the very least, he should have apologized for accusing her of leaking Valdormer's secrets.
But every time he stood in front of her, his emotions got out of control.
His words came out before he could think.
Still staring at her, Kallion muttered to himself:
"What kind of gift do women like?"
Layla, working quietly in the office, looked up with confusion.
"…Sorry?"
Kallion didn't answer right away.
He glanced at her briefly and asked again.
"A gift. Something that would make a woman happy."
Layla blinked, surprised—then remembered her birthday was coming up.
Kallion had been a bit cold recently, but maybe he hadn't forgotten after all.
Blushing slightly, she pretended not to know and replied with a smile.
"What about winter flowers? The ones that bloom at the Valdormer estate. I don't think any woman dislikes flowers."
"Flowers, huh…"
Kallion leaned on his chin, seriously thinking, then looked out the window.
"…Flowers…"
Layla's smile slowly faded.
Because she realized…
He was looking at Yuliana.
***
Layla nervously clenched her hands and bit her lip.
She couldn't forget Kallion's eyes as he looked at Yuliana while asking what women liked as gifts.
Her instincts screamed that the flowers weren't meant for her—but for Yuliana.
Why is he caring for that woman?
Wasn't their marriage just a political deal?
Until now, Layla hadn't felt threatened by Yuliana. She'd been confident and relaxed.
But lately…
Yes, ever since Kallion and Yuliana's second night together, something had changed.
Layla didn't believe they actually slept together.
Kallion had returned to the office not long after going to Yuliana's room.
Even if they had slept together, it didn't bother her—because she believed Kallion's heart didn't belong to Yuliana.
But lately… something felt off.
She nervously rubbed her fingertips—like a jealous wife watching her husband.
Just then, someone approached the table where Layla sat, looking anxious.
When she saw who it was, her expression froze.
"Well, this is the first time we're meeting outside like this, isn't it?"
The man smiled warmly and sat across from her.
Under the bright sunlight, his silver hair and sharp blue eyes practically glowed.
Layla stared at him and asked in a firm voice,
"…Why did you ask to meet? Lloyd de Silverstel."