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Episode 18
“Marry.”
…What?
A sudden proposal?
Aria dropped the book she was holding with a startled thud at the Grand Duke’s abrupt words.
“We shall hold the wedding as luxuriously as that of an empress.”
Tristan continued on as if this were a perfectly natural conversation.
Aria tugged at his sleeve and tilted her head, clearly unable to understand what he meant.
Without even realizing it, the Grand Duke tapped her twitching rabbit-like ears with his finger and added,
“Isn’t that better for you as well?”
Only then did Aria finally understand what he was implying.
[What about Lloyd?]
“It’s just a marriage between children. Marriage is merely a means to secure your foundation. If my son displeases you, you can divorce once you’re an adult.”
By imperial law, divorce was only permitted after reaching adulthood. It was to prevent rampant marriage arrangements among nobles.
‘That’s not what I meant… I’m asking about Lloyd’s feelings.’
Aria was bewildered.
Was the Grand Duke planning to force the marriage regardless of Lloyd’s wishes?
She sensed danger immediately.
‘If he does that, Lloyd and I will never recover from it.’
She had only just escaped from being threatened with murder—this was the worst possible timing.
Aria shook her head firmly while still gripping his sleeve.
“Do you dislike the eldest son? Then what about the second? He’s in the Academy now, but he’ll return soon. You could meet him then.”
Aria shook her head even more fiercely.
She had come here to meet Lloyd. Marrying someone else was unthinkable. She’d sooner get a job as a maid.
[I don’t want to marry someone who doesn’t want to get married.]
Lloyd, in his childhood, had been wary and guarded. She needed to approach carefully.
Afraid the Grand Duke might pressure him unnecessarily, she added something to divert his thoughts.
[If I can’t get married, I can just play with you instead.]
“Hm.”
The Grand Duke stroked his chin, deep in thought.
Now that he considered it, he had been too focused on bringing her in as the future Grand Duchess.
But wasn’t the important thing simply giving her a place where she could settle and feel safe?
‘Taking her as a daughter wouldn’t be bad either.’
Satisfied with that idea, the Grand Duke briefly entertained the notion of adopting her—just in case his stubborn son never opened his heart.
“I heard from the physician that you have trouble eating.”
He finally got to the real reason he had come.
Aria’s eyes widened, like a startled rabbit. She hadn’t expected him to know that much.
“I don’t understand what it’s like to be unable to express emotions but…”
His ash-grey eyes—always like cold embers—gleamed strangely.
“If anyone dares to mock you for it, I will tear their mouth apart.”
…Tear what?
Standing nearby, Dwayne nodded warmly—then froze.
‘How in the world does his brain work?!’
But Tristan wasn’t done.
“If anyone looks at you unpleasantly, I will gouge out their eyes.”
“…”
“If anyone dares to reach for you, I will sever their wrist.”
“…”
Good lord…
Dwayne covered his face with both palms. He respected his master more than anyone, but wrong was wrong.
Even someone fearless might cry at such terrifying statements.
“So if your heart allows it, you may cry.”
“…”
“You may laugh, or even be angry.”
It’s too late to fix it now, Your Grace. Normal people would develop trauma after that speech.
Unable to bear it, Dwayne screwed his eyes shut. Slowly, he opened them again.
As expected—Aria was crying.
See? She’s terrified—…or maybe not.
Tears poured down her face like rain, but instead of recoiling, Aria rushed into the Grand Duke’s arms.
Desperate.
Like a newly hatched chick imprinting on the first thing it sees—clinging for survival, regardless of whether that thing was a criminal, a murderer, or a demon.
“…”
In the past, Dwayne would’ve thought, As expected, she’s extraordinary.
But this time, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
He simply watched, heart heavy, as the Grand Duke’s aide waited quietly for the child’s tears to cease.
* * *
[I want breakfast.]
Aria held up a card.
“Of course, here’s the soup—”
[Not soup. Something else.]
Dana, who always brought soup, froze with eyes wide open and mouth agape.
Then, overwhelmed, she covered her mouth with both hands, eyes shimmering.
“You… you finally have something you want to eat?”
Aria nodded.
That morning, she had suddenly thought of something she saw in the cookbook Dana once showed her.
She didn’t know why.
She just wanted it.
[Scrambled eggs.]
The kitchen went into a frenzy.
The Grand Duke had already turned it upside down once, enraged at discovering Aria couldn’t eat well.
“We must create the greatest scrambled eggs known to mankind!”
Chef Baker poured his soul into two eggs and personally delivered the dish, trembling.
The assistant set the plate on the table.
Scrambled eggs.
It looks delicious.
Fluffy and moist, just like in the picture. But unlike the illustration, it smelled sweet and warm, like milk.
Strangely appetizing.
Aria hesitated, then took a bite.
Softness melted instantly on her tongue.
‘So this… this is what taste is.’
She had never eaten for pleasure—only for survival.
‘I didn’t know… it could be like this.’
She bit her lip. Tears threatened again.
But remembering how the Grand Duke had silently patted her back before…
The feeling passed quickly.
She swallowed and took another spoonful—this time, heaping.
Soon, the plate was empty.
“How was it, my lady?” Baker asked solemnly.
Aria thought hard, then wrote:
[It tastes… fluffy.]
It was the best she could do. She had never described flavor before.
The silent kitchen staff suddenly erupted.
“Would you like dessert?”
“We have chocolate ice cream!”
“Special macarons!”
“Cheesecake?”
“Honey pears!”
“At least candy—please!”
They all wanted to give her something—anything.
Aria accepted a candy from the last assistant and popped it into her mouth.
A gentle mint flavor filled her mouth—not too strong, perfect for a child.
[Thank you always.]
She held up her card. The edges were worn; she’d used it a lot.
“I never thought I’d see that card…”
The assistant trembled with emotion, then punched the guy beside him.
“What was that for?!”
They didn’t even know each other, but the man just sighed and patted him sympathetically.
* * *
Spring passed, and summer arrived.
The first semester of the Academy ended, and Lloyd returned to the estate.
“You’re here too.”
“Of course. It’s vacation.”
Coincidentally, Lloyd’s carriage arrived at the exact same moment as his stepbrother’s.
Vincent Valentine.
With a velvet-soft smile, he met Lloyd’s indifferent gaze.
“You’re the same as ever.”
“So are you, brother.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Haha.”
Vincent laughed weakly and followed Lloyd at a leisurely pace.
“The castle seems strangely busy today.”
It made sense—two young masters arriving at once caused commotion.
But the Valentine estate buzzed with another kind of activity entirely.
“Are they constructing a new building?”
An architect carrying several rolled-up papers hurried past. Lloyd gestured slightly, and the man rushed over.
“Y-yes, Young Master! You called?”
“Give me that.”
“Y-yes, sir!”
Lloyd spread the papers. The scale was enormous—almost like building another castle.
“Are they making… an amusement park?”
Vincent peered over his shoulder. As an academic prodigy, he excelled in every field.
“An amusement park? In the Grand Duchy?”
Lloyd scoffed. Why build such a thing in a place no one could enter?
“It’s like putting a luxury cruise ship in the middle of a mountain.”
Vincent nodded.
The architect, sweating, finally whispered,
“His Grace ordered us to build a playroom for the young lady…”
“Young lady?”
Lloyd cut him off abruptly, his jet-black eyes turning cold.
“She’s still here?”
His voice held no emotion—but the architect felt as though he were suffocating under its weight.
