The Duke’s estate felt like a place out of time—grand, cold, and impeccably silent. A month of marriage had passed, and while Itoshi Sae’s presence remained as composed as ever, there were moments where you sensed something more beneath the surface.

You found him in his study, sitting at his desk, eyes scanning over a mountain of paperwork. He didn’t immediately acknowledge your entrance, his focus unwavering, yet there was a subtle shift in the air when he finally spoke.

“You’re back early,” he remarked, his voice carefully neutral, but there was a slight edge to it—something almost like concern, though he quickly masked it.

You didn’t answer, and he didn’t expect you to. Sae’s eyes flickered briefly to the window, where the fading sunlight illuminated the estate’s vast grounds.

“I’ve heard you’ve been spending time in the west garden,” he said, a quiet pause hanging in the air. “It’s... good to have somewhere peaceful to retreat to, I suppose.”

His tone was stiff, almost as though he regretted even saying it, but the words were there—proof of his awareness, however subtle.