Episode 29

“We need to have a meeting.”

“…What?”

Apollion looked at me as if he didn’t understand what I was talking about.

I pointed to the documents in front of Apollion with my finger. The documents were filled with agenda items for the meeting.

“Weren’t you preparing for the general meeting?”

“…Yes, I was.”

“I plan to participate in this general meeting, so I need your help.”

“…”

“I don’t know the vassals well.”

I winked.

Apollion’s face stiffened at my sudden coquettish gesture.

I had gained some confidence from seeing him blush this morning, so I tried to appeal to him more assertively. But his open displeasure made me feel awkward.

Realizing that such blatant seduction wouldn’t work on him, I continued speaking firmly, undeterred.

“It’s my first time appearing at such a meeting, so I should at least maintain proper etiquette, right?”

He nodded as if he understood.

I pulled my chair closer to him and leaned in to look at the document he was reading. Our bodies almost touched.

At that moment, he shifted his hips. His arm, which was almost touching mine, moved to the opposite side.

“…”

I looked at his face as he moved away from me. He then pushed the document in front of him toward me.

A distance of about a hand span was created between us again.

“Wouldn’t it be hard for you to see from there?”

I asked, looking at the document now placed right in front of me. It was too far from Apollion.

“My eyesight is excellent.”

“…”

“I can catch a flying hawk with these eyes.”

“Well… I’m envious.”

‘Of course, you would say that…’

I glanced at him sideways.

It wasn’t the first or second time, and I had developed a sort of immunity to his constant coldness.

Instead of feeling discouraged, I decided to wait for the next opportunity. Since I would be with him all day today, there would be plenty of chances.

I carefully read the documents in front of me.

The general meeting, which started early in the morning, seemed to end around noon.

The main topic of this meeting appeared to be about illegal gambling within the territory, as most of the content was related to it.

While I was reviewing the documents, Apollion took out a file from the bookshelf and opened it in front of me.

The first page of the file contained a seating chart, and the following pages were filled with records of recent years’ meetings, including approved and rejected agenda items.

He began to explain the basics of the vassal meetings to me, turning the pages one by one.

Strictly speaking, the general meeting was not an event that the lady of the house would normally be involved in.

Therefore, I didn’t need to know everything about the meeting in detail. However, Apollion explained more than what was necessary.

“Last winter, the waterway in the western plaza of the territory got blocked. The one who repaired the waterway and brought the water to the fountain was Baron Wedden…”

For example, things like this.

I had only intended to know the names, duties, and personalities of the vassals, but Apollion’s overwhelming information made my eyes glaze over.

Still, I couldn’t listen to his earnest explanations half-heartedly, so I took notes, even though most of it went in one ear and out the other.

He was diligent but inflexible… a consistently steadfast man. I had never met anyone so resolute.

But since it was rare for him to talk this much, I didn’t want to interrupt him.

His tone, focused on work, was slightly different from his usual timid tone, which I found fascinating.

I pricked up my ears and glanced at his face.

I wasn’t interested in what he was saying. My focus was solely on his voice.

His soft, low voice sounded like he was singing. It was a very sweet voice.

“Viscount Retoa may be strict, but he’s not a bad person at heart, so it should be fine.”

“Yes.”

“Wouldn’t it be better to leisurely greet everyone after the meeting?”

“That sounds good.”

“Hmm… Now that I think about it, the agenda includes illegal gambling, so the meeting might run long. How about greeting them before the meeting starts?”

“That works too.”

“Which would you prefer, Madam?”

“Well…”

“…Madam, are you listening properly?”

“Of course.”

I put down the fountain pen I was holding and confidently puffed out my chest.

“I’m listening very attentively right now.”

“…Really?”

“Yes.”

Apollion’s eyes narrowed with disbelief.

It was because a few days ago, I had spent a long time dawdling in his office under the pretense of studying.

Seeing him like that, I spoke boldly.

“The morning sounds good.”

“…You mean before the meeting starts?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll inform the vassals accordingly.”

“Oh, and for the record, I don’t intend to handle this hastily.”

“…”

“Since this is my first official appearance as the lady of this house, I want to make a proper impression on everyone.”

“A proper impression…?”

“Yes.”

When I nodded, Apollion looked thoughtful for a moment. Then, as if he had finished considering, he spoke to me.

“In that case, how about having a luncheon with the vassals after the meeting?”

“That sounds good.”

Pleased with his response, I drew a heart on the corner of the paper. His eyes widened instantly.

I wrote “luncheon” in small letters inside the heart.

When I glanced up, I saw him rubbing the back of his neck and looking out the window. His exposed earlobes were bright red.

I stifled my laughter and straightened my posture, pretending nothing had happened. Then, I started organizing the documents he had laid out.

After putting the files back in their place, I sat down next to Apollion again. He looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Are you not leaving?”

“Where to?”

“Isn’t your work done?”

He glanced at the door. He was subtly telling me to leave if I was done.

But I had no intention of leaving so easily.

“My work isn’t done.”

“…What else is there?”

“I need to jot down what I’ll say to the vassals. I can’t stutter and stumble over my words as the lady of the house.”

“…”

“Can you help me?”

“…”

Apollion expressed his disapproval through silence.

“Can’t you help me…?”

“…”

“It seems difficult to do alone…”

My sudden display of helplessness made Apollion’s eyes waver.

After studying hard for the past few days, I had come up with a new way to win him over.

And it seemed my new method was working quite well. Apollion reluctantly nodded.

“Thank you so much!”

I grabbed his large hand with both of mine and smiled brightly.

Contrary to my expectation that he would try to pull his hand away, Apollion sat quietly without any sign of resistance.

‘Is that so?’

I quickly thought of a way to use this positive reaction to my advantage as Apollion just blushed while I held his hand.

Despite the awkward posture of his upper body leaning away from me and his shoulders hunched, it didn’t bother me at all right now.

I never expected to get such a positive reaction from such an unexpected place. It made all the brainstorming worthwhile.

I decided to think of more ways to become closer to him and squeezed his hand a little tighter.

—

I spent the remaining time reorganizing the banquet hall through the merchant group that visited the mansion and memorizing information about the vassals.

Soon enough, the long-awaited day of the general meeting arrived.

I looked down through the window at the vassals gathering one by one at the mansion. Of course, all the faces were unfamiliar.

The meeting was to be held in the large conference room opposite the first-floor library.

I chose an ivory dress that was the most luxurious yet neat. Renée tidied my long golden hair into an elegant updo and secured it with pins.

The reflection in the mirror made me look a bit older than usual, but it also gave me a dignified appearance. I was quite satisfied.

Until I entered the conference room, I kept memorizing the names, statuses, and positions of the vassals.

Their names were so long that I wished I could rename them all with just two syllables.

“You may enter.”

At Wilson’s words, I quickly raised my head. The attendant in front was opening the door.

As I walked inside, I felt all eyes focusing on me.

Resisting the urge to flee, I sat down next to Apollion. Unlike my stiff and nervous self, he looked rather composed.

I glanced at Apollion beside me with a face full of distrust.

It wasn’t that I underestimated his abilities as the head of the house. From what I read, Apollion was a very capable grand duke.

But based on what I had seen so far… I worried whether he would even open his mouth properly in the meeting.

However, my anxiety was quickly proven to be unfounded.

His leadership and the way he conducted the meeting showed that he was the very embodiment of a competent leader.

I was so mesmerized by his impressive demeanor that I barely noticed when it was my turn to speak. I straightened my back, feeling the solemn tension settling on my shoulders.

I tried to deliver the well-prepared greetings as naturally as possible while scanning the vassals one by one.

Although curiosity arose in the eyes of the vassals, I quickly finished the introductions without receiving additional questions, thanks to the prearranged luncheon.

After exchanging a few formal greetings with the vassals, I quickly left the conference room. Even though it was less than 30 minutes, my palms were sweaty with cold sweat.

I asked Selena for a glass of cold water and gulped it down, then dismissed the attendants. I slumped into a chair to rest.

I felt like I could get indigestion even if I ate a simple porridge in this state.

I lay on my bed carefully to avoid messing up my hair and rested. After taking the digestive medicine I had prepared, I headed to the dining room on time.