A strange stubbornness seized him. The proposition of wanting to be in the same space as Eileen, not Cordelia, was unlike his usual self, but he didn’t realize it.

“Really? Lady Eileen, would you like to go together?”

“……Of course, Lady Cordelia.”

Even Eileen’s smile now appeared blurry, but he attributed this to fatigue as well. Aaron pressed his aching head firmly, thinking, ‘I’m glad I came to the dinner even if it was pushing myself.’

“Then…… I’ll be waiting.”

Aaron barely managed to answer before bringing the wine glass to his lips.

The wine flowing down his throat made him feel a little better.

“By the way, Lady Cordelia. If it’s alright with you, how about Count Luke joins us this time?”

Aaron quietly watched Eileen chattering away. Her dinner seemed enjoyable, with a faint blush rising on her snow-white cheeks.

Just like that day.

He wondered if new colors could be painted over dark emotions, because her appearance no longer irritated him.

He only wished she would smile more.

It was strange.

‘When would be the best time to give this?’

Aaron fiddled with the box in his pocket.

‘Ugh……’

Suddenly, another intense headache struck him. Aaron bit the inside of his cheek. A metallic taste spread throughout his mouth.

He forced his lips to curl up, hoping no one would notice he was ill.

“C-Count Luke?”

“Yes. My parents prepared this dinner for the three of you, but I’d like to express my gratitude separately too!”

Fortunately, Eileen didn’t seem to notice he was sick. She continued smiling while conversing with Cordelia.

“O-of course. Whenever is fine with me, if Count Luke is available!”

“Count Luke, does your schedule allow it?”

“I’m available anytime, Lady Eileen.”

That’s when it happened.

“Then, Duke Aaron. Could we visit together next week?”

Cordelia’s question flowed into Aaron’s ears. Despite this, his headache persisted, and the room spun before his eyes.

“……I’ll clear my schedule for then.”

Aaron brushed back his hair, which was soaked with cold sweat.

He seemed to have reached his limit.

‘Damn it.’

He silently cursed and clenched his fist tightly. His hand turned completely white.

‘Normally I should go back now.’

But he had to give her the gift today. With that determination, Aaron steadied his ragged breathing and slowly uttered one word at a time.

“……Lady Eileen.”

“Yes?”

“……I have something…… I’d like to discuss…… Could you spare me…… some time?”

* * *

‘Why isn’t he saying anything?’

During the continuing long silence, Eileen fidgeted with her fingers.

This man had been acting strange since dinner, but she couldn’t understand why he was taking so long to speak.

‘Why so quiet?’

They had already circled halfway around the garden, but Aaron had simply pushed her wheelchair without saying a word for quite some time.

Finally, Eileen broke the silence first.

“Duke Aaron. You said you had something to tell me?”

“……I’m sorry, but could you wait a moment?”

After a brief silence, Aaron opened his heavy lips. When he struggled to utter each word unlike his usual self, an uneasy thought suddenly crossed her mind.

“Are you sick, Duke?”

“……No.”

Once again, a short response leaked out after silence.

“Duke Aaron! Come in front of me. Quickly!”

“……I told you I’m fine.”

“Stop being stubborn and come here now!”

Under Eileen’s insistence, Aaron clutched his spinning head and slowly moved one step at a time.

“My goodness! You’re even sweating cold!”

“……It’s just hot.”

“Hot? It may be spring, but it’s still quite chilly!”

His face had turned pale white, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his lips had lost their color. No matter how she looked at him, he was clearly sick.

She remembered Luke asking him earlier in passing if he was alright.

She should have noticed then.

Since when?

Had he been unwell from the beginning?

“If you’re sick, you should rest! Why did you come!”

Could it be he came to see Cordelia?

Does he want to see Cordelia that badly?

Despite being this sick, did he want to see Cordelia so desperately that he forced himself to endure it?

Eileen bit her lip hard and looked at Aaron after swallowing words she couldn’t bring herself to say aloud.

“Just…… a little…… ti…… red, that’s all……”

Her irritation rose watching Aaron lie even at this moment.

“Are you stupid? Will that precious love take care of your health?”

In that moment—

“……Sorry. Lady…… Eileen……”

With a heavy weight, his fine silver hair poured onto her shoulders.

“D-Duke Aaron?”

The rapid-fire words she had been spitting out stopped the moment Aaron collapsed before her eyes. Along with it, Eileen’s thoughts froze in an instant.

Aaron had collapsed. Though the reality was clearly visible before her eyes, she couldn’t believe it.

“Duke Aaron!”

This was no time to stare blankly. When Eileen shook her head vigorously, her momentarily halted thoughts began to move again.

“Duke Aaron, wake up!”

Hoping her voice would reach him, Eileen kept calling Aaron. But Aaron still didn’t move at all.

“No! How can the sub male lead faint? He’s not even the female lead! Get up quickly, Aaron!”

“……”

“I said get up! Aaron! What do you think you’re doing!”

The longer her hopeless calls continued, Eileen’s clear voice began to sink lower.

“Miss?”

After calling Aaron for a long time and moving her body back and forth, a familiar voice reached Eileen’s ears.

* * *

Daniel heard the urgent voice echoing through the quiet garden while heading to the training grounds.

Though he had already completed his assigned training for the day, an inexplicable anxiety gripped him.

He immediately recognized the voice belonged to the young miss he served.

He only hoped it was a joyful outcry from friends playing around, that his anxiety was just his imagination. But when he hurriedly made his way there, he encountered a situation he never expected.

“Daniel……!”

What greeted Daniel was Eileen’s voice, hoarser than usual. Daniel rubbed his eyes and looked at Eileen sitting in her wheelchair.

“Miss?”

Her deeply furrowed expression, beads of sweat forming on her skin. The strangest of all was that she was alone in the garden during what should have been dinner time.

“Daniel, quickly!”

Just when Daniel’s eyes narrowed with suspicion, Eileen urgently gestured toward her front.

Daniel tilted his head and shifted his gaze to where Eileen’s finger pointed.

“……Duke Aaron?”

There lay Aaron, collapsed, breathing heavily while covered in cold sweat. Upon seeing him, all of Daniel’s suspicions melted away like snow.

“Miss! What happened?”

Daniel sent Eileen a look full of bewilderment.

“I’ll explain later. For now, could you move Duke Aaron to the guest room and call a doctor?”

“Yes, Miss.”

Daniel nodded, then supported Aaron’s waist with one hand and his legs with the other. Then with a small grunt of “Heave-ho,” he lifted him up.

“……Pfft.”

Seeing this, Eileen had to suppress her laughter.

Though Daniel had no choice given the urgency, seeing none other than Aaron being carried in a princess hold was quite a sight.

She tried to scold herself, saying one shouldn’t laugh at a patient and that this was a serious situation, but she couldn’t easily contain her laughter.

“Miss, I’ll go call for Mary. Please wait a moment.”

“Yes, I understand. Ahem…… Daniel.”

Eileen barely managed to nod with difficulty, struggling to hold back the laughter that kept threatening to escape.

* * *

“After the injection, he should sleep well and feel better when he wakes up.”

“Thank you.”

“Not at all, Duke Kyle.”

The doctor gave a slight bow to Duke Kyle, packed his medical bag, and left the room.

“He should have rested instead of coming when he was this sick……”

Though Aaron’s condition had improved significantly since Daniel first carried him in, he was still breathing heavily. Duchess Lia gently wiped Aaron’s forehead, which was covered in beads of sweat, with a towel.

“When you’re young and have to lead a family alone, you become foolish.”

“Kyle……”

“I too mistakenly thought that was how one survived back then.”

Duke Kyle’s gaze toward Aaron seemed somewhat sorrowful. Duchess Lia carefully took his hand, filling it with comfort as she watched his eyes wavering with pity and sadness.

“He should rest here at the house for the day.”

“That’s a good idea, Kyle.”

“Let’s leave now so he can sleep peacefully.”

The couple instructed the servants to prepare curtains, water, and medicine so Aaron could rest comfortably. Soon after, the quiet and careful sound of the door closing flowed between them.

* * *

“……Ugh.”

His head throbbed painfully. Aaron groaned and slowly opened his eyes.

“……Where am I.”

Aaron’s brows furrowed at the unfamiliar ceiling and scenery that greeted him when he opened his eyes.

“Oh my! Duke Aaron, you’re awake?”

A gentle voice reached Aaron’s ears, his mind not yet fully clear.

“Everyone was so surprised when you suddenly collapsed!”

When he turned his head, a beautiful woman who resembled someone was smiling at him.

It was Duchess Lia, the mistress of the Ceres family.

“I’m truly sorry for causing you concern, Duchess.”

I thought I was at my limit, but I ended up collapsing after all…

Only then understanding the situation, Aaron swallowed a bitter smile and apologized.

“You still don’t seem well, so eat breakfast and rest before leaving.”

“Thank you for your consideration. But I’m fine now.”

Aaron gently shook his head and rose from the bed in response to the Duchess’s suggestion.

“Duke Aaron.”

Aaron was trying to smile to reassure her, but this only darkened Lia’s face.

My goodness, to think there’s another child just like our Eileen.

Lia sighed deeply and called Aaron in a low voice.

“Working hard is good, but it’s also important to rest when needed.”

“……”

“If you collapse again from pushing yourself before fully recovering, wouldn’t that be more detrimental?”

The gaze fixed on his face was quite piercing.

“I understand……”

Aaron lowered his head like a scolded puppy and slowly nodded to the Duchess’s firm words.

“The bathroom is over there, and I’ve contacted the Monston family to prepare a change of clothes.”

“Thank you, Duchess.”

“I’ll see you in a bit.”

Duchess Lia left a friendly greeting as she headed toward the door.