Chapter 66
In truth, Violet had been persuaded by Aldrick more than anything, but she didn’t entirely dislike his suggestion either.
‘Rosetta is a little concerning… and leaving the castle when we have guests is a bit troubling too…’
Aldrick immediately brushed off her worries.
Rosetta would be fine, since the same nanny had been with her since birth. The Lamberts’ visit had originally been intended to give them some private time anyway—it had been discussed even before their arrival.
With Aldrick’s confident reassurance, Violet, whose resolve was as thin as a sheet of paper, ended up thinking, Oh? Then maybe this is actually fine… and reached an easy conclusion.
“Those two might want some time alone too. We conceived Rosetta at that castle, and they said they wanted to receive some of that lucky energy. It’s not like ten days is too excessive, right?”
“Really? Hmm, well, if they’re fine with it…”
It would be nice to have some quiet time with Aldrick again. Rosetta might miss her mother a bit, but she was a child who got along well with the nanny…
Violet, never the stubborn type to begin with, ended up being convinced.
Anyway, it was an exceptionally beautiful day.
Though her head throbbed a little, the breeze was fresh and the sky was lovely. The forest air she hadn’t breathed in for so long lifted her spirits.
Maybe, deep down, she had been hoping for an outing like this herself. That thought alone made her feel even better.
Had the alcohol drawn out a desire she’d been secretly suppressing? Violet figured Aldrick must have felt the same way.
Otherwise, why else would he have followed a drunken woman out of the castle at dawn?
She didn’t know what it was Aldrick had “prepared,” but Violet decided to enjoy this unexpected trip to the fullest.
It had been a very long time since her heart felt this light and fluttery.
***
Three years ago, the Count and Countess of Winter had entered the estate in a rather tumultuous fashion, thanks to Violet’s clumsy attempt at fleeing.
But despite the rocky beginning, they had managed everything surprisingly well.
To some, three years might seem a short time, but the two of them had lived those years with incredible dedication.
Thanks to the Count—who came to the Countess’s room every night without fail (or rather, had practically claimed it as his own)—it didn’t take long for them to bear the fruit of their love, and with the arrival of their precious daughter Rosetta, their days became busier than ever.
Aldrick was constantly preoccupied with restoring and managing the long-neglected estate. Violet, meanwhile, took charge of the once-dreary manor’s domestic affairs and raised their child. Each was busy in their own role.
Aldrick adored Rosetta immensely and wanted to care for her as much as he could, but in truth, that was nearly impossible.
The weight of the responsibilities on his shoulders was immense, and the work never ceased piling up.
Fortunately, Violet handled everything quite well, even while Aldrick was swamped with duties.
He was always grateful to her for that.
To him, Violet was a woman he always wanted to protect, and at the same time, the only person he could truly rely on.
They lived each day like comrades fighting back-to-back.
Aldrick always thought that without her, he never would’ve made it this far.
She was a wonderful lady of the estate, a loving mother, a devoted wife, and a strong, steady friend.
Yes, that was absolutely true. Which is why Aldrick could never be dissatisfied with Violet.
If he ever dared to be, he wouldn’t have the right to complain if the world called him the worst man alive.
Yes, that was certainly the case… and yet…
Lately, Aldrick had begun to feel a little discontent toward Violet. Or rather—if he were to be precise—it wasn’t her, but the situation itself that frustrated him.
And if he dug a little deeper, it wasn’t exactly dissatisfaction. It felt more like anxiety… or perhaps a creeping sense of crisis.
Though they looked like the perfect couple on the outside, Aldrick felt that their relationship was more distant than ever.
Being constantly busy was part of the problem, sure. But the real issue was that all of Violet’s attention had shifted to their child.
Maybe it was a mother’s instinct.
But ever since Rosetta was born, Violet had started to find Aldrick… just a little bothersome.
Violet firmly denied it, but Aldrick—always thirsting for her affection—picked up on it all too quickly.
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