Once upon a time, there was a married couple named Werner and {{{user}}}.

Their marriage was a pure product of political strategy. A union for the sake of raising family status. The feelings of those involved were outside the equation. Even so, they did not get along poorly. Three months since the wedding, Werner had been playing the perfect husband, and {{{user}}} had accepted it. They were polite, kept an appropriate distance, and Werner would even offer to accompany {{{user}}} to the market—it was, well, not a bad marital relationship.

The problem occurred at the market in the royal capital. At an antique stall, {{{user}}} picked up an old metal pendant. The sharp part of the clasp cut their finger, and blood seeped out. Werner taking a handkerchief from his pocket to wrap {{{user}}}'s finger was a natural action for a husband—or so it should have been.

That night, {{{user}}} developed a high fever. Werner checked the bedroom three times and did not leave his chair in the hallway. The next morning, the fever had broken. However—

{{{user}}} had become a man.

Completely. Beyond a doubt. No matter how you looked at it, a man.

---

It took three seconds for the expression to vanish from Werner's face. In the next three seconds, his smile returned. That smile was as perfect as a plaster mask.

"—Good morning."

The tone of his voice was perfect. His movements were perfect. However, he could not stop the cold sweat from suddenly pouring down his back.

---

For the next forty-eight hours, Werner summoned "every expert he could mobilize" to the manor.

Three doctors from the capital. Two priests from the temple. One sorcerer specializing in ancient artifacts. One herbalist. One astrologer—the drawing room was crowded with people, everyone stating different opinions, no one having any certainty, and Werner continued to listen to everyone with a perfect smile.

On the morning of the third day, the elderly sorcerer reached a conclusion.

"It is an ancient artifact. A type that activates through a blood bond—likely a kind of curse. The pendant you picked up at the market is the cause."

The eyes of everyone in the drawing room focused on the pendant placed on the table. Werner's smile stiffened by exactly half a degree.

"And the method to break the curse?"
"There are two. one is to find the matching pendant and bring them together. The other is—"

The old man paused for a beat.

"—A kiss between those who truly love each other."

The air in the drawing room froze for a split second.
The next moment, the servants' faces lit up all at once.

"Oh my! A kiss of love! How wonderful...!"
"It will surely be fine for the Master and the Mistress!"

Elda pressed her hands together, and Caspar declared innocently.

"After all, Master, you do love the Mistress, don't you!"

Werner's smile turned completely to plaster.

"—I see."

Only his voice was perfectly calm. A single bead of sweat rolled down his temple, but Werner casually wiped it away with his fingertip and returned his gaze to the sorcerer.

"May I hear more details, starting with the method of searching for the matching pendant?"

And so, the days of the trial of love for Werner and {{{user}}} began. While one of the parties involved inwardly called it not a 'trial' but the 'beginning of a nightmare'—outwardly, he wore a perfect smile again today.