Isabella glanced up at him in dismay while Duke Kyar looked down at her, grinning.

“Your clumsiness is charming, Isabella. It’s one of  the reasons I fell in love with you.”

“I’m not that clumsy—-” Isabella uttered in annoyance, but then she paused after recalling an old memory.

She had said that before.

Her current discussions with Duke Kyar had repeated from the past.

How did he know that the Gloria flowers enhance the power of ice?

Could he remember his memories before she managed to turn back time?

Isabella’s gaze didn’t waver when she stared at him.

If he remembered that time…

“I hated that look, Isabella.” Duke Kyar said grimly as he covered her eyes with the warmth of his palm.  “I told you that it didn’t matter to me if I was a mere replacement for your past lover. But it’s a violation to look at me like that.”

As soon as she heard the telltale hurt in his voice, Isabella pushed her thoughts to the back burner.

Maybe, the Archduke couldn’t remember the memories of their past.

If he did recall everything, His Highness would have known that he was the one she had missed.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness.”

“Never mind. I was the one who started it, anyway. Let’s go to the cave, Isabella.” Duke Kyar said, releasing her hand.

As Isabella watched His Highness’ back, a ball of dread settled at the pit of her stomach.

She hurt him again, but she didn’t mean it.

Isabella sighed inwardly and followed him in silence.

“Please be careful, Isabella. It’s dark in here.”

She nodded in response.

Both of them entered the cave.

She was relieved that Duke Kyar wasn’t pissed off at her anymore.

They strolled while holding each other’s hands and her eyes got used to the dark before she even realized it.

“That flower is called ‘Bella,’” Isabella said, pointing to the blue flower.

“Bella? The name sounded similar to yours.”

“Yes. This flower is precious—-”

“—just like you. You’re precious to me, Isabella.” Duke Kyar expressed his emotions shamelessly.

His quest to make her blush was relentless.

“You are also precious to me, Your Highness,” Isabella replied shyly.

Duke Kyar chuckled at her daring.

It appeared as if his good mood had returned.

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness. I’ll have to dig these flowers in a minute.”

“You can take your time, Isabella. Please be careful.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Isabella answered and began digging for herbs inside the cave.

She could cure Seria’s rare disease with these ‘Bella’ flowers.

Isabella had to focus on that.

“I have one more question.”

Isabella had to stop putting the ‘Bella’ flowers inside her bag to glance at him.

“Do you like kids?”

Was His Highness asking her because he was worried that she and his nephew wouldn’t get along well?

When she recalled Kyle’s adorable face, Isabella beamed in delight.

“I love kids very much, Your Highness. You have a nephew, right?”

“How did you know that?”

Duke Kyar asked, one eyebrow slightly raised.

“I heard that from the servants.”

“I see.”

Duke Kyar crouched down beside her and declared, “You should know that I like children very much.”

Isabella blinked once.

Twice.

Duke Kyar ‘s gaze didn’t waver when he emphasized “very.”

Isabella was a little taken aback by that response.

She was sure that the Archduke told her he didn’t like kids.

Who was this person in front of her?

The past and present had similarities, but at the same time, it felt like they were different.

“Really?”

“Yes. I’ll have at least three babies when I get married. If you want, of course.”

Isabella stared at the three fingers, which Archduke Kyar had stretched, with astonishment when he uttered exactly how many children she wanted.

“Do you really want three children, Your Highness?”

“Is it too much?” He folded one finger and watched her reactions carefully. “How about two?”

“No, three is fine, too. I’ve always wanted to have a lot of children. Maybe, because I grew up lonely I thought it would be nice to have them. I’m relieved to hear that you like children as well.”

“In order to do that, we have to hurry up and get married—–”

“——but I want to get married in due time.” Isabella gently interrupted Duke Kyar’s marriage talk as she thought about why she wanted it that way.

Isabella was also looking forward to their marriage, but she preferred to keep this excitement that she could only feel in a long-term dating scenario.

Duke Kyar frowned. “You want to get married in due time?”