TELRO 08

“Money Envelope, I’ll Try Receiving It Once Chapter : 08”

“I’m sorry. I think I have to quit my job.”

At my words, all my employers reacted with surprised voices.

“What? So suddenly?”

“It’s already hard to find someone as good at working as you… Sigh, what a shame. Can’t you reconsider?”

“No, absolutely not! If you leave, our ranch is finished! Finished!”

Since I couldn’t properly explain why I suddenly had to quit, I just made up an excuse that an urgent matter had come up.

Fortunately, the men and women who knew my situation didn’t ask further questions and accepted my resignation.

“You’re a diligent and good kid, so I’m sure only good things will happen to you in the future.”

“Thank you! I’ll definitely come greet you again once everything is settled.”

From flower gardens to ranches, from restaurants to taverns.

It took a full week for me to quit all six of my jobs.

‘Still… I guess I really did work hard.’

Everyone seemed disappointed that I was leaving and gave me warm wishes for the future, which made me feel good.

10 p.m. It was quite late, but I walked lightly toward the swan bushes in Cosmos Park.

In front of the bench by the swan bushes—where two swans facing each other formed a beautiful heart shape with their curved necks—The Duke was already there, sitting.

“Your Grace!”

At my call, the Duke lifted his head and gently waved at me.

“Today was the last day, right? Did you quit everything properly?”

“Yes. I’m officially free now!”

“Wow.”

At my declaration, the Duke clapped his hands as if genuinely pleased.

“Then shall we finally talk in earnest?”

“Yes. Please tell me what I should do.”

The Duke nodded and spoke to me in a calm voice.

“Like I said before, I’ll introduce you as my fiancée and bring you into the ducal estate. During that process, my mother might say some harsh things…”

“I’m fine! I spent five years serving drunk old men at a tavern. I’m really good at hearing things with one ear and letting them out the other.”

“But if it gets too harsh, you can talk back a little. You don’t need to earn my mother’s approval anyway.”

“Yes. I think I understand.”

To receive the money envelope, it would probably be better if I came across as a somewhat bold girl to the Duchess Dowager, right?

“I doubt it’ll go that far, but just in case—my mother might even hire people to use force…”

“You don’t need to worry about that either. I’m really strong. I used to lift fertilizer sacks at the flower garden.”

“…Ah. So they made a delicate young lady lift fertilizer sacks at that flower garden?”

“I was the strongest there. I even won every arm-wrestling match against the men working there.”

“Haha, arm-wrestling… By the way, what was the name of that flower garden?”

For some reason, although the Duke was smiling, there was a faintly ominous atmosphere.

Feeling like I shouldn’t mention the name, I quickly rolled up my right sleeve and thrust out my arm.

“I’m really strong! Want to arm-wrestle me, Your Grace?”

“No. What man in the world arm-wrestles his fiancée?”

Waving his hand dismissively, the Duke continued.

“Anyway, the ducal estate is huge and I’m busy, so I can’t always be by your side. So in those cases…”

The Duke snapped his fingers.

At that moment, the shadow beneath his feet moved.

More precisely, the Duke’s shadow split in half and slipped into mine.

“You remember Shy, don’t you?”

“Oh, yes. Is he inside my shadow right now?”

As I leaned forward and tapped the shadow at my feet, a face suddenly popped out from within it.

I jolted back in surprise, and Shy immediately retreated again like a mole hiding underground.

“Shy will keep watching over you. He can also send messages to me, so if you need to tell me anything, just tell Shy.”

“Yes.”

I nodded, then leaned slightly to peer down at my shadow.

“…Ah, I see it.”

Now that I knew there was someone inside, I could clearly feel the difference between the Duke’s shadow and mine.

It was hard to explain, but it felt like there was life inside mine.

“By the way, Your Grace, who exactly gives the bride training and how?”

“Bride training is basically a handover of duties for the Duchess of the estate. My mother will likely oversee it. She probably won’t teach you directly, though.”

“What happens if I can’t keep up and get kicked out?”

“Don’t worry. There’s no way you won’t be able to keep up.”

The Duke said it so casually, as if it were nothing at all.

“All you need to worry about is one thing: how naturally you can act as my fiancée.”

“How do I do that?”

The moment I asked, the Duke held out his hand to me.

I stared blankly at it, not understanding, and he let out a low laugh.

“Hold it.”

“…Ah!”

Realizing it belatedly, I grabbed his hand. Then the Duke gently grasped my wrist with his other hand and carefully intertwined our fingers.

“Like this, when we’re holding hands in front of others. Got it?”

“But isn’t escorting supposed to be like this?”

I had read quite a lot on the subject.

I released our interlocked fingers and instead placed my hand lightly over his palm, just touching the fingertips.

The Duke chuckled, saying I wasn’t wrong.

“That’s for formal occasions. We need to show affection in private settings.”

“Ah.”

“In that sense, Iris.”

The Duke turned his body toward me, resting his arm on the back of the bench and gently brushing my hair with his fingertips.

“Shall we have our first kiss?”

“Yes. Let’s.”

I nodded immediately.

The Duke’s eyes widened.

“Did you actually hear what I just said? I said first kiss.”

“I heard you properly.”

At my calm response, the Duke closed his mouth in obvious surprise. I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Honestly, what did he take me for?

I had read at least dozens of romance novels. Among them were several where the male and female leads signed contracts and entered fake engagements.

Thanks to that, I already knew that hugs and kisses were essential in a contractual engagement.

‘I’m glad I mentally prepared myself so I wouldn’t get flustered even if the Duke asked for something like this.’

I was relieved I didn’t end up reacting embarrassingly like “K-k-k-kiss?!”

Instead, I looked at the Duke—who seemed more surprised than I was—and said confidently,

“Isn’t it obvious that if I’m acting as your fiancée, I’d hold hands, link arms, hug, and even kiss? Did you really ask me to act as your fiancée without being prepared for that much?”

“Seems so… I guess I was the foolish one for not preparing for that.”

“Don’t blame yourself. You can start preparing now.”

At my shameless words, the Duke burst into laughter.

“Wait just ten seconds. I think that’ll be enough.”

“Yes.”

I turned my upper body toward him, leaned in slightly, and closed my eyes.

“I’m ready, so when you’re prepared, please give me the first kiss.”

Maybe it was my boldness, or maybe he still hadn’t steeled his resolve.

The Duke said nothing.

In the silence where the wind gently brushed my hair, I began to worry.

‘…Did I go too far?’

If he suddenly decided to cancel everything, that would be bad. My grandmother was already on her way to the capital…

Then—

The wind that had been brushing my cheek stopped.

At the same time, a warm hand cupped my face.

The rough, firm touch made me flinch, and before I could react, I felt his presence draw closer.

Instinctively, I tightened my closed eyes.

Then, as if noticing my delayed tension, a faint laugh like a passing breeze brushed my ears.

Something soft and warm lightly touched the corner of my lips—and then landed on my cheek.

It was different from what I had expected.

When I opened my eyes after the Duke pulled away, I asked,

“Was that the first kiss?”

“For now.”

As if marking the exact spot where I had been kissed, his thumb pressed lightly against the corner of my lips.

Though it seemed playful, there was a faint heat lingering in his touch.

“Since the first kiss was here… should we say our first meeting was here too?”

“First meeting?”

“Yes. If anyone asks how we met, answer like that. We met here for the first time, and had our first kiss here too.”

“Yes! Then I’ll say I was so overwhelmed by your handsomeness that I approached you first.”

“Good.”

First meeting here, first kiss here.

‘Easy to remember. That’s nice.’

I secretly touched the cheek he had kissed, trying to calm my racing heart.

The next afternoon.

Dressed in a dress and accessories prepared by the Duke, I stepped down from the luxurious carriage holding his hand.

“Y-Your Grace…?”

The servants who had come to greet the Duke looked at us—arms linked—with shock, almost horror.

In front of them, the Duke gently brushed my hair and declared,

“I told you in advance, didn’t I? That I would be bringing an important guest today.”

“T-this… guest…?”

“My future promised partner.”

As if fully resolved, the Duke casually kissed my hair.

“Tell the Duchess Dowager this: the marriage she so desired—I’ve finally decided to go through with it, and I’ve brought the person myself.”

Looking at the stunned servants, I swallowed hard.

The grand operation to receive the money envelope.

It was beginning now.