Chapter 10
Feeding Benjamin dad jokes like giving sugar cubes to Queensberry was starting to wear me out.
Sure, Benjamin always burst out laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world, but more than that, I was starting to feel a bit of self-loathing.
‘In short, reality is hitting me hard.’
Of course, the real problem was that Benjamin wasn’t even pulling his weight as a joke partner.
I mean, if I’m going to deliver this high-class humor, I should at least feel like it’s appreciated. But every time I set the stage in front of Wolfgang, he just ruins it.
‘Ugh, fine. I’m just pitying the guy whose life revolves around laughing at dad jokes.’
Benjamin’s dark circles were getting lower every time I saw him—soon they’d be playing jump rope with his chin.
They say he leaves work at dawn more than midnight. At this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised if he drops dead on the spot.
Shaking my head, I placed the simple tea tray, minus the heavy teapot, on Wolfgang’s desk so I could carry it more easily.
Only then did Wolfgang look down at me and acknowledge my presence. I whispered up at him.
“You didn’t cry because you missed me, did you?”
“……”
“It’s okay. I understand. I’ll pretend not to notice those tears because it must’ve been embarrassing.”
I ignored the scoff that slipped out of him and began setting the tea like I was used to it.
Wolfgang and Benjamin’s tea? Black tea.
My drink? Milk.
Wolfgang and Benjamin’s snacks? Fruit.
My snacks? Cookies. And chocolate. And candy.
Every time I arranged the tray, I’d wonder: Is this Wolfgang and Benjamin’s tea time or my snack time? But since Wolfgang never stopped me, whatever.
“Please, help yourself.”
When I offered the teacup to Wolfgang, he took it with one hand while still holding documents in the other, sipping without a glance at the fruit plate.
Just like he never ate vegetables, he rarely touched fruit either.
The only things he willingly ate were meat, meat, more meat, occasionally seafood, and sometimes tea.
‘He’s ridiculously picky for someone so elegant-looking.’
I gave him a look of mild exasperation and moved over to Benjamin with the next batch of snacks—er, I mean, the next treat.
Every time I handed him a snack, I felt like I had to say, “Inmate 9628, here’s your prison meal.”
Looking at his pitiful office-prisoner face, stuck in the corporate grind and waiting for parole by resignation, I couldn’t help but soften.
Well, even if I’m annoyed, he’s still my first colleague—I’ll take responsibility.
“Benjamin, Benjamin~”
I stuck a neatly sliced banana on a fork and held it up to his mouth.
“If you eat this banana, will you fall for me?”
“Bwahahaha!”
You see this, Wolfgang Bastion Duke? This is the monster you’ve created.
When I glared at him, Wolfgang averted his eyes from the laughing beast who now had a banana in his mouth.
Tch. Clicking my tongue, I walked over to my seat.
That’s right. My seat.
In this dull and dreary office filled with only two desks and stacks of documents, I had somehow acquired my own spot.
Where, you ask?
“Excuse me.”
Right on Wolfgang’s lap.
It started one day when I was standing next to him as usual, but my legs were sore. I asked, “Dear father-in-law candidate, can I sit down for a bit?”
Wolfgang told me to do whatever I wanted—so I really did.
Since then, he’d just look at me with disbelief whenever I climbed onto his lap, but he never told me to get off.
Really, shamelessness is the key to physical and mental peace. Maybe I should add that as Life Tip #3.
Anyway, I’d been using this position lately to sneak peeks at documents and study the letters. But today, I had a different agenda.
I twisted my body and looked up at Wolfgang. His eyes narrowed.
“If it’s the bathroom, it’s outside.”
“No! That’s not it!”
I almost snapped but quickly smoothed my tone.
“I mean… I was just expressing the shy heart of a young maiden.”
He gave me a look like, What’s with the tone now? But I pressed on, fluttering my lashes and blushing dramatically.
“Thinking about meeting my future husband tomorrow… it’s got me trembling in 16-bit!”
“Sixteen what?”
“I mean heart! I meant my heart’s breaking into 16 pieces from the excitement!”
Before Wolfgang could question if that was even a thing, I cut in:
“Ahem. Anyway, Father-in-law candidate, I think it’s time I asked again.”
“Asked what.”
“Will you give us your blessing for marriage?!”
“No.”
Boom!
His answer was so blunt and firm that not only I, but even Benjamin—who had been watching with great interest—froze in place.
Thanks, man. At least I’m not the only one shocked. Misery loves company.
Biting my lip, I muttered as I tried to piece my shattered dignity back together.
“…Wow. I really thought you would’ve said yes by now.”
“Nope.”
“But yes! I definitely thought so! I already took up space in your left ventricle and right atrium!”
I rattled off my words, and Wolfgang’s lips twitched just slightly.
Yes, that expression! It’s like, What is this nonsense… but it’s kind of funny and a little cute—right?
Our relationship might be undefined, but progress had definitely been made!
For some reason, Wolfgang had always been unusually tolerant with me.
What other commoner would dare to sit on a duke’s lap, eat meals with him, and mess around like I did?
Not to mention pestering him to marry his precious son.
Unthinkable. I’d be lucky not to get beheaded.
But he always put up with me.
So I thought I’d already captured his heart. Who knew he’d hit me with that cold slap?
Once the shock wore off, a wave of sulkiness came over me.
Was I that unlikable? I pouted, whining.
“You’re so mean. I worked hard. And you just—so coldly—so firmly—said no… it’s not even like I asked you to marry me…”
“Exactly.”
“…Huh?”
“It’s not my marriage. So there’s no need for me to approve or not. Whatever proposal or consent you want, that’s between the actual couple.”
Oh. That’s what he meant? He’s not against it—he’s just saying it’s not up to him?
His golden eyes met mine as I blinked up at him in surprise. He raised one brow.
“Why’re you looking at me like that?”
“I just never imagined you’d say something so… logical.”
“You really do take your time saying you don’t want to marry me.”
“No! That came out wrong! I didn’t mean it like that!”
Ugh, this slippery tongue of mine. I ought to punish it with something sweet.
It wasn’t an outright yes, which stung, but compared to when he used to scoff at the idea entirely, this was a huge step forward.
It meant the door was open—as long as I did well enough.
And doing well was kind of my specialty.
Feeling pretty good, I picked up the sweetest, tastiest chocolate cookie and offered it to Wolfgang.
“Here you go. From your pretty future daughter-in-law who’ll handle everything herself. Say ah~”
As usual, he accepted the cookie, and his face melted into quiet bliss.
Later that day, the usual routine continued.
I had meals with the staff to bond, chatted with Kim and Sarah when I ran into them, and gracefully avoided Vivi’s occasional provocations.
Then, as the sunset dimmed the sky, I headed to the stable as promised.
“Are you really sure it’s okay to sleep here alone?”
Tony had asked the same question multiple times now, and I nodded cheerfully.
“I’ll be fine! You look pale though, so please get some rest. I’ll call you right away if anything happens.”
“But still…”
“Ah, Queensberry says you’re being too loud! Hurry up!”
I used the excuse of the mare’s impatient snorting to push Tony along.
He had planned to spend the night with me in the stable, but with constant glances back, he reluctantly made his way to the little cabin at the entrance.
It wasn’t far. He could come running at the slightest shout.
Despite being usually sharp, Tony clearly didn’t feel great about leaving a child alone. But honestly, he looked more likely to collapse than I did.
He always used to say, “Feels like I gave birth to you,” and right now, he was a wreck.
And anyway, the actual mother didn’t want anyone else around—just me.
“She’s gone now, Queensberry.”
“Snort.”
“Does it hurt a lot?”
I sat beside the mare, who was sprawled on her side.
It was clear the moment of delivery was approaching. She looked more pained than she had during the day.
Her breaths were rough, and her ribs rose and fell rapidly.
Watching her like that made me ache too. I gently stroked her warm eyes.
“Hang in there. Is the baby coming soon? Not yet?”
Still a while, she said.
I sighed, tapping her swollen belly lightly without hurting her.
Come on out, little foal. Don’t torment your mom too much.
‘Holy power is so useless for stuff like this.’
Most people think divine power is just for “healing,” but that’s wrong.
It’s actually for purification.
It can’t heal wounds from a blade, but it can treat illnesses caused by infection or contamination.
Why? Because it purifies the source of the disease.
Of course, it can’t fix complications, lasting damage, or shortened lifespans once a disease is too far gone. That’s medicine’s job.
So holy power is more like a really strong purifying herb.
‘That’s why William’s guests would buy children for their estates and just keep them around as ornaments.’
Famous priests often made a show of “serving” by going to border towns to stop disease outbreaks.
Or they’d purify polluted water and land, showing off for everyone to see.
If it were really selfless, it’d be great—but most of it was all for show.
There was no better way to boost the temple’s reputation.
‘And the higher the temple’s prestige, the more donations pour in.’
Pretending to be the purest, while actually being the filthiest—that was the temple.
Maybe there were some genuine temples out there, but not the ones I knew or heard about.
Anyway, back to the point.
‘Pain, injury, disability, or death from childbirth—those aren’t things holy power can touch.’
So all I could do for Queensberry was give her warmth and comfort.
“If only you could sleep through it, but it hurts too much, huh? Then let’s just talk all night, you and me.”
“Snort.”
“Yeah, I like that too.”
I flopped down onto the clean straw I’d laid out earlier, ready to spend a long night with Queensberry.
Oh, right—speaking of which.
“Where’s your husband anyway? Shouldn’t he be here to get his mane yanked?”
“Snort snort.”
“What? He’s out working? That guy seriously left you to have a baby alone?!”
Queensberry snorted again, clearly wanting to explain. She went on a long rant about her mate, and I nodded along, pretending to scold him.
But then she changed the subject.
“…Huh? He’s handsome and sweet? He only has eyes for you? He’s just busy with work?”
Queensberry nodded vigorously.
Ugh. What a ridiculous thing to say.
I frowned and scolded her.
“Wow. Now you’re defending your man? What is this? You’re okay with criticizing him yourself, but no one else can?”
“Snort snort.”
“You think I’ll understand when I get a husband too? Hah! Well… I might be getting one soon…”
“Snort?”
Queensberry perked up, interested.
I guess romantic gossip is entertaining even for animals.
Ridiculous. But if it helped her forget the pain for a while, I’d gladly play the fool.
“What kind of guy? Hmm… well, first of all, he’s definitely good-looking. He’s got great genes.”
