Chapter 36
There weren’t many days when Erica’s heart wavered.
Usually, she had to get whatever she wanted, and the Cloud family’s wealth always filled whatever emptiness was inside her.
When she was younger, she often threw tantrums and sulked, but now—thanks to her sister-in-law, Gemma—she smiled much more.
Because of that, she even started donating.
Though maybe… that donation was the problem.
Erica paced around her room anxiously.
She was seriously worried about why “that guy” hadn’t sent her a letter.
She had never once seriously worried about something before, so she didn’t know how to calm the ripples in her heart.
She didn’t even know what those feelings truly were.
So she decided—this must be what her sister-in-law once called “stress.”
“Yes, that’s it. It’s stress.”
She convinced herself it was just stress.
And the only way to relieve it was for “that guy” to properly send her a reply.
With a sly grin, she whispered his name.
That rude boy who ignored her words and even dared to shove a noble lady like her aside.
[…Move.]
He had looked pale, as if about to burst into tears, but Erica hadn’t cared.
She only felt his behavior was insolent. And though she knew she was being unreasonable, she wanted to make him kneel before her.
[What’s that boy’s name?]
[Aaron Solid.]
She had learned his name from her brother, not her sister-in-law.
Right after, she went straight to the stationery shop.
She bought the best letter paper, the finest quill, and carefully wrote a letter—one kind word after another.
She pretended to be the warm, kindhearted “anonymous benefactor.”
But no reply came.
Erica fumed. Just let him dare to answer late—she’d scold him harshly.
A day passed. Then two. Then a week.
“Still nothing today? Are you sure you checked properly?”
She even unfairly interrogated Mary, the maid.
Though she didn’t want to admit it, she was waiting for Aaron’s letter.
And maybe that was why—
When a real letter from Aaron finally arrived, she couldn’t believe it. She even pinched her cheeks to check.
Overjoyed, she jumped up and down, then quickly hid under her blankets to secretly read it.
<If not for your comfort, I wouldn’t have survived. I want to thank you. I’d like to meet you. – Aaron>
She instantly forgot about all her waiting and grinned triumphantly.
‘Of course. I knew he’d give in eventually.’
It had taken time, but she’d won.
Her shoulders lifted proudly. “Hmph. He wants to thank me, does he?”
She was happy, but also strangely unsettled.
Because she hadn’t yet carried out her “revenge.”
‘How dare a mere commoner toy with a noble lady?’
She swore she would meet him and properly get her revenge.
But before she could, Aaron stopped replying after that one letter.
Erica grew dispirited. She wished day after day for another reply.
In the end, she reread that first letter so many times the paper almost wore out.
She forgot about revenge. She just wanted to meet him again.
She wanted to reveal that the “anonymous benefactor” he had written to so warmly was none other than her—Erica Cloud.
It was no longer about mocking him. It was simply her true desire.
“Do you trust me, Sister-in-law?”
One day, with a frustrated heart, she went to Gemma. Having her support felt reassuring.
“Do you have a way? What are you planning to do?”
“If I tell you now, it’ll ruin the fun.”
Seeing her sister-in-law roll up her sleeves confidently, Erica did the same with excitement.
Her heart was half thrilled at the thought of meeting Aaron again, and half fearful—what if Aaron had been avoiding her on purpose?
Her heart was split cleanly in two.
“…I’m sorry about last time. I had some circumstances.”
“No, it was rude of us to show up suddenly. We should’ve at least sent word first.”
Thankfully, when Aaron spoke with her sister-in-law, his face looked much healthier than before.
And yet, resentment welled up in Erica again.
How could he look so well, yet fail to send even one reply?
She had grown thin and restless waiting, but he seemed fine.
As she glanced around his home, she noticed a basket.
Her crimson eyes shook.
The basket was full of letters—letters she had sent anonymously.
At first, she was confused.
But then Aaron explained:
“Those are the letters I exchanged with my friend.”
And just like that, her heart tickled, and she couldn’t hide her smile.
Erica still didn’t understand her feelings fully. She only thought she had succeeded in her “revenge.”
But from that day on, she and Aaron became friends.
Though he was a commoner, being friends with him wasn’t bad at all.
Best of all, she no longer had to anxiously wait for letters.
Aaron always replied on time now. Their letters never stopped.
Through them, Erica learned about his daily life, and shared hers too.
She found herself thinking about him more and more.
‘Funny… we actually talk well together.’
Unlike arrogant noble boys who avoided her, Aaron treated her without prejudice.
And Erica liked that.
Even though their beginning had been full of misunderstandings.
Aaron’s down-to-earth ways didn’t bother her.
He seemed more free than she was, stuck inside the mansion.
So, she wanted to meet him again.
This time—not with her sister-in-law or her brother tagging along.
Whether they’d allow it was uncertain. But she gathered her courage and asked.
And they truly gave permission. She was even allowed to go alone.
“Really? You’ll let me go?”
“Really… you mean it?”
“O-of course.”
“Keep standing there if you want Sister-in-law to change her mind,” Martin teased.
Erica had expected her brother to refuse. But strangely, the two of them seemed different now.
Letting go of her suspicion, she hugged her sister-in-law tightly.
She had to leave before anyone reconsidered.
“Then I’m really going! Don’t you dare take it back later!”
“Just—always be careful of carriages and strangers!”
“Oh, Sister-in-law.”
Erica thought to herself: she was already seventeen, no longer a child.
She had even completed her debutante ball. She was basically a full-grown lady.
But… she didn’t dislike her sister-in-law’s concern.
In fact, she liked it. It was what young Erica had always longed for.
The thought made her smile.
“Why did you come so early?”
When she stepped down from the carriage, Aaron was already waiting.
“A gentleman doesn’t keep a lady waiting.”
Erica thought it was only natural—but still, she was secretly touched.
Flustered, her words came out awkward as always.
“Do you only practice lines like that?”
“It’s the truth. I don’t like studying.”
Erica felt oddly relieved. If he had said he only studied those lines, she might have been disappointed.
“I want to take you somewhere.”
He wanted to take her somewhere. Erica judged it wasn’t a place a carriage could reach.
She’d have to give something up. If she wanted to spend a real day with Aaron, then knights and coaches had to be left behind.
She wanted to walk with him, simply.
The place Aaron took her was the market.
Leaving the carriage behind was the right choice.
Aaron walked through it casually, used to it. But Erica’s eyes darted everywhere.
Even the Cloud mansion was bustling with servants, but this crowd was different—so many people.
“You look surprised.”
“What’s going on today?”
“They must’ve heard an angel was coming.”
“Wh-what?!”
She spun her head toward him.
He grinned mischievously. She smacked his arm, but he only laughed more, unharmed.
How dare he tease the “anonymous angel.”
But strangely, because he was smiling at her, she didn’t dislike it.
In fact, she felt good. As if she was blending into his world.
Aaron then picked up an apple from a vendor’s crate.
Erica froze, horrified.
“W-what are you doing?”
“Want one?”
The audacity! Eating without paying?
She quickly reached for her purse—then stopped.
Because Aaron was smiling innocently as he held out the bright red apple to her.
That smile shook her heart.
Maybe it wasn’t the apple—it was his pure expression that rattled her.
“You haven’t even paid.”
“See? You really are the angel.”
“Hmph.”
Only after hearing that Aaron delivered apples to the shop and could eat freely did Erica finally relax and take a bite.
Crunch. The sound was fresh and crisp. Sweet juice filled her mouth with every bite.
Even though she’d eaten apples at the mansion, these tasted different.
“Sweet.”
“Good, right?”
“Yes. Not bad.”
“Of course. I picked them myself.”
Aaron flexed his arm, showing off his muscles.
Even through his clothes, she could see how strong he was.
Tall, broad-shouldered—
Girls her age would surely like him.
Erica’s shoulders slumped.
“Why do you look sulky?”
“Who says I am?”
Erica didn’t understand her own heart.
She only knew the apple was delicious. And as she looked at Aaron again—
Her lips pouted before she could stop them.
