“Are you alright? I heard loud noises, did something happen?”

The butler opened the door, saw the two people, and stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

“Ah, butler. A book fell.”

“A book?”

The butler glanced at the books scattered on the floor, then looked at the two people and nodded.

“Ah, books. I see. Then I’ll take my leave.”

The butler bowed politely and quietly closed the door.

“…?”

“…!”

After briefly staring at the closed door, the two looked at each other in bewilderment.

Still at a close distance, Eric immediately picked up one of the fallen books and handed it to Alicia.

“So-, ah. Was it this one?”

“Yes, yes. It was that one.”

“Then take your time looking at it. I’ll wait outside.”

“Alright.”

As Eric hurriedly left the study, Alicia placed the book she had received on an empty shelf.

“Oh, my goodness.”

Alicia fanned her flushed face and looked up at the bookshelf.

The book she had intended to take out was still on the shelf.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Butler. Butler. Wait a moment.”

“Yes, young master.”

“I think there’s been some misunderstanding just now, butler.”

“It’s alright, young master. You don’t need to be embarrassed in front of me.”

“Huh?”

“You’re rather rough, but as a man, that much passion is necessary.”

“Rough? Me? What are you talking about?”

“You’re doing well on your own, but maybe it’s because I’m getting old, I ended up nagging out of concern. Please forgive me.”

“What do you mean I’m doing well? Suddenly, what am I forgiving?”

“From now on, I’ll make sure not to disturb you two no matter what sounds I hear. That way, you’ll be comfortable during your honeymoon-”

“Butler!”

“Oh my. I’ve meddled unnecessarily again. What a foolish old man I’ve become. I apologize, young master.”

The old butler apologized so politely that Eric couldn’t even explain himself, let alone say anything. He just stared blankly at the butler’s retreating back and thought.

He should have just been hit properly by the book and fainted then.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Layla. Stay still and put it on. Edward, catch Ryan.”

While Alicia was dressing Layla, Edward caught Ryan who was trying to run away.

“Just do it roughly. No matter how well you dress them, brother-in-law won’t even notice, right?”

“Hurry up and dress them, we don’t have time.”

“You say they’re family, but why are you so concerned? If we just do it like usual- Oops.”

Edward caught Ryan’s clothes that Alicia threw.

“Sis, you’re not listening to me, are you?”

“Eric will arrive soon. Where’s Emma?”

“She’s helping downstairs. Hey, stay still for a bit.”

“Waaah-”

Edward grumbled but skillfully dressed Ryan who was twisting his body and throwing a tantrum.

“Really, why are they being so disobedient today of all days?”

“That’s why I said to leave them be. Isn’t it enough if they can just tell boys and girls apart?”

“Do you want to leave your siblings in such a mess in front of Eric, whom you say you respect?”

“I don’t mind? It’s not like I’m the one who’s a mess.”

“Edward.”

“But it has been a long time since we’ve seen brother-in-law.”

Eric had been very busy recently.

Due to preparations for one of the biggest events in the empire, the joint training of the knighthood, he had been staying at the knight’s quarters more often, so even Alicia hadn’t seen his face in a long time.

Today, he said he would come for dinner as he had some free time after a while, so she wanted to dress them properly, but it turned into this mess.

After a long struggle, they finally managed to dress the children just as Eric arrived.

“Edward, keep a close eye on the kids. Don’t let them misbehave.”

“As if they’d listen even if I tried to stop them?”

Edward grabbed the twins’ hands, one on each side, avoiding his sister’s glaring gaze.

“No-. Don’t wanna, don’t wanna go-”

“You have no choice even if you don’t want to. Otherwise, our sister will kill us.”

“Edward.”

“See? Sister’s angry now.”

“Hic. Scared.”

“Let’s tell brother-in-law everything later.”

“We’ll tell.”

Edward took the twins into the room, avoiding Alicia’s sidelong glance.

[This is the timeline separator]

“You came earlier than expected?”

“I came straight from the knight’s quarters, so it turned out that way.”

“You look tired, are you still very busy?”

As they walked into the mansion together, Alicia asked worriedly, and Eric smiled, saying he was fine.

“Then you should have just rested. We could have had dinner another time.”

“But it’s been a long time since we’ve met. How is your mother’s health?”

“She’s in good condition today.”

“That’s good to hear.”

[This is the timeline separator]

After greeting Countess Lancaster, Alicia carefully asked.

“Do you want to rest a bit?”

“Is that alright?”

Eric’s face immediately brightened upon hearing this.

Thinking he must have been quite tired, Alicia made a sympathetic expression.

“Of course. There’s still quite some time until dinner.”

“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

However, the room Eric followed Alicia into was unexpected and made him flustered.

“Is this-”

“Yes, my bedroom.”

“You don’t mean for me to sleep here?”

“The other rooms haven’t been used in a while, so they might be uncomfortable.”

‘This seems like it would be more uncomfortable.’

Eric stared blankly at Alicia’s bed for a moment before shaking his head.

No matter what, he couldn’t sleep here.

“As long as I can just lie down somewhere, anywhere is fine.”

“Alright. Then lie down comfortably.”

‘Is she really not bothered at all? Is it okay to just let a man sleep in her bed? Or am I the strange one for thinking this way?’

For a moment, Eric’s mind was in confusion.

“Oh right, should I give you my father’s pajamas?”

“Ah, that-”

“That would be better, right? Just a moment. I’ll bring new bedding too.”

As Alicia left the room, Eric, left alone, felt awkward about both sitting and lying down, so he stood there like a statue.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Here you go. Pajamas.”

“Thank you.”

“They might be a bit small, but it’ll be more comfortable to sleep in these.”

Alicia put the pillow and blanket on the bed and handed the pajamas to Eric.

“Then sleep well. If you don’t wake up by dinner time, I’ll come to wake you.”

“Um.”

“Yes. What is it?”

“Is it really alright? For me to sleep on the bed?”

“Where else would you sleep?”

“That’s not what I meant-”

“It’s fine. I used to let friends sleep on the bed when they came over.”

“Still, even so.”

“I’m not bothered at all, so don’t worry about it. Sleep well.”

Alicia smiled brightly and left the room, leaving Eric staring blankly at the door she had just exited through, holding the pajamas.

‘She’s not bothered at all? It’s okay because she let friends sleep here too?’

Of course, it might be fine for friends, but Eric didn’t think he fell into that category.

Honestly, he didn’t think they were even close enough to be friends, and above all, he was a man.

‘Am I the only one who’s concerned? Is it really okay?’

Still feeling conflicted and somewhat resigned, he changed into the pajamas.

‘This still doesn’t feel right.’

He stood beside the bed, looking at it for a moment, then took the pillow and blanket to the sofa and lay down.

The sofa wasn’t long enough to stretch out his legs, but he thought this would be more comfortable.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Aah!”

Eric suddenly sat up, feeling an impact on his body.

“???”

Bewildered, Eric raised his head to find Ryan on top of his body and Layla grinning from below the sofa.

“It’s big brother!”

“It’s elder brother!”

He had been so startled that he almost flung the children off.

Grateful that his reflexes hadn’t fully kicked in, Eric tried to calm his racing heart.

“Ryan, Layla?”

“Let’s sleep together-”

Ryan wiggled his way into Eric’s arms.

“Sofa. Sofa.”

“Why aren’t you sleeping there?”

Layla, trying to climb onto the sofa, tilted her head and pointed at the bed as she asked.

“Well, it felt a bit awkward to sleep there. Are you two going to sleep too?”

“Yes!”

“With me?”

“Yes!”

“Here?”

“No! There!”

The twins grinned and confidently pointed at the bed, leaving Eric flustered.

‘Why sleep with me? Why aren’t you shy around strangers? And why insist on sleeping there?’

Eric looked at the bed with a troubled expression.

Meanwhile, Ryan climbed down from the sofa with effort, and together with Layla, they scampered off to the bed.

“Hurry, hurry.”

“Sleepy, sleepy.”

Finally, Eric gathered the pillow and blanket and awkwardly made his way to the bed.

“Lift us up~”

“Me too~!”

“Ah, okay. Just a moment.”

After arranging the pillow and blanket, he lifted the twins onto the bed. They excitedly settled in and beckoned to Eric.

‘Oh well, I give up. No one else seems to care anyway.’

In the end, Eric lay down on the bed with the twins on either side and covered them with the blanket.

Despite the initial discomfort from the wriggling twins cuddling up to him, Eric surprisingly fell asleep quickly.

[This is the timeline separator]

Knock knock.

Alicia knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.

“I guess he couldn’t wake up.”

She muttered, recalling Eric’s extremely tired face.

If he was that exhausted, he didn’t have to come, but he was indeed a dutiful ‘fiancé’.

Alicia waited outside for a moment, then quietly opened the door and carefully approached the bed.

‘Why are the children sleeping here together? I’m sure Edward took them to play in the room.’

Surprised, she watched for a moment before gently shaking Eric to wake him.

“Eric? Eric.”

“Mmm.”

Eric turned to his side, stirring.

“Wake up. It’s almost time for dinner.”

“Five more minutes.”

Eric mumbled sleepily, then suddenly realized where he was and sat up abruptly.

“What time is it? Did I sleep for long?”

Startled by Eric’s loud voice, Alicia quickly covered his mouth.

“?”

As Eric blinked in confusion, unable to grasp the situation, Ryan and Layla started whimpering and then burst into loud cries.

“Waaah!”

“Uwaaaaah!”

The crying was so loud that Eric froze, feeling half-dazed.

It was utter chaos.

Still not fully awake, with the children crying and screaming, he felt like his ears might burst.

“Ryan, Layla. It’s okay. Be good now. Shh.”

“Give me one of them.”

Eric stopped Alicia as she tried to hold both children at once and picked up Layla.

“I’m sorry. The children sleep well, but they’re like this when woken up in the middle.”

“It’s alright. I’m not sure if I’ll be of any help, though.”

Eric followed Alicia’s lead, holding Layla and gently rocking her to soothe her.

They comforted the children while sitting and standing.

After a while of coaxing and soothing, the twins seemed to wake up more fully, and their cries began to subside.

“Phew.”

“Was it tough?”

As soon as Eric’s eyes met Alicia’s, a relieved smile spread across his face.

“Are you fully awake now?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Okay. Then shall we wash up and go downstairs?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Layla, you’ll come too, right?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Then come down. Let’s go hold sister’s hand.”

“No-”

Layla turned her head and hugged Eric’s neck.

“Oppa needs to change clothes and come down. Let’s go with sister first.”

“You’ll come soon?”

“I’ll come soon. Right?”

“Oh. Yes. I’ll be right there.”

“Okay. I know.”

Layla asked to be put down and then took Alicia’s hand.

“You can come down slowly. We still have some time.”

“Huh?”

Eric suddenly looked at the clock.

Only about 10 minutes had passed since he first woke up.

“No way. I thought at least an hour had passed.”

“Right? That’s how it feels every time.”

What he meant to say in his mind seemed to have slipped out.

Smiling at the embarrassed Eric, Alicia took the twins’ hands.

“See you later-”

“Yes, see you later.”

Eric awkwardly waved back at the twins who were enthusiastically waving their tiny hands, then casually ran his hand through his hair.

Watching the small heads wobbling as they walked away, still not fully awake, he couldn’t help but smile.

‘Ah, I need to change and go downstairs.’

As he picked up the clothes he had taken off and raised his head, he froze on the spot.

“…?”