“How have you been? It’s been a really long time.”

“…Miss Rowena.”

All eyes were fixed on Tommy. The regent patted his son who was at a loss for words on his back. Tommy came out one step forward and greeted her, still unable to make eye contact with her.

“I’ve been well. You too Miss Rowena, how have you be-..”

Words coming out of his mouth began to get more blurred. Tommy lowered his gaze, afraid of the piercing icy blue eyes that looked down at him from beside Rowena. The way he remembered her from about five years ago, she looked sad and miserable, even to young Tommy’s eyes so he was hesitant to approach her. Regardless, Rowena walked up to Tommy and embraced him while people around them gasped in surprise.

“I’ve been well, you know, I’ve been thinking of you from time to time wondering how have you been.”

Her stay on the island was never boring thanks to the pure hearted and honest Tommy. So it was deeply moving to see the child who was barely reaching her waist and now grew up to almost reach her chest. Furthermore, she thought of Damian, and how he would soon grow up to be such a young man, too.

“Well, that’s enough for a reunion.”

Even though he was only thirteen or fourteen years old, he was still a man. Killian, who did not hide his displeasure, pulled the two apart. As he held her firmly by the waist, he was about to lead her into the bedroom when he heard her voice calling him.

“Killian.”

Rowena, who rarely called his name in public, linked her arms around his.

“I have a small request. Will you listen to me? It’s a matter that also requires the Regent’s consent.”

“What is it?”

“I’d love it if Tommy could stay with me while I’m here and run some small errands for me. Joanne and Melissa must be so busy getting ready for the engagement ceremony.”

Killian, who raised his eyebrows at the unexpected request and looked down at Tommy. Tommy couldn’t help but hide himself behind the hem of his mother’s skirt as he gave him a look colder than the northern wind and snow chill.

“Tommy is the son of a regent here. We can’t just use him as an errands boy.”

“I can’t?”

Rowena turned her head quickly at the indirect refusal and looked at the regent with sparkling eyes.

“I won’t make him do anything difficult or dangerous, of course. Just a small company is all I ask. Is that really not possible?”

“Haha…”

The regent, who was overwhelmed by the rigid air, looked at the Duke standing next to her.

He was about to say that it would be difficult, though awkward. However, the words he tried to spit out was paused when he felt Tommy approaching and tugging at his sleeve. The boy then went to whisper the following.

“I’d like to do that, father.”

“……..”

“We were wrong before. I feel sorry for that.”

At the whispered request, his previously dulled conscience pricked up the corners of his chest. He also clearly remembered the moment when they, along with other people on the island and how their eyes and demeanor changed after they found out that Miss Philone was not the person who will marry the duke, but merely a mistress.

“…. Indeed. My son will be honored to serve the future duchess.”

Swallowing a dry saliva, the regent eventually raised the white flag. Rowena, smiling brightly, turned her head again toward the man standing next to her .

“You heard that Killian! The regent said it’s okay, I can do it now right?”

In an instant, the temperature dropped so low that people shrugged their shoulders. Naturally, most expected that the duke would either flatly refuse or ignore what she said, but in the next moment, all these expectations were shattered.

“Sure. Anything that makes you happy.”

Killian, who rarely waived his opinion, nodded. Leaving the people frozen in shock and unable to move, he once again wrapped his arms around Rowena’s waist and began to move farther away.