“It’s a fracture.”

“I thought so.”

Aaron nodded in agreement at the doctor’s concise diagnosis.

“I’m not sure if this counts as fortunate, but…… Only the right leg is fractured, while the arms have no major issues. Your arms just have simple bruising and will be usable soon.”

The doctor explained Eileen’s condition while flipping through the chart.

Though it was a fracture, the bone hadn’t shattered into multiple pieces, so it would heal with bandaging and immobilization for a while. The wounds on her face weren’t deep and would heal without scarring.

After finishing his lengthy explanation, the doctor stood up.

“Now it’s your turn, Duke Aaron.”

“Hmm?”

Aaron tilted his head questioningly as he looked at the doctor. The doctor had already approached him with a tray full of disinfection supplies.

“Lady Eileen earnestly requested before she went in for treatment.”

“Earnestly requested what?”

Aaron asked with his head tilted skeptically.

“She said, ‘That annoying duke. I mean, please disinfect Duke Aaron’s annoying but handsome face so it doesn’t scar, and I noticed his hand was injured too, so please stitch it up well if it’s torn. And please check if he has any other injuries.'”

“Unnecessary worry……”

Aaron waved his hand dismissively and stood up from his seat.

“She also added that since Duke Aaron jumped down a cliff to save her, he must be injured, but would hide it because of his strong pride.”

The doctor who had relayed Eileen’s words without omitting a single detail smiled gently.

“Hah……”

Aaron sighed in disbelief.

Should he be angry or should he thank her?

Aaron shook his head slightly and extended his bleeding hand to the doctor, who firmly wrapped it with a bandage to stop the bleeding.

“It’s all done, Duke Aaron.”

“Thank you.”

Liam will nag me again when I get back.

Aaron chuckled as he looked at the bandage tightly wrapped around his hand.

“Duke Aaron, Duke Kyle and Duchess Lia are waiting outside.”

“Hmm?”

Aaron, who had been getting dressed to return home, tilted his head briefly before nodding lightly.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Duke and Duchess.”

Aaron approached the two people waiting for him outside the treatment room and greeted them respectfully. Following his greeting came an endless stream of thanks from the duke and duchess.

“For saving our daughter…… Thank you so much, Duke Aaron.”

“I owe you a great debt. I will never forget this favor.”

“Not at all. Lady Eileen saved me first, so it was only natural that I save her in return.”

“Hmm? What does that mean?”

Duke Kyle tilted his head.

“Just that you needn’t worry too much about it.”

Despite their puzzled looks, Aaron simply smiled. And so, the secret known only to Eileen and Aaron spread subtly through their laughter.

* * *

The accidents that occurred at Etoile Hill seemed like distant memories now, and the wounds etched on Aaron had already healed without leaving scars.

“Master, I’ve prepared tomato stew with plenty of beef today.”

Early morning. Following Liam’s request to prepare a hearty meal rather than simple fruit, the chef prepared tomato stew and brought it to Aaron.

It was a red stew garnished with fragrant green basil among appetizing chunks of beef.

While quietly observing it, Aaron’s mind drifted to someone with fresh green eyes.

— M-maybe it’s just an accident that you can brush off, Duke Aaron, but it was my first k… kiss!

Eileen’s cheeks had turned this red too.

When Aaron gave no response and just stared at the stew, the chef asked with a puzzled face.

“Master……?”

“……Thank you. You may leave.”

At his response, the chef nodded with relief and left the room.

After the chef left, Aaron’s gaze returned to the stew.

Over the steaming red tomato stew, Eileen’s face flashed through his mind once again.

At that moment, a light laugh escaped from his lips.

“I’ve finally gone completely mad.”

To think he would smile while thinking of Eileen.

Aaron chuckled and shook his head. Then he picked up his spoon, trying to erase her from his mind. But with each spoonful of tomato stew, instead of fading, her image became increasingly vivid.

“Hah…… Why did I do such a thing.”

Jumping down a cliff to save Eileen and stubbornly insisting on carrying her the entire way wasn’t something he would normally do.

“Foolishly.”

His normal self would never have gone to rescue her personally, nor would he have stubbornly insisted on carrying her the whole way.

“Did I act so impulsively because we had just talked about my parents?”

Whatever the correct answer might be, erasing Eileen from his mind proved impossible as she dominated his thoughts all day long, leaving no room for anything else. Aaron chuckled wryly as he thoroughly chewed and swallowed a perfectly cut piece of meat.

“……This is delicious.”

Though he never showed it, tomato stew ranked among his least favorite foods. Today, however, it could become his favorite meal. Aaron smiled as he savored the sweetness spreading throughout his mouth.

Just then, Liam entered his room with a disciplined posture, knocking on the door.

“Master. I apologize for interrupting your meal, but a letter has arrived from the Ceres family.”

“Hmm?”

Aaron, who had been enjoying the sweet taste of the tomato stew, looked languidly at Liam who brought a letter stamped with the Ceres family crest.

“They said it should be delivered to you quickly……”

“Is that so?”

Aaron took a sip of water before accepting the letter from Liam.

“It’s a dinner invitation.”

The letter was from Duke Kyle.

Written in neat handwriting on pristine white paper, it began with another expression of gratitude for saving Eileen at Etoile Hill.

It continued to say that Eileen had been discharged from the hospital a few days ago, and they would like to host a dinner to invite him.

What timing—a letter from the Ceres family just when he had been thinking about Eileen.

Aaron sighed lightly, recalling Eileen who still occupied his thoughts.

He put down the letter and said to Liam,

“I’ll need to write a reply, so prepare everything.”

“Yes, Master.”

At Aaron’s words, Liam promptly brought stationery, a pen, and sealing wax, seemingly having prepared them in advance.

Then he sent the breakfast back to the kitchen to make it easier for Aaron to write his letter.

Along with instructions to prepare the meal again once the letter was finished.

Though quite efficient for someone his age, Aaron picked up the pen without comment, apparently accustomed to this.

“By the way, Master.”

“What is it?”

Aaron was in the middle of writing his reply when Liam cautiously spoke up.

“May I ask when the dinner invitation is scheduled for?”

“A week from now.”

“Ah….. Then it will be difficult for you to attend this time.”

Liam muttered with disappointment.

“I plan to attend, though?”

“What?”

Are you really going?

Liam’s eyes widened as he questioned again.

“Is there a problem?”

Aaron sealed the letter nonchalantly and took a sip of cold water.

“Master. As you know, this week’s schedule is extremely tight.”

Today involved visiting the diamond mine and having lunch with Marquis Knox, followed by attending Countess Sophia’s birthday party in the evening.

Tomorrow would be a meeting with Count Isaac followed immediately by attending a ship launching ceremony.

The day after tomorrow, a meeting at the imperial palace……

The endless schedule that Liam recited was suffocating just to hear.

“And?”

Aaron, who had been listening quietly, tilted his head casually and answered in a languid voice.

“Considering your current schedule, attending the dinner on time would put too much strain on your body. Besides, the accident at Etoile Hill happened just a few days ago. Don’t you remember we were planning to cancel all of this week’s appointments?”

Liam tried several times to dissuade Aaron, speaking with concern.

“I know my body best, so don’t worry too much.”

“But—”

“Liam.”

“……I understand, Master.”

Unable to break Aaron’s firm resolve, Liam reluctantly nodded.

“Oh, and we need to visit the jewelry shop today, so adjust the schedule accordingly.”

“What?”

“It would be rude to attend an invitation empty-handed, wouldn’t it?”

While Liam despaired, saying, ‘But today’s schedule……’, Aaron’s face bore a faint smile.

* * *

‘Hah….. This is driving me crazy. Really.’

Unlike the cheerful Aaron, Eileen’s face had been gloomy all day.

She carefully touched her lips before letting out a deep sigh.

Though quite some time had passed, the sensation of their lips touching that day remained as vivid as if it had just happened. No matter how hard she rubbed her lips or shook her head vigorously, Aaron’s face wouldn’t disappear, as if it had been imprinted on her brain.

“Miss.”

‘Ugh….. Pull yourself together, Eileen!’

It was just a mistake. Aaron acted like it was nothing.

Eileen kept trying to reassure herself that everything was fine, but she was already struggling with daily activities.

“Miss Eileen!”

“Eek! You startled me!”

At that moment, a voice coming from right beside her snapped Eileen out of her deep thoughts.

Calming her startled heart, she turned to find Mary looking at her with a worried expression.

“S-sorry, Mary. Why did you call me?”

“Miss, did I frighten you? I’m sorry. I was worried that something might be wrong with you again.”

“No. I was just th-thinking about something and didn’t hear you. Ahaha…… What is it?”

Her voice came out uneven, accompanied by an awkward laugh. Eileen rolled her eyes around, trying to hide the fact that she had been thinking about Aaron just moments ago.

“Are you really alright? Actually, it’s almost time for the guests to arrive, so I came to escort you.”

“……Already?”

“Let’s go, Miss!”

She hadn’t even finished her mental preparation yet, but time cruelly refused to wait for her.

“Master, Madam. The carriages are arriving. Shall we prepare to receive them?”

“Yes.”

As the appointed time approached, carriages began entering the Ceres estate one by one. The Duke and Duchess checked their appearances one last time before heading to the entrance.

“Ho ho. Count Luke, welcome!”

“Oh my, Lady Cordelia! Welcome.”

When the awaited guests appeared, the couple greeted them with broad smiles.

Meanwhile, as the Duke and Duchess were busy welcoming guests…