Everyone enjoyed the al that had been prepared, with Lucian paying particular attention to Rina, making sure she ate well.
"Brother, did you make this for ?" Rina asked, holding up the roasted fish on a stick. "It’s just how I like it. You even added less spice."
Lucian humd in response and took the fish from her. "You can eat once I’ve separated the bones."
Rina nodded, enjoying her al. "You should eat too."
"Lucian, you’d make a great father," Arthur comnted. "The way you treat Rina is just like how a father would care for his daughter."
"She’s young, so she needs care," Lucian replied.
"This reminds of how we used to take care of Erin," Nathaniel added. "Her three brothers and I. I wish she was still that sa little girl."
"Don’t worry, you’ll get to take care of her daughter if you miss it too much," Rowan chid in. "I’m sure my sister will have a daughter just as adorable as she is, and a son just as strong and impressive as their father, Aaron." Rowan glanced at Lucian. "Your experience with Rina will co in handy to help take care of your niece and nephew, so my sister can relax—especially since Aaron doesn’t seem like he has much experience with kids."
Lucian shot him a glare, and Rowan could feel the intensity of how much Lucian wanted to throttle him but was forced to hold back. In response, Rowan offered him a mocking smirk.
"Brother Aaron is good at handling kids too," Rina chid in, breaking the invisible tension between Rowan and Lucian. "He’s been taking care of for a few days, and I must say he’s as sweet and perfect as Brother Lucian," she added, looking at Erin. "Lady Erin, don’t worry—Brother Aaron can take care of kids."
Erin didn’t know how to respond to the talk about children. One family mber, Lucian, was against her marrying Aaron, while another, Rina, was reassuring her about her kids would be taken care of well. Everything felt like a ss.
Rowan offered a sweet smile to Rina. "Young lady, I must say, you are the smartest and truly know how to comfort people with the right words," he said, clearly pleased. Lucian could do nothing to his own sister, and that made Rowan even happier. "Once Erin marries Aaron, I can entrust you to her without a worry."
"Sure, Brother Rowan," Rina replied.
"Such a sweet young lady. If you were an adult, I’d choose to marry you," Rowan joked.
Rina, delighted by the complint, exclaid, "Really?"
"Unlike others, I know exactly what kind of woman I want," Rowan said, casting a glance at the quiet Lucian before turning back to Rina. "But sadly, you’re too young."
"How about you wait for to grow up?" Rina asked with a smile.
"By that ti, I’d be an old man you wouldn’t even look at. I’m already in my mid-twenties," Rowan replied.
"I’m sure you’ll be just as handso when you’re old, Brother Rowan," Rina added cheerfully.
"Little lady, you’re going to be a great flirt when you grow up—unlike my sister, who doesn’t know flirting at all," Rowan teased, looking at Erin. "I should’ve taught you better."
Erin glared at him. "I’m fine as I am."
Rina giggled. "Even my brother doesn’t know how to flirt. Maybe you could teach him too."
Lucian, unimpressed, stuffed a piece of at into Rina’s mouth. "Talk less and eat more."
Rina obediently quieted and began to chew, while Erin watched Lucian, thinking, He may not know how to flirt, but he sure knows how to intimidate a woman with his stubborn, useless demands.
After they finished eating, Nathaniel spoke up. "It gets dark early here, so we won’t be able to go out now."
"It’s cold, and it’s better to stay inside," Arthur added. "I just hope you had the sense to ask your servants to stock so liquor here."
"There’s more than enough for you," Nathaniel replied. "The last room serves as a cellar."
They all went inside and arranged for the fireplace to keep burning. The n helped spread cushioned mattresses on the floor so everyone could rest comfortably.
Nathaniel looked at the ladies. "Erin and Rina, would you two prefer to sleep in one of the rooms inside or...?"
"We’re all like family here. They’ll sleep here. It’s much warr with more people," Rowan interjected.
"I’ll sleep with my brother so I won’t feel cold," Rina declared.
"Alright."
Lucian and Imbert arranged more wooden blocks by the fireplace to ensure it would last until the morning. anwhile, Rafal and Arthur brought in enough liquor containers for everyone.
Nathaniel inspected the setup in the drawing room. The entire floor was covered with soft mattresses and sheets, ensuring that everyone could sleep comfortably. Rowan, of course, sat leisurely like a king, not lifting a finger to help, while accompanying Erin and Rina.
Rina suddenly stood up, hurried to her brother, and whispered sothing in his ear. Lucian overheard and calmly said, "Co with ."
As they walked down the hallway, passing various rooms, everyone could hear Rina talking. "I’d be scared alone."
"I’ll stand outside. Just don’t get your socks or gloves wet," Lucian replied.
"The more I look at that cold guy, the more I like him, Nathaniel," Arthur said as the Rainier siblings walked away. "They say you can judge a man by how he treats the won in his family. Lucian is the perfect man. I feel like I should propose my sister’s marriage to him. She’s so innocent and can’t even raise her voice. Lucian would be ideal for her."
Nathaniel humd in agreent. "You’re right. Evie would be happy with him. She’s eighteen, and Lucian is twenty-two, so the age gap is small. He would be a perfect husband for her, and you’d know your sister was in good hands."
"Once I return to the capital, I’ll talk to my father," Arthur concluded. "I’m sure he’ll agree imdiately."
"Before that, you should ask Lucian," Nathaniel suggested. "He once said he didn’t want to marry so soon."
"If he agrees to the engagent, we can have the wedding later, in a year or two. Evie isn’t too old yet, so we can wait. That way, Lucian will have ti to be ready for marriage."
"Sounds like a good plan," Nathaniel agreed. "Sooner or later, he’ll have to marry soone anyway."
Erin overheard the conversation, and her heart skipped a beat. Her mind raced, and she found she didn’t like what she’d heard. Quietly, she turned her face toward the window, her eyes becoming slightly moist. The thought of Lucian marrying soone else had never crossed her mind, and now that it had, her heart felt unstable.
The way he cared for Rina—soon, so other woman would receive that care, and it wouldn’t be her. Despite preparing herself to marry soone else, her heart ached at the thought.
Rowan and Rafal noticed her reaction but stayed quiet. Rafal felt bad for his sister, while Rowan had sothing else in mind.
He was determined to make Lucian give up his stubbornness and beg Erin to marry him. The rest, he would leave to Erin—whether she chose to accept or reject him.
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