Chapter 24
“I like it best when we’re like this—together.”
It had been during a quiet moment, with Aileen lying against Carlisle’s arm. A peaceful stillness filled the space between them when, out of nowhere, he had said those words.
Aileen, still leaning against him, tilted her head up and looked at him. Carlisle was gazing off into the distance, eyes fixed somewhere far away.
There was something so hollow in his expression—it made her feel like he might suddenly disappear before her eyes. So, she wrapped her arms around him without thinking.
Pressing her arms tighter around his broad, solid chest that couldn’t be held in one embrace, she spoke.
“I like it whether we’re together or not. I always like it.”
Perhaps because she sounded a little brusque, Carlisle finally looked down. His gaze met Aileen’s, her eyes trembling with worry. He gently placed his large hand over her slender wrist as she clung to him.
“It’s because I can feel your warmth. It makes me feel alive.”
Still staring into her amethyst eyes, Carlisle softly grasped her wrist. Guided by his hand, hers slowly moved toward his cheek.
“Of course, even when we’re not together… it’s still okay.”
His hand slid from her wrist to her small hand, covering the back of it and pulling it gently to rest against his face. Then, he let out a soft laugh.
Only after feeling the warmth in his smile through her palm did Aileen feel the anxiety within her begin to melt away.
Those were the moments Carlisle cherished most—the moments when he and Aileen shared warmth. The moments he seemed least likely to vanish.
Which was why it had shocked her so deeply when he recoiled from her like he had touched fire—just before bringing Judith into her life.
It hadn’t even been anything intimate. She had simply hugged him after a long time apart, and he had returned the embrace.
But when his hand brushed her bare shoulder—when his fingers touched her soft skin—he flinched like lightning had struck him and pulled away from her in an instant.
“…What’s wrong?”
As startled as Carlisle had looked, Aileen had been equally shaken. Carlisle had never reacted like that before—never recoiled like he had touched something forbidden.
But he didn’t answer. For a long time, he just stared between his hands and Aileen’s face, clearly shaken. Only when he noticed the concern in her eyes did he snap out of it.
Instead of stepping forward to check if she was okay, he kept his distance—his gaze sweeping from her head to her toes.
“Sorry for startling you. Are you hurt…?”
Aileen noticed the faint tremble in his voice but pretended not to and shook her head.
“No. I’m fine…”
“Then I’m sorry, but I have to go. I just remembered something urgent.”
He didn’t wait for a reply. He quickly got dressed and left the room without another word. Aileen sat in stunned silence, staring at the closed door, unable to comprehend what had just happened.
What had that been?
She knew it was silly to dwell on it now, but she couldn’t help but wonder.
In the five years they’d been together, not once had Carlisle ever left her like that. And certainly not without explanation—certainly not in such a confusing, hurtful way.
Then again… if she thought about it that way, his affair with Judith should have been impossible too.
The Carlisle she had known had been an illusion. What good would it do now to look back and question everything? It was all meaningless.
Aileen let out a bitter laugh and forced herself to focus on the next portrait.
“This one is…”
The man had red hair that fell slightly across his forehead and pale blue eyes that reminded her of the open sky. His features were bold and masculine—this was Jeron Diar, the heir to the Duke of Diar.
“Why is the Diar heir among the candidates?” Aileen asked, confused.
The Duchess took a sip of tea before answering.
“Somehow, he found out we were looking for potential suitors—and sent his portrait first.”
There was a faint smile on the Duchess’s lips as she explained.
Countess Bianto, known for her wide-reaching connections, was also famous for her matchmaking skills. Many of the empire’s high-ranking nobles relied on her to arrange their marriages.
Since noble marriages required strong foundational compatibility, many trusted Countess Bianto’s sharp eye and high standards.
After much deliberation, the Duke and Duchess of Revart had also reached out to her. When she selected a few candidates, she had slipped in Jeron Diar’s portrait—and added a rather meaningful comment.
“The young Duke Diar gave me one condition when handing over his portrait,” Countess Bianto had said. “He asked that it be shown to only one person.”
It was something she ordinarily would never have disclosed, but the Duchess had understood everything clearly from that one remark.
They didn’t know exactly what his intentions were, but one thing was certain: Jeron Diar had specifically requested that his portrait be shown to Aileen—and no one else.
A union between two noble houses was never something to take lightly, and the Diar family was no exception. There were concerns, of course, but since House Revart had already pledged allegiance as the Emperor’s sword, forming ties with House Diar could only be beneficial.
In fact, the very fact that Jeron Diar didn’t hesitate to associate himself with Revart—even knowing that the family openly opposed the rising noble faction led by the Marquess of Hessiden—was a gesture they couldn’t ignore.
Both the Duke and Duchess had a favorable impression of Jeron Diar from their occasional encounters at social events. He was a quiet man, which gave them slight pause, but it wasn’t a dealbreaker.
As the Duchess spoke, Aileen drifted into her own thoughts, trying to recall the first time she’d met Jeron—a memory tucked away like a tiny shard.
It had been when she had just joined the Sel Knight Order and was on her way to the training grounds. She’d come across him on the road, caught in an awkward situation, and helped him out. After that, Jeron had greeted her warmly whenever they ran into each other at parties.
Still, with Carlisle always by her side, they never had the chance to talk at length.
That was the extent of their connection.
“And his current position is…”
[Department of Finance]
Of course.
He looked like someone who would be good with a sword, but in reality, he had a fragile body that couldn’t even hold one properly.
She vaguely remembered a few noble ladies lamenting how they’d fallen for his broad shoulders and strong-looking arms, only to feel deceived later on.
Though she couldn’t recall the exact details of how she’d helped him, she clearly remembered Jeron praising her enthusiastically afterward.
“Jeron’s not a bad choice,” Aileen murmured. “He’s a bit on the delicate side, but aside from that, he seems decent.”
“I met him during the last council meeting,” the Duke added with a smile. “Polite and well-mannered. I liked him. And he works in the Finance Department—very clever, too.”
Seeing Aileen’s eyes linger on Jeron’s page a little longer, the Duke and Ashite quickly joined in, subtly praising him.
Working in the Department of Finance at his age certainly indicated exceptional talent—but to Aileen, who valued strength and action more than intellect, it didn’t strike much of a chord.
She flipped the page as if she hadn’t heard a word.
And so it continued for a while. Eventually, she finished reviewing all the profiles and selected her final two candidates—not because of any grand reason.
It was all meaningless to her anyway. She simply didn’t want to waste too much time.
“I’ve made my decision.”
“Who?”
“Jeron Diar and Cesar Baté.”
She chose Jeron because he’d left a good impression, and Cesar… well, she chose him based on his portrait alone.
After growing up with Ashite—whose beauty was practically legendary—and being engaged to Carlisle, considered one of the most handsome men in the Empire, no one really met her expectations.
Cesar had soft, drooping eyes that gave him a gentle look. That was all.
The three family members, who had been worried Aileen might change her mind, quickly set aside the files of the two selected candidates.
“A good decision, my dear. Let’s schedule the first meeting soon. Who would you like to see first?”
“I’ll meet Cesar first. Then Jeron.”
There was no particular reason. Just a vague thought—it might be better to meet the one who left a better impression last. And if she ended up liking Jeron… well, that would be a good thing.
Her family, under the impression that she had a solid plan, simply beamed and ushered her out.
“Of course, of course. Do as you please. You must be tired—go get some rest now.”
It was obvious what they were thinking. Letting out a few dry laughs, Aileen slowly crossed the hallway, her emotions in a strange tangle.
She had never once imagined herself meeting any man other than Carlisle. And now she was about to sit down with other men, share tea, talk, and maybe… even open her heart?
Not Carlisle, but someone else.
“What a ridiculous thought.”
And truly, it was.
Aileen walked slowly down the hall, lost in thought.
Near a window where the setting sun bathed the sky in deep red, Judith sat tapping her finger idly against an empty table.
Her long, loose hair shimmered with a hint of purple under the light, and on her delicate, slender neck rested a necklace that Aileen would have recognized instantly.
“Jeron Diar and Cesar Baté,” she murmured with interest.
Both were well-known figures in high society—but Jeron Diar was someone Judith knew very well.
Because he looked as if someone had split her in two—he was just like her other half.
“Jeron Diar… Honestly, you’re something else.”
Whenever Judith’s gaze had been fixed on Carlisle, Jeron’s eyes had always been on Aileen. She was sure he had noticed her presence too.
“I wonder what kind of expression Carlisle will make when he finds out about this.”
Just imagining it already brought her a thrill.
Carlisle would be arriving soon.
