I deliberately took two steps back. Aedis’ ebony hair slid off my shoulders.

At the same time, our breathing stopped.

Aedis stiffened when I showed a clear rejection.

“Aedis? Why are you nothing without me? All of your life is not me.”

Kadan was dead.

His object of revenge was gone.

However, that did not imply that the meaning of Aedis’ life had also disappeared.

Of course, as in the past, his interpersonal relationships were very shallow. Still, there was Regen and his loyal subordinates, so he didn’t need to make me his everything.

Besides, Tolyman and several of the knights were determined to follow Aedis to the end even if he abdicated his Grand Duke seat.

Aedis’ childhood was unhappy as Kadan had forced him to spend it in a sickbed. After that, the long time of 500 years was so free that even his vengeance went dry.

It was no exaggeration to say that he spent time with history, but the few times he was happy could be counted using only the fingers on one hand. Rather, it fell far short of the standards of ordinary people.

…… So he can be happy now. By my side, next to Regen.

It would be better to realize this directly than a hundred words, but Aedis didn’t seem able to understand it in the moment. All he could think was that he had been rejected by me.

“My everything is you.”

Ugh.

I was a bit perplexed. I had the confidence to make Aedis happy, but it felt like he was limiting himself. It sounded like he wouldn’t even start interacting with others because I was his everything.

But soon, I thought, ‘Even if Aedis made that decision, since he’s my husband, I’ll have to take responsibility.’

After all, there was plenty of time. It wouldn’t be bad to experience a time when I was his everything.

Well, aren’t we still newlyweds?

I don’t know what will happen later, but for now it’s okay to let Aedis do as he pleases. Because he has me.

If it seems to be out of order, I can correct it. I ended up rationalizing and laughing.

“Then hold on to me. Before I run away.”

I cried out in a cheerful voice.

There were no interrupting peeps. The chick had been quiet ever since Aedis arrived. It didn’t seem to care about me.

It just kept an eye on Aedis as if he was a ticking time bomb. Rather, since it was the power inherited from the beast who wished Aedis to die, the chick must be wary of Aedis.

The beast was sure that Aedis would never let me go even if I changed my mind.

―The child is blinded by excessive possessiveness toward you, so he hates me. Because when the moment comes when you want to take your freedom back from that child, my strength will help.

But I didn’t know how absurd that illusion was.

Too much possessiveness. Then, how can I explain this feeling that goes beyond that?

“Aedis, I haven’t gone that far yet. You can hold me if you stretch out your hand.”

Even though I tempted him like a devil with a sweet voice, he didn’t act right away.

Aedis moved his twisted lips, both wanting me and wary of me.

“But what if you don’t want to?”

I laughed.

“I think I’ve convinced you enough.”

Perhaps thanks to the smile that bloomed on my lips, Aedis stepped forward a little.

As he walked inside, the door closed naturally, and his trembling hand reached out to me.

I could feel the lace on my dress being slightly pulled.

Then–.

“Is it my sleeve that you grabbed?”

The watery eyes with purple spots were barely, just barely, looking at me.

He spoke earnestly like a boy caught in a terrible first love.

“…… hold me, please.”

Tears fell helplessly from his eyes.

“Aedis?!”

Aedis didn’t even blink and waited for an answer.

With both of my own hands, I grabbed the hand holding my sleeve like a lifeline.

“I held you! See!”

“…….”

“You, you are held so tightly that you won’t be able to escape now!”

No matter how hard I tried to reassure him, the transparent tears fell helplessly.

At the same time, I felt like my heart was sinking.

“I have no intention of divorcing you. The divorce papers the prince, no… that punk gave me are burning well in the fireplace, right?”

Aedis couldn’t calm down even though I spoke confidently while ignoring the offense of insulting the imperial family.

“I don’t know if you want me to?”

Then, with no time to breathe, sharp rebuttals returned.

“There’s no way I would not want that.”

Aedis gave me a resentful look. It was a rare expression, so I tried to smile even in a serious situation.

I asked as I wiped Aedis’ eyes.

“Did you forget you asked me for a divorce before? Because I unintentionally saw your past.”

“That was at that time.”

Aedis muttered dully as he rubbed his face in my hands.

“Wow, you don’t even have the sincerity to make excuses.”

“Because I couldn’t risk your safety just to be nice to you.”

I tilted my head to one side.

“You’re worried less about my safety now, right?”

“…….”

“Aedis? Why won’t you answer?”

“…….”

Suddenly, I felt a faint presence outside the door.

It seemed that Aedis hadn’t dismissed the handmaids very far.

I heard footsteps so muted that I would not have noticed normally. The sound was getting closer.

Hnngg.

I glanced briefly at the still silent chick.

Was it because I fully accepted and used its power when I defeated Kadan? It may be that the remnants of that time were still in my body, so my senses were more sensitive than usual. Even so, it wasn’t like Aedis could hear all the sounds in Cyclamen castle.

Well, there was no way the tightly closed door would be opened unless I or Aedis gave permission.

I relaxed and focused on Aedis.

“Would you like to come closer? You can even hug me.”

As soon as I gave my permission, Aedis lifted me in his arms.

I didn’t want to suddenly change my words, so I didn’t hurry.

Aedis locked me in his arms and sighed slowly in satisfaction.

Now, at least, his tension seemed to have eased. The hand that was barely holding onto my sleeve didn’t tremble anymore.

But Aedis’ misgivings weren’t all resolved yet.

“Aedis, are you really satisfied with this?”

Suddenly, Aedis’ arms hugging me felt stronger.

Well, I didn’t mean to put me down, so take it easy.

If this was the small house at the Crystal Gate, instead of asking for a hug, I would have asked if I could sit in his lap.

First though, I tried to turn him the other way.

“Don’t you want to be a little rougher?”

“…….”

Aedis lifted his head slightly and looked at me, but his gaze was very…… inscrutable.

For some reason, it seemed like I had continued to explain, but I still clarified again today.

“No, I mean, specifically, there are things people do mostly at night. Like that.”

Knock, knock.

My whisper was drowned out by the loud knocking sound.

“Grand Duke? Grand Duchess?”

I cut off Sarah’s call like a knife.

“I’m busy! Don’t interrupt!”

“The Lord…… is waiting for you…….”

“…….”

I buried my face in Aedis’ chest and sobbed internally.

Come to think of it, I had decided to sleep with Regen tonight, too…….

I don’t know why I’m always the one who regretted wasted time. Besides, if I missed this golden opportunity now, the time to talk about this with Aedis wouldn’t arise for a while.

The birthday party will be in full swing for three days from tomorrow, so it will be crazy to deal with many nobles.

I was downcast and told Sarah.

“I am coming…….”

Then Sarah paused.

“Your Grace, are you crying?!”

It was Aedis who actually cried, but my heart was in pieces, too.

After a moment of silence as I chose my answer, Sarah shouted in a trembling voice.

“Grand……Grand Duke! Don’t make our, our Grand Duchess cry!”

What does she mean by our Grand Duchess? Whether as my maid or as the daughter of a viscount, she had spoken with great determination.

Even the head handmaid or the butler, who had worked for the Grand Duchy for a long time, had a hard time talking to Aedis, so Sarah must have great courage.

Under normal circumstances, Aedis would have viewed Sarah differently.

But his eyes were rimmed with real tears.

Aedis only supported my back to prevent me from escaping after I was already in his arms.

I wondered if he would not let me go, but it was true.

“I don’t like that. The wife made me cry, so she has to pay me back.”

“…… What? Who is crying?”

It was good to see Sarah grinning outside the door.

But Aedis’ interest had already returned to me.

“Would it be alright if you were late to the party?”

I pondered, and nodded slightly.

“If, if it’s not too much…… ?”