CH 43.2

“Among the nobles, there are no couples who are happily married.”

“But Lord Daymond is pretty harsh. Considering his strange tendencies.”

As he circled the air, his long fingers stretched out to Anne.

“His abnormal attachment relationship will ruin Miss Anne.”

“Hah, ruin me? Luciel, unfortunately that won’t happen.”

Anne shook her head with a firm face. If she was going to collapse like helpless women, she would have been weeping in the corner of the room the day after their first night.

She used to be like that when she was little, but after she learned that no one would help her, she realized that the only thing she could trust was herself. She learned that even if her body was struggling, she could remain sane with the strength of her mind.

This is just an emotionless deal. All I have to do is leave this place. I’m not going to be a weak woman.

Luciel narrowed his eyes looking at Anne’s determined look.

“Anne, don’t bet. I wonder if you will say the same thing if Lord Daymond goes one step further.”

There was a hint of laughter in Luciel’s voice when he said that.

“Does Luciel really want to see me like that?”

Anne, who also narrowed her eyes, held the teacup in her hand.

“It can’t be. Since I know what Lord Daymond does every night, I’m only sorry for Anne.”

Hearing that he knew what Daymond was doing, Anne’s cheeks turned red. It was natural for a couple to sleep together, but she was unknowingly ashamed to hear it from another man’s mouth.

“Say what you want to say.”

“The more I look at you, the more you look alike. I am very sorry for that.”

The staring golden eyes shone like the sun today.

She didn’t understand what it meant at all. He used to confuse people by saying unexpected things from time to time, and that was the case now. At the strange feeling, Anne took a sip of tea and quenched her throat.

“Whatever happens between the two of you, I don’t want to get involved. So questions with intent to open me up will be of no use.”

“However, I have been faithfully responding to Anne’s questions as you ask.”

“Is that so?”

“No matter what Anne talked about with Lord Daymond, it won’t turn out the way Anne thinks. Not without my help.”

Anne looked at him as she swallowed her cup of tea. It was because he sounded like he knew about the deal with the Grand Duke. Then, his willingness to offer her help aroused her suspicions.

“That help will come at another price.”

“It depends on the situation, but I will listen to you once. At no cost.”

Luciel’s red lips stretched pleasantly. Anne, recognizing that the answer was impulsive, took it quickly.

“You promised. Luciel has to listen to my request at least once.”

“As the Lady commands.”

Luciel sat down with one hand outstretched and bowed his head exaggeratedly.

I can’t trust you.

As long as she had made up her mind not to trust anyone here, Anne smiled even more brightly so that her true intentions could not be seen.

“Madam, would you like to look over here for a second?”

At that time, one of the gardeners who was diligently moving his hand asked cautiously. As the Grand Duke had entrusted Anne with managing the greenhouse, the gardeners asked her to check at the end like reporting their daily routine.

Anne put down the teacup she was bringing to her mouth and walked in the direction she heard the voice come from. A gardener with gray hair was digging through the soil in the flower bed with calloused hands, checking the quality of the soil.

“The soil is good and the moisture is just right, so all of them have sprouted.”

It was a warm indoor temperature like spring, but she was worried because the ground was so cold. But he added that it was pretty good at this level. As he said, just by looking at the place where the seeds were sown, they had blossomed into dainty new shoots. It was good news that their sincerity, which they cared for and cultivated the plants quite well, worked.

“By the way, only that side won’t sprout, is it because of the climate?”

Anne pointed to a corner where the quantity of green leaves was insufficient.

“Um, no. The soil is cold, but the temperature affects the bottom, and thus it doesn’t grow well in another place? It will probably sprout after a while.”

Even the seasoned man didn’t seem to know the exact reason. It was when Anne looked at it with puzzled eyes. Luciel, who had been sitting on the gazebo and crunching berry cookies the whole time, snuck up next to her.

“Anne, there seems to be something blocking the roots from growing well at the bottom, so try digging inside?”

Luciel pointed his finger at the flat dirt.