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Chapter 14
“That’s true, but if I don’t come back like this… there’s nothing I can do for you, is there? If you chose me for love, I wouldn’t be able to help you. That’s why I thought that if you weren’t a woman, maybe we could stay good friends for a long time.”
“So… I’m not your type?”
Ares, who had been thinking for a moment, nodded slightly.
“You’re a better person than I expected, so I feel guilty. All the effort you’re putting in is for the future Ares, not me. He could give you what you want, but I can’t. A relationship where one side only gives will eventually wear out, won’t it?”
I see.
Herina murmured quietly.
“I think we get along quite well, and I… sometimes respect you. So if one day you suddenly get tired and don’t want to stay by my side, I won’t be able to stop you. Going to someone who can give you what you want will be your happiness.”
Listening to Ares’ calm monologue, Herina felt a little confused.
There was clearly a reason she was working so hard.
First, the ducal family couldn’t collapse, or her own benefits would be lost.
All of this was for her own gain. So whether Ares was seventeen or twenty-four didn’t really matter.
“If you really don’t come back…”
When she met the young Ares’ gaze, the certainty she had always felt wavered.
Was it because of the clear eyes unique to a child?
Or maybe… had she ever actually expected more from Ares?
If so, what kind of Ares would have been the one to give more?
Herina’s mind instantly became tangled in confusion.
Knock, knock—
Just as she was about to be lost in endless thoughts, the knock at the door brought her back to reality, and she stood up.
“What is it?”
When she opened the office door, a maid bowed and handed her a letter on a tray.
“This is a letter addressed to the Duke.”
Herina lightly picked up the envelope and recognized the familiar writing on the front.
“So, it’s finally here.”
Closing the door and shaking the envelope slightly, she gestured toward Ares, who looked at her curiously.
“An old friend of yours sending greetings?”
Placing the letter in front of him, Ares’ expression hardened as he took it.
“Marquis Erman has returned. From what you said, I didn’t think we were the kind to exchange letters. Am I, contrary to my expectations, on friendly terms with him?”
Herina shook her head and took a sip of tea.
“What do you think? It’s just to check on the enemy’s movements and for Havinnent to keep tabs. You can ignore it. Ares, you’ve never accepted an invitation from him before, right?”
Seventeen-year-old Ares nodded, saying he hadn’t planned to, and tore open the envelope.
After reading the letter, he spoke.
“Isn’t it customary to send invitations to those we are not close with? It doesn’t say they want to visit the mansion.”
At his words, Herina snatched the letter to read.
It clearly stated:
If the Duke permits, I would like to visit the Duke’s mansion at the earliest convenience. Please graciously allow the invitation…
“Why is he doing this? He’s never done this before. And Ares never accepted his invitations—did he think I’d accept this request? Or did he lose all his memories while being exiled?”
While she was bewildered by the absurd content before her, Ares’ eyes narrowed as if calculating something.
“Could it be…?”
“Could it be what?”
“That he heard something about the wedding? It wasn’t ordinary, and if Gale, who has always been interested, finds out, he might want to come to the mansion. Whatever it is, the hint would be here at the mansion.”
Herina slowly opened her mouth in agreement at the plausible explanation.
It was nicely phrased, and it made sense, though it wasn’t the type of scene one would expect from the Havinnent family, who valued legitimacy.
It was indeed a situation that could raise suspicions.
“So, what should we do? We can’t invite Gale just to clear up suspicion. If anyone sees the current state, rumors will spread like wildfire. Anyone else is fine, but not Gale.”
As Herina argued passionately, Ares tossed the letter into the nearby trash and picked up other documents.
“Are you focused on work? Gale might storm in at any moment.”
Ares nodded casually.
“You said he’s never accepted an invitation, right? If he reacts to such a request now, that would signal that something is going on. So I’ll ignore it, as usual.”
Ah. That made sense, and Herina briefly fell silent.
“But what if he suddenly comes to the mansion? What if he barges in saying he sent a letter before?”
Ares shrugged, as if it were no problem.
“You said it yourself. Twenty-four-year-old Ares is quite strong.”
Strong, yes…
As Herina nodded, Ares grinned.
“The seventeen-year-old Ares of Havinnent is also strong. No noble can dare enter without permission unless it’s by royal order.”
The smiling face she had never seen before looked exactly like the twenty-four-year-old Ares.
Thump-thump—
Herina suddenly felt her heartbeat quicken and placed her hand gently on her chest.
Even though her heart had never reacted to twenty-four-year-old Ares’ expressions, she couldn’t understand why it was reacting now.
You’re crazy. Get a grip.
He’s just a child. A puppet, a tool for her plan to swallow the ducal family.
“Are you not working? If you’re reacting to me saying I respect you, that’s conditional. Only when you sometimes handle things responsibly, like an adult. Normally, I don’t think that way, so please keep showing the demeanor of the Duke’s wife.”
By the stream of annoying words arriving immediately, she soon realized…
“Right. My heart’s trembling because it’s irritating.”
Herina murmured softly.
Now that she thought about it, that smile and those audacious words were exactly like the infuriating Duke himself.
Born without privilege, his inferiority complex had surely boiled into anger.
Of course.
Even in front of twenty-four-year-old Ares, her heart had stiffened—how could it now move for this brat?
Herina found her momentary delusion absurd.
“That’s enough! I’m hungry, so let’s eat first. Even if you can’t give me much, you can at least give me a proper meal, right? I’ve worked so hard! And while we’re at it, I have a lot to buy—weekends, I’m going out. We’re not going to be worked to the bone and rewarded so stingily in this great Havinnent family, right?”
Excited Herina made Ares nod, puzzled.
“Did something make you angry?”
“No! Why would I? Do I seem like someone who often gets angry or overly emotional? Not at all. I respect you as an adult. You’re very calm even now. My obligation isn’t just a reward—it’s about keeping the dignity of the Duke’s wife. I am always gentle, knowing nothing of anger… Oh my!!”
Herina, stomping around the room, bumped her back into the bookshelf.
The shock made the documents piled high on the shelf wobble and tumble toward her.
“Ughhh…!”
“Gentle? Calm? Not at all, you.”
When Herina cautiously opened her eyes after bracing for impact, Ares’ face was right there, smiling.
