After finishing the conversation with Count Maynard, we left the reception room.

Although it was still early, I was planning to go to my room to rest early due to all the events that had happened.

“Claire.”

If Alex hadn’t come looking for me, I would have surely headed straight to my bedroom.

I turned around to look at him.

He was looking down at me with quite an affectionate gaze.

“Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. I have more than enough time.”

As I shrugged as if it was obvious, Alex smiled and held out his hand to me. Holding his hand, we started walking slowly down the corridor.

Usually, we would exchange small talk while walking, but today, strangely, Alex didn’t say anything. As a result, I didn’t speak to him either.

But this time, it didn’t feel uncomfortable.

We finally arrived at the central garden after passing through the corridor at a slow pace. Although only a few days had passed, the cold had lessened.

“It seems you have a good relationship with Count Maynard.”

“Of course. Both the Count and Countess have taken very good care of me.”

They were truly like family.

Even so, I was surprised when they readily said they would adopt me.

“So is that why you followed me, wanting to protect the Count and Countess?”

“Yes.”

There was no reason to hide it anymore. He must have guessed since I presented the contract.

“Are you disappointed?”

I asked, sneakily observing Alex’s reaction.

I felt sorry for misunderstanding him as just a bad person.

Alex looked down at me quietly for a while, then laughed softly.

Unable to understand what his laughter meant, I just blinked my eyes, and he opened his mouth.

“No, it was natural for you to be cautious. Just as I was.”

Alex paused for a moment and raised his head to look at the garden.

“At first, I wondered why you were being kind to me. I even thought you might be a spy. It was the first time I experienced kindness without reason.”

“……”

“It must have been the same for you. Unlike back then when you didn’t know anything, you already knew that I was Alexander Berzel. And especially after what happened in the warehouse. Rather, I was a bit surprised when you still had the courage to say you’d follow me despite all that.”

Alex spoke as if it was amusing, but even now, my body trembled slightly when I recalled that time.

It was the first shock for me, who had grown up in the peaceful Maynard household.

It’s true that even though I thought Alex might kill me if things went according to the original story, it didn’t feel real.

To me back then, it felt like something from another world.

And that seemed to make Alex feel even more frightening.

“You don’t know how scared I was back then, Alex.”

“I do.”

“…You do?”

I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected response.

Alex was still staring straight ahead.

“It’s not like I was used to it from the beginning either.”

“Really?”

My voice unintentionally rose at the unbelievable fact. Only then did Alex chuckle and nod.

“Yes. I’ve just become more accustomed to it and a bit more numb.”

After finishing his words, Alex turned to look at me.

Looking into his eyes, I could see a deep loneliness hidden there, enough to make my heart ache.

It seemed he had gone through too much, protecting the legacy left by his parents when he was young, and then dealing with Duke Franz’s schemes as he grew up.

If the matter about Duke Franz hadn’t been resolved smoothly, how much more painful a life would Alex have had to endure?

I carefully took Alex’s hand. Alex’s gaze moved along my hand and then back to my eyes. Meeting his eyes, I deliberately smiled brightly.

“You’ve been through a lot.”

“……”

When I finished speaking, I interlaced my fingers with his.

It was then.

A cold wetness fell on my cheek. I looked up at the sky. I could see gray clouds spreading across the dark night sky.

“Looks like it’s going to rain.”

Hearing that, Alex raised his head to look at the sky.

“Shall we go back?”

Because we had gone deep into the central garden, the way back was quite far.

Even if we headed back now, we were bound to get caught in the pouring rain.

Alex, who had been looking around, shook his head.

“The greenhouse is closer from here. It might be better to go there and take shelter from the rain first.”

“Let’s do that then.”

The raindrops that had started falling one or two at a time began to increase in quantity.

Alex started running towards the greenhouse, still holding my hand. I also ran towards the greenhouse following him.

“Wow! It’s really raining hard.”

After taking off my rain-soaked shawl and hanging it on a chair, I fixed my disheveled hair.

It was true that the greenhouse was close, but we still couldn’t completely avoid the rain.

Alex also took off his wet coat and brushed back his wet hair.

“Sit down and rest. Your legs will hurt if you keep standing.”

I sat down first and then patted the seat next to me as I spoke. Alex looked at me and then sat down where I had indicated.

“It seems to be a sudden shower.”

“I hope it passes quickly.”

Through the greenhouse glass, I could see the rain pouring down heavily.

If there was anything I’m thankful for, it was that the greenhouse was kept warm by magic.

“It must be spring soon. Seeing rain falling instead of snow.”

“It seems so. This winter passed by in a particularly hectic way.”

I agreed with Alex’s words. This winter had passed by in a blur with many events due to Duke Franz.

“But doesn’t this remind you of the past?”

I suddenly spoke up to change the topic.

“When we were in the warehouse?”

“Yes. It rained like this then too. Although the surroundings were much worse.”

Alex laughed silently as if recalling the past.

“I really had a hard time. Secretly bringing food, bringing clothes. Because of that, I even got accused of secretly meeting with Derrick unnecessarily.”

“Derrick?”

The moment I grumbled, Alex frowned as if displeased.

“You know, that servant Miss Veronica brought. He’s a friend I grew up with since childhood. If it weren’t for him, you would have had to wear wet clothes or be completely n*ked. The clothes you wore were his friend’s clothes.”

“……”

For some reason, Alex’s words decreased.

“Alex?”

Puzzled, I called out to him, and Alex looked at me intently.

“Are you very close with this Derrick?”

“Well, I suppose so. I told you we were friends since childhood, didn’t I?”

At my answer, Alex narrowed his eyes.

Only then did I realize that Alex was feeling unnecessary jealousy.

“Oh no, it’s not like that! He’s just a friend.”

But Alex didn’t easily relax his expression.

“Even if you’re just acquaintances with that guy, I’d prefer if you didn’t bring up other men in front of me.”

“Are you really jealous?”

“Yes.”

I couldn’t quite understand Alex being like this.

No matter what, isn’t comparing Derrick to Alex a bit much?

Even if it wasn’t Derrick, it would be equally incomprehensible.

Alex was handsome, had a good body, seemed aloof but was actually kind, seemed glib at times but took care of me meticulously.

How could anyone compare others to him, who only looked at me and told me he loved me?

As I continued my thoughts, Alex spoke again.

“I don’t want you to leave me. I want you to always be by my side.”

His voice was melodious and sweet.

“Claire.”

Alex’s hand touched my cheek. I turned my head as his hand guided me, looking up at him.

“Will you stay by my side like this forever?”

At his heart-stirring voice, I reflexively nodded.

“I will. I’ll always stay by your side.”

I could see his gaze slowly scanning my face.

Eyes, nose, lips, and back to the eyes.

As I was fully reflected in his gentle blue eyes, Alex slowly closed his eyes.

Seeing his face getting closer, I closed my eyes too.

The sweet rose scent that always emanated from him got closer. And something soft and tender touched my lips.

Feeling a tickle in my chest, I raised my hand and placed it on top of his hand that was cupping my cheek.

His hand was warm. It was a temperature so different from my hands that had cooled due to the cold.

Not wanting to lose that warmth, I carefully grasped his hand.

And not long after, Alex pulled away from me. The sensation that had touched my lips and the scent from his body left a long lingering feeling.

I slowly opened my eyes and looked at him.

His face was clearly visible in the light.

Alex smiled at me with narrowed eyes.

“Then, will you marry me?”