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Chapter 12
“I’ll put Fleur to bed and stop by your room for a bit.”
“Huh? For what—could it be… something’s wrong…?”
Maricel felt a sudden twinge of unease.
But contrary to her worry, what came from Morgan’s mouth was surprisingly gentle.
“Don’t worry about it. Just come in.”
“Yes… then I’ll see you in an hour.”
Maricel politely bowed and left, then went over to Fleur.
“Prince, come here.”
As Maricel spread her arms, Fleur ran over and flopped into her embrace.
She held him tightly, rocking him back and forth, practically squealing with delight.
“Well done, Prince. You were amazing!”
Morgan’s office.
She had hoped to come and go without waiting, just take care of business, but, as usual, that was wishful thinking.
‘So… why did he call me here?’
Since he said it wasn’t anything bad, she wasn’t overly worried—but curiosity had its way.
‘How long am I going to have to wait today… sigh.’
Maricel let out a quiet sigh and started scanning the office while she waited.
A bookshelf took up one wall, filled with books she couldn’t quite make out.
She’d heard the ducal family had a library rivaling even the royal one, and now she could see why—the books were endless.
When she’d asked how he knew such unheard-of parenting methods, she realized just how careful one had to be with answers.
‘Surely… he hasn’t read all the books in the mansion, right? Surely… no… right…?’
If he had read them all, he wouldn’t be human. Sure, if he were an old man with white hair, that’d make sense. But he was only twenty-four. Reading every single book in that library? Impossible. And he was always busy anyway…
Maricel rested her chin on her hand, frowning in thought.
“What are you thinking about, frowning like that without noticing me come in?”
“Huh?”
Startled, Maricel instinctively stood.
“No need to get up.”
Morgan, back to his usual sharp, ground-level handsome self, came closer and sat.
But disaster struck. The moment he sat, his thick, solid thighs were right there in her line of sight, commanding attention.
‘Haah… did some naughty demon take over my brain? Why am I suddenly fixated on his thighs?’
Exaggerating slightly, it almost felt like his thighs were thicker than her waist.
His body looked firm and well-built.
‘Quick, look away, Maricel!’
Her inner voice screamed.
But her eyes stubbornly lingered on the muscular thighs, slow and reluctant, dripping with admiration.
‘No…!’
Her inner self wailed again. If she looked too long, something bad might happen.
Still, Maricel’s eyes betrayed her, moving with a slow, reluctant admiration.
And it was easy to see why. She had never witnessed such firm thighs up close.
In a past life, she’d only been around patients or kids. In this life, she was a homebody. Even the guys she had dated before? Average. Very ordinary.
‘It’s the first time, right? With time, I’ll get used to it and won’t lose myself like this.’
Maricel covered her embarrassment with a nervous cough, hoping next time she wouldn’t be so flustered.
“Ahem. Sir Lino isn’t here today? Did he leave early?”
“Why do you care?”
His reply was sharp.
“Oh, I just… always see you together, so I was curious. No particular reason.”
Morgan finally softened, sliding a small velvet box toward her.
Maricel’s eyes followed his hand, then looked at him when her hand froze.
“Open it.”
Her curiosity won over her caution, and she reached for the box.
Click. She opened it.
‘What is this?’
Inside was a beautifully crafted hairpin, inlaid with amethysts and blue sapphires.
‘But… why me?’
Maricel wondered why he was giving this to her. Judging by the circumstances, it seemed meant for her—but she restrained her excitement.
Maybe he wanted advice on a gift for someone else? But the heroine hadn’t even appeared in the story yet…
What was going on?
Maricel decided to ask directly.
“Is this for me?”
“Yes. It’s yours.”
“Why?”
She’d guessed the reason, but still—why?
“A bonus.”
“A bonus? What kind of bonus? I haven’t even worked here a month yet.”
“Fleur speaks for you.”
Morgan’s tone was casual.
“Ah…!”
As soon as she heard the reason, Maricel shrugged proudly.
‘Of course. That makes sense. I earned it. Never imagined a reward, but this boss knows how to treat employees.’
Still, the bonus felt a little extravagant. And not money—an expensive hairpin?
“Thank you for the high praise. But isn’t this a bit much for a bonus?”
“Keep it. You earned it. Or… would you prefer cash?”
“Huh? Oh, no. I like it because it’s pretty. Haha.”
There was no way she could ask for money after he went to such trouble.
Maricel smiled awkwardly, waving her hands, then looked again at the hairpin in the box. Up close, it looked like a slice of the Milky Way had been placed in her hand.
‘The kitchen staff worked hard too… I should treat them later.’
“Thank you, Your Grace.”
Maricel smiled brightly.
Morgan felt a tickle in his chest at her radiant smile.
A little embarrassed, a little awkward—hard to explain.
But one thing was clear: he liked seeing her smile.
“This person who chose it has great taste. It’s beautiful.”
“Ahem. Really?”
Morgan cleared his throat, then wore a somewhat reluctant expression, as if someone had stolen the praise meant for him.
Maricel realized immediately: he didn’t pick it himself.
“Oh! But I’m more moved by the thought behind the gift than the jewels themselves. Hohoho. So again, thank you, Your Grace.”
Her flattery made him relax.
She thought, ‘It was either Pour or Lino who prepared this.’
But honestly, who did it wasn’t important. She was grateful someone cared.
‘Now that business is done, I should get going.’
She stood quickly, not wanting to prolong their private time.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I’ll leave you to your work now.”
But Morgan stopped her with unexpected words.
“The car will be here soon. Stay and have some tea.”
“Huh? But aren’t you busy, Your Grace?”
“I’m done for today. Sit and have some tea.”
“Yes… okay…”
Maricel awkwardly sat back down, unable to refuse or find an excuse.
‘Ugh. This is bad.’
What does one even talk about with their boss at night, just the two of them?
She felt like crying inside.
Morgan finally had some free time. To be exact, he had cleared his schedule for today.
See Fleur. Give Maricel the gift. Have tea together.
That was the last thing on his agenda.
But as Maricel tried to leave with just the gift, his plan almost fell apart.
He felt both flustered and annoyed.
In a way, her reaction made sense. She was just considerate, trying not to overstay.
But the problem was she didn’t know his heart.
So he hurriedly held her back.
Yet as soon as he spoke, he worried she might refuse.
‘What if she says no? How should I respond?’
Being with her always led to unexpected situations—but strangely, he didn’t dislike it.
He always wanted to be alone with her when possible.
Today was perfect for that.
Even if she refused, he had to make her stay.
“I remembered you like rose tea, so I had some brought. Is that okay?”
Maricel nearly doubted her ears.
‘Rose tea? This delicate side…?’
“Of course. I drink anything as long as it isn’t too bitter.”
“I see… then what else do you like?”
“Other things? Food, perhaps?”
“Anything.”
“I don’t really have strong preferences. Nothing I particularly love either.”
“Do you like reading books?”
Maricel flinched.
She wondered if this was a trap question, like before about parenting methods.
“When I feel like reading, I read day and night. Other times, I don’t touch a book at all. It depends.”
She answered evasively, leaving an escape route.
“Do you like reading, Your Grace?”
“What do you think?”
He returned the question with hopeful eyes.
Maricel felt trapped. Those eyes… what were they asking?
Any answer might prompt further questions.
She lowered her gaze and thought hard.
Well, no need to overcomplicate it.
“I think you would like it. Even if you disliked books at first, the education for a ducal heir would have exposed you to them often and in depth. Through this, you would have realized their usefulness and fun. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have all these books in your office. People keep close what they enjoy.”
Morgan’s lips curled slightly at her answer.
‘Was he satisfied?’
“A reasonable deduction.”
“Is that correct?”
He lightly rubbed his chin, lost in thought.
For the first time, he considered whether he actually liked books.
He had never been asked, and reading had been more of a duty as heir.
It wasn’t that he hated it—just that it was required.
Had he ever enjoyed it? Maybe as a child, sitting on his mother’s lap with storybooks.
‘I used to sit with my sister and read…’
A long-forgotten memory surfaced, bringing a bitter smile.
“Well… reading has been a duty since I was chosen as heir. No one ever asked if I liked it, so I never thought about it. But hearing your answer… I guess I don’t dislike it.”
If she had answered lightly, he’d probably have just agreed that books were an obligation for heirs, neither liked nor disliked.
But she had answered sincerely, even to a casual question.
‘So that’s why…’
Her careful answer made him reflect seriously on his own habits.
Maricel, on the other hand, felt a tinge of disappointment.
“The answer was… you don’t dislike it, huh…”
‘Ah, too bad!’
She had reasoned it out carefully and was confident, but still—how disappointing.
