Chapter 15

Because of the book in her arms, Neria didn’t take Aaron’s offered arm. Instead, she kept a proper distance by his side and spoke with reserved politeness.

“I was so surprised to see you here, Your Grace, that I acted rudely without thinking. I apologize for that.”

Aaron, who had secretly hoped for an escort arm, was a bit disappointed but naturally lowered his arm. He complimented Neria for ending the awkward situation first.

“Lady Neria, you’re very gracious. You could have protested more, being chased by a soldier and knight.”

Aaron’s soft, remarkable voice made Neria’s cheeks flush. His gaze clung to her profile.

He’d thought she was just an ordinary-looking woman at the match, but now her pert nose, full lips, and gentle jawline—all were lovely without a flaw.

Neria herself didn’t have the courage to look up at his face, so she kept her eyes straight ahead.

She tried to sneak a glance to the side, but Aaron’s chest came into view. Suddenly, she remembered kneading and teasing the Duke’s chest like bread dough in her dreams, even tickling it with her tongue.

Blushing, Neria tried to control her ragged breathing. Aaron slowed his pace a little.

The two walked side by side out of the alley, as if they’d never been chasing each other

She could feel Aaron’s gaze fixed on her. Neria felt pressured to say something, so she worked hard to think of a topic.

“Um… Was your back alright after our last collision?”

Aaron had just been imagining Neria with a black lace blindfold when her sudden question caught him off guard.

“Eh? Ah. It’s fine.”

Neria quickly turned her head. Squinting in the sunlight, her face looked like a scene from their dream together.

‘Good grief…’

Aaron felt guilty for not only thinking of Neria Warwick during self-pleasure, but also for now harboring desire for her in real life.

“Your Grace?”

Neria’s eyes widened as she called him. Half out of his mind, Aaron nearly grumbled, ‘There are plenty of dukes in the Kingdom of Seiran.’ He wished she would call him by name, but that wish came from a crooked place in his heart.

“Your Grace, you don’t look well.”

“My face is as peaceful as ever.”

Aaron feigned a stern expression, anxious that his lustful thoughts might be revealed.

“No, I don’t think so…”

Neria trailed off, glancing at Aaron. She wanted to say he looked like he wanted to mess with someone, but held back.

“To answer your earlier question, I’m fine. By the way, when you were running, you looked as unsteady as a newborn deer. I bet you trip a lot. The pavement here isn’t great, so let’s watch our step.”

“Me? No way… Oh!”

Just as Aaron said, her ankle twisted and she stumbled. Sharp pain shot through her ankle.

Luckily, she caught herself with her other foot before she could fall. Aaron, standing half a step behind, awkwardly reached toward her waist.

“This way.”

Aaron guided Neria to a stone staircase leading to a back door of a nearby café.

“My book!”

Her book had fallen into a dusty pit, so Aaron picked it up for her.

As soon as Aaron grabbed the book, Neria fidgeted anxiously. Fortunately, the Duke didn’t seem interested in her book, and she quickly got it back.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

When Neria tried to brush the dust off her skirt and book cover with her bare hand, Aaron gently stopped her by holding her forearm.

“Use this.”

To think a Duke would fetch a handkerchief for a lady. Aaron found it absurd himself as he pulled out a handkerchief from his coat.

“Ah, thank you…”

Neria didn’t know, but that handkerchief was from an international brand sold only to the royal family and Grand Dukes.

The dusty handkerchief would need a good wash. Neria looked awkwardly at Aaron.

“How should I return this?”

“You don’t need to.”

“Oh, okay… Ow.”

The stone steps were high, and sitting there made Neria look very small. She glanced at Aaron, who was standing quietly.

“You can go ahead and leave me here. I’ll be fine after a short rest. You didn’t have any business with me anyway.”

“If I leave an injured lady behind, it’ll be all over the papers tomorrow, and every citizen of the kingdom will want me dead.”

Aaron spoke matter-of-factly, with the solemnity of a commander who couldn’t abandon a wounded soldier. That attitude eased her burden. Maybe that’s why, even alone with him in a back alley, she didn’t feel uncomfortable.

Aaron watched Neria twist her ankle this way and that, worried.

“Your ankle… seems weak.”

“It’s like this whenever I dance too much.”

Most young ladies danced about ten songs at a ball. But under the sharp eye of Earl Warwick, Neria had to dance with all sorts of men.

After twenty songs, she’d be exhausted, and her overworked ankles and feet would hurt terribly.

Aaron, lost in thought, suddenly spoke.

“Let me take a look.”

“Pardon?”

Aaron squatted down to meet her eye level. After some hesitation, Neria figured it was fine since her skin wasn’t bare and extended her ankle.

Neria watched Aaron focus on her ankle, her heart pounding. His eyebrows and the angle of his nose were practically art.

Aaron gently stroked Neria’s slender ankle with his thumb and forefinger. Suddenly, he remembered—this was exactly the ankle he’d wanted to touch.

Above it was a long calf, and above that, soft, plump thighs different from a man’s.

“Hmm. Ahem.”

Aaron cleared his throat, trying to dispel the rising feelings.

“It’s a little swollen.”

“I can tell.”

Aaron looked away, and Neria stared at him. For some reason, the Duke seemed embarrassed. Why was he acting like this?

If she hadn’t gone through that chaotic match with Duke Aaron, Neria might have misunderstood his actions as affection. But the Duke… was a little odd.

So Neria chalked up his strange behavior to the eccentricity of a high-ranking noble who’d been through a lot.

Thinking that way, she could enjoy the fluttering excitement she felt toward him more comfortably.

Feeling more at ease, Neria spoke again.

“Now that I think about it, what brings you to a place like this today, Your Grace?”

Aaron welcomed her friendly question and adjusted his seat next to her. Sitting side by side, he thought carefully before answering.

“These days, my dreams… seem to be reaching into the abyss.”

He suspected it was someone else’s spell, but saying so outright would make him seem strange, so he held back.

“The abyss?”

Neria tilted her head.

“Yes. In this case, should I be reading philosophy books? I’m curious about your opinion, Lady Neria.”

Neria was very surprised.

‘He’s interested in my opinion? Why?’

She looked at Aaron with wary eyes. Most gentlemen with rank and money ignored young ladies’ opinions or pretended to listen just to boost their own egos.

“Are you really asking because you want my opinion?”

“I don’t have the habit of asking about things I’m not curious about.”

Aaron replied firmly, then continued.

“Besides… the book you’re holding seems to be about that, too.”

‘Is it?’

Neria looked closely at the book she’d bought today. The fake title hiding the juicy original was <Advanced Philosophy for Spiritual Growth>. Neria was flustered.

‘…What is he talking about?’

Aaron gazed at Neria as if she were a connoisseur of fine literature.

“You must be very interested in philosophy. It looks like a difficult book.”

“……”

‘Not at all. I don’t know a thing.’

But she decided to bluff. Looking unsure would make her seem suspicious.

“Books are… ahem. Nourishment for the soul.”

“Well said.”

Aaron nodded seriously.

“Lady Neria, what do you think is the greatest universal value in life?”

‘Huh? Value? I only know eggplant stir-fry.’

“Um…”

Neria blushed. She didn’t think of herself as smart. Whatever she said probably wouldn’t make for smooth conversation. So she just babbled something appropriate.

“I… I just try to live as righteously as I can.”

“In that case.”

Suddenly, his blue eyes flashed.

“What do you think about grudges…?”

As if this was his real question.

“Grudges?”

“Yes. Do you think personal revenge is justified when resolving a grudge?”

Neria blinked her large violet eyes. Aaron’s lowered voice and persistent gaze weren’t really threatening. He seemed more like a witch tempting her with a house made of sweets than a hunter.

“Um…”

She stammered, unsure how to answer, and Aaron smiled.

His spring-like smile nearly made her say, “Yes. If someone holds a grudge against me, I’ll enjoy a cruel, wild, and passionate s*x life with them in my dreams.” Thankfully, she managed to hold onto her sanity.

As Neria nervously looked at him, Aaron withdrew his piercing gaze, as if peering into her inner thoughts.

“I said something strange. Please forget it. It must be… because of stress.”

Suddenly, curiosity welled up in Neria and she asked without thinking,

“What kind of dreams do you have?”

“……”

Aaron gazed steadily at Neria. Meeting his eyes, Neria flinched at the heated look that seemed ready to devour her. Aaron smiled faintly and turned his gaze forward.

‘What was that just now…?’

“It’d be hard to explain in detail. Anyway, what should I do? It seems difficult not to be stressed.”

Neria was left uncomfortable by the subtle silence Aaron had thrown at her, but since he was waiting for her answer, she quickly responded.

“Um… You should do what you can. Try creating an environment for restful sleep. Come to think of it, I heard there’s a general store that sells scented herb pouches to help with sleep.”

Aaron, tilting his head as if pondering something, suddenly spoke.

“Would you come with me?”

Then, he seemed surprised by his own words.