SDA 14

Chapter : 14

After the operation was a success, it wasn’t long before Johan left the salon.

“Your Grace! I’ve prepared the tea leaves you requested!”

He was staying true to his role as the older brother who rushed all the way here for his ailing younger sister.

“It was nice meeting you, Miss Bringer. I’ll be going now.”

After a brief greeting, Johan disappeared immediately.

Even leaving a lingering impression like this is perfect.

Violet was a “beautiful woman.”
Someone who naturally received attention wherever she went.

So it was almost absurd how Johan, unlike other men, left without any hesitation, as if he had no lingering attachment.

Now all that’s left is for my fawning friends to make a fuss.

Siena was curious to see how Violet’s friends would overreact.

As she tilted her head toward them, Siena realized something unconsciously.

What…?

There was something large right in front of her face.

It was…

“…an Adam’s apple?”

Rian’s Adam’s apple jutted out abruptly.

“Honey.”

Along with the sudden appearance of the Adam’s apple in her view, his voice also flowed into her ears unexpectedly.

Siena’s golden eyes shook violently.

“No matter how much I like you, is it really necessary to press your face against mine like this?”

…She nearly forgot her role as “Citizen 1 drinking tea” and almost shouted.

I keep thinking this, but how can this person speak such things so unabashedly?

Siena quickly pulled herself away from Rian.
Now that the mission was accomplished, there was no need to stay wrapped in his embrace.

“I-I wasn’t pressing against you! I didn’t know!”

“Do you think I’ll believe you if you say that after rubbing your face against me?”

“I really didn’t know!”

“You really can’t lie, can you, Honey.”

Rian still held the newspaper.
When he removed one hand, the left side of the paper tilted slightly.

“You’re cute because you’re innocent.”

His hand landed on the crown of Siena’s head.
Siena held her breath abruptly.

For someone so delicate, his hands are unnecessarily large.

She had never held Johan’s hand, but just by looking, Rian’s seemed bigger.

After quickly collecting herself, Siena lightly pushed Rian’s hand away.

“I really didn’t know! I’m not lying.”

“People who can’t lie usually get more flustered instead of just admitting it.”

“Be quiet and step back now. And stop calling me ‘Honey’ too.”

“Why?”

“Why what? Because the job’s done, that’s why.”

Rian answered leisurely, as if humming a tune.

“Our Honey says something sad again. I call you Honey because you’re mine.”

Embarrassed, Siena muttered under her breath.

“Y-You, what the heck do you mean by ‘mine’…”

She aimlessly glanced around and snatched the newspaper from Rian, pretending to focus on reading the articles.

[Northern Duke Euclid Erone expresses regret over mistreating his wife in the past…]
[Northern Duke Karline Leversel single-handedly defeats a wolf pack that stormed his wedding!]

Suddenly, she realized something.

Now that I think about it, all the dukes living here are Northern Dukes… the empire’s northern territory is unnecessarily vast…

She had unintentionally discovered another strange secret of this world.

Soon, she could hear Violet’s friends making a commotion.

“Violet, I saw it! I think the Veloster Marquis fell for you at first sight!”
“No way!”
“I’m serious! The way he looked at you—exactly like that.”
“But today’s the first time I saw the Veloster Marquis up close, and he’s really handsome.”
“Yeah, and he seems to have a good personality too. He looks very considerate.”

Isadora, Finn, and even Heaven seemed to be listening to their conversation.

Siena exchanged glances with the staff.
Confirming that Violet and her friends weren’t watching, Heaven whispered to Doradora.

“Shall we go now? I’m hungry.”

Siena nodded faintly.
In any case, the first mission of Willow’s Romance Manipulation Team ended in great success.

After completing the first-meeting request and returning to the center, Siena was exhausted from catching up on pending letters.
She felt particularly tired today.

“Ugh, my body aches…”

Dragging her weary body, she returned home.

“You’re back, Miss.”

Only the servants were in the lobby; Soren was nowhere in sight.

Is he sleeping?

It didn’t bother her much.
She just wanted to wash up and lie down as soon as possible.

But as she climbed the stairs, faint footsteps reached her ears.

“Long time no see, Siena.”

Turning her head, she saw Chase.

“Brother…? What brings you here?”
“Is it so strange that I came to our house?”
“You don’t usually drop by.”
“I just wanted to see my family. You know how much I love you and your brother, right?”

Chase’s left eye twitched slightly before opening again.

Still hasn’t gotten rid of that damn winking habit and the endless talk about love.

He was holding a glass today too.
Judging by the pale amber liquid, it was probably his favorite whiskey.

Siena exhaled through her nose.

“Brother… stop drinking so much. You’ll get sick.”

“Our Siena worries about her beloved brother? How sweet.”

It seemed Chase’s obsession with love and his siblings’ devotion would take a long time to cure.

And it’s not really love that worries me—it’s that alcohol itself isn’t good for the body.

While grumbling internally, Chase changed the topic.

“By the way, how’s the center? Running smoothly?”

Honestly, as the representative, he could come check it himself…
He never thought to inspect but only asked like this every time.

“…It’s going fine. The staff works very well.”
“No particular issues?”
“Nope.”
“Really?”

Chase tilted his head slightly, elongating the last syllable of his question.

What’s this?

For some reason, his tone felt like he was prying.

Ah, now that I think about it, there is something.

He didn’t know about Johan’s task.

“I see. Recently, there was a request involving the Veloster Marquis, so I’ve been helping him.”

“The Veloster Marquis?”
“Yes. I’ve been manipulating romance between him and Miss Violet Bringer.”

Chase stared at her intently, then asked:

“Isn’t that annoying?”

“Huh?”
“I wouldn’t expect you to bother with such things given your personality. Did you help willingly because you’re acquainted with the Veloster Marquis?”

Honestly, she flinched at the question.

Rian and Chase… if those two teamed up, they’d make a fortune.

She quickly denied it while hiding her thoughts.

“No, of course not. I don’t know him. How could I have a friendship with the Veloster Marquis?”
“…”
“He offered 100,000 gold as a commission. That’s why I agreed. There’s no other reason.”
“Hmm…”

Chase brushed the hair from his forehead.
It was the same color as hers.

Then he chuckled.

“As long as it increases your income, I don’t mind.”
“….”
“How about Rian?”

Siena looked at Chase.
She felt her mouth twitch involuntarily.

Rian…?
Is that really a question?

Our youngest is doing very well.
He doesn’t work, just talks nonsense all the time.
Whenever he can, he calls the center director—and now even “Honey.”
Soon, she felt she might bleed from her ears.

But…

Can I even talk badly about my brother in front of him?

After pondering, she chose to remain silent.

“Just… doing well.”
“Taking good care of him? Rian still doesn’t know much about the Empire.”
“….”
“Despite his appearance, he has a naïve side…”
“….”
“But our Siena is responsible and diligent, so I trust she’ll take good care of Rian.”

Chase smiled gently.
Naturally, Rian’s shameless face came to mind.

Naïve, huh? Where?
Even if dropped in a remote mountain region, he’d eat well and live comfortably…

At that moment, footsteps echoed from upstairs.

Both Siena and Chase turned their gaze upward.

A moment later, someone appeared.

“…What’s all this commotion?”

It was the eldest of their siblings and head of the Willow family: Count Soren Willow.