Edmund let out a low groan, looking exhausted. Sasha, who had been standing beside him, quickly added, reading the mood.
"Madam went through a terrible, so she seems very unstable. Perhaps it would be best if both of you got some rest today…"
"That would be wise."
Edmund said with a deep frown, his brows tightly knit. He muttered something under his breath and left the room without hesitation.
"I'll tidy up the bedding. I think it would be best if you went to sleep soon, Madam."
With that, Sasha arranged the bed set deep inside the room. That night, wrapped in the soft blankets, I fell asleep more comfortably than ever before.
I thought peaceful days with my ridiculously handsome husband would continue like that—if not for the knocking that shattered the morning.
Knock! Knock! Loud knocking first thing in the morning jolted me awake.
"Mm… what is it…"
As the knocking continued, I rubbed my eyes and pushed myself up.
"Madam, you have a visitor."
Sasha's clear voice came from beyond the closed door.
A visitor? The only people I knew here were that talkative maid and Edmund. And now I had to meet someone? This early?
"M-my body doesn't feel well right now! Later—later would be better, Sasha."
After a brief pause to think, I hurriedly answered.
"It's me."
'Edmund?!'
At the sound of my husband's voice, my whole body stiffened and I swallowed dryly.
'Oh no! This isn't the time for this. I just woke up!'
Grabbing hold of my hazy mind, I quickly fixed my face and didn't forget to straighten my disheveled clothes.
Only after lingering for quite a while did I finally let out a small sigh of relief.
After calming my breathing, I turned the doorknob with trembling hands.
"Pleasure to meet you, Duchess of Randolph."
"Uh… who?"
"I am Dr. Mars, here to examine you today, Madam."
The owner of the voice was not Edmund. Behind Mars, who introduced himself as a doctor, stood a fidgeting Sasha.
"If someone's coming, you should at least give me a heads-up."
I whispered to Sasha in a lowered voice at the unexpected visit.
"I prepared this since they said you'd lost your memory."
"Pardon?"
"You don't seem quite normal."
Edmund's breathtakingly handsome face, hard at work even this early, came into view.
"What do you mean…?"
"I said we needed to confirm it."
At Edmund's faint smirk, I felt like my whole body was melting. Sasha, who had been watching the scene, blushed and glanced between the duke and duchess.
Exchanging gazes and smiles, we must have looked like an affectionate, sweet newlywed couple to anyone watching.
"Oh, right. Come in. If it needs confirming, then by all means."
I grinned and stepped aside easily. With a face like that, putting up defenses would just be a waste of time. The middle-aged man who introduced himself as the doctor entered the room with Edmund.
'Working hard whether the sun's up or the moon's out. That household's a one-man army.'
While I was absorbed in Edmund's face, Dr. Mars prepared for the examination.
"Ahem, Madam, may I see your hand for a moment?"
"Oh, my hand! Here."
In the meantime, Mars examined my face from different angles and placed what seemed to be a stethoscope against my body.
"Hmm, your pulse is unstable."
'Of course it is. With prey right in front of me, how could my heart function properly?'
It was hard to contain my excitement so early in the morning. Seeing in 4D the handsome man I'd only ever admired in 2D made my heart pound as if it might burst.
"I don't care how much it costs. Check everything thoroughly."
Edmund's face was filled with ease as he said it—the composure of someone who possessed wealth and power. Dr. Mars hesitated briefly before speaking carefully.
"Um… if we proceed with the additional tests you requested, it may take half a day…"
"I'll pay double the agreed amount. I swear it on the honor of Randolph."
At the word "Randolph," Mars' lips moved awkwardly.
"Do you not trust the word of a lowly killer? Should I swear by the sword?"
"N-no! Your word alone is more than enough, Duke Randolph!"
"I'm joking. There's no need for me to draw my sword."
"O-of course not. Someone as noble as Your Grace would never… haha."
Mars bowed repeatedly and examined me even more meticulously.
Pretending to be calm, maintaining his composure—yet I saw it. The faint tremor in Edmund's black-gloved hand.
My face, as I underwent the examination, stiffened silently. That pitiful beast truly needed my help.
Edmund wanted to claim the throne. The rejected hero dreamed of revenge and sharpened his blade. And for that plan to succeed, there was someone he absolutely needed.
"Madam, could you open your mouth? Say ah~."
That someone was Chloe Eliteurne—the current duchess and the only daughter of a prestigious count's family.
The House of Eliteurne was one of the factions supporting the current emperor. For that reason, Chloe was the perfect prey for Edmund. Count Eliteurne had power and prestige, while Edmund possessed military strength and an overwhelming army.
"All done."
After examining the inside of my mouth, Dr. Mars forced a smile.
"It feels like this one definitely had something too…"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
Mars, who had been continuing the examination, startled and asked.
"Ahaha. Just talking to myself. Just talking."
However, Count Eliteurne, who had lived his entire life as a noble aristocrat, would never willingly give his daughter to a knight of unknown birth.
Edmund knew that exactly—and he used it. He spread false information that Count Eliteurne was plotting treason and threatening imperial authority. The emperor was enraged.
And the readers' criticism poured in as well.
[Romance Fantasy Lover: Seems like something went wrong in the author's life. They're taking it out on the story. The male lead is freaking annoying.]
[Professional Dropper: The male lead is trash. I'm dropping this.]
[JunoIs The Future: I'm part of the advance team. Your money and time are precious, everyone.]
Edmund asked the Emperor to order his marriage to Chloe under the pretext of surveillance and management.
In the end, Count Eliteurne, whose household had completely fallen into ruin, could do nothing as his daughter was taken from him.
Moreover, at the time Edmund oppressed her under the guise of a proposal, she had already promised her future to someone else.
The two had vowed to spend their lives together when the flowers bloomed in spring, but that sweet promise was shattered to pieces.
"My lady, how many fingers do you see?"
"Hmm… three?"
"Your eyesight appears normal…"
Her family. Her fiancé. Her future.
The original heroine, who had lost everything in an instant, cursed and hated Edmund. She wished for his death—and even tried to kill him.
As the chapters went on, it became hard to tell whether this was a romance or a thriller. But it was still fine. Even in the middle of that chaotic mess, the male lead was still, always, forever, Always, handsome.
"My lady, please raise your hand toward the direction of the sound."
However, the author's recklessness didn't stop there. As distrust and misunderstandings piled up, their relationship collapsed. The heroine ran away, and the male lead gradually swallowed his own malice and went mad.
When they met again, a blade was pressed to Edmund's heart. Of course, the one holding it was the original heroine, Chloe Randolph.
Recalling the original plot made me feel strangely bitter. Without realizing it, I scrunched my nose and furrowed my brows.
'Stabbing that broad, sturdy chest? That makes no sense.'
Though putting a kiss on his lips might be another story.
Sensing my gaze, Edmund cleared his throat. Meanwhile, Dr. Mars adjusted his round glasses and spoke.
"I've examined you thoroughly, but there doesn't appear to be any particular issue with your health."
"So it's over now?"
"Of course not, my lady. We'll now begin some simple tests related to your memory."
As if asking what he meant, I rolled my eyes toward Edmund.
"You said you can't remember anything. To the point that you forgot even your husband's name."
'That was true—until yesterday, I genuinely didn't remember.'
At Edmund's low voice, I merely parted my lips but held back my words.
He was a mastermind rivaling the very top in this world. In his pursuit of his goals, he had gone on a rampage, even recruiting the Emperor and the Emperor's children to his side.
'If I recall, one of the imperial family members joined hands with Edmund, right?'
But she knew. None of this had been driven solely by personal greed.
She also knew that Edmund had helped the original heroine, Chloe, in the end. The side story was a bit hazy in my memory, but still—Edmund had helped her.
'Still, he's insane. I need to be careful—again and again—until I've completely won him over.'
Now that things had come to this, there was only one option. Even if I ran away from the estate, I'd just be caught and dragged back.
More importantly, I had no intention of running.
If the place I was breathing in now was truly The Tragedy of the Duke Randolph, then he needed love. And he needed someone by his side.
Faint though it was, Edmund possessed at least a shred of humanity. He wasn't evil by nature—he had simply been hurt and abandoned by people.
"Then of course we should check. Whether there's really something wrong with your head—or not."
Yes, just like that!
Therefore, I decided to live a life different from that of the original heroine.
I intended to guide this pitiful man onto the right path and strip him of the stigma of being a madman. I would also rid him of his misguided ambition for the throne.
'I'll show them just how precious my man really is!'
If I revealed Edmund's true self, it wouldn't be that difficult to restore his fallen house.
"I can do this."
With grand plans in mind, I nodded and clenched both fists.
Watching me, Edmund's brow twisted freely in confusion. As if he had given up trying to understand me, he let out a low breath.
"Let's begin."