Chapter 12
Aileen was caught off guard.
She hadn’t expected Adrian to find out about that so soon.
She had planned to explain it slowly to him over breakfast, but clearly, news had traveled fast.
When she looked down at him awkwardly, Adrian shouted angrily,
“Why did you sleep in the same room as His Grace? Couldn’t you just have separate rooms? You two are just in a contract—”
“Shh!”
Aileen hurriedly pressed her finger to her lips, and Adrian stopped talking at once.
Glancing around to make sure no one was listening, she lowered her voice and said,
“That’s exactly why we’re sharing a room. We can’t let anyone find out.”
“…I wish you’d stay away from him,” Adrian muttered.
“A-dri-an.”
She called his name firmly. His eyes turned red as if he was about to cry.
“I don’t like it. It feels like you’re choosing him over me. You’re all I have, but you’re getting close to him…”
Aileen was at a loss for words.
Adrian’s face twisted with hurt, and tears began to roll down his cheeks. It seemed all the emotions he had bottled up had finally burst out.
She pulled him into her arms and held him tight, gently stroking his golden hair — the same color as her own.
“That’s not true, Adrian. You’ll always be my number one.”
“R-really?”
“Of course.”
Her voice was full of sincerity, and little by little, Adrian’s sobs began to fade. After a while, he looked up at her with teary eyes.
“Then… does that mean you’ll sleep in a separate room?”
“That’s… difficult.” Aileen smiled wryly. “Honestly, I’d like that too, but people are watching. It would look suspicious.”
Adrian’s face turned grumpy again. Seeing it, Aileen chuckled softly and wiped the tear streaks off his cheeks.
“How about this instead? We’ll take turns. One night I’ll sleep in Richard’s room, and the next night I’ll sleep with you. I’m sure Richard will agree to that much. What do you think?”
He didn’t look entirely happy, but the idea seemed acceptable enough; his pout slowly faded.
Aileen pinched his chubby cheek playfully to lighten the mood, and at last Adrian nodded.
“…Okay.”
“Then tonight, I’ll sleep in your room. How about we go stargazing later? The stars were beautiful last night.”
“Really? Were they that pretty?”
His emerald eyes sparkled like the very stars she mentioned.
Aileen nodded enthusiastically.
“They shone just as brightly as my little Adrian.”
“Then I want to see them too! Let’s stay up late and talk while watching the stars!”
“Not too late,” she laughed, “but sure.”
At last, Adrian’s expression brightened completely, his cheerful smile returning. Seeing that made Aileen feel both relieved and guilty.
He was such a kind, gentle child — one who could smile so brightly — and yet she’d made him hold back his feelings for so long.
As she looked at him with a mix of affection and remorse, he tilted his head curiously.
“Sis?”
“…It’s nothing,” she said with a smile. “Shall we go have breakfast now?”
“Yeah!”
Adrian grabbed her hand and jumped to his feet. Aileen clasped his small hand warmly and silently made a promise to herself.
That she would do everything she could to keep this child smiling — always.
***
❧ ❧ ❧
“Your Grace, aren’t you going to check on the Duchess?”
Claude, Richard’s aide, asked right after finishing his report.
Richard looked up, puzzled by the question. Claude, on the other hand, seemed surprised by his surprise.
“You just got married, after all,” he said. “No one would blame you for taking a few days off.”
“…Hmm. That’s true.”
Richard nodded slightly, then rang the bell on his desk.
A maid entered soon after, and Richard asked,
“What is the Duchess doing right now?”
“She’s having breakfast with the young count, my lord.”
“I see. Too late, then.”
He turned to Claude.
“Thank you for letting me know. I’ll keep that in mind.”
Claude blinked at him, momentarily confused.
That’s… not exactly what I meant, but fine, he thought, biting back the rest of his words.
He bowed politely and left the office.
As he walked down the hall, his thoughts drifted — not to his duties, but to his master and the Duchess.
He had seen the two of them together often, especially since Aileen had been living in the Olden estate before the wedding.
And yet, despite being newlyweds, there was something strangely calm about them. They were comfortable with each other, yes, but it felt… transactional, somehow. Almost businesslike.
Was this a political marriage? he wondered. But that didn’t seem right either — Richard had no connection with the fallen Walker family, and there were far more advantageous alliances he could have made.
Then what exactly is their relationship?
Something felt off, but he couldn’t figure out what piece of the puzzle was missing.
After a moment, Claude shook his head. It felt wrong to pry too deeply into his master’s private life.
He was trying to shake off the thought as he walked down the bright corridor that overlooked the inner garden — when he caught sight of a young boy with radiant blond hair stepping into the garden.
At first, he assumed it was a servant’s child, but the boy carried himself far too gracefully for that.
Just as Claude was wondering who it might be, the boy turned and called out brightly,
“Sister! Come over here! There are so many flowers!”
‘Sister?’ Claude tilted his head and followed the boy’s gaze — and then saw a familiar woman appear.
“You’re right. It’s beautiful here.”
It was none other than Aileen, the mistress of the Olden household.
Realization dawned on him: the boy must be her younger brother, the young master from the Walker family who had moved in with her.
Claude approached them, making his presence known politely. Both Aileen and Adrian turned toward him.
He bowed respectfully.
“It’s been a while, Duchess.”
“Oh, you’re…?”
“Yes. Claude Aymon, His Grace’s aide,” he replied.
Aileen smiled warmly.
“It’s nice to see you again, Sir Aymon.”
He returned the smile.
“Please, just call me Claude. We’ll likely be seeing each other often.”
“Are you sure that’s okay?”
“Of course. His Grace also calls me by my name.”
Aileen hesitated, then nodded.
“Alright then, Claude.”
“Were you out for a walk?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said with a smile. “I thought it would be nice to spend some time with my brother and also get familiar with the mansion.”
Claude’s gaze shifted briefly to Adrian, who was half-hiding behind his sister. When their eyes met, the boy glared at him cautiously.
Claude simply nodded, meeting the boy’s gaze with a calm smile.
“I see. So this is the first time I’m meeting you, Young Lord Walker. It’s an honor.”
Adrian blinked in surprise — he hadn’t expected such respectful words from an adult. It made him feel strangely proud.
Trying to look dignified, he stepped out from behind Aileen.
“I’m Adrian Walker. It’s nice to meet you, Sir Aymon.”
He said it as seriously as he could, though to the two adults, he just looked adorably earnest.
Aileen couldn’t help pressing down his cheek with her fingers to hide his grin, while Claude chuckled softly.
“The pleasure’s mine, young lord.”
Adrian straightened his back proudly, clearly pleased. Claude could tell the boy had already taken a liking to him.
“Have you had breakfast, my lady?” Claude asked, even though he already knew the answer from the maid’s report. It was more to keep the conversation going.
Aileen, unaware, nodded.
“Yes, Adrian and I just finished eating.”
“Not with His Grace?”
“I heard he was working in his office, and I didn’t want to disturb him.”
Claude studied her expression.
“Doesn’t that make you a little lonely? You are newlyweds, after all.”
Aileen gave a soft laugh.
“Well, work is work. It can’t be helped.”
Her calm, matter-of-fact answer made Claude’s eyes narrow slightly.
“I see,” he said simply.
“Were you just coming from Richard’s office?” she asked.
“Yes, I just finished my report.”
“Is he very busy?”
Claude paused, thinking about the endless workload his master carried — overseeing multiple territories and managing business affairs on top of that.
“He’s quite busy,” he admitted. “Between managing his lands and his various enterprises, there’s always something demanding his attention.”
Aileen smiled faintly.
“If even his aide says so, he must really be busy.”
She glanced at Adrian and stroked his hair gently. He wasn’t a duke, but one day, he too would have heavy responsibilities to bear — as the next head of the Walker family.
That thought made Aileen realize something.
She had never actually thought about the future.
She had been so focused on paying off their debts that she hadn’t once considered what came after.
Or maybe she simply hadn’t allowed herself to.
Of course, the debts were still the top priority… but perhaps it was time to start thinking ahead — for Adrian’s sake.
I really must be at peace now, she thought. To be able to think about the future at all.
Her life with Richard had given her something she hadn’t had in a long time — stability. And, maybe, a little hope.
Hope that she and Adrian could be happy again.
“Sis? What are you thinking about?” Adrian asked.
“Nothing,” she said softly, smiling at him.
He tilted his head, but seeing her peaceful smile made him grin too.
“My lady,” a maid suddenly called, hurrying toward them.
Aileen turned her head.
“Yes?”
The maid looked uneasy as she spoke.
“You have a visitor, my lady.”
