🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 09
“No, it’s just that there’s no one in this Grand Ducal household willing to put up with that fellow’s personality, so I’m stuck doing it.”
Marisel’s eyes widened. No matter how much of a friend, he was a Grand Duke—yet she called him that fellow.
But when Rino winked at her, she couldn’t help but laugh.
“Pft.”
Quickly, she clapped a hand over her mouth to stifle the laugh.
What if Morgan saw her? Luckily, Rino’s broad frame completely shielded her from view.
“So you two really are that close, huh?”
“Too close, apparently. He gets me to do all sorts of things—I’m starting to worry I might never get married at this rate.”
Marisel watched Rino grin so effortlessly, and in her mind she thought:
‘Quite the looker, too… he’ll break a few hearts. That eye-smile alone screams Casanova.’
“Shall we go in? Perhaps we can share tea next time.”
“That sounds good. Thank you.”
With a brief exchange, Marisel stepped inside, and Rino went off.
As she disappeared into the room, Rino hummed a cheerful tune.
‘Have a good time, Morgan.’
“Your Excellency, may I have a moment?”
“Sit there and wait a bit. I’ll finish tidying this up first.”
“Yes, but how long should I wait?”
Morgan didn’t lift his eyes from the papers, his voice cutting through coldly.
“Why? Planning to leave if it takes longer than you expect?”
“N-no, I just thought it might be less tedious if I had an idea of the time.”
A chill swept the room immediately, as if his words had carved through the air.
‘Ah!’
“You seem awfully comfortable in a Grand Ducal house. Fearless enough to call it boring right in front of me.”
“Absolutely not! I misspoke. Please forgive me.”
“Ten minutes.”
“Ah, yes… ten minutes—”
Marisel trailed off.
Sure enough, ten minutes later, Morgan appeared at her table, just as he had promised.
“What is it?”
‘Ha. Always straight to the point, no preamble.’
“I’ve come to ask for permission.”
“Permission for what?”
“So that Prince Fleur can play at making cookies in the kitchen.”
“Make cookies in the kitchen? The heir of the Grand Ducal house?”
“Yes. That’s why I came to request your approval.”
Morgan blinked, incredulous.
“And if I say no?”
“I don’t think you could say no.”
Her boldness made him blink with surprise.
“Ha. Is that so? Well, let’s see then.”
“May I ask one question?”
Morgan lifted his chin slightly in a sign of consent.
He leaned back in the sofa, crossing his legs, and the snug trousers highlighted the contours of his thigh muscles.
‘Whoa… those are solid.’
Marisel’s eyes traced the movement, but she quickly looked away, as if she’d glimpsed something forbidden.
He exuded a decadent mixture of laziness and arrogance—any woman would want him: wealth, power, status, looks—all there. A cantankerous personality was a trivial flaw.
Even Marisel, under different circumstances, might not have resisted.
But life-or-death situations left no room for distraction, and her conscience wouldn’t allow her to covet what was already promised to another.
‘No wonder he’s the leading man… has it all.’
She cleared her throat, focusing on her mission.
“If Prince Fleur can speak, would he be willing to say anything?”
Morgan frowned, irritation clear in his voice.
“Depends on what ‘anything’ entails. You mean he needs the cookie activity so he can speak, is that it?”
“Yes. During the last garden walk, he spoke unconsciously.”
“Spoke…?”
“Yes.”
Morgan’s sharp expression softened slightly.
Then, a knock sounded at the door.
“Who is it?”
“Your Excellency, I’ve brought tea.”
‘Tea? Huh?’
“Come in.”
Two maids entered: one setting the tea, the other standing by.
“Call if needed, then leave.”
They quickly disappeared at Morgan’s command.
“Come, sit.”
“Yes.”
Marisel took a delicate sip from her teacup.
The rose aroma filled her mouth, as if misting her senses, lingering so richly she almost didn’t want to swallow.
“Mmm—the scent of the tea is wonderful.”
A soft smile tugged at the corner of Morgan’s mouth, unnoticed.
He watched her, as if forgetting he was there, eyes half-closed in silent amusement.
‘Always changing, this woman…’
“So, what did Fleur say?”
Marisel snapped her fingers, suddenly alert.
“He said… ‘beautiful.’”
“Beautiful? Who? Surely not—”
Marisel scowled inwardly at his teasing.
‘Of course I’m beautiful!’
Morgan chuckled at her pout, but she, in mock stubbornness, continued bluntly:
“The flower. The dandelion.”
“The dandelion? What do you mean?”
Morgan leaned forward, confused.
Marisel, still a bit petulant, explained carefully:
“Prince Fleur didn’t say I was beautiful. He said it while watching the dandelion seeds float away. So if placed in a similar situation, he’s likely to speak naturally again.”
“……”
Morgan noticed her deliberate tone, but didn’t comment. Instead, he considered her words thoughtfully.
“Also, working together to knead dough and make cookies can help him develop social skills and senses naturally. It’s safe, and we’ll ensure his safety with help from the kitchen staff.”
After hearing her reasoning, Morgan asked a different question.
“Even during the interview, I’ve never seen such childcare methods in the Empire, nor read of them. Where did you learn them?”
Marisel froze, caught off guard.
‘What should I say?’
She couldn’t reveal knowledge from a past life, nor could she lie convincingly.
Taking a deep breath, she finally said:
“It’s a trade secret.”
“What?”
Morgan blinked, stunned.
“A trade secret. Who would freely share the secrets of their livelihood?”
“Ha… ha ha ha.”
He laughed loudly, almost embarrassingly so.
Marisel wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or nervous at this unexpected reaction.
Finally, his laughter subsided.
“Right. A trade secret can’t be revealed lightly. Heh heh.”
Sensing the mood had shifted, Marisel pressed her point.
“Then… will you grant permission?”
Morgan instantly returned to his usual composed self.
“Do as you see fit. I’ll expect good news.”
“Thank you.”
Her smile bloomed like sunlight across her face.
Her violet eyes sparkled beautifully.
Morgan, caught off guard by the brightness of her expression, felt a brief, inexplicable fluster.
‘Is this… really something to feel so happy about?’
She was fascinating, unexpected. Watching her smile, he couldn’t look away—it shone like sunlight.
Marisel tilted her head, noticing his gaze.
“Your Excellency… why are you looking at me like that? Do you have more to say…?”
“Ah, no. I’ll leave it at that. Or take it with you if you want. I have work to finish, so I’ll get going.”
Morgan suddenly realized he had been staring and hastily rose.
“Then I’ll take my leave as well. Thank you again for your permission.”
As Marisel left, Morgan’s heart beat a little faster than usual.
No, from the moment he saw that radiant smile, it had already been racing. Yet he hadn’t noticed.
He picked up the papers to resume work, but his focus faltered.
He blamed the interruption for the distraction, though the cause was much sweeter than he admitted.
