/
After the Duke’s coronation ceremony, tomorrow’s day was the same as before.
Returning to my daily life where I had been stuck with Lucian before getting sick, I was busy sorting out invitations that came like a wave of water. After the coronation ceremony, the slightly depressed mood disappeared as I got busy, and Lucian was still caring for me.
“Duke, please review the documents regarding the seeds distributed to the residents.”
However, there was a little difference…
Before the coronation ceremony, I was alone with him. But now, the office was crowded with newly elected aides and aides who had previously served as assistants to the previous duke. When the spacious office was crowded with new desks and people, I felt a new sensation.
…Truly, Lucian had become a duke.
I didn’t think there were that many aides in the original story… Did they just appear like they were passing by?
I sighed slightly as I watched Lucian have a serious conversation with the aide.
“Whoo.”
What was it…?
Although I didn’t know how to express this feeling, it just felt a bit empty. When I finished sorting the first invitations and lifted my head, I met Lucian, who was just gazing at me.
“Are you done?”
His narrow, curved eyes were warm and soft. That alone shows how much he cares for me, so why do I keep feeling this way?
I answered, trying to ignore my feelings.
“There are a lot of invitations. I’ll take a closer look once more and divide the grades so that brother can pick and go.”
When I answered eagerly, Lucian just looked at me with a smile on his face.
“Excuse me, Duke.”
Then, an aide came to him with a document.
As I was sharing the same desk with Lucian, I could observe the change in his expression right next to him. The corners of his lips that were naturally raised when he looked at me went down when he glanced at the aide.
With a perfect expressionless face, I peered at him as he instructed his aide here and there, and then glanced away. The aides were sweating profusely. Anyone could see that he was scared of the Duke with a terrifying expression as he bowed his head.
As I turned my gaze to the aide who hurriedly returned to his seat after the talk had finished, suddenly, a large hand gently wrapped around my chin and turned it.
When I widened my eyes while he was holding my face, Lucian let out a small laugh.
“We should have lunch.”
“Is that time already?”
“Today I ordered them to prepare your favorite spicy seafood spaghetti.”
“Wow…!”
When I heard the exciting menu, I immediately felt like endorphins were running. My mouth was already salivating.
“Is it okay for brother to have spicy food? Didn’t you say that it’s delicious even if it’s not spicy?”
“If you enjoy it, I will enjoy it as well.”
“Hehe.”
How could he speak so beautifully?
I got up with him with an innocent smile.
Before I left the office with Lucian, I clearly heard a sigh of relief from the aides. It would be scary if the boss was too blunt. Imagine that your boss was frowning even if you haven’t done anything wrong… You may really make a mistake and confess it yourself.
If Lucian, who already killed people just by his looks, was to have an expressionless face, I thought I would die, too…
When I was young, I didn’t get discouraged and followed along well… Well, he didn’t look like this at the time.
After a simple lunch, we went out to the garden together. Early summer had already passed, and it was like summer in full swing. As soon as I stepped out, the sun was shining. Still, it was not very midsummer, so the wind was refreshing and cool.
“Do you have time for a walk with me? Brother seems to be very busy these days.”
I didn’t know it very well, so I couldn’t know exactly how extensive his work was. Nevertheless, just counting the number of guests who came after the coronation ceremony, I could guess how busy he was.
…But, for Lucian, his name was more important than being busy.
“You should call me Lucian, Ray.”
By the way, should I say thank you that he didn’t force me when I was with other people? When there were just the two of us, he always pointed it out. Still, could I really call him, who became a duke, by name…?
Ha, this is really troubling. I wanted to share my concerns with anyone, but who the hell should I ask?
After a small sigh, I opened my mouth.
“Though brother is now the Duke, I don’t know if I can call you by tour name.”
As I grunted, he asked again.
“Who pointed out that mistake to you?”
He opened his mouth slightly to a genuinely curious expression. It seemed like it was right, but it seemed that I shouldn’t be involved.
“Oh, aren’t you going to the salon today?”
At that, I changed the subject. He raised one eyebrow in disapproval but answered my question.
“I decided not to go for a while.”
“Why?”
“…Because something happened.”
“Really? That’s too bad. Brother, you liked going to the salon.”
“I don’t think I ever said that I liked it?”
…Did he not? I thought he liked it.
It was a bit confusing… Was it true that I knew about Lucian well?
“It’s nice to go for a walk together.”
He reached out and took my hand. He put his fingers between my fingers and grabbed them tightly. Since we hold hands frequently these days, I was used to holding hands.
Oh, right…
I haven’t given him a present yet.
When asked to give a present to commemorate the coronation ceremony, he did not answer. Then, I forgot to ask again since there had been so many things going on. However, it had been a while since the coronation ceremony, so it was a bit vague to say that it was given as a present for the coronation ceremony.
I still want to give him a present… How can I give it to him?
“Brother, can we have tea time a little earlier today?”
“If you call me Lucian.”
No…
Why do I feel so bad?
As I tilted my head in a situation where I felt something was wrong, I realized my identity. It was a deal that the previous Duke often made. When I said to do something to him, there was a saying that followed…
He forced me to call him ‘dad.’
This was really weird… How was this aspect about them the same? Although these two father-and-son argued that they didn’t look alike, in fact, they were similar in many ways. It was funny, so I smiled a little and called his nickname affectionately.
“Luci, let’s drink our tea, okay?”
His golden eyes seemed to deepen as I narrowed my eyes, hanging from his arms.
“Okay.”
Even if the answer was short, there was joy in it, so I felt good. Coming to the nearby orangerie, we sat facing each other and started talking.
“Oscar said he found a silver fox in the mountains behind him. Are there any silver foxes? I’ve never heard of it.”
“Hmm, I don’t know.”
“He showed a lot of curiosity. And, he said that he was thinking about whether he should save its life by treating him as a member of the same race or whether he should catch him and use it as a scarf on his neck as it is not a beast anyway.”
“I see.”
“Even if it’s not a shapeshifter, weren’t they both the same kind of fox?”
“Hmm.”
“So, Damian complained a lot about how he needed a scarf in the first place.”
As I chatted, Lucian didn’t show much interest.
Nevertheless, I was glad that he did not take his eyes off me and seriously listened to my uninteresting stories. So, we chatted more than usual.
I didn’t know if it was more because of my childhood memories. Even if he didn’t say anything in return, looking at his friendly expression made me feel reassured, and the words kept coming out. Because of that, I didn’t realize that time had passed.
I stopped talking only after I saw the sky gradually reddening behind him.
At that, I remembered what I was going to ask and I pondered for a moment about how to describe the gift he wanted. A good idea came to mind. It was a good thing. Lucian is good, I am good, and the aides are good.
When I glanced at him slightly, I spoke to him, who was still gently raising the corners of his lips.
“Brother, smile like that in front of other people.”
Was it a sudden request? Seeing Lucian’s expression subtly hardened, I hurriedly spoke.
“If you do, I’ll give you a present.”
Wohoo. That was good!
It was perfect timing. I could finally give Lucian a present. Come to think of it, all the presents I’d given him during this time were only small things. Because of that, I wanted to give him something he liked this time. I gazed at him in anticipation of his answer.
Lucian looked at me with a mysterious expression and slowly opened his mouth.
“The present… is anything okay?”
“Of course!”
The moment he heard my confirmation, the light in his eyes changed in an instant. Was it my illusion that it looked full of thirst like a hungry predator…?
However, the thought passed, and I waited for the pretty lips to open again with a positive reply.
The next moment, Lucian got up. He came over to me and gently held my hair. I looked up at him with an expression that I did not understand what was going on. Meanwhile, he leaned his hips at an angle on the table and looked down at me.
I could see his golden eyes full of strange ecstasy.
With a look of anticipation on his face, he took a moment to catch his breath and then spoke again clearly.
“Then… give me you, Rachel.”
Excuse me…?
…I beg your pardon? Give you what?