Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Will You Accept My Gift This Time?
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"Will you accept my gift this time?"
I wasn't unaware of what a gift was, so I hadn't forgotten about it.
Gift.
An act of exchanging items between friends or lovers to build camaraderie.
The fact that such a culture existed in my previous world was surely stored somewhere in my mind as information.
But unfortunately, that information had been tainted by my reincarnation into this world.
A gift wasn't a kind gesture for friendship—
It was just another name for a 'bribe.'
"Lord Leonardo, this is some southern mountain wine I went to great lengths to obtain—"
"I didn't want to show up empty-handed, so I brought a few modest boxes. Haha!"
Bribes offered as naturally as a morning greeting!
Being a Dominica, I'd encountered plenty of that sort.
I didn't have the power to grant favors anyway, so I always refused.
Thanks to that, my reputation got a slight boost—I was seen as 'at least not the type to do outright bad things.'
Anyway, that's not the point.
The point is, it warped my sense of 'gifts' completely.
To the point where I didn't even notice anything strange while saying this.
"A gift, huh. You said you like books, so maybe I should build a library and give that to you..."
"Pardon? Build a library?"
Robin made an even more dumbfounded face at my words.
Why? Isn't that fine?
Books are a bit pricey here, so it would cost some money, but a size like a small mansion should be manageable.
And at my words, Kiara nodded approvingly.
"Sounds good. Laura would probably love that, right?"
"You think so."
Then I should start looking for land to build on right away—
As I pondered that, Robin hurriedly cut in.
"No... that can't be right...?"
"Why not? A library's great. You said Laura likes books."
"Who gives a building as a first gift...! At least something you can hold in your hands...!"
"I can hand over the deed."
"Not that! Something that feels tangible when you have it! Not something so grand and expensive!"
Rarely raising his voice to emphasize his point.
But both Kiara and I just tilted our heads at Robin's words.
"A single building isn't that big a deal, is it?"
"How is a whole building not a big deal?!"
It's not. Not like I'm building it smack in the capital.
Plus, on estate land, the property cost is zero.
The biggest expense would probably be buying the books to fill it.
But Robin staunchly opposed my idea.
Claiming 'that's not romantic!'
Honestly, I didn't quite get it—
But I could sort of grasp what Robin was trying to say.
'Don't approach it from the angle of wealth.'
Of course, Laura would prefer something expensive too—
But that seemed far from the 'getting closer' I wanted.
Not something for the storeroom, but a gift that fills the heart.
Something she'd take out repeatedly, thinking, 'He was thinking of me.'
That seemed to be the idea.
Gifts between lovers in my past life felt like that.
And at my words, Robin nodded vigorously.
"Exactly! Yes! A gift from the heart!"
"A library's plenty heartfelt. You can sell it in a pinch for cash."
"Something you can't just sell off!"
Got it. That's the condition.
In that case, I had just the thing.
I thanked Robin and Kiara for their advice, then returned to my quarters.
The next day, having prepared a gift for Laura, I handed it to her.
"Laura, take this."
"This is...?"
"A gift. Felt like I hadn't given you one before."
Laura's eyes widened at my words.
Fortunately, she didn't seem to dislike the idea.
'Now if she just likes what's inside, it's a success.'
I wondered how it'd go.
I watched with bated breath as she unwrapped it.
***
Laura Clarins had lied to Leonardo.
That fact tormented her—
But it didn't last long.
Thanks to Laura Carolline, who couldn't leave her friend suffering in guilt.
"Laura, there's a new dessert shop I found. Want to check it out together?"
"Laura, I didn't get something from this lesson. Could you help me out?"
"Laura, this is my favorite book—"
Like she wouldn't give her a moment to brood, Carolline came at her relentlessly.
It was remarkably effective, and after being thoroughly dragged around by her, the torment in Laura's heart had faded considerably.
All that remained was the prick of having lied, stabbing at her mind.
But having cheered up by hanging out with Carolline, Laura decided to think positively.
If the guilt came from the lie, then just don't lie anymore, right?
It was a pretty reasonable approach.
The lie she'd told wasn't the kind that harmed anyone, after all.
Just an excuse born of fear.
Lying wasn't right, but her mind wasn't so soft that a white lie would send her holing up in her room again.
So she started reading.
Fortunately, her friend Carolline's hobby was reading, so it wasn't hard to get into.
Ask what she was reading lately, and her eyes would sparkle as she'd try to 'convert' her.
"If it's your first time reading, you have to start with Goodnight, Miss! It's about a butler who practices dancing every night for a young lady who can't sleep. The debut work of that famous author Robinson—"
...Carolline got pretty chatty at times like this.
Laura gave a slightly troubled smile as she listened, then dove into reading.
And Laura was a bit surprised while reading.
Because it was even more enjoyable than she'd imagined.
'This is fun.'
The book Carolline recommended was incredibly engaging.
A prickly young lady plagued by insomnia, and a butler who wanted to bring a smile back to her face.
His method was a bit ridiculous—dancing until she fell asleep.
But as she watched the lady's heart soften through his persistent efforts, and a subtle emotion sprout within, his actions stopped seeming silly.
Because she could feel his caring heart and dedication.
And Laura thought about herself and Leonardo.
'Could Leonardo and I become like that?'
Honestly, she didn't know.
The secret she was hiding was far too grave,
And she still feared what would happen if she revealed it.
But Laura didn't want to stay at this distance forever.
She wanted to get closer.
She wanted him to draw nearer.
If that happened, maybe one day she'd find the courage too.
She didn't know when that day would come—
But one thing was certain.
If she hoped for it, she had to close the distance as much as he did.
So Laura asked Carolline for advice.
"Carolline, how can I get closer to Leonardo?"
Carolline lit up with an "Oh! Oh!" at Laura's words.
Laura worried she might have to endure another ramble, but fortunately, that didn't happen.
Instead, she suggested something Laura hadn't considered.
"Why not give Leonardo a gift!"
"A gift?"
"Yes! Something he carries around all the time, that makes him think of you!"
Something he carried everywhere, that reminded him of her.
Her heart pounded at the thought.
Leonardo carrying her gift, thinking of her.
Just like the butler in Goodnight, Miss!
A gift for him came to mind immediately.
A bookmark.
Since they'd agreed to a reading club, a bookmark would be perfect.
A wish that they'd continue together.
And if the club went on, she'd get to see him using her gift.
With excitement, Laura prepared the gift.
And on the day they met.
As she pondered when to give it to him, Leonardo spoke first.
"Laura, take this."
"This is...?"
"A gift. Felt like I hadn't given you one before."
A gift? From Leonardo?
Laura looked up at him in surprise.
His usual stoic face gazing at her.
But from his firmly pressed lips, she could see hints of anticipation and worry slipping out.
Seeing that, her chest swelled.
'He's the same.'
She'd planned to take the first step this time.
Knowing she wasn't alone in that thought made her heart incredibly at ease.
And when she opened the wrapping, she finally burst out laughing.
Seeing Laura laugh, Leonardo asked her.
"...You don't like it?"
"No! How could I not?"
Of course not.
The gift Leonardo had prepared thinking of her—
Was an adorably crafted bookmark.
Laura clutched the precious gift tightly, then pulled out the one from her own bosom.
"Leonardo, then will you accept my gift this time?"
The one she'd prepared thinking of him.
Her own feelings.