Chapter 13

– Chapter 13 –

Erin was walking around without Mona or her maids following her.

Due to Aiden’s misunderstanding of the change in their relationship, she wanted time to think alone.

But all of a sudden, Erin stopped walking.

Erin spread out her hands and began to calculate how many days had passed after her wedding

It’s about time the duchy couple comes home from their trip.

They said they left to take care of some problems going on, but it got more than expected.

Once the duchy couple returns, there are things that Erin has to do.

So that Whitney can no longer be Aiden’s nanny, Erin has to completely separate them.

She also has to sort out the relationship between Aiden and his parents.

And I should slowly……

Erin also wanted to talk to Aiden about the business that he was planning, but she didn’t know how she would bring that up.

He was preparing it in complete secrecy, and there was no way that Erin from the original novel would have known of it.

If she brings it up first, then it’s obvious that Aiden would start getting suspicious of her.

I’ll just have to make it so there is an occurrence where he can just naturally tell me.

However, it was very rare for that to happen, considering that Aiden was cautious with everything

Still, it’s worth a shot……

After wandering around in deep thoughts, Erin suddenly turned around.

For now, let’s just go look for Aiden.

Erin fastened her pace. She was heading to the room where Aiden usually studied in.

Although she couldn’t make it obvious to Aiden that she knew about his business, she could at least go to Aiden whenever she wanted to.

It wasn’t much, but the only one who could do so in the whole household was Erin.

It also seems like he enjoys it when I visit

him.

When Erin visited, Aiden went to her with round eyes. The closer he got, the wider his smile became, as if he was waiting for her and he was excited to see her.

So Erin went to look for him even without a reason.

I wonder what his expression is going to be today.

Erin soon forgot about her real objective for meeting him and was filled with expectation.

Knock knock

With a short knock and an ‘I’m coming in’, Erin opened the door.

Aiden was organizing the files on his desk.

And Erin was able to recognize it right away.

What Aiden was doing just now.

After quickly glancing at it, she turned her glance to Aiden.

Do I ask him what those papers are? Then the conversation would flow smoothly.

But there was no way Aiden would tell her that.

I wish he would just tell me instead of hiding it.

Then she would be able to help Aiden with his business without going away.

However, Erin didn’t have much expectation in Aiden telling her

In the original novel, it was a business that Aiden started at the age of 10, and kept secret for 8 more years.

Although it’s true that she’s gotten closer to Aiden recently, it wasn’t something he would completely open up to her about.

But for now, should she ask and pretend not to know?

If he doesn’t respond, then she will give up.

“What’s that?”

She made it seem like a small curiosity and asked Aiden while looking at the documents.

Although she asked, she had no expectations of his answer.

However……

“Do you want to see it?”

Aiden pushed the documents he was reading to Erin.

Erin’s eyes widened from the unexpected response.

“Can I look?”

“Yeah. If you’re curious then you can look.”

From Aiden’s stern response, Erin became more confused.

Can she really look at it? Or does she have to say it’s fine and reject his offer?

Because Aiden gave it to her so willingly, she felt very cautious.

She wondered if Aiden was giving it to her with ulterior motives.

Erin’s worries were getting deeper.

Aiden pushed the documents a bit closer and looked at her with an innocent face.

“If you don’t understand it after reading it, then I will explain it.”

Erin looked at Aiden blankly. It seemed that Aiden’s words were honest.

She then began to slowly look over the document.

The document mostly consisted of reports on the businesses being run by the Leinster family

The thing that caught her eye was a paper filled with Aiden’s writings in the pile of paper.

The paper contained an organized plan of Aiden’s business.

“Truthfully, that business isn’t a trading business. If it’s too much for them to handle, then they don’t have to trade anything…….”

Aiden tried to explain it to help Erin understand.

Instead of just pretending not to know, he even tried to explain it to her thoroughly.

Since she already knew the basics of it, it was easy to understand what Aiden was explaining. That’s why it was even more surprising

“Is it…… okay to tell me all this?”

Erin decided to ask carefully. If it was okay to tell someone this easily.

From her question, he stared at her blankly and started to laugh.

“Because it’s Erin.”

“……?”

“Because you’re on my side.”

There wasn’t a single ounce of suspicion in his eyes.

Like a sky clear of all clouds, seeing Aiden’s clear eyes gave Erin a sense of happiness.

She found it hard to hide her smile and proud feeling

After barely calming down, Erin opened her mouth.

Aiden told Erin. Meaning she did not have to go back.

“Aiden. I can help you with that.”

Erin pulled out her hand to Aiden. As if telling him that she could be his strength.

From Erin’s sudden proposal, Aiden just blankly stared at her.

He wasn’t exactly sure what she meant when she said that she would help him.

Erin showed Aiden a confident smile. Erin would be able to help Aiden do what he wanted.

Especially his biggest problem with money, and finding a substitute to hide behind so his identity wouldn’t get revealed.

So that Whitney wouldn’t be able to tell the duchy couple, Aiden also looked for people who could swear their utmost loyalty.

But finding people like this was a very time-consuming job, and used up a lot of Aiden’s time.

However, Erin already knew the people he was looking for, thanks to the original novel.

“The business you’re trying to do. Let me help you with it.”

Aiden’s lips slowly opened from Erin’s words.

She already felt like she knew what he was going to say. Erin’s smile became even wider.

Aiden strongly held Erin’s hand. As if two business partners were shaking hands.

“The fact that you said you would help me alone is comforting.”

Erin’s eyes narrowed from Aiden’s words.

They were definitely supposed to be sweet words, but something about them bothered Erin.

It seemed that Aiden thought that there was nothing that Erin could help with.

Of course. Since it’s something that even Aiden can’t do.

It was understandable that Aiden would think Erin couldn’t help.

However……

Erin, who prepared for that, stared at Aiden and spoke.

“I’ll help you with the most important thing!”

“What?”

Aiden was confused at Erin’s confident statement.

This time, it was Erin that grabbed Aiden’s hand and told him in excitement.

“Let’s go on an outing today.”

“Outing?”

“Yeah. I have somewhere to go.”

Erin said sternly.

She thought of showing it to Aiden in person.

Her personal assets were currently being held in the imperial central bank.

Erin’s grip on Aiden’s hand tightened.

“Let’s go.”

Without any other words or questions, Aiden followed her.

Even after getting on the carriage, as if he wasn’t curious, Aiden didn’t ask her a single question.

Instead, Erin, who had first suggested the outing, asked a question.

“Are you not going to ask where we are going?”

“We’re going together.”

Aiden’s eyes were clear while saying that. Without containing a single ounce of suspicion.

Aiden was definitely someone who had a lot of wariness.

He was someone who would double-check and triple-check before doing anything.

But now Aiden was…….

He was like a baby bird who was following their mother bird without any doubt.

It seemed like he would go anywhere Erin would take him.

A person changed like this……

At that moment, Erin’s face, which was dripping with happiness, slowly hardened like a rock

“Aiden.”

Erin called out his name with a cold face.

Aiden was surprised by the sudden change in Erin’s expression.

“You can’t trust people so easily like this.”

Erin said with an utmost serious tone.

Even though she was happy that Aiden blindly trusted her, she was also worried.

Erin was on his side, but there were many people who were waiting to approach him and then betray him.

She was extremely worried that Aiden would trust other people, as he did with her, and get betrayed by them.

What should she do with such a cute and young child?

Erin purposefully put a frown onto her face and gave him a serious warning.

After blinking in surprise, Aiden began to start laughing

“I only trust Erin.”

Aiden said to Erin with an upright face.

Sincerity also filled his clear eyes.

“You’re really……”

It was touching.

You’re only 10 years old. Why are you playing around with someone’s heart like this?

Erin complained in her head and opened her mouth.

“You can’t change your mind even when you’re older, okay?”

It was important that Aiden wouldn’t forget about this feeling once the female lead appears.

So that, even when the female lead appears, he won’t completely forget about her.

Thinking of the relationship they had now so that the story won’t unfold like the original novel, Erin was working hard to appeal to Aiden.

“Erin is weird.”

Aiden mumbled bluntly.

“What? All of a sudden?”

“It seems like you’re looking at me as if I’m younger even though we’re the same age.”

“…..!”

Erin felt a tiny spark. Because of Aiden’s sudden cuteness, she felt as if she could fly away.

“I’m not young…… since I’m friends with you.”

Aiden wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t younger than her.

“I only trust you because you’re Erin.”

“My only friend.”

“And you’re on my side. That’s why, no matter what, I’m always on your side.”

How could anyone be this lovable?

Every single thing that Aiden said was so cute that she wanted to bite him.

While Erin was admiring Aiden, his eyes also never left her.

In the end, even after the carriage ride came to an end, they were still staring at each other.

– To Be Continued –