My casual comment seemed to make his expression even more severe.

“Sion, you say?”

His tone, as if he couldn’t comprehend it, was bewildering.

“Isn’t he handsome?”

“Well, since he’s my sister’s child, he might take after me. But… I’m a bit more…”

The Duke trailed off and cleared his throat awkwardly.

At his words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

“How childish, Your Grace.”

“……”

At my correction, the Duke lowered his head with a reddened face, seemingly embarrassed.

“This isn’t childishness, it’s fact.”

“And you’re shameless too.”

“You’re being mischievous, my lady.”

He glared at me while I pretended not to notice.

Just as this trivial bickering continued between us—

“Help, help me pleathe!”

A waterlogged voice pierced my ears, followed by the screams of maids.

Turning my head, I saw Elysion flailing in the water.

My judgment was swift. The Duke and I, without any signal, quickly ran toward the lake where Elysion was.

Elysion was struggling in the water while the maids merely stomped their feet helplessly, not knowing what to do.

“Sion!”

“Sion!!”

But the Duke only raised his voice without taking action, seemingly unable to swim as he busily looked around.

I could see knights running from far away. But they were literally coming from quite a distance.

“Blub, blub.“

Meanwhile, Elysion’s movements slowed, perhaps from losing strength.

“Sion! Hold on a little longer. Once the knights arrive…!”

The Duke shouted desperately, but there was no way Elysion, already struggling with all his might, could hear him.

‘Everyone’s too slow. The child will drown at this rate.’

Finally, I took off my shoes. Simultaneously, the Duke’s surprised eyes turned toward me.

He might be even more shocked by what I was about to do, but that was the least of my concerns. With someone about to die, nothing else mattered.

I threw myself forcefully toward the water.

“Levedi!!”

“Miss!!”

I heard protests from around me, but it was already too late.

Splash!

The cool water had already enveloped my body.

❀❀❀

Duke Esteban.

No, Assel doubted whether he was seeing things correctly.

‘That woman, she’s swimming?’

To be honest, until Levedi first dove into the water, he wondered if there was something wrong with his eyes.

But soon he realized his worry was unnecessary.

The woman’s dress rose to the surface as she submerged and resurfaced, wriggling flexibly like fins.

If mermaids really existed, they might look something like that.

From what he could see, Levedi’s swimming skills surpassed those of most marines. A naturalness as if she had slept in water. He even had the absurd thought that she might actually be a mermaid pretending to be Lady Levedi of Ophelia.

But such admiration lasted only for a moment.

“Sion, Sion! You need to stay conscious! Sion!”

Seeing Sion gradually sinking, he could only keep shouting like that. He was terrified that the small being might actually die.

“Those d*mn knights…!”

The knights were coming from far away, but their pace was too slow.

‘If I had known this would happen, I would have learned to swim.’

He was skilled in various martial arts including swordsmanship, but swimming was an exception.

Swimming wasn’t a common hobby in noble households. But then what about that woman…!

His gaze fixed once more on the woman performing dangerous swimming in the lake.

“Sion, come here.”

A calm tone echoed, as if she weren’t in water at all. Levedi had already approached Elysion.

With arms outstretched toward Elysion, Levedi grabbed and pulled the flailing child into her embrace as soon as he reached out slightly.

“Good, that’s good, Sion.”

At this sight, the eyes of everyone around—including the Duke, servants, and knights who had belatedly arrived—wavered aimlessly.

❀❀❀

“Achoo!”

“Achoo!”

Perhaps due to the chilly weather still too cold for swimming, regardless of swimming skills.

Wrapped in large towels, Elysion and I sneezed in unison.

But the thought that I might catch a cold was secondary.

“Sion, are you okay?”

I asked while wrapping myself with the towel. Despite being out of the water for quite some time, Sion’s lips were blue, and his teeth chattered.

Suspecting hypothermia, I asked a nearby maid:

“Did you bring any spare clothes?”

But the maid only shook her head.

“I didn’t think that far ahead…”

‘He’ll catch a cold if left like this.’

I was about to bite my lip unconsciously.

“Levedi, Elysion.”

A low voice calling us was heard. Turning my head, there stood the Duke with cups in both hands.

What could be in those cups?

Curious, I peered inside, and at that moment, he handed me one cup.

“Drink this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s cocoa, they say.”

“Gasp, Sion loves cocoa too! Cocoa!”

At the mention of cocoa, Sion’s eyes sparkled. The Duke glanced at Elysion and handed him the other cup he was holding.

“Be careful, it’s hot.”

“Hehe, thank you, Dad.”

“Didn’t you say earlier you wouldn’t play with me?”

The Duke seemed genuinely hurt by that earlier comment. Thinking what an adorable father and son they were, I couldn’t help but smile.

And seeing the Duke turn serious, Sion gave a childlike, lovable smile.

‘Ah, that’s cheating.’

“Hehe.”

A smile harmful to the heart, wasn’t it? Moreover, since he was so pretty that he could be mistaken for a girl when young, that smile shone even brighter.

The Duke also seemed momentarily captivated but soon returned to a nonchalant expression and crossed his arms.

“By the way, why did you go into the water?”

At the cold voice that soon echoed, Elysion’s lips pouted. He seemed to be checking the mood a bit.

“Well…”

I remained silent. Though an adoptive father, the Duke was Elysion’s actual guardian and only family.

I felt I shouldn’t interfere in a situation where the Duke was disciplining Elysion.

“I did… wrong.”

Soon, a subdued voice flowed from between Elysion’s lips. It was a tone that seemed about to burst into tears at any moment.

Would he cry? I felt anxious watching the child’s small shoulders tremble.

But perhaps due to having played this parental role for quite some time, the Duke maintained his composure even in this situation.

“I didn’t ask why you did wrong, but why you went into the water.”

“……”

“This isn’t to scold you but to ask. So it doesn’t happen again.”

And at the Duke’s persuasion, Elysion’s small lips finally opened.

“I wanted to thwim with the thwans.”

“…With the swans?”

“…Yes.”

At Elysion’s answer, the Duke made an incredulous expression. Then he immediately said:

“Swans don’t like you.”

“…?!”

That’s when Elysion’s eyes filled with shock.

“That can’t… that can’t be.”

“They dislike you. So don’t go in again.”

But the Duke maintained his utterly resolute attitude. Finally, a voice tinged with sobbing flowed from between Elysion’s trembling lips.

“That can’t be true! I hate you, Dad!”

The Duke’s eyes widened at this. As if he hadn’t expected Elysion to react this way.

“……!”

When I looked at the two of them, the Duke met my eyes with an incomprehensible gaze.

I couldn’t help but sigh. This was a situation where I couldn’t help but intervene.

No matter how tactless, making a child cry was too much.

“Your Grace, why are you making the child cry?”

“I only told the truth…”

The Duke seemed not to understand what was wrong. Another deep sigh escaped me.

“You need to play along with children to some extent. He’s just a child.”

“As the future heir to the Esteban family, I can’t let him say nonsensical things.”

“That may be true, but…”

Elysion is only six years old. At an age where even saying absurd things should be met with affection.

“Still, he’s so young.”

I stroked the back of Elysion’s head as he nestled in my arms, looking at the Duke with wary eyes.

And making eye contact with Elysion, I deliberately tried to engage in conversation.

“Sion, did you want to swim with the swans?”

“Uh-huh, that’s right.”

“So that’s why you went into the water?”

“Yes. The swan beckoned me to come, to Sion.”

“I see. But it seems your dad was very worried.”

“Ah…!”

At my words, Elysion reacted as if he had gained a profound realization.

“Was he very worried?”

“Of course. Because he’s your dad. He wanted his precious Sion not to get hurt.”

“I see…”

“And while the swan friends do like you, they prefer you to watch them with your eyes rather than approach them.”

“Really?”

This was actually a lie. But when dealing with children, you need to speak at their level.

At Elysion’s question, I nodded.

“So from now on, you shouldn’t go into lakes or rivers. If you’re not careful, you could get seriously hurt or even die.”

“Gasp, yes.”

“Will you promise not to go in?”

“Yes!”

“Oh, you’re so good. Here, pinky promise.”

I extended my pinky to Elysion, and he grasped it with his own.

“This is how we make a firm promise, okay?”

“Hehe, yes! Promise!”

After securing this promise from Elysion, I turned my head to look at the Duke.

And moving close to him, I whispered so only he could hear:

“See? This is how you handle children.”

“…You’re amazing.”

The Duke looked at me with what seemed like admiration. Meanwhile, his lips twisted as he looked at Elysion in my arms.

As if something displeased him.

But not understanding why, I merely nodded.

❀❀❀

“That was delicious.”

“I enjoyed it too.”

Elysion and I each emptied a cup of cocoa right where we sat.

As the warm cocoa entered my body, the cold subsided a bit, and my mind became hazy.

Not long after, having completed preparations to leave, the Duke, Elysion, and I boarded the carriage.

As the carriage door closed and the wheels began to roll, the Duke looked at me and began:

“By the way, when did you learn to swim?”

Sion had already fallen asleep on my lap, perhaps due to the cold. As I was stroking his hair, I was momentarily taken aback by the sudden question.

Soon, I opened my mouth to answer:

“I didn’t really learn. I just liked water since childhood, so I naturally picked it up.”

“I see. I was honestly surprised earlier.”

“I can imagine.”

In truth, I had somewhat anticipated this reaction.

In this Empire where women’s hobbies were limited to embroidery and tea drinking, for me, an unmarried lady, to swim was breaking such stereotypes.

“I’m sorry. Earlier, I was in such a hurry, I had no choice.”

At my words, the Duke made an incomprehensible expression.

“Why are you apologizing?”

“What? Well… I thought you might have been embarrassed.”

Though it’s a contract marriage, he and I are currently engaged. As his fiancée, displaying such behavior in front of servants might have seemed vulgar.

At my answer, the Duke scrutinized me with an even more incomprehensible look.

“I don’t know why you have such a misunderstanding, but that’s not the case.”

“……?”

“Rather, it was impressive. That’s why I asked.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, however…”

Just as I was surprised by these unexpected words. I tilted my head at his expression, which seemed somewhat bothered.

At that moment, he continued:

“…I feel a bit uncomfortable sending you home in such wet attire.”

“Oh, I’m fine.”

“What would your father think?”

“Ah.”

Fair point. Any parent would be surprised if their daughter, who went out on a date, returned looking like a drowned rat.

“What should we do then? We didn’t bring spare clothes.”

When I asked, looking a bit dejected, the Duke curved the corners of his lips and answered:

“Why don’t you come to our house? You can change into new clothes and then go home. It would be even better if we could have dinner together.”

“Hmm, dinner. Since I’m free today, that should be fine.”

At my words, which were as good as agreement, the Duke’s face brightened. I thought perhaps his suggestion was partly for my benefit but largely out of self-interest.

By the way.

‘Wouldn’t it look even stranger if I changed clothes and then went home…’

Such a thought briefly crossed my mind but didn’t last long due to Elysion waking up.

“Mommy.”

“Why are you awake already?”

“I’m cold.”

“I see.”

It made sense, staying in wet clothes for so long. Though I was an adult and didn’t show it, my wet clothes were uncomfortable, and my lips trembled.

“I hope we arrive at the mansion soon. Right, Sion?”

“Right. Too cold.”

And there was someone watching this scene with contentment—Duke Esteban, Assel.

But with all my attention focused on Elysion, I neither noticed nor sensed that gaze.

❀❀❀

Upon arriving at the Esteban ducal residence, the Duke immediately summoned several maids and ordered them to bathe both Elysion and me.

As a result, I was now sitting in a bathtub. The tub, filled with hot water, exuded a fragrant herb scent.

Enjoying the bath, I felt somewhat strange.

Never in my life did I think I’d be taking a bath in someone else’s bathroom. Especially at the Esteban ducal residence.

Immersed in these thoughts while being attended to, before I knew it, my dried body was covered with new clothes.

The problem was that these weren’t women’s clothes.

“The servant who went to buy clothes is a bit late. Please wear this for now.”

Due to these circumstances, the clothes currently draped over my body were none other than the Duke’s shirt.

I looked at myself in the mirror. In truth, the shirt was so large and long on me that it was no different from a dress.

‘The Duke really is tall.’

Just as I was having such idle thoughts. Perhaps because I had just finished bathing, I felt drowsy.

Noticing this, the maids offered me the bed.

“Dinner preparations aren’t ready yet, so please rest for a while.”

“That’s right! We’ll wake you when it’s time.”

“Is that okay?”

“Of course.”

Having never slept in someone else’s house before, I was unsure, but nodded at the maids’ confident response.

In truth, the main reason was that I was too sleepy to make proper judgments.

So, after finishing my bath in the guest room’s bathroom, I fell asleep on the bed wearing only the Duke’s shirt.

4. Fashion Show

How long had I slept? I suddenly woke up to the sound of someone’s presence and simultaneously met the eyes of a man.

“……!”

Even in the darkness, I could clearly tell. That the person was Duke Esteban.

His deep red eyes shone brightly in the darkness, gazing at me distinctly.

As I stared at him with surprised eyes, a voice that seemed apologetic was heard:

“I just came in. I was wondering if you were still sleeping.”

“Ah.”

“Dinner has just been prepared.”

I nodded. Simultaneously, as I rose from the bed, for some reason, the Duke’s eyes expanded as wide as possible. Like someone who had seen something wrong.

“…Is there something on my face?”

Wondering what it was, I asked, and the Duke’s sound of clearing his throat was heard.

“No, that’s not it.”

“……?”

“Your attire…”

The Duke turned his head sideways and cleared his throat.

“Oh.”

Only then did I realize that I was wearing only the Duke’s shirt. Perhaps because I naturally had a nonchalant personality about such things.

In truth, I didn’t think much of it, but seeing the Duke’s embarrassment made me feel a bit awkward.

“I forgot how embarrassing my appearance is. It’s because there were no clothes earlier.”

“…Is that so?”

Saying this, the Duke’s face was somewhat red as he stole glances at me. Just like someone who was shy.

Seeing this, I felt a bit mischievous.

“But it’s bothersome.”

“……?”

“Maybe I’ll just go out like this.”

I absolutely had no intention of doing so, but it was a joke to see his reaction.