Carlos quietly respected the child’s wish to be alone with Aneta, stepping back without protest. When Aneta hesitated, her lips parting as if to say something, Carlos shook his head again, signaling her not to worry. Then he climbed into his carriage, waiting alongside Aneta’s, and left.

However, Carlos only yielded so easily on that first day. He soon realized that if he continued accommodating Rodion, he wouldn’t be able to spend time alone with Aneta until the boy returned home. And Carlos was the kind of man who felt restless without seeing her, so he quickly abandoned the idea of stepping aside for the child.

Despite knowing Rodion disapproved of his visits to the Adenauer estate, Carlos continued to visit so frequently that it seemed the threshold might wear down. Every time, Rodion would drop whatever he was doing and rush to insert himself between Carlos and Aneta.

Carlos, who often came hoping for moments alone with Aneta, found himself facing the boy’s sharp, disapproving looks. But undeterred by the thorny glares, Carlos stayed longer and visited even more often.

It was no surprise that Rodion found Carlos increasingly intolerable.

Carlos had always been a person Rodion couldn’t stand in both the past and the present. Whenever he saw Carlos, it was as though he could hear the whispers of others gossiping about Aneta.

As a result, Rodion’s attitude toward Carlos grew more hostile with each passing day.

“You’re here again today, I see.”

Rodion’s words, dripping with barely concealed sarcasm, as if questioning how someone could have so little to do that they visited daily, were met with indifference from Carlos. He was accustomed to dealing with far worse hostility and malice, and the boy’s emotions failed to ruffle him.
Had Rodion not been Vernon and Aneta’s younger brother, Carlos might have found the boy’s behavior endearing at most, then swiftly lost interest. But Rodion, unaware of how rare it was for Carlos to tolerate him, continued to worm his way between Carlos and Aneta whenever he could. Yet, rather than showing irritation, Carlos doted on the two of them with patient affection.

Then one day, Rodion, who would usually rush out when Carlos arrived, was nowhere to be seen. Puzzled, Carlos asked about him.

“Aneta, I don’t see Rodion today.”

“Vernon took him out. He said he’d spend the day with Chris, and they would return together later.”

“Then how about we go out for a meal? If you’re free, that is.”

Carlos extended his hand toward Aneta in a gesture that felt like an invitation to escort her.

“I love seeing you spend time with good people, but I also think I need time to have you all to myself. Lately, we haven’t had much of that.”

The expectant look in his eyes, silently pleading with her to take his hand, was something Aneta couldn’t ignore.

“Alright. Rodion said he wouldn’t be back until late in the evening. But you know we can’t stay out too long, right?”

“As long as we have enough time for a meal, that’s all I need.”

When Aneta placed her hand over his, Carlos clasped it gently to prevent her from changing her mind. The affection was evident in the way his thumb softly caressed the back of her hand.

Hand in hand, they descended the stairs together, and Aneta finally voiced the question lingering in her mind. She hadn’t had the chance to ask because Rodion was always around.

“You know, I’ve been meaning to ask… did something happen between you and Rodion while I was away?”

She referred to when the original story’s forces had compelled her to leave the capital under the pretense of travel. Just bringing up that period left a sour taste in her mouth, but she couldn’t help but ask.

“No, not at all. The only times I saw Rodion were when he was just starting to walk and learning to talk. I didn’t see him while you were gone, so I had no chance to do anything wrong.”

Carlos’s answer came with a slightly uneasy expression, as if discussing that period was as unpleasant for him as it was for her.

“Then why is Rodion acting like this? He seems overly hostile toward you, and I’m worried.”

“I have an idea. Trust me for now, and please don’t say anything to him. It’s more important to break down the wall he’s built against me than to scold him.”

“If you insist…”

Aneta decided to trust that Carlos would handle the situation well. She figured he had his plan in mind.

“But at least let him apologize. I’m sorry for now, but next time, I hope Rodion will be the one to apologize himself.”

“It’s fine. I’m not offended; honestly, I just find it kind of cute. And besides, he reminds me of you strangely, so I can’t be upset no matter what he says.”

Rodion, having inherited the strong bloodline of the Adenauer family through his mother, Liliette, closely resembled Aneta in terms of his features and eyes. He looked so much like Aneta that people could easily mistake him for her sibling rather than Vernon’s.

“It’s a shame he doesn’t like me. It hurts to be disliked by a child who looks so much like you,” Carlos said, placing a hand over his heart. Though his words were playful, they had a touch of sincerity.

Aneta smiled and gave his hand a firm squeeze. Their fingers intertwined tightly, sharing warmth without the slightest gap.

“My Lady, are you heading out?”

Isabel met them at the foot of the stairs. Her black eyes glanced at their clasped hands, a smile of satisfaction spreading across her lips.

“We’re just going out for a quick dinner. If Rodion returns before we do, could you send me a message?”

“Of course. Don’t worry and enjoy your time out,” Isabel replied, stepping back and opening the door for them.

But before they could leave, they encountered someone who had arrived earlier than expected—Vernon and Rodion had returned.

“Aneta, Carlos.”

“Vernon, you said you’d be back late. What brings you back so early?”

“This kid insisted we return early. He wouldn’t stop pestering me to go back. It’s not even his house, but he was in such a rush to get here.”

Vernon gestured toward Rodion, who was holding his hand. Naturally, Aneta and Carlos followed his gaze.

Despite being the center of attention, Rodion focused solely on the sight of Carlos holding Aneta’s hand. He stared intently at their clasped hands, as if transfixed.

“So, where are you two going, holding hands like that?” Vernon’s teasing voice was playful, as he noticed what Rodion had seen—that the two were about to leave the estate together.

“We were just heading out for a quick dinner,” Carlos replied.

“Then go ahead. I’ll stay here with this little one.”

Vernon waved the envelope he had tucked under his arm—the same documents he had been reviewing all day.

“I’ve got paperwork to keep me busy until you get back. Besides, I owe you a lot, Aneta. It wouldn’t be right for me to disrupt your date.”

Understanding the discomfort their sudden arrival had caused, Vernon pulled Rodion along, giving them space. But before he could even finish speaking, Rodion interrupted.

“No.”

“Rodion,” Vernon said, surprised.

“I want to go too. I’m hungry,” Rodion insisted.

“You just had dinner earlier. You said you were full, and now you’re hungry again?” Vernon clicked his tongue, sensing something off about his little brother’s behavior. Despite Vernon’s exasperation, Rodion repeated his demand.

“I’m hungry, so I’m going with my sister.”

“The sister you love so much wants to go on a date. We need to cooperate and let her be. How about I ask someone to bring you a snack if you’re that hungry, okay?”

Vernon tried to coax his brother, but it was futile. Rodion pulled his hand away from Vernon’s grasp.

“You should go back to the estate. You’re busy, aren’t you?” Rodion said, determined not to give in.

Vernon stood there in shock at his brother’s stubbornness. But he wasn’t the only one caught off guard. Aneta, too, was at a loss for how to handle the situation. She had already planned to spend some alone time with Carlos, and if Rodion joined them, it would be no different than before.

Vernon, feeling guilty for holding the two of them up, furrowed his brow. Carlos stepped in just as he was about to scold his unusually stubborn younger brother.

“If he wants to come, let him.”

“You sure about that?” Vernon asked in surprise. Though Aneta didn’t say anything, her expression mirrored Vernon’s question as she looked at Carlos.

“I’m sure. Newlyweds like you have plenty to do, so you should go back and focus on your work. The wedding’s only five days away, right? Time must be running out,” Carlos replied with a reassuring smile.

As soon as Carlos gave his approval, Rodion wasted no time. He quickly darted over and snatched Aneta’s hand from Carlos.

Vernon looked sternly at Rodion, but the boy hid behind Aneta.

Seeing Vernon’s apologetic face, Aneta nodded as if to tell him to follow Carlos’ suggestion.

In the end, the four of them left the estate together. Vernon, who had to return to the palace, glanced back before boarding his carriage.

“Rodion, remember to behave politely,” Vernon reminded, his voice firm.

Rodion’s lips parted as if he had much to say, but he remained silent, looking away instead, his expression showing how unfair he found his brother’s rebuke.

“I really don’t know what’s gotten into him. I’m sorry, but I’ll leave him in your care,” Vernon sighed.

“Don’t worry about it,” Carlos reassured him.

With that, Vernon climbed into his carriage and left with a sigh.
Aneta, Carlos, and Rodion boarded their carriage and headed to a restaurant. When they arrived, the sight of the three together drew some glances, as if it was an unusual combination, but the attention soon faded.

Luckily, it was still early, and a private room was available. While a staff member fetched a chair suited to Rodion’s height, there was little conversation.

“Is there something you’d like to eat, Rodion?” Aneta was the first to break the silence, handing him the menu to dispel the awkward atmosphere. She pretended to take his earlier claim about being hungry seriously.

“The tenderloin steak here is pretty good,” Carlos added, supporting her effort by recommending something. He suggested it because it was a smaller, softer portion, suitable for Rodion.

However, as expected, Rodion looked like he was about to refuse, unwilling to accept Carlos’ suggestion. Sensing this, Aneta quickly intervened.

“That’s true. The last time I had it, it was delicious. I think I’ll order that too.”

Rodion, who would never leave food uneaten out of pride, would likely finish whatever was placed in front of him. To avoid the risk of him overeating and getting sick, Aneta thought this was the safest option.

“I’ll have the same as my sister,” Rodion said.

Aneta’s intervention seemed to work. Rodion, abandoning his earlier resistance, followed her lead. His words, however, made it clear that he was ordering the same thing as Aneta, not because of Carlos’ suggestion.

Once they had decided on their main dishes, Rodion clung to Aneta, asking for her help in choosing a drink and dessert. He pretended to deliberate, intentionally excluding Carlos from the conversation. But both Carlos and Aneta noticed his behavior immediately.

Carlos, catching Aneta’s glance, smiled as if to assure her that he didn’t mind. Aneta, recognizing the sincerity in his smile, felt relieved and turned her attention back to Rodion’s requests. Carlos, in turn, simply rested his chin on his hand, watching them.

Despite Rodion’s obvious animosity, Carlos felt no negativity toward the boy. Instead, he wondered how he could soften the child’s hostility in the little time they had left.