– Chapter 30 –

Erin and Aiden were reading a book in the library.

To be precise, she was pretending to read a book but was actually staring at Aiden who was studying in the opposite direction.

Aiden was concentrating on his studies in a calm manner.

The declaration for divorce this morning was also disconcerting for Erin.

Even though the Duke is trying to change little by little now……

“They aren’t really going to get a divorce, right?’

If the two had no feelings for each other, Erin would have been in favour of a divorce.

She doesn’t know how much that will affect the original story and what other changes created will affect Aiden, but Erin would still cheer for him.

Even if the two get divorced, Erin just has to find a different way to help Aiden.

“But it’s not that they don’t have feelings for each other.’

Besides, Erin thought that after the two of them confirmed each other’s feelings, they would create a harmonious family together with Aiden.

Aiden, who had closed his heart, seemed to be opening up a little bit to the Duchess.

She was worried about what Aiden was thinking with his expressionless face.

In the end, Erin, who had only been staring at him, moved to the seat next to Aiden.

At the Duchess’ declaration for divorce, of course, Erin was most worried about Aiden.

When Erin suddenly approached and looked at him closely, Aiden turned his head to meet her eyes.

“What does Aiden think about the two of them getting divorced?”

Could it be that Aiden is hiding his sadness or disappointment behind his indifferent face?

She couldn’t help but ask, she was worried if Aiden held the feelings of being abandoned by the two of them.

However, Aiden calmly opened his mouth.

“Actually, Mother came and told me yesterday.”

“Uh…..?”

“She said she’s going to get a divorce, but she asked me what I think about it.”

Erin blinked in surprise.

Then Aiden wasn’t really surprised because he already knew everything?

Aiden continued to speak calmly.

“Then I said to her I’m fine. I’d agree to their divorce if that’s what she wished.”

“Are you sure you’re really fine?”

“Yeah. Mother said so, and she also told me she wanted to show me her happy side that she couldn’t show me so far…… and she said she doesn’t think she ever taught me a way to be happy.”

“That it’s important to be with the people precious to us as well as those whom we cherish”

Aiden had a smile filled with satisfaction towards Erin

At the same time, he spoke seriously about what was on his mind.

“Otherwise, I don’t think they need to be forced together. If the two are happier after breaking up, I answered that it would be better.”

“……I see.”

Aiden then said he was in agreement with the divorce, but Erin realized again that the two shouldn’t be divorced for the same reason.

They both like each other, but they’ll get divorced without knowing each other’s feelings.

It will go wrong if it keeps going like this, I just wanted to prevent it.

In order to do so, the Duke had to actively express his feelings to the Duchess and to Aiden.

There was no more time to hesitate.

‘I have to appeal a little more directly to make the Duke move.’

Logan thought there was nothing he could

do.

It was too late to win Isabella’s heart, who had already turned away from him.

She didn’t even look at him throughout breakfast this morning.

Watching her cold glare as if she didn’t want to talk to him anymore, his jaw couldn’t drop.

Still, he never thought she’d be asking for a divorce.

After she turned away from him and locked her heart, Logan gave up reaching out to Isabella.

He thought he had no option but to live with a distance like this.

To him who had not been able to protect her, he thought that was the best thing he could do for her.

But that was solely his thought.

‘Did she hate living with me that much?’

He knew it, but hearing it from her directly was even more shocking.

He didn’t know how to change her feelings.

Her face was glimmering.

A cold, frozen face.

As if she had nothing to be left.

He realized again that the relationship between the two of them had reached its worst.

‘Just where did it start to become like this?’

Truthfully, he knew.

Aiden’s matter must have been decisive for her to declare the divorce.

As a result, Logan realized that Isabella’s mere marital relationship with him certainly had an adverse effect on Aiden as well.

That would have been her opportunity.

With her judgment that our relationship was not for Aiden’s sake.

‘He must have been disappointed in me too.’

It put him to shame that he didn’t know anything until his recently married daughter-in-law noticed.

‘Perhaps…… should I really let her go?’

Because I haven’t done anything for her until now.

Is that at least the only thing I can do for her?

Is that really for her sake?

Because she will have a hard time living with me.

And it seemed like she didn’t want anything else.

Now I’m confident that I can do anything for her sake but…… it’s already way too late.

Erin waited for the Duke at the place where she often met up with him.

They didn’t promise to meet there, but somehow she felt like he would come.

And, as expected, the Duke came.

He happened to think that Erin would be there, too.

The daughter-in-law, who noticed that he loved the Duchess but couldn’t express his feelings.

Strangely, he wanted to meet this little child.

The Duke sat next to Erin.

Erin carefully looked into the Duke’s eyes and looked at his expression.

The Duke opened his mouth slowly, looking ahead.

“Thank you”.

“Pardon?”

Erin asked with her eyes wide open.

“For helping Aiden.”

“Aiden is on my side so it’s only natural that I would!”

Erin exclaimed without interruption.

”On my side’?”

The Duke turned and looked at Erin.

“Yes. I’m on Aiden’s side.”

“Aiden is also on my side. We decided to be on each other’s side.”

“……I see.”

When he thought about it, he wondered how many times he had been on Isabella’s

side.

……Have I ever done that?’

The Duke’s face turned bitter.

“Whose side are you on, Duke?”

“…… I don’t know.”

The Duke couldn’t say anything.

“Actually, I didn’t get along very well with Aiden at first.”

“Then how did you get closer now?”

“I’ve been following him around.”

Erin said “hehe” and laughed.

“I kept talking next to him. Until he could actually trust me.”

That’s how I ended up winning Aiden’s heart.

In the end, the misunderstanding was resolved.

First of all, in Erin’s view, the most important thing was the fact that even though they liked each other, they did not improve their relationship.

“Mother too, I’m sure she’ll acknowledge your feelings.”

That’s why don’t give up and approach the Duchess first

Erin stared at the Duke as if to pierce through, and said.

“If you don’t tell her your feelings, she won’t know anything!”

“Aiden and I were talking every evening about everything that happened to each other.”

“Because we have decided that we won’t hide anything from each other.”

This way, misunderstandings will not arise and they can trust each other more.

It was the most lacking thing for Logan and Isabella.

“I’m sure Mother is waiting for Father to tell her about your feelings.”

“…… Is that really so.”

At Erin’s words, the Duke wore a bitter expression.

Erin knew what he was afraid of.

He’s afraid he’ll be completely rejected if he confessed his heart.

So he was afraid that their relationship would end completely.

Erin opened her mouth to fully shoot.

“I’m sure Mother will take it seriously. Believe me!”

“Believe you?”

“Yes!”

Erin answered in a voice full of confidence with her twinkling eyes.

So, try approaching her first. First of all, conversation is the most important thing.

Erin shouted hard in her head to the Duke.

“……I see.”

The Duke, who was staring at Erin, said as if muttering to himself.

“Yeah. You gave me a good reason.”

Erin gave him a reason to cut off the hesitation that had arisen in him for a long time.

The Duke looked at Erin and smiled openly.

Erin immediately got up from her seat and left.

Looking at her excited from the back, it seemed that she was probably going to meet Aiden.

Logan, who was left alone, was sitting still, motionless.

Come to think of it, it’s really like that.

I’ve never had a proper conversation with Isabella.

What the hell have I been doing for the past 20 years?

Looking back on the past, we had no memories remaining.

I usually don’t talk much, so it was only natural that she couldn’t speak since I was the one who tried to do it in such a hurry.

‘Even though we’ve spent such a long time together……

He smiled self-deprecatingly.

Erin’s words kept ringing in his mind.

‘Because we have decided to be on each other’s side.’

I wanted to do that too.

I wanted to be on her side.

‘Can I convey this feeling to Isabella even now?’

But when I looked at her face, my mind was in a mess.

That’s why my jaw won’t drop.

So I had to find another way.

I needed to prepare in advance so I could speak in front of her.

Logan pushed aside all the papers in front of

him.

And he opened a blank sheet of paper.

A drop of ink fell on it, and he began to write.

Conversations that the two of them have not been able to share.

He was writing down everything he wanted to say to her one by one.

– To Be Continued –