Chapter 18
“Marry me.”
Suddenly?
Aria dropped the book she was holding with a soft thud.
“Make the wedding as luxurious as the Empress’s.”
Tristan kept talking to himself.
Aria tugged at his sleeve, tilting her head as if to ask what he meant.
The Grand Duke lightly tapped her rabbit ears with his finger.
“Wouldn’t you prefer that?”
Only then did Aria understand what he was trying to say.
[What about Lloyd?]
“Marriage is just a tool to establish your position. If you don’t like the eldest son, you can divorce when you’re an adult.”
By Empire law, divorce was only allowed after reaching adulthood, to prevent careless arranged marriages among nobles.
‘No… I wanted to ask what Lloyd wants…’
Aria was confused. She worried the Grand Duke might force marriage on Lloyd without asking.
She instinctively knew:
‘If that happens, Lloyd and I will never be able to repair our relationship.’
She held his sleeve tightly, shaking her head.
“What about the second son? He’s at the Academy, but he’ll be back soon. You could meet him.”
Aria shook her head even harder. She had come all this way to meet Lloyd. She’d rather work as a maid than marry someone else.
[Marrying someone I don’t want to marry—I don’t want that.]
As a child, Lloyd was cautious, so she had to approach carefully. She tried to distract the Duke from forcing anything.
[If I can’t marry, I’ll just play with you, Father.]
“Hmm.”
The Duke thought for a moment. He realized he had been too focused on adopting her as his daughter.
‘It’s fine if she just settles down somewhere safe.’
He smiled, considering simply completing the adoption.
“That doctor said you don’t eat well.”
Though he started with marriage talk, this was the real point.
Aria’s eyes widened in surprise.
“I don’t know what it’s like to not be able to show emotions… but…”
Her gray eyes, like ashes, glimmered strangely.
“If anyone blames you, I’ll tear their mouth apart.”
“What?!”
Dwayne, standing nearby, was shocked.
“But it’s not over.” Tristan continued.
“If anyone looks at you unpleasantly, I’ll gouge out their eyes.”
“….”
“If anyone dares touch you, I’ll cut off their wrist.”
“…Oh my gosh…”
Dwayne buried his face in his hands, helpless. Even fearless girls would cry at this.
“So if your heart allows, you may cry.”
“….”
“Laugh if you want. Be angry if you want.”
Even calm people would be emotionally overwhelmed hearing this.
Aria couldn’t stop crying, but her tears were not from fear—they poured as she clung to the Duke like a desperate chick, trying to survive, following someone unfamiliar.
Dwayne, who had admired his Duke more than anyone, couldn’t comment this time. He quietly watched as the young girl wept.
[Breakfast, please.]
Aria handed over a card.
“Of course… here’s some soup.”
[Not soup.]
Dana, who always followed the Duke’s orders, froze in surprise, eyes wide. Soon, she covered her mouth, trembling with emotion.
“You finally have something you want to eat?”
Aria nodded. She had remembered a dish from a cookbook Dana had shown her and wanted it.
[Scrambled eggs.]
The kitchen went into a frenzy. The Duke had already overhauled the kitchen once because she didn’t eat well.
‘I must make the best scrambled eggs in the world…!’
The head chef, Baker, nervously brought a tray into Aria’s room, trembling.
The eggs looked soft and fluffy, just like the picture in the book. The sweet, milky smell made them seem delicious.
Aria hesitated, then tasted a spoonful. The soft texture melted in her mouth.
‘So this is what food is…’
She ate to survive.
‘This is… how it’s supposed to feel.’
She bit her lips, almost crying again, but the Duke gently patted her back, calming her.
She took another big spoonful, filling her mouth, and finished the plate.
“How is it? Do you like it?”
Baker asked seriously, tense as if the Emperor himself were judging.
Aria thought carefully, then replied:
[It’s soft and fluffy.]
She did her best to describe the taste; she had never really enjoyed food before.
Then the kitchen assistants suddenly sprang into action.
“Miss, what about dessert?”
“Chocolate ice cream!”
“Special macarons by the chef!”
“Cheesecake!”
“Honeyed pears!”
“Even candy!”
They shouted excitedly, each wanting to give her something.
Aria accepted a piece of candy, enjoying the gentle mint flavor.
[Thank you, always.]
She showed her card, worn from frequent use.
The young assistant who gave her the candy trembled with emotion, punching a coworker in excitement.
The other person looked shocked but soon understood, nodding.
Spring passed, and summer arrived.
The Academy’s first term ended, and Lloyd returned to his estate for vacation.
“You’re here too?”
“Of course. It’s vacation.”
His carriage arrived at the same time as his half-brother’s.
Vincent Valentine.
He smiled gently, meeting Lloyd’s indifferent gaze.
“You’re the same as ever.”
“You too, brother.”
“Consider that a compliment.”
They laughed lightly.
The estate was bustling, partly because both young men had returned.
A man carrying rolled-up papers hurried past—probably the architect.
Lloyd nodded, and without a word, the architect approached nervously.
“You called, Your Grace?”
“Give me that.”
“Yes, yes!”
The architect spread out the plans. Even a layman could see the scale—it looked like a massive building.
“Are you building an amusement park?”
Vincent asked, curious. He was knowledgeable in many fields from the Academy.
“Amusement park?”
Lloyd raised a dark eyebrow. No one could enter the estate, so why an amusement park?
“It’s like building a luxury cruise ship in the mountains,” he muttered.
The architect hesitated, then spoke carefully:
“The Duke ordered a playroom for the young lady…”
“Young lady?”
Lloyd interrupted, staring with cold, black eyes.
“She’s still here?”
The tone made the architect feel like he was suffocating.
