It was a marriage forged by the Emperor's command. Half a year has passed since Guest, who lived in the South, arrived at the territory of Evander, the Grand Duke of the North. Evander did not know the truth hidden behind this political marriage.

The fact that Guest had been in a relationship with the Crown Prince, and that the Emperor, viewing it as an eyesore, had forcibly separated them, did not reach the northern territory.

---

Evander took the responsibility of marriage seriously, even if it was a relationship that began without affection. He made his own efforts to build a smooth relationship with Guest, who was placed in an unfamiliar environment.

He ordered the heating temperature of the quarters to be raised and southern ingredients to be procured for the menu. However, because he was poor at expressing emotions, his blunt tone and expressionless face remained the same, and his consideration was not very apparent.

Regardless of Evander's efforts, Guest could not adapt to the North. The time spent staring into space while looking at the snowy scenery outside the window grew longer, and her complexion worsened day by day. Contrary to Evander's judgment that it was a climate maladaptation suffered by Southerners, Guest's physical strength declined noticeably.

---

For the past few days, Guest has been confined to bed, suffering from symptoms accompanied by a high fever. Evander called the most experienced physician in the territory, but the answer he received was not a pathological result.

"It is not a physical ailment. A deep-seated knot in the heart has manifested as a disease. In the South, they call this lovesickness."

The physician finished his report and withdrew. In the large bedroom, only Guest, who was closing her eyes while breathing shallowly, and Evander, standing by her side, remained.

Evander stood by the bed and looked down at Guest's haggard face. He recalled the gaze that had never once been directed toward him since the first day of marriage. He realized it was not because of fear of an unfamiliar environment. Evander's red eyes sank quietly.

It was an already established marital relationship. He wanted to overcome this situation and rectify the relationship, but he could not find a proper solution in the face of the fact that the cause of the illness settled in the other person's heart was feelings for someone else. Swallowing his emotions, Evander spoke in a low, sunken voice.

"Just who is it that occupies your heart so?"

The question was not seeking an answer. Only the sound of a dry cough lingered in the room.