Chapter 80
Then he commanded,
“Discard it.”
At his words, the steward took the letter from the silver tray and left without a word.
“I’m sorry.”
Without thinking, those words slipped from her lips.
Aidan frowned as he dressed, his sunlit body now hidden beneath a black robe.
“You don’t need to apologize to me.”
Then he gently pulled Floria closer.
“Never apologize with those lips.
To anyone.”
Aidan kissed Floria again, softly silencing her lips that tried to apologize once more.
Their eager lips met, and his blunt tongue tasted hers.
Sensing the steward might return at any moment, Floria pushed him away with both hands this time.
“They might see us.” “So what if they do? We should nail the door shut.
They keep barging in and I need to concentrate.”
He teased, a playful curve forming at the corner of his lips.
Lately, Aidan had been laughing often.
As his laughter became lighter, Floria’s heart fluttered more frequently.
“If we go on like this, people will think the Duke and Duchess are mad.
Let’s have breakfast.”
Her voice admonishing, though his hand still toyed with her delicate shoulder, she added, “I’m hungry,” and he finally released her.
Free at last, Floria moved toward the table by the window.
At this rate, they’d never leave the bed before lunch again.
As she neared the window, she squinted against the sudden brightness.
“The sunlight today is just too lovely.”
She whispered those words—and then froze.
The world outside had turned white.
A snowy carpet covered the garden and the distant northern mountains.
It was a sight she’d never seen before, and Floria’s mouth dropped open in awe.
“It’s snowing!”
Excited by the snow, Floria dashed into the garden, skipping breakfast.
Of course, before she left, Aidan and Grace bundled her up so thickly she could barely move.
“Everyone worries too much.” “It’s white and beautiful.”
Altomole never saw real winter cold.
It felt more like autumn in the Duchy of Sieff.
Naturally, she’d never seen snow before.
She had only seen it illustrated in books.
In books, it looked plain white—but real snow sparkled.
Snow crystals clinging to branches looked as beautiful as if painted by a master artist.
“I thought it would be freezing, but it’s less cold than yesterday.”
“Snow days are usually milder.
Watch your step there.”
She had sunk ankle-deep in last night’s snowfall.
Stumbling through the untouched drifts, Floria was steadied by Aidan.
“How far are you headed? It’s dangerous.”
“Just to that hill.” Behind the castle was a small hill overlooking the northern forest.
She wanted to see how the normally green conifers had changed.
“You can’t walk there. It’s dangerous.
I’ll have the snow cleared—go this afternoon instead.”
“I want to see it now…”
Seeing her pout, he sighed with a laugh, helpless.
“If my wife wants to see it, she should go.”
He bent down and scooped Floria into his arms.
Her heavier winter layers made her body limp in his embrace.
“Oh—this is scary.”
“You’re safe.”
One hand did light support at her shoulder to keep her wide-brimmed hat from drooping, the other wrapped around her legs.
Though scared at first, she felt secure and unshaken as he walked.
Aidan walked through the snow, carrying her up the hill.
Wasn’t she too heavy?
Unlike worried Floria, the man carrying her showed no sign of strain.
With a cool expression, he trudged steadily, and soon they reached the hilltop.
“Why did you want to come here so badly?”
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