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Recently, as Ariel and Katria’s relationship grew closer, everyone from both families was filled with joy.

The most delighted among them was none other than Helene.

As Katria began to treat Ariel more comfortably, the psychological distance that Helene had felt toward her also significantly decreased.

“Katria, how about we explore Hespania together this week?”

“Of course. I’d be happy to join.”

Though her polite demeanor hadn’t vanished, the fact that she nodded without hesitation when Helene made the suggestion was a significant improvement from before.

Thanks to this, Helene found herself enjoying every day lately.

Although her friendship with Katria had lasted a long time, given their positions, there had always been a clear gap between the two.

While Helene genuinely viewed Katria as a friend and treated her warmly, the feeling wasn’t mutual on Katria’s side.

Now that this issue was resolved, Helene felt she had gained a best friend who had been in her life for quite a while.

“Ah, I wonder when they became so close. Of course, I shouldn’t be the one talking,” Yulken said, smiling from a distance as he watched with Edgar.

Recently, he had shared drinks and stories with Ransel, who he had felt a bit distant from, strengthening their bond.

Because of this, it felt like the two families had become much closer than before.

Edgar’s parents had also visited Hespania not long ago, but back then, the atmosphere was quite heavy just being in the same space.

Ransel was in a frenzy, and Katria was so flustered that it was quite awkward.

Thus, Helene thought it was essential to create regular opportunities for the two families to grow closer, but Yulken stopped her.

From a different perspective, he didn’t believe that simply creating such opportunities would easily reduce their psychological distance.

“Indeed, a catalyst was necessary.”

Things don’t just happen overnight.

This is why Helene was likely taking her time to gradually get closer to the Billhark Family.

Yulken didn’t think it was wrong.

However, sometimes a dramatic catalyst can have a more significant effect than taking a long time.

Though Yulken wasn’t fully aware of the details, he suspected that this might be one of those cases.

What he hoped for also aligned with this idea.

“Now, we just need to set the wedding date,” he said.

Originally, Yulken wanted to see the wedding of the two as soon as possible, but he decided to delay it after feeling that their families had become a bit closer.

But at this rate, it might not be a problem to have a wedding at any moment.

“Somehow, it feels like my parents are more anxious than your father and mother,” Edgar commented, chuckling at his own unintentional remark.

Typically, when the divide between families is stark, it’s often the less prestigious family that is eager to rush the wedding, but now the roles seemed reversed.

It was even more absurd coming from him, the head of the Robeheim family.

Usually, due to the prestige of a family, they might think such thoughts inwardly but would find it hard to voice them.

“After all, the thirsty dig the well. To put it bluntly, even if our families don’t connect, your parents wouldn’t be in any position to be disappointed, would they?”

Yulken replied with a firm tone as if they were the ones who were being passive.

Ransel and Katria were fundamentally distant from the desires of wealth or honor.

If their relationship went sour and the engagement fell apart, they would probably just laugh it off.

But Yulken and Helene couldn’t afford to do that.

“Why would I want to lose this man?”

For them personally, losing the benefits owed to them wouldn’t be a significant issue.

It was simply that for both of them, Edgar represented a person they truly liked, someone they might meet only once in a lifetime.

Generally speaking, those of high status and abundant wealth find it difficult to find genuine people.

Those with talent or good family backgrounds can be found readily.

But it could be declared without hesitation that the man before them was the only one who could genuinely make their daughter happy.

As parents, wanting their daughter’s happiness more than anyone else, they simply couldn’t afford to let Edgar slip away.

Their fundamental nature was entirely different from that of a small number of greedy noble families who only see their children as tools for political marriages.

“Are you not in a hurry?”

“Of course not. I was just a bit surprised.”

Yulken probed Edgar’s thoughts, wondering if he wanted to delay the marriage a bit, but Edgar shook his head resolutely.

In fact, he had been thinking that if they were going to delay it, he would rather have an early wedding and start a family.

“I’m glad to hear that. The truth is, my wife and daughter have been pushing me from both sides lately… I’ve been struggling to keep up.”

“Haha… If you’d told me, I would have said something to Ariel.”

“I couldn’t do that. I know better than anyone how busy you are these days. Besides, my thoughts weren’t much different either…”

Yulken had initially considered rushing the wedding due to the encouraging words from both sides.

However, due to various issues arising in their families lately, that seemed difficult, especially since he hadn’t properly consulted the Billhark side.

But today, having had a casual chat with Ransel, he sensed that the feelings on Edgar’s side were not much different, so he decided it was no longer necessary to hesitate.

However, since there were still several issues to address, they would need to proceed as soon as those were resolved.

“Perhaps I might be seeing my grandchild sooner than expected. That would be wonderful.”

Since the child would inherit Helene’s family lineage, one would be the limit.

Whether it’s a grandson or granddaughter, Yulken simply hoped for a beautiful child.

Ideally, he wished for a child who possessed the courage and generosity of the man before him along with the cleverness and sharpness of his daughter.

“It wouldn’t be bad to come up with names early. What do you think?”

“Isn’t it a bit too early? But if you want to, I’ll join.”

“Your willingness to accommodate others is commendable. Since we’re at this point, let’s call your father too and ask for his opinion.”

So, the three men gathered together to brainstorm names for a child that wasn’t even conceived yet.

If it were a girl, they came up with twenty-six names; for a boy, twenty-four.

After a long deliberation, they came up with a total of fifty names, but each one was more charming than the last.

Perhaps this is what they call happy worries.

* * * * * * *

Thud.

“M-Master, you should change your clothes and lie down…”

As soon as they arrived in the room, Elin muttered awkwardly while looking at Edgar, who had sprawled out on the bed.

It was a scene she should have grown accustomed to by now, but every time she saw it, her heart would race.

This was likely because she recalled the time when he had fallen asleep like this, snoring, during a particularly busy work period.

“He can handle it. Just leave him be.”

“B-But…”

Meanwhile, Ariel, following behind him into the room, placed the clothes in Elin’s hands appropriately on the table.

Given that he was the kind of man who took things at his own pace, she figured he would know to change when he wasn’t tired.

Right now, it was likely just a sense of liberation that the day’s work was over.

“It’s alright, you can go back and rest. Oh, could you also call Shuri for me?”

“Of course! Is there anything else you need?”

“Um, well…”

Slightly glancing down at Edgar, Ariel grinned knowingly, as if she had a plan.

She added that there was no need to bring Shuri.

After blinking in confusion, Elin finally caught on to the hint and flushed slightly before rushing out of the room.

This left only the two of them alone.

“Haaa…”

Edgar, lying on the bed, let out a light sigh to ease the day’s fatigue.

After about three hours of brainstorming names for the child with Yulken and Ransel, his head was starting to throb by the end.

Despite everything, it had been quite enjoyable.

Meanwhile, Ariel, who had quietly observed him, sat beside him and gently stroked his hair.

Today, they hadn’t had much time to be together since they had been talking with others, so she felt glad they could finally share this moment.

“It must have been a disaster being trapped by your father.”

“Yeah, it was pretty rough. But it was fun in its own way.”

“I heard. You two were brainstorming names for the kids? You haven’t even gotten married yet; why all the fuss?”

Ariel said with a playful scoff, but in truth, she was trying to soothe her own disappointment about not having been part of it.

Still, she had no regrets since she spent a cozy time with Helene and Katria.

“Feeling tired?”

“Not really.”

As Ariel watched Edgar, sprawled out and gazing at her with calm eyes, she gently asked.

He shook his head weakly side to side.

The only problem was that he felt a bit dazed from talking too long; he wasn’t really tired.

Today, he hadn’t had much chance to talk with Ariel either, which he wanted to make up for.

Perhaps it was because he was lying down that she was inferring he was tired, so he shot up from his position.

A look of surprise crossed Ariel’s face, quickly replaced by a light smile.

For some reason, Edgar felt that the smile held a hint of seduction.

“Why did you get up? You could have stayed lying down.”

“There’s really no reason to just lie there.”

Edgar tilted his head, wondering whether it mattered if they talked while lying down or standing.

At that moment, Ariel suddenly approached him.

Soon after, a soft sensation met Edgar’s lips.

It wasn’t just a fresh kiss where they pressed lips together; it was a deeper kiss where their tongues met, and as their faces parted, Ariel revealed a sultry smile, clearly determined not to hide her feelings anymore.

“Is there really no reason to lie down like this?”

“…I see. So this was your plan all along.”

“Do you dislike it?”

Ariel smiled as if to challenge him, letting the straps of her dress slip down her shoulders.

She wouldn’t leave any room for him to resist.

“How could I dislike it?”

“That’s a relief.”

Seeing him shrug, Ariel smiled satisfactorily and then climbed onto his lap.

It seemed she had made a good choice to ask Elin to bring her a change of clothes just earlier.

It had been entirely according to her plan.