Unlike the neatly groomed gardeners of the vibrant garden, the Valeria Garden had old trees growing freely in a disorderly manner. The shadows of the intertwined trees cast a deep shade. In a world where light and shadow were scattered, it felt like being invited into the myths of the beginning.

Delia glanced briefly at the tree where Aaron leaned. “This tree is probably older than our great-great-grandfather.”

Aaron listened to Delia’s words as he rested against his chest, playing with the ends of her hair. The sound of water flowing from small fountains scattered throughout permeated through their hair.

“Commander, isn’t this place beautiful and nice?”

“Yes. It’s beautiful and nice here.”

For some reason, Aaron’s words lacked a sense of soul. Although Delia could get angry at his nonchalant response, feeling good at the moment, she yawned contentedly.

“I wish we could stay like this forever.”

Aaron frowned at Delia’s sluggish words. “No. Don’t say such dreadful things. If this moment were to last forever, I’d wither away. Let’s hope autumn comes quickly. I’m parched.”

Delia opened her eyes wide and looked up at Aaron.

I thought I was happy, but Commander, apparently not?

In the face of an inexplicable sense of betrayal, Delia made a subtle impression.

“Why?”

“I feel like I’ll really dry up and collapse. We need autumn to come quickly. I want it.”

“Autumn?”

In the leisurely flow of time, a sweet fragrance wafted in the air. Aaron, filling his lungs with Delia’s scent, whispered softly.

“Our wedding is planned for the beginning of autumn, the day the harvest festival starts.”

“So soon?”

“Soon? I wanted it to be even sooner. But I can’t go faster than the formal procedures. We also need time to prepare gifts and other things. The garden fountain needs to be completed. It can’t be helped.”

Delia nodded slightly as she looked at Aaron. “We’re really getting married.”

Facing the reality that approached after the inspection, Delia fell silent for a moment.

His appearance, which couldn’t be easily shaken off.

She couldn’t ignore the wounds he didn’t want to talk about.

But as much as Aaron had worked hard for Iorenti, she wanted to be a strength to him too.

“Commander.”

“Why?”

Delia, who had been leaning against Aaron, straightened her body with determination.

Staring into Aaron’s ashen eyes, she took a deep breath.

“I won’t betray you, Commander. I’ll stay with you to the end.”

Aaron paused for a moment. Gazing into Delia’s clear eyes like a lake reflecting the leaves, he savored her bold declaration.

The melodious singing of birds echoed clearly.

The sound of leaves rustling in the wind was refreshing.

Like her.

“You don’t have to say that. I know.”

Filling up from the very bottom of his heart, Aaron smiled gently.
Filled with a sense of fullness that seemed to rise from the very bottom of his heart, Aaron smiled subtly. He gently cupped Delia’s cheeks, blooming in a rosy pink like a peony.

As if Aaron already knew everything about her, he acted with a relaxed demeanor. “That you will never betray me.”

Delia tilted her head in puzzlement. “How do you know that?”

“You can live without me, but you can’t live without Iorenti. As long as you have Iorenti, you won’t betray me.”

A mischievous smile played on Aaron’s face as he observed Delia’s blinking eyes. His words were accurate, but…

It was strangely unpleasant.

It wasn’t as if she was forcibly staying with him because of Iorenti.

Wanting to be a strength for him, she reluctantly accepted the comforting words in such a twisted manner.

Truly, he was her lovely commander.

Feeling unfairly treated, Delia blurted out, “No, I can betray too.”

Aaron burst into laughter at Delia’s frog-like words. Even her words of betrayal sounded sweet.

The pleasant sound of laughter echoed through the trees in the garden.

“What’s that? You just said you wouldn’t betray.”

“I can betray if I want to. But I won’t do it for the Commander.”

“Thank you so much that it brings tears to my eyes.”

“Commander, please don’t say that while smiling.”

Delia looked at Aaron, who was laughing cheerfully. He casually dismissed even her sincere confession.

As if he were concealing something not so light.

“Ironic.”

Delia, who had worried for days, pushed Aaron away and distanced herself.

Having escaped from his embrace, Delia pulled the picnic basket prepared by Agnes.

Upon removing the cloth, a sweet cake with cream, dried fruits, and fruit juice in a glass bottle were revealed.

Delia poured the juice into a glass and took a sip.

The refreshing juice descended down her throat, cooling the warmth inside.

However, her tangled feelings couldn’t be easily resolved.

“I have so many things I want to ask, but I’ve been holding back because I was afraid. You, Commander, don’t even know.”

Delia grumbled as if instructing someone to listen, and she took another sip of the juice.

“I haven’t been able to sleep for days worrying about you, and you’re just casually making jokes.”

“Your Highness, that’s not juice, is it?”