Chapter 11

– Chapter 11 –

While heading to the training center with Erin, a small problem occurred.

However, to Aiden, it was an incident that was worse for him than anyone else.

A worker had grabbed both of Aiden’s arms while they fell.

As a result of that, it seemed like the worker was tackling Aiden.

Although the worker was pushed off right away, his body was already affected.

Aiden wasn’t able to control his body and he began to shake.

It was the worst.

Even though they were being careful, the uncomfortable feeling spread all over his body. He could no longer keep calm.

Even after knowing that Erin was right in front of him, it was hard to calm down the feeling that had already exploded.

I really hate it. Why do I have to feel pain from something so small?

Aiden’s mental state was unstable.

“Do you remember what I said yesterday?”

Erin’s voice was soothing to his ear.

“We’re a couple, I am on your side.”

“That’s why it’s okay.”

With just one word from Erin, Aiden was about to burst into tears.

Erin watched over Aiden for a long time.

Even after his breathing calmed down, Aiden wanted to continue feeling Erin’s presence who was only a few steps away.

Aiden realized for the first time what it meant to have someone on his side.

She was such a strange wife.

Appearing out of nowhere, she was a sliver of light in Aiden’s cloudy life.

Even though he had been surrounded by people ever since birth, he was always alone.

And for Aiden, someone who he could say is on his side, appeared.

Aiden got up on his feet and the bad feelings he had drifted far away.

For the first time, he looked forward to tomorrow.

***

However……. Erin, who had visited him every day, was nowhere to be seen.

Perhaps she was going to the training center, but no matter how long he trained for, she never came.

It doesn’t seem like she’ll be coming today.

However, even after his training finished, he went to the side and continued to wait for her.

Why isn’t she coming? Even yesterday, she was……

Aiden’s eyes kept looking towards the door.

He wanted to pretend like he didn’t care but he couldn’t help worrying.

“You keep looking at the door.”

Philip said as he approached him with a smile on his face as if knowing why Aiden was focused on the door.

“Sir Philip.”

Aiden raised his head and looked toward Philip.

“Are you friends with my wife?”

“Friends, huh.”

Aiden looked at Philip blankly while waiting for his response.

From his sudden words, Philip was shocked but answered seriously.

“Of course. Your wife is my first love and childhood friend.”

“Childhood friend……?”

“Yes. We grew up knowing everything about each other.”

Philip let out a laugh thinking about the past.

However, Aiden’s curiosity grew even more.

He wasn’t even sure what friends were, childhood friends were something he couldn’t even imagine.

“What do friends usually do?” Aiden asked.

He said that he would be friends with Erin, but didn’t have the slightest clue on what he should do.

Back then Erin said that friends eat and play together.

But I don’t know how people play together.

He wasn’t sure what he could do to make Erin happy.

The things that Aiden enjoyed were horse riding and sword training.

But even Aiden, who didn’t know anything, knew that wasn’t right.

That’s why he had asked Philip……

“Usually they drink. And sometimes throw fists.”

That was too manly. None of that was helpful.

After seeing Aiden’s disapproving face, Philip spoke again after some thought.

“Around Young Master Aiden’s age…… I ran around and played. I remember riding horses and racing too.”

Even now Aiden’s reaction was blank. With a thoughtless face, he placed his chin on his knees.

“It seems that wasn’t the answer Young Master Aiden wanted.”

Philip mumbled after seeing Aiden’s nonchalant expression.

However, Aiden was deeply thinking about the last idea Philip had said.

Running around together. Although it might be hard to go far, riding a horse……

That seemed okay.

Plus, Aiden was extremely good at riding a horse.

Showing her that side of him…… didn’t seem like a bad idea.

Aiden immediately got up. There was no need for him to wait there any longer.

His eyes kept going to Erin.

At first, there was a time where he couldn’t even bear to stand looking at her face, it was a really strange change.

When Erin asked Philip for help on the horse as if it was a normal thing, Aiden felt as if he missed something.

He felt empty yet it kept bothering him……

He didn’t like it.

So what if I don’t like it?

Then what was he going to do?

Aiden looked down at his hands.

He attempted to extend his hand out for Erin.

If he had extended it, he would have reached her……

Aiden remembered something that happened not too long ago. The day where his face turned white after making contact with the worker.

It was like that for Aiden if he made contact with anyone.

It was instinctual to act like that even before something happens.

But just now……

He tried to extend his hand out first and was disappointed when Erin took Philip’s hand.

As if his instincts were telling him to make contact with Erin.

That thought triggered something in his brain and now could not be forgotten.

Then Aiden’s gaze headed to the top of Erin’s hand.

I wanna try touching it.

He wanted to know if he was mistaken, or if it was just with Erin.

However, it seemed like Erin was avoiding him on purpose.

He knew she wasn’t avoiding him because she hated him, but because she didn’t want to accidentally touch him.

Aiden purposely stuck next to Erin and when he called out to her, Erin got surprised and lost her balance.

At that moment Aiden tried catching her naturally, but after flapping her arms around as if she was swimming, Erin was able to catch her balance.

“I’m really good at balancing. I’m fine.”

She even said that with confidence.

Even though Aiden admired Erin’s confidence, at that moment he wanted to take it back.

Plus, Erin had a lot of skinship with others besides Aiden.

She allows other knights to hold her hand and she runs to her nanny to hug her.

There were also so many workers that held Erin’s hand, that the amount couldn’t be counted.

Erin was close to everyone in the duchy, and fit in without a mask.

It’s not that she was more special, but how she treated everyone equally.

Aiden was the only one missing from that treatment.

That bothered him quite a lot.

She said that we’re friends.

But Erin looked closer to the workers than with him.

She said she was on my side but it strangely felt that there was a distance between the two.

***

Aiden wanted to check something.

If his impulses right now were a delusion because she was friendlier to other people.

Or if he was really okay with at least Erin touching him.

Or if he wants her.

And Aiden knew how to figure it out.

Aiden knew how to take a hint, his senses were good, and he knew how to use his brain.

He thought about every time he was together with Erin.

Erin worried for him when he was hurting.

As if she was trying to show her words were sincere, she always took his side.

If she saw him from far away, she would never ignore him and always came to help.

And Erin liked Aiden’s face.

There were times where she looked bewitched while staring at Aiden’s face.

Aiden knew that she glanced at his face even though she pretended like she wasn’t.

With all these factors together, the method he thought of was to ambush her.

First, he’s going to place himself where Erin can find him coincidentally because at least whenever she sees him, she always approaches him.

Aiden settled under the biggest tree in the garden.

From here on was the ambush. He closed his eyes while leaning on the tree.

His plan was to wait while pretending to sleep.

So that Erin would see him sleeping and let her guard down.

How long was he waiting for?

He felt someone’s presence. Even though his eyes were closed, he knew.

Erin.

Aiden’s ears focused on the sound of Erin moving around.

It felt weird to imagine what she was doing in his head.

Erin’s hand had reached his hair. He almost flinched accidentally.

His instincts made him stay still.

The moment he moved, his cover would be blown.

Her hand slightly caressing of his hair was tickling him.

But at the same time, it didn’t feel bad.

Aiden quietly enjoyed the feeling of her touch.

As soon as Erin started to remove her hand, Aiden immediately opened his eyes.

Just a little more……

Not wanting to be separated, his body moved on its own.

At that moment, even Aiden was surprised at how his body moved.

What a pity.

It felt a little awkward, but as soon as Erin removed her hand, he felt empty.

To the point where his body moved on its own to maintain contact.

That’s why this was something unexpected.

The accident that occurred next was because Erin and Aiden were surprised.

It was a coincidence.

All he wanted to do was get a little closer, but instead, their lips met.

It seemed like Erin was even more shocked than him.

“This is…… yeah, an accident!”

Erin quickly said.

“Th- this isn’t anything special!”

Aiden quietly thought over the excuses that Erin was making

By all means, if they really were looking for the cause of this, it would have been because of him.

But the person who was working so hard to explain was Erin.

Erin’s face was beet red.

“Aiden. Are you okay…….?”

Erin asked him carefully.

Ah……

That’s when Aiden knew. The reason why Erin was so overly flustered from this situation.

It was because of me.

Erin was worried about him.

Just in case he would be in pain like before because of her.

There were many people who worried about Aiden up until now.

Of course, the reason was a bit different, but they still seemed to worry about him.

Aiden’s health and growth rate.

Because he was the future of the Leinster family, they were so worried to the point where they would overreact from a tiny scratch.

The couple worried that if Aiden got sick, they would lose their heir. The workers were scared they would be held responsible and fired for not taking care of him.

And, they were interested in his growth because he would soon be in charge of the Leinster household.

How his sword skills were, how fast he learns. Nothing about him was taken lightly.

From the small to big things, everything about Aiden was taken care of.

66

But, no one cared about how his mental state

was.

They were only satisfied with what Aiden looked like on the outside, but no one knew how rotten his core was becoming.

Aiden of course had no intention of showing that to anyone.

However. ….. Erin was worried about Aiden’s heart.

So that she doesn’t trigger his trauma, she tried so hard not to cause him any more pain.

“Close friends sometimes lightly kiss each other.”

“We’re friends.”

Aiden carefully stared at Erin who was trying to explain the situation as best as she could.

“They hold hands, and hug each other too.”

Thinking that she wasn’t convincing enough, she waited to see Aiden’s expression after she finished talking

Aiden’s lips slowly separated.

…… Really?”

“Yeah. That’s how it is!”

It was cute to see Erin trying to explain it.

Up until now, he saw her as someone more mature and reliable.

But at the same time, he realized she actually was mature and reliable.

Erin’s a good person. No, more like……

He felt comforted when Erin’s hand touched him. It felt similar to how her words sounded like a soothing spell.

– To Be Continued –