On the day in question, Julia described in great detail what had happened with Aiden at the reception and what conversation they had. On that day, when Julia visited Lienster, Erin was still out.
“I’m sorry. Madam is expected to return soon, but it may take a little while.”
“It’s okay. I can wait.”
Julia replied nonchalantly.
This happened while she was waiting in the drawing room, sipping the tea prepared by the servants.
There was a knock on the door and it opened.
Julia turned around to find an unexpected figure standing there.
“Your Grace?”
Aiden nodded lightly and took a seat opposite her.
Then, without giving any formal greetings or explaining the reason for his visit to the drawing room, he just stared intently at Julia.
He remained silent and just gazed at her for a long time.
The atmosphere became even more awkward and strange.
“Why are you like this? Is there something you want to say to me…?”
Julia asked cautiously. But Aiden’s lips remained tightly sealed.
So, in her own way, she inferred the reason he had come to see her.
“Is it related to Lady Quiness? I already prepared what you mentioned last time.”
Every time Aiden sent a letter to Lady Quiness, he had been asking Julia for a piece of art to include alongside the letter. What Julia mentioned last time was something Aiden had asked for.
“Don’t worry about it. I believe you’ll do it well.”
Aiden said casually.
It wasn’t really an expression of consideration for Julia. Therefore, it was that very statement of trust that actually resonated with Julia.
“Wow.”
Julia let out a short exclamation, covering her mouth with her round eyes widened.
“I’m really touched right now.”
“…?”
Aiden’s eyebrow twitched slightly.
It was understandable why – Julia’s sudden reaction was something he couldn’t quite comprehend. But Julia meant it.
So, she began to speak about what had just crossed her mind.
“Before coming to the capital, I was like a big sister to everyone at the orphanage. So everyone trusted and relied on me,” Julia continues, and Aiden doesn’t interrupt her.
However, he doesn’t show any particular reaction. Julia continues speaking, “But when I came to the capital, I found myself relying on others instead.”
Julia smiles somewhat sadly.
“Of course, I’m really grateful for what they do for me. It’s just that sometimes I miss the feeling of being relied on.”
Julia says, feeling a bit embarrassed. But Aiden remains unresponsive.
“I’m sorry. I guess I should just stop talking,” Julia feels embarrassed for having talked about it when the other person doesn’t seem interested.
“Not really,” Aiden unexpectedly responds.
“…?”
“It was rather interesting,” Julia makes a sound of admiration this time, without a word. Until then, although she had spoken to him a few times, the impression was always somewhat cold and difficult.
Furthermore, the Duke of Lianster seemed to have a cool and impeccable external reputation. It felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“So, that’s the kind of person he is.” Aiden felt like he had learned a bit more about Aiden Lianster.
The Duke of Lianster quietly listened without interrupting as Julia’s stream-of-consciousness-like story continued.
He didn’t just ignore her, but rather gave her his full attention. So, Julia suddenly found herself blurting out thoughts that she had only kept in her heart until then, much like how her innermost feelings would naturally come out when talking to Erin.
Erin realized that she and the Duke of Lianster seemed to be similar in some ways. And with that realization, the image of Erin and Aiden being together naturally formed in her mind.
For some reason, Julia felt like she had become a little bit closer to the Duke of Lianster.
“Miss Julia,” Aiden, who had been sparing with his words, called out to her.
“Yes, Your Grace?”
“Would you like to take a walk until Erin arrives?”
“Um…?”
It was a completely unexpected proposal. To suddenly come and suggest walking together after exchanging just a few words.
“He must have had a real reason for seeking me out.” Julia realized.
“Yes, alright.” She promptly accepted.
She was curious about what he was about to say. Julia and Aiden rose together and headed toward the estate.
Though they walked side by side, there was a slight distance between them.
“I heard that you will be attending the upcoming soirée with Erin,” Aiden said.
“Yes, she offered to help me acclimate to society, so we’ve been meeting quite frequently lately.”
“Then… what have you been doing and talking about during your meetings with Erin?” Aiden asked, looking off into the distance.
In truth, this was what Aiden was really curious about. Recently, the time Erin and Julia spent together had noticeably increased.
The more they met, the more he wondered exactly what they did and what conversations they had.
However, while Erin used to elaborate on the events of her day in detail, she conspicuously avoided mentioning anything related to Julia.
When Aiden casually asked, she would brush over it quickly. So that’s why he had come looking for Julia today, after hearing that she was alone.
But Julia couldn’t know or even guess about Aiden’s thoughts. So she listened carefully to his words, feeling puzzled, and blinked.
Then she cautiously asked, “Are you seriously asking me this?”
“I thought maybe sharing a conversation would ease Erin’s concerns,” Aiden replied.
Julia’s head tilted slightly.
Because he maintained an expressionless face, his thoughts didn’t show clearly.
But his obvious hesitation after coming to find her and remaining tight-lipped made it certain that he was hesitating about something that he struggled to verbalize.
“Does he have an unexpectedly shy side?” Julia, whose impression of Aiden had changed during their brief conversation today, opened her mouth with a thought that she never would have entertained with anyone else.
“Even now, you’re helping me a lot, so I’m gradually adjusting well. You were the one who first suggested my participation in the reception from that perspective.”
“It seems like Erin really thinks highly of you. Is there any particular reason for that between the two of you?”
“A reason… well, she saved me once. She looked so cool back then! I still vividly remember that day.”
“…”
Aiden fell silent.
But Julia, already immersed in the memory of that day, continued.
“Sister, you really think about me a lot.”
“Sister…?”
Aiden’s mouth quirked slightly.
But from Julia’s perspective, it seemed like he was smiling, so she couldn’t read his true expression.
“It sounds so warm. It seems like Erin really likes you.”
Aiden murmured meaningfully.
But his voice was as calm and gentle as ever.
“Yes, I really do!”
Julia exclaimed with a wide smile.
“I’m just so happy to have met you in the capital.”
As Erin’s story came up, Julia’s face, which had been awkward until recently, suddenly relaxed.
“This connection means so much to me,” Julia expressed her joy and excitement. In an instant, she seemed to forget the tension in front of Aiden and spoke out with excitement, “I want to continue meeting and interacting with you in the future.”
It was then that Aiden suddenly stopped walking, turned and looked at Julia. Facing his gaze directly, Julia felt that her previous notion of Aiden being somewhat at ease was all a misconception.
He mostly had an impassive face, but now it was more inscrutable. At a glance, it seemed like he was tense, angry, or displeased. In any case, it didn’t seem like a good expression.
Aiden looked at Julia’s face intently and slowly began to speak, “Charte, there’s something I’ve been curious about.”
“Yes…?” Aiden continued to approach Julia, creating an overwhelming sense of suffocation and involuntary tension.
It was a little scary. Aiden’s lips slowly parted, and he whispered quietly to Julia. Although his concentration was so fragile that it wouldn’t have been heard if it wavered just a bit, Julia didn’t miss a single word.
“Are you possibly harboring different feelings for Erin?”
Julia couldn’t say anything and could only stare blankly.
“Your Grace. Something…”
Looking as if she had just heard something utterly absurd, Julia hesitated, fumbling to find the right words to speak.
