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Chapter 48
“Oh my. So… does that mean you’re still sharing the same room?”
“Yes… that’s right… I don’t know why, but the materials we ordered still haven’t arrived.”
A week had passed, yet Elaina was still living in Lyle’s room.
“At this point… I guess it’s just whatever happens, happens.”
Honestly, the situation didn’t make sense. She could understand a delay of a day or two, but by now, it was clear that the cause lay elsewhere.
She had stayed silent despite seeing the obvious schemes of the servants, mainly because the household staff, especially the butler, genuinely seemed pleased by it.
Even if they were sharing a room, they weren’t sharing the bed, and with both of them busy with their own affairs every day, they hardly had a chance to see each other.
Elaina was busy conducting interviews to hire new servants and overseeing repairs in the still imperfect Grand Duke’s mansion. Lyle, after passing documents at the aristocratic council, had become even busier. The only time she could see him was in the evenings.
Seeing Lyle first thing in the morning felt awkward, so every morning Elaina pretended to be asleep, lingering in bed.
As the butler had said, the bed—made for Lyle’s tall frame—was wide enough for three people. Even though the sound of Lyle leaving in the early morning woke her, she stubbornly kept herself covered with the blanket, pretending to sleep until he left.
Even without wanting to, hearing the rustling at similar times over several days made it impossible not to figure out what he was doing.
Perhaps because she had encountered Lyle shirtless during their wedding trip, even when she closed her eyes, she vividly imagined him changing clothes.
Elaina shook her head vigorously, hoping it would chase the image away.
“My story’s done. Nothing really interesting happened. How about Diane? You’re leaving for Henet soon, right?”
“Yes. I’ve already sent the necessary luggage ahead to Henet. In a few days, we’ll just take the remaining items by carriage.”
Diane smiled brightly like a blooming flower.
“A dormitory at the academy… It sounds like a memorable experience.”
“Exactly as you said, Elaina. Every day has felt like a dream.”
The two of them were walking through the academy grounds.
Though married, the academy had offered a dormitory to Nathan and Diane, who had no place to stay in the capital, for the duration of the break.
Nathan had initially refused several times, but the principal was adamant. The old accommodation Nathan had been using was too dilapidated. When the principal scolded him, asking if he really wanted the young Marchioness to stay in such a place, Nathan finally gave in.
“I really would have been fine with the old place Nathan used,” Diane said with an embarrassed smile. Considering the run-down annex she had lived in, any other place would be better.
“Neglecting Marchioness Redwood would have troubled the principal as well. It was a good decision for everyone. When would you ever get to live like this again?”
“That’s true,” Diane said with a shy smile.
“Aren’t you lonely by yourself?”
Once the semester started, Nathan would have to return to Henet—a small rural estate where most people were farmers. His first motivation to become a botanist had been to help the impoverished locals.
Spring was a crucial time for sowing crops and sprouting the herbs needed for research. He should have returned earlier, but research delayed by the wedding preparation required him to finish what he hadn’t completed during the winter.
While Nathan devoted himself day and night to research, Diane would often be alone in the dorm. Yet when Elaina asked if she was worried about being alone, Diane shook her head.
“No. The day passes so quickly, I hardly notice. Besides, he comes back early in the evening for at least one meal together. Just sharing a meal and sleeping together… it makes me so… truly happy.”
Diane smiled radiantly, and seeing her so genuinely happy, Elaina smiled warmly in return.
They then toured Diane’s dormitory. Considering its location, it was compact: a small sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom. What caught Elaina’s attention most was the bed.
Diane had said just sharing meals and sleeping together made her happy. Normally, that would have been a trivial comment. But now, the idea of “sleeping together” kept lingering in Elaina’s mind.
This visit to the academy wasn’t just to see Diane. Elaina also needed to discuss sponsorship with Nathan before he returned to Henet. Hearing of Elaina’s visit, Nathan hurriedly finished his urgent experiments and returned to the dormitory, looking just as happy as Diane.
“What I want to say, Nathan, is that I want to sponsor you going forward,” Elaina said.
Caught off guard by the unexpected topic, Nathan was embarrassed.
“Sponsor me? My research isn’t groundbreaking enough to merit that.”
Elaina shook her head.
Though no longer dreaming, the contents of Moonshadow were firmly imprinted in her mind. Nathan’s research might seem useless to some, but it was vital to Lyle.
“I know what research you’re doing—herbs that can increase crop yields. I want to sponsor that work.”
Nathan stared at her in surprise, trying to remember when he had ever mentioned this research to her.
“Lyle plans to exterminate the monsters in the Mabel mountains soon. Once the dangerous monsters disappear and it’s known that the lord is protecting the villagers properly, those who left will return. The drugs you develop will certainly help the people there.”
“I see…”
Nathan nodded. Indeed, his motivation for starting this research wasn’t much different from what Elaina assumed: to improve life for the impoverished villagers of Henet.
“As compensation for the sponsorship, all I ask is that Nathan grants me exclusive rights to use the drugs for several years.”
In Moonshadow, it had taken Nathan a long time to develop the drugs—summer and winter, only during the less busy farming season. But Elaina had no such time. Nathan had to complete the drugs within a year.
There’s a saying: “A thirsty person digs the well.” Nathan wasn’t the one who needed this research most—Elaina did. So she had to support him to ensure he could finish the drugs in time.
“I’ll provide a lab in Henet. Buy any necessary supplies and hire assistants if needed. But I want the drugs completed within a year.”
“A year?”
“Do you think you can do it?”
Nathan’s face turned serious. Gone was the indecisive, hesitant demeanor—he quietly muttered to himself, estimating the timeframe.
After a moment, he spoke.
“I think I can. It will take some time, but if I can continue research in Henet and have someone to assist me… However, finding an assistant might be difficult.”
“Why?”
“As you know, Henet is a very small estate. Everyone is busy. Most are farmers. In spring and summer, no one will likely come to help with experiments.”
Diane cautiously raised her hand.
“Would the assistant be difficult to arrange?”
“No, not really. I just need help with simple tasks, not specialized work.”
“Then… could I help?”
Nathan’s eyes widened at Diane’s unexpected offer. Yet her suggestion was ideal.
“I can’t make Diane do that.”
“What do you mean? It’s much better than spending all day alone at home. Once we go to Henet, I’ll hardly see anyone, including Elaina. If it’s easy work, why not let me help?”
“No matter what…”
Nathan hesitated, unwilling to impose on Diane. She quickly took his hand.
“Please. I want to help if I can. Also… that way, I can stay by Nathan’s side longer.”
Elaina expected Nathan to refuse again. But the thought of being able to stay longer with Diane swayed him. Unable to refuse his wife’s earnest request, Nathan finally nodded.
“Wow…”
Elaina, inadvertently witnessing the couple’s intimate moment up close, shivered and brushed the goosebumps from her arms.
