* * *
Through the cracked door, a small head poked in, and Roa bounced into the room and jumped onto the bed.
Though it hadn’t been long since they last saw him—how long exactly, no one could say—he seemed to have grown noticeably.
Yip! Yip!
Roa, trying to wedge himself between Ed and Ronen, found no space and stepped back with a bark.
Laughing, Ronen gave Ed one last tight hug before letting go, then picked up the energetic Roa and handed him over to Ed.
“Roa says he missed you a lot, too.”
“Hello, Roa. It’s been a while.”
As the fox licked Ed’s hand with its rough tongue, its warm touch reminded Ed that he was no longer dreaming but back in his room in the northern duke’s castle.
That’s when a familiar scent filled the room. Ed calmed his restless heart and slowly looked around.
“…”
“…”
Leaning against the doorway was the duke, silently watching the gathering with a gaze that seemed almost blinding.
Feeling inexplicably self-conscious under the duke’s stare, Ed reflexively pulled the blanket over himself, plunging Ronen, who was next to him, into darkness.
“Hey, Ed! Why are you pulling the blanket up all of a sudden? Are we playing hide-and-seek? But Brother said games like that should be played outside.”
“Ah, w-wait a moment, Young Master.”
Still needing time to gather his thoughts—whatever those thoughts might be—Ed wanted just a moment to breathe.
As an argument ensued under the blanket, Roa, who had been quietly resting in Ed’s arms, slipped out.
Poking his head out through the gap he’d made, Roa glanced at the duke and bit the edge of the blanket.
“Ah, Roa!”
The fox darted off in the opposite direction, dragging the blanket with him.
The sudden loss of cover startled Ronen, who jumped off the bed to chase after him.
“Roa! Stop! You’re going to dirty the blanket!”
Ignoring the protests, Roa dashed into the hallway, using the blanket to clean the northern castle’s floors.
What began as a chase between Ronen and Roa quickly turned into chaos as Tens and Jaynon joined in, filling the castle with noise.
“Tens! Block that hallway!”
“Jaynon, step on the blanket!”
Watching the mayhem unfold, Ed noticed something strange.
‘…That’s a winter blanket. There’s no way Roa could drag it around so easily by himself. How is it moving so lightly?’
As he thought he saw faint glimmers of light around the blanket, Ed glanced at the duke, then shook his head.
‘Surely His Grace wouldn’t use magic for something like this… would he?’
As Ronen’s voice faded into the distance, the duke closed the door. Without a word, he approached Ed and sat on the bed.
“Your Grace, I’m relieved to see you safe.”
Under the duke’s silent gaze, Ed’s head instinctively lowered. The duke reached out and lightly stroked his hair.
“I’m sorry, Ed.”
“…Pardon?”
Startled by the duke’s unexpected apology, Ed looked up.
“Why are you apologizing all of a sudden, Your Grace?”
“I should never have called Ed to the North in the first place. If he had stayed in the safety of the capital, none of this would have happened… He only came here because of me…”
At the sight of the Grand Duke looking so unsettled, Ed recalled the worried expression on Mela’s face when she spoke about him.
[That’s why, honestly, I’m more concerned about Asnel than young Ronen.]
‘Now I understand why Lady Mela was so worried about His Grace. He always tries to shoulder everything by himself.’
Ed silently gazed at the Grand Duke, whose head was slightly bowed, and then carefully embraced him.
The solid shoulders, the faintly thudding heartbeat, and the warmth of their contact made Ed exhale softly before clenching his fist tightly.
Then, he gave the Grand Duke a firm pat on the back.
“…”
“…”
Ed, who had just hugged the Grand Duke, stepped back, his hands on his shoulders.
The Grand Duke, startled by the sudden blow, stared at Ed.
Licking his dry lips, Ed looked straight into the Grand Duke’s eyes and spoke.
“Your Grace, it was entirely my decision to follow you to the northern castle. I was the one who wanted to participate in the hunting festival, even though it led to the earthquake. And joining the rescue mission—none of it was anyone else’s order or request but my own will.”
“…But Ed, this time, you almost lost your life. Because of me.”
“It was my choice to stay by your side, even when I could have fled. If something like this happens again, I’ll be the first to run to you. Because…”
‘…I love you, Your Grace.’
Ed paused briefly, then picked up a notebook and a fountain pen from the bedside table.
“Because I am Your Grace’s most loyal butler.”
The Grand Duke, who had been listening intently, seemed momentarily stunned by Ed’s bold statement but then smiled faintly.
Muttering softly, “Butler, huh,” he nodded in agreement.
Through the window, where the curtains had been drawn wide open, bright sunlight poured onto the heads of the Grand Duke and Ed.
“…So, Ed, you’ll stay by my side from now on.”
Feeling embarrassed after patting the Grand Duke’s back so boldly, Ed fidgeted with the back of his head, unsure of how to handle the aftermath.
But seeing the Grand Duke still smiling, Ed couldn’t help but smile along.
“Are you alright where I hit you? I apologize. Someone who loves Your Grace the most asked me to do it.”
“Someone who loves me the most?”
“…Yes, I met them in a dream. The one who loves both Your Grace and young Ronen the most.”
The details of the dream were becoming hazy, but Ed didn’t try to hold onto them.
Even if the memory faded, the emotions he felt would remain warm in his heart.
The Grand Duke, watching him, gently patted Ed’s head before rising to his feet.
“Your body hasn’t fully healed yet, so it’d be best for you to rest in your room for a few more days.”
“I’m fine now. I’ve rested plenty.”
The Grand Duke shook his head lightly.
“Just as I respected your decisions, I hope you’ll respect my advice this time.”
At the Grand Duke’s gentle insistence, Ed finally nodded.
“…Understood.”
“Good. Then rest a bit more. Oh, and earlier, you mentioned being my butler?”
Hearing the words he had blurted out come from the Grand Duke’s lips, Ed wanted to grab a blanket from Roa and hide under it immediately.
“But I’ve never once thought of you as a servant, not since the first day we met.”
With that, the Grand Duke quickly left the room.
As he shut the door, the tips of his ears glowed red, but Ed, lost in thought, failed to notice.
Left alone in the quiet room, Ed scratched his forehead.
‘Did I offend him by calling myself his most loyal butler? No, you know His Grace isn’t the type to scold over something like that. Then…’
Suddenly, Ed’s cheeks flushed bright red.
Memories of the events in the cave flooded his mind like a panorama.
He flopped onto the bed, pounding the mattress repeatedly.
‘Argh! So it really wasn’t a dream when I woke up now and then!’
So many things had happened in the cave.
Their bodies had touched while they were bare, and though it was to administer medicine, their lips had met as well.
Thinking back to those moments, Ed once again pounded the bed.
‘Does His Grace remember all of that too?’
He might have even confessed his love in a moment where he thought he wouldn’t survive. Surely, he hadn’t heard that… right?
Unable to figure out how to face the Grand Duke from now on, Ed shot out of bed and moved to the window.
The northern scenery sparkled beyond the clear glass.
Jaynon and Tens were shaking out blankets Roa had taken away, while Ronen and a mischievous fox played on the still-melting snow.
The chickens, no longer cooped up after the last incident, roamed freely within the fence.
Smoke rose in soft white curls from chimneys scattered throughout the village.
Watching it all for a long while, Ed pressed his warm cheek against the cold windowpane.
“…Should I just flee to the capital now?”
Letting out a small groan, Ed sighed quietly.
“Ed, today’s soup is warm with a higher portion of meat, as recommended by the physician. Let me know if it feels too heavy for your stomach.”
As per the Grand Duke’s orders, Ed had stayed confined to his room for two full days.
On the third day, however, it was Jaynon—not Tens—who brought his meal into the room.
“Jaynon.”
“Yes?”
“You’re acting strange. Please just treat me like you normally would.”
“I am treating you normally, though?”
Ed raised an eyebrow as he watched Jaynon place the tray down, looking entirely too innocent as he grinned mischievously.
“You’re the one who cozied up in the Grand Duke’s arms. Of course, I have to be careful.”
“Ack.”
Ed had thought it was a dream, but the memory of being held in the Grand Duke’s embrace surfaced.
He thumped the bed once more.
‘Should I really flee to the capital?’
As Ed continued his internal crisis, Jaynon dusted off imaginary particles with a playful wave of his hand and asked, “Do you need anything else?”
“…Anything else?”
In a life so comfortable that even the smallest need was instantly met, Ed found he couldn’t think of anything to ask for.
* * *
Спасибо
Gracias por el cap 😊