“At least, it’s not something worth your concern.”

Diez, who seemed to be looking at his bandaged forearm, lowered her gaze.

The thought suddenly occurred to him that there might be strange ingredients in the medicine prescribed by the doctor. Judging by how he kept wanting to say unnecessary things in front of her.

“Miss Schleicher.”

“……Yes, Duke.”

“I’m sorry for the harsh words I said to you. I shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why has the conversation suddenly turned this way?”

“I feel that apologizing once is not enough. Actually, I’ve wanted to apologize to you every time we meet.”

Diez said nothing. Jürgen was well aware that it would take longer than expected for the wounds he had left on her to heal.

“Was it very difficult because of me?”

“Of course…… there were difficult times. Later, there were even times when it became burdensome just to face you.”

Hearing those words made him feel too guilty to even lift his head in front of her. Just as he was about to apologize once more, Diez continued.

“But I’m no longer uncomfortable with you, Duke. Above all, you told me everything. About the reasons why you had no choice.”

“I didn’t intend to ask for your understanding.”

“Your words about cherishing me, are they still valid?”

The question was so obvious that it was rather difficult to figure out how to answer. But Diez continued as if she needed no answer.

“That’s why I’ve been able to accept you. Because I can now feel that you genuinely cherish me.”

She was not a woman who spoke empty words. She was also a woman who could sensitively observe and keenly detect the emotions of others.

Though he knew he didn’t deserve it, Jürgen felt inwardly relieved. He thought he wouldn’t remain as the cold Duke in Diez’s mind.

“Still, don’t forgive me too easily.”

“I’ll judge that for myself.”

Diez smiled slightly at Jürgen, who had lost his words. It was almost like directly proving her statement that he was no longer difficult for her.

For a moment, Jürgen recalled their first meeting. He seemed to glimpse the only daughter of the Schleicher family who had boasted loudly in front of her friends that the entire forest was as good as her home, rather than the intimidated figure she had become.

Would Diez remember that day? Even if she did, she might not know that the boy who had been watching her was Jürgen.

Though he had imagined revealing that fact many times, Jürgen only showed a faint smile without saying anything.

Time at the summer villa passed quickly. The summer days, which had been ripening with each passing day, now began to pour intense sunlight over their heads. It was a natural change that Diez spent more time indoors than at the beach.

The Klaus family villa was the perfect vacation spot. Inside the cool villa building, one could almost forget that it was hot outside.

Diez, who had wished to use the villa alone, was thoroughly satisfied with life here. It had been a long time since the fact that Jürgen was nearby no longer bothered her.

During their stay at the villa, Jürgen had granted several small and large wishes. Though she had never said it directly, he seemed to think that Diez deserved to express even greater wishes.

But Diez had no grand wishes left to ask of him. After all, she hadn’t lived a life dreaming of something extraordinary from the beginning.

That’s not to say she had nothing left to wish for.

Rather, what could be considered her final wish was too grand to be a problem. Perhaps too grand even for Jürgen’s power to grant.

Though she had the cute Puppy by her side and servants to attend to her, Diez had begun to feel occasional loneliness lately. At first, she had to spend a lot of time thinking about what the source of that loneliness might be.

But now she thought she knew. About the identity of the emptiness that had come over her.

It was an ordinary day like any other. While Diez was watching the fading evening glow, Jürgen was silently reading a book beside her. Compared to before, he spent much more time with Diez.

Jürgen preferred to quietly stay by her side rather than talk much. Perhaps he was gaining a lot of stability just from her allowing him to be near.

Diez, holding Puppy in her arms and appreciating the scenery outside the window, suddenly broke the silence.

“Duke.”

“What is it?”

“I’ve been thinking about things I want to do…… but it seems there’s nothing left.”

At that, the sound of turning pages stopped abruptly. Her words seemed to have disturbed Jürgen.

After all, having no more wishes to express could only mean one thing.

After a long silence, Jürgen spoke in a voice that tried to suppress his emotions.

“Think carefully. There must be something still remaining.”

“I’ve been pondering for days, but nothing else comes to mind.”

Meanwhile, Jürgen felt his heart sink at her words about having nothing more to ask for. Of course, he had no intention of showing such feelings, and was therefore deliberately maintaining his composure, but……

But… they had only spent a month together at the summer villa.

Did he already have to think about parting?

Words asking if she couldn’t reconsider just once more rose to his throat, but he swallowed them. After all, he was the one who had promised to respect Diez’s will above all else.

“Then, Miss Schleicher’s plan is……”

“There’s one last thing remaining, but I’ve been constantly wondering if I should mention it.”

Trying not to appear relieved, Jürgen calmly asked.

“Please tell me.”

“This is something that can’t be bought with money, nor obtained with status.”

Those words meant that even the Duke of Klaus might not easily grant this wish. What could it be? Of course, he had no intention of giving up in advance. If it was the last wish Diez would ask of him, he was determined to do whatever it took to bring what she wanted before her.

“Didn’t I say I would grant you anything?”

“I can’t help feeling uncertain.”

“I will keep my promise. I have no intention of becoming a man who can’t even keep such a promise. So please tell me.”

Jürgen waited calmly until she spoke. If it was a wish that wasn’t easy to grant, that was actually a good thing. It would mean that the days Diez would stay by his side would increase, even if just a little.

After seeming to contemplate for a moment, Diez finally expressed what she had only thought in her heart.

“I wish I could have a family again.”

It was a request Jürgen hadn’t thought of at all. After freezing for a moment, Jürgen calmly asked again.

“A family, you say.”

It certainly wasn’t asking him to recapture the Schleicher couple who had fled abroad. As Diez said, this was a more difficult wish than he had thought.

Moreover, he couldn’t even discern how to interpret her words. Was she simply saying she missed the shelter of a family, or……

While Jürgen still couldn’t say anything, Diez carefully asked from beside him.

“Was it too difficult a request after all?”

“I was just thinking for a moment.”

It felt like he had hit a difficult problem. He had no intention of saying he wouldn’t grant her request, but there was also no guarantee that what he was thinking in his head was the right answer.

If it wasn’t the right answer, Jürgen knew his position would be quite awkward.

What could be Diez’s intention in saying such a thing to me?

He didn’t want to keep her waiting for long. Though he knew he should quickly express the thoughts floating in his mind, he couldn’t easily open his mouth.

Once upon a time, he had reprimanded Diez whenever she hesitated, telling her not to be so frustrating. Now in a completely opposite position, Jürgen raised his head and met Diez’s eyes.

He hadn’t noticed, but Diez was looking at him too. The moment he met her gaze, the numerous concerns that had made him hesitate melted away, and everything became clear.

But still, Jürgen couldn’t help but hesitate.

“……Would that be all right?”

He had never dared to think he could be Diez’s partner. It was because he thought he was far from being a man worthy of her.

But at the same time, Jürgen could feel his heart beating more loudly than ever before. If only Diez would accept him, he was confident he could be the shelter that would protect her.

She was a golden lake, shining beautifully and emitting light. From the day he first faced that lake, Jürgen had always imagined throwing himself into the lake water. He didn’t mind being submerged in the water of unknown depth.

And now. Jürgen was standing at a high place, looking down at the lake.

He had been ready to willingly offer his body for a long time.

“If someone like me is acceptable…… then I will stay by your side.”

Fortunately, he seemed to have given the right answer. Jürgen, confident of this fact, said once more.

“I want to be your family.”

From now on, nothing would be able to bare its teeth at Diez. Because the moment anything tried to hurt her, he would completely uproot it.

And that included Jürgen himself.