When Aaron extended his hand, Eileen naturally grasped it.

“Let’s go.”

Step by step. The two walked toward where Aaron’s parents were waiting.

They didn’t exchange words, but their hands remained tightly clasped together.

“We’re here.”

Thump thump, his heart was beating so wildly it felt like it would jump out of his mouth.

He had felt fine until they arrived here, but now that the situation was reversed, he felt nervous.

“Now I think I understand why Aaron was so nervous earlier……”

“Don’t worry, this time I’ll hold your hand tightly.”

The hand holding his showed not the slightest tremor. That was reassuring.

Whew.

Eileen exhaled deeply. After clearing her throat and adjusting her clothes, she opened her lips.

“Hello, nice to meet you for the first time.”

No answer came back, but it didn’t feel awkward. Eileen clearly conveyed what she wanted to say.

From her first meeting with Aaron until now.

After the lengthy story ended, Eileen said as if making a pledge,

“I will strive to ensure that Duke Aaron is happy for the rest of his life.”

Just then, a wind blew by and brushed her cheek. Unlike typical winter winds, it was warm.

Somehow feeling it was a sign of approval, Eileen smiled brightly.

* * *

On a late afternoon of a certain day when warm sunlight shone through the pure white snow.

“Miss, wedding catalogs have arrived for you!”

Mary entered, huffing and puffing with her hands full of catalogs.

Even at a glance, the thickness was enormous.

“By the way, there’s more! Somehow everyone found out and sent catalogs!”

“Really?”

Rumors spread fast.

They were planning to hold the wedding in spring.

But exactly which month they would have the wedding, where they would hold it, what brand of clothes they would wear.

They had only playfully discussed wedding dresses and tuxedos with Aaron, nothing had been decided yet.

Yet catalogs were already arriving!

When Eileen sent a surprised look, Mary spoke as if it wasn’t surprising at all.

“You are the only lady of Bereut, Miss!”

She wasn’t sure what the connection was between wedding dress catalogs and being the only lady of the empire……

Eileen nodded for now.

“There’s still more. Daniel said he would bring the rest!”

The catalogs must have been quite heavy, but Mary looked happy.

Well, Mary had always liked choosing dresses.

Eileen patted the seat beside her and gestured.

“Mary, sit down.”

“What is it, Miss?”

As Mary scurried over and sat down, Eileen flipped through the catalogs.

From the widely favored bell-line dresses to the trendy mermaid-line styles.

There were truly diverse dress designs.

“Which dress do you like the most among these, Mary?”

When Eileen asked, Mary also looked through the catalogs with her.

“I think… this one would be pretty too! The exposed shoulders would suit you well, Miss!”

This would suit her, that would suit her!

As if unable to choose, Mary let out a happy scream.

“I’m not asking what suits me, but what you want to wear.”

“Pardon?”

Mary’s eyes widened for a moment.

“On the wedding day, you should wear a pretty dress too, Mary.”

Eileen held Mary’s hands firmly and said.

“It’s a gift I’m giving as a token of appreciation for your continued support, so please accept it, okay?”

“I, I will serve only you for the rest of my life, Miss…!”

Mary nodded, tears streaming down her face.

Lately, her tears had been uncontrollable, making her realize anew that her miss was getting married.

Knock knock.

Amid Mary’s sniffling, a short knocking sound echoed.

“That must be Daniel!”

Mary wiped her tears by rubbing them and cleared her throat.

“I’ll open the door for him!”

Then she ran with small steps and opened the door wide.

“Sir Daniel, thank you for your hard work.”

“Thank you.”

The voice from above was a bit lower and calmer than Daniel’s.

With a suspicion, Mary slowly raised her head.

“It’s been a while, Miss Mary.”

“Ah, Duke Aaron!”

There stood Aaron, holding catalogs with one hand as if they weren’t heavy at all.

Embarrassed by her mistake, Mary scratched her cheek.

“I’ll carry those.”

“No, it’s fine.”

Aaron gently declined and entered Eileen’s room.

“Miss, the next catalogs have arrived.”

Eileen, who had been engrossed in looking at the catalogs, raised her head at Mary’s voice.

“Yes?”

As she looked up, her eyes met a pair of very familiar purple eyes.

“Here are the next catalogs you were waiting for, Lady Eileen.”

Aaron placed the catalogs on the table with a mischievous smile.

“But how did you come? You said you were busy today.”

“I finished early because I wanted to see you.”

“Really?”

Pleased with Aaron’s answer, Eileen smiled broadly.

“Miss, I’ll go prepare some tea!”

They should be alone now, right?

Mary left with a warm smile.

“So what kind of catalogs are these?”

After Mary left and the two were alone, Aaron pointed to the high stack of catalogs and asked.

“Somehow they found out and sent wedding dress catalogs.”

“Are they all wedding dress catalogs then?”

“Yes, all of them.”

Eileen nodded slightly and reached out to pick up a catalog with ‘Rita’ written on the cover.

“Come to think of it, you said you would choose a wedding dress for me.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

Aaron shifted his gaze to the catalogs.

They all seemed to suit Eileen so well that it would be difficult to choose just one.

He wanted to buy them all.

But if he did, Eileen would surely scold him.

“Hmm……”

Aaron flipped through the catalogs with a somewhat serious expression.

“Can’t find one you like?”

“Not yet.”

He’s already on the fifth catalog.

All five were works by different designers, but none had a design that really caught Aaron’s eye.

Aaron reached for the next catalog.

That’s when it happened.

Knock knock, a clear knocking sound was heard.

“That must be Mary.”

“I’ll open the door.”

It would be difficult for her to open the door alone while carrying tea. Aaron walked to the door with his long legs.

“Thank you for your hard work, Miss Mary.”

“Oh my, Duke Aaron?”

He opened the door with a greeting, but the voice wasn’t Mary’s.

It was a voice that subtly provoked irritation, unlike Mary’s.

‘No way.’

Aaron clicked his tongue briefly and opened the door wide. The half-hidden figure was revealed.

At that moment, Aaron pressed his forehead due to an oncoming headache.

“I didn’t know Duke Aaron would be here?”

Cordelia de Royton.

An unexpected uninvited guest.

* * *

White breaths rose in puffs, but Ashley Square, where the winter festival was being held, was crowded with people.

On one side were food stalls, on the other, various experiences lined up.

It was clearly a joyful festival scene at a glance.

“Hah.”

In the middle of that scene, Aaron let out a deep sigh.

Clearly, until just 30 minutes ago, he had been spending sweet time with Eileen at the Ceres mansion.

“How is it, Eileen?”

Until the uninvited guest named Cordelia appeared.

— Eileen, there’s a festival at Ashley Square, would you like to go together?

— A festival?

— Yes, there’s lots of delicious food and things to see!

Aaron frowned as he recalled the situation from 30 minutes ago.

“Wow, it’s truly beautiful!”

Unaware of his feelings, Eileen burst out in admiration.

“You’ve been under a lot of stress lately, I thought you could relieve some stress by enjoying the festival.”

At Cordelia’s words, Aaron’s expression softened. Yes, for that reason, he could forgive her.

“Eileen, is there anything you want to do?”

“Hmm……”

Eileen turned her head slowly, contemplating.

Then her eyes fell on sizzling sausages and mouthwatering stew that made her salivate.

“How about we fill our stomachs first?”

Indeed, a festival begins with delicious food!

Eileen hummed a tune and led the two toward the food booths.

“Aaron, Lady Cordelia! Look, they’re doing something over there. Let’s go there!”

“Yes, Eileen!”

Starting with food, Eileen darted around the festival grounds without showing any sign of fatigue.

Cordelia also seemed excited, following Eileen without comment and enjoying the festival happily.

“Don’t run, Eileen.”

Of course, as a result, Aaron spent a hectic day chasing after them.

“Oh!”

Eileen spotted an open-air café where white steam was rising.

“Aren’t you all cold? Shall we go there?”

Eileen pointed to the open-air café and asked.

Since they had been feeling cold, the two quickly nodded.

* * *

“Indeed, it seems difficult for winter festivals to match those of the Kingdom of Kunda.”

As Marquis Theo joked, Laine responded with a smile.

“But since His Majesty recommended this festival, it’s quite splendid.”

Marquis Theo licked his lips while looking at the sizzling sausages.

“I think so too.”

Laine looked around the festival grounds with an expressionless face and said.

This outing was decided suddenly.

With only a month left in his travel schedule, the emperor had pushed him out, saying he should properly enjoy his trip.

Along with the words that matters to be handled with the imperial family had already been concluded earlier.

He could have refused, but Laine accepted.

Thinking that breathing fresh air might help.

Since hearing the news that Duke Kyle had awakened, he had suffered from constant headaches.

Perhaps it was because he was far from sordid affairs.

The fact that his plan had failed was stressful in itself.

No new plan came to mind either. With time running short, he felt like he was going crazy.

“Your Highness, it’s quite cold, would you like to go to that open-air café over there?”

Amid deepening thoughts, Marquis Theo’s voice flowed in.

“That’s a good idea.”

Laine gathered his thoughts and followed Marquis Theo to the open-air café.

Without imagining who might be there.

Upon arriving at the open-air café, Marquis Theo exclaimed in a bright voice, as if pleased,

“Oh? Isn’t that Lady Eileen and Duke Aaron?”

He should not have listened to Marquis Theo. No, he should not have gone out in the first place.