Chapter 38
“Where could they have gone in just that short moment?”
I sat on the bench where the two had been sitting earlier, looking around, and asked Martin.
Arms crossed over his chest, he scanned the garden calmly.
The sun was already sinking low.
“They’re still inside the estate, at least.”
“The problem is that this estate is huge.”
Erica and Oscar, who should’ve been sitting together on the bench, were nowhere to be seen no matter how hard I looked.
[What do you see in my eyes, wife?]
The memory of Martin’s trembling red eyes came back to me, and I fanned my hot face quickly.
“It’s unusually hot today, isn’t it, wife?”
Martin was just waiting for this excuse—he opened a parasol with a smirk.
The small, lacy parasol looked even tinier in his big hands.
But since the sun was already setting, it felt ridiculous.
“Now’s not the time for that.”
“Still, isn’t it actually a good thing they disappeared? We should be happy.”
Martin had a point.
After all, I was the one who had chosen Prince Oscar as Erica’s potential boyfriend.
If they slipped away out of our sight, it could only mean progress.
‘This is what they call a green light, right?’
I nodded in agreement.
“You’re right. That makes sense.”
“There’s nothing to worry about. Shall we go inside?”
When we returned to the mansion, it was Erica and Oscar who greeted us first.
“Did you enjoy yourselves?” Erica asked with a fresh smile.
That was our question to her, wasn’t it?
If I’d seen Martin nodding quietly in response, I would’ve jabbed him in the ribs.
Then I noticed something strange.
Oscar was holding cookies—smiling happily with them in his hand.
‘Wait, doesn’t he dislike cookies?’
The Oscar I remembered from the original story had only ever looked at Erica with contempt.
But now? His eyes were softer, more relaxed.
Whatever was happening, the original story had clearly changed.
Oscar kept the cookie clutched in his hand as he bowed politely to us.
“Thank you for today. I truly enjoyed myself. I hope we can meet again soon.”
He glanced warmly at Erica, and I couldn’t help but smile.
Martin shook hands with him, promising to meet again. It seemed the perfect way to end the day.
But when Sir Stuart appeared to escort Oscar, Martin’s brow twitched slightly.
After Oscar and Stuart left, I sat on the sofa in the hall and stared at Erica.
I had so many questions, but she didn’t seem ready to answer any of them.
Usually my sister-in-law was a nonstop talker, so her silence only made me more curious.
“We were worried when you disappeared so suddenly earlier, young lady.”
“You still think I’m a child, don’t you?” she shot back.
Martin chuckled at her sharp retort.
Maybe he found it funny, but I was serious.
“You didn’t come straight back inside after leaving, did you?”
“…Wouldn’t magnolia trees look nice in the spring?”
She changed the subject, and I tilted my head. But I didn’t push further.
Just the fact that Oscar had softened toward her was enough progress for me.
“Can’t wait until Aaron comes again,” Erica said brightly, excited for the upcoming luncheon.
At the time, I only assumed she was happy to see a “friend.”
That’s why I regretted not asking about her feelings that day.
Because later, when I saw Erica looking at Aaron, I realized something was different.
‘Her eyes… they’re not the same.’
When she looked at Oscar, her gaze had been polite, almost cautious.
But when she looked at Aaron—her gestures, the way she tucked her hair behind her ear, even how she crossed her legs—everything about her screamed interest.
And those sparkling eyes…
She hadn’t looked at him like that when they first met.
Something had changed the day she went to see Aaron on her own.
Yes—the day she almost tripped over that stone.
‘I knew something must have happened then.’
Later, Martin finally entered the hall and greeted Aaron.
Aaron’s tanned skin gave him a healthy glow, and his silver hair shone as he moved.
Compared to before, he looked brighter, more confident.
With his sturdy build, he didn’t look out of place even standing against the tall figure of Martin.
Their handshake lasted longer than usual, as if each was testing the other’s strength.
“So, you’re the one who saved my sister.”
“I only did what anyone should.”
“Good answer.”
Martin’s satisfied smile spread across his face.
Seeing him smile like that at someone he’d just met showed how much Aaron had impressed him.
After the handshake, we brought Aaron into the parlor.
“Welcome, Aaron. Do you like cookies?” I asked.
“I’ll eat anything, Duchess.”
…Why did this feel like I was welcoming a future son-in-law?
Why was I even thinking that?
“Wasn’t it difficult to come all this way?” Erica asked, sliding closer to him.
“Not at all. The Duchess even sent a carriage, so it was no trouble.”
His voice sounded stiff, probably from nerves.
I chuckled quietly. Cute.
He was fine with me since we’d already met, but clearly he wasn’t relaxed around Martin.
Martin and I gave the two space and sat a little farther away.
“He’s got quite the grip,” Martin murmured.
“You felt that from just a handshake?” I asked.
Martin nodded and opened his large palm.
“That won’t do.”
“…?”
“I need to test him properly.”
His lips curved with determination.
“A… test?”
“Of course. A sparring match.”
…A sparring match? Was that really necessary?
I rubbed my temples, fighting off a headache.
Martin—why did he act like a duel was the most serious thing in the world?
After losing to Sir Arnold Stuart, the captain of the Royal Knights, he now wanted to duel Aaron.
Was this his competitiveness, or genuine curiosity about the boy?
“Husband, instead of that, how about we sit down and eat cookies together?”
I dragged him toward the table where Erica and Aaron were sitting and forced him into a chair.
I didn’t want to disturb the two.
But I figured the only way to keep Martin quiet was to stuff him with cookies.
Erica frowned slightly at her brother’s intrusion, but then smiled sweetly at Aaron again.
Meanwhile, Martin loudly crunched a cookie, eyes glinting with interest as he watched Aaron.
More precisely—he was watching Aaron alone, not Erica.
Finally, he broke the silence.
“What do you do for work?”
“I deliver apples for a fruit store.”
“Explain in detail.”
“You probably saw him before, Duchess. A chubby boy—his name’s Hans. I help his family harvest apples from their orchard.”
Martin glanced at me, and I nodded.
“So that’s where you get your strength.”
“…Pardon?”
What was he even saying?
Erica looked proud as Aaron answered well.
Martin’s eyebrows twitched with amusement. He seemed to have made up his mind about something.
“You look strong.”
“I like physical work.”
“Good. Then why not have a sparring match with me?”
“What?!”
“Brother!” Erica and I shouted at the same time.
But Martin only shrugged, pretending not to understand why we were upset.
And so it happened.
The two men stood on the training ground, wooden swords in hand, facing each other with a tense distance between them.
Even the wind seemed to circle around them, heightening the atmosphere.
‘Why is this so nerve-wracking?’
Erica and I both grew tense just watching.
We had been enjoying cookies and tea a moment ago, but now this!
Erica patted my back, whispering furiously.
“My brother is always so reckless. If Aaron gets hurt—even if it’s unlikely—I’ll never forgive him.”
…Wait, what?
She was already worried for Aaron—while also assuming he might actually win.
I glanced at Martin. His shoulders suddenly looked lonely.
‘Poor guy.’
He was her real brother, yet she wasn’t cheering for him at all.
Seeing that, something inside me stirred.
And before I knew it—
“Well, no matter how skilled Aaron may be, he can’t beat your brother’s experience. Don’t you think so?” I said.
“Excuse me, Sister-in-law? Watch your words!” Erica shot back.
…Ah. I’d accidentally provoked her.
And just like that, our own little war began.
Erica suddenly pulled out a flag from who-knows-where and waved it excitedly.
Her cheers raised Aaron’s morale to the heavens.
‘Oh, so that’s how it’s going to be?’
I knew instantly what I had to do.
“Butler Babel?”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Fetch the Cloud family’s flag. Immediately.”
“P-pardon?”
“Unless you want to see the master of the Cloud family lose.”
Babel gaped at me, clearly wondering if this was really necessary.
What?
I was perfectly serious.
