Chapter 151: Contract Extension (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: Contract Extension (2)
“Uh, well…”
“About our contract.”
Loik’s entire body went stiff, as if he were bracing himself.
Chirp, chirp.
The faint sound of insects filled the awkward silence that had settled over the training grounds.
Loik watched me intently, holding his breath as if waiting for my next words. His thick eyelashes fluttered over his dark eyes.
I shifted my gaze awkwardly, unsure of what else to say. That was when the West Annex, where the maids' quarters were located, caught my eye beyond the training grounds.
“Well… we decided to build a new dining hall for the staff next spring, didn't we?”
“...The dining hall?”
Loik narrowed his eyes at the sudden change of subject.
The maids' dining hall, located next to the West Annex, was somewhat small and dilapidated. After hearing that the staff had to eat in shifts because there weren't enough tables, I had suggested to Loik that we build a larger dining hall that the menservants could also use.
Thanks to Loik’s ready agreement, I had just finished signing the detailed budget proposal today. The completion of that dining hall was set for next spring.
“...I thought it would be right for me to stay and see it through until the dining hall is finished, at the very least.”
At those words, Loik hesitated before slowly standing up. His large hand came to rest gently on my shoulder.
“Please… keep talking.”
His low, deep voice lingered heavily in my ear. For some reason, I couldn't bring myself to look up at his face, so I kept my eyes on my fingertips as I continued.
“And we also agreed to renovate the greenhouse.”
The glass-domed greenhouse was a beautiful place filled with greenery, but aside from the Nephras, there weren't many flowers worth seeing. Since I visited the greenhouse often, Loik had told me to change it however I liked and even assigned a new gardener to help me.
The ‘best time to plant flowers’ that the gardener had mentioned was exactly next spring.
“We decided to plant new flowers once winter is over. He said the seedlings available then are the healthiest.”
So, if I wanted to see the transformed greenhouse garden, I would have to stay until next spring.
Speaking of flowers reminded me of one more thing.
“I also made a promise to the children at the orphanage. I told them we’d go on a picnic by the lake when spring comes…”
I added in a small voice that the children would be terribly disappointed if I broke my promise.
Loik remained silent throughout my explanation.
“Even though we set the contract for one year…”
Feeling anxious, I began to ramble.
“I checked the contract, and it says the exact timing of the divorce is to be decided by mutual agreement. Since we didn't set a firm date anyway, I thought we could push it back a bit.”
By now, he should have said something.
Why isn't he saying a single word?
I stole a glance upward, but with the light at his back, his face was cast in deep shadow, making it hard to read his expression.
“Why aren't you saying anything?”
Frustrated, the words tumbled out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Loik, weren't you trying to woo me?”
“I thought that was why you gave me the necklace and everything.”
Loik wiped a hand over his face and finally let out a sharp exhale.
“How do you, every single time…”
He lowered his head slightly, whispering something I couldn't quite catch.
“Make me feel like this…”
He swept his bangs back with a hurried hand, revealing his handsome face fully under the moonlight. Only then could I see his expression clearly.
Loik was struggling to suppress a smile, his face filled with overwhelming emotion. When our eyes met, he quickly covered his twitching lips with his hand and tried to compose himself.
Clearing his throat, Loik spoke.
“Indeed, you do have many ongoing projects, don't you?”
His tone was remarkably serious.
“The shopping district by the lake is still finding its footing… and no one but Annette can handle the opera. As for the wine business, aren't you the head of the merchant guild yourself?”
“That’s true.”
“I even invested in it, trusting only in you, Annette.”
Loik stroked his chin, putting on a feigned look of distress. My heart skipped a beat at the mention of money.
“Don’t worry,” I said, my voice rising in embarrassment. “I won’t run away until you’ve recovered all of that.”
“Is that so? Then…”
Loik raised a hand and carefully cupped my cheek.
“If I keep investing, does that mean Annette can never run away for the rest of her life?”
A faint smile played on his lips.
“I was wondering if I could just woo Annette with money.”
“O-of course not!”
“Then what should I use to woo you so that you'll fall for me?”
The thumb cupping my cheek gently brushed the tender skin beneath my eye. Despite his playful tone, Loik’s gaze was unwavering.
“No, I didn't mean for you to actually woo me…”
Slowly, the smile faded from Loik’s face. I found myself unable to move, pinned by his intense, fixed gaze. Just as an inexplicable heat began to rise to my face—
“Annette, I truly intended to wait.”
Loik murmured softly, gently stroking my hair.
“...What do you mean?”
His long fingers carefully clasped my fingertips.
“I was confident I could wait as long as it took…”
Loik whispered softly.
“But since you’ve given me such hope, I don't think it would be polite of me to stay still any longer.”
“I don't quite understand what you're saying.”
Loik lifted my hand and pressed his soft lips against the back of it before pulling away. His gaze, now infinitely deeper, turned toward me.
“From now on, I am going to woo you, Annette.”
“So that you can never run away from my side for the rest of your life.”
A burning heat flickered within his quiet eyes. The moment our gazes locked, my heart tightened.
“Loik. I’m still…”
“I know. You only said you wanted to stay a bit longer.”
Loik lowered his gaze. He wrapped his other arm gently around my waist and pulled me into his embrace. We were so close I didn't dare breathe.
“Annette, just do as your heart desires.”
Loik leaned down, his warm breath tickling my neck.
“In exchange, I’m going to seduce you properly.”
He whispered low, then lifted his head and gave a beaming smile. A scorching heat rose from my waist where his damp shirt touched me. My whole body felt tingly, and I couldn't even manage a reply, my face flushing deep red.
*
The gardener’s hands trembled as he clutched his straw hat. Only two months after being hired at the Grand Duke’s castle, he had been summoned before the master of the castle himself, the Grand Duke of Blenheim.
When he was first hired, he hadn't been able to hide his shock at the fact that he was the only gardener for such a vast estate.
— “You don’t need to touch the other gardens. Focus on tending the greenhouse exactly as Her Highness the Consort instructs.”
That was what the butler had told him when he first arrived. However, the mistress of the castle was so busy that he rarely had the chance to even ask for her opinion.
— “There might be new flowers blooming once autumn comes.”
— “I see. Then we can’t overturn the soil right away. We’ll have to wait until after winter to plant new flowers.”
In the end, all he had done for two months was trim the branches in the vast greenhouse to keep them from growing wild and recommend flowers suitable for spring planting.
I’m sure that’s all I did…
“It seems you have been serving the Grand Duchess well.”
“Pardon? Oh, yes!”
Swallowing his panic, the gardener hurriedly bowed his head.
When did I ever serve Her Highness so well?
No matter how hard he thought about it, he didn't feel he had done anything significant enough for the Grand Duke to summon and praise him personally.
“I hear you plan to plant seedlings next spring?”
“That is correct. Since we have the Nephras, I suggested that planting Runensia or Crimporte alongside them would be a good match.”
The Grand Duke, who had asked the question, didn't actually seem very interested in the seedlings themselves.
“It would also be nice to include Blueveil or Labella, but those seedlings are quite difficult to obtain… I did mention that even if we place an order in the spring, we might not receive them until early summer.”
He was making excuses for excluding those exotic seedlings from the far east, which were popular among the noblewomen of Rondoris.
“That sounds perfect.”
A strange glint appeared in the Grand Duke’s cold, indifferent eyes.
“Labella, was it? I’d like those planted.”
The Grand Duke spoke as he idly stroked his chin.
“Ah, then I will do my best to get them as quickly as possible as soon as the seedlings are released in the spring.”
“There is no rush.”
His gaze drifted toward the distance as if he were deep in thought.
“I will increase your budget, so try to procure even more high-quality seedlings.”
The Grand Duke’s command fell: he was to find a wide variety of rare, exotic flowers from beyond Rondoris, regardless of the cost or time required.
“I—I will do my absolute best!”
However, as if something was still bothering him, the Grand Duke tapped his fingers against his large office desk.
“The greenhouse alone won't be enough to keep her for long…”
Muttering to himself, the Grand Duke gripped the edge of the desk.