Chapter 03

“Thanks for coming all this way.”

The Duke of Lilliwood murmured in a low voice, holding a wine glass instead of cutlery.

Lauren shook her head. The Duke’s smile directed at her twisted ever so slightly. It was such a faint change that most wouldn’t notice, but for some reason, Lauren saw it clearly.

“I should have sent someone to escort you, but…”

“No, it’s really alright.”

Lauren hadn’t come from the baron’s estate, but from a shabby inn. If the Duke had sent people there, she would’ve felt burdened. Besides, she didn’t have much luggage, and not having to worry about attracting attention made coming alone preferable.

“How’s the room? Do you like it?”

“Yes. Thank you for being so considerate.”

It was a room far better than she deserved.

A room with its own dressing area and bathroom.

Even the baron’s estate didn’t have rooms this nice. On top of that, she’d even been assigned two personal attendants.

But what she liked most was that the room wasn’t overly extravagant.

Floral wallpaper and gold decorations had never suited her tastes anyway.

The cream-colored room, simple yet warm, matched beautifully with the wooden furniture whose grain remained visible.

Though she had only stayed briefly, it was a place that put her at ease.

The Duke of Lilliwood quietly watched Lauren eat.

When she set down her utensils and wiped her mouth with a napkin, he put down his now-empty wine glass and rose from his seat. The way his hand swept back his hair seemed oddly impatient.

“I’m sorry to discuss work right after dinner, but I think it’s better to settle things clearly.”

Lauren nodded and followed him out of the dining room.

A glance behind revealed untouched food still sitting on his plate.

Did he only drink on an empty stomach? Is he alright?

Lost in thought for a moment, she realized he’d already walked far ahead.

Lauren hurried to catch up.

“Sorry for the mess.”

The place he brought her to was his office.

Messy was an understatement.

Nothing had been organized at all.

Documents were piled over desks and tables, while empty bottles and glasses were discarded everywhere.

How does anyone work in a place like this?

It was almost absurd.

“Sit wherever.”

Stacking papers from a low table, the Duke jerked his chin toward an armchair.

Lauren wanted to scold him, but she wasn’t in a position to do that yet.

Keeping her mouth shut, she obediently sat down.

The Duke tossed some papers onto his desk, peeked into a cabinet, then rang the bell on top of it.

Calvin appeared beyond the door.

“Bring tea and alcohol.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Calvin returned quickly with drinks.

In front of the Duke was a bottle of golden liquor and an elegant crystal glass.

In front of Lauren sat a gold-rimmed teacup and teapot.

The butler efficiently collected the empty glasses scattered around before leaving.

Once again, only the two remained in the office.

“I rarely drink tea, so I’m not sure what’s good. Hopefully it suits your taste.”

Sitting on a long couch, the Duke poured his own drink.

Holding the glass loosely in one hand, he leaned deeply against the backrest.

The posture sharply contrasted with Lauren, who sat properly upright.

Waiting for him to continue, Lauren held her teacup with both hands and took a sip.

A soft floral scent tickled her nose.

Perhaps because of the warmth of the tea, some tension eased, and an unconscious sigh escaped her.

“As you can see, things are in this state. I’m desperate for help from a capable administrator.”

Twisting his lips, the Duke shrugged.

His office truly was a disaster.

It was impossible to tell where to start.

Still, he couldn’t possibly be handling everything alone.

As if reading her thoughts, he continued:

“I’ll introduce my adjutant tomorrow. Though honestly, he won’t be much help either. He’s another guy who spent his life rolling around battlefields, just like me.”

Judging by the office alone, that was believable.

Lauren silently nodded.

There would be a mountain of work.

First, organizing the scattered documents.

Hopefully the Duke’s adjutant was reasonable.

If she didn’t get along with the person she’d work with, hardship awaited.

“And about the marriage…”

At last, the topic Lauren had been waiting for emerged.

More than anything, the marriage paperwork with the Duke was urgent.

The time for her to return was approaching.

Everything had to be finished before her uncle realized she wasn’t coming back and sent someone after her.

Otherwise, her plans would collapse entirely.

Lauren placed down her teacup and straightened her back.

She didn’t want to appear anxious and expose weakness, but inwardly she was in a hurry.

“I think holding the ceremony immediately will be difficult. I looked into things, but there’s more preparation required than expected.”

A ceremony isn’t even necessary…

She didn’t want needless formalities delaying matters.

Lauren lightly bit the inside of her lip.

Unaware of her thoughts, the Duke merely sipped his alcohol.

“If you’re alright with it, perhaps we should submit the paperwork first.”

His words brought genuine relief.

That was exactly what she wanted.

Still, she didn’t want the Duke to realize it.

Maintaining composure, Lauren slowly nodded.

This marriage existed because the Duke needed her.

That arrangement was much better for Lauren too.

“It can’t be helped. That seems like the best option.”

The Duke stared at her for a moment before pulling something from a table drawer.

Inside a plain white envelope was a marriage registration document.

The space for the groom’s name already contained his name and signature.

The Duke pushed the document toward her.

Lauren bit her lip tightly and took out the fountain pen she carried.

She wrote her name and signed the empty section.

Though it was only writing her own name, her hands trembled so much she had to stop breathing.

Only after finishing the final stroke did Lauren release a long breath.

After confirming the ink had dried, she returned the document.

The Duke looked at it quietly before folding it back into the envelope.

Rising from his seat, he rang the bell again and summoned Calvin.

Then he handed over the envelope.

“Have it processed immediately.”

The order was short.

Calvin bowed politely and withdrew.

There’s no way paperwork can be processed this late…

Lauren tilted her head.

The Duke smirked.

Apparently, someone at the government office owed him a favor.

“The sooner, the better. Don’t you think?”

Lauren nodded in agreement.

The Duke sank back into the couch.

Crossing his arms, he tapped his fingers against them.

“Before long, word will reach the Emperor that I’ve married. Since it happened so suddenly, there’ll be plenty of noise.”

His brows furrowed deeply.

His vivid green eyes resembled poisonous plants.

Lauren quietly pressed her lips together.

She’d already expected this when deciding to marry him.

He was influential enough that the Emperor had wanted him to marry a princess.

“We should align our stories beforehand.”

They’d probably have to act like foolish lovers consumed by affection.

Lauren had prepared herself for that much.

His gaze returned to her.

His eyes carried an unreadable meaning.

“Are you alright with it?”

“What would there be not to be alright with?”

Lauren smiled.

He was exceptionally handsome and renowned as a hero.

As for the rumors calling him a murderer…

Well, judging from what she’d seen, they seemed ridiculous.

Truthfully she’d worried, but the Duke she’d met hadn’t used violence or drawn a sword.

The Duke’s lips twisted again.

Running a hand through his hair, he crossed one leg over the other.

“Maybe I’m mistaken, but people tend to care about how others see them.”

“Would people so deeply in love that they secretly married really care what others think?”

“Hm.”

Exhaling softly, the Duke rotated his wine glass.

Golden liquid swayed inside.

Watching it, Lauren quietly raised her teacup to her lips.

The following morning, Lauren greeted the Duke of Lilliwood’s adjutant inside his office.

The Duke had called him a guy who spent his life on battlefields, but judging by appearances, the estate and duchy functioned at all only thanks to Calvin the butler and this adjutant.

“I’m Letty Torres.”

The tall adjutant—with red hair, blue eyes, and an approachable expression—smiled warmly and extended his hand.

Normally, men didn’t offer handshakes to women.

Yet neither the Duke nor his adjutant seemed bothered.

Lauren accepted the handshake.

His grip was strong and rough.

Definitely hands accustomed to weapons, not pens.

“Aster told me about you. I look forward to working together.”

The previous night, Lauren and the Duke had agreed to call each other by name.

Titles like Your Grace or you didn’t suit two people supposedly in love.

Surprised that Lauren had used Aster’s name, Letty widened his eyes before grinning.

“I heard my lady is an excellent administrator. Please save me from this mountain of paperwork.”

Lauren ended up laughing softly at his joke.

He seated her at the Duke’s work desk.

She glanced at Aster, but he paid no attention.

Still dressed casually in only a shirt, he lounged on the long couch with his legs stretched out, picking up and reading a document from the table.

He’d said he wouldn’t interfere with how she worked.

Apparently, he’d meant it.

“Normally, we’d show you around the estate or invite merchants over so the Duchess could shop appropriately for her status…”

“With things looking like this?”

Narrowing her eyes, Lauren surveyed the disastrous office.

Then, after asking Letty, who laughed dryly, she gathered all the scattered documents.

As she reviewed them, her brows furrowed.

Most concerned taxes or support for the territory.

Even more concerning, despite the war ending years ago, documents regarding post-war cleanup remained unresolved.

“Well… we kept handling only the most urgent matters, and it ended up like this.”

Watching Lauren carefully, Letty spoke hesitantly.

His bitter smile faded.

Lauren tilted her head.

There was still an unprocessed request for aid from flood-damaged regions submitted two months ago.

What could possibly have been more urgent than this?

“There’s something I’d like to check. Where do you store documents that have already been processed?”

“Ah—I’ll bring them immediately.”

Leaving the office, Letty returned much later carrying a large box.

When he set it down, it landed with a heavy thud.

The Duke looked at it with a face of utter exhaustion.

Suppressing an urge to laugh, Lauren pulled out the documents and began checking them one by one.

Both Aster and Letty could only stare in surprise at the astonishing speed of her hands.