OPDPS side story 5

“Hello.”

“Oh, you’re here. Sit down.”

Aeryl took a seat across from Lady Merel.

“It’s been just under two weeks since you returned to the Grand Duke’s castle, hasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“You mustn’t stay cooped up indoors just because it’s winter. Winter is the season to prepare for the coming year. Spring will hit in a rush before you know it, so you should start getting ready to be the Grand Duchess now—even if things are still quite… intense at the moment.”

Lady Merel’s words were scolding, but every bit of it was true.

Since returning to the Grand Duke’s castle, all Aeryl had done was hole up and do indecent things with Hiello. He couldn’t really argue.

Once she had taken control of the mood, she handed him a folder.

“Here. This is for you.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a summary of the duties the Grand Duchess must handle personally. It also includes how the inner quarters is run. It should serve as a good reference.”

While Lady Merel sipped her tea, Aeryl skimmed through the folder.

It included a list of tasks required of the Grand Duchess, events he must attend, and simple explanations on how each was carried out.

Another section detailed the inner quarters management system and the names of those in charge.

It was clear she had put great care into compiling it all.

“Did you organize all this yourself?”

“I did. Back in my day, I struggled because I didn’t know anything.”

“Thank you.”

He accepted it gratefully, knowing it had been prepared with thought.

“Oh, don’t mention it. The sooner you take over the Grand Duchess’s duties, the sooner I can go on my trip without worry.”

She said it lightly, but it was essentially an act of passing over her authority.

In noble households, the power of the lady of the house came from managing events and wielding control over money and people. It was clear now that Lady Merel truly had no lingering attachment to power.

“You won’t understand everything from that alone. You’re not from the North, after all. So I was thinking…”

“Yes?”

“My birthday is in three weeks. Since it’s in midwinter, it’s always been a modest affair. But I thought—why don’t you plan it this time?”

“Throwing me straight into the deep end, I see?”

“It’s the fastest way to learn, isn’t it? I’ll help you along the way—so give it a try.”

It seemed she was planning to pass on all her know-how and then step back for good.

“Not sure how far you plan to travel, but if you’ll help me, I’ll give it a shot.”

In any case, Aeryl had to learn this stuff to become the Grand Duchess.

He should’ve been the one to ask Lady Merel for help, but she’d offered first—and he was grateful.

“Have you learned anything about managing a household?”

“No. Not at all.”

What the Emperor had taught Aeryl was mostly about how to appear appealing to potential suitors.

“Set aside an hour each day. There’s a lot to teach. Even small parties aren’t easy to prepare for.”

“Alright. I understand.”

Aeryl suddenly found the situation funny.

Different fields as they were, the mother would teach him, he’d teach the son, and the results of it all would show at a birthday party.

‘I’ll give it my best.’

Aeryl steeled himself.

***

After hearing a bit more from Lady Merel, Aeryl returned to the central hall.

He went to the office and informed Hiello that Lady Merel would be teaching him and that he would be preparing the party.

“Sounds like she’s giving you a bit of an initiation.”

“Initiation?”

Aeryl frowned in concern at the ominous word.

In novels, initiation usually meant hazing or bullying…

“Don’t take it too seriously. It just means introducing yourself as the future Grand Duchess.”

According to Hiello there was a tradition that between engagement and marriage, future Grand Duchesses would hold an event or campaign under their own name.

“Why didn’t you tell me this before?!”

Aeryl stared at him, wide-eyed. That was such an important tradition—and he hadn’t heard a word about it until now?

“You already did a fine job introducing yourself. So there’s no problem.”

“I did?”

“Northerners still talk fondly about how you humiliated the Emperor.”

“I mean… sure, but still…”

Aeryl was so dumbfounded he was at a loss for words. That’s good enough? Really?

Hiello tugged Aeryl by the arm, and though Aeryl squirmed and resisted, he ended up nestled in Hiello’s embrace.

“I thought it was enough, but it seems Lady Merel had something else in mind.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s not much you can do in the middle of winter. I suppose she figured hosting a birthday party would at least be presentable.”

“So that’s what it was.”

He had assumed she was just throwing him straight into the deep end because people don’t change so easily—but he’d misunderstood.

“She probably also just wanted a chance to tease you. You’ve had her wrapped around your finger this whole time.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

Aeryl pouted, lips jutting out. Hiello leaned in and gave the protruding lips a quick peck.

“If it ever feels like too much, tell me.”

“No, it’s fine. She’s doing this for me in her own way, so I want to do a good job.”

As Aeryl gathered his resolve, Hiello sighed and rested his head on him.

“Haaah.”

“What?”

“I feel like mother and son are taking turns stealing you away from me.”

“Haha.”

Aeryl laughed and tried to wrap his arms around Hiello—but Lady Merel’s words suddenly came to mind again.

Even thinking back, there hadn’t been a single thing she’d said that was wrong.

Aeryl’s life was about to change dramatically, and yet he hadn’t prepared for any of it. He hadn’t even begun to think about the future.

‘If Lady Merel hadn’t looked after me, I would’ve missed out on an important tradition.’

A wave of urgency struck him. He remembered also saying he’d study up on frost sickness—but hadn’t stepped foot in the library.

I even heard it was spreading—and I didn’t look into it? That’s a total failure as a doctor!

“Hiello.”

“Mm?”

Still buried in the crook of Aeryl’s neck and dazed on pheromones, Hielro lazily answered.

He could sense something had shifted, but didn’t think much of it—until Aeryl said it outright.

“Let’s stop.”

“…What?”

Hiello lifted his head, startled.

“I think we’ve been too reckless about our relationship. Day and night, wherever we feel like…”

Aeryl muttered with a self-deprecating tone. Hiello, relieved but sheepish, lightly protested.

“But it was all indoors. All in the bedroom.”

“Then… should we go outside, or—”

Aeryl’s jaw dropped mid-sentence, then he quickly shook his head.

“No, I mean—just at night! In bed! Got it?”

“…Hmm.”

Hiello trailed off as he pressed a kiss to Aeryl’s palm.

His blue eyes looked unusually forlorn, and Aeryl almost caved. Even knowing it was just puppy love, he still felt a pang of sympathy and wanted to hold him tight.

“…Then let’s go to bed a little earlier from now on.”

Unable to resist, Aeryl stroked his hair gently.

Seeing how firm Aeryl’s will was, Hiello couldn’t push back anymore.

“Alright.”

Truthfully, Hiello hadn’t meant to slack off this much either.

At first, it had been a difficult journey, and he’d only planned to rest for two or three days before returning to routine.

But being with Aeryl was so blissful that he kept delaying it—just one more time, one more afternoon, one more day—and it had spiraled.

Yes, winter was a slower season, but even winter had its own responsibilities.

“It really is time we got back to normal. Thanks for saying it at the right moment.”

“Yeah. And thanks for listening.”

The two held each other tightly.

Their thick winter clothing felt like a wall between them, and Aeryl discreetly checked the time.

It was still early afternoon—and he clenched his fist.

“It’s still afternoon,” Hiello said.

He was thinking the exact same thing as Aeryl.

Aeryl looked up at him without letting go.

Their eyes met—and a spark flew.

Hiello leaned down. Aeryl rose to his toes.

Their lips met in a kiss that was neither his nor his—it just was.

The kiss deepened, tongues exploring, breaths mingling.

Their bodies responded, hands roaming, touching.

It’s still daylight…

They’d just agreed to keep things under control, and now they were breaking the rule already.

Is this all the self-control I have? The self-loathing was creeping in.

‘We could still stop now…’

Aeryl inhaled deeply, drawing in the alpha pheromones clinging to him.

The love, the pure desire in them made him feel light-headed.

He cupped Hiello’s face in his hands.

“…This is just because we decided it today…”

He murmured, as if making excuses to himself, while his fingers traced along Hielro’s jaw and the back of his neck.

Hiello lowered his eyes, savoring the touch, then murmured in return—

“Let’s start tomorrow.”