Edric regretted agreeing to see Lucius off at the village entrance.

The more he listened to his words, the more glaringly his friend’s shortcomings stood out.

While he might be kind and easygoing as a person, he was utterly unsuitable as an heir to the empire.

In the past, they would have had to replace the heir or find some other solution.

But now was no longer an era where the country’s future hinged on the imperial family’s decisions, and most policies were determined by the consensus and majority vote of powerful lords, so having a slightly incompetent heir in that position wasn’t a major issue.

‘Still, it would be better if the heir were capable.’

If not that, then if there were at least a force by Lucius’s side that could stand with the imperial family and properly control the lords…

“His Majesty misses you, Edric. He keeps saying how much he wishes you would return soon to assist him.”

“…”

From Lucius’s words, Edric realized the emperor had earmarked him as such a force. In other words, a power behind the throne.

A position that could mark the pinnacle of the illustrious name of an absolute noble family that had endured for nearly a thousand years.

Edric’s heart wavered momentarily at that tempting halo.

‘Edric, what’s your dream?’

‘To become an excellent person.’

‘I see. Well thought. Be sure to become an excellent duke.’

What could be more foolish than setting limits on how high one could rise from the start?

Being a duke was merely a given position, no different from a name, bestowed upon him from birth.

His goal was much higher and grander. For instance, to have the emperor in the palm of his hand.

Now that summit was finally starting to seem within reach. But.

“Enough.”

He had a conviction more important than that. The conviction to never again lose what he had regained.

He intended to keep that no matter what.

Even after Lucius’s car had departed, Edric didn’t turn back immediately but walked to the edge of the forest.

With each step, he walked and walked with the thought of casting away his greed.

That method was quite effective.

By the time he returned home, much of the confusion had dissipated.

A cozy two-story house with a neatly trimmed lawn.

As that came into view, Edric returned to his peaceful daily life as if he had never been confused.

He took out his pocket watch.

It was almost time for Melly to arrive.

In a little while, the coachman he had instructed to stand by Melly at all times would bring her here.

And he would help Melly out of the carriage. As always, by lifting her up in his arms. He would head straight to the entrance like that, whether she struggled to be put down because others were watching or not.

But.

“…”

No matter how long he stood at the front gate looking in the direction Melly would come from, he couldn’t hear the sound of carriage wheels.

‘Has something happened?’

Though barely 5 minutes had passed since the time she was supposed to return, Edric grew impatient.

He started walking towards the shop. That’s when.

“Edric.”

Edric stopped and turned at the sudden voice from inside the gate. Melly was standing with her hands behind her back, smiling at him.

“Why are you there?”

“I asked Mia to finish up and came early. To surprise you and Jade.”

With that, the wave slowly rising in Edric’s chest subsided calmly again.

Edric burst into laughter.

“Sorry to disappoint you. I left my post without knowing your intentions.”

For him, the matter with Lucius had completely vanished from memory. Along with becoming the first real power behind the throne from House Pelton.

Melly looked at him with an unreadable expression for a moment before linking her arm with his.

“Shall we go for a short walk?”

“Gladly.”

The two slowly walked along the path leading from the house to the shop.

There were only a few leaves left on the bare branches, and fallen leaves rustled underfoot. Though the evergreen shrubs still gleamed green in the afternoon sunlight, even they looked dried out and not as verdant as before. It was a somewhat desolate late autumn afternoon.

“Aren’t you cold?”

“I’m fine. Compared to the capital, this level of cold is…”

Though Melly said this, Edric took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders regardless of her answer. Still not satisfied, he wrapped his long arm around her shoulders.

The two walked a bit further down the path.

About halfway along, they noticed a flat tree stump on one side of the path with a cute little tower of pebbles stacked on top.

“Jade and I made that while taking a walk this morning.”

“Ah…”

At Edric’s words, Melly imagined Jade concentrating with her tiny hands to build the tower, lips pursed. Just imagining it was so adorable.

“You add one too.”

Edric suddenly suggested. Melly looked at the tower for a moment with a face that said ‘should I?’ before shaking her head.

“It’s alright. I feel like it would collapse if I added a new one.”

In the past, he would have told her to do it carefully so it wouldn’t fall, that he would help her.

But he had changed now.

“If it falls, we can build it again.”

Now, rather than pressuring Melly not to make mistakes, he encouraged her to do as she pleased, saying it was fine even if she made a mistake.

And those words gave Melly courage.

“Alright. I’ll try.”

Melly picked up a small, flat-bottomed pebble.

Then she held her breath as she slowly brought the stone towards the top of the tower.

The moment she placed the pebble on the very top, the entire tower shook. Her heart sank.

But as the shaking gradually subsided and she somehow felt certain it wouldn’t collapse, Melly removed her hand.

The stone tower didn’t fall and reached a new height.

Melly’s face lit up.

“I did it. I didn’t knock it down.”

“See? I told you you could do it.”

Edric hugged her proudly and stroked her head. The two gazed at the stone tower, like a crystallization of their love, for a moment before turning away.

“Now you have to tell me, right?”

Edric suddenly said as the shop came into view.

To Melly looking up at him as if to ask what he meant, he spoke again.

“Your wish. You must have made a wish while building the tower.”

“…”

How did he know that? Did he figure it out from her careful demeanor while placing the stone?

Melly thought for a moment, then said with a short sigh:

“Actually, I wished that you could do what you want.”

“What I want?”

Edric’s eyes widened.

“I overheard you talking with Lord Lucius earlier.”

The two naturally came to a stop. Melly slowly turned to face him and asked:

“You actually want to accept his offer, don’t you? Right?”

“It’s not like that.”

Edric answered without losing his smile.

“Do you think I don’t know you?”

“…”

“After all the time we’ve spent together.”

Nearly twenty years of time together was more than enough to allow them to guess each other’s thoughts without even trying.

Edric knew this fact as well. Therefore, he could no longer deceive her, but he also couldn’t change his mind.

“I like being with you and Jade now. When every minute and second is precious to make up for the time I was apart from you two, why would I take on more complicated work?”

“There will be plenty of time to make up for it in the future. Jade and I aren’t going anywhere. I’ll swear if you want me to.”

Melly raised one hand and continued speaking with a solemn expression.

“I swear before God, I, Melly Pelton, will stay by my husband’s side prepared to be buried in House Pelton.”

Edric burst out laughing at the sight.

“So this is what you wanted to say when you suggested we walk.”

He lightly pinched Melly’s cheek and continued.

“I appreciate the sentiment, Melly, but I like things as they are now. If I start working at the imperial palace, I’ll become busy again, and that will slow down the process of strengthening our family bonds. I don’t want that.”

“We’ll wait for you. But the work you want to do won’t wait, will it?”

At Melly’s words, he grasped her shoulders with a gentle smile.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying. Why chase after something that won’t wait for me? Isn’t it right to prioritize those who believe in me and wait for me?”

Edric wouldn’t budge.

Indeed, he hadn’t come this far with just any ordinary resolve. He was far more stubborn than she had thought.

Melly gave up trying to persuade him for now.

“Alright. Let’s do that. I’ll follow your opinion.”

But Melly was also confident in her ability to be patient and wait.

“Still, please think about it when you have time. In the long run, whether I adjust to you or you adjust to me, which is happier – when one side sacrifices to accommodate the other? Or…”

“…”

“When neither side sacrifices and we live harmoniously?”

Melly added, looking firmly into Edric’s deep blue eyes.

“The choice is yours. As is the responsibility that comes with it.”

“…”

Edric narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at Melly, as if thinking that this sounded familiar.

He felt somehow refreshed.

Just as the same song can feel different when sung by another person, what sounded like obnoxiously arrogant demands when he said it himself was reborn as gentle but firm advice after passing through Melly’s lips.

Perhaps Melly’s characteristics had also melded into his own in a unique form.

For instance, adding efficiency to the small joys gained from daily life. Or carefully listening to others’ words while not missing the useful information within.

The two people with drastically different personalities slowly infusing each other while maintaining their individual traits.

It was a very pleasant change.

“Alright. I’ll think about it. If that’s what you want.”

Edric pulled Melly close and embraced her once again.