CHAPTER 69………………………………………….
Accompanying
“Get ready. I have somewhere to take you. And just so you know, if you don’t want to embarrass yourself, it’s better not to think about going in those clothes. Make sure you change into a proper dress.”
“Where are we going? Is it far?”
At Anje’s question, the duke shot her a crooked look.
“Why do you ask that? Is it a problem if it’s far?”
Is it really that uncomfortable to be with me?
Pausing briefly at the duke’s visible discomfort, Anje asked cautiously again.
“Does it have to be today?”
It was uncomfortable enough to go somewhere with him, but… does that mean she won’t get to eat tarts?
Anje made a sour face, unable to bring herself to ask that outright.
“You said it’s nothing special, right?”
The duke, seated at his desk preparing his work, glanced at her.
“You should have arrived at the tart shop by now.”
The duke, who had been busily moving his hands, stopped mid-action.
“Surely it’s not just for a dessert?”
“……”
He didn’t say no, but the way his eyes rolled around gave the impression that he’d hit the nail on the head, and the duke swallowed a hollow laugh.
“A woman who refuses black pearls but can’t resist a single tart…”
“……”
The duke, having lowered his previously glaring gaze, paused signing a document and set down his pen.
“But the more I think about it, the more annoying it is. No matter what, does this mean an outing with me is worse than a single slice of tart? Right now?”
Like he’d find that pleasing. Remaining silent but looking displeased, Anje watched as the duke handed her the document he’d just signed.
“Take this to Elliot, and make sure you stick to the schedule.”
Side Duke shook his head as he watched Anje walk away, sulking. The marquis seemed to have completely misjudged the situation. To tempt this woman, there was no need for expensive jewelry or dresses—just a few pieces of sweet dessert would have sufficed.
“Goodness, Miss Anje, where are you off to? A date, perhaps?”
Annoyed by the servant’s trivial joke, Anje frowned.
“I’m hardly in a position for a date… I’m going to work.”
“Where on earth is there work that requires such attire? Hoho.”
Too lazy to respond, Anje waved her hand and got into the carriage. It wasn’t surprising that every servant along the short path from her room to the carriage made some comment.
The duke, who had entered the carriage first and was reviewing documents, lifted his gaze toward Anje.
“Much better dressed like this, isn’t it? Why not wear clothes you left behind?”
“When working, my usual clothes are the most comfortable. These dresses are beautiful, but honestly, they’re difficult to put on alone. Today, at least Josh helped me, or I’d have been late.”
“I see.”
A noblewoman’s attire was beautiful, but it often required hours of preparation.
Anje, who had to go to the office early and spend the entire day at her desk, simply couldn’t afford to waste so much time each morning dressing up.
“And before that, how did you manage? I mean, when you were gathering information.”
“Commoner clothing is far more practical. Occasionally…”
Anje bit her tongue mid-sentence, almost revealing that she had once roamed around disguised as a boy.
She still hadn’t figured out why the duke was looking for Hans.
Though confident she hadn’t caused harm while living as Hans, one never knew what might happen. Sometimes, unlucky things occur even when you least expect them.
“Occasionally?”
“Occasionally… I had them adjusted by a tailor to make them easier to wear.”
“Hmm.”
The duke nodded and returned his gaze to the documents.
Thanks to the gentle motion of the carriage, he soon became absorbed in his paperwork. His head moved rhythmically with the carriage, yet he never tore his eyes away from the documents.
Watching him silently, Anje turned her gaze out the window.
The carriage seemed to be heading into the city. Flowers that had adorned the streets had fallen, and pale green leaves were sprouting as people bustling about filled the sidewalks.
Near the department stores, elegantly dressed ladies with overflowing shopping bags, trailing servants, and carriages carrying goods jostled in a scene resembling a battlefield.
It seemed that the saying “all the Empire’s money flows into Berkshire Department Store” was not far from the truth.
“Your Grace, we really should consider improving the roads around the department store…”
Anje stopped mid-sentence.
The duke, who had been absorbed in his documents moments ago, had nodded off. His head bobbing helplessly with the carriage’s movement looked extremely uncomfortable.
After a moment’s hesitation, Anje moved to sit beside the duke.
She gently caught his falling head on her shoulder and frowned.
A faint scent of wood came from the duke leaning toward her.
‘Has this happened before…?’
Indeed, when the duke had come to her crumbling mansion to find her, hadn’t he fallen asleep at some point?
‘He must be sleep-deprived from all his work.’
Thinking it was nothing serious, Anje turned her gaze back to the window.
The carriage had now passed the central shopping district and entered a residential area lined with wealthy merchants’ homes.
Amid the large mansions, the imposing Crow Marquis’ estate stood out.
Could this be the destination? Anje’s eyes sharpened as the carriage stopped.
“We’ve arrived, Your Grace.”
The duke, as if awakened by the coachman’s voice, slowly opened his eyes.
Having noticed the moment before he woke, Anje quickly returned to her original seat across from him.
“Mm…”
The duke, having had a deep sleep, let out a satisfied hum.
Just a short nap in the carriage, yet he felt refreshed as if he were flying. How long had it been since he’d had such a deep sleep…?
The duke, smiling in satisfaction, straightened his bent body and turned his gaze, meeting Anje’s eyes, which were glaring at him from across.
“It would have been nice if you had told me we were coming here.”
Anje’s dark eyes were full of displeasure.
“And if I had, would you have abandoned your precious tarts to follow me?”
She hadn’t expected an apology, and the sarcastic tone in his words made her frown.
Ignoring her entirely, the duke opened the carriage door and stepped out.
She saw a servant from the Crow Marquis’ estate rush inside. Clearly, the duke had arrived unannounced, not just to get Anje but also to the Marquis’ estate.
After Anje stepped down, the duke inclined his head to signal her to move quickly.
Seeing the Crow Marquis and Hildegarde approaching from afar, Anje reluctantly rose.
She took the duke’s hand to step down, and the marquis, who had already reached the carriage, greeted them first.
“Good to see you, Duke. I assume you haven’t come just to accept my previous proposal…”
Trailing off, the marquis’ gaze turned to Anje.
“Good to see you again, Miss Beaufort. How have you been?”
The marquis, smiling broadly, greeted her warmly.
Why would the marquis be glad to see me? Did he eat something wrong?
Etiquette dictated that the person of lower status or younger age should greet first. Even ignoring that, Anje felt the marquis’ reaction was excessively warm.
The overly friendly greeting made Anje’s expression stiffen.
Hildegarde, too, seemed to think her grandfather was acting strangely.
“Yes. Thanks to your concern, I’ve been well.”
Anje’s greeting was a little reluctant, unsure of the marquis’ intentions.
Yet the marquis, paying no mind to her behavior, approached with arms open as if to hug her.
“Indeed. I was worried sick about whether you were suffering in that dreadful duke’s household, barely sleeping at night.”
Why is he acting like this? Anje’s eyes widened in surprise at the marquis’ warm face.
But just before his hands could touch her, the duke deftly inserted himself and blocked the way.
The marquis’ thick, faded eyebrows twitched angrily like a pine caterpillar.
“What is this…?”
The marquis’ face turned red with frustration.
At that moment, the side duke, looking more mischievous than ever, leaned in with a smooth smile toward the marquis.
“If your previous proposal concerns the department store shares, as I told you before, there’s no other way. If you insist, just like before, build another department store.”
He twisted the marquis’ lips into a grin, returning instantly to that familiar, mischievous expression that everyone knew.
“Thanks for the advice. Shall we consider the negotiation over? Then why are you here today?”
