Rowan let out a mirthless chuckle. "Then there’s no point in discussing this. Either way, you would have rejected her."
"I wouldn’t have rejected her," Lucian countered, his voice calm but resolute. "I would have asked His Majesty for so ti, then I would’ve spoken to Erin myself to hear what she thought. She once told she didn’t want to go to the northeast. Her opinion would’ve mattered to ."
Rowan’s gaze remained cold. "And if she had told you she didn’t want to leave the capital, would you have stayed here?"
"No." Lucian’s expression softened, but his determination didn’t waver. "I would have courted her until she wanted to go to the northeast with ."
A flicker of surprise passed through Rowan’s eyes as Lucian continued.
"No one, not even the king, would have forced her into a marriage she didn’t want. She would’ve married because she wanted to—willingly. I would have never rejected her. She’s not soone I could ever reject."
Once again, silence fell over the room.
Rowan stepped away, sank into his chair, and picked up his wine glass. His voice was bitter. "So, my sister was hurt for no reason."
"You an Erin liked Lucian as well?" Nathaniel asked.
"If not, why would have bothered with him?" Rowan frowned.
Rafal remained speechless for a mont before finally asking, "Yesterday, you said there was a woman you liked. Who is she?"
"It’s Erin," Lucian replied without hesitation and declared. "And she’s the one I’m going to marry."
"You can’t make that decision alone," Rowan cut in, his tone sharp. "You can only marry her if she agrees."
"She will," Lucian said confidently.
Rafal added. "You could just explain everything to her—tell her what you told us. Once she knows you never rejected her—"
"There’s no need," Lucian interrupted, his voice calm and resolute. "She’ll say yes to either way."
"So sure of yourself, huh?" Rowan scoffed. "You underestimate my sister. And she has already agreed to marry Aaron. She is the kind of woman to value her words."
Lucian t Rowan’s gaze without flinching. "Don’t worry about it." He turned his attention to Aaron, who had already returned to his seat, wine glass in hand, looking unaffected by the conversation. "Aaron, I like Erin, and she won’t marry anyone else but ."
Aaron’s expression remained neutral. "As long as she agrees to marry you."
"She will," Lucian replied with unwavering certainty.
Aaron gave a small nod and gestured toward the wine. "Sit. Have so wine. You must’ve gotten cold wandering around outside for so long."
Lucian sat in the chair beside Aaron, who handed him a glass of wine. Lucian accepted it without a word.
There was no conflict between two brother over a woman, as if both were just having a causal conversation about what one wants.
Arthur chuckled, watching the exchange. "Now I get it. This explains why you’ve been in such a foul mood lately, Lucian—and why Rowan’s been at your throat all the ti."
Rowan shot Lucian a warning glance. "No one’s allowed to hurt my sister. I won’t be rciful."
Lucian t his gaze evenly. "I won’t hurt her."
Rowan shifted his focus to Aaron. "Thanks for coming here. If you hadn’t, things would’ve stayed a ss for who knows how long. Your cousin is as dense as you."
Aaron’s remained impassive. "I’d do anything for him—as long as he’s happy."
"Wait!" Nathaniel, who had been silently stewing, finally spoke. "So all of this was Rowan’s plan?"
Rowan smirked, swirling the wine in his glass. "I told Aaron everything when he got here, and he agreed to help—for his brother’s sake."
Then, Rowan glanced at Lucian, his smirk widening. "Must’ve stung to see Erin walking around holding your brother’s hand, huh?"
Lucian simply glared at him.
Rowan chuckled, "Your disappearance for the entire day explains it all. I must say it was a lovely sight to you so angry and frustrated."
Lucian didn’t comnt while Arthur laughed, "You are cunning, Rowan."
"I had to while dealing with one blockhead," Rowan comnted, "If not for my sister’s happiness, I wouldn’t have bothered with him."
"What happened was not his fault either," Aaron added, "He is the victim of misunderstanding as well."
"Ah, Lord Wynter to the rescue of his sweet little brother," Rowan sneered. "I hope my sister makes him suffer for a long ti and doesn’t agree to marry him easily. I want to see him struggle—just as much as she did." Rowan turned his sharp gaze toward Lucian. "When you said you had a woman you liked and were ready to marry her, Erin had tears in her eyes. I swear, I wanted to strangle you right then and there—but I held back. For Erin’s sake."
Lucian remained silent, as patience had always been his strength. He placed his empty wine glass on the table and stood. "Good night."
"Don’t you dare go to my sister’s room at this hour," Rowan warned loudly.
"I’ve already been to her chamber just before I ca here, and she didn’t mind it." He gave Rowan one last glance as if challenging him. "And you can’t stop if I want to go back to her. But don’t worry—I’m heading to my own chamber now. I will let her sleep tonight."
Lucian left and Rowan frowned, "What does he eats to have such a confidence? I hope my sister kicks him out if he tries to go to her."
"You did all this so your sister could get what she wants, and now you want them to fight?" Aaron asked, "Don’t trouble my brother."
Rowan smirked, finishing his wine. "Ah, the Lord of the North has spoken. What else can I say?" He stretched and stood. "I’m off to bed as well."
One by one, the others departed, leaving only Nathaniel and Aaron in the drawing room. Once the space was finally quiet, Nathaniel broke the silence.
"Erin was a perfect woman for you, Aaron."
"She is more perfect for my brother."
"You are an idiot. You missed the chance at better life with such a fine woman, who had the ability to turn your life better just like in the past."
"But her life wouldn’t have been pleasant with ," Aaron countered quietly. "Your cousin is a wonderful woman—she deserves soone who can give her everything she wants and needs. And that man isn’t . I’m broken, unable to return her feelings the way she deserves. With , she’d always feel empty. I’m not the right man for a perfect woman like her."
"You could have tried," Nathaniel said with a sigh. "Now I know you’re going to be lonely for the rest of your life."
"Isn’t that a good thing?" Aaron asked, a trace of humor in his voice. "You’re not planning to marry either. I can be your company till the day we die."
"And what if I end up marrying soone?" Nathaniel asked.
"Then I’d be the happiest person for you," Aaron replied with a soft smile.
"But I wouldn’t be," Nathaniel muttered, finishing the wine in his glass. His father’s words echoed in his mind, and he knew, deep down, that sooner or later, he’d have to give in. The more he looked at Aaron, the more determined he beca to listen to his father—for Aaron’s sake.
"How are things with your father?" Aaron asked, shifting the topic.
"As bad as always. But I managed to bring my mother’s morial and ashes with ," Nathaniel replied, his voice low.
Aaron humd thoughtfully. "Did your father really let you go without causing trouble?"
Nathaniel didn’t tell the truth. "What can he do against King’s order? He had to let go."
"That’s a relief," Aaron said with a nod. "Arlan planned everything well for you."
"He did," Nathaniel murmured, his thoughts drifting elsewhere. ’But my father always have a way to get at my neck.’
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