When Yelodia last met Edward, she had been dressed as a man, trying to stop a duel between him and her brother. Not only that, but she had ended up crying in Edward’s arms…

Why was she only now thinking of this?

Surely, after returning to his estate, Edward had reconsidered this engagement. He must have been mulling over how to convince His Majesty the Emperor that he could not marry such a wild and unrefined lady.

“I’m truly grateful for your kindness in offering to show me the garden yourself,” Edward said, snapping Yelodia from her thoughts.

Startled, Yelodia looked up to find Edward with a faint, teasing smile on his face—showing no sign that he was contemplating breaking off the engagement.

Suddenly, Edward asked, “Have your knees healed?”

“Yes, thanks to your concern… and my second brother even sent me a salve that works wonders…”

Yelodia’s cheeks flushed involuntarily, a mortifying heat rising in her throat.

“That day… what happened…”

“Ah, I’ve kept my soldiers quiet about it, so you needn’t worry about any strange rumors spreading,” he said.

“…Oh.”

“I realized belatedly that I hadn’t reassured you about that. I handled it well on my end, so you needn’t worry at all.”

Edward genuinely seemed unbothered by the past events. Yelodia swallowed dryly.

“Then, about the time I drove the carriage to the naval headquarters…”

“That, too, is as if it never happened.”

“Is that even possible?”

“In the military, it is. I warned my unit that if any rumor spreads, the entire division will face a month of special training.”

Yelodia chose not to ask what “special training” entailed. She felt a little sorry for the soldiers.

“Then, please come this way. I’d like to show you the ashwood pond. It’s the most beautiful spot on the estate.”

“I’m being treated with far too much hospitality.”

Yelodia bit back a smile, striving to walk ahead at a steady pace without rushing.

When she glanced back, Edward was following her leisurely, pausing now and then to appreciate the flowering trees.

Without thinking, Yelodia murmured to herself, “You look lovely…”

“The flowers?” Edward inquired.

“Oh!” Yelodia clapped a hand over her mouth.

“No, I mean… yes, the flowers…”

She inwardly winced as she fumbled to cover her slip.

Apparently, the last encounter had left too strong an impression on her. She couldn’t seem to shake this odd awkwardness and embarrassment.

‘Of all things, I met him dressed in Fabian’s clothes… Wait, Fabian?’

Yelodia gasped.

This was no time to be strolling around the garden.

She turned abruptly toward Edward, who raised his eyebrows curiously.

“Baron, you’ll need to be especially careful this evening.”

“What do you mean?”

“At the dinner, my brothers are likely planning to bother you!”

Edward’s expression was puzzled at her eager warning.

“During dinner?”

“Yes! Don’t take it lightly. Be on high alert around my second and youngest brothers—they’re planning something just to get under your skin.”

“I see…”

Edward suppressed a laugh, nodding solemnly. Yelodia’s expression was so earnest that he couldn’t simply laugh it off.

Even when surrounded by eleven enemy ships, Edward had remained calm. He wasn’t about to be unnerved by a few future brothers-in-law.

‘If they try to harass me during dinner, are they planning to use forks or knives as weapons?’ he mused, looking down at Yelodia with faint amusement.

She was looking up at him, biting her lip anxiously. Her green eyes held a dark shimmer, and her delicate cheeks were flushed, perhaps from a mix of excitement and worry.

“Be especially cautious around my second brother. You might not leave the estate unscathed tonight,” she whispered.

Edward couldn’t help but laugh aloud.

“Please don’t worry so much, my lady. Getting teased over dinner is hardly a big deal. As a junior officer, it was a common occurrence.”

“But… that’s not all…”

“Then are you worried I might end up in a duel with them?”

“That, too… yes. But what I’m most concerned about is your tolerance for alcohol.”

Edward blinked at her, baffled. His drinking tolerance?

Just then, a faint sound came from beyond the wall draped in rose vines.

Edward sensed a presence first and lifted his head, and only then did Yelodia follow his gaze.

At that exact moment, a man with a gentle expression emerged from the shadows of a tall hawthorn tree.

His reddish-brown hair was a bit disheveled, and his face appeared extremely pale. Though he was quite thin, his proportions were good enough that he didn’t look frail.

With wide eyes, the man asked, “Yedi?”

“Hester, brother!” Yelodia exclaimed in surprise, running toward Hester, who was bundled in three layers of clothing and waving his hands frantically.

“Don’t come any closer, Yedi. I might still be contagious.”

“Are you not fully recovered yet?”

“I’m fine now, but just to be safe, keep your distance for a bit. If I were to give you my cold, I swear by Zeus and Lonel, my two brothers wouldn’t let me off, and neither would His Majesty.”

At Hester’s exaggerated remark, Yelodia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

However, Hester’s face stiffened instantly. He had just noticed the unfamiliar man standing behind her.

“Who is he? Who dares to be alone with Yelodia?”

“Brother!” Yelodia gasped and hurriedly tried to stop Hester from drawing the longsword at his side.

Now, Hester was more shocked by Yelodia’s rush toward the sharp blade than by the unfamiliar man.

“Yedi? It’s dangerous! Step back.”

“It’s not that—this gentleman is my fiancé, Baron Adrian.”

“What…?” In an instant, Hester’s face turned icy, like a frost-covered landscape.

“Your fiancé?” Hester’s green eyes flared with a wary, bright blue intensity as he assessed the stranger.

Yet Edward, undeterred by Hester’s hostile gaze, bowed politely, as if he hadn’t even noticed the drawn sword.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name is Edward Kieri Adrian.”

“I am Hester Fritz Xavier. Seeing you alone with the young lady, without a chaperone or formal engagement ceremony, suggests you have no understanding of noble decorum.”

It was a familiar complaint, and Yelodia groaned inwardly.

“It wasn’t the Baron’s fault; we just happened to meet while I was out walking…”

“Yedi, stay quiet,” Hester warned sharply, glaring at her.

‘Here we go again.’

Since her engagement had been decided, her brothers seemed desperate to treat Edward like a potential thief or intruder.

The betrothal was solely at His Majesty’s behest, without any personal interest from Edward.

Even Edward himself had once asked His Majesty if he might reconsider the engagement, during a banquet he hosted.

By this point, even Yelodia couldn’t help feeling indignant.

“He’s my fiancé. Show some respect to someone whom His Majesty granted a title. Strictly speaking, he ranks above you.”

“Yedi. But still, I…” Hester began to protest, but just then—

“So here you all are. Dinner is ready. The young Duke and the second son are waiting in the drawing room. Please come at once,” a sudden voice from a butler interrupted.

Hester frowned, clearly annoyed by the untimely interruption.

Seizing the moment, Yelodia linked her arm through Hester’s.

“Come on, brother.”

“Yedi, you can’t just…”

Yelodia acted as if she hadn’t heard anything, glancing back before resolutely walking forward.

With a reluctant expression, Hester matched her pace, yielding to her insistence.

The butler led the way, while Edward followed at a leisurely pace from behind.

“……”

The brother and sister walking arm in arm along the garden path looked perfectly at ease together.

Edward’s fiancée was surprisingly forthright and innocent, speaking her mind without hesitation.

Undoubtedly, she must have grown up surrounded by her family’s love.

A gentle smile briefly touched Edward’s lips before fading.

As soon as they reached the mansion, the butler escorted Edward to the cloakroom. There, with the help of a servant, Edward tidied his disheveled hair and straightened his attire.

Once ready, Edward followed the butler toward the dining room.

As Edward emerged from the cloakroom, he held a large bouquet of roses, and upon seeing it, Yelodia’s cheeks turned a rosy pink.

“Oh, you brought roses?”

“Yes. I felt bad for not bringing anything last time, so my subordinates recommended the largest flower shop on Lonel Street. I hope you’ll like them.”

“White and yellow roses! They’re so beautiful. They must have bloomed splendidly in the greenhouse.”

It was her first time receiving flowers from a man outside her family.

She imagined placing them in the crystal vase in her bedroom, where they would brighten the entire room.

Trying to contain her excitement, Yelodia quietly held out her hands.

Just then, a large, dry hand suddenly snatched the bouquet from Edward.

“Oh…!” Yelodia’s eyes widened.

“How did you know I liked flowers? The Baron seems to have a surprising knack for choosing gifts.”

“…Hester, brother!”

“Hans, put these in the drawing room in the annex. I’d prefer a place out of sight since I want to enjoy them privately,” Hester said, handing the bouquet to a passing servant. Yelodia, dumbfounded, could only stare blankly at him.