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Chapter 15
It was a misunderstanding—he thought she was going on a date alone.
Feeling slightly embarrassed, Herina raised her voice to shake off the awkwardness.
“I’ll take care of all the remaining work in the mansion while you’re out alone? It’s your last day of vacation, you know. Are you sure that’s alright?”
Ares nodded willingly, as if sincerely meaning it.
“Yes. I’m grateful just for the help you’ve given so far. Of course, I’ll still need your help in the future, but these are tasks I couldn’t have done without you. I’d like you to enjoy your last vacation, at least. After all, isn’t this a vacation you would have enjoyed with your Ares?”
That may be true…
Herina hesitated for a moment, caught by some inexplicable reluctance.
But she couldn’t ignore the faint shadow under Ares’ eyes.
No matter how much she planned to take over this ducal house, leaving this young boy alone while she frolicked around felt a little guilty.
Herina hadn’t even considered that simply taking over this young boy’s ducal house could be a matter of conscience.
“Let’s go together.”
Herina spoke as if she had made up her mind.
Her eyes briefly lingered on the documents on Ares’ desk.
“I’m really—”
“Who said anything about going to the market?”
Ares looked at her, puzzled.
“Then where exactly are we going?”
Herina pointed to one of the papers on his desk and flung open the window wide.
Havenant, their estate, enjoyed a mild climate year-round, but the spring sunshine was particularly pleasant. And now, it was the height of spring.
“Res Valley Amusement Park. We’re going on a spring picnic.”
“A spring picnic…?”
Herina quickly skimmed the remaining documents and nodded.
“You don’t know what a spring picnic is? We’ll see the flowers and ride a boat. Res Valley Amusement Park is perfect for a picnic.”
Ares had never heard such a thing.
Could spring and picnic really belong together in one phrase? In Ares’ life, the word “picnic” simply didn’t exist.
“Do people normally do that in spring?”
Herina gave him a look that said he was missing out.
“I knew it, but wow, what a dull life you’ve led. I thought adults got boring, but apparently seventeen-year-olds aren’t that fun either. Have you never been on a picnic?”
Ares nodded faintly, and Herina shook her head at his dullness, then moved briskly as if she had made up her mind.
“What are you suddenly doing?”
Pulling out a document about Res Valley from the scattered papers, Herina fluttered it in her hand and smiled.
“Picnic cancelled. Since it’s your first time, it’s a field trip instead. Consider it an educational visit and hands-on experience.”
It was hard to tell exactly what she had planned or what she was thinking, but she looked extremely happy.
Ares, too, couldn’t help but smile in response.
The promised weekend arrived.
Due to the vast territory of the Adenman Empire, the seasons varied across the land, but the capital enjoyed a mild climate year-round. In spring, it was more splendid than anywhere else on the continent.
Havenant’s estate, closest to the capital, was particularly famous. Naturally, the place was crowded this week, at the peak of spring.
“Are you sure this is fine? We might run into other nobles.”
After finishing her preparations, Herina pressed a hat of the same color onto Ares’ head. He spoke with a worried look.
“You’re wearing glasses, a hat… Usually, if we do all this, even if people recognize us, they’ll pretend they don’t. They wouldn’t try to disturb our vacation. But Ares, have you grown taller in the meantime? Around the wedding, you were just about a hand shorter than me.”
It had only been about a month, but his noticeable growth made Herina reach out to gauge it.
“Well, at this age, it’s normal to be growing.”
Ares adjusted his uncomfortable glasses and answered casually.
“I see.”
Herina didn’t think much of it either, but Ares’ growth wasn’t just from hormones.
Just as he had suddenly become younger, a mysterious change had occurred—one that only the two of them hadn’t yet noticed.
After about two hours in a carriage with Ares, who was somewhat bundled up, they arrived at the pride of Havenant, Res Cliff.
The cliff and the long river below were crowded with people enjoying spring.
“Have you been here before?”
Watching Ares’ eyes captivated by the waterfall outside, she asked. He nodded slightly.
“When I was very young… it’s the earliest moment I can remember. I remember thinking it was big then, but now it seems even bigger.”
“Oh my, what have you been doing all this time without trying something like this? You haven’t even lived long, yet it seems you’ve led such a dull life.”
When asked before, the twenty-four-year-old Ares had said he was too busy living to enjoy such leisure.
Whether twenty-four or seventeen, Ares had been too pressed for time to know this kind of joy.
“I suppose it was to become the Ares you know. That kind of skill doesn’t form overnight. Each day was a repetition of the same routine. I learned new things, but the process of training and mastering them was always the same. Even without you, I would have succeeded eventually, but I wouldn’t have experienced this situation, so it’s a bit new.”
Ares moved closer to a branch of flowers, closed his eyes, and inhaled the scent.
Herina always felt a little uncomfortable facing such diligence in him.
She, who had luck disguised as fate, couldn’t hope to compete with such steadfast responsibility.
“Well, enjoy it from now on. There’s so much to enjoy in the world. Starting at seventeen is plenty of time to experience it all.”
Herina spoke lightly. It was true that it was better for Ares to open his eyes to the world.
“That would be good, but I’ll take it in moderation. That way, I can at least somewhat follow the version of me you know.”
Ares’ calm laugh followed.
Herina didn’t smile back—she didn’t want to melt into this boy’s heart unnecessarily.
“Aren’t you hungry?”
Switching the topic quickly, she noticed that Ares actually showed interest.
“Now that you mention it, it’s past lunchtime. Shall we eat?”
Looking around, Herina ignored the crowded spots and pointed to a somewhat shabby restaurant.
“Let’s go there.”
Ares looked puzzled at the shop, which looked at least fifty years old.
“Don’t you usually pick the best among these? That place by the entrance looks much cleaner and bigger.”
Herina shook her index finger innocently.
“Don’t you remember complaints? People said it was overpriced and not worth it. Sure, this shabby place might be expensive too, but surviving among all those flashy shops means it must have some regulars. If we’re paying a lot, wouldn’t you rather eat something delicious?”
Persuaded, Ares nodded.
“Where do you get this information? The more I know, the less you seem like the typical young lady I’ve known. Is it just that I have too little experience?”
For Herina, coming from the modern era, this was completely normal.
Every social media feed overflowed with advertisements, and through trial and error, she had learned what was truly worth knowing.
“Don’t respect me too much. If you respect me for even these little things, I’d be too embarrassed.”
Resting her chin in her hands, she winked playfully. Ares shook his head in total bewilderment.
“You must be really hungry. Let’s go eat.”
Herina quickly followed Ares as he walked on, shaking his head.
“Hey, let’s go together!”
