Chapter 27
“I heard you were the youngest person to ever enter the Ministry of Finance, Lord Jeron.”
“I was just lucky, that’s all.”
Jeron scratched his cheek bashfully, his face gradually turning red. Despite having praised Aileen endlessly without so much as blinking, he now blushed when the praise turned toward him.
Aileen thought to herself that he was quite an easy person to read, and added with a small smile,
“I don’t know much about that field, but even I know how impressive that is.”
As Jeron’s face turned as red as a ripe tomato, Aileen took a sip of her second cup of tea and carefully arranged her next words in her head.
This meeting, after all, had a clear purpose for both sides. They had already exchanged the usual pleasantries and small talk—it had all become a bit repetitive.
Jeron was certainly a decent man. That much was clear. But that was where it ended.
She couldn’t see any romantic appeal, no spark, no image of a future with him. Her heart remained a barren space, locked behind a wall of ash-grey. Maybe, just maybe, a small part of her had hoped to feel something—but in the end…
Even if judging someone based on a single conversation was a bit rash, she had little choice. The upcoming tournament left her with little time to spare for further meetings.
Having reached that point, Aileen decided to address the matter directly.
“I heard you were the one who sent your portrait first.”
Jeron had just taken a sip of tea when she asked, her voice calm and steady. The flush on his face, which had only just begun to fade, returned in full force.
His gaze flickered between her face and the teacup in front of her. After a few awkward seconds, he finally answered, hesitantly.
“Yes. That’s true.”
“Honestly, I was a little surprised when I heard. But… thank you.”
“There’s really no need to thank me.”
“Still, I appreciate it.”
Aileen paused, then asked gently,
“Was it because your father, the Duke of Diar, has been pushing you to marry? I heard things shifted a bit after I joined the Khan Knights…”
She trailed off, cautious.
Jeron gave a barely noticeable, bitter smile—one Aileen didn’t catch.
Does she really not know? He exhaled slowly, once, twice, three times, and then spoke.
“That’s partly true. But… it’s not the reason I sent the portrait.”
“I see. That’s a relief. But then… why?”
Aileen let out a quiet sigh of relief, only to raise her brows with real curiosity.
Why go out of his way to send his portrait?
Someone like Jeron, heir to one of the Empire’s most respected ducal families, surely had no shortage of desirable marriage proposals from other noble houses. Just like her brother, Ashite.
It wasn’t a secret—everyone knew she had been with Carlisle. And everyone knew, just as publicly, that their breakup had been a messy one. It hadn’t even been six months since the scandal broke, and her official annulment still hadn’t been finalized.
Even if she was a duke’s daughter, Jeron had nothing to gain by reaching out to her. So why?
As if reading her thoughts perfectly, Jeron clasped his hands tightly on his knees, palms slick with nervous sweat.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance. For so long, he had watched from afar, always just missing her because of Carlisle, who never left her side.
When news broke that Carlisle had cheated—with Judith of all people—and gotten her pregnant, Jeron had refused to believe it. He thought it had to be a lie.
It must have been a devastating blow to Aileen. Her heart must’ve felt like it had been dragged through the mud. But for Jeron, it had been… an opportunity. A rare stroke of luck that had fallen into his lap. Unlike that bastard Carlisle, he would never do such a thing. He could cherish her, protect her—truly love her.
He didn’t even know how to process the blessing that had suddenly dropped from the sky. So he had taken a risk, sending his portrait ahead through Countess Bianto.
Normally, someone like Jeron would never have made the first move. But Aileen meant too much to him to let her slip away. And his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Diar, were aware of his feelings and chose not to oppose him.
This was a hard-won moment—an opportunity created by courage.
Should I tell her how I feel now? Or wait a little longer?
There wasn’t even a question. He might never get another chance like this. Jeron summoned all the courage he had and made his decision.
“Because it was you, Lady Aileen of House Revart.”
“Pardon…?”
“It was because the proposal was for you—not anyone else—that I wanted to come. And yes, I’ve already received my parents’ blessing.”
“…Sorry?”
The words struck Aileen like a blow. She couldn’t hide her shock. Jeron’s voice trembled faintly, but his eyes—wide and unwavering—met hers directly.
She wasn’t foolish. She knew exactly what he meant.
Why? Since when?
To her, they were nothing more than polite acquaintances. They had exchanged the occasional greeting. That was it.
Aileen turned her gaze away, clearly overwhelmed. Jeron, watching her withdraw, clenched his fists beneath the table to stop his hands from shaking.
“I fell in love at first sight,” he said. “Back when you helped me, when I was in trouble.”
“……”
“Your kind heart, the way you can’t pass by someone in need. Your quiet strength—something I don’t have. Every part of you… I couldn’t ignore any of it.”
His hands, now trembling like leaves in the wind, were curled into tight fists below the table.
He knew… If today passed without saying this, he might never get another chance.
There was no chance of her getting back together with that man. But if Aileen became too busy with knightly duties to show her face at social gatherings again—then what? There would be no more overlap. No more chances.
Jeron’s mind, unlike his composed exterior, had gone completely blank. Unable to consider other outcomes, he pressed on.
“Until now, I had no choice but to watch from afar. But this time, I had a chance. I couldn’t let it slip by.”
“……”
“I’d like to see you again—formally, Lady Aileen of House Revart.”
Aileen was momentarily speechless. What is this man saying right now?
She had come with light expectations. Jeron was someone she’d at least exchanged greetings with—she never once imagined he harbored any deeper feelings for her.
She’d assumed he had sent his portrait simply because they’d shared a decent impression, and a marriage alliance between their houses wouldn’t be too bad. That was all.
But the weight of his reply was far more than she could carry.
She had never looked at another man besides Carlisle. She had never even imagined Jeron in that light. Just moments ago, hadn’t she already decided she wasn’t interested?
Trying to rein in the confusion rising inside her, Aileen slowly opened her mouth.
“Um… I—”
“It doesn’t have to be now.”
Jeron quickly raised a hand, cutting her off before she could finish.
He understood. He wasn’t oblivious. He had only confessed his feelings out of mounting urgency—hoping, at the very least, to leave the door open.
In his mind’s eye, he could still clearly see Aileen standing beside Carlisle.
Jet-black hair that never moved, eyes like still lakes—sharp and unreadable, Carlisle had always exuded an air of coldness, a man difficult to approach. But beside him, with a gentle smile and soft pink hair, Aileen had always seemed to shine.
Their contrasting hair colors had once inspired a wave of fashion in the social scene—wigs crafted to mimic the couple’s striking hues.
Even Carlisle’s wintry air would melt when Aileen was near. The walls that kept others away seemed to lower for her without resistance.
That’s how it had been between them—so naturally well-matched that Jeron had sometimes wondered how beautiful a pink peony blooming in the dark might be.
As another man, Jeron had felt it. Carlisle knew exactly what Jeron’s glances meant—and had always responded with a cold, wary presence. Whenever Jeron had tried to approach under the guise of a polite greeting, he’d end up retreating with a strained smile.
But not anymore. Now, he didn’t need to pull back.
Jeron lowered his hand and drew a deep breath. His broad shoulders, no longer hunched, straightened with quiet confidence. He didn’t look weak at all now.
“I understand if you’re surprised. I know it must be strange hearing this from someone you’ve only exchanged a few greetings with. But I needed to say it now, in case I don’t get another chance.”
“……”
“If I had said nothing and simply left, I feared you would never agree to see me again in this way. I apologize if I’ve been rude.”
“No, it’s not that…”
“If you didn’t dislike this meeting, would you consider giving me another chance?”
He pressed forward like a wave. Aileen had no room to stop him.
Her lips parted slightly, unable to find the right words. Jeron’s light blue eyes, fixed on her unwaveringly, were filled with honesty and hope.
So different from Carlisle’s deep blue—eyes like a dark sea that could pull you under with no return.
The contrast itself stirred something strange within her.
Jeron, with his open, cheerful nature, was the complete opposite of Carlisle.
She had never imagined Jeron harbored feelings for her—but now, she wondered: Would it be so bad to see him again? Could such differences complement each other, instead of clashing? Would turning away now mean cutting off a meaningful connection before it even had a chance to begin?
So many questions raced through her mind.
Just as Jeron’s heart reached the point where it felt like it couldn’t beat any faster, Aileen finally parted her lips to speak—after long and careful thought.
