Chapter 23
The two of them headed to the garden inside the main building — the one Aileen and her brother Adrian often liked to visit.
Basking in the warm sunlight, Aileen smiled and said,
“Today’s weather is so nice.”
“It is,” Richard replied. “I didn’t realize — I’ve been stuck in the office all day.”
“You should come outside sometimes and get some sunlight too.”
“I’d like to, but there’s too much work.”
When Richard gave an awkward smile, Aileen looked at him with concern.
“Is your work really that heavy?”
“The Olden family governs many lands. It can’t be helped.”
“Then maybe I’m keeping a busy man from his duties?”
Aileen looked worried, but Richard quickly shook his head.
“Not at all. Like I said earlier, I actually have some free time right now.”
If Claude had heard that, he probably would’ve fainted — but Richard said it with a straight face.
Finally, Aileen’s expression brightened again. Richard smiled at her… then his gaze dropped toward her neck.
“By the way,” he said casually, “you told me you liked the necklace I gave you, but I don’t see you wearing it.”
“Oh, it’s too pretty to wear for just a short walk like this,” Aileen said playfully. “I’ll wear it to something like a tea party. Are you sulking about it?”
Richard immediately denied it. “Of course not. I only mentioned it because I was worried. If you don’t like it, I could replace it.”
“There’s no need for that,” she replied quickly. “I told you before — I really love that necklace.”
“Hmm… Are you sure you’re not just saying that to be polite?”
“Absolutely not!”
Aileen’s firm tone made Richard chuckle.
“You’re denying it so strongly that it almost sounds suspicious.”
“Wait— so you were joking?”
“Half-joking,” he said with a teasing smile.
Aileen was speechless for a moment, and Richard looked at her fondly.
Sometimes she really was so pure and innocent — completely different from him.
He had seen far too much from a young age, growing up as a prince.
As he stared at her thoughtfully, Aileen tilted her head.
“Richard?”
“…Do you know something?” he said suddenly. “Whenever I look at you, I always feel… a strange sense of wonder.”
“Me? Why?”
“I’m not sure. Maybe because you’re different from me.”
“Different? You and I?”
“Aren’t we?”
Aileen blinked, then nodded seriously.
“Hmm… We are different.”
“I thought so too…”
“Our faces are different, our personalities are different, our genders are different… a lot of things are different.”
Richard stared at her, caught off guard.
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Everyone’s different,” Aileen said lightly. “No one can be exactly like me.”
Then she smiled brightly at him.
“But isn’t that what makes life interesting?”
“Interesting…”
He hadn’t thought of it that way before.
As Richard considered her words seriously, curiosity slipped into his tone.
“Aileen, is happiness your goal in life?”
Aileen blinked, surprised by the unexpected question.
After thinking for a moment, she nodded.
“I guess you could say that. My dream is to have a small house and live peacefully.”
“That’s your dream?”
“Yes. Is that strange?”
“It’s just… unexpected. I thought your dream would be to restore the Walker family’s name.”
“That’s my goal for Adrian, not for myself,” she said with a soft laugh. “Of course, I’d be happy if it happened, but it’s not my dream.”
After a little chuckle, Aileen looked up at him.
“What about you, Richard? What’s your dream?”
“Me…”
He hesitated, clearly not expecting that question.
When Aileen looked at him curiously, he finally answered in a quiet voice.
“I just wish this peace could last a long time.”
“That’s a wonderful dream.”
“You think so?”
“Of course. Nothing’s more precious than peace of mind.”
Richard smiled faintly. “I see.”
“Now that I think about it,” Aileen said cheerfully, “our dreams are kind of similar — we both just want to live peacefully.”
“I suppose you’re right.”
Richard smiled as he looked at her bright, cheerful face.
It was such a peaceful moment — like the very dream he’d just described.
But it didn’t last long.
“Your Highness.”
A deep voice interrupted. Richard immediately stopped and turned toward it, his smile fading.
“…Marquis Frederick.”
“Taking a stroll, are we?”
The head of the Frederick family, Harry Oldman Frederick, looked briefly at Aileen standing beside Richard.
“With the Duchess, I see.”
“Yes,” Richard replied calmly. “I spend too much time in my office — thought I should stretch my legs a bit.”
Richard smiled smoothly, but Aileen, sensing the tension, glanced between them.
She remembered who Harry was: the head of the Frederick family, a powerful noble who supported Richard’s faction — the Second Prince’s side.
In other words, someone who wanted Richard to stop living quietly and reach for the throne.
A sense of unease filled her chest, and her posture stiffened.
At that exact moment, Harry met her gaze.
His eyes narrowed, assessing her like one would evaluate a valuable object. The look made Aileen’s stomach twist with discomfort.
Richard quickly stepped in.
“What brings you here, Marquis?”
Harry turned back to him smoothly.
“I came to speak with you, Your Highness.”
“Is it urgent?”
“Not urgent — but important.”
Richard sighed softly and glanced at Aileen with an apologetic look.
“I’m afraid our walk ends here.”
“That’s alright,” she said kindly. “You should go.”
Harry suddenly interrupted.
“I’d like the Duchess to come as well.”
“Me?”
Aileen turned to Richard in surprise. His brow furrowed slightly — he hadn’t expected that either.
Still, Aileen nodded calmly.
“I don’t know what it’s about, but… alright.”
❧ ❧ ❧
Richard led Aileen and Harry to his office.
As they walked, Aileen cast a wary glance at Harry. His expression was impossible to read.
Why would he want me there too?
Her heart pounded nervously. She hadn’t expected to be involved in something like this.
When they reached the office, Claude was waiting by the door.
He straightened up when he saw Richard — and then froze the moment he spotted Harry.
Claude’s eyes darted anxiously toward his master, but Richard met them briefly, wordlessly signaling for him to stay calm.
Understanding instantly, Claude opened the door.
Once everyone stepped inside, he followed and quietly shut it behind them.
As the door clicked closed, Richard took his seat at the desk.
Harry stood across from him, while Aileen and Claude remained awkwardly beside Richard.
Once the tension had settled into the room, Richard spoke.
“So, Marquis Frederick. What is this ‘important’ matter?”
Harry’s eyes drifted to Aileen first.
She flinched at his gaze but quickly composed herself, pretending calm.
After a pause, Harry turned back to Richard.
“It’s been about a week since Your Highness’s marriage, hasn’t it?”
The sudden change of topic made Richard’s eyes narrow — but he smiled politely.
“Has it already been that long?”
“My men and I have always respected Your Highness’s choices,” Harry continued smoothly.
“Respected them, you say…” Richard murmured.
If that were true, who were the people who opposed his marriage to Aileen?
He looked at Harry meaningfully, but the man didn’t falter.
“However,” Harry said firmly, “this time, we cannot overlook something.”
“And what would that be?”
“I’ve heard that the Duchess’s younger brother is staying here at the Olden estate.”
At that, Aileen’s hands tightened in front of her, and Richard’s expression turned serious.
“You’re right,” Richard said calmly. “The young count of the Walker family is currently residing in my estate. Is there a problem with that?”
Hearing the word ‘young count’ come from Richard’s mouth made Harry smile faintly.
He nodded slowly.
“As you said, he’s the heir of the Walker family. And this, after all, is the Olden residence.”
Richard immediately sensed where this was going. His expression hardened slightly.
Harry straightened his back proudly and declared,
“It’s improper for the head of another noble house to stay in Olden territory. I must insist that the young count be sent away immediately.”
“He’s just a child!” Aileen burst out before she could stop herself.
Send Adrian away? That was unthinkable — he had nowhere else to go.
Harry turned to her coldly.
“Child or not, he is still the head of a noble family. Two lords cannot reside under one roof.”
“Even so, I can’t abandon him. Adrian has no home, and he’s my little brother — my family!”
Harry’s eyes gleamed sharply.
“You bear the Olden name now, Duchess. As the lady of this house, you should know which decision is proper.”
Aileen fell silent, biting her lip.
His question was clear — Olden or Walker? Which will you choose?
But her answer had always been the same.
“Then I’ll leave the Olden esta—”
“Enough.”
Richard’s quiet but firm voice cut through the air.
Aileen froze mid-sentence and turned to him.
He was looking at Harry with an icy expression — one rarely seen on his usually gentle face.
“You’ve crossed the line, Marquis. That’s no way to speak to the lady of the house.”
“…If I have offended you, I apologize,” Harry said stiffly, bowing his head.
Aileen glanced at him awkwardly, unsure what to say.
Richard sighed softly and spoke again.
“I understand your concern, Marquis. You object to the young count residing here, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Then how about this?”
Richard’s golden eyes shifted to Aileen, who looked at him questioningly.
And then — he said something that made everyone in the room widen their eyes.
“From now on, the Olden family will officially sponsor the young count of the Walker family.”
