Janet waited anxiously for a response to her plea for help from Noah and Diana. There had been no word yesterday, and she was growing increasingly impatient as the delay grew longer and longer.
The letter she found in the admiral's safe that day was a simple greeting, but it was encrypted by rearranging the plain text into a specific order.
The letter was the first to reveal that Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal would die, but the lack of a precise location or date was incredibly frustrating. Furthermore, it hinted at a war of unprecedented scale.
Telling the lieutenant colonel directly could put Celine's father, the admiral, in danger, so the only way was to persuade him to leave for Medea. Otherwise, she had to choose between one person: her husband, Geoffrey Groenendaal, or her father, Winston Clare. But Celine refused to give up on anyone. Frustrated, Janet had contacted her several times since asking for help, but still, there was no response.
When she went to Celine's new home and told her that Noah and Diana hadn't responded, she was detached and showed no emotion.
"No answer is still an answer. I didn't have high expectations in the first place. As I said before, that kid is a bad guy."
She wore a simple cotton dress, devoid of any ruffles or lace. Unlike her previous preference for extravagant adornment, she now wore no jewelry other than the wedding ring on her ring finger. Janet was keenly observing Celine's changes.
"Nanny. First, we have to prevent that from happening."
"From now on, Lieutenant Colonel will continue to be exposed to dangerous situations. War is imminent, so you must leave quickly."
“I can’t just wait for help. So I have to do it myself.”
Celine sat up straight. Her platinum hair was beautifully braided, revealing her slender neck. Her collarbone was sunken, revealing her emaciated figure since marriage. Janet, who had been concerned about her naturally thin and weak constitution, spoke up.
“How is your health? You’ve lost a lot of weight.”
“I’m fine. I just don’t have much of an appetite.”
Celine saw Janet's eyes widen as if she had a thought, and waved her hand in denial.
"We don't have children. We've never been together. We barely exchanged words."
Janet's expression turned gloomy, as if she'd only upset her with her pointless reaction. She also felt sorry for Celine, who had so calmly confessed that she'd never slept with her husband. Instead of offering comfort, Janet changed the subject.
“What are you going to do?”
“I have an idea.”
A shadow fell over her smiling face. She looked somewhat lonely.
As Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal was returning, Celine came out in a hurry and stood at the entrance, smiling and welcoming her husband.
“You’re here? You must have had a hard time.”
It was something she had repeated every day, but his expression and reaction were no different today, stiff and dry.
“If you haven’t eaten, I’ll prepare it for you right away.”
"It's okay."
As always, the lieutenant colonel would end this brief conversation in the study and then head to his room. Celine went to the kitchen and ordered the maid to prepare refreshments. Celine, who had brought the tea and refreshments to the study herself, smiled kindly at the lieutenant colonel.
“Let’s talk.”
“What kind of conversation are you talking about?”
"I..."
Celine, who had placed the refreshment in front of him, hesitated, looking down at the floor. The lieutenant colonel's gaze remained fixed on the book. What should I say? Will he even believe me? All sorts of thoughts swirled in her mind.
“I was wondering if you could take a vacation.”
“That’s not the case.”
“I know, but.”
Celine, who had been blinking with her head down, looked at him with a sad smile.
“Something came up that required us to go to Medea together.”
Only then did Celine feel a pang of pain in her heart as she saw a subtle wave of agitation on the face of Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, who had just met Celine's eyes.
“What’s wrong with Diana?”
At first, she planned to lie, saying something had come up. She planned to stay in Medea for a while until the Peace Alliance was fully organized, and while she was there, she also planned to meet Diana in person and try to persuade her. But what wife would easily say that when she saw her husband's expression and tone, worried about another woman?
“I want to go.”
Celine blurted out words she hadn't prepared. Jealousy, coupled with fear of being disappointed in herself if it were revealed to be a lie, was the perfect time to indulge in such jealousy and arrogance when her life was at stake.
Celine closed her eyes and sighed deeply, feeling miserable. Then, she straightened her expression and forced a smile.
“Let me say this again. I want you to come with me to the Medea United Kingdom.”
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes widened in bewilderment at her absurd suggestion.
“Are you talking about immigration?”
“Instead, I will grant you what you wish.”
“Do you know what I want?”
Jeffrey's eyebrows rose in irritation as he watched Celine not respond. His fingers tapped weakly on the desk.
"I don't understand what your intentions are in making such a proposal to me. Why must I, too, abandon my family?"
"Because I have to protect your life." Celine swallowed back tears of sorrow and put on a determined expression.
"It's the last deal. If so, please stay with me in Medea for a few days."
"Last?"
"Yes, I know exactly what you want. You don't want to see me. It must have been difficult for you to even breathe in the same house, and you must have been unhappy. I know that very well."
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's sharp eyes fixed on her without wavering. Celine, hiding her misery, forced a smile.
"I'll divorce you. That's the end of our deal, and this false relationship."
“Are you saying that the condition for staying in the Medea United Kingdom for a few days is divorce?”
The lieutenant colonel asked, sweeping back his jet-black bangs as if trying to figure out her hidden intentions.
In truth, it didn't matter what he thought. Celine had long since realized that simply tying herself down through marriage wasn't the solution. She hated seeing the man she loved die, and she held onto the hope that if she somehow saved him, she might at least have a chance to express her feelings.
Suddenly, Diana's quiet voice came to mind.
“I met him on a bad note, but we decided to start over.”
When asked why she believed the mad Duke who kidnapped her and why she married him, Diana replied:
"He risked his life to save me. He valued me as much as his own life, didn't he?"
Yes, if I save him, the way he looks at me will change. I'll end this false relationship and start over.
Celine asked the lieutenant colonel.
“Do you love Diana?”
“I don’t love her.”
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's gaze was unwavering. It wasn't clear why he was so concerned about Diana, or what the complex, nuanced emotions stemming from guilt were. But the meaning was genuine.
“If I loved her, I wouldn’t have married you.”
"Yes?"
Celine's eyes widened as she watched the lieutenant colonel say something unexpected in a conversation that seemed like it would end just like that.
"I sent her to Colonel Noah Rotsilt because I wanted her to be happy. So, that wasn't love."
The day Diana left with Noah, the New Year's fireworks beautifully illuminated the sky. Feeling uneasy, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal headed to Diana's cell and witnessed the two exiting into a dark alley.
The lieutenant colonel, who had been watching Diana from afar as she supported a man with jet-black hair in a Belford Army uniform, quickly recognized the black-haired man as Noah. After they disappeared into the alley, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal instructed the military police, who were hastily pursuing him, to search in the opposite direction, helping the two escape.
If he truly loved her, he would have killed Colonel Rotsilt, who was taking Diana away, and left her alone, and tried to win her heart by keeping her by his side.
"I don't want a divorce. I think you'd be more unhappy without love than I am."
“So, what do you wish for?”
"I told you, Diana Clare's happiness. I neither hate you nor love you. I have no feelings whatsoever."
Perhaps it was a blank slate, a state of nothingness. No matter what you multiply by zero, it remains the same. Celine, gathering her confused thoughts, asked.
“You don’t hate me?”
"Yes."
Transforming relationships from zero to one is both easy and difficult. She barely managed to swallow the overwhelming emotions of superiority. At least she felt relieved that she wasn't being hated.
"Thank you."
“What do you mean?”
Celine didn't answer. That was also the answer.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal accepted Celine's offer to stay with her in Medea for two weeks, but she insisted on a divorce.
In the early morning, with the lingering gloom of night, Celine, wrapped in a shawl, went out to the garden to see her husband off to the Belford Army headquarters of the allied Duchy of Cainsoe.
“It’ll take about a week. I’ll go to Medea after I get back.”
“A week?”
"Yes."
The lieutenant colonel's brow furrowed slightly at the sight of the morning dew on the thin shawl draped around her slender shoulders. He remembered the butler's report last night that Celine had a fever.
“You're not feeling well, so please go in now.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Celine stared at Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, still in his officer's uniform, with a worried expression. If an officer were to be shot in a foreign allied nation, it could have far-reaching consequences for international affairs, so her father wouldn't do something so thoughtless. That's why she didn't forcefully stop him from going.
“Jeffrey, no, Colonel.”
Celine, her shoulders hunched in surprise, quickly corrected herself. He, who had been looking down at her, answered kindly.
“You can call me by my name. After all, we’re a married couple.”
"Yes, Jeffrey. Have a nice trip. And, I'm sorry."
Celine smiled brightly, like a child. Growing up adored, she was selfish and cunning, but she also had a surprising side, shyness, and a penchant for small things, as expected for her age.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal knew that Celine's proposal of a deal and marriage wasn't malicious, but simply a desire to have someone she loved by her side. She never tires of pushing for a contract marriage, never tires of constantly demanding what she wants.
Rather, like a child who wants to be liked, she tried to please him and paid attention to his feelings.
The lieutenant colonel tried not to give her any room for expectation or disappointment.
He's been indifferent to Diana's plight, even hurting her a few times because she was Admiral Claire's beloved daughter, but he didn't feel like it. It was a meaningless act, and he felt guilty for being so cruel to someone who had identified themselves as vulnerable.
"Her fingertips are covered in bruises. From making me an embroidered tie. He has a beautiful heart."
His father, the Prime Minister, said this, showing off the embroidered tie around his neck. Celine tends to give him all to those she chooses. Diana is no exception. The only person she allows a genuine smile to be from is Noah Rotsilt. She neither accepts nor gives her heart to anyone else she chooses. The lieutenant colonel, sitting in his car, looked in the rearview mirror at Celine, still standing there, facing him. A woman who always stares at his back. Could he, too, change for the better if he were led to repent and reflect?
He was also human, so his views and thoughts on her, who was working so hard with dedication, were gradually changing.
Celine, who was embroidering after breakfast, jumped to her feet when the maid told her that Janet had visited. Diana might have offered to help.
As she opened the door with a knock, she saw a pale-faced Janet standing there, panting.
Her hair, which was always neatly combed and tied tightly, was now loose, and the bangs that had fallen out were soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead.
“Has the lieutenant colonel already left?”
“Yes, Nanny. What’s the matter?”
Janet, gasping for breath, finally collapsed to the floor, staring up at Celine with despairing eyes. Seeing tears trickle down her face, Celine's face, sensing something, gradually turned pale.
“The day the plan is put into action is today, the day the Lieutenant Colonel heads to Command Headquarters.”
The letter she found in the admiral's safe that day was a simple greeting, but it was encrypted by rearranging the plain text into a specific order.
The letter was the first to reveal that Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal would die, but the lack of a precise location or date was incredibly frustrating. Furthermore, it hinted at a war of unprecedented scale.
Telling the lieutenant colonel directly could put Celine's father, the admiral, in danger, so the only way was to persuade him to leave for Medea. Otherwise, she had to choose between one person: her husband, Geoffrey Groenendaal, or her father, Winston Clare. But Celine refused to give up on anyone. Frustrated, Janet had contacted her several times since asking for help, but still, there was no response.
When she went to Celine's new home and told her that Noah and Diana hadn't responded, she was detached and showed no emotion.
"No answer is still an answer. I didn't have high expectations in the first place. As I said before, that kid is a bad guy."
She wore a simple cotton dress, devoid of any ruffles or lace. Unlike her previous preference for extravagant adornment, she now wore no jewelry other than the wedding ring on her ring finger. Janet was keenly observing Celine's changes.
"Nanny. First, we have to prevent that from happening."
"From now on, Lieutenant Colonel will continue to be exposed to dangerous situations. War is imminent, so you must leave quickly."
“I can’t just wait for help. So I have to do it myself.”
Celine sat up straight. Her platinum hair was beautifully braided, revealing her slender neck. Her collarbone was sunken, revealing her emaciated figure since marriage. Janet, who had been concerned about her naturally thin and weak constitution, spoke up.
“How is your health? You’ve lost a lot of weight.”
“I’m fine. I just don’t have much of an appetite.”
Celine saw Janet's eyes widen as if she had a thought, and waved her hand in denial.
"We don't have children. We've never been together. We barely exchanged words."
Janet's expression turned gloomy, as if she'd only upset her with her pointless reaction. She also felt sorry for Celine, who had so calmly confessed that she'd never slept with her husband. Instead of offering comfort, Janet changed the subject.
“What are you going to do?”
“I have an idea.”
A shadow fell over her smiling face. She looked somewhat lonely.
***
As Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal was returning, Celine came out in a hurry and stood at the entrance, smiling and welcoming her husband.
“You’re here? You must have had a hard time.”
It was something she had repeated every day, but his expression and reaction were no different today, stiff and dry.
“If you haven’t eaten, I’ll prepare it for you right away.”
"It's okay."
As always, the lieutenant colonel would end this brief conversation in the study and then head to his room. Celine went to the kitchen and ordered the maid to prepare refreshments. Celine, who had brought the tea and refreshments to the study herself, smiled kindly at the lieutenant colonel.
“Let’s talk.”
“What kind of conversation are you talking about?”
"I..."
Celine, who had placed the refreshment in front of him, hesitated, looking down at the floor. The lieutenant colonel's gaze remained fixed on the book. What should I say? Will he even believe me? All sorts of thoughts swirled in her mind.
“I was wondering if you could take a vacation.”
“That’s not the case.”
“I know, but.”
Celine, who had been blinking with her head down, looked at him with a sad smile.
“Something came up that required us to go to Medea together.”
Only then did Celine feel a pang of pain in her heart as she saw a subtle wave of agitation on the face of Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, who had just met Celine's eyes.
“What’s wrong with Diana?”
At first, she planned to lie, saying something had come up. She planned to stay in Medea for a while until the Peace Alliance was fully organized, and while she was there, she also planned to meet Diana in person and try to persuade her. But what wife would easily say that when she saw her husband's expression and tone, worried about another woman?
“I want to go.”
Celine blurted out words she hadn't prepared. Jealousy, coupled with fear of being disappointed in herself if it were revealed to be a lie, was the perfect time to indulge in such jealousy and arrogance when her life was at stake.
Celine closed her eyes and sighed deeply, feeling miserable. Then, she straightened her expression and forced a smile.
“Let me say this again. I want you to come with me to the Medea United Kingdom.”
The lieutenant colonel's blue eyes widened in bewilderment at her absurd suggestion.
“Are you talking about immigration?”
“Instead, I will grant you what you wish.”
“Do you know what I want?”
Jeffrey's eyebrows rose in irritation as he watched Celine not respond. His fingers tapped weakly on the desk.
"I don't understand what your intentions are in making such a proposal to me. Why must I, too, abandon my family?"
"Because I have to protect your life." Celine swallowed back tears of sorrow and put on a determined expression.
"It's the last deal. If so, please stay with me in Medea for a few days."
"Last?"
"Yes, I know exactly what you want. You don't want to see me. It must have been difficult for you to even breathe in the same house, and you must have been unhappy. I know that very well."
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's sharp eyes fixed on her without wavering. Celine, hiding her misery, forced a smile.
"I'll divorce you. That's the end of our deal, and this false relationship."
“Are you saying that the condition for staying in the Medea United Kingdom for a few days is divorce?”
The lieutenant colonel asked, sweeping back his jet-black bangs as if trying to figure out her hidden intentions.
In truth, it didn't matter what he thought. Celine had long since realized that simply tying herself down through marriage wasn't the solution. She hated seeing the man she loved die, and she held onto the hope that if she somehow saved him, she might at least have a chance to express her feelings.
Suddenly, Diana's quiet voice came to mind.
“I met him on a bad note, but we decided to start over.”
When asked why she believed the mad Duke who kidnapped her and why she married him, Diana replied:
"He risked his life to save me. He valued me as much as his own life, didn't he?"
Yes, if I save him, the way he looks at me will change. I'll end this false relationship and start over.
Celine asked the lieutenant colonel.
“Do you love Diana?”
“I don’t love her.”
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal's gaze was unwavering. It wasn't clear why he was so concerned about Diana, or what the complex, nuanced emotions stemming from guilt were. But the meaning was genuine.
“If I loved her, I wouldn’t have married you.”
"Yes?"
Celine's eyes widened as she watched the lieutenant colonel say something unexpected in a conversation that seemed like it would end just like that.
"I sent her to Colonel Noah Rotsilt because I wanted her to be happy. So, that wasn't love."
The day Diana left with Noah, the New Year's fireworks beautifully illuminated the sky. Feeling uneasy, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal headed to Diana's cell and witnessed the two exiting into a dark alley.
The lieutenant colonel, who had been watching Diana from afar as she supported a man with jet-black hair in a Belford Army uniform, quickly recognized the black-haired man as Noah. After they disappeared into the alley, Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal instructed the military police, who were hastily pursuing him, to search in the opposite direction, helping the two escape.
If he truly loved her, he would have killed Colonel Rotsilt, who was taking Diana away, and left her alone, and tried to win her heart by keeping her by his side.
"I don't want a divorce. I think you'd be more unhappy without love than I am."
“So, what do you wish for?”
"I told you, Diana Clare's happiness. I neither hate you nor love you. I have no feelings whatsoever."
Perhaps it was a blank slate, a state of nothingness. No matter what you multiply by zero, it remains the same. Celine, gathering her confused thoughts, asked.
“You don’t hate me?”
"Yes."
Transforming relationships from zero to one is both easy and difficult. She barely managed to swallow the overwhelming emotions of superiority. At least she felt relieved that she wasn't being hated.
"Thank you."
“What do you mean?”
Celine didn't answer. That was also the answer.
***
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal accepted Celine's offer to stay with her in Medea for two weeks, but she insisted on a divorce.
In the early morning, with the lingering gloom of night, Celine, wrapped in a shawl, went out to the garden to see her husband off to the Belford Army headquarters of the allied Duchy of Cainsoe.
“It’ll take about a week. I’ll go to Medea after I get back.”
“A week?”
"Yes."
The lieutenant colonel's brow furrowed slightly at the sight of the morning dew on the thin shawl draped around her slender shoulders. He remembered the butler's report last night that Celine had a fever.
“You're not feeling well, so please go in now.”
“Thank you for your concern.”
Celine stared at Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal, still in his officer's uniform, with a worried expression. If an officer were to be shot in a foreign allied nation, it could have far-reaching consequences for international affairs, so her father wouldn't do something so thoughtless. That's why she didn't forcefully stop him from going.
“Jeffrey, no, Colonel.”
Celine, her shoulders hunched in surprise, quickly corrected herself. He, who had been looking down at her, answered kindly.
“You can call me by my name. After all, we’re a married couple.”
"Yes, Jeffrey. Have a nice trip. And, I'm sorry."
Celine smiled brightly, like a child. Growing up adored, she was selfish and cunning, but she also had a surprising side, shyness, and a penchant for small things, as expected for her age.
Lieutenant Colonel Groenendaal knew that Celine's proposal of a deal and marriage wasn't malicious, but simply a desire to have someone she loved by her side. She never tires of pushing for a contract marriage, never tires of constantly demanding what she wants.
Rather, like a child who wants to be liked, she tried to please him and paid attention to his feelings.
The lieutenant colonel tried not to give her any room for expectation or disappointment.
He's been indifferent to Diana's plight, even hurting her a few times because she was Admiral Claire's beloved daughter, but he didn't feel like it. It was a meaningless act, and he felt guilty for being so cruel to someone who had identified themselves as vulnerable.
"Her fingertips are covered in bruises. From making me an embroidered tie. He has a beautiful heart."
His father, the Prime Minister, said this, showing off the embroidered tie around his neck. Celine tends to give him all to those she chooses. Diana is no exception. The only person she allows a genuine smile to be from is Noah Rotsilt. She neither accepts nor gives her heart to anyone else she chooses. The lieutenant colonel, sitting in his car, looked in the rearview mirror at Celine, still standing there, facing him. A woman who always stares at his back. Could he, too, change for the better if he were led to repent and reflect?
He was also human, so his views and thoughts on her, who was working so hard with dedication, were gradually changing.
***
Celine, who was embroidering after breakfast, jumped to her feet when the maid told her that Janet had visited. Diana might have offered to help.
As she opened the door with a knock, she saw a pale-faced Janet standing there, panting.
Her hair, which was always neatly combed and tied tightly, was now loose, and the bangs that had fallen out were soaked with sweat and stuck to her forehead.
“Has the lieutenant colonel already left?”
“Yes, Nanny. What’s the matter?”
Janet, gasping for breath, finally collapsed to the floor, staring up at Celine with despairing eyes. Seeing tears trickle down her face, Celine's face, sensing something, gradually turned pale.
“The day the plan is put into action is today, the day the Lieutenant Colonel heads to Command Headquarters.”
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