“Viscount Aztaine said this.”

Grandfather?

“He asked me to make sure to show him a great-grandchild this year.”

“What…?!”

“So I told him, ‘You can’t aim for the stars without first seeing the moon. What can I do on my own?’ And with that, he handed me this key. Now do you understand?”

He was shameless. He was getting more brazen by the day. To think he’d conspire with Grandfather to come up with such a plan.

“Isn’t this a bit too much?”

“Too much?”

He playfully tapped the tip of my nose.

“You already knew, didn’t you? My sharp-witted wife, who never misses a thing—don’t tell me you didn’t catch on to this?”

“…”

When I clamped my mouth shut and glared at him, Ian tilted his head with a smug expression. His cheeky eyes seemed to be asking, “Really? You didn’t?” Annoyed, I furrowed my brows and relaxed my lips from biting them.

“Men who expose a woman’s secret feelings don’t get loved.”

“Maybe I should have pretended not to know.”

“From now on, even if you know, act like you don’t. That’s how you’ll stay on my good side.”

“I’ll remember that.”

His breath drew closer. His lips covered mine again, then traveled to my cheek, ear, neck, and collarbone, tracing my skin.

“Today, it’s just you and me in this mansion.”

That statement…

“Looks like I’ll need to postpone tomorrow morning.”

I had definitely made a mistake in following him here.

---

I was going to die. The moment I opened my mouth, a groan escaped on its own.

Even when I said no, he kept coming, and each time, I had no choice but to cling to him. My sore muscles ached from tension. A beastly man.

“Did you sleep well?”

He walked in just then, his face bright with satisfaction, holding out a cup. Wrapping the blanket tightly around myself, I carefully sat up and reached out, using one hand to hold the blanket in place as I took the cup.

“Hot cocoa?”

“Coffee felt a bit too strong for the morning.”

“That’s nice.”

The sweet aroma tickled my nose. I took a sip of the cocoa to soothe my parched mouth. It was sweet.

Staring blankly at the cup, I lifted my head and saw Ian smiling at me.

“…You seem a bit more refreshed.”

“Do I?”

“Hmm…”

I squinted at him. What an infuriating man. Leaving me utterly exhausted while he looked perfectly fine.

Dragging me back every time I tried to escape, pushing me to my limits—and now he was acting like nothing happened. Sighing, I heard his voice right in front of me.

“What are you thinking?”

When I looked up, Ian had already placed his cup down and climbed onto the bed. His broad shoulders and the way his head perched perfectly on top of them looked like a miracle. Turning my head to avoid the sight, I heard a chuckle.

Ian’s hand reached over and pulled me closer.

“Hmm, cocoa.”

“I want some too.”

“Then have some…”

Just as I was about to tell him to drink the cocoa, his lips covered mine. His tongue swept away all the lingering sweetness of the cocoa as if stealing it.

“What the…?”

“Aren’t you going to drink more? Because I’d really like some.”

That shameless look on his face! Where did he even learn that? He’s been glued to books lately… Suspicious.

“Did you give me cocoa just for this?”

“Who knows?”

“What did you bring for yourself?”

“I got cocoa too.”

“…”

Then drink your own—why are you taking mine? I stared at him, baffled by his confident response, and Ian answered with an air of obviousness, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

“The grass is always greener on the other side. Yours looks tastier.”

My eyes narrowed. He’d really been picking up all the wrong habits lately.

I glanced at the cocoa cup in my hand before tilting it to my lips. But once again, my chin was lifted, and his soft lips met mine once more.

It seemed like it would take until lunchtime to get through this.

I was leaning diagonally against the table, seated with a tea cup in hand, lost in thought as I gazed at the sky.

Last night, Ian standing near that door kept flashing through my mind. It wasn’t just surprising to see him near the door, but his attempts to hide something made it all the more suspicious.

It was rare for Ian to keep secrets from me, especially to the point of going out of his way to hide them. He wasn’t skilled at lying—at least not to me. If confronted, his secrets would usually unravel quickly.

So when he did try to conceal something, I made it a point to trust him and wait.

But if it was about that door, it was a different matter. I hated to admit it, but I couldn’t help being curious about the door too. Would it open again if I tried?

After hearing what Thessus said, I began to wonder if I could now open the door freely. If so, the temptation to return to the past, fix mistakes, and resolve many things more perfectly was hard to resist.

“Laurentia.”

Ian appeared, freshly showered, his face still soft and radiant. He had changed into light clothing and smiled as he pushed a teacup toward me.

“You’ve worked hard.”

“For something like that? It’s nothing. But it is a shame that all that firewood piled up had gotten wet and useless. Some were so rotten they couldn’t even be dried for reuse, so I had to throw them out. At least there’ll be no more bugs or mold.”

“You’ve really worked hard. I feel bad for making you deal with such a dirty, tiresome task.”

“It’s what I came here for, isn’t it?”

“That’s not why you came here.”

He widened his eyes in mock surprise before letting out a quiet laugh. Then, after sipping his tea, he leisurely looked out from the terrace. How shameless.

The morning view of Porryl Hill from the mansion was breathtaking. The scenery flowed so slowly it made time itself feel unhurried, evoking a bittersweet reflection on the transience of life.

“This place is nice.”

“Right? I used to sit here and have tea with my grandfather often. As a child, I thought he was wasting his time sitting here, but now I realize it wasn’t that simple.”

“Taking a break is important too.”

“I didn’t understand that back then. I thought running nonstop was the only way to get ahead.”

I laughed softly, and Ian chuckled along with me, nodding in agreement.

As our laughter faded, a brief silence fell between us. It was a quiet moment of shared serenity, enjoying each other’s presence.

Then, Ian’s voice broke the stillness.

“You know, this reminds me of our wedding day.”

“Why?”

“After the ceremony, when we were supposed to leave for our honeymoon, everyone was shocked to see the bride holding onto a stack of documents and asking for more time. Don’t you remember?”

“…Did I?”

“How could I forget? The sight of the new bride carrying a pile of papers instead of a bouquet, scolding her aides, and finally clutching a black briefcase—it’s unforgettable.”

He chuckled heartily, clearly amused at the memory. I squinted at him. Does he find this funny? Really?

Ian patted his stomach as if savoring the moment, then turned his gaze to me.

“You seem so flawless, yet you’re full of little gaps here and there.”

“You’re the only one who sees them.”

“That’s what makes them even more charming.”

His hand reached out, covering mine on the table.

“Because it’s a side of you only I get to see.”

“Why are you being so cheesy this early in the morning?”

“You used to like it when I was like this. Has marriage changed you?”

“Two years of the same thing gets boring.”

“Didn’t you once say you wanted me to stay the same?”

“So, what? You’re going to be like this until we’re a hundred?”

“Well… if that’s what you want?”

I watched his playful smile stretch across his lips, then let out a quiet laugh of my own. I can’t with him, seriously.

One moment he’s grinning like a child, the next he’s looking at me with a seriousness that’s almost disarming. That sudden leap from playful to earnest still catches me off guard.

“By the way, what should we do for lunch? All the staff are out right now.”

“Why? Are they done cleaning?”

“Didn’t you mention yesterday that the nearby roads were in terrible condition and needed clearing? I checked this morning and sent everyone out—it looked like more than one or two people would be needed.”

“They should be back by lunchtime.”

“Probably… but…”

He lightly patted his stomach. Moving around since dawn must’ve made him hungry. Skipping breakfast didn’t help either.

I glanced at his hand before raising my gaze to his face. Ian was smiling mischievously again.

“It’s a bit early, but I want to have lunch already.”

I didn’t know the exact time since there wasn’t a clock nearby, but it seemed way too early for lunch. Still, I felt bad asking Ian to wait after all the physical work he’d done. Honestly, I think I was starting to feel a bit hungry too. What should I do?

As I scratched my forehead, deep in thought, I looked over at Ian and cautiously asked,
“Do you know how to cook?”

“I can do field cooking.”

“That’s the kind of cooking you do during war or training, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, more about filling your stomach than enjoying the taste.”

“Ugh…”

I wasn’t exactly great at cooking either. Nobles typically didn’t include cooking in their education. Even for me, entering the kitchen and clanging utensils around had always felt like a waste of time.

I was the head of my household and its heir. Feeding myself was less important than running the family and supporting our merchants.

The only dish I knew how to make was a thin soup… What should I do? While my eyes darted around in search of a solution, I locked eyes with Ian. His expression said it all.

“Cook for me!”

…Did you just assume I’d do it? Well, even if he didn’t outright say it, the situation made it clear. Resigned, I sighed and got up from my seat. I had no choice.

“Alright, wait here.”

---

Making Aunt Mesha’s apple pie was too ambitious, but whipping up something simple with the apples we had on hand wasn’t impossible.

Of the 12 apple recipes Aunt Mesha had once taught me, the simplest was apple soup. Normally, it was a breakfast dish, but given the situation, there wasn’t much choice.

I rummaged through the ingredients the attendants had brought back, pulling out onions, milk, and apples. But the moment I held them, I was stumped. I had never chopped anything before. During lessons, everything was pre-prepared, so I never had to start from scratch.

Frowning, I pondered how to chop the onion, rolling the knife this way and that. After some trial and error, the onion ended up looking like a mangled mess. I gave up on precision, washed it under running water, peeled it, and haphazardly cut it into eight chunks.

“And the apple…”

The apple had to be peeled too. Why is the peel so wide? I squinted in irritation. The onion had already made me teary, and now I had to deal with peeling the apple? My eyes were practically streaming.

As I fiddled with the paring knife and apple, trying to figure out where to start, a voice suddenly came from behind me.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh… Agh!”

Startled, my hand slipped, and I nicked the tip of my thumb with the knife. Ian quickly inspected my hand, then rinsed the cut under running water before popping my finger into his mouth. The sudden warmth made my hand tingle, and I instinctively tried to pull away, but Ian shook his head.

“Wait. I’m stopping the bleeding.”

“How does sucking on my finger stop the bleeding?!”

“That’s how we do it in the field.”

“…”

At his calm explanation—invoking yet another “field” reference—I closed my mouth. Maybe I should study field tactics or something because every other thing he said seemed to involve it.

Annoying as it was, his methods were oddly effective.

This time was no different. Ian successfully stopped the bleeding with his soft tongue and warm mouth, proving once again that his bizarre techniques worked. He rinsed my finger again and then picked up the paring knife himself.

“What are you doing now?”

“You were peeling the apple, weren’t you?”

“Yeah, but…”

“Then leave it to me.”

He chuckled softly and began deftly peeling the apple. I widened my eyes in surprise as the peel unraveled in one long strip. Did he already know how to cook? How many sons of a grand duke would ever learn such a skill?

“Do you know how to cook?” I asked.

“No.”

“But you’ve peeled apples before? You’re really good at it.”

“Does it look that way?”

His cheeky smile caught me off guard, and I tilted my head.

“Why? Am I wrong?”

“No, I mean, I do think I’m good at it. But this is my first time.”

“What is?”

“This.”

Watching Ian pick up the next apple, I cautiously asked, “Peeling apples?”

“Yeah.”

“For a first time, you’re surprisingly skilled.”

“Well, I’m used to handling knives and swords.”

Ah, the perks of being a natural-born knight. But still, could someone skilled with swords adapt so easily to a paring knife? Was that normal?

As I quietly observed him from the side, Ian glanced at me with an amused grin.

“Why are you staring? Are you impressed?”

Honestly, I was. Watching this tall, broad-shouldered man fumble with a tiny paring knife and apple was oddly endearing.

Suddenly, the words of other women who had said that men who cook are attractive popped into my mind. I had wondered what use there was for a man who cooks well. After all, if he’s a nobleman, cooking is even more irrelevant. I always thought it would be better if he were more skilled in other areas.

But now that I was seeing it firsthand, it wasn’t quite like that. It was oddly pleasing.

The man in front of me, skillfully handling the paring knife, felt like he was completely mine. His busy hands preparing a meal just for me—it was starting to make sense why those women had said what they did.

“All done. What’s next?”

“Ah, what’s next?”

…What was next again? It’s soup, so I need to boil some water, but what about the milk? Should I add the milk to the soup, or should I cook it together?

Unable to hide my confused look, Ian stared back at me, now equally puzzled.

“Is that all?”

He took a piece of the apple he had cut, stuffed it into his mouth, and then put another piece into his own. He grinned.

“It’s tasty like this, but don’t you think something’s still missing?”

“Hmm… well.”

I tried to recall the apple pie recipe Aunt Mesha had taught me, a recipe I had often watched her make. It wasn’t exact, but I figured it’d be close enough.

“Could you please light the oven?”

---

“……”

“……”

We were left speechless in front of the strange creation that had appeared before us. It looked like an apple pie, but the color, texture, and feel were all wrong. Was this really an apple pie?

If I had known it would turn out like this, I would’ve just followed Ian’s lead. We were facing a situation where too many cooks spoiled the pie, and it wasn’t really a pie anymore. It smelled good, but we couldn’t eat it, and naturally, I felt a sense of emptiness from hunger.

“Um, Ian…”

“Do you think we can actually eat this?”

“I don’t know.”

I tilted my head, and Ian casually reached for the top of the pie, pulling off a piece and popping it into his mouth.

“Wait!”

“What?”

“Shouldn’t we first check if it’s actually safe to eat?”

“……”

His eyes slowly dropped, then rose again to meet mine.

“I only used edible ingredients to make this, so it should be fine to eat, right?”

“Well, I suppose so…”

“And honestly, it tastes pretty ordinary. Try it.”

I stared at the strange creation heading toward my mouth, hesitated, and slowly raised my gaze. Ian smiled faintly.

“Ian… you’re trying to trick me, aren’t you? Right?”

“Trick you?”

His innocent look made my frustration rise. I couldn’t eat sour food, and I remembered the time Ian had tricked me into eating a lemon, pretending it wasn’t sour. With deep suspicion in my eyes, I looked at him, and he gave me a look that seemed to say, “I’m serious. Trust me.”

Really? Was it really fine? Despite my doubts about my own cooking, I figured, well… as long as I hadn’t put something inedible in it, the strange appearance didn’t necessarily mean it wouldn’t taste okay. Nodding, I slowly accepted the piece of food Ian offered.

I chewed it around in my mouth, and surprisingly, it was just as Ian had said: ordinary. It didn’t quite taste like apple pie, but it wasn’t bad either, just a normal pie flavor.

“It’s ordinary.”

“Right? As you eat it, the apple flavor comes out a bit, so it’s surprisingly okay.”

Ian smiled as he shoved another piece into his mouth, but his expression suddenly stiffened. Why was he acting like that? I tilted my head, and Ian turned away, spitting out what he had just eaten and grimacing.

“The inside’s not cooked.”

“Eh?”

Ian examined the inside of the pie. The soggy dough and the pieces of apple and vegetables that were still rolling around inside caught my eye. I realized baking in an oven requires some skill. It wasn’t just about lighting a fire and cooking it.

“Should we cook it again?”

“…No, never mind.”

Shaking his head with a wounded expression, Ian silently licked his lips. Seeing his face made me feel a strange sense of guilt. It wasn’t like I had made the food all by myself, and I didn’t necessarily need to be a great cook. But still, I couldn’t help but feel bad for not being able to make a simple apple pie for someone who had worked hard.

“Should I learn a little bit of cooking when we get back?”

As I was thinking about the future, Ian casually spoke up.

“Let’s go out first.”

“Where are we going?”

“I saw a small village on the way here. How about we check it out and have a meal there?”

“You mean Yubedin?”

“Is that the name of the village?”

“Yes. It’s a small and clean village. Not many people live there. I’ve never been, but my grandfather used to tell me about it when we passed by.”

After hearing my explanation, Ian nodded, as if making up his mind, and then immediately turned around. Following him out of the kitchen, I stopped for a moment and glanced back. Our first creation, the dish we had made together, was lying lifeless on the table.

“……”

How embarrassing.

---

On a leisurely afternoon, I was able to head to Yubedin without having to rely on Ian for support, thanks to having gotten used to horseback riding. Ian grumbled about using only one horse, but when I saw the horse that would carry both of us and the sly look in his eyes, I crossed my arms.

While riding next to him, the scent of flowers and the chirping of birds in the forest tickled my ears. More than anything, this kind of tranquility always made me feel good.

The forests of the Forril region were safe, with no monsters or wild animals, so even children often came out to gather acorns or herbs.

I had once looked after a child who couldn’t make it back home, and every time, their laughter, so pure and innocent, had a way of cleansing my mood. The children who lived lives far from the city. Their laughter was so joyful.

“Laurencia.”

When I turned my head, Ian was riding closer.

“Speaking of which, remember when we didn’t ride together on our honeymoon?”

“Ah, yes.”

It had been more than two years, but our wedding still vividly remained in my memory. Of course, it was a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it made sense that it would stick, but it was special in many ways.

I smiled and lifted my head.

“That was the first time the bride entered first, right?”

---

“What do you think of the wedding hosted by the Aztein and Verdian families?”

“It must be grand, since it’s the Aztein family, the symbol of wealth.”

“I heard they spent a huge amount at the coming-of-age ceremony, so I’m sure it’ll be the same this time. I’m curious what kind of gifts they’ll give.”

For other people’s weddings, they’d be wondering what gifts to give, but in this case, the odd phenomenon was that people were more interested in what they would receive. This was understandable, given the extravagant actions of the Aztein family.

The combination of power and wealth, like wings on a tiger’s back, was a topic that couldn’t help but be discussed by many.

“Enough with the chatter.”

An elderly nobleman’s deep voice stopped the conversation, and two younger nobles glanced at him.

“Ah, you’ve arrived, Marquis.”

He was Rosello, the head of the Bellardi family, which had maintained its power even after the Apenzia family, led by Berilt, lost its influence. Despite being over seventy and having led his family for over forty years, his posture remained straight, and his eyes were as sharp as any young noble.

“Mm.”

Even his simple nod seemed to carry weight and authority. As Rosello walked through the path that the nobles nervously cleared, he glanced briefly at the two who had been talking and spoke slowly.

“If you’re greedy, you’ll look back one day and realize there’s nothing left in your hands. Be less greedy.”

The nobles stood frozen, unsure whether his words were advice or a threat. After looking at them, Rosello shook his head and moved past them with a quiet grace.

Once he passed, the nobles sighed and whispered among themselves.

“It’s not easy to hold onto a position without greed…”

“That just means he’s an extraordinary person. We should be careful with our words.”

As Rosello passed by them with ease, there were no attendants or guards with him, but no one failed to recognize him. He was the center of attention, almost making it seem like he was the host of the event.

“You seem to be in good spirits today.”

A man approached Rosello and spoke to him. It was Duke Veil, a middle-aged gentleman, smiling as he tipped his hat in greeting.

When the two giants met, the surrounding people couldn’t help but watch. Veil spoke again.

“You’ve been avoiding such public gatherings. What brings you here today?”

“Just a little outing, Your Grace.”

Rosello’s dignified manner and polite demeanor stood out. Veil smiled, about to say something, but his gaze shifted as he added:

“I’d love to talk more, but I have to go check on my daughter. She might be causing trouble again.”

“Ah, I see.”

Rosello nodded knowingly with a smile, and Veil sighed. His eldest daughter, Nerdika, had been obsessing over Ian and had secretly come to the wedding, causing trouble.

He’d struggled all morning trying to keep her at home in a wedding dress, but she had sneaked out and was now causing chaos at the venue. Thankfully, she had changed into a more appropriate outfit, though she still looked far too extravagant for the occasion.

Veil furrowed his brow, sighed deeply, and left. Rosello, watching him leave, smiled faintly as he turned his head. A man standing nearby casually greeted him.

“I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Looks like I’ve been hiding too much,” Rosello replied with a thin smile.

“Lord Aztein.”

As the attention of the guests was focused on Nerdika and Veil, the two who had slipped away from the crowd were now leisurely spending their time on the terrace.

“How long has it been?”

“10 years?”

“Hah, that’s true. You look so awkward.”

Rosello chuckled, rubbing his chin as he examined Lord Aztein. Though they were around the same age, Lord Aztein looked like a gentleman just over sixty.

With a wry smile, Feldarn spoke slowly to Rosello.

“I heard you’ve been quite active behind the scenes.”

“It was just something I had to do. I did it for my long-time friend and for the family.”

“Even so, it must have been difficult to suppress the Apenzia family. You did a great job.”

“Ha ha.”

Rosello chuckled mischievously and raised his head.

“A mere upstart marquis? If you don’t confront him head-on, whether it’s ten years or a hundred years, it’s not hard to keep him at bay, Feldarn.”

Since Rosello, who valued safety above all, took the initiative to suppress the Apenzia family, it had been much easier to prevent Berilt’s movements. Of course, in the end, Ian and Lorencia would have dealt with Berilt.

Though Rosello’s contributions behind the scenes were deserving of praise, he never boasted about them. He simply smiled.

Feldarn, who had known Rosello for nearly fifty years, still couldn’t understand him. It was a good thing they hadn’t fallen out, but in a way, that was to be expected. They had always been uncomfortable with each other, and that’s what made them colleagues.

Smiling, Rosello took a small box from his coat and handed it to Feldarn. His gaze fell.

“What’s this?”

“A gift.”

“Isn’t this for my granddaughter’s wedding? It’s not for me, but for…”

“No, Feldarn. This is for you.”

“For me?”

“Do you not remember the promise we made twenty years ago?”

Twenty years ago? Considering how long he’d lived, it wouldn’t be surprising if he had forgotten last year’s events, let alone something from two decades ago. As he searched his hazy memories, Feldarn narrowed his eyes, and Rosello clicked his tongue.

“You’re much younger than me, and yet your memory is already failing.”

“There’s only a two-year difference.”

Feldarn twitched his eyebrows and casually opened the box, his eyes narrowing.

“This…?”

“It took a long time, Feldarn.”

With trembling hands, Feldarn took a small pendant from the box, and his breath caught. Rosello turned his head as people began entering to signal the start of the ceremony.

“I said it might take some time, but… it looks like it’s not too late.”

“……”

The fragments of a sad past that should have been erased from memory. A defense mechanism to protect the family, the granddaughter, and himself.

The memory, thought to be long gone, now stirred deep waves again. Rosello lightly patted Feldarn’s shoulder as he bit his lip.

“Smile.”

“Marquis…”

“Didn’t you ask for it on a happy day? I thought that, in time, when you see this pendant again, you’d smile.”

“……Huff.”

Feldarn hid his deep wrinkles with a sigh and gave a small smile. Rosello smiled back.

The two old friends, who had known each other for half a century, reached the end of their conversation just as the lights in the hall went out. Then, the center light came on, and a woman appeared.

It was Lorencia, dressed in a gorgeous and beautiful gown. Her glossy hair, like crushed black pearls, and her emerald-like eyes shimmered, announcing her presence.

Lorencia broke all expectations and revealed herself first. True to the anticipation that this would be an unusual wedding, she took Ian from the hands of the elderly man as if receiving the bride. Ian, with a flustered expression, shyly smiled.

As Rosello watched their faces, he chuckled.

“Are you happy?”

Feldarn lowered his gaze. Though he was a smaller old man than him, at this moment, Feldarn felt like a big brother.

Feldarn closed his eyes, nodded, and took a step forward. His steps toward his granddaughter were light. Rosello followed him, watching his back.

The music flowed, and the first dance, followed by vows and oaths, began. Everything was glamorous and elegant. The chandelier’s light met the jewels and shone brighter, and the harmony between the glowing dress and the couple dazzled everyone.

As the couple focused on each other, Feldarn crossed through the space between them. It was his role to place the pendant, a family heirloom with the portraits of their parents, around his daughter’s neck.

Approaching with a straight posture, Feldarn was met by Lorencia’s gentle smile. She had said she was fine with wearing a pendant that belonged to her grandfather, but Feldarn still felt sorry. Yet, now, he was able to let go of that guilt.

As he approached the bowed Lorencia, Feldarn placed the pendant around her neck. It was a beautiful pendant adorned with ruby and gold.

Lorencia smiled and lifted her head.