Eleanor ran to the pond.

Her heart sank with a crash. When she saw Demian squeaking and reaching out the water, her eyes turned white.

The pond wasn’t so deep, but it could be dangerous if a child fell into the wrong place.

Sienna, who was startled, burst into tears.

“We were just playing with each other… What should I do? What should I do.”

“You two, go back to the mansion and call for people. Tell them to prepare warm water in the bathtub. Can you do it? ”

Eleanor, who quickly threw out her shoes, jumped into the pond.

She stretched out her limbs, urgently embraced Demian from behind. Eleanor shouted again in his ear, whose heart was unable to calm down.

“Demian, it’s okay. It’s alright now. You’re safe. You won’t get hurt. ”

“Fuhㅡ”

“It’s fine. Everything will be fine. ”

Eleanor gave more strength to her arms, which were embracing Demian. He hugged her neck with both hands.

“Teacher…”

“You were surprised, weren’t you? It’s okay now, Demi. Wash yourself with warm water and drink warm, sweet tea. The Duke will soon come to pick you up. ”

Eleanor, who had Demian on the pond, sighed long.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Demian shook his head.

“Come here. You’re gonna get cold and wet. Let’s go up to Teacher. ”

Eleanor put her back toward Demian.

“Demian!”

It was then. Towards the familiar voice, Eleanor and Demian turned their heads. Kaidel approached with his face pale.

He accepted Demian from Eleanor.

“I need you to lend me a bathroom.”

“It’ll be ready in a minute. I should have paid more attention…”

“We’ll talk about the long story later.”

The two half-ran into the mansion. Fortunately, warm water was ready, so he could melt his body immediately. The two maids who were used to dealing with children helped Demian’s bath.

Only after Demian dipped in the bathtub, Kaidel was able to breathe. As soon as he arrived, he was half mesmerized after hearing that Demian fell into the water.

‘That could have been a real disaster.’

At that time, a thin voice was heard behind Kaidel’s back.

“Excuse me, Duke.”

It was Eleanor.

“I brought a towel because you seemed to be a little wet earlier.”

“Thank you.”

Kaidel said as he turned around to get a towel. Eleanor was still drenched with cold water. At the end of her long hair, the water dripped and her pale cheeks were wet.

Kaidel’s body froze when he inadvertently lowered his gaze. Her thin dress was completely wet and was in close contact with his body. He quickly turned his head and said.

“It seems that rather than me, you’re the one who needs the towel.”

Kaidel, who received a towel, began to carefully wipe Eleanor’s face. It was a cautious touch as if she were easy to break. The blue eyes glanced through her face.

“I can do it on my own…”

“Alright.”

Kaidel didn’t insist long and passed the towel. It was no longer something he could do for her. He whispered quietly, looking away from Eleanor and staring into the air.

“It’d be better for you to change clothes first.”

Gasp.

Only then did Eleanor realize that she was wearing a soaked, slightly see-through dress. Her face rose red like an apple.

‘I’m doomed.’

Eleanor, who fled to her room as if she was running away, closed the door and sat down.

“My goodness, who am I treating like this? I’m crazy, really. I want to go into a rat hole.”

Eleanor grabbed her head and prayed, yet as a result, she immersed herself in a bathtub, much warmer and more comfortable than a rat hole.

As she entered the warm water, her heart that jumped anxiously began to calm down. At the same time, it was appalling that it might have been a big disaster. Eleanor blamed herself and buried her face in both hands. Tears welled up.

“I shouldn’t take my eyes off them for a second. It’s my fault. ”

If something wrong happened to Demian…

It wouldn’t have been possible to endure the guilt even if it wasn’t the situation. Eleanor wiped away her tears and sniffed.

‘I’m responsible for the safety of the children in this house. I have to apologize properly.’

As soon as her body melted to some extent, Eleanor came out of the bathtub and wiped herself. Even though she almost calmed down, her legs kept loosening up.

“First of all, Demian should be sleeping here today. He must’ve been surprised, it’s impossible for him to travel for an hour in a carriage. ”

Eleanor quickly changed her clothes and went to the drawing room. Kaidel and Demian were sitting side by side and drinking warm tea.

“Duke. Demian.”

The two pairs of eyes turned to Eleanor. She quickly looked at Demian’s face. Fortunately, his complexion looked good and comfortable.

“I really don’t know how to apologize.  I should have paid more attention…”

“It happened by mistake while the children were playing among themselves. Demian is at fault for being careless. So stop blaming yourself.”

Demian nodded at Kaidel’s words. However Eleanor’s heart wasn’t at all comfortable.

“I’ve received enough apologies, and Demian is fine, that’s why, don’t worry about it anymore.”

Kaidel once again said, seeing Eleanor’s expression wasn’t good.

“Demian would have been surprised even if he was a little better now. Why don’t you take a day off at the Count’s place for today? ”

Eleanor looked at Kaidel with desperate eyes.

He was extremely avoiding staying outside his usual house, yet he couldn’t refuse when he saw the transparent green pupils trembling in guilt.

“…We will.”

“What a relief. I’ll prepare a guest room. Would you like for two rooms to be prepared separately?”

Kaidel, who was trying to casually nod, glanced at his brother. After a long time, perhaps the first time he hugged Demian, he was very light and small. When he wrapped around his cold cheeks, his heart seemed to fall down.

Kaidel, who had been thinking for a while, replied.

“One is enough. Demian would have been surprised today, he needs someone to watch him by his side.”

Demian’s eyes were rounded at the unexpected answer. He always sighed whenever he saw the little boy. The two didn’t even eat sitting face to face.

Demian was convinced that Kaidel hated him. He was sad, yet he understood.

Demian had never forgotten for a moment that his mother’s death was in exchange for his birth. This is because the vassals of the Duke brought out the story every time they saw him.

They said that every time the former duke saw his wife in Demian, he distorted his face. In the end, it was unbearable that voluntarily entered a bloody battlefield. And that choice eventually made him get buried with his wife.

The uncle sat down in front of Demian and talked with a loud voice.

[You’re a guy who eats your mother and father. Who is next? Of course, your brother.]

On the day Demian heard that, he shut his mouth up.

‘If I wasn’t born, if I had died and Mother was still alive, my family would have been happy. It’s all because of me. I make my family unhappy.’

Then he had to live with as little presence as possible. He had to be as far as possible from Kaidel and had to exist like a ghost as if he weren’t there in the first place.

Such a choice seemed to be correct seeing Kaidel, who became the family’s head, was victorious.

But to think that they’re using the same room. To think that he’ll watch him all night.

“Demian is still a young child, so won’t he need a guardian?”

His eyes were filled with confusion.

***

“It’s Dwight’s clothes, and the biggest one. Please change yours with this”

“Thank you.”

“Demian too, change to this.”

She searched Dwight’s wardrobe and found his largest and smallest clothes that could be worn as pajamas.

Eleanor, who helped to change Demian clothes, turned to the embarrassing voice from behind.

“I think the clothes are a little small.”

“No way…”

When Dwight wore it, it was definitely loose, though?

Eleanor saw him with a puzzled face.

Pfft.

She burst into laughter unconsciously.

Dwight’s shirt fitted Kaidel perfectly. Like, it really ‘fitted’. The clothes would be torn if he lifted his arms, and the buttons on his chest, fasten with difficulty, seemed that they would be fired forward if he took a big breath.

Dwight wasn’t small. However, Kaidel’s body, which was strengthened with steady training, was completely different from Dwight, who had only read books for a lifetime.

His body, which is delicately woven with hard muscles, was much larger and thicker than Dwight. It was beautiful enough to be admired, but it was funny to see now.

As Eleanor’s lips trembled to endure laughter, Kaidel’s face became more and more red. Demian also buried his face deeply on a pillow to avoid laughing.

“…It’s just pajamas. I originally sleep like this.”

Kaidel turned his head and muttered. His earlobes were red.

“I’m really sorry. I’ll tell a maid to prepare the pajamas.”

Eleanor kissed Demian’s forehead lightly.

“Sleep tight, Demi. Good night, Duke.”

Eleanor quietly exited the room. As soon as the sound of the door closed, clack, was heard, silence came in the room. The bright and warm atmosphere quickly subsided.

Kaidel, who finished changing, said.

“I’ll turn off the lights, so lie down.”

Kaidel, skillfully turning off the wall lights, leaned on the bed with a thick blanket. Demian’s body was nervous about the presence next to him.

“Isn’t it cold? Are you sick anywhere?”

Demian shook his head. Kaidel, who moved the blanket towards Demian, laid down. It was a bit uncomfortable to have someone next to him, but not to the point he couldn’t stand it.

“…I’m sorry.”

At that time, Demian whispered, wiggling the end of the blanket.

Demian has never talked first, thus Kaidel’s eyes have grown to their limit.

Trying to regain his composure, asked in a blunt voice as usual.

“What about.”

“I-I should have played carefully, but because of me…”

Demian spit out a thin voice. Kaidel sighed.

“It’s not uncomfortable. You don’t have to apologize.”

Kaidel, who answered firmly, saw the young boy flinched and shrank in the dark.