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nLeaving the curious boy behind, I ran on the track around the training field. How much time passed? I slowed down to catch my breath, but suddenly I felt like someone was following me.

n‘Is it the duke’s son?’

nThe moment I stepped aside for him to go in first, someone pulled me from behind.

nIn an instant, I felt warmth around my whole body.

n“Who is it holding me like this…?”

n“I got you, my lady.”

nI almost got angry with him for his overly friendly gesture but didn’t. I stiffened suddenly. A friendly voice was heard in my ears, which made me shudder.

n“Oh, Allendis?”

n“It’s been a long time, Aristia.”

nI turned back quickly. A boy who looked very familiar but a little different caught my eye.

n

n

nI blinked my eyes slowly when I saw Alllendis, who I had not seen in almost six months.

n‘Why does he look so strange to me?’ I momentarily thought to myself.

nHowever, his hair shining in the sunshine was still fresh green just like I first met him, and his emerald eyes looked at me tenderly. Feeling warm towards him, I smiled and hung in his arms.

n“I missed you, Allendis.”

n“Me, too, my lady. Ah, I feel I can breathe now!”

nAllendis whispered, holding me when I was wrapped in his arms. As if he touched something precious, he stroked my hair cautiously. I closed my eyes. He smelled refreshing as he held me in his arms. I felt so relaxed.

nAt that moment someone snatched me roughly. When I looked back, I saw a boy breathing hard, staring at me.

n“Why are you acting so rudely, Lars?”

n“That’s what I want to ask you. What the heck are you doing with this person?”

nAs if he was not happy with something about me, Lars screamed with a red-hot face.

nI pulled my arm roughly from his grip and frowned unconsciously.

n“Are you okay?”

n“Yes, I’m alright.” I smiled slightly at Allendis when he asked me anxiously. I felt so relaxed at his comforting voice.

n“By the way, Aristia, who is this man?”

n“Oh, I forgot to introduce him. This is Carsein de Lars, and he is Duke Lars’ second son. Hey, Lars, this is Allendis de Verita, Duke Verita’s younger son.”

n“Oh, it looks like you are that son who is the same age as me, right?”

nAllendis smiled at Lars and reached out.

n“Nice to see you, Lars. I’m Allendis de Verita. I think you have made friends with Aristia while I was away. ”

n“… Hey, you.” Lars shouted at me, pretending not to have heard Allendis. How rude! I knew he was insensitive to manners from the beginning, but I didn’t know he acted so rudely to Allendis, who had the same status.

n“Are you discriminating against me now?”

n“What the heck are you talking about?”

nResponding to his annoying remarks nonchalantly, I looked at Allendis. He could have been upset with him about his rudeness, which was close to insulting, but surprisingly, he seemed not to care about it.

n‘Is he really fine?’

nAnyway, I felt a bit uneasy and sighed with relief, when the rude man turned me around hysterically and shouted, “Why are you calling me ‘Lars’ when you call his name? And the way you speak to him is also different.”

n“It’s because I and Allendis agreed to call each other by first name. But you and I have never agreed on that, right?”

n“Really? Call me by my name from now on!”

n“I don’t want to.”

n“Ah, why?”

n“Can you introduce yourself to him with good manners first? How can you be so rude to him when you have only just met him?”

nWhen I retorted coldly, the boy, who shook his dishevelled hair nervously, turned to Allendis and said, “Well, it’s nice to see you. My name is Carsein de Lars. ”

n“I already know your reputation. It is my first time seeing you in person. Nice to meet you, Lars.”

nWhen Allendis naturally introduced himself to him, Lars nodded at him and looked back at me.

n“Are you satisfied now? Now, call me by first name. ”

n“Well, it doesn’t make any big difference…”

n“I want you to call me like that. Okay? Call me now.”

n“Carsein. Enough? ”

n“Oh, can you call me more kindly?

n“I said I would call you by your name, but didn’t say I would talk to you more kindly.”

nI looked at him dumbfounded, but almost broke into laughter when I saw him hitting his chest.

nWhen I covered my smiling lips with my hand, something suddenly was placed on my head.

n“I came back after a long time. Don’t you have any gift for me?”

n“Huh? Do you have anything you want, Allendis? ”

n“Yes, I do. Will you give it to me? ”

n“Sure. What?”

n“Your nickname.”

n“My nickname?” I asked blankly. Nickname. Well, people close to each other can call them by their first names. But a nickname was a little different because it was allowed only between relatives or lovers. Of course, people can call each other by nickname if they are in intimate relations, but it was very rare.

nI hesitated for a long time. What should I do? Alendis, who is smarter than anyone, must know the implication of the nickname. I was speechless when he just smiled at me, waiting for my reply. I was afraid that he would be hurt if I refused. But I didn’t feel up to it. Believe it or not, I’m still the crown prince’s fiancée. What if he takes an issue with this?

nWhen I was agonized, Allendis said with a sigh, “Can’t you find one as my friend?”

n“Oh, that… ”

n“I am not so stupid, Aristia. I’m not going to call your nickname in front of others. So, you don’t have to worry about it. ”

nOh, was it what he meant? Well, as a genius, Alendis must have thought of it. Well, I could have a nickname.

nAlthough I was a bit bothered because of Carsein, I felt he would not pick a fight with me on this because his and my families are in the same boat. I glanced at Allendis, after looking at the boy who was still annoyed.

n“I’m sorry I couldn’t answer quickly. Yes, of course. No problem. I’ll let you call my nickname. It’s Tia.”

n“Thank you, Tia. Then, why don’t you call me Allen from now on? ”

n“… Allen. ”

nI was touched when somebody who was not related by blood called my nickname for the first time in my life. I wanted to be called that by the man who I loved from the bottom of my heart, but didn’t. However, he never called me Tia. When I saw him and Jiun calling each other’s nickname kindly, I had to hide my strong envy back then.

nSuddenly, my heart ached. Now, the fact that I’ve got somebody who calls me by my nickname, and somebody who I can call by his nickname struck a strong emotional chord in me. Suddenly, I felt like crying.

nAs I hurriedly lowered my head to hide my tears, Lars poked his face at me and asked,”Hey, are you crying now? Why are you crying? Did he make you cry?”

n“How dare I make Tia cry? You’re mistaken, Lars.”

n“Wait a minute. Why are you calling by her pet name?”

n“Because I just got her permission.”

nAllendis looked back at me, smiling at Lars with a wry face.

n“Can I talk with the duke’s son, Tia? As I’m going to see him anyway, I think I have to make friends with him.”

n“Oh, yes. Please.”

n“Thank you, my lady. Lars, shall we move to another place? ”

n“… Well, good. ”

n

n

nAfter replying reluctantly, Lars left the training field with Allendis. I was worried a bit. ‘Allendis, is he okay?’ What if Lars kept being rude to him? I’m sure he would be hurt. I know he’s generous and mature, but I was still worried.

nI returned to my house with a heavy heart and took a shower. When I sat in the parlor and opened a book, Lina came in shortly with some refreshments.

n“Thanks, as always, Lina.”

n“You’re welcome, my lady.”

n“Sit down. Let’s have a snack together. ”

n“With you, my lady?”

n“Yes. In fact, as I’ve been busy these days, I haven’t spent much time with you. ”

nLina, who has grown up with me since childhood, was special to me. She was even more so to me in the past. To me, who was always lonely, Lina was the only chatting friend and closer than my father, my only kin.

n“However… ”

n“It’s okay because I gave you permission.”

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