As soon as Edmund’s face became clear, Etricia collapsed into his embrace.
His golden eyes wavered softly as he was held in her warm arms, like the gentle sunlight of spring.
There was a time when he had longed to be embraced like this. As a child, he had waited for his mother—who had locked him away in a storage room—to return unharmed, to tell him it was all over, and to hold him close.
But the past he had never reached—Etricia had made it happen.
He felt the shadows of his heart being washed away by a warm light. Even if he fell into the depths of darkness again, he felt certain he could reach the end as long as Etricia was there.
“I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Etricia spoke as she tightened her arms around him. Her trembling voice seemed to comfort not only him but also herself.
Even as she held him, her hands and breaths trembled faintly.
Edmund, pulling her slender waist closer, thought to himself.
If this was what it meant to be held in her arms, he should have left that place sooner. How could he have let such darkness keep them apart?
Edmund buried his nose in the crook of her neck, savoring the moment. As his sharp nose brushed against her soft skin, Etricia shuddered slightly. He clasped his hands around her waist, ensuring she couldn’t pull away.
He didn’t want to let go—not even a single breath. He wanted her scent to fill him completely.
With a smile of contentment, he inhaled deeply, drinking in her fragrance like a flower in full bloom.
Feeling a sense of relief, he slowly closed his eyes, just as a cat basks in the warmth of the sun.
He was helplessly drawn into a deep slumber, one without nightmares. For the first time, he was certain he would never again be tormented by the visions that had haunted him his entire life.
As long as she remained by his side.
“Young master, are you alright?”
Her voice echoed faintly in the distance, but he simply closed his eyes, cradled in her warmth.
When Edmund regained consciousness, the moon was hidden behind drifting clouds.
He slowly opened his eyes.
It had been a long time since he had woken up feeling refreshed. Though his ankle ached, his body felt lighter than ever before.
His golden eyes, tinged with a faint glow, stared at the ceiling before shifting downward.
The summer night breeze seeped in through the wide-open terrace doors.
Without thinking, he turned his head—and instantly, he bolted upright.
Etricia had fallen asleep at the table, using a stack of scattered documents as her pillow. The moonlight, filtered through the window bars, pooled around her.
With a bewildered expression, Edmund rubbed his forehead.
As he pieced together the situation, a hazy memory surfaced—Etricia giving orders to the soldiers.
Shortly after, she must have entrusted everything to Baron Totair and brought him back to the mansion.
‘How disgraceful.’
Swallowing a groan, Edmund ran a large hand over his face a couple of times.
He immediately threw off the covers, attempting to stand—but pain shot through his ankle, making him grit his teeth.
His ankle was wrapped in white bandages. Judging by the fact that his fractured bone had already set, Etricia must have summoned a healing mage.
The pain wasn’t unbearable, so he slowly got up and approached the table.
His shadow split the moonlight that had been illuminating Etricia’s face.
Sensing his presence, Etricia slowly opened her drowsy eyes. She looked up at him with a hazy, dreamlike gaze before glancing at his leg.
“The healing mage mended the fracture and restored the damaged ligament… but there will be severe swelling for a day as an aftereffect…”
She trailed off, mumbling as if she were still wandering through a dream. Her words were more like sleep talk.
Amused by her childlike murmuring, Edmund found himself chuckling involuntarily.
Watching her drift back into sleep, he absentmindedly rubbed his lips, hiding his fond smile.
She must be exhausted. She had fought hard.
Noticing how much paler and thinner she looked, his heart ached.
“Poor thing.”
The unfamiliar voice startled even him.
A stunned chuckle escaped him—had he ever spoken in such a tender tone before?
Knock, knock.
Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
“Mmm.”
Half-asleep, Etricia flinched at the noise.
Edmund swiftly and silently opened the door before another knock could come.
A maid, startled by the sudden appearance of the tall duke, blushed and held out a document.
“B-Baron Totair asked me to deliver this invoice from the Magic Tower.”
Edmund glanced at the papers in her hands. The amount written on the invoice was a staggering sum beyond comprehension.
“Tell Baron Totair that the Mipedian family will cover all expenses.”
“Pardon…?”
The maid looked up in surprise but quickly lowered her gaze under his piercing stare.
“Y-Yes, I will convey the message.”
“When did Count Buell arrive?”
“Ah, after the physician left, she said she was worried and has been handling all her meals and work from here…”
Silence filled the air.
When the maid cautiously glanced up, she widened her eyes. The usually emotionless, statuesque duke had softened into a gentle expression.
“Um, but…”
She hesitated, glancing inside the room. It was strange that Count Buell hadn’t reacted despite hearing about the invoice from the Magic Tower.
If she realized Etricia was asleep, she would have to leave—and possibly spread unnecessary rumors.
Edmund blocked the doorway and coldly dismissed her.
“She is focusing on work. You may leave.”
“A-Alright.”
The maid took one last regretful glance at his striking face before hurrying away. Edmund closed the door and turned back inside.
His gaze landed on Etricia.
She seemed to be in a deep sleep, completely unaware of the maid’s visit.
Edmund approached the table and, with the gentleness of a butterfly landing on a flower, lifted her into his arms.
He carried her to the bed, tucking the blanket up to her chin. She was fragile—regardless of the season, she could easily catch a cold.
As he stepped back, his eyes fell on her shoes.
Though etiquette dictated that a woman’s feet were private and shouldn’t be touched carelessly, his priority was her comfort.
“Excuse me.”
Deciding that a whispered apology sufficed, he carefully removed her shoes. But when his eyes landed on her pale feet and delicate ankles, his throat tightened, and he instinctively looked away.
Why was such a simple action making him so nervous?
After placing her shoes neatly by the bedside, he tucked the blanket around her feet.
Her feet were surprisingly small—smaller than his palm.
Had she always had such tiny feet? Or was it just her?
Imagining her tirelessly handling today’s events on those small feet, he felt both admiration and affection.
A ticklish warmth spread in his chest.
“Ha.”
Edmund let out a helpless laugh, closing his eyes.
‘I’ve finally realized it.’
Etricia had completely filled his heart.
It was already too late to pretend not to know. Trying to figure out when it started was pointless.
From the moment I faced the feelings I tried to ignore at the banquet, this was always meant to happen.
His narrowed eyes that sometimes looked like he was planning something, his piercing and charming gaze, the way his lips twitched when he teased me, his cute smile like a red fox—everything was so lovely it made my heart burn.
Even if I took all the beautiful words in the world and put them together, it still wouldn’t be enough to express this feeling.
Edmund let out a deep sigh and covered his face with one large hand, his ears slightly red.
His eyes, hidden and then shown through his fingers, slowly moved and stayed on Etricia.
Like a full moon, his bright yellow eyes were filled with deep affection.
“Mm.”
Etricia turned in her sleep, and her hair fell over her face.
Edmund leaned over, supporting himself on the bed. With a perfect smile that looked like it had been carefully made, he gently tucked her hair behind her ear.
“You once said you wished I could be part of the things you protect.”
It would become that way. If that was what she wanted.
But for him to protect himself, he needed Etricia.
He couldn’t even breathe properly without her anymore.
“Sleep well, Etricia.”
Just as I have been dyed with your color, I hope you can be dyed with mine too.
With the moonlight at his back, he quietly stayed by her side so she could sleep peacefully.
“Where did he go?”
Just after waking up, I realized I had taken over Edmund’s bed and started looking for him, who had disappeared without a trace.
After asking a maid, I finally reached the terrace of the annex where he was said to be.
To my relief, Edmund was standing at the open terrace railing, enjoying the breeze with a relaxed expression.
It looked like a scene from a magazine photoshoot.
Sensing my presence, he turned to look at me. With his broad shoulders lit from behind by sunlight, he smiled sweetly, like honey.
“You’re awake?”
“Yes…”
I was briefly flustered by Edmund’s face, which was brighter than the sunlight.
‘What kind of man looks like this in the morning…’
My chest throbbed, but I forced myself to act calm.
Compared to his dazzling, melt-your-heart smile, my just-woke-up face was probably all puffy.
Half of my earlier irritation had already melted away, and I walked over to Edmund and checked his ankle.
