Aiden, while in the carriage returning home, finally identified something he could do. More accurately, he discovered something closer to “what he was able to do.”
‘As soon as I get home, I’ll prepare the gun.’
He regularly maintained the gun in case of emergencies, such as the appearance of wild animals. However, this time, he planned to load it with plenty of bullets and adjust it for quicker firing.
If Duke Glasster decided he had to marry Anje off to someone else no matter what, there was a possibility he might resort to using force to kidnap her.
Of course, the divorce agreement required the signatures of both parties, so Aiden could simply refuse to sign. However, what if the duke threatened him, saying to sign if he wanted Anje to stay safe?
‘In the end, I’d have no choice but to sign.’
The duke, who was terribly concerned with his reputation, probably wouldn’t bother coming all the way to the countryside just because of Aiden and Anje. But who could predict for sure?
‘Even if he does come, at most, he’d bring a servant or one or two bodyguards. After all, to him, I’m nothing more than an illegitimate child.’
His thumbnail dug into his palm, leaving a deep crescent-shaped mark.
Making someone like the duke and a few others disappear would be a piece of cake for him. All the skills he learned in the military had been related to such tasks.
Moreover, this forest was his territory. He could disguise it as an attack by wild animals, or make it look like they’d accidentally slipped off a cliff.
Even though he had vowed never to stain his hands with blood again, anyone trying to take Anje away from him would be an exception.
Considering the heartless tone in the letter the duke had sent to Anje, it wasn’t as if the duke would be missed if he were to ‘disappear.’ Treating Anje like a merchandise—how could he do such a thing, especially to his own daughter…
“Aiden?”
Startled by the voice calling him, Aiden adjusted his posture.
“Yes, Anje?”
He regretted it as soon as he met Anje’s eyes without thinking. Reflected in her clear green eyes was his own face, thickly filled with the murderous intent he thought he had long abandoned.
He didn’t want to show Anje such a face. He wanted to show her only his kind and good side.
Shifting his gaze slightly away from her, the lengthening shadows of the forest were now staring at him.
A man seriously contemplating how to eliminate his beloved’s father without leaving any trace.
He felt, as always, that he was far too inadequate for her.
Yet, despite this, he was also selfish enough to not be able to willingly send her to someone better than him.
‘You’re just like Duke Glasster. Forcing her to stay by your side regardless of her wishes.’
The shadow seemed to speak to him. Unable to answer with a denial, he clenched his fist.
“I’ve noticed your mind seems elsewhere since earlier… Is something wrong?”
She asked, carefully observing his dark expression with a cautious tone.
“Did I pick out too many clothes? I’m sorry. It must be overwhelming, right? Mr. Pierre’s designs were all so beautiful that—”
“No, that’s not it. Not at all.”
He quickly denied her words. It was true that he had been quiet, lost in thoughts related to her, but being able to buy her new autumn clothes was something that made him genuinely happy.
“You don’t have to worry about the money. The farm is doing so well, and I’ve saved up plenty of money.”
When he had lived alone, even having money, there was nowhere he wanted to spend it, so he simply kept saving. Only after he started buying things for Anje did he begin to discover the joy of shopping, and it was even enjoyable to him.
With a sigh of relief, Anje asked,
“Then what were you thinking about so deeply?”
“…That’s…”
Since he couldn’t say that he had been thinking about how to deal with her father, he quickly rolled his eyes to look for another excuse. Just then, a brightly shining river between the bushes caught his eye.
“I was wondering if we should go fishing together later.”
After seeing Anje enjoying fish and chips on the festival day, he had made a mental note to go fishing, so it wasn’t entirely fabricated.
“Fishing?”
Anje’s eyes widened as she clapped her hands, saying, “That sounds fun!”
“I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard about it a few times.”
It was a hobby mainly enjoyed by nobles with estates in the North. Without exception, they would boast in salons about catching bigger salmon, even though everyone knew that the role of their hired guides, the ghillies, was far more significant.
Aiden, relieved that she had happily accepted the excuse he had hastily made up, suggested another activity to enjoy.
“We could grill the fish over a campfire after catching them.”
“That sounds fun too! Oh, and let’s roast marshmallows too!”
As he listened to Anje propose one idea after another, Aiden’s mood also lightened.
It was amazing. Just having a conversation like this could make him so happy.
He hoped this happiness would last a long time.
“Shall we hurry home, then?”
“Let’s do that. Giddy-up, boys.”
Anje urged the horses to quicken their pace. As the sun sank lower, a large shadow stretched beneath them, silently chasing after their speeding carriage.
* * *
‘Ah!’ A faint scream caused the bird strolling by the water to flutter away. The sound of the man consoling the woman, suppressing his laughter, spread across the surface of the river.
“You can do it, Anje.”
“No… I absolutely can’t.”
“If you just close your eyes and try it once, it’ll be easier from the second time.”
“Ugh… It’s so gross how it wriggles… Ah! Even though it’s been cut in half, it’s still moving!”
For a moment, Aiden thought that even the fish might have fled at Anje’s loud voice. However, instead of scolding her, he reached out his hand.
“There’s no choice, noble lady. I shall step in.”
Had she behaved like this in the past, he would have disapproved, thinking she was shirking the dirty work under the pretense of being a duke’s daughter.
But now, she only seemed adorable to his eyes as she fussed about.
“I’ll leave it to you, Sir Aiden.”
Answering in a solemn tone, she handed him her fishing hook. She had been trying various ways to attach the earthworm to the hook, but the wriggling brown creature was something she simply couldn’t get used to.
Though she had grown accustomed to seeing such creatures during her work, handling them barehanded and skewering them alive on a hook was still a challenge.
After attaching the bait for her, he handed the fishing line back to her.
“Now, as I taught you earlier, you just have to cast it out big.”
“Alright, over there?”
“Yes, and don’t throw the fishing rod itself this time.”
“It’s because my hands were too slippery, I’m telling you!”
Anje protested, her face flushed with the colors of the sunset. How could he tease her so soon after a mistake she wanted to forget? She couldn’t get too angry, though, as Aiden had rolled up his pants and waded into the river to retrieve the fishing rod she had accidentally thrown.
Now, she had no choice but to recover her honor by demonstrating her excellent fishing skills. Straightening her back and holding the fishing line, Anje declared:
“Watch closely. I’ll show you how well I can cast it.”
“Of course.”
With a whoosh, the fishing line cut through the evening sky and dropped into the water with a plop.
“That’s it. Well done, Anje.”
For a beginner, it was a clean cast, and Aiden didn’t hold back his praise. Of course, he didn’t miss the chance to tease her subtly when she started to feel proud.
“You’ve improved a lot from before. Look, the fishing rod is still safely in your hands.”
“If you keep saying that, you’ll be the next bait.”
If she tied him tightly to the line as a large bait, she might be able to catch a whale or something.
“…Hmm.”
Anje, watching the float bobbing on the water, paused briefly before speaking.
“What do I do now?”
“Wait until the fish bites.”
“Oh…”
Waiting quietly—something Anje was least confident in. She’d much rather run around or exert herself physically.
“Isn’t there a trick to make them bite faster or something?”
“Just fishing like this is a trick in itself.”
When evening comes and the water temperature drops, fish that were hiding in the depths to avoid the scorching sun come closer to the surface. This increases the chances of catching bigger, livelier fish compared to fishing during the day.
Listening to his explanation, Anje marveled.
“So that’s why you deliberately waited until sunset? I thought it was because it’s hard to fish under the hot sun.”
“That’s right. Besides,the process of waiting for the fish is one of the joys of fishing.”
Aiden cast his line beside her.
“You could use a net in deep waters or place traps in calm areas (areas with slow currents) to catch many fish at once… but it’s completely different from the thrill of fishing.”
“Really?”
Intrigued by his words, Anje became curious. What kind of feeling could he mean?
“Then, let’s wait and see.”
“Yes, there aren’t many other fishermen here, so we should get a signal soon—”
“Wait, I think something’s biting! I-Isn’t it?”
Anje urged Aiden for confirmation, her face close to his. Startled, he stammered for a moment before checking the float and nodding.
“It seems so. Now, hold the rod firmly with both hands.”
“Wow, it’s heavy! What should I do? Won’t the line snap?”
“Just keep pulling steadily. That’s it.”
The first fish to reveal itself above the water’s surface was a plump trout flapping vigorously. Holding the fish in both hands, Anje was so delighted she forgot to feel disgusted.
“When we eat it later, do we just grill it like this over the fire.”
Nearby, they had already lit a campfire in a clearing to avoid disturbing their fishing.
“You have to clean it first.”
“Clean it?”
Since she had always used pickled fish or fish bought from the market in her cooking, Anje was unfamiliar with the process of cleaning fresh caught fish.
Aiden kindly explained for her sake.
“You just cut open the belly, remove the guts, clean the blood from the spine, and then skewer it through the eye. Simple, right?”
“…I’ll leave that to you.”
TL/N: LOL.
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