* * *
After a month and a half, he now roamed freely, as if it were his own home.
“If only I could go outside the estate…”
After circling the garden for the umpteenth time, Eren hurried to Ashard’s study.
He peeked inside, but saw no sign of that distinctive red hair—Ashard must have been buried in paperwork.
The only sound in the still room was the scratch of pen against paper.
Quietly stepping in, Eren waited patiently, hoping Ashard would notice him.
“Never go outside the mansion alone. We’re still in a ceasefire, so you must be extra careful.”
He repeated those words like a ritual every time he saw Eren.
Like a warning to a reckless child.
Eren knew why Ashard said it, so he never argued.
He also knew how overworked Ashard was, and how little he’d slept the past few days.
So Eren tried not to bother him.
About ten minutes passed.
When the sound of the quill finally ceased, Eren carefully walked behind the stack of papers.
“…He’s asleep.”
Ashard’s face looked more worn than usual, the toll of several sleepless nights clearly showing.
He had collapsed as if unconscious, still clutching the quill in his hand.
Eren gently pried the quill from his fingers and grabbed a blanket from the nearby sofa, draping it over him.
Even asleep, Ashard’s features remained striking. Eren couldn’t help but smile.
‘Why does he have to be this good-looking, even like this?’
Worried he might wake him, Eren grabbed the documents and the lantern from the desk and sat on the sofa.
“Maintenance of the Lower Estate Dam.”
The title alone made Eren shrug. Having devoured countless novels, he knew exactly how main characters dealt with this kind of administration.
Of course, it wasn’t just books that gave him confidence.
After being transmigrated, he’d handled more land management paperwork than he could count in Epentel—second only to war strategy.
After skimming the documents, Eren began writing without hesitation.
Though Ashard had brought him here, Eren had come of his own will too.
This was his way of showing gratitude.
“…All done.”
Over three hours later, Eren finally stretched and stood from the sofa. Ashard hadn’t stirred once.
A ray of sunlight pierced through the heavy curtains, landing directly on Ashard’s face.
Eren quickly moved to block it.
He’d been planning to ask Ashard to go out with him after finishing the paperwork—but seeing his peaceful, sleeping face, he couldn’t bring himself to wake him.
“W-What am I, a kid? It’s not like I need permission! I’m not underage—I don’t need a guardian!”
‘I’ll just be quick and careful!’
Muttering to himself, Eren left the completed paperwork neatly on the desk and slipped out of the study.
It was a warm spring day, still early afternoon, with bright skies overhead.
‘Perfect weather to go out.’
Humming, Eren headed for the wardrobe.
There were some clothes Ashard had lent him, but they were all ridiculously flashy—not great for sneaking out unnoticed.
Since Ashard’s outfits didn’t stand out much, he figured he’d borrow one of those.
He picked the most inconspicuous top and bottom he could find and changed quickly.
He had to be back before sundown.
“…I should wear a robe too.”
The outfit was subtle, but the quality was clearly noble—anyone could tell.
So he threw on the robe Ashard had once draped over him at the imperial palace.
Looking at his reflection, Eren smiled, satisfied.
He had money (taken from inside Ashard’s coat), his outfit was perfect—everything was in place.
Just as he turned around, he slammed into something hard and stumbled back in shock.
“Hyaaack!”
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Clutching his racing heart, Eren looked up with wide eyes.
There stood Ashard, who had appeared without a sound, staring down at him with narrowed eyes.
His hair was a mess from sleeping, and the round glasses he’d thrown on in a rush sat crookedly on his face.
Beneath them, his unfocused eyes twisted in irritation.
“I told you not to go out alone.”
“…I just wanted to get some fresh air and look around—”
“With your whole body still covered in my marks?”
W-What the hell is he saying!?
At a line so easily misunderstood, Eren hurriedly glanced around in a panic.
Had any passing servants heard that?
Thankfully, the area seemed deserted.
Confirming they were alone, Eren furrowed his brows deeply.
Ashard didn’t seem fully awake yet, eyes still heavy with sleep.
If he meant these clothes were his, what was so wrong with Eren borrowing them?
‘Well, sorry for stealing your clothes, I guess.’
“I didn’t have anything else to wear.”
“They’re mine.”
“That’s petty of you. You think I don’t know that? I only borrowed them because I had nothing else to—”
Eren was protesting confidently, acting like he had nothing to be ashamed of—until he noticed something off.
Ashard’s completely unfocused eyes were fixated on him.
His gaze clung obsessively to one spot.
Ashard’s hand gently brushed the robe draped around Eren and murmured in a low, heavy tone:
“Of course, you wrapped in my things is mine too.”
His large, calloused hand trailed past the robe and moved toward the nape of Eren’s neck.
For a moment, the golden irises, previously so empty, flared with a possessive, dangerous glint.
This man is insane!
Seeing this unfamiliar side of Ashard for the first time, Eren froze in place, blinking in confusion, about to scream—
“Maybe I should mark you… so I can find you if you run again.”
Ashard’s thumb lightly traced Eren’s pale nape.
“Right here should be easy to spot.”
“U-Um… Your Grace…?”
I’m sorry, but your eyes have checked out.
Like a small animal sensing danger, Eren instinctively began to step back.
“Where are you going?”
“Just—just stay there for a second…”
Whether he didn’t hear or didn’t care, Ashard kept coming.
Eren had been watching for a chance to bolt, but Ashard blocked the only exit.
Escape was not going to be easy.
There was only so far he could back up.
The cold touch of the wall on his back told him he was out of room.
As he slowly raised his gaze, what he saw wasn’t the Ashard he knew.
“You asked me to kidnap you before. Changed your mind already?”
“I—I did?”
“Don’t pretend you don’t remember, Eren.”
At the sound of his name from Ashard’s lips—his name, spoken for the first time—Eren looked up at him in surprise.
He’d expected it to sound nice, but not this nice.
Ashard placed his palm on the wall, trapping Eren between it and himself.
Eren quickly shook his head in alarm.
Cancel that.
It did not sound nice.
Cancel the kidnapping, too!
“Doesn’t matter. I’ll make sure you remember from now on.”
Ashard’s face slowly descended.
When his rough breath touched the back of Eren’s neck, a jolt ran through Eren’s entire body.
He froze, unable to push him away.
THWACK—!
“…?”
A loud thud broke the tension.
* * *
