✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Translated by: Alina
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
I had no intention of aligning myself with Erich’s rhythm, but receiving the peach trees and getting involved with Reinhardt made me even more uncomfortable.
‘Especially considering he deceived us about the quantity of peach trees,’
So, this time, I decided to go along with Erich’s rhythm.
“With things as they are, there’s no need to bother with giving peach trees as a gift.”
In response to my answer, Reinhardt smiled as usual, lifting the corners of his mouth. However, his eyes didn’t reflect the smile.
“I understand. By the way, I didn’t know the Duke was considering Her Highness in this way.”
It seems like there’s a solid misunderstanding there.
The reason that man bought the greenhouse orchard was simply to prevent any decline in the Duke’s reputation.
At that moment, Erich spoke softly with a gentle smile.
“Archduke, won’t you be late for dinner?”
Erich’s sudden remark made me check the time.
“Hmm, it’s still a bit early for dinner.”
It was 4 o’clock, a bit early to suggest dinner.
I couldn’t understand why Erich was saying this.
But soon I realized his intention.
“It would take about an hour to return to the Archduke’s residence.”
‘Ah, he meant it’s time to go home.’
Certainly, it would be better for Reinhardt to leave now, considering the ambiguous hour.
“And I need to see off the guest and have a conversation with the duchess…”
So, once again, I followed Erich’s lead.
“Well, then, should we head back now?”
Reinhardt, with a disappointed expression, let out a deep sigh before speaking, “I will see you again soon, Your Highness.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
As Reinhardt walked out of the Duke’s mansion, his attendant approached him.
“Young master, I’ve delivered the gifts to the Princess,” he began, but he couldn’t finish, noticing Reinhardt’s demeanor.
It was because Reinhardt’s gaze was so fierce.
“Have all the prepared trees burned,” Reinhardt commanded.
Although he felt regret inside, he didn’t dare show it, fearing what Reinhardt might do if he revealed his thoughts.
The attendant bowed and replied, “Yes, understood.”
As Reinhardt got into the carriage, he clenched and unclenched his fist.
“It’s not easy.”
Cornelia’s defenses were formidable.
He wondered if it was due to her affection for her husband, but her gaze towards Erich was cold.
Soon, he clenched his fist tightly.
Before long, his face was filled with a twisted smile.
“Yeah, it wouldn’t be fun if it were easy.”
With a crack in their relationship, applying pressure could make it crumble.
Today may seem like a retreat, but it was preparation for the future.
“Now that I know his weakness, I should go back and plan.”
A while later, the carriage of Archduke Tarrant departed from the Duke’s mansion.
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
After Reinhardt left, an awkward silence lingered in the reception room, leaving only Erich and me.
‘The fruits must be delicious. They look vibrant and smell delightful.’
The sweet aroma of the fruits in the reception room made my mouth water involuntarily.
However, out of self-respect, I couldn’t bring myself to eat the fruits he had brought in front of Erich, especially considering the strained relationship between us.
‘There’s no point in staying here with him. I should go.’
“I’ll head up to my room then.”
Just as I was about to get out of my seat,
“Wait, hold on.”
He called out to me.
“Do you have something to say?”
As he gazed at me in silence, he finally spoke.
“Why did you refuse the gift?”
Wait, he warned me not to accept them, and now he’s asking this?
Honestly, it was perplexing.
“I felt uncomfortable about it.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Yeah, I didn’t understand why Reinhardt suddenly wanted to give so many gifts.”
Upon hearing this, Erich chuckled softly.
“You’re either dense or sensitive; I can’t tell.”
His smiling face, which I had once gazed at as if mesmerized, was no longer captivating to me.
I realized that the survival of myself and my child was more important.
“But why are you curious about that?”
“There wasn’t a specific reason. You just mentioned it…”
Erich started to speak, but then his expression turned surprised, and soon he lowered his head deeply.
‘Why is he acting so awkwardly? Why is he lowering his head like that?’
I thought to myself.
“I’ll go then.”
He quickly got up from his seat and left the room before I could respond.
Left alone, I sat there with a bewildered expression, furrowing my brow soon after.
“What was that all about?”
After a moment, I realized that I was alone in the reception room.
The tempting fruits irresistibly caught my eye.
“Well, the fruits are innocent, right?”
I picked up a ripe plum from the basket, wiped it on my sleeve, and took a bite.
As the tangy-sweet juice spread in my mouth, a smile naturally formed on my face.
“It must be because they were grown in the greenhouse. They’re exceptionally sweet.”
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
Erich, after leaving the reception room, walked briskly towards the study.
Then, upon seeing someone he didn’t want to meet at the stairs, Erich furrowed his brow.
‘Madam Blanche.’
“Resume the contract. Don’t make a big deal about Medelin coming to our mansion.”
Since that day, the matriarch has been continuously talking to Erich about the contract and preventing Madelin from entering the mansion.
Because of this, Erich had no intention of engaging in lengthy conversations.
“Shall we go for dinner?”
“You never know, do you?”
Despite the matriarch’s sour attitude, Erich remained unfazed and replied,
“Enjoy your meal. I have some documents to attend to, so I’ll go up first.”
The matriarch scowled, but Erich paid no attention and left.
Arriving at his office shortly after, Erich closed the door and looked in the mirror.
Slowly, his face began to turn red.
“I almost made a mistake.”
Because of his long practice, he thought he had become quite numb to dealing with Cornelia.
However, his heart still reacted whenever he looked at her, and his face flushed when their eyes met.
Moreover, he couldn’t help but feel good because she had distanced herself from Reinhardt earlier and seemed to take his side. Even though she seemed uncomfortable mixing words with him just now,.
But soon, Erich’s blue eyes darkened.
“Yeah, I shouldn’t be deluding myself.”
She didn’t side with him.
The one she remembered as a kind person was her brother, and the one with a chance to be chosen again was her brother.
And he…
“I mean nothing to her.”
Eventually, as he sensed someone’s presence, a glint appeared in his blue eyes.
A moment later, Janet, one of his trusted subordinates, entered through the open window.
“Master, I have something to report.”
Thinking it would be another report about her, Erich opened his mouth.
“Go on.”
Janet then kneeled on one knee.
“I wish to publicly guard the duchess.”
Erich’s brow furrowed at the unexpected request.
“What’s the reason?”
Given Janet’s background as a former assassin, it would be easier to discreetly guard rather than openly. So, Erich couldn’t understand why she suddenly made such a request.
“Madam personally requested it.”
That statement revealed that covert guarding had been exposed. However, what surprised Erich was another matter.
“She did?”
Cornelia had previously insisted on not having guards assigned to her. So, the fact that she voluntarily requested it was beyond comprehension, and Erich couldn’t refuse.
Reluctantly, Erich nodded. “Alright, understood. Starting tomorrow, you will take responsibility for guarding her.”
- Love and War? The Battle of Wits!
‘After eating just one plum, my mouth feels refreshed.’
After finishing the satisfying taste test, I planned to leave the reception room and head back to my room.
‘Maybe I should try building a greenhouse later? Growing fruits and flowers could be good for the emotional well-being of the child…’
However, I ran into the matriarch standing in front of the staircase lobby.
‘Did you just come from the dining room? But why do you look so surprised?’
Although I thought it might be better to ignore her, being an elder, I couldn’t help but speak to her.
“Madam, have you had your meal?”
She glared at me as if she found me repulsive, furrowing her brow.
Soon, she ignored me and seemed to be heading towards the annex.
Quickly, I took out the gift that I had put in my pocket.
Then she asked, with a furrowed brow, “What’s that?”
“I went out today and thought this gift would suit you.”
“Is that so? Then show it to me.”
The essence of a gift lies in unwrapping it, but perhaps she found even unwrapping it bothersome, as she instructed me to do so.
‘Well, it’s her loss.’
Thinking so, I untied the pretty ribbon and unwrapped the package.
‘Alright, almost done.’
As I slowly opened the jewelry box, the matriarch muttered softly while looking at me.
“I don’t understand. Why would someone give such a thing…”
Normally, I would have thought she was talking to me, but it was the ‘thing’ in my hand.
With a bright smile, I held up the ruby necklace.
“Madam, what do you think? Do you like it?”
