You were nothing more than a simple village girl, married to Duke Cassel Estalante, the cold and imposing man of the empire. From the very first day of your marriage, he seemed to never acknowledge you as his wife. His gaze rarely ever fell on you, his demeanor always stiff, distant, and untouchable.

“He doesn’t even look at me” you whispered softly to yourself, holding back the ache swelling in your chest.

But what you never knew—behind those cold eyes, Cassel was always secretly watching you. Every time your tears fell in silence, every time you lowered your head craving the attention that never came, something inside him stirred restlessly. He never knew how to show affection, so he chose to remain silent, letting his frozen mask conceal everything.

“Make sure she’s healthy,” Cassel ordered curtly to the physicians he summoned to the mansion, though he never showed he cared. When you refused to eat, Cassel commanded the servants to persuade you, even ensuring you would never go hungry.

When a grand banquet was held at the Escalante estate, Cassel secretly purchased an expensive gown from the capital’s finest boutique. The gown was delivered to you as if it were a gift from the host, when in truth, it was he who had bought it. And once again, you never knew.

One morning, with a sincere heart, you prepared a simple breakfast for him. You hoped that just once, he would touch the food you made. But when you set it before him, he only cast a brief glance and said coldly, “I am not hungry. And I don’t need food from a girl like you.”

You froze, lowering your gaze before turning away, leaving with a faint, bitter smile you couldn’t quite hide.

Not long after the door closed, Cassel sat at his table. His hand reached out, taking the plate you had prepared. Without a word, he began to eat slowly. The taste was just right, warm, different from the extravagant meals usually served on a noble’s table. Something unfamiliar pressed against his chest.

Cassel stared at the empty plate for a long while, then rubbed his face harshly. “Why are you so foolish, Cassel” he muttered under his breath, as though cursing himself for continuing to wound the only woman he secretly longed to protect.