As spring retreated, summer finally came boldly to take its place, displaying the striking power of the blazing sun that burned throughout the day.

The walls of the cottage felt hotter at certain hours, so opening all the windows before sunset became a simple yet wise solution. Even so, the flowers continued to bloom throughout the summer; they only needed regular watering to keep the soil moist.

Roses, peonies, lavender, and bellflowers grew side by side in pots on the veranda of the cottage where Elle and Aunt Moran lived. They became a pleasant sight every time the windows were opened in the morning.

The cottage yard was very limited, so Elle always thought—if only they had a larger yard—it would be possible to have their own herb garden.

She had been saving for a long time, collecting money from selling her herbal remedies to customers, hoping that one day she could buy a home with a wide yard or garden. Every time her face lit up at the thought of tending herbs in her own garden, her passion burned even brighter.

“Don’t forget to come back on time, Elle.”

“Yes, Aunt.”

Ah, come to think of it, it had been a month since Elle last stepped into the forest—even the seasons had changed.

That night, when she returned from the forest—as her heart had feared—Aunt Moran was angry and in tears, worried sick about Elle. Often hearing about rogue attacks that happened at night in the forest from people around them had fueled her fear. She had even considered asking for help from others to search for Elle in the forest, thinking the girl might have gotten lost.

“What would I do, Elle? What about me? I already lost my dearest friend, your mother, and I also lost my husband. You’re the only one I have left. If something had happened to you that night—what should I do? Would everyone just leave me all alone?”

A lump filled Elle’s throat, bringing unbearable pain. That night she kept apologizing through tears, her lateness having left a scar on Aunt Moran.

The guilt snowballed inside her, making Elle decide to refrain from going to the forest. She had to restore Aunt Moran’s peace of mind—and because of that, the stock of herbs in the cottage drastically decreased.

Although she could find some at the market, they were very limited, while more and more customers demanded her herbal remedies.

When Aunt Moran’s worries finally eased, Elle dared to ask permission again. After much consideration, the woman allowed her.

“It feels like it’s been a long time.”

A smile curved on her lips as she walked along the forest path that morning. The summer forest smelled stronger—the natural fragrance of wildflowers and the sweetness of fruits blending together.

The water of the Zinx River that flowed through the forest gleamed golden, sparkling under the sunlight.

Slowly, Elle’s basket filled with wild herbs. Sometimes she bent down, other times she crouched, plucking them carefully—some had to be pulled out with their roots.

She moved toward the river, rinsing the roots clean of soil as she kneeled. She even took a moment to splash her face, refreshing herself.

But then she realized something—when she looked again at the golden reflection before her, a human figure appeared on the surface of the water.

A man with platinum-blond hair, wearing a plain ivory linen shirt paired with a dark brown leather vest, black riding trousers, and tall leather boots—was standing right behind her.

Elle’s heart pounded violently. She hesitated to turn, already aware of who he was.

“Hello, Elle.”

His voice was as light as a feather, soft as he called her name. He tilted his head slightly, watching her reflection in the water as the girl stood frozen like a wax figure.

“Elle Noxirell.”

“D-Duke?”

There was no way to escape. Elle had no choice but to face him. She moved stiffly, rising to her feet while clutching the clean roots tightly against her waist. She bowed politely for a moment.

“What are you hiding?” Cassian’s eyes scanned her from head to toe, her nervousness drawing a faint smile on his lips.

“Roots—herbal roots.”

“Ah… right. You need them to heal others.”

Elle nodded awkwardly. “W-what are you doing here?”

Cassian’s platinum hair gleamed brighter under the sunlight. He glanced away for a second, then returned his gaze to the girl, who was wrapped in unease.

“Just taking a ride with Vermel, around my territory.”

“Ah… of course.” Elle caught sight of a brown horse standing near an elder tree, then lowered her gaze with a sheepish smile.

“I thought you’d continue hiding in your little cottage.”

“Excuse me?” Her expression showed pure shock.

“You didn’t attend my invitation to the castle, so afterward I tried waiting for you in this forest—almost every day—but you never appeared. I could’ve come straight to your cottage, but that would have been far too conspicuous, wouldn’t it?”

W-what?

What was he saying?

“You waited for me?”

“Yes. I’m the kind of person who needs to show exactly how I feel—whether it’s joy or annoyance.”

“I’m sorry, Duke. I didn’t know you were waiting for me here. But I also had my reasons for staying away from the forest for a whole month.”

The Alpha remained still, observing Elle with unreadable thoughts that made her uneasy. She was stunned to find a nobleman like him behaving in such an unexpected way—waiting for an ordinary girl.

She remembered. A few weeks ago, she had indeed found a special letter sealed with the castle’s crest among her other letters from customers. But that was Elle—always determined to keep her distance from nobles, just as her late mother had advised.

“Wasn’t that you as well?” Cassian’s eyes narrowed slightly. “The girl who tamed Damascus.”

“I—”

“You ran away after leaving a basket of peaches with the stable guard, and you refused my first invitation. You seem to have a talent for rejecting everything, don’t you?”

Although Cassian’s tone was gentle, every word pierced Elle, intimidating her as he laid out her faults flawlessly. And unfortunately—he was right.

Cassian sighed. “Hah. I truly don’t understand you, Elle.”

Elle’s grip on the roots tightened, nearly crushing them.

“I just don’t want to stand out or become the center of attention if I appear at the castle, Duke. You already thanked me, and that is enough.”

“I see. But I don’t like it, Elle. Or am I acting like some shameless lecher chasing you?”

“NO! It’s not like that, Duke. You are not a lecher.” Her body stiffened further. How could she possibly resist a man like him? “Forgive my rudeness for always rejecting and ignoring your orders, but I never meant any harm, truly.”

Elle wished she could disappear. She was utterly ashamed, facing Cassian as he revealed every one of her faults, exposing her disrespect toward the kindness of a noble.

She swallowed hard, but she couldn’t ignore the advice her mother had given her months before her death.

“Elle, listen to me. Stay away from nobles, don’t get entangled with them. Because sometimes, people hide a twisted side that can ensnare anyone with their power.”

“What’s a twisted side, Mom?”

“A crooked nature. So, will you grant me this promise?”

Elle had only been five years old when her mother passed. She had nodded obediently back then, without truly understanding—but as she grew older, she finally did.

“Do you enjoy playing this little game of hide and seek with me?”

“No, it’s not like that.” Her brow furrowed deeply, her teeth biting into her lip. Fear gripped her joints like iron shackles.

“You must make it up to me, Elle. Your neglect humiliates me every time I think of it.” His expression hadn’t changed since the beginning—still calm, as if discussing something casual, yet stabbing her from every direction.

“What do you want?”

Cassian glanced at her basket of herbs. “You saved my life once, but the same situation could happen again—during patrols or in other dangerous moments. So can you tell me exactly what you gave me that night?”

“I can do that right now, Duke.” She exhaled in relief, glad the request was so simple.

“No, not today, Elle. I must leave now. Meeting you here was simply good fortune.” Cassian’s warm smile erased the sharpness of his earlier words, as if none of it had ever happened, as if she had only heard the whisper of the wind.

The Duke mounted Vermel, and before leaving, he said, “I’ll send you a letter. Make sure you check your mailbox.”

“I will.”

As the Duke rode away, Elle collapsed onto the ground, her energy completely drained after being exposed to the overwhelming dominance of Cassian’s pheromones throughout their entire interaction.

Her joints felt weak, and it took her some time before she could return to herself, back to the real world.

***