🔊 TTS Settings
Chapter 17
“No! Ah… perhaps, Your Highness is right—gifts should come first. I’ve been waiting impatiently for three weeks to talk about the gift, and in doing so, I may have been rude. Still, if we’re prioritizing tonight, clearing the misunderstanding comes first. I was worried it might pile up and cause me to be dismissed. I’m relieved it’s resolved….”
‘Dismissed? Huh, she really went far on her own.’
Morgan frowned at her words.
“Alright, then. What gift does Fleur want?”
“Well… he wants to go on a picnic with his uncle.”
“A picnic?”
Morgan’s expression showed obvious bewilderment.
‘So it’s really not allowed, huh? But he really wants to go…’
“Your Highness. Just two hours, no—one hour is fine. I’ll take care of everything. All you need to do is show up.”
‘All I need to do is show up?’
A mischievous smile appeared on his lips.
Alright, he could accept it, but today he didn’t want to.
‘The thirsty must dig the well themselves.’
Morgan was convinced he could get something out of Maricel.
“You really want to make Fleur’s wish come true, don’t you?”
Maricel nodded eagerly, almost childlike in her sincerity.
“You understand how difficult it is for me to spare the time, especially during the day.”
Again, Maricel blinked in agreement, nodding earnestly.
“Of course. That’s why I’ve carefully come to make this request.”
“Then there must be a price.”
“Eh? A price?”
“You seem determined to grant the wish. Fleur didn’t ask for it himself, and you brought it up first, so it’s your wish, isn’t it? Am I wrong?”
‘What? How can he argue so persuasively?’
Maricel was dumbfounded.
So… he’ll do it, but not for free? That’s what he means?
He already knew. When it came to Fleur, she would go to any length.
He was grateful but also not entirely pleased.
It was not a true grievance, yet it irritated him like a splinter under the skin.
“…Yes, Your Highness. Then, what should I offer as the price?”
‘See, I knew it.’
As expected, things didn’t go the way she hoped, and strangely, it made her stomach twist.
‘Am I being overly blind with Fleur? Or is it because the object isn’t me?’
He was confused.
‘Fine. That’s for later. I’ll figure it out gradually.’
“Hah, you dare ask what price I would demand?”
“I’m not being bold. I’m simply asking Your Highness’s intention. If it’s possible, the deal is done. If not, we’ll find another way.”
After listening, Morgan looked at Maricel as if she had tricked him.
‘Oh, so she thinks I’m saying I’ll grant anything she wants? How cute.’
He hadn’t intended to give her a taste of that, but seeing her flustered expression eased some of his tension.
Maricel smiled faintly, and his expression twisted like someone chewing astringent persimmons.
“And I spoke knowing that you care for Master Fleur and wouldn’t make unreasonable demands,” she added soothingly.
‘Gotta be diplomatic.’
Maricel chuckled quietly to herself while softening her words.
Morgan knew Maricel well, and in some ways, she knew him even better. Why? She knew the original story.
Despite his rough exterior, he was a man who would give his all to the woman he loved.
‘Ha… the heroine is lucky. A man who has everything giving his all to her love.’
Some had been left hanging… and a bitter feeling returned.
“Why? Are you afraid I might demand something impossible? Why the expression?”
“Oh, no. Just briefly thinking of something else…”
“You’re thinking of something else in front of me?”
“No, that’s not it. I just thought… Your Highness has a bit of a tsundere side.”
“What? Tsu…ndere?”
His expression twisted sharply.
‘Oof!’
Maricel covered her mouth in surprise.
Only then did she realize what she had said in a fluster.
‘Ha. Why is this happening?’
“Oh, Your Highness… a tsundere is someone who seems strict or cold on the outside but is loving inside. That’s exactly how you appear to me.”
Was it wrong to explain so hastily?
His expression grew even sterner than before.
Where did I go wrong? I really want to cry.
“So… I am saying that, outwardly I appear strict, but inwardly I like you?”
‘Huh? What is he even saying?’
“Eh? Your Highness, are you saying…?”
“Didn’t you just say it yourself? Outwardly strict and cold, but secretly affectionate toward me?”
The cold voice.
Yikes!
A real disaster. She had left out the subject in her explanation.
“Oh, I apologize, Your Highness. I meant to say that this is how you appear to Master Fleur, but in my haste, I left that part out, causing this misunderstanding. I’m very sorry…”
Maricel bowed her head deeply.
‘Surely some mischief is at play today! Otherwise, I wouldn’t make so many mistakes.’
But despite her apology, Morgan did not soften his expression.
‘He won’t fire me over this, will he? No… maybe he could. I keep pressing his nerves.’
What should I do now?
Today really is a day when nothing works…
Leaving quickly seemed like the only way to prevent further mistakes.
“Your Highness, I will ensure there are no more misunderstandings in the future. And I have never, not even once, had any inappropriate thoughts that you like me…”
“Enough!”
Maricel’s final explanation was abruptly cut off by Morgan.
‘Ha… I guess this is the end…’
Maricel realized that her Plan A to survive under the protection of the Grand Duke’s household was over, and she would now have to move to Plan B without that protection.
Then…
“One week! Assist me with my work during that time.”
“Yes… within a week… Huh? You’re not firing me, you just want me to assist?”
‘What kind of sudden development is this?’
Today really is a strange day.
He sighed lightly, brushing off her words.
“Reno will be away in a few days. Help me in his place.”
“Oh… Your Highness, then what about Master Fleur…?”
“Come during his nap. Work until noon.”
“I… I wonder if I can actually assist you properly…”
“I won’t give anything big. Just sorting documents—anyone can do it.”
“Oh, alright. Then I shall do as instructed. And the picnic with Master Fleur… when Reno returns, around when…?”
Morgan watched Maricel trailing off in her words.
‘Is this the same woman who thought she’d just been fired?’
She switched tactics quickly.
Confident at first, but when danger came, immediately lowered herself, then seized the opportunity when it appeared—a seasoned hunter.
Is it innate?
‘Come to think of it, this was clearly about Fleur. Why did I get so worked up?’
And the explanation she gave only irritated him further.
‘And why is it a “dangerous thought” that I might have feelings for her?’
Every woman wants him to be enamored with them.
Seeing that the woman closest to him had not a shred of interest hurt his pride.
That’s why his mood was a mess.
Seeing Maricel’s crumbling expression, he hurriedly set the terms, though her mind still imagined the scenario of being dismissed.
‘Am I really such a cruel employer?’
Considering the nannies who came before, Maricel’s fears were understandable.
Those who forgot their duties and aimed for the Grand Duchess position were all dismissed.
All women he had met tried to gain his favor in some way, but she did the opposite.
Her actions today made him briefly suspect she might have been calculating for the position of Grand Duchess. But too many things didn’t add up for that to be true.
“Once Reno returns, we’ll schedule the time.”
“Thank you, Your Highness. Master Fleur will be overjoyed.”
Maricel clasped her hands to her chest and smiled like a young girl.
‘She always smiles like that when it’s about Fleur.’
“Then, let me know once the date is set.”
Maricel clapped her hands as if remembering something important.
“Oh! And… Your Highness, since you go out often, you surely know many safe places to take a child on an outing, right?”
She circled her words carefully.
“So you want me to scout the places and report back?”
“Eh? Report? That’s unnecessary. I just want your recommendation, and I’ll go check them myself.”
Morgan stared at her silently, frowning.
“No need. I’ll decide and inform you of the locations.”
“Oh! Your Highness is so kind.”
Maricel quickly added a clarification to avoid misunderstanding.
“Oh, I meant kind to Master Fleur. As you already know, but just in case…”
She glanced around nervously as she spoke.
“I understand.”
Morgan frowned in mild irritation.
‘Ha… what kind of day is this today?’
Maricel sighed, exhausted, as if all her energy had been drained.
