TVIMN 25

Chapter 25

“What’s with that face?”

“Nothing.”

Lyle let out a low hum.

“Actually, I’ve already foreseen my victory even before we wrapped the cookies. Still, just in case—let’s be honest, okay? Don’t even think about lying. I’ll find out after we’re married anyway.”

Lyle placed a hand on Nox’s head, who was studying his expression.

“Go ahead, try one. I didn’t know what you’d like, so I bought one of each.”

“Hmm.”

After a moment of thought, Nox naturally picked up a black cookie shaped like a smiling person — made of chocolate.

“I told you I knew it from the start! Seriously, ginger cookies? That’s the number one thing kids hate most in the world! The moment you picked a ginger cookie, my victory was already sealed.”

Elaina spoke in a triumphant tone.

Naturally. Chocolate versus ginger—there was no competition to begin with.

“…Still, he did seem to like the cinnamon cookie.”

After finishing the chocolate cookie, Nox said he’d have just one more and picked a cinnamon cookie instead. Later, the butler mentioned that Nox sometimes drank warm milk with cinnamon before bed.

“That’s a surprise. Most kids would hate that flavor.”

“Yeah. I liked it too. The butler used to make it for me when I couldn’t sleep.”

From something as small as sharing cookies, an unexpected commonality emerged. As small talk began to bridge their awkward distance, the two brothers who had treated each other like ghosts began to grow a little closer.

Nox, who used to lock himself in his room whenever Lyle returned home, was slowly beginning to venture out more.

“So, what’s your wish?”

The bet had been that whoever Nox chose as the winner would have their wish granted.

“You’ll really grant it if I say it?”

“If it’s within reason.”

“All right then. Let me see the Grand Duke’s manor.”

Lyle raised an eyebrow at the unexpected request.

“That’s your wish?”

“Of course! We’re not even married yet, so I can’t just visit whenever I want.”

When spring came, she’d be moving into the Grand Duke’s estate right away. There wasn’t much time to prepare.

“Do you even know how much there is to do? I might not even have time to finish everything!”

Wallpaper, worn-out furniture, repairs throughout the house—

And that wasn’t all. The current staff at the manor was far too few. They’d have to transfer some servants from the Duke’s residence and hire new ones to fill the gaps.

“Go ahead, then.”

“Really?”

Lyle nodded. There was no reason for him to refuse.

They were at one of the city’s most famous cafés, a different place from the tearoom they’d visited last time.

He knew he had to get used to the way nobles’ eyes followed him and Elaina, but it still felt like being pestered by gnats buzzing around his head.

“Shall we go, then?”

Their tea had long since gone cold. Lyle knew he wasn’t much of a conversationalist, yet with Elaina, their words flowed naturally—so much so that he hadn’t even noticed his tea cooling.

Even after getting into the carriage, Elaina kept chattering away. Normally, he found talkative people exhausting, but for some reason, she didn’t feel that way at all.

“By the way, I’ve always wondered…”

What now? Lyle glanced at her, curious about what she’d say next.

Elaina spread her fingers wide, then opened and closed them.

“For swordsmanship, you need big hands, right? Does that mean someone like me would have a hard time learning?”

You know—like with instruments, where people with long fingers have the advantage. Shouldn’t it be the same for swords?

“I once picked up a sword from the library. They said it was heavier than a real one since it was for display, but still! I was shocked—I could barely lift it, and I’m not exactly weak. To swing something that heavy, you’d need so much strength… What? Why are you laughing?”

“Me? I’m not.”

“You totally laughed. I saw you turn your head and cover your mouth.”

She glared, her voice prickly.

“Is it that funny that I struggled to lift a sword?”

“I laughed earlier, actually. You must’ve missed that part.”

“Earlier?” She frowned in confusion.

“When you said you’re confident in your stamina.”

“What about it? I really am healthy.”

“Sure you are.”

“If you’ve got something to say, just say it. Pretending to agree makes it worse.”

“You look healthy. But stamina is… a little different.”

Suddenly, Lyle leaned closer, his scent brushing past her.

Elaina’s eyes widened, startled—but he didn’t seem to notice. He rested a hand on her shoulder.

“Strength comes from muscle. When wielding a sword, you use both your upper arm and forearm. This part’s the upper arm, and here—”

His hand moved slowly down her arm.

“—is the forearm. Unfortunately, you don’t have any muscle here, my lady.”

That’s why I laughed.

The corners of his mouth curved upward again. He’d known it already, but still—Elaina’s body was incredibly soft. There wasn’t a single trace of muscle or callus.

“I-I do have some, don’t I?”

“I’m sure you do. You walk, lift things… Sure. I’ll stop there.”

“Then can I touch yours too?”

Just like he had, Elaina suddenly leaned forward. The carriage jolted, and she almost fell, but Lyle caught her in time.

“Oh—thanks. Maybe I should just sit over here.”

She plopped down beside him and began to squeeze his arm experimentally.

“Oh, I get it now. It’s really hard—like stone.”

No wonder Lady Mavella went on about his perfect body. So this is what a real swordsman’s arm feels like.

Still, he’s not like Leo.

Elaina thought of her old friend, Leo Bonaparte—with his bright blond hair and blue eyes, his build was far slimmer than Lyle’s. As she tilted her head at the comparison, Lyle’s voice broke her thoughts.

“If you’re done touching, you can go back to your seat.”

“Huh?”

Only then did Elaina realize she was still actively feeling up his arm. Lyle had turned his head completely away from her. Embarrassed by his reaction, she felt awkward too.

Oh, come on. You did the same thing.

Feeling oddly self-conscious, she cleared her throat.

“Fine, fine. Honestly, Your Grace, you’re awfully sensitive about physical contact. Just like with Lady Mavella.”

Muttering under her breath, Elaina returned to her seat. Lyle opened the carriage window, as though trying to clear the lingering scent of her perfume.

“Isn’t it too cold to open that?”

“No, I’m… a little warm. I’ll leave it open for a bit.”

Indeed, his face had grown slightly flushed.

When Lyle returned home unusually early that morning, Nox’s ears perked up.

Normally, when his brother went out, he wouldn’t be back until evening. What had brought him home so soon today? Nox peeked out from his room.

“Next time, young master, perhaps you could go out to greet His Grace yourself. I’m sure he’d be delighted.”

Always talking about him… The butler truly adored Lyle. Even while caring for Nox, he constantly brought up the elder brother.

Maybe that’s why Nox resented him so much—Lyle had monopolized their mother and the butler long before Nox was even born.

Maybe I should go greet him…

Since the butler had handled their mother’s unattended funeral when Nox was just five, there hadn’t been anyone he could really call “family.”

Lyle had shown no interest in him since returning home. And though it felt a little pathetic that he’d been so easily swayed by something as small as a cookie, the word family held powerful sway over a lonely ten-year-old boy.

If I do it first… maybe he’ll start doing it for me too.

After a moment’s thought, Nox closed his book and headed downstairs.

But the sound that reached his ears made him frown.

What’s with all the noise?

Laughter—in this house? That was rare.

As he descended the stairs, his gaze fell on the woman smiling beside Lyle.

That woman.

His expression twisted. It was the same woman who’d visited before.

Then his eyes dropped to her left hand—where their mother’s ring, the one Lyle had taken last time, gleamed brilliantly.

“Oh! So we finally meet! Hello, Nox, I’m—”

Before Elaina could finish her cheerful greeting, Nox’s sharp voice cut through the air.

“What’s this pumpkin supposed to be?”