Chapter 100: Boom and Bust (1)
“What are you doing there?”
Suddenly, a voice called from below. I was so shocked that my body trembled instinctively. I hadn’t sensed anyone’s presence. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Be careful.”
I looked down while trying to balance myself. Sigren was looking up with a dissatisfied expression on his face.
“How, how are you here? No, more importantly, don’t look up!”
I was perched on a tree branch in a dress. Nothing good could be seen from below. It wasn’t pleasant to be seen from that position. Fortunately, Sigren calmly looked down, but his nagging seemed endless.
“I’ve been looking for you since you suddenly disappeared with Lady Priscilla, and now I find you sitting on a branch.”
“….”
“I thought you were an assassin.”
It wasn’t Sigren’s fault for having that assumption. I did look suspicious. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Okay, I’ll come down.”
“Just jump; I’ll catch you.”
Was he serious? I looked at him skeptically.
“What if it hurts…”
“I won’t hurt you.”
“No, not me—I mean you. What if you get hurt?”
Isn’t it usually the person below who gets hurt? But Sigren looked at me with a hint of absurdity on his face.
“It’s a useless worry.”
Well, my worry wasn’t entirely unfounded. Catching someone jumping from a height usually involved risk. However, in this world, there were people beyond normal limits, and Sigren was one of them.
“Can I close my eyes and jump?”
In the end, it still took a bit of courage to jump into someone’s arms.
“You can do whatever you need to. I promise, you won’t get hurt.”
That was a reassuring remark, so I closed my eyes and jumped. The hem of my dress fluttered in the wind, and the sensation of floating ended quickly as strong arms immediately supported my body.
I opened my eyes and found myself staring into Sigren’s blue-gray eyes. Each time I looked at them, I was always struck by their beauty. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Thank you.” I stroked his cheek.
Suddenly, Sigren looked disappointed.
“Why do you touch me when I can’t use either of my hands?”
I was taken aback by his brazen remark. Was he unhappy because he wanted to touch me but couldn’t?
“Why did you climb the tree?”
“Lady Livya was talking with the crown prince alone and trying to seduce him. I was just keeping watch in case something happened.”
“You were worried about a girl being alone with a man? What a big brother.”
I laughed softly at his sarcasm.
“Now put me down.”
“You’re not wearing shoes. Where did you leave them?”
“In front of the window on the fourth floor.”
“Did you jump from there?”
“Well….”
Sigren seemed to be suppressing his irritation after hearing my vague response. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Next time, if this kind of situation happens, just let me know.”
“Isn’t asking a prince to do something like this a bit much?”
Sigren ignored my murmur and walked, moving with surprising ease despite carrying me.
A pair of shoes lay on the floor beneath the fourth-floor window from which I had jumped. Sigren placed me on the window sill and knelt down on one knee. Hmm? Why the posture?
As I was about to get up, he said, “Stay still.”
“I won’t die if my feet touch the floor.”
“But I don’t like it.”
Sigren lightly grabbed my ankle.
I had never thought my ankles were thin, but it looked strange to see them all wrapped in his hands. Was it because he had big hands? I looked closely at him. Sigren took my shoes with a very cautious touch.
Wait. Did he… want to put my shoes on my feet?
Seeing him like this was confusing. Was he a pro or a beginner? His actions were so natural, as if he were breathing. Didn’t he NOT know how to be considerate towards women?
Gosh, how could I be so clueless about the character I created?
Anyway, this situation was awkward. I wasn’t used to it. For some reason, it felt unfair. Feeling a bit grumpy, I bowed my head and kissed his forehead. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren’s body stiffened momentarily, then he slowly raised his head with a disgruntled look.
“I really can’t figure out the timing when you would touch me.”
“Um… whenever I want to?”
“Then, can I also touch you whenever I want to?”
Unbelievable, a reversible card.
“Let’s… let’s discuss this first…”
There was a hint of resentment in his narrow gaze.
I gently stroked his hair as an apology.
Ah, looking at Sigren from this angle wasn’t bad. I now understood why Sigren would kiss my forehead or cheek from time to time. This height was just right. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
“Done.”
After putting my shoes on, he pulled me up.
“Thank you.”
Despite my thanks, Sigren’s expression remained dissatisfied. Was it because of our earlier discussion about touching?
“What’s the matter?”
I grabbed Sigren’s hand and swung it. If he had any complaints, he should just tell me.
Sigren let out a soft sigh. “Nothing.”
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
“I was just wondering why you are so nonchalant.”
“What?”
“Touching me.”
Was I? I didn’t know. But one thing was certain. “I also have a similar concern.”
He asked skeptically, “In what sense?”
I lightly pulled Sigren’s cheek and smiled. “In the sense of how you’ve tried to be attentive. It’s difficult doing something without any experience.”
Although, it was likely that this was just a basic trait of the male protagonist. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Sigren snorted. “I don’t think it’s something I should be ashamed of.”
I laughed lightly. “I feel the same way.”
It was similar to how we worked in Heilon. “Right, that’s what I thought.”
“Really?”
“If only Abel also thought that way, we could have been left alone.”
I couldn’t deny it, given Abel’s recent actions. He was quite the childish chaperone.
Sigren tightly held my hand that was swinging his arm. “For the record, I know I don’t have much experience, but I’m doing my best.”
Ah, really? That was quite a touching remark.
I looked at Sigren. Although the light was dim, I could see his face. “Um, but how could you not do anything about your blushing face?”
“You really have a knack for breaking the mood.”
In the end, I pressed my lips to his cheek as an apology. I could feel that Sigren had been nervous because of my earlier proposal to discuss mutually agreed terms. However, compared to the first time, today’s reaction was… less cute.
***
Inside the Heilon mansion.
“I need to do a preliminary investigation.” This was what I said after briefing the knights on the recent situation.
The knights’ eyes widened. “What is it about, Miss?”
“Of course, it’s about the illegal gambling den.”
Recent news reported that the crown prince had taken the bait, but he only went once every few days. I need to observe him a bit more to ensure that I can catch him on the spot and prove his involvement in illegal gambling. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com. If he wasn’t there, raiding the arena would be pointless. We wouldn’t be able to properly disgrace him, and worst case, he could escape.
“Shall we go after his men?”
“No, I’ll go alone. I can’t afford to stand out.”
“I will send a message to the prince in advance.”
Did he just ignore what I had said?
Liander quickly spoke up, noticing my dissatisfied expression. “Miss, no matter what, it is dangerous to go alone.”
I crossed my arms. “Who is the current owner of this mansion?”
Isaac replied amicably, “It is you, Miss.”
“Then whose orders should you obey?”
“Of course, His Grace Duke Abel.” The knights smiled and looked at me as if I were very cute.
“….”
I really had nothing to say. That wasn’t incorrect. The mansion currently belonged to me, but Abel was the ruler, and ultimately, the knights followed Abel.
“Miss Fiona, don’t be angry. Your safety is our number one priority.”
“No, you’re right. You have to follow the employer.” I responded indifferently.
They should obey the person who paid them. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
Some knights burst into laughter. “I really like her rational personality.”
Well, this wasn’t something worth arguing about or being stubborn over. However, I wondered if this might place an extra burden on Sigren.
I shrugged lightly. “Alright. Some of you can follow along.”
“Thank you for listening to our opinions.” Liander replied modestly.
With the matter decided, the meeting concluded.
“Well, unlike the duke, I know how to listen to my subordinates.”
I threw out the remark half-jokingly. I said it just for laughs, but unexpectedly, everyone nodded seriously.
“Miss, you’re absolutely right.”
“….”
The fact that all of the subordinates didn’t deny that Abel was a selfish person made me laugh so much. Read the translation only on itsladygrey.com.
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