Chapter 3

– Chapter 3 –

Aiden, who Erin had spent so long searching for, was in the training hall.

Although training had finished, Aiden had no plans on going back, and was sitting in a corner of the training hall, killing time.

Next to him was Duke Leinster’s Assistant Grand Master, Philip, who sat there comfortably.

“How do you like your married life so far?”

Due to Aiden’s position, Philip’s tone was respectful, however his face was full of worry for the young man.

“Sir Philip,” Aiden called quietly.

“Yes, Young Master.”

“How do you like being married? And what do you like about it?”

Philip who was 24 now, had been married for a year. And hearing this topic his face brightened instantly.

“Yes, I love it.”

“What do you like about it?”

Aiden truly did not understand.

“I… since I got to marry my first love… I just love that whenever I go home, that person’s there.”

As if he was even more confused, Aiden wrinkled his forehead.

Hm. Do you become happier if you marry someone you like?

Aiden, who ran away in case he might meet Erin in the residence, truly could not understand.

“Of course, there are also cases where people start to love each other after spending time with each other.”

Philip said, trying to cheer Aiden up after seeing his conflicted face.

But at those words, Aiden’s face completely darkened.

“That’ll never happen to me.”

Aiden’s words were muffled as he hid his face into his knees.

“Pardon…?” Philip asked.

Aiden did not lift his head.

“…I’m scared.”

He whispered, so quietly that nobody could hear him.

Aiden’s pupils wavered slightly. Then, he started scratching at his arms aggressively.

It seemed as if he was itchy, or as if there was something so unpleasant that he couldn’t hold it in, and was scratching himself in order to rip off his own skin.

On his way home from training.

Aiden’s steps stopped, as he noticed something

His gaze landed on someone who was still unfamiliar to him.

Erin was doing something with the employees, and laughing brightly. It seemed like a completely different world full of laughter.

Aiden, who was watching this, dawned had an indescribable expression.

“She looks like she’s having fun.”

He mumbled, as he turned around with slightly red cheeks.

Meanwhile, the person who Aiden was gazing at, was sitting at a tea table.

It was specifically prepared so Erin would be able to talk and spend time with the employees.

In the beginning the employees had refused since this had never happened before, but after Erin’s repeated advances, they sat down at their seats.

The atmosphere was happy, and the employees were particularly excited.

Erin looked upon the them with a pleased expression, before bringing up the real purpose of the party.

“How is my husband usually like?”

“You mean Young Master Aiden?”

The reason Erin had prepared this tea party was in order to get information about Aiden from the girls.

Why do you think the expression “even the walls have ears” exists?

Because there are ears everywhere, and those ears mostly belong to the employees.

They do their work while being like air, so they would know a lot.

“I haven’t properly seen him once since we got married…”

Ellen frowned, while the employees sighed.

“… That’s… we don’t know much about Young Master Aiden either.”

“…?”

“He doesn’t really talk to us.”

“He’s a bit difficult for us to approach, and he doesn’t speak much.”

All of the employees tilted their heads and shook their heads.

There was almost no one who spent time with Aiden in the residence.

“Then who knows him well?”

Erin didn’t give up, trying to earn some useful information about Aiden at all costs.

“Well… since he trains with the knights, they probably know him well.”

“I don’t think there’s anyone who knows him better than Whitney, though.”

“Whitney…?”

“She’s his nanny. She has been taking care of him ever since he was born, so she probably knows him better than his actual family.”

66

)

The employees all instantly agreed to this.

Whitney, Aiden Leinster’s nanny, knew him best.

It made sense, since the only person who came with Erin after the wedding was her nanny.

Nobles usually have the nanny take care of the child the moment they’re born.

There are many cases in which the nanny is closer to the child than the parents.

“Then it’s probably better to change my target to the nanny.”

Erin thought.

The employees were in awe at the desserts they ate, while not forgetting to thank Erin for doing this.

Since there were almost no masters who would prepare and invite employees to a tea party. Their amazement did not end quickly.

Erin was busy nodding her head at their words.

It had already been three days.

It seemed that things would never change if they kept going at that rate.

It was a given that he wouldn’t appear at mealtimes, and when she heard he was somewhere and went to look for him, he would already have disappeared to somewhere else.

She naturally began to think about Aiden Leinster all day long.

‘Isn’t this what Erin Zahad of the original novel did as well?

Although there was a moment when she realized that her actions of desperately looking for Aiden were somewhat similar to the original novel, she decided to ignore it.

“That doesn’t matter. Let’s get a hold of him first and think about this later.’

Although she received no information about Aiden from the employees, and couldn’t even approach his nanny, Whitney, it wasn’t like she gained nothing.

As soon as she said that she never saw Aiden properly and fluttered her eyelashes, the employees sighed and immediately let her know where they’d seen him.

And the network of the employees was amazing

Aiden, who she couldn’t even catch a glimpse of, was right in front of Erin’s eyes. That is, the sight of his back was.

Erin carefully opened her mouth.

“Young Master Leinster.”

Aiden’s shoulders tensed up at her call.

As if he’d frozen there for good, he didn’t move for a while, before he very slowly turned around.

His face had turned pale. As if he’d seen a ghost.

Since he’d so blatantly avoided her, she was a little hurt.

‘I didn’t even do anything yet, isn’t this too much?

Erin, who had become angry, headed directly towards Aiden.

Although Aiden quickly tried to avoid her, Erin grabbed his wrist even faster.

“… It’s dirty!”

Aiden sharply shook his arm free. As if he had touched fire, he desperately grabbed at the arm that had been grabbed with his other arm.

“I told you not to touch me!”

Aiden shouted furiously, scratching and hitting his arm aggressively.

Erin blankly looked down at her hand which had previously been grasping his arm. She got embarrassed at his aggressive reaction that made it seem like he was having a seizure.

“Aiden, do you hate me that much?”

(6

“Should I just pretend not to know you?”

If Aiden said yes, she really planned on doing so. This is because she came to the conclusion that if Aiden really hated her so much, there was no point in trying to force getting closer with him. If she did, regardless of the reason behind it, there might be a reverse effect.

Aiden’s pupils subtly wavered.

It was at the moment that he tried to step closer, and recover the space that she had taken away from him.

“Young Master Aiden.”

It was his nanny Whitney.

“Young Master Aiden.”

His nanny Whitney tightly grabbed Aiden’s wrist and didn’t let go. No, rather, her hand was slowly going higher up his wrist.

Erin narrowed her eyes.

Whitney’s hand had slithered up onto his arm, like a snake.

This seemed to torment Aiden, causing his body to shake and tremble. Instead of stopping, her grip seemed to have tightened.

“Are you having a hard time?”

Although it was said in a caring tone, Erin got goosebumps, and was filled with an indescribable hatred towards Whitney.

Erin clamped her lips together.

‘I know what this is.’

Erin slowly turned her head and stared at Whitney.

Although it seemed like Whitney hadn’t done much, the truth was different. Aiden was frozen from fear, due to the countless times this action had been taken in the past.

Erin could tell that Whitney’s simple words and actions were affecting Aiden’s mind, causing him to struggle.

As if Whitney was controlling his mind.

To Erin, this was an evil action that an adult could do to a child.

Erin’s face stiffened as she watched the situation.

Her lips moved decisively.

“Let him go.”

“It’s fine. You can leave this to…”

As Whitney spoke and tightened her grasp on Aiden, she was interrupted.

“That hand. Let him go.”

Erin took off the cape that had been wrapped around her shoulders.

The cape fluttered through the air before landing on Aiden’s head. To be exact, Erin placed the cape on Aiden’s head.

“Young Miss. I am Aiden’s nanny. You might not be aware of this, seeing as you just arrived at this residence, but…”

“What does that have to do with this?”

Erin was firm.

Although she had to look up at Whitney because of her height, to Whitney it seemed like Erin was looking down at her, thanks to Erin’s confidence.

“What matters is that I’m the Young Miss of the Leinsters.”

Erin’s gaze was cold.

“Is there anyone in this residence who can disobey my commands?”

The Duke and Duchess were currently absent, and other than Aiden, there was no one who could oppose Erin.

Even if it was Aiden’s nanny, if Erin set her mind to it, she could sentence the nanny for insubordination.

“I apologize.”

Whitney took a step back. However, her gaze did not back down.

Erin received that gaze head on, turned her head towards Aiden.

“Aiden.”

It was the moment when Aiden turned his head to look at her.

Erin’s gaze looked down at him, as if she was catching her prey.

“I’m going to hold you for a bit.”

Erin put her hand on top of the cape, which flowed down his body.

She grabbed both his shoulders carefully, helping him stand.

Aiden, who was still trembling, ever so slightly leaned on Erin.

Erin, who felt his weight, took a step and bit her lip tightly. Her question had been resolved. But she was not happy with the answers.

– To Be Continued –