* * *
“I don’t call him anything…”
Carlyle and Yulios were of higher status, so Eren couldn’t address them carelessly.
Helid, meanwhile, was just a general in Effentel and hadn’t been granted a noble title, so calling him anything specific felt awkward.
Calling him Helid felt too familiar, which gave Eren goosebumps, but calling him General seemed too generous for someone like that.
More than anything, despite being familiar with him through the original novel, Eren had barely met the man in person.
So there really hadn’t been a reason to address him at all.
Still, Ashard looked visibly more pleased after hearing Eren’s response.
Eren had no clue what about his answer had improved Ashard’s mood so much.
“You remember the terms of our deal, right?”
“Of course.”
“Since the strategy you promised turned out to be useless, I’m modifying my conditions.”
“What? You can’t just do that!”
It was a totally unfair revision of their agreement.
Ashard pinched Eren’s nose lightly, as if to say he wouldn’t allow any objections while Eren was clearly awake and aware.
“I saved you when you almost got lost, and I saved you from that so-called general too, remember? I think you can at least grant me this much.”
“That’s…!”
“If you don’t like it, we can pretend the deal never happened.”
What a petty and shameless man! Eren glared at him sharply.
Ashard might’ve pushed a bit hard, but a faint uneasiness crossed his mind—what if Eren actually called it off?
Ashard believed Eren wouldn’t walk away from the deal, but with a personality as unpredictable and clever as his, who knows?
He might already have a backup plan in mind.
“…What is it that you want?”
Despite his hesitation, Eren ended up taking the bait Ashard had laid out.
He narrowed his eyes, wondering what absurd condition Ashard would come up with this time.
Meanwhile, Ashard quietly let out a sigh of relief.
“It’s nothing too grand.”
“From your perspective, maybe.”
“Call me by my name.”
“…Excuse me?”
Eren’s eyes widened.
It wasn’t supposed to be a big deal, but that answer was far stranger than he expected.
‘Why go through all this just for that…?’
“You don’t have to make that a condition.”
“You said before you didn’t want to use my name because we barely knew each other.”
“Ah…”
Eren recalled his own words from back then and felt a bit embarrassed.
Well, that really had been when he first met Ashard.
Time had passed since then, hadn’t it?
“That was when I had just met you. What should I call you, then?”
“My name.”
“Ah… Ashard-nim?”
“Yes. Call me that from now on, Eren.”
Hearing his name spoken from Eren’s lips, Ashard smiled in satisfaction.
It was the brightest smile Eren had ever seen from him, and he couldn’t take his eyes off him.
Only then did it start to make a little sense why Ashard had asked such a weird question.
Of course, he wasn’t completely sure—but in context, that seemed the only explanation.
‘Could he possibly be jealous? Because I call Carlyle “Your Grace” too?’
As soon as the thought formed, it slipped out of Eren’s mouth before he could stop himself.
“…Are you jealous right now?”
Ashard’s expression froze.
He didn’t understand why he felt so stunned, but Eren’s question left his mind blank.
Jealousy?
The meaning of the word itself began to blur in his head.
He had never thought deeply about it.
He was just annoyed that Eren was calling those other men the same thing he called him.
It really had been that simple—just a gut reaction.
Ashard remained silent for a moment as if reflecting, then let out a dry laugh as a realization struck him.
“…Ha.”
“…?”
“You’re right. I guess I am jealous.”
Eren was too shocked to respond.
He had only asked half-jokingly, expecting an immediate denial.
But after seeming to ponder it seriously, Ashard gave that answer?
In that moment, Eren’s heart started pounding like crazy.
He was afraid the sound might be loud enough for Ashard to hear.
Even though Ashard was the one who confessed to being jealous, it was Eren whose neck had gone stiff.
“Wh… wha…”
He tried to say something, but the words were crushed in his throat.
He had never been this flustered in his life.
Not even when Ashard had suddenly kissed him before.
His eyes darted around wildly.
Just then, the sound of footsteps approaching reached them from outside.
Sharp as ever, Ashard noticed it immediately and lowered himself toward Eren.
Eren, who hadn’t sensed anything, flinched and shut his eyes tight.
‘I-Is he going to kiss me?!’
Nervous tremors ran down to his fingertips.
Ashard’s scent washed over him, and a rough hand gently covered his mouth.
“…?”
“Shh… Someone’s out there.”
Ah.
Eren gave a small nod.
A faint wave of disappointment stirred in his heart.
‘Wait… am I disappointed right now?’
He felt embarrassed, like he’d jumped to conclusions and played everything out in his own head.
Thank god Ashard didn’t see his expression—if he had, Eren might’ve died from sheer humiliation.
Ashard focused on the approaching presence.
When he realized who it was, his face twisted into a frown.
“Tch.”
Footsteps rang clearly, not even trying to be quiet.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Ashard swiftly pulled Eren into his arms and tapped the ring on his finger twice.
A soft light shimmered from the ring, and in the next moment, both Ashard and Eren vanished from sight.
Right after they disappeared, the curtain on the terrace was flung open.
“Where on earth are you?”
It was Carlyle, who had been searching for Eren.
Just then, the wind stirred—and with it came a faintly sweet scent.
Realizing it was Eren’s, Carlyle clenched his jaw.
“Ashard Fridit. You again.”
Suddenly, the scene around them changed.
Eren stared up at Ashard in a daze.
Just moments ago they were at the imperial banquet terrace—now they were back in the familiar Fridit estate.
“Ashard…?”
When Eren called him, asking for an explanation, Ashard lowered the hand that had covered his mouth.
“I just figured this would be more comfortable.”
“…Sorry, what?”
“It was him. Carlyle Firentium. He was avoiding me, so I used an artifact on purpose.”
“But even so, that precious thing…”
“It’s just an artifact. I can ask Melody to make me another one later.”
‘That was made by Her Grace…?’
Realizing where the ring came from, Eren felt a bit guilty for the small pang of jealousy he’d felt earlier.
Ashard had been taking on responsibilities for the Fridit family because of him, after all.
Including helping out today…
He made a mental note to treat Melody well when he saw her next.
At that moment, Ashard suddenly leaned down.
“That aside… why did you close your eyes earlier?”
“…When did I do that?”
A beat too late—blatant denial.
He had tried to act like he didn’t notice, feigning ignorance, but Ashard was determined to bring it up.
Admitting it would bruise his pride, so Eren met Ashard’s gaze boldly.
“You can deny it, but I saw everything.”
“…I told you I didn’t.”
“I already said—if there’s something you want, just say it, Eren.”
Eren fell silent.
Seeing that, Ashard’s lips curled into a soft smile, as if he found Eren utterly endearing.
“Even with that face, I’m only letting it go for today.”
And with that, Ashard closed the distance and kissed Eren.
* * *
