Chapter 5

– Chapter 5 –

Erin walked aimlessly.

She kept walking as long as she saw that there was a way. It took a while before she stopped.

“This is not the way to the study room.”

Aiden pointed out quietly from behind.

At the same time, Erin flinched. Nobody would notice it unless they looked closely.

“I know.”

Erin answered as she let go of Aiden’s sleeves that she was holding on to before.

Erin’s expression was shameless when she turned towards Aiden.

Well, it was true. I didn’t know where the study room was, so of course I couldn’t lead him properly.

Erin’s confident attitude made Aiden’s eyes grow bigger, but became smaller again, and in the end his gaze dropped to the ground.

“… You can’t do that.”

Aiden murmured, while pointlessly tidying his sleeve’s tip that had been held.

Unlike her appearance, Erin was not confident.

“Do what?”

That’s why Erin asked.

“Earlier… why did you meddle in?”

Aiden was really curious.

It was as if he really never thought that someone would come forward in that kind of situation.

It was confusing for Aiden because he had no idea what Erin’s intentions were.

Erin found Aiden’s lips pursing together while she was thinking where to start.

He looked more worried than curious.

“My parents take Whitney’s words very seriously. Whitney might tell them something bad about you.”

Aiden thought that Erin might be in a difficult position because of what just happened.

He thought Erin probably didn’t know anything

Aiden’s words just now had confirmed Erin’s thoughts.

The ducal couple had believed that Whitney’s every report was for Aiden’s future, so they weren’t concerned.

Whether they knew of Whitney’s abuse or not, in the end Aiden couldn’t trust and rely on his parents.

“Just try to come back.’

Erin was determined to recall the Ducal couple’s faces that she saw on her wedding

day.

Erin stared Aiden in the face. He was still restless.

Erin wanted to give Aiden a pat on his head, and hold his hand.

“But he might be surprised.’

So Erin decided to change it by reassuring him.

“I guess so.”

Erin said calmly.

Of course she thought about it.

Right now, the ducal couple were not in the mansion. Once they return, Whitney will rush and exaggerate all kinds of things.

Aiden’s eyes widened in response to Erin’s nonchalant reaction.

For a second, those eyes were so adorable that I had to cover my mouth out of shock…!

Aiden, who usually looked angry or expressionless, had a different expression. It was so beautiful that Erin couldn’t maintain her composure.

That’s why the original Erin Zahad went crazy, I could relate to her a hundred and a thousand times.

“Is that… all?”

Aiden cautiously asked Erin who suddenly stiffened and didn’t say anything else.

Only then did Erin snap out of her stupor and came to her senses.

Aiden looked worried, thinking things weren’t that simple.

But Erin didn’t care what Aiden was worried about.

“Rather than that….”

Erin stared at Aiden and trailed off.

Aiden didn’t seem to realize how he had acted when Whitney approached them earlier.

Erin remembered seeing how Aiden had clenched his fist so tightly that his knuckles turned white and the blood wouldn’t flow.

But more than that, Aiden was nervous about being caught

She could tell it by his eyes that were shaking and looked sideways, avoiding Whitney’s gaze.

Erin didn’t want to press Aiden for answers.

There was more she wanted to say to Aiden than that.

Erin smiled softly.

“I want to be close to you.”

“… To me?”

Aiden took a while to respond. He blinked and his eyelids shook gently.

Erin answered with a bigger smile.

“But we need to spend more time together, since we haven’t even had a proper conversation yet.”

Erin said, thinking about how much time she had before the divorce. But to Aiden, it sounded a little different.

But Erin, who didn’t think much of it, insisted strongly.

“We’re husband and wife.”

66

,

Erin’s words caused Aiden to flinch.

Something came to mind when he heard her words: husband and wife.

Erin felt sorry for Aiden who responded to even the smallest thing.

What kind of thoughts did he have about those words?

Erin didn’t know what was in Aiden’s head, but she wanted to change his mind.

So Erin pretended not to know anything and continued with a shameless face.

Her face looked innocent and her voice was light.

“You know, married couples are on the same side.”

I hope your mind changes your impression about what a married couple really is, and helps you feel better

A relationship that helps each other when needed.

Erin’s words stunned Aiden and he stopped thinking further.

This time, his eyes seemed twice as big as their usual shape.

“Oh, goodness. He’s so cute.”

Erin, without showing her innermost feelings, continued with a bright smile.

“And they become your closest friend.”

“Fri…… ends……?”

Aiden stuttered with a strange face as if it’s the first time he heard that word.

“Yes.”

Erin answered confidently.

Very lightly, as if it were natural.

Aiden blinked at Erin’s determined answer.

It was the first time he heard that word, so he didn’t quite understand…… and strangely his ears felt itchy.

Feeling feverish, Aiden covered his ears with both of his hands.

Erin, who was watching his reactions, continued to insist strongly.

“When a married couple get married at our age, they’re just friends.”

“We’re closer than other people and we take each other’s sides when one of us is in trouble.”

“Take each other’s sides?”

It unusually catched Aiden’s ears.

Come to think of it, he recalled what Erin said earlier about being on the same side.

“Yes! I’m on your side! You’re on my side!”

Seeing Aiden shaken by her words, Erin spoke more strongly.

Then Aiden’s lips twitched.

Aiden’s face suddenly darkened, holding back his lips from drooping.

The suspicion that had disappeared was back.

“…… Is that all?”

“Then what else?”

“Ah, no…”

Aiden bit inside of his lips.

“Then…”

Erin pricked up her ears and focused on Aiden.

Erin couldn’t immediately guess what Aiden was thinking this time.

Aiden’s hesitant lips opened carefully.

“… What can you do with your friend?”

Aiden’s eyes were wide open. He felt a pure curiosity.

From Erin’s words, he understood that a married couple like them were friends, but in truth he didn’t know what friends did together.

He always received education by himself, and rarely had any interaction with people from his age.

“So I’m supposed to start from here.’

Erin had a hunch. The corners of her mouth slowly went up.

Erin, determined to do what friends do together in the future answered him.

“We’ll eat together, play together… that kind of thing?”

“Eat… and play.”

Aiden muttered after Erin, just muttering it from his mouth already made him feel excited.

Aiden raised his head.

“Then, if we’re on the same side, what do you do?”

At that moment, Erin almost burst into laughter.

The fact that he was curious about friendship was cute, and he finally looked like what a 10 year old kid should – bright and smiling.

“Um… Let’s swear to comfort each other and laugh together!”

“Are we going to do all of that together?”

Aiden’s eyes were shining. It was nice to see a face full of anticipation.

“I’ve never done this kind of thing…… Because I don’t know.”

When Erin entered this unknown world, she felt a little anxious.

“This is a really nice thing. You can wait for

it.”

Erin promised Aiden confidently.

Erin wanted to raise her pinky little finger, but she held in because she thought that it was too early to teach him.

But when I thought that, it was a little bit disappointing

“Yes… Alright!”

Aiden smiled broadly.

As the corners of his mouth went up with a face full of expectations, his dimples were crystal clear, making his face look brighter.

Erin, who rarely felt embarrassed, grew flustered when she saw Aiden’s happier face.

She realized it once again.

Aiden’s face was both a weapon and a sin.

As soon as she saw his smiling face, Erin strongly insisted that her heart was beating.

| “…… Your face turned red.”

Aiden looked at Erin’s face and said anxiously.

He seemed worried that his first friend would be sick.

“Eh…? Maybe it’s because I’m out of breath.”

Erin smiled awkwardly while making an excuse.

But Aiden nodded, believing her words.

That night, Aiden tossed and turned around in bed all night.

He kept thinking about what happened during the day.

I can’t believe she’s on my side. Is that how couples are supposed to be?

It was completely different from what he heard from Whitney. It strangely felt ticklish.

“So that’s what couples are like.’

I think it’s not too bad. Aiden’s mouth turned a smile.

In the end, Aiden couldn’t sleep well because of his continuous deep thoughts, but when he woke up the next day, he felt lighter and fresher than ever.

When Aiden appeared in the garden, Erin looked like she had waited for him.

Erin showed her palms wide at Aiden.

“Aiden, good morning?”

Suddenly the atmosphere was bright. It was definitely different from yesterday.

When Aiden looked at Erin, the dark thoughts that he had disappeared.

Instead, he remembered what Erin had told him. Aiden’s lips opened wide.

“……Good morning.”

He greeted Erin. The sun was especially bright this morning.

– To Be Continued —