Chapter 25

Charlotte realized her mistake.  

Of course, she had no regrets about that night. Erhen had sought her consent with those mesmerizing eyes of his, and it was Charlotte herself who had granted it. The word “mistake” had been born out of the anxiety she had felt for the entire month she had waited for him. She feared that perhaps Erhen, who was far too weak to handle alcohol, might have seen it differently.  

As Charlotte remained silent, Erhen asked again.  

“How could that be a mistake?”  

But the words were already out. It was impossible to take them back now, especially when she couldn’t even define her own feelings. Refusing to back down, Charlotte shouted stubbornly.  

“Then what else could it be if not a mistake?!”  

“Charlotte.”  

“Between two healthy, able-bodied adults, with alcohol and a night involved, it’s only natural for something like that to happen….”  

“I was with you that night because it was you.”  

The strength in Erhen’s grip on her hand was palpable. She should pull her hand away from his grasp.  

“Because it was you.”  

For some reason, the earnest tone in his voice made her freeze.  

…Her heart had fluttered.  

On that starry night with Erhen, Charlotte had wondered if he had come down to find her. Perhaps it was only natural to feel excited. After all, he had been someone she had once loved from afar, and she had been shaken enough to harbor a faint hope. But the month-long wait had rendered even that small excitement meaningless.  

Charlotte bit her lip.  

It was only then that she began to notice how cold his hands were. She could feel just how long he had been waiting for her outside in the freezing weather. His ears, reddened from the cold, finally came into focus.  

Her gaze fell on the lily-of-the-valley brooch pinned to his coat. It was the birthday gift she had given him long ago, the same brooch she had seen on the day Erhen had collapsed before her.  

Yes. This was something that needed to be addressed. After a moment’s hesitation, Charlotte spoke in a firm voice.  

“…We’re divorced, Your Grace.”

“……”

“Why are you here?”

Charlotte’s sharp gaze met Erhen’s. She wasn’t asking why he was physically here in this place. She was asking why he had shown up before her again.  

Erhen held her gaze for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh, as if to say, “What kind of meaningless question is that?” His brief chuckle faded, and his blue eyes gleamed.  

“…Because I missed you.”  

“…….”  

“Because without you, I feel like I’m going to die.”

Like a fool, he had only realized it after she had left.  

His deep voice was tinged with longing and regret. Charlotte’s cheeks flushed instantly. 

Was he really coming at me like this, so suddenly?  

Unable to withstand the intensity of his gaze, she dropped her eyes to the ground. Struggling to find the right words, she stared at the tips of her shoes and managed to speak.  

“I… I’m still not sure.”  

Fortunately, it wasn’t a complete rejection. Relieved by the glimmer of hope in her response, Erhen smiled faintly.  

Though he had felt crushed by her earlier remark about it being a mistake, even this small possibility was enough to lift his spirits. It was pathetic, but he couldn’t help it.  

Erhen gently pulled Charlotte’s hand. The sudden motion caused her to lose her balance, and her small head ended up nestled against his chest.  

Wrapping his arms around her shoulders and burying his face in the crown of her head, he whispered.  

“That’s enough for me.”  

“…….”  

“I won’t ask for an answer right now.”  

He pulled her even closer into his embrace.  

“Just stay like this. From now on, I’ll approach you as a man.”  

It was a calm and sincere confession.  

Charlotte let out a small sigh. She had asked about his feelings to draw a clear line between them, but she hadn’t expected him to come at her so directly.  

No, at this point, wasn’t he like a sports car speeding down?  

Instead of creating distance, she found herself caught in a vague and ambiguous relationship with her ex-husband. And her heart, now pounding wildly, wasn’t helping either.  

Still, perhaps because of the warmth of Erhen’s embrace, she felt inexplicably comforted. Quietly, she nodded her head.  

***

When Charlotte finished her work and entered the alley with Lida, Erhen approached, waiting for her. Ever since his return, he had always accompanied her on her way home from this spot.  

Though it wasn’t late, winter nights came early, and the streetlights cast a soft glow over the quiet path. The streets were serene, and the two walked in silence.  

Charlotte’s uneasy gaze flickered toward Erhen, who was walking silently beside her.  

“…….”  

Why was it so quiet? Why wasn’t he saying anything?  

Charlotte wondered why they were just walking like this. She wasn’t expecting much, but still, it felt strange. He had said he would approach her as a man, yet here they were, just walking in silence.  

Oh, wait. Did he mean “man” as in “a man of the Rosenheim Ducal Family,” not “a man” as in a romantic sense? That cold, indifferent person?  

As the thought crossed her mind, Charlotte’s eyes narrowed. 

If that was the case, then why had he created that atmosphere in front of my house? Why had he hugged me for no reason? 

She had thought they were in some kind of ambiguous romantic relationship! Frustration bubbled up inside her.  

A disgruntled voice escaped her lips.  

“Duke.”  

“Yes?”  

Unlike Charlotte, who was brimming with irritation, Erhen looked back at her with a soft smile at the sound of her voice. Charlotte flinched at the sight of his smile. The way he smiled at her now was nothing like the Duke of Rosenheim she had known.  

In truth, Erhen was simply enjoying the time he spent walking with Charlotte.  

The winter air in Heringen, cool but not biting, was a refreshing change from the harsh winds of Hamern, the northern capital. The sound of the bare tree branches swaying gently in the breeze was like a delicate melody.  

And most importantly, Charlotte was walking beside him.  

When Erhen blinked, signaling her to speak, Charlotte awkwardly asked.  

“What did you do today?”  

“I rested.”  

His tone implied that it was an obvious question.  

And it was. The royal decree dictated that the Duke stay at her house to recover, so it was only natural. Still, Charlotte pressed on.  

“What did you do while resting?”  

Erhen hesitated for a moment. In truth, he hadn’t rested at all. But he couldn’t tell her that. Masking his expression, he replied.  

“I read a book. Took a nap. Had some coffee.”  

At the mention of coffee, Charlotte’s face lit up.  

“Coffee! How was it? I’ve always been curious but never got the chance to ask. You know, our café—Blumen—was my success after our divorce! There’s even a branch in Hamern. Have you been there?”  

Erhen’s expression stiffened slightly.  

Of course, he knew about Blumen’s branch in the capital. But he had neither the time nor the inclination to visit. Seeing Blumen would inevitably remind him of Charlotte.  

In a subdued voice, he replied.  

“No. I tried it here for the first time.”  

“Oh.”  

Charlotte pouted slightly in disappointment. Then, they resumed walking in silence.  

Still, the mood felt a bit lighter now, and Charlotte walked with a slightly springier step.  

A gentle breeze passed by them again. Feeling the chill on her fingertips, Charlotte turned back and said.  

“Lida, my gloves.”  

But Lida was already gone. Erhen, watching her, asked.  

“Are your hands cold?”  

“Well, a little.”  

At her murmured response, Erhen reached out and took her hand, which had been hovering in the air.  

Startled, Charlotte looked up at him with wide eyes. He, however, kept his gaze fixed ahead, his expression unchanged.  

“You said your hands were cold.”

Charlotte bit her lip.  

Why was my heart racing over something so simple? This was just a way to share body heat, nothing more.  

Still, his hands were incredibly warm.  

Trying to rationalize her feelings, she muttered.  

“I’m only letting you hold my hand because it’s cold.”  

“I know.”  

“Really, it’s just because it’s cold.”  

“I said I know.”  

And so, they walked hand in hand all the way home.  

That day turned out to be the warmest winter day in Heringen. The next day’s newspaper even ran a headline about the unusual weather, calling it a freak warm spell.