Duke Kyle patted Aaron’s back gently with a satisfied smile.

‘Well, even so.’

It was still an unchangeable fact that Aaron would take away his only precious daughter.

No matter how good and reliable the person is, that’s that and this is this.

“By the way.”

Duke Kyle instantly withdrew the smile that had spread across his face.

His expression was so cold that it seemed the air had frozen solid like ice, despite being in a warm hospital room.

“You gave something very nice to Eileen.”

“What……?”

He had given Eileen many gifts.

When Aaron asked as if he really didn’t know, Duke Kyle said,

“The ring, the ring.”

“Ah……”

As Aaron rolled his eyes, Duke Kyle added in a monotone voice,

“You proposed in Enbeten, didn’t you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Under a very splendid cherry tree.”

“Yes, my father proposed there, so I also proposed there.”

It was just listing what had happened, but he felt tense automatically.

Aaron tried hard to answer without showing it, but he couldn’t hide his awkward lips.

“So Eileen accepted the proposal.”

“Yes, that’s right……”

Duke Kyle, the head of the Ceres ducal family, wasn’t such a frightening presence.

He was also a duke, and above all, a person who handled matters in a gentlemanly manner.

But Duke Kyle as Eileen’s father was frightening.

Was it because of the pressure to make a good impression on the father of the person he loved?

Or was it because of the worry that he might oppose……

Aaron’s voice grew quieter and quieter.

‘Duke Aaron is really innocent in this aspect.’

Duke Kyle held back the corners of his mouth that were trying to curl up.

Then, ahem, he cleared his throat and said in an intimidating voice,

“I’ll be waiting for you to come and greet me formally.”

“……Pardon?”

Aaron thought for a moment that he had misheard.

The lowered eyes, lips showing no sign of a smile, and the intimidating voice.

The atmosphere seemed to suit the words ‘I oppose this marriage’ to anyone looking.

Well, even if Duke Kyle opposed, he had no intention of giving up on this marriage.

As Aaron stood there blankly without answering, Duke Kyle asked once more.

“Why don’t you want to come?”

His voice was still full of intimidation, but the corners of his mouth had slightly curled up.

Seeing that, Aaron could tell.

That Eileen’s playfulness came from Duke Kyle.

“Not at all, I’ll definitely come.”

As Aaron answered solemnly, hearty laughter and light coughing poured out.

When Aaron gave him a worried look, Duke Kyle gestured that he was fine.

“Now I understand why the doctor tells me to go to sleep early.”

Duke Kyle pressed his heavy eyelids firmly.

He seemed very tired, with faint shadows under his eyes.

“Anyway, Duke Aaron, I’ll ask my doctor for a day’s leave, so come to the Ceres family to pay your respects.”

* * *

A forehead clearly revealed by neatly pulled-back silver hair.

A brooch embedded with green peridot.

Finally, a formal uniform embroidered with splendid gold embroidery.

After checking his appearance one last time, Aaron took a deep breath.

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

Thinking that the duke and duchess of Ceres were beyond this door made him uncharacteristically nervous.

“How is it, do you feel a bit more at ease?”

Eileen gently took Aaron’s hand. She didn’t forget to interlock their fingers.

How could she become more lovable as time passed?

Mysteriously.

Aaron pulled Eileen’s hand to him and kissed it, saying,

“Yes, I feel at ease.”

“Then shall we stay like this inside too?”

“I’d like to, but would that be okay?”

“It’s fine, I can easily win against Dad.”

Eileen placed her right hand on her waist and lifted her chin. Finding her cute again, Aaron planted several small kisses.

“Shall we go in now?”

“I want to stay like this a bit longer.”

“We need to get permission quickly. And there’s somewhere else we need to go afterward.”

“Somewhere to go?”

Aaron asked, but Eileen only smiled.

“Let’s go!”

He couldn’t tell what she was planning on her own, but he would follow her anywhere.

Even if that place were hell.

Sometimes he found it strange that he could think such amusing thoughts so casually.

But it was okay.

Because Eileen was the condition for all these actions.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Aaron moved his steps with Eileen to the reception room where the duke and duchess of Ceres were waiting.

“You’ve arrived, Duke Aaron.”

Upon reaching the reception room, the head butler Gabriel greeted Aaron.

Aaron acknowledged him with a subtle smile and a slight nod.

“Are they inside?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Gabriel slightly raised the corners of his mouth and added,

“They seemed eager to meet Duke Aaron, wearing very bright expressions.”

“Really?”

“Shall I show you in now?”

“Please.”

As Eileen spoke, Gabriel slowly opened the reception room door.

Through the gradually widening gap, the duke and duchess came into view.

As Gabriel had said, they were smiling broadly.

“Welcome, Duke Aaron.”

“Welcome, Duke Aaron.”

As the door opened and Aaron entered with Eileen, the duke and duchess greeted them warmly.

“It’s been a while. Duke Kyle, Duchess Lia.”

After greeting them both, Aaron sat down with Eileen in the prepared seats.

“So, Duke Aaron. Have you been well this past week?”

As Aaron sat down, Duke Kyle handed him a warm cup of tea and asked.

“Yes, Duke. How is your health?”

“It’s a bit better, but I still have to return to the hospital after meeting you.”

“When do you think you’ll be discharged?”

“Well, perhaps when spring comes?”

Despite having important matters to discuss, the two men only talked about completely unrelated topics.

“Ahem, Kyle.”

Duchess Lia interrupted the conversation with a fake cough.

“Duke Aaron, don’t you have something else you want to say?”

As she gestured for him to speak, Aaron took a deep breath.

The various tea scents carried on his breath seemed to calm his pounding heart a little.

Once his heart had settled somewhat, he then took Eileen’s hand.

He wanted to share this thrilling feeling with her.

“I want to marry Eileen this coming spring. Please give us your blessing.”

Thump thump.

Aaron felt his pleasantly resonating heartbeat as he filled each word with sincerity.

So that his love for Eileen would be fully conveyed to her parents.

“Without even having to ask, I give my blessing to Duke Aaron and our daughter’s marriage.”

Duchess Lia clapped her hands and smiled brightly.

She had already heard it from Eileen, but hearing it from Aaron gave it a different feeling.

“……”

Unlike her, Duke Kyle said nothing and just sipped his tea.

“Kyle……?”

It was unlike someone who had requested a formal greeting.

Duchess Lia poked his side lightly in confusion.

Only then did Duke Kyle slowly open his mouth.

“Duke Aaron. Do you truly want to marry our Eileen?”

“Yes, Duke Kyle. I want to marry Eileen.”

Aaron answered Duke Kyle’s question immediately without a moment’s hesitation.

“Ah, I see……”

Duke Kyle put down the teacup he was holding.

“Then let me ask a few things.”

Despite the dissatisfied gaze fixed on him from beside, Duke Kyle paid no attention.

“Our Eileen was raised with abundant love. Can you also give her abundant love?”

Duchess Lia’s dissatisfied gaze quickly faded at Duke Kyle’s first question.

“Of course.”

“Good, is your promise not to make Eileen cry still valid?”

Duke Kyle’s eyes held regret as he asked the second question.

“Yes, I’m doing my best to keep it.”

Knowing exactly what that feeling was, Aaron nodded sincerely.

“Lastly……”

Duke Kyle took a sip of tea and paused for a moment.

Click.

The sound of the teacup being set down echoed softly.

“Can you walk out even from hell, Duke Aaron?”

At this unexpected question, Eileen looked at Duke Kyle with round eyes.

Meeting his daughter’s gaze, he smiled and said,

“For reference, I once walked out.”

“Yes, if you wish, I’ll bring Cerberus along too.”

Aaron’s slick answer filled the reception room with hearty laughter.

“Good, I approve of this marriage.”

Duke Kyle extended his hand as a sign of approval.

Aaron stared at that hand for a moment before carefully grasping it.

“Duke Aaron. Love our Eileen unchangingly. Of course, treating her well is a given.”

“I will love her with all my best for the rest of my life.”

The clasped hand was a bit rough but still warm.

“And if you ever have any difficulties, feel free to tell us anytime. We’re family now.”

And the words delivered with sincerity, as well as the resonance of the word ‘family,’ were exceedingly warm.

“Thank you, Duke.”

His voice trembled slightly as he expressed his gratitude. Sensing this, Eileen’s gentle touch was felt on the back of his hand.

“Is it all over now?”

When Eileen asked, Duke Kyle nodded lightly.

“Then as I said yesterday, I’ll go out with Aaron for a while.”

“Alright, be careful.”

Both of them seemed to know the destination.

It seemed that Aaron was the only one who didn’t know what this mysterious destination was.

“We’ll be back!”

Eileen energetically bid farewell, then left for the entrance with Aaron.

* * *

“This is……”

After getting out of the carriage, Aaron looked at the scene unfolding before his eyes.

It was a place he had never expected.

The graves of the former Duke and Duchess of Monston, his parents.

Although the grass had lost its color, the evergreens planted alongside remained green despite it being winter.

And shrubs that bloom even in winter were nobly illuminating the area around the tombstones.

It had been a long time since he had visited, but nothing had changed.

“We need to get permission from Aaron’s parents too.”

So that’s why she brought him here.

Aaron shifted his gaze from the graves to Eileen.

“Do you think so?”

Her spring-like green eyes rippled beautifully. Finding it pleasant, Aaron smiled.

“Yes, we should get permission from my parents too.”