* * *

Eighteen… The same age he had been when he lost his parents and Ronen, when he was left all alone.

‘How was I back then?’

He had been consumed by the grief of losing his parents, desperately searching for Ronen.

There were days when he felt utterly powerless.

Ed probably wasn’t so different.

He, too, had experienced the pain of losing loved ones at an even younger age.

The Grand Duke felt a deep sense of empathy and a pang of sorrow for Ed.

‘I had retainers who served my family for generations, loyal subordinates in the North, and the hope that I would find Ronen to help me get through those dark times.’

Ed, on the other hand, who had been there for him?

What kept him going through that pain?

Sister Rosie, the head of the orphanage?

Or perhaps the house he had tended to on his own?

Maybe it was that similarity that had drawn his gaze to Ed more than once when they first met.

It might explain why he had often found himself watching over Ed, far beyond what was necessary to repay him for being kind to Ronen.

Why he couldn’t help but be drawn to that pale face lying motionless on the bed.

Those feelings had only grown stronger, so that now, even seeing Ed and Ronen standing together, happily eating kebabs, filled the Grand Duke with a contented, overwhelming joy.

And seeing Ed checking the time on a watch identical to Ronen’s somehow made his heart race, as if Ed had become part of his family.

‘But maybe these feelings of mine could end up hurting Ed.’

Although holding Ed’s hand that night had helped his own condition, the more he thought about it, the more he worried about the strain it might have put on Ed.

‘It’s possible that Ed didn’t look well at the temple because he had to bear the burden of my touch,’ he considered.

Without understanding the specifics of what had improved his condition, the Grand Duke decided he should limit physical contact with Ed.

Masking his concern, he gently rolled the sweet potatoes with the poker, selecting the perfectly cooked ones.

He placed the largest and best-looking sweet potato in a bowl and offered it to Ed.

“Here you go, Ed.”

“Huh? Aren’t you going to eat first, Your Grace?” Ed asked.

“Well, my hands are a bit hot right now,” the Grand Duke teased.

“Oh, sorry,” Ed said quickly, taking the bowl. The Grand Duke let out a quiet laugh at Ed’s reaction.

Ed tilted his head curiously when he realized the bowl wasn’t too hot to handle.

Eventually, he let out a small laugh. “Thank you for the meal, Your Grace.”

“Enjoy,” the Grand Duke replied.

Ed set the bowl down and bit into the sweet potato, peeling the skin and taking a small bite.

The Grand Duke felt a ticklish warmth deep inside, like butterflies fluttering in his stomach.

‘…If he were wearing that bunny cloak I bought for him, he’d look like the most adorable little herbivore.’

The Grand Duke transferred more sweet potatoes to the bowl, smiling silently.

He wanted to fatten Ed up a bit, as Ed seemed too thin for his liking.

---

The next morning, Ed woke up in his soft sleeping bag.

He clearly remembered eating sweet potatoes and talking with the Grand Duke by the fireplace, but at some point, he must have dozed off.

‘…Seems His Grace moved me.’

Rubbing his face lightly, Ed got up and gently nudged Ronen, who was still sleeping nearby.

The rain that had poured down through the night had stopped, and the sounds of packing and moving echoed outside.

“Young Master Ronen,” Ed called softly.

“Young Master, it’s time to get up.”

“Mmm, Ed… I’m sleepy. Can’t I just sleep a bit longer?” Ronen mumbled.

“The rain has stopped, so it’s time to leave. If you’re still tired, you can sleep in the carriage,” Ed suggested.

“Mmm.”

Despite agreeing, Ronen tried to burrow deeper into his sleeping bag.

Ed finally managed to pull him out, and together, they headed outside.

Ronen, being led by Ed’s hand and walking slowly, suddenly remembered something and dashed off.

He scurried to the front of the carriage, looking around excitedly.

Ed followed and asked, “What are you looking for, Young Master?”

“Oh? Phew, thank goodness it hasn’t washed off,” Ronen said, relieved.

Ronen was checking the height mark he’d drawn a few days earlier.

Stretching his arms above his head, he leaned lightly against the carriage and then turned back.

“Ed, have I gotten taller? Look for me.”

“Yes, just a moment, young master.”

Ed bent down to examine the line he’d marked with his pen. Then, his eyes widened.

“Huh? Young master, I think you really have grown taller.”

“Really?”

“Yes!”

“By how much?”

Ronen, who had been leaning against the carriage, suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling as he looked up at Ed.

Ed used his fingers to indicate the small gap, saying, “About this much,” and Ronen’s expression turned visibly disappointed.

“Ugh, just that little?”

“Little? Young master, you grew this much in just a few days!”

“When will I ever catch up to you, Ed?”

Ed, who had been gazing at Ronen with soft eyes, tilted his head curiously.

“But, young master, is my height your goal? There are many people shorter than me.”

“Because.”

“Yes, because why?”

Ronen hesitated briefly, then stood on his tiptoes and spoke.

“…Well, because I like you, Ed. So I want to grow up quickly and protect you.”

He whispered this softly into Ed’s ear, as if sharing a secret, then quickly retreated into the carriage, face flushed with embarrassment.

The Grand Duke, who had been tidying up nearby, saw Ed standing alone outside the carriage, looking dazed after his cheerful conversation with Ronen.

“What’s wrong? Did you and Ronen share some kind of secret?”

Ed looked up at the Grand Duke, eyes a bit unfocused.

“…It’s just that I’ve never heard something like that before.”

“What did he say?”

“Young master Ronen said he wants to grow up fast and protect me. It’s a phrase I’ve only read in books, but hearing it directly from someone feels… strange.”

Ed scratched his forehead and laughed.

It was a peculiar feeling—being told he would be protected, something he’d never experienced, not before nor after he had come to this world.

Only a few months ago, he had been desperately trying to survive and avoid being killed by Ronen, but now, it felt like a distant memory.

The carriage, since that rainy day when they’d been delayed, had traveled swiftly without incident.

“Ed, are you cold?”

“I’m fine… Oh, wait. Are you feeling cold, Your Grace?”

Ed stood up to fetch a thick cloak, but the Grand Duke, sitting across from him, shook his head slightly.

“No, I’m fine. I was just worried about you.”

“I’m still okay.”

As they drew closer to the northern region, the air grew colder.

Ed returned to his seat, rubbing his arms lightly.

Now that the Grand Duke had asked, he did start to feel a slight chill.

When Ed let out a small sneeze, Ronen jumped up beside him.

“See? You are cold, Ed! What if you catch a cold before we reach the northern fortress?”

Ronen started fussing, rummaging through the luggage space behind the carriage.

“It’s really fine, young master.”

Ignoring Ed’s protest, Ronen found a rabbit-fur cloak and wrapped it around Ed, while the Grand Duke pulled a blanket up to Ed’s neck and asked,

“Are you really alright, Ed?”

Ed responded with determination, trying to reassure both of them.

“Yes, truly, I am.”

He fully expected the Grand Duke to check his temperature by touching his forehead, as he usually did.

But instead, the Grand Duke meticulously tucked in the blanket to keep the cold air out, handing Ed a magical warmth stone.

“Tell me if you feel cold, Ed.”

He gently patted Ed’s back, wrapped snugly in the thick blanket, then instructed the carriage to stop so he could call for the physician.

“Please check on Ed’s condition.”

The physician, entering the carriage, took Ed’s temperature and examined him.

“Do you feel unwell anywhere?”

“…No, I’m fine.”

“His temperature is normal, and there are no obvious signs of illness,” the physician reported to the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke, standing with his arms crossed beside Ed, shook his head slightly.

“Even so, examine him again. He just sneezed after catching a chill, and I’m concerned.”

“Ah, he sneezed? Ed, how much have you been sneezing? Do you have a scratchy throat or mucus?”

Feeling embarrassed, Ed was about to say he had only sneezed twice when the Grand Duke answered for him.

“He sneezed twice. Quite loudly.”

“…Twice?”

“Yes, twice.”

* * *