The Devil's Betrothed-Chapter 707: Panicked Men

Aaron entered the drawing room, carrying Rina in his arms. He instructed the butler, who promptly moved a chair close to the fireplace where Aaron gently set Rina down, wrapping a warmer around her.

"Get a pot of hot water," Aaron instructed the butler, then knelt in front of Rina. He held her feet in his hands and frowned. "Do you want to lose your feet?" and started to rub her feet with his warm hands.

"I didn’t think about it," she replied, feeling guilty.

"Whatever happens, you are not allowed to be reckless," Aaron said in a strict but caring tone. "You’re still too young to handle the cold like us adults."

Nathaniel watched in surprise, realizing his friend had a gentle side he hadn’t expected. He’d always thought both of them were hard-headed men who didn’t bother with gentleness, but Aaron was proving to be different.

Rina pressed her lips into a thin line, her eyes growing moist.

The butler returned with a pot of hot water and placed it at Rina’s feet. Aaron carefully dipped her feet into the water. "Is it too hot?"

Rina shook her head, making a light muffled sound to say no.

Aaron noticed the change in her voice and looked up at her, seeing the tears in her eyes. He wondered if his words had been too harsh. "I didn’t mean to scold you. Don’t cry."

She shook her head, sniffling lightly as she tried to suppress her tears, but they rolled down her cheeks anyway, making Aaron panic. He felt lost—it was the first time he’d had to deal with a crying girl.

Aaron looked at Nathaniel, who was sitting in a chair, equally clueless, wondering if Aaron had been too harsh on her to make her cry.

"You should be careful with your words, Aaron. Little girls might not cope well with the way we talk," Nathaniel commented.

Feeling guilty, Aaron turned back to Rina. "I’m sorry, Rina...."

"I’m not crying because of what you said," she replied, wiping her tears with her small hands.

This only confused the men further. They both looked at her, asking in unison, "Then why?"

"I miss Brother Lucian," she sobbed, then talked to Aaron, "If he were here, he would have done the same as you. He would have even scolded me," she ended, bursting into loud, heart-wrenching sobs. "I miss my brother!" Her crying grew even louder.

Aaron and Nathaniel were caught off guard. She had been talking just a moment ago, and now, all of a sudden, she was crying loudly.

"Aaron, didn’t you hear she miss her brother? Go get Lucian," Nathaniel said, equally panicked as Aaron.

Aaron quickly turned to Rina, still kneeling in front of her. "I...I’ll get Lucian right away, alright? Don’t cry."

He was about to stand when Rina spoke again. "No. I don’t want him. He’s mean," she said, then started crying even louder. "I don’t want him at all. I want a new brother."

Both friends exchanged lost, bewildered looks. One moment she said she missed Lucian, and the next, she didn’t want him and cried even harder. How did the minds of women even work?

"Oh, okay. I won’t call him. Don’t cry, alright?" Aaron said, trying to soothe her.

Rina stopped crying, wiping her tears and nose on the corner of the warmer around her.

Seeing his master at a loss, the butler stepped in. "Lord Aaron, the young lady might enjoy something delicious. Shall I prepare a warm soup and some desserts for her?"

Aaron looked at her. "Do you want anything else?"

She shook her head. "I’m not very hungry. Soup, dessert, and a bowl of meat and rice should be enough."

Aaron remained calm as he signaled the butler to proceed, while Nathaniel glanced at Rina’s stomach, wondering how she could eat all that when she claimed she wasn’t hungry.

Aaron dried her feet and covered them with a foot warmer. Soon, the butler brought the meal, and Rina started eating while Aaron sat next to Nathaniel, sipping warm tea and keeping eye on Rina.

Nathaniel whispered to Aaron, "I wonder how much she can eat when she’s actually hungry if this is her meal when she’s not."

Aaron shot him a warning glare, worried that Rina might hear and feel offended.

Nathaniel chuckled. "Eating is fine, but I hope you can handle her well when you’re so clueless about women."

Aaron frowned, "Talk about yourself."

"At least I am not entirely clueless as I often get them in my bed, but you are even virgin enough to even touch a strand of their hair."

Aaron glared at him, "Don’t talk nonsense when innocents are around."

"She can’t hear me," Nathaniel said in a hushed tone. "But tell me, you at least know to do with them in bed, right?"

"Shut up," Aaron warned through gritted teeth. If it was not Rina here, he might have punched his friend.

"I am just worried as soon you will marry my cousin. I want her to have a good life with you."

"Stop it already."

"If you don’t know, I can...."

"I know everything, now shut up already," Aaron, spat out in low angry voice, to stop his friend at all cost.

Nathaniel acted as if he was relived to hear it and glanced at Rina, "It’s time for Rina to get a sister-in-law. Erin would be so perfect."

Aaron glared at him. "Did you forget what I told you yesterday?"

"You’ll change your mind when you spend time with my cousin," Nathaniel remarked. "By the way, she’s coming here soon to visit the northeast."

Aaron was aware of it but chose not to comment further. Instead, he asked, "Don’t you think you should visit your home at least once now that you’re back? Your father must be wondering where you are."

"I’m now the lord of my own estate, granted by the king. I don’t have to answer to my father anymore," Nathaniel replied. "But yeah, I heard my father recently got himself a young virgin mistress. I might just welcome her properly before my father does."

"When will you stop this and focus on your own life?"

"Ruining things for my father is my life’s focus," Nathaniel said with a grin. "When he stops at nothing, why should I? And trust me, it’s fun to see him angered."

"You owe him one last wish. Don’t be reckless with him. You never know what he might ask," Aaron cautioned. "Don’t make me feel more guilty toward you."

Nathaniel chuckled. "What worse he can possibly ask of me than what he had done till now? He can try me."

Aaron could only shake his head helplessly.

"I’m leaving for home today to welcome my father’s new mistress," Nathaniel said, glancing at Rina, who was enjoying her meal. "Good luck with your little sister."

"Brother, I’m done," Rina announced, having finished every last grain on her plate. "Everything was delicious."

"I’m glad you liked it," Aaron replied.

"This girl is perfect one to be around a rock like you," Nathaniel commented and stood up, "I will see you in a few days."

Aaron didn’t stop him and watched Nathaniel leave.