Edmund felt a subtle unease at the playful glint in her jade-green eyes.
No way.
Momentarily dumbfounded, Edmund opened his mouth slightly but said nothing. When he saw her wink at him, he lowered his head and whispered,
“Do we really have to go in there?”
“It’s cold. I’m also curious about what’s inside. Let’s stay for a while and leave early in the morning.”
“I feel like that’s not your main reason.”
Edmund narrowed his eyes and subtly covered his chest, which was partially exposed due to his damp shirt.
Feeling suddenly embarrassed, Etricia pressed her lips together. The man who had tormented her all night was now acting so prim and proper—it was oddly infuriating.
“So what? We’re both adults. Why? Are you going to pester me like last night, even here?”
“……”
Etricia widened her eyes deliberately, feigning innocence.
“Oh my, your ears are red. What are you thinking about?”
“Etricia…!”
Their silent battle of glances continued until Edmund finally covered his face with his hands in surrender.
‘It seems today just isn’t my day.’
In truth, Edmund had planned to give her the ring hidden in the inner pocket of her jacket. So having an inn, where countless strangers came and went, as their final destination was not ideal. It felt like stepping into a muddy puddle on an otherwise pleasant journey.
But since Etricia had no way of knowing his plans, there was nothing he could do.
As always, he would follow her wishes.
“Alright. If that’s what you want.”
Etricia chuckled, her round eyes sparkling playfully as she shrugged.
“Hehe. You’ll make a husband who respects his wife’s wishes.”
“That goes without saying.”
And so, the two of them stepped inside.
The restaurant, despite its shabby exterior, was bustling with life.
As they walked past the other tables under the staff’s guidance, Etricia noted that the food looked quite appetizing.
The two were seated near a fireplace where a pot of stew was simmering. When the waiter asked if they would like to start with a meal, Etricia nodded and leaned in to whisper,
“Salmon steak is nice, but the food here looks good too.”
Edmund smiled faintly in response, but his expression soon stiffened as he sensed several gazes directed at them.
People were sneaking glances at them while pretending to dip their bread into thin soup.
A refined woman looking around in admiration, and a man gently draping a blanket over her shoulders.
They stood out, like a jewel embedded in worn-out shoes—strangely out of place.
However, as soon as Edmund met their gazes with an ominous glare, they quickly looked away, feigning disinterest.
“What’s wrong, Edmund?”
Edmund relaxed his expression and smiled at Etricia reassuringly.
“It’s nothing.”
Like snow melting under the spring sun, the earlier tension faded, unnoticed by the couple.
“Here, enjoy your meal.”
When the food arrived, they fed each other spoonfuls of stew.
Time passed quickly as they exchanged gentle conversation, and before they knew it, the sun had set.
“I’m too full to eat anymore.”
Etricia, who had been playfully squeezing his large fingers while letting him feed her, finally admitted defeat.
The meal was excellent for the price, though the portions were large enough to ensure even commoners could quickly get their necessary nutrients. It was more than enough for the two of them.
By the time they finished, their clothes were completely dry. Following the staff’s guidance, they headed upstairs.
As Etricia trailed behind Edmund, she couldn’t resist playing with his outstretched hand—snipping at it with her fingers, running her fingertips over the calluses, or comparing his sturdy knuckles to her own.
‘His hands are so pretty.’
Smiling to herself, she bent down and playfully nipped at his fingertip.
…!
Edmund abruptly stopped and slowly turned to face her. Narrowing his eyes, he smirked and whispered ominously,
“Just wait and see.”
Flustered, Etricia buried her blushing face against his back. Her heart pounded with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement.
Once they were shown to a secluded room on the second floor, they clung to each other as they moved toward the bed. Edmund gently cradled her head and was about to lay her down when—
Poof!
A thick layer of dust puffed into the air from the mattress, disturbed by the springs.
Cough! Etricia’s shoulders shook as she coughed. Edmund quickly helped her sit up and rubbed her back.
“Are you alright?”
“I- cough I’m fine.”
Both of them looked around the room with distaste. Now that they examined it closely, it was terrible.
A wooden floor full of holes, moldy beams, and the sound of rats scurrying above the ceiling.
It was undoubtedly an unhygienic place that hadn’t been cleaned in ages.
“Cough Sorry. This won’t do after all.”
Etricia stood up from the bed. She could endure sleeping curled up in a small space, but she couldn’t let her beloved spend the night in a dust pit.
“Let’s get out of here.”
“Are you sure?”
Edmund’s golden eyes narrowed in satisfaction. It was the perfect outcome. This was his chance to set things back on track.
Watching her brush the dust off her back, he ran a hand through his dry hair and smiled faintly.
“Etricia, there’s actually somewhere I want to take you.”
“Somewhere you want to take me?”
“It’s small, dark, and dangerous. Will you come with me?”
Small. Dark. Dangerous?
She rolled her eyes in thought, but nothing came to mind.
Still, she trusted that Edmund wouldn’t lead her anywhere truly perilous. In his terms, ‘dangerous’ might just mean a crowded place.
“Alright.”
Deciding to trust him, Etricia nodded without hesitation.
When they arrived, Etricia stared in disbelief.
It really was small, dark, and dangerous!
They had left the inn in the dead of night and, after renting horses, traveled swiftly through the dawn air.
Their destination? The Duke of Mipedian’s estate.
More specifically, a small hole in the outer wall.
“So… you’re saying we should crawl through there?”
“The servants should all be asleep by now. The main entrance will be locked.”
Edmund casually pushed aside some vines, revealing a passage just large enough for a person to squeeze through.
“How did you find this?”
“During some old plumbing repairs, they uncovered a hole in the wall. It was a rather nostalgic discovery.”
“What is this building used for?”
“My parents used it to play cards and chess with guests. I wanted to show it to you.”
“I see. But who made this hole? How has no one noticed it?”
As she pondered, Edmund knelt down and murmured softly,
“Actually… I used this when I was a child.”
“As a child?”
Etricia dropped to a crouch in surprise.
It was a very interesting story.
The image she had imagined of Edmund’s childhood was that of a perfect young noble—mature, upright, and responsible. But to think he had been the kind of child to cause mischief like this. And considering how rarely he ever spoke of his childhood, this story was truly a treasure.
Seeing the bright sparkle in Etricia’s eyes, Edmund gave a bitter smile as he looked back on the memory.
“My father made it for me when I was young.”
“The previous duke?”
He gave a sheepish smile and tilted his head slightly.
“Well… According to him, his little boy was living too boring a life.”
“I see. He must’ve been quite the cheerful person.”
“He was… a bit eccentric. My sister takes after him completely.”
Etricia smiled and leaned gently against Edmund’s shoulder.
“Then you must take after the former duchess?”
“If we’re going by resemblance, yes. Anyway, since it was Father who made that hole, no one could do anything about it, and it’s been left alone ever since.”
Edmund closed his eyes, his smile tinged with bitterness.
For a moment, he was lost in the memory, picturing the smiling face of the former duke. Even after all these years, thinking of his parents left a lingering bitterness in his mouth.
Then he suddenly realized that Etricia had gone quiet. He froze for a second. He’d thought she would like the hidden passage—she had always been someone with a unique mindset that went beyond the norms of noble society.
But still… a dog hole on their first date?
He wondered if his excitement had clouded his judgment a little too much. Just as that thought crossed his mind, Etricia crouched down, positioning herself as if she were ready to crawl on all fours.
“This is where we’re going, right? I love it. I’ve always wanted to try something like this.”
“…You’ve always wanted to?”
“It looks fun.”
Etricia scrunched up her nose with a giggle and bent down lower.
Edmund let out a faint chuckle. As always, she went far beyond what he expected. Watching her prepare to crawl into the passage, he leaned in and gently kissed her cheek.
“I suppose I’ll have to leave this dog hole open for you.”
“Really? I love that, Edmund!”
She looked even happier than when he had proposed to her. Edmund stared at her excited face with a baffled expression—then finally let out a helpless laugh.
