* * *
Ed, noticing how Ronen’s face had brightened, continued.
“So, set aside those concerns and take your time deciding whether you want the same mask as His Grace or a different one.”
“Alright, Ed!”
“And if you find it hard to choose, feel free to ask Tens, Jaynon, or me for help. We’d be happy to ease your concerns.”
“Thanks so much!”
Relieved by Ronen’s lively response, Ed suddenly remembered something and spoke.
“Oh, by the way, I have something to show you, young master. Do you have a moment? It won’t take long.”
“Of course!”
Ronen eagerly followed Ed into his room, sitting down on a chair.
Tens, trailing behind, sat next to him.
Ed retrieved several towels from a drawer.
“What are you going to do with those?”
“Just a moment, young master.”
Ed sat opposite Ronen and folded a towel into thirds horizontally, then began rolling the ends inward.
“Is this how it’s supposed to go…?”
Ed’s hands moved hesitantly, relying on vague recollections.
The result was a simple pair of ram-like horns made from the towel.
Ronen watched intently, tilting his head slightly.
“What is it?”
“Would you mind if I put this on your head, young master?”
At Ronen’s nod, Ed carefully placed the towel creation on his head, adjusting it for fit.
Feeling the towel being arranged precisely, Ronen held his breath in anticipation.
When Ed pulled back after tidying his bangs, Ronen gingerly touched his head.
“Is this a hat?”
Before Ed could reply, Ronen shot up from his seat and dashed to a nearby mirror.
“It’s nothing much, just a simple way to make a hat like this…”
Ed trailed off as he saw Ronen marveling at his reflection.
“How did you do this, Ed? Just rolling a towel a few times made such a cute hat!”
Ronen’s eyes sparkled like stars as he quickly returned to the table and grabbed another towel.
Seeing Ronen so delighted by the simple creation made Ed feel proud.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s adorable and pretty! Teach me how to make it—I want to learn!”
Ronen handed a towel to Tens, his excitement contagious.
Ed, now surrounded by their eager gazes, felt slightly nervous.
“It’s really nothing special.”
Tens shrugged and commented.
“‘Nothing special,’ you say, but it’s so fascinating that I’m completely captivated!”
Ed realized Tens likely already understood how to make the hat but still played along.
“Alright, Ed, do it again!”
Pressed by Ronen’s insistence, Ed spread out another towel and prepared to demonstrate.
Ronen, mimicking Ed’s hand movements, folded and rolled with determination.
“Done, Ed!”
Ronen lifted his finished ram-horn hat proudly, then placed it on Ed’s head with a triumphant smile.
Not stopping there, Ronen folded more towels and adorned Tens, Jaynon, and even the servants who passed by with similar creations.
In no time, the northern manor transformed into a sheep pasture, bursting with laughter and creativity.
Though it had started as simple fun, the growing flock of towel sheep prompted Ed to sigh quietly.
Now collaborating with Tens, Ronen had moved on to colorful fabrics, turning the manor’s staff into a kaleidoscopic herd.
“Did I overdo it…?”
As Ed closed the door, recalling the ram-horn hat that had briefly rested on his own head, he was startled by a sound.
Tap, tap.
A small bird pecked at the window with its beak.
Approaching quickly, Ed saw it tap the glass again.
“Does it want me to open the window?”
When he did, the bird flew inside, circling the room before confidently perching on his outstretched arm.
“Where did you come from?”
Ed studied the bird, noticing a small tube tied to its leg.
“…Could it be from His Grace?”
As he removed the tube, the calm bird allowed him to gently stroke its feathers. Inside was a note.
‘Ed, how about roasting potatoes in the lab again sometime?’
Was this the charm of a secret romance?
Ed felt his heart racing, even though the letter he held wasn’t some grand trick or a message hiding a complex plot.
Since he had connected with the Duke, every day had been delightful and new.
Previously, Ed had found joy in learning, adapting to life at the Northern fortress, and engaging with the people there.
Recently, though, a different kind of life and excitement had completely shaken his world.
Duke Asnel Linden.
Every moment with him overflowed with happiness, and bursts of joy followed wherever they went.
Even when they were apart, thoughts of the Duke filled Ed’s mind with sweet fantasies.
Ed pressed his pen firmly and wrote a reply.
‘I’ll come right away.’
Carefully fastening the scroll to the bird’s leg so as not to startle it, Ed extended his arm out the window.
The bird perched on his hand briefly, surveyed its surroundings, then soared off powerfully toward the outer castle.
As Ed watched it flap its wings into the distance, he adjusted his clothes to hide the necklace around his neck and left the room.
His steps were light, and his heart fluttered at the thought of seeing the Duke.
When Ed opened the door to the Duke’s study, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
“Your Grace, that…”
The Duke stood there, holding a double-horned hat in his hands.
“Ronen gave it to me. He said you taught him how to make it.”
“When I put that on Master Ronen’s head, I never imagined things would spiral like this.”
Ed raised his hands in surrender as he explained, and the Duke’s smile slowly spread across his lips.
“So Ronen’s already had it placed on his head?”
With that, the Duke handed the hat to Ed.
‘What does he want me to do with this?’
While Ed pondered, a question mark practically hovering over his head, the Duke sat by the fireplace and gently pulled him closer.
Leaning his head against Ed’s slender frame, the Duke spoke.
“In that case, you should place it on me as well.”
“….”
“With your hands, Ed, crown me.”
“A crown, Your Grace?”
Flustered, Ed mumbled about how it was just a fun little craft.
Still, his hand gently brushed back the Duke’s hair, savoring the smooth strands that wrapped around his fingers.
Then, like a knight kissing the hand of his liege, Ed placed the Duke’s dark hair on his palm and kissed it lightly.
Under the warm midday sunlight streaming through the window, Ed straightened up, took the horned hat from the Duke’s hand, and carefully placed it on his head, smoothing his hair as he did so.
The Duke chuckled at Ed’s tender touch, and Ed bowed slightly, whispering.
“Next time, I’ll adorn Your Grace with something I’ve made myself.”
The Duke grabbed Ed’s wrist and gently pulled him onto his lap, resting his chin on Ed’s head as he murmured.
“I’ll look forward to it, Ed.”
Whenever the Duke’s overworked and tense body came into contact with Ed, it softened, relaxing completely.
Holding Ed close, the Duke closed his eyes.
“How was lunch today? Did you enjoy the menu? Your stomach isn’t upset, is it?”
“Yes, it was delicious. I even finished the salad completely. The chef must be a genius.”
Snuggled in the Duke’s arms, Ed replied earnestly.
The Duke of the Northern fortress had many responsibilities.
Not wanting to burden the Duke any further, Ed tried to show no signs of any changes in himself since before he became pregnant.
As he fiddled with the Duke’s long, slender fingers, Ed looked up.
“Oh, by the way, I saw Roa for the first time in a while. His belly looks slimmer, and his fur has changed color. It was fascinating how his white winter coat gave way to grayish-brown fur.”
The Duke opened his eyes slowly.
“He probably lost weight because Ronen’s been taking him up the back hill for training. As for his fur, it’s his way of adapting. In winter, he adopts a white coat to blend in with the snow, but now that winter is over, he’s regaining his natural color.”
“So, spring has come for Roa too?”
The Duke chuckled at Ed’s charming response, pressing a gentle kiss to his round forehead.
At the affectionate gesture, Ed scratched lightly at his forehead.
Seeing this, the Duke placed a kiss on his hand, then his straight nose, and finally his smooth cheek.
* * *
