Chapter 69
Floria shook her head.
“No, nothing would’ve changed. But I wish you had told me.”
If you had, I could have expressed the gratitude I never got to share that day.
At the time, I was so flustered—after you left me in front of the palace, I didn’t even get a proper farewell.
“What should I have said?”
He gave a wry smile.
“I wanted someone like you, not yet fully grown…”
His hand cupped Floria’s cheek.
Perhaps from wandering in the cold forest for so long, or maybe from tension—his hand was unusually cold.
“To desire you, to threaten Altomole, and finally claim you as mine.”
His voice resonated calmly.
“Would you have forgiven me?”
What kind of question is that?
“…You—you, Aidan, you wanted me? From the very start?”
Floria couldn’t quite understand his words.
“Yes.”
What Aidan just said was different from what she’d heard from Helia. She’d heard he originally desired Helia, the continent’s most famous beauty, and proposed marriage to her.
Still in a daze, unable to speak, Floria listened as Aidan continued.
“You don’t know how much that day changed me. Someone who wanted nothing, I wanted you, Floria, more than anything.”
“…”
“Do you know how distressed I was when I heard you were missing today?”
“…”
“You wouldn’t understand anything.”
He smiled bitterly.
8. His Desire
Floria knew nothing.
She didn’t know how much pain Aidan endured upon meeting her, or how many changes he had to undergo because of her.
Their first meeting was on a day of ill omen.
Aidan had a natural gift for reading the terrain.
Even with only a rough map, he could navigate dense forests to reach his destination.
But that day was different.
Approaching the southern border, ready to turn back, his usually obedient horse stubbornly refused to comply.
The horse’s ears pricked toward the sky, then it bolted forward.
“Silin, stop!”
Even as Aidan tightened the reins, the horse charged onward.
Clop, clop—it ran relentlessly, ignoring Aidan’s shouts—until it suddenly reared and stopped.
“Hiiing!”
The horse neighed loudly and came to a halt. Aidan shouted.
“What are you doing?”
His horse was Silin—the mount he’d ridden since his first hunt.
It seemed to read his mind, fearless even in chaos. Silin was his most reliable companion in war.
But on this day, the usually calm and brave Silin was strangely agitated, running here.
When Aidan ordered him to return, Silin just blinked and remained still.
“This is serious.”
If Aidan’s understanding was correct, they were now within Altomole’s territory.
A bit further on horseback, and the Altomole royal palace would appear.
He had just planned to scout the forest on the southern edge of Sieff—maybe hunt if prey was found, or leisurely patrol.
Nothing special, no particular mission.
That was why he ventured out alone.
Now, as the Duke of the Sieff Principality entering foreign territory alone, if discovered—especially by the royal guard—chaos would ensue.
Had he come with troops, perhaps it’d be different, but alone was dangerous.
Aidan frowned.
“Let’s go back.”
He twisted the reins in his right hand.
But Silin wouldn’t budge.
“What are you doing?”
This was the first time he had seen such behavior.
“I’m not old enough to lose my mind yet, Silin?”
Even after speaking those words, Silin remained steadfast, shaking his head and pointing to the right with his neck.
Aidan turned to look where he indicated.
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