/
It has been several days since Aaron came to the Duchy as a spy.
And now he’s about to give up. Mainly, his head was spinning because he didn’t get enough sleep.
But Aaron is different from Hans, who was cast away by his master.
No matter how hard the obstacles, he had to succeed in order to look good to Baron Ishid and Frederick.
As soon as the Rebel force rose, the war would take place. And if the rebellion succeeds, he will be able to restore his status even though he was a fallen aristocrat.
‘If you are able to grow 50 Vercalian flowers, then you’ll be free to roam around the manor.’
Aaron gritted his teeth while recalling Lise’s cold expression.
“You’re just a commoner yet so arrogant. I swear to kill you first if I ever get the chance.”
Lise has stopped by the greenhouse only once ever since she ordered him the difficult task. When she visited, the green-eyed girl just looked around aimlessly as if the situation wasn’t a big deal at all.
“This is really worth living.”
He took care of the plant after suffering from tremendous pains in his back while Lise just nonchalantly murmured, “I was full of mercy to you… How grateful.”
While she was looking around, how unexpected when Lise ‘unintentionally’  stepped on the Vercalian’s roots with her heels, completely made Aaron nearly burst into anger.
She said, “I apologize. You should have told me to be careful.”
…didn’t she know how much time it takes to take care of a single…
The Vercalia flower was neither edible nor suited for medicinal properties.
However, Lise was praised as a genius among other doctors. She ordered him to do things that he wondered about if Vercalian has another worthy function.
Aaron watered the flower in a fixed amount every two hours, he then scoured the leaves so the plant wouldn’t be bitten by bugs.
Even though he didn’t leave the small spaced greenhouse and cleaned it well, four sprouts of Vercalia flowers were bent and broken.
“Oh, lord…”
Diel was sitting on a chair and didn’t lend any help. He just shrugged his shoulders.
“Look, the 32nd Vercalia leaf is starting to turn brown.”
Aaron was looking at the 32nd Verkalia flower and jumped up in shock.
As Diel said, the 32nd Verkalia leaf had turned brown.
If you don’t dig it quickly, it would affect the flowers next to it.
When he checked it an hour ago, the plant was still fine….
Aaron was about to cry in frustration, with the thought of desperately wanting to complete the task.
He has already ruined six out of the fifty seeds of Vercalia flowers.
“Well, if it’s not enough, you can plant it again,” Diel spoke naturally, intentionally trying to act innocent.
“It’s only 10 days, but every time it’s delayed, you can just plant ten more, so the deadline is no ending.”
“That is indeed the problem,” Aaron replied with irritation. “If the amount continues to increase, I’m not sure the tasks would be complete.”
“Then you’re not good enough.”
What drove Aaron even more insane was the people from Perelman’s merchant were attached to him on every corner.
Although they were around him, they didn’t lend any help. Aaron observed their action every time.
They didn’t even talk to him. Diel was the only one who mostly converse with him but never crossed boundaries.
‘I’ll kill him myself.’
Aaron’s piercing gaze stared intensely at the pink-haired young man, who was humming calmly despite Aaron’s current circumstances.
‘If he told me 30 minutes earlier, I could have ripped off the brown leaf and saved the flower….’
Although Diel felt his gaze, he just shrugged and watched his struggle.
“Why the hell has Miss Lise not been here since the first day?”
“Lise is busy. She doesn’t have time to come and cheer up anyone who might or might not be her assistant.”
“And why is that no one coming to this greenhouse except you?”
“Look at this location. It’s just beside the corner from my office. Of course I could come all the way here just to check on you.”
Diel shrugged his shoulders.
“You must be more pitiful than I thought. But most people don’t even know if you’re in this greenhouse.”
“Of course!” Aaron got annoyed. “I don’t even have a room assigned to me. Do I have a room in the manor? Can’t I even rest?”
“Yes, you haven’t passed the screening process yet. And don’t you have time to rest?”
“So this greenhouse is my only place to live?”
“Do you need anything else? I understand that all the food is served, but…
“How many days do you think I will stay here?”
“I don’t have time to think about it.”
Aaron jumped up and down in frustration, but Diel’s expression did not change.
Diel continued, “I’m not Miss Lise’s assistant or servant.”
“Then why are you keep watching me? What’s the difference between you and me?”
Diel raised his chin and spoke proudly, “I’m her friend.”
He grinned and shrugged. “Know your place before you compare us.”
***
I was on my way from the lab to the room with the health supplements I worked hard on for Erhan.
‘Do I need to give him health supplements?’
I don’t think there’s any need to give him medicine considering his body.
As I was walking up the stairs thinking that it would be better to meet the Duchess or Diel, the burden I was carrying suddenly became lighter.
“Lise, isn’t it heavy? I’ll do it for you.”
Erhan’s deep masculine voice sounded so melodious when his big hands took the supplements I was carrying.
I stared at his sculptural face, smiling gently.
‘Lord Erhan’s cold spoken rumors’ that Diel and the maids have been talking about for several days seemed to not be true.
In my opinion, our relationship was quite good as we do not dare to cross any boundaries.
“Oh, well…” I sigh while looking at the supplements that are already in his arms. “That is yours.”
“Huh?”
“I was afraid that your immune system was still weak, but if you don’t need it, Diel will—”
“No.”
Erhan exhaled as if he was exhausted and gave me a pitiful look.
“I have weakened a lot.”
“…what are you feeling now?”
“I haven’t been feeling well since I came to the Duchy.”
“What?”
I looked at his face in surprise.
Erhan already reported that his condition was well, but he never openly said he was sick.
“I think I’d better eat these. I can’t afford to give a single one to Sir Diel.”
“If you’re not feeling well, you can’t just use these supplements.” I was worried and held his large wrist and said, “I’ll check your condition right now. Let’s go in.”
His wrist, which I was holding now, was different from before.
When I first came to his room at the age of 13, I thought it was too big for a child’s room. But when the current Erhan came in, the room didn’t even look that big.
Come to think of it, it was the first time we came into this room together after he returned.
“Uh… that’s…”
As I looked around the room again, I paused at the sight of a glass-chained box by his bedside.
There was a ragged shirt that was put neatly in a luxurious box.
“I couldn’t put the precious shirt you gave me anywhere, so I made a glass case quickly, though it wasn’t enough.”
I had nothing to say.
That shirt looks like trash in a glass box that looks like an ancient artifact.
I gathered myself thinking about his intelligence test, which was normal. Everyone was bound to live with a little weirdness.
“Would you wait for me? I’m going to go change.”
“What? Sure…”
While he went into the dressing room and changed into indoor clothes, I took out the supplements and arranged them by his desk.
Seeing the desk piled up with all kinds of documents, which I saw in the Duchess’ room, it seemed that he was on his way to inheriting the Duke’s title.
‘In the past life, you’ve been weak and you haven’t been able to receive the title. Good job, Lise Estelle.’
The risk of Erhan inheriting the title did not end now, since the future was definitely changing.
I could say that my credit was remarkable that I’ve come all the way here.
His dressing room door opened and he smiled proudly while wearing his indoor clothes.
“Uh…”
“Why?”
“You don’t have to loosen your shirt off like that.”
“I sleep like this.”
“Why?”
“It’s hot in Irvia. So it’s become a habit.”
Erhan slightly loosened his shirt, showing his collarbone. The tension inside the room suddenly felt different.
“And you seemed to like my style?”
“What? When did I?”
“You looked fine when I took off my shirt.”
“Uh… yeah…”
I admitted quickly, and Erhan smiled and his eye smile flashed toward me.
His long and curvy eyelashes made him seem mesmerizing and beautiful.
Maybe because I knew Erhan before my regression, I felt like he was a completely different person from the kid from the old days.
“If you want to see me, tell me anytime.”
“Yeah, thank you.”
He lay on the bed and gently looked at me as he held out his hand.
I walked slowly and sat next to him and held his large veiny hand. It was the simplest way to see the mana flow or state.
“Well… you don’t have any strange symptoms.”
I examined him carefully, but his condition is too healthy.
“Is it because I haven’t slept well in the last few days?”
“Insomnia is also the cause of all illnesses. But you’ll get used to it. Keep up your good sleeping habits.”
“I told you…”
Erhan’s black shimmering pupils stared at me intensely.
“…if I lie down in this bedroom, I can’t sleep because you’re not with me.”
“Then go to sleep now. I’ll hold your hand.”
He didn’t answer and slowly wrapped his hand around mine.
“You can’t be the only one sitting uncomfortably like this.”
“Pardon me?”
“Shall we lie down together?”
“No.”
“I’ll just hold your hand, really.”
He whispered, a smile on his face. But his words didn’t sound pure at all.
Obviously, someone must have taught him something when he was in Irvia.
“Who taught you to say that?”
“…Zi- Zikel?”
“Then, what did you learn in the South? How did you find yourself learning to be like this?”
“Oh, no no.”
Frustrated, Erhan shook his head desperately.
“Who am I to say this to you? I’m just—”
He clasped my hand tightly and pulled it to his chest.
I fell right on his hard chest. I was so embarrassed that I couldn’t do anything about it, and he whispered slowly in my ear.
“You’re the only one I have.”
His heart was pounding. A thumping sound was heard from my position as I was leaning on his chest.
His temperature made my face redden from embarrassment.
“I’m nothing different from when I was 13. I remember everything you say. I’m still…”
When his hot breath touched my ear, I was startled and quickly got up.
It was a situation that could be misunderstood greatly if someone passed by. No, first of all, I’m going to misunderstand his intentions.
Anyways, Imperial law prohibited marriages between commoners and nobles.
Erhan just repeated what he heard when he was young, and it was clear that I was thinking too far away.
“You look perfectly fine, Lord Erhan.”
I pulled out my hand from his grasp and quickly continued, “If you can’t sleep tonight, I’ll bring a good sleeping tea tomorrow.”
“Lise…”
“Well, I better take my leave.”
My cheeks were still hot, so I lowered my head without making eye contact again and left the room.
When he was 13 we fell asleep together but now I’m embarrassed and it feels so awkward.
‘Erhan who just came back is a little weird. That’s all.’
I shook my head, determined not to think too deeply about it.