“Did something good happen?”

In response to Aidan’s question, Brody, who was humming a tune, spun around. Already staggering and stepping on Aidan’s long cape, Brody almost fell.

“Be careful.”

If Aidan hadn’t held her, she would have fallen. Despite the close call, Brody continued to laugh as if something wonderful had happened.

Aidan sighed and took her hand. Brody’s delicate hand was engulfed by Aidan’s large hand, and she seemed to enjoy the warmth as she firmly held his hand.

“Isn’t this the second time you’ve asked that question today?”

“Right. But now, you seem to be in an even better mood than earlier.”

Answering while consciously looking at the ground with each step, Brody said, “Yes, it’s the first time for something like this.”

“What do you mean it’s the first time?”

“Well, don’t laugh, okay?”

With a mischievous smile, Brody brought the index finger of her empty hand to her lips.

Although Aidan was curious about what she was going to say, he couldn’t withstand her constant laughter, feeling a ticklish sensation near his heart.

It was somewhat dangerous.

Brody began to speak.

“Today is the first time I’ve ever played so joyfully. I was worried about how to have fun… but when it happened, it was so enjoyable.”

Ah, Brody brought both her hands to her warm cheeks as if trying to cool them.

However, with her left hand holding Aidan’s right hand, what touched her left cheek was Aidan’s knuckles.

She confirmed that his hand had followed, and without being embarrassed, she pressed her cheek against the back of his hand.

As if throwing a tantrum.

A shiver ran down Aidan’s entire body.

“Bro… Brody.”

But she ignored his embarrassment, looked straight ahead, and continued what she wanted to say.

“Do you like having fun, Your Grace?”

“Well, um… I don’t particularly enjoy parties.”

“Right, it must be because of parties like the one in Perdan. Then, next time, let’s create a more enjoyable party. A party where Your Grace can have fun too.”

“…”

Next time. We. Aidan felt a flutter in his heart at one word and pain in his heart at another. You and I can become ‘we.’ I don’t need a party like that, as long as you’re by my side.

But next time… Will there be a ‘next’?

Aidan turned the conversation, feeling a throbbing pain in a corner of his heart.

“Sure, but have you never had fun until now?”

“Well, you see. I’ve lived my life doing nothing but work, study, work, study. I didn’t have any friends, as I’ve already told you.”

“…”

Although it hurt to turn the conversation, it hurt even more now.

‘Jack’s son. Even if he’s not related by blood, is he tormenting the child he has cared for since childhood, just because he has become a duke?’

Her life seemed beyond imagination.
“Studying and work, studying and work. That was a familiar life for him. Perhaps she had lived that way too.

Well, it must be because it’s hard to stay with someone as boring as himself without complaints. She probably didn’t know that it wasn’t fun….

“Sorry.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Because I’m not someone who can make you have fun.”

“Oh, that’s mutual.”

No, you are fun. Just being around you is enjoyable. Sometimes, I don’t know where you’ll lead me, and there are moments when my heart flutters, but still, I’m happy when I’m with you.

Aidan recited silently in his mind. It was challenging to express it out loud.

Regardless of his thoughts, Brody continued speaking.

“But we’re good at our jobs. Since we’re work partners, doing well at work is enough to wish for, right?”

“…”

Brody meant that she herself was not interesting, and she couldn’t make it enjoyable. However, Aidan interpreted it as ‘Brody doesn’t expect anything from me.’

“Indeed, Brody is uninteresting, and she can’t make it enjoyable,” he thought.

Still, if Brody is not enjoying herself, if she’s not happy by my side… Is it right to let her go?

He had thought he had lived diligently, but it felt so powerless now. Since the famine hit the North, this was the most overwhelming sense of helplessness. Aidan’s shoulders slumped.

At that moment, Brody shook the hand she was holding. When Aidan turned his head to look at her, she seemed to have something to say.

“S, sorry if I’m interrupting your thoughts. Is it dangerous for me to shake your hand while drunk?”

Aidan responded hesitantly, feeling a shock in his heart as he responded.

“Wh, what do you want to say?”

Brody nodded vigorously.

“Go, go on.”

She waited eagerly for Aidan to respond.

“Your Grace, did I do well?”

“Hmm? You did well?”

“Here, in the potato field.”

Saying that, Brody suddenly stopped.

Instead of waiting for Aidan’s response, she raised her head and looked into the distance.

Was she looking into the air to think? No, that wasn’t it. The field full of potatoes came into her view.

Contrary to the flushed cheek, her emerald eyes shone elegantly, and her serious expression exuded warmth.

Her lush, curly hair fluttered in the cold night breeze.

She stood still, gazing at the field she had cultivated with determination.