Epilogue 2. Spreading Sweetness

Why must Eileen and I be apart?

This was the question that had recently filled Aaron’s mind.

From their first meeting, which he had thought was an ill-fated encounter, to overcoming numerous hardships and finally marrying Eileen.

He thought that now only happy days spent together with Eileen remained.

As expected, even after returning from their honeymoon, the two spent happy days. They occasionally had small arguments, but they were always together.

“But why on earth.”

Aaron looked at the empty space beside him again today. A sigh mixed with frustration spread throughout the bedroom.

The beginning of the tragedy was, yes, the d*mn success of the art business.

The art business he was running with Eden and Former Marquis Lucas was basically relaxed, only getting busy during exhibition seasons.

But as time went on, it became noticeably busier, leaving no room for rest even outside exhibition periods.

Moreover, people’s attention poured in after receiving a medal from the emperor for greatly contributing to the national art development.

Continuing such a busy life, Aaron couldn’t properly meet Eileen for a month. Even today, when he opened his eyes in the morning, Eileen wasn’t there.

Of course, Aaron wanted her to continue this business. Eileen at work sparkled in a different way.

But now it was the limit. He couldn’t endure it anymore. Today, at least, he wanted to spend time alone with Eileen.

Having run out of patience, Aaron pulled the bell cord near the bed.

“Master. You called.”

A few minutes later, head butler Liam opened the door and entered. He greeted Aaron and handed him warm water.

“Where’s Eileen?”

“Madam is currently processing documents in the study.”

“What’s her schedule today?”

“She is scheduled to meet Young Marquis Eden, Former Marquis Lucas, and Countess Cordelia regarding business matters.”

Aaron nodded slowly and took a sip of water. His Adam’s apple rippled as he exhaled a low breath.

“I don’t think I had any busy schedule today, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Apart from meeting Count Luke in the afternoon regarding the patisserie, you only have documents to review.”

Yes, that’s right. Good. Aaron muttered softly and curled up one corner of his mouth.

“Cancel everything. Eileen’s schedule too.”

“……Pardon?”

Liam’s questioning eyes shook greatly. He couldn’t even close his open mouth. Unlike Liam, Aaron casually added, as if it were nothing.

“It’s been a whole month. If you’ve kept a married couple apart for a month, you should know to concede at least one day.”

Since he couldn’t argue with his master’s words, Liam simply nodded. In fact, considering Aaron’s past behavior, it was remarkable that he had endured for a month.

“For lunch, prepare what Eileen likes best. For dessert, I think a cake with figs would be good.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll have it prepared.”

After Liam left the bedroom, Aaron went to the bathroom. After finishing a hot shower, he immediately went to the study where Eileen was.

Knock, knock, he knocked lightly, but there was no answer from inside the study.

“Has she stepped out for a moment?”

Aaron tilted his head and opened the door. Contrary to his expectation that it would be empty, Eileen was in the study.

She was dozing off with a document in one hand and a pen in the other, bathed in the morning sunlight pouring in.

At the sight, a chuckle mixed with laughter escaped from Aaron’s lips.

“You could have just slept next to me a little longer instead of dozing off so uncomfortably.”

He felt a little annoyed at Eileen, but also pitied her, and found her cute. Eileen was probably the only person who could make him feel such strange emotions.

With a faint smile, Aaron carefully closed the door without making a sound. Then he took a spare chair and went to Eileen’s side.

After quickly finding the documents prepared for his share, he carefully extracted the pen and documents Eileen was holding.

“Sleep comfortably, Eileen.”

When she rested her head on his shoulder, she stirred uncomfortably at first. But soon, the sound of steady breathing came from his shoulder.

After confirming that Eileen was completely asleep, Aaron moved his pen. Today, he felt he could process the documents faster than usual.

“Mmm……”

He was in the middle of reviewing documents and signing them. At the moaning sound tickling his ear, Aaron paused and patted Eileen, telling her to sleep more.

“Aaron?”

But perhaps she had slept enough, as Eileen’s deep voice followed. The weight that had been on his shoulder for quite a while also disappeared.

Aaron turned to meet Eileen’s gaze.

“Good morning, Eileen.”

“Yes, good morning to you too, Aaron.”

Though her curved green eyes were full of sleepiness, she was still beautiful. Aaron arranged her disheveled hair and lightly kissed her forehead.

“You could sleep a little more. Why did you wake up so early.”

“Because I missed you so much.”

This is troublesome so early in the morning. Contrary to his muttering, a bright smile appeared on Aaron’s face. Smack, smack, the sound of lips lightly colliding filled the study.

“But Aaron. Did I sleep for a long time?”

“Not that long. About 2 hours.”

“Oh my! I slept for 2 hours?”

“It’s okay, you must have been tired with so much work.”

Pleased by the gentle comfort, Eileen hugged Aaron tightly. A sweet fragrance mixed into his breath.

“Still, I’m glad I can see your face like this today. We haven’t been able to be together because we’ve been so busy.”

“Don’t worry. Today we can be together all day.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

But I’m busy today too? When Eileen opened her eyes wide, Aaron pinched her cheek lightly.

“I canceled all the schedules.”

“……Huh?”

“Of course, I canceled all my schedules too.”

The sunlight settled on his long eyelashes, making Aaron’s smile sparkle more than usual. The brilliant sight contrasted with his shameless answer.

“They can concede one day, can’t they? Right?”

“No way.”

Eileen reached out and gently stroked Aaron’s hair. She had no intention of getting angry or scolding him from the start. Eileen’s patience had run out just as much as Aaron’s.

“Well done.”

“I was actually thinking of going somewhere with no contact for about a month, but I held back.”

“You restrained yourself well.”

Clear laughter spread throughout the study. As the laughter stopped, a deep gaze poured down with silence.

When she wrapped her neck in a gesture of permission, heat that contained a long wait descended on her lips. After a while, as their breaths mingled and they were taking in each other’s breath, it happened.

Knock, knock, a knocking sound flowed in between them. When Eileen moved her body slightly back to answer, Aaron slightly furrowed his brow.

“Ignore it.”

She could feel the force in the hand wrapped around her waist. Is there no choice? Just as she was thinking this, once again, along with a knock, an embarrassed voice flowed in.

“Master. The meal is ready.”

Only then did Aaron roll his eyes to check the clock on the wall. It was lunchtime.

Should we just skip lunch and continue what we were doing? No, I should feed her. Above Aaron’s concerns, Eileen’s voice was heard.

“Aaron, I’m hungry.”

Eileen playfully rubbed her stomach. She was a wonderful duchess who considered the servants. Aaron smiled faintly and released his arms.

“I told them to prepare what you like. With fig cake for dessert.”

“Really? I was actually craving figs! How did you know?”

“Somehow, I just thought you would.”

Two years of marriage. Now Aaron knew what Eileen would want to eat in each season without having to ask, and he chuckled.

“Let’s go.”

The two left the study and headed to the dining room. With each step they took, chattering voices followed.

As they approached the dining room, the aroma of smoked meat along with a strong butter scent wafted to their noses. It was clearly the smell of steak being grilled, but strangely, it felt nauseating.

She couldn’t hold back the urge to vomit.

“Eileen?”

When Eileen suddenly stopped her steps and words, Aaron gave her a worried look.

“What’s wrong, what’s the matter……”

“Urp.”

Eileen covered her mouth and ran to the bathroom. After being frozen for a moment at the sudden situation, Aaron immediately commanded Liam who was following behind.

“Liam, call a doctor right away.”

* * *

“Why is it taking so long?”

The examination should have been over by now. But the family doctor who had been urgently called still showed no sign of coming out.

He wanted to barge into the bedroom and ask what was happening, but he couldn’t enter because of the doctor’s serious face asking him to wait outside for a moment.

If something happens to Eileen, I…

The anxiety that he never wanted to experience again came over Aaron. Just then, the family doctor came out of the room.

Her expression was somehow mysterious. From her expression alone, it was impossible to tell what illness Eileen had contracted.

As the small anxiety grew into a raging fire consuming Aaron, the family doctor finally opened his heavy lips.

“Congratulations on becoming a father, Duke!”

“……So, that means Eileen isn’t seriously ill.”

“She’s pregnant.”

Perhaps because he had been thinking such extreme thoughts just moments ago, a hollow laugh escaped him first.

Eileen is pregnant. Though it felt quite strange as he had never even imagined it, he wanted to savor the thought repeatedly.