* * *
Ashard had said he’d let him meet the emperor, and yet—
Worried someone might recognize him if he left the estate, Ashard firmly instructed the staff to keep Eren’s outings within strict limits.
As a result, the only person Eren could meet in the entire Trovien estate was Ashard himself.
But that one and only person kept avoiding him, and whenever they did cross paths, Ashard would scowl like he’d just swallowed something bitter.
It was driving Eren mad.
Whether she understood Eren’s frustration or not, the maid of the Trovien estate poured tea into his empty cup without a hint of expression.
Only at the soft sound of tea settling into the porcelain did Eren become aware of his surroundings and give an awkward smile.
“Um… Do you happen to know when His Grace the Duke will be arriving?”
“He’ll be here shortly.”
The maid answered like a robot and quickly stepped back once the cup was full.
As Eren awkwardly lifted the teacup, she spoke again.
“You don’t need to speak so formally, Sir Eren. His Grace has ordered that you be treated with utmost respect as our guest.”
“…His Grace said that?”
“Yes.”
He hadn’t even spared Eren a glance when he showed up and then vanished, so Eren had assumed Ashard had forgotten he was even staying at the estate.
The unexpected answer softened Eren’s heart a little—
Or so he thought.
‘He says that, but he still avoids me every time we meet!!!’
Overcome with frustration, Eren took a sip of the hot tea without thinking—and instantly winced as the scalding liquid burned his tongue.
Reflexively, he shuddered, and the cup in his hand slipped, falling straight toward his thigh.
“Careful!”
Ashard appeared out of nowhere, catching the falling teacup with his bare hand.
Because of him, not a single drop landed on Eren—but the hot tea spilled all over Ashard’s hand.
“Are—are you okay?!”
Startled not just by his sudden appearance but by the sight of Ashard’s reddened hand, Eren leapt to his feet in panic.
What kind of question was “Are you okay?”
Anyone could see that hand was absolutely not okay.
Eren quickly grabbed Ashard’s hand to examine it and called out to the maid to bring some ice.
Then he gently blew over the back of Ashard’s hand.
At the soft breath that landed on his skin, Ashard’s expression grew steadily stiffer.
“Why would you block it with your hand? That must hurt… What were you thinking?”
“Normally, people say thank you first in situations like this.”
“Well—thank you very much! But no one asked you to get hurt for me.”
Despite being grateful, Eren couldn’t help but grumble at Ashard’s reaction.
Seeing him fidget and fret, Ashard murmured in a low voice,
“Better me than someone with such delicate skin as yours.”
Eren blinked, confused by the cryptic murmur, but Ashard shook his head, brushing it off as nothing.
Soon after, the maid returned with ice, and Eren took it, pulling out his handkerchief to wrap around Ashard’s hand like a makeshift bandage.
‘It’s probably not good to put ice directly on the wound…’
Carefully placing the ice over the cloth-wrapped hand, Eren pressed it down.
As the ice began to melt and dampen the fabric, Ashard’s hand turned noticeably red.
Eren, holding the ice with his bare hand as if the cold didn’t bother him, seemed lost in what he was doing.
Seeing that, Ashard took his hand gently, as if to warm it himself.
He wrapped Eren’s hand firmly with both of his.
The warmth that spread through the contact made Eren’s heart flutter without warning.
He’d been avoiding him just moments ago, and now he’s holding hands?
Part of him wanted to pull away immediately, but he couldn’t bring himself to.
Ashard’s hand wrapped over his was just too warm.
A silence settled between them, but it wasn’t the awkward kind it had been before.
The sound of their heartbeats, pulsing through their joined hands, began to grow louder.
By the time their hands felt the same temperature, Ashard slowly let go and said,
“It looks like I’ll be able to meet His Majesty soon.”
Eren looked up at him, eyes wide.
“It won’t take long, so please wait just a little longer.”
“How much longer?”
“The date will be set by His Majesty—”
“No, not that. I mean… how long are you planning to keep avoiding me?”
“I haven’t exactly been—”
Eren glared, cutting him off mid-excuse.
Ashard clamped his mouth shut, his eyes darting sideways like he was desperate to escape the conversation.
‘Not a chance.’
Before he could flee, Eren grabbed his hand and held it firmly, gazing up at him.
His eyes were clear and unguarded, not a speck of doubt in them—and it made Ashard feel cornered.
He couldn’t tell him the truth.
That he avoided Eren because every time he saw him, the memory of that kiss came flooding back so vividly.
That seeing him stirred feelings he didn’t know how to control.
That he was scared of what he wanted to do.
But of course, he couldn’t say any of that.
Instead, Ashard gently caressed Eren’s hand and said,
“If you ask like that, it might sound like you were waiting for me.”
“Then go ahead and misunderstand. Because I was.”
“What…?”
Ashard’s golden eyes widened sharply at Eren’s reply.
“You’re the only person I know here, you know? And I can’t even go outside the estate. You avoid me whenever I try to see you. Of course I’ve been waiting!”
“…Ha. I see.”
Realizing he’d misunderstood everything, Ashard let out a dry laugh, brushing his hair back with an annoyed sigh.
What the hell had he even been hoping for?
“You’ll be able to leave the estate soon.”
He gently tapped Eren’s cheek and turned to walk away—just as a maid approached with a young girl in tow and bowed.
“Miss Melody has arrived.”
The red-haired girl bowed lightly alongside the maid.
At the sight of her, Eren’s eyes began to tremble uncontrollably.
Red hair just like Ashard’s. Golden eyes just like his.
A young girl, poised beyond her years.
Anyone—anyone at all—who saw her would think the same.
She looked unmistakably like Ashard’s daughter.
‘…So he is married—with a kid?!’
* * *
