Chapter 58
Side Story
As a knight of the Kingdom and a young lord, Aldrick Winter stood atop a gently sloping ridge, gazing with pride at his castle in the distance.
Beyond the rounded mountain peaks, he could see the grey rooftops and spires peeking out. The walls, glimpsed here and there between the long ridgelines, looked quite sturdy.
Though not large in scale—fitting for a newly established rural domain—after three years of hard work with Violet, the castle had finally begun to take on a well-organized form.
Now that his long and tiresome journey had come to an end and he had stepped back onto his own land, a fresh wave of longing rose in Aldrick’s heart.
Unlike before, when the fact that he owned land felt awkward, he had grown truly attached to this domain in just two years.
Of course, the biggest reason he had grown attached was that this place had become the home of his family.
When he thought of the family who had been living here without him, the homesickness that had been plaguing him deepened.
He had just returned from spending three long months in the capital, Mallo. It had been for the New Year’s celebration at the royal palace.
At the start of each year, all the nobles of the kingdom were summoned to the capital to pay their respects to the king. For local lords, it was the only audience granted each year, but to Aldrick, who simply wanted to return to his domain, it had been nothing but a tedious obligation.
Still, it hadn’t been without reward.
In his hand now was the new name of his territory, bearing the official approval of the king. The name came directly from Violet and their precious first daughter: Rosetta.
Violet and Rosetta Winter.
The family Aldrick had missed so dearly. He couldn’t describe how much he had longed for the two of them over the past three months.
In truth, Aldrick had been desperate to bring Violet along on this journey.
But traveling with a child who had just passed her first birthday was near impossible. Violet had flatly refused, citing Rosetta’s safety.
On the day he left the castle, with his wife and young daughter behind, Aldrick had found it almost physically painful to take even a single step.
Even after arriving in the capital, he spent his days thinking only of his family, sunk in sadness, but now, he was okay. As soon as the New Year’s events and noble council had ended, he hurried back, and had returned even earlier than expected.
There was nothing he didn’t miss. The humble domain he had been carefully cultivating, the lord’s castle lovingly tended by Violet, and of course, his adorable daughter who had just begun to toddle. But if he had to choose the one thing he missed most—it was, without a doubt, his wife, Violet.
“The domain is beautiful. Didn’t you say it was a village left unattended without a proper lord? You must’ve had a hard time.”
The one who broke Aldrick out of his reverie was his close friend, Count Simon Lambert.
Riding on horseback behind them was a carriage carrying Simon’s wife, Doris Lambert. The Lamberts, who rarely left the capital, had uncharacteristically joined Aldrick on this trip.
It was because the Countess had wanted a change of scenery through some inland travel, and also expressed a desire to meet Violet.
Simon, too, had been curious about Aldrick’s territory. Since there was no reason to refuse, Aldrick had accepted the Lamberts’ request.
Of course, there were other reasons he had invited them, but he intended to tell Violet about those separately.
“Violet and I both went through quite a bit.”
Glancing back at Simon, Aldrick smiled, genuinely pleased. His striking face, which could feel cold when expressionless, changed entirely with a single bright smile.
Aldrick was still as beautiful as a boy. Seeing the radiant face of his friend, now even more polished than before marriage, Simon let out an exasperated laugh.
“You’re really that happy? The moment we passed into your domain, your mouth practically reached your ears.”
“Try being separated from your wife for three months.”
“Well, I doubt I’d pine as much as you did… Not that I’m saying I don’t love my wife, of course. Look here—just because a man doesn’t grieve as if he’ll die, doesn’t mean his love is any less real. My wife and I lived together for three years before the war and were apart for three years after, but our love hasn’t changed a bit!”
Simon suddenly raised his voice, perhaps to make sure his wife in the carriage could hear, and Aldrick chuckled quietly.
Well, maybe he was right. People love in different ways. Simon might be fine not seeing his wife for so long, but Aldrick certainly wasn’t.
“We’ve rested enough. Let’s get moving again.”
Brushing off Simon’s words lightly, Aldrick spoke briskly.
They would arrive in just half a day’s ride. Having seen the lord’s castle even from afar, Aldrick now wanted nothing more than to hurry to Violet.
His heart, which had been lifeless for months, began to beat anew.
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