“P-Please calm down, my lady. I would feel the same way. After all, you’re losing your beloved younger brother to a man you barely know.”

“Sniff…”

Yelodia buried her head in Edward’s chest and cried. Stiffly, Edward stood there, quietly patting her back.

“Are you done crying?”

“…”

Yelodia’s tears had already stopped. But she was too embarrassed to lift her head. She couldn’t understand why she’d shown such disgraceful behavior. She wouldn’t blame Edward if he wanted to break off the engagement right this moment.

However, Edward found the situation both amusing and endearing, barely holding back his laughter.

Without raising her head, Yelodia mumbled, “Martha is waiting outside the main gate.”

“Yes. I’ll send an officer to escort her here.”

“No, that’s not necessary! If you could just accompany me to the main gate, I’ll head back on my own.”

“But I can’t allow that. I’ll escort you to your estate myself.”

Yelodia lowered her gaze and bit her lip. Her fiancé clearly didn’t understand her hints.

‘Why did I have to start crying at a time like this…’

“Can you stand?”

With some effort, Yelodia nodded and got to her feet. Naturally, Edward offered her his arm.

“Really, just escorting me to the main gate will be enough.”

“I may not know all the customs of nobility, but I do know it wouldn’t be right to send a lady with only a maid as her escort. Did you bring a carriage?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Then I’ll ride with you in your carriage.”

Yelodia looked up at him abruptly, her eyes wide in surprise, then quickly glanced away. Edward asked calmly,

“Is something wrong?”

“Well… I drove it myself.”

Edward barely held back a chuckle.

‘I sensed she was unusual from the start.’

To come to the naval headquarters alone, driving her own carriage, and face her brother’s sword without hesitation—she was far more daring than he’d expected. Still, as a soldier, Edward couldn’t help but admire her courage.

“Hern.”

“Yes, sir.”

Beyhern replied promptly from outside the door.

It seemed he’d been eavesdropping at the door the whole time, but Edward showed no reaction and called him in.

“Come in.”

Beyhern entered, saluting smartly.

“You called for me, Vice Admiral, sir?”

“It seems my fiancée has parked her carriage at the main gate. Assign a soldier to drive her to the duke’s estate.”

“I’ll drive it myself, sir,” Beyhern replied, making Yelodia flinch.

Beyhern glanced at Edward, barely holding back his laughter. The vice admiral’s fiancée was more beautiful than he’d heard, charmingly open and adorable, and stronger and more determined than most men.

But the best part? Edward was already completely under her spell.

Edward, ignoring his subordinate’s amused gaze, gently requested Yelodia’s permission.

“Would you allow my officer to drive the carriage?”

“…Yes.”

Yelodia reluctantly nodded.

＊ ＊ ＊

The journey back to Duke Xavier’s estate was silent as a mouse.

Sitting next to Martha, Yelodia stole glances at Edward across from her. Every time her eyes met his, her fingers and toes tingle involuntarily.

The carriage seats, usually comfortable, felt unusually stiff today.

Yelodia, who could sit astride a large warhorse without a second thought, found this discomfort entirely because of her fiancé.

Why did I do that…?

Yelodia wanted to scold herself for recklessly driving to the naval headquarters. But even if she could go back, she would make the same choice.

Just the thought of what kind of havoc Fabian might have caused if she hadn’t stopped him made her tremble.

“Are you tired?”

“Oh, no. Well, a little…”

Startled, Yelodia looked up at Edward, then quickly lowered her gaze to her lap, feeling gloomier than ever. Her dejection stemmed from her attire, which she’d hastily donned when leaving the estate.

“Of all the times…”

She tried to cover the frayed hem of her pants, but it only made it more noticeable.

Sensing her embarrassment, Edward asked, “Did you say you’re wearing Sir Fabian’s clothes?”

“That’s… right. They’re from when my brother was around twelve.”

“They look light and simple.”

“Well, I… I was in such a rush…”

Yelodia couldn’t bring herself to finish. She couldn’t help having rushed here driving a carriage herself—although that was shocking enough—but meeting her fiancé while dressed as a boy was beyond anything she’d imagined.

Yelodia often avoided her servants and ventured out because the attention that came with her position as Duke Xavier’s youngest daughter was a burden. Fabian’s old clothes had served as a perfect disguise.

… Until she was caught by her fiancé, that is.

“You’ve left the estate in this attire before, haven’t you?”

“Yes,” she admitted, pursing her lips. But she truly wished she could stay silent. She hated the idea of confessing that she had a hobby of sneaking out dressed as a man—something unfitting for a noblewoman of her stature.

“Then perhaps we’ll meet again with you in this attire. I’ll look forward to it.”

“…”

Yelodia glanced up hesitantly. Edward was watching her with a mixture of affection and curiosity, and she quickly looked away.

“Are you… okay with this?”

“As long as you’re comfortable, my lady. It looks much more practical and pleasant than wearing a corset with a whalebone petticoat.”

“…”

Yelodia’s face flushed, and she looked down. She couldn’t tell if her fiancé was praising her attire or teasing her, leaving her thoughts in a tangled mess.

She gave up trying to understand him. They were nearing the estate now.

‘Will my brother be very angry?’ she wondered.

That was what she should have worried about!

When she rushed into things, she didn’t think twice, but when it came time to face the consequences, her heart trembled in fear. If her father found out, she’d surely be scolded to tears.

At that moment, her officer’s voice called out, “Sir, we’re at the estate’s main gate.”

“Drive through and stop at the main hall lobby.”

“Yes, sir.”

Beyhern followed Edward’s order dutifully. Yelodia looked at Edward in shock.

“Are you coming in… with me?”

“I’ve come this far; I’ll see you inside.”

“You’ll get scolded too, Baron.”

Edward pressed his lips together, stifling a laugh.

“I’ll be fine. I haven’t been scolded in a while anyway.”

“…”

When the carriage finally stopped, Yelodia became visibly anxious.

“Welcome back, my lady.”

The servant at the duke’s mansion, oblivious to the situation, opened the carriage door. Edward disembarked first and extended his hand to Yelodia, who took it, her face flushed to the tips of her ears.

Just then, her eldest brother’s stern voice rang out.

“Yedi.”

Edward greeted calmly, “Good to see you again, young lord.”

Kias raised an eyebrow, and Yelodia hid behind Edward’s back. Kias let out a sharp sigh.

“What in the world do you think you’re doing? Yedi, come here.”

“What about Fabian?”

“Fabian has told me enough. I won’t scold you, so come here. If Father finds out, you’ll face punishment immediately.”

“Are you really… not going to scold me?”

Kias’ eyebrow twitched. Having practically raised Yelodia as his own daughter in their mother’s absence, he found her hiding behind her fiancé and watching him for signs was baffling.

The fact that it felt as if she’d given his place to Baron Adrian made him even more frustrated, and Kias struggled to maintain his composure.

“The chef has roasted turkey, your favorite. Are you really not coming?”

“What about the fig roast?”

“That’s prepared too.”

Finally, Yelodia let go of Edward’s back and scampered over to Kias. Kias resisted the urge to tug her ear and instead cast a cool gaze at Edward.

“Unfortunately, we weren’t informed of your visit today, Baron, so we can’t invite you to dine with us.”

It was a frank reproach for visiting the estate unannounced. Edward, unfamiliar with noble formalities and unbothered by his actions, simply placed his right hand over his left chest.

“I’ll send a formal request before visiting next time.”