When I opened my eyes in the morning, the sunlight touching my face felt particularly pleasant.
Erin and Aiden had been together from the moment they woke up until now. “Spending the whole day together feels like it’s been a long time,” mused Erin.
“You’re right,” Aiden replied.
Hearing Erin’s contemplative words, Aiden lightly kissed her on the cheek. Seeing her this way, Aiden noticeably felt different today.
Strangely, the ten-year-old Aiden came to mind more than ever.
“Back then, Aiden was different from now…” Erin was lost in thought.
Aiden’s expression shifted as he observed Erin. “Ouch!” Startled, Erin turned her face to the side. Aiden had lightly nibbled on her ear, leaving Erin flustered.
As she looked at Aiden in confusion, he spoke quietly with a lowered face, “Erin, when you’re with me, don’t think about anyone else.”
“…”
“Because I don’t think I could bear it, no matter who it is,” Aiden’s voice echoed softly.
Erin’s lips slowly parted as her eyes widened in surprise.
“…Even if it’s little Aiden?” she asked.
“Huh…?” Aiden responded, puzzled.
“I was just thinking about little Aiden,” Erin said, her lips curving mischievously.
Then, she forcefully pulled Aiden’s face towards her. In a sudden turn of events, Aiden found himself lying on the bed with Erin looking down at him.
“I never knew grown-up Aiden would get jealous. I went too far,” she remarked.
Aiden’s face, previously cool and composed, now showed no trace of that demeanor. Flustered by the sudden role reversal, his face grew redder by the moment.
“This makes me think of little Aiden even more. Blushing and feeling embarrassed,” Erin teased, lightly tickling Aiden’s nose.
“Even like this?” she asked.
“Huh?”
In an instant, Aiden’s hand wrapped around Erin’s waist and pulled her close.
Startled, Erin blinked her eyes.
With Aiden propping himself up slightly, he pulled Erin’s arms and legs, rolling them both over onto the bed.
Before they knew it, both of them were lying side by side, gazing at each other.
“Do I still look like the young Aiden from back then?” Aiden asked.
“No, I was mistaken,” Erin replied.
The image of a ten-year-old Aiden was no longer visible in Aiden’s appearance. He exuded a strong and sturdy aura at times, making it hard to breathe.
Yet, it was not a fear that he would harm me, but a belief that he would protect me. Erin and Aiden spent their private time intertwining with each other.
***
It was when Felix was walking briskly through the corridor that Mona blocked his path.
“What’s the matter? Are you trying to see the duke?” she asked.
“I have an important report to give, regarding the council’s affairs… but why are you blocking my way?” Felix replied.
“Is it so crucial that it will be a disaster if you don’t report today?” Mona asked bluntly.
“Well, it’s not that critical, but still…”
“Then let’s be humane and do it later,” Mona suggested.
“Why are you saying that?”
“Today, the two of them are enjoying a good time. Should we interrupt this opportunity?” Felix, who had been glancing at the door, spoke firmly, “No, we shouldn’t.”
“Exactly!”
“Then I will come back tomorrow.” Holding the documents tightly to his chest, he said with determination, “That’s a good idea.”
Suddenly, the two of them were perfectly aligned in their thinking. Felix turned and walked back the way he came without hesitation.
All the servants in the mansion were united in not disturbing the two’s time.
Thanks to this, Erin and Aiden were able to spend a whole day focusing solely on each other.
***
The next day, as morning arrived, the employees looked happily at the blushing faces of Erin and Aiden.
The two of them enjoyed leisure time together until lunch. Then, Aiden finally had a conversation with the aide he had been waiting for since morning.
Erin watched him while sipping her tea. It occurred to her that she had never watched Aiden’s back for so long, and she felt an urge to run up to him and hug him tightly when she looked at his tall frame and strong shoulders.
Although she’d hugged him a lot the day before, today she wanted to hug him again.
When she was younger, hugging him felt tight, but now, it only felt like she was wrapping her arms around him.
As she thought about Aiden’s back, her lips naturally curled into a smile.
“Who wouldn’t want a husband who has been so well-raised,” Erin murmured with a happy expression.
“The only one who expresses the Duke in that way would be the Lady,” a servant interjected.
Erin chuckled in agreement at the remark from the side. There was not a single person who didn’t recognize how impressive he was with just one glance.
However, the only person who felt proud and admiring rather than fear or awe towards such a duke was Erin. However, Erin herself was not aware of this fact.
However, the employees did not try to explain this fact to Erin, as it was obvious that she would not understand even if they did.
With everything already firmly set, she could not possibly understand. It was when Erin was smiling and looking at Aiden. Meanwhile, Aiden was having a serious conversation with Felix.
“The Emperor is paying attention to the letters sent to Lady Quiness. It seems that we should use a different method to send the letters in the future.”
“It seems that the Emperor really does not want a divorce. Seeing how closely he is monitoring the situation.”
“Furthermore, Lady Quiness has a considerable amount of property remaining in the empire. While she was in another country, she was unable to manage that property, but if she were to return after the divorce, she would regain all the rights to that property.
It would be burdensome for the Emperor.”
“That makes sense. That’s why we need Lady Quiness.”
The relationship between the Emperor and Aiden was not in sync.
They knew that from the beginning, and they were prepared for the Emperor to eventually take action.
“It looks like we need to find a different way to communicate.”
“I’m currently looking into several options. As soon as I have it organized…”
“What’s wrong?”
They were having a serious discussion about a matter that might possibly lead to a clash with the Emperor.
Suddenly, Felix had a vacant look on his face.
However, upon closer inspection, Aiden realized that Felix’s gaze was focused behind him.
As Aiden tried to follow his gaze, he suddenly felt something in his ear.
“I was reminded of the past, sorry for that.”
“….”
“Did I disturb you?”
Erin playfully teased Aiden by sticking something in his ear and smiling mischievously.
Back when he was 10, there was a time when someone had done the same to him.
As memories from that day flooded Aiden’s mind, the scent of the flower wafted around his nose.
“No way.”
Aiden responded firmly.
Anyway, the important conversation was almost over.
Just like yesterday, today Aiden planned to spend time with Erin.
As Aiden did not avert his gaze from Erin, Felix tactfully stepped back.
Erin and Aiden started a game of picking prettier flowers for each other, a game where only Erin could see the bright smile on Aiden’s face that made her feel good just by looking at it.
***
Erin had been gathering information about the noble ladies and young ladies through a recent boutique.
She intended to find out the exact reason they had shunned Julia, whether it was simply because of her past or if there were other reasons.
“It seems like they don’t ignore her just because she grew up as an orphan.”
As she meticulously examined their personal affairs and the issues entwined between families, she realized there was more information to confirm than she had initially thought.
While she spent the morning checking documents, Erin took a break in the afternoon. It was at this time that Julia Charte came to the mansion.
“I just wanted to visit.”
“Welcome.”
Erin welcomed Julia warmly, serving her tea and a simple dessert.
As they engaged in light conversation, Julia handed her a small box.
“It’s nothing much, just a little gift. Please open it.”
When Erin opened the box, she found a small, exquisitely crafted piece resembling a young girl.
It was small enough to fit in one hand, but the craftsmanship was intricate.
As Erin examined the piece closely, Julia spoke up from beside her.
“Actually, this… It kind of resembles someone, doesn’t it?”
“Does it?”
Julia looked at Erin with bright eyes, seeming to expect something to the extent of feeling a little burdensome.
Erin slowly spoke up.
“Is it me, by any chance?”
“Yes. That’s right.”
Julia blushed but couldn’t contain her joy, and she spoke with a big smile.
“It’s really nothing special, but I’ve been making all sorts of things since I was young.”
“You made it yourself?”
Erin’s surprised eyes widened.
“Yes. My parents liked it when I made things for them, but… I’m not sure if you will.”
Julia hesitated with embarrassment.
“When I was young, it was hard to get toys to play with, so we fought over the one we had, and we cried.”
Julia naturally spoke about her time in the orphanage.
As she spoke, it was clear that her past was not easy, but Julia always spoke of happy memories.
“So, I started making rough wooden carvings. At first, they were so sloppy that you couldn’t even tell what they were, so I don’t know how much the kids made fun of them.”
So Erin could listen comfortably to Julia’s story.
“But as I kept making them, my skills improved, and it became more and more enjoyable.”
Erin listened as Julia explained eagerly.
“What do you think?”
Julia asked with a face that was a mixture of anticipation and concern.
“Thank you. I really like it.”
Erin was sincere.
Objectively speaking, the piece Julia made was truly excErint. It was impossible not to like it.
“Then I’ll make another one for you next time.”
Julia said with bright eyes.
Julia seemed happier and more excited to give the gift than Erin was to receive it.
“Really? I’m looking forward to it.”
Erin and Julia chatted happily, sharing laughter.
“Come to think of it, Julia has always been interested in carving.”
Julia’s past, as she recounted, was also reflected in the original work.
“Should I tell you where the sculptors gather?”
