CH 7.6

“What?”

The suddenness of his question startled Lila, and she blurted out a stuttered response, feigning surprise.

“Hmm, well, what is it?”

“Hmm…”

Lucas narrowed his eyes at her demeanor and turned his head slightly, the sunlight streaming in through the office window falling on his face.

With a grim look on his face, Lucas said.

“You’re not being completely honest with me yet.”

“I’m not sure what you mean by… being honest.”

“Well, we’re going to be husband and wife, so isn’t it okay for us to be our true selves?”

“We’re just a contract couple.”

At his answer, Lucas pursed his lips for a moment. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. She was right, the reason he’d brought her here in the first place was literally for an arranged marriage. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Later, when she asked for a contract, that changed, but it was a public, duty-bound relationship, not one in which they shared intimate moments like this.

He found her answer strangely off-putting, but he couldn’t give her an answer for what was on his mind.

“I’m sure I ordered them to bring the tea in advance…”

While looking at him as if he was changing the subject, he spoke as if he remembered Lila.

“Ah, that butler named Connor.”

“Why, was he unpleasant to you?”

Lila’s eyes narrowed at the unexpectedly strong reaction and she waved a hand.

“No, not that… I mean, he was a little unpleasant, but it’s not like I haven’t had that happen to me before… No, it’s that I want that butler all to myself.”

“Hmm… I guess it is better for a man to serve you.”

“What? No, that’s not it.”

Lucas curled up one corner of his mouth, feeling a strange sinking feeling.

“I’m thirsty, how about a cup of tea first?”

Instead of waiting for her answer, Lucas reached for his magic bell and chuckled to himself as he watched Lila’s bewilderment out of the corner of his eye.

He seem to liked her reaction.

***

She spent more time with Lucas than she thought she would. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila left Connor alone, who had long since disappeared, and headed for the garden. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

She didn’t want to go back to her room right away because she felt a tingling feeling in her chest.

Instead of the hydrangea garden that hadn’t yet bloomed when she’d gone with Michael, she stepped into a fragrant place.

The cobblestones felt good underfoot.

Lila walked aimlessly along the path she had come from. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. She gasped at the sight of a large glass greenhouse. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Wow…”

The greenhouse, as tall as a vast duke’s mansion, was filled with purple flowers.

“There’s a whole place like this…”

With an ecstatic look on her face, Lila entered the greenhouse, mesmerized. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. There was a broom and mop in front of the greenhouse, as if it had been cleaned for a while, and the door was wide open. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

A large, ancient tree stood in front of the greenhouse with rich purple petals, it seems like it had been around for ages.

“What kind of tree?”

The violet scent emanating from the tree was subtle, not overpowering.

Lila stood dumbfounded in the greenhouse, head held high, gazing at the purple petals.

After a few moments of contemplation, a commotion reached her ears.

“Stupid bitch, do you have to raise your hands like this to be heard?”

There was a sound of flesh slapping together.

“Are you going to let go of me?”

“That’s why you should have listened to me in the first place.”

“Why should I have to clean this place up all by myself? You were the ones who insisted on it in the first place!”

“That’s the way it is here. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. If you’re ugly and low ranking, you’re not going to be able to get away with anything… Oh, did that ugly prospective duchess give you the courage to think you could be a duchess too, or something like that…” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“She’s a duchess, don’t you dare say that.”

“Oh, I’m afraid! Why, have you any pity for the same ugliness?”

There were words that were too obnoxious to be called mere noise. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila let out a long sigh and ran a hand through her hair. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

What to do.

They say that hired guns fight when their employers aren’t around, but now that she was here, it couldn’t be completely irrelevant, could it?

After a moment’s consideration, Lila turned in the direction of the sound. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Her footsteps were muffled by the grass, unlike outside the greenhouse. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“It’s not like that! Please, if you’re an employee, act like an employee! I know you guys steal snacks from the young master!”

“The young master doesn’t eat snacks in the first place, that’s what Chelsea and Rose, his dedicated maids, told me, I’m sure of it! You can’t throw away what’s already been made, can you?”

“You should have told the chef not to make a snack for the young master in the first place.”

“It’s so frustrating. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. If you don’t have looks and status, you have to be flexible! It’s so frustrating, really…” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila watched the scene through the rose vines. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. She saw a woman crouching on the ground, alone, among a group of maids. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Judging by her identical maid’s outfit, she was a maid, too.

“That’s it, Emma. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. It’s not the first time she’s done that. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. She’ll take care of herself when we get out, won’t you, Jessie?” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Lila blinked as she looked at the maid, with her dark hair and pale sky-blue eyes.

She didn’t seem at all intimidated by being surrounded by so many people.

“Then let’s go.”

The four maids turned their backs on her, and that’s when Lila appeared, purposefully shaking the vines.

“Kyaaaa!”

The maids, who had no idea she was there, screamed in surprise.

“Oh, my ears hurt.”

Lila looked overly nervous, a behavior she hadn’t done in a long time, since the barony.

“Du, Duchess?”

A maid named Emma called, rolling her eyes when she spotted her. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila flicked a lock of hair out of her face and scowled. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Why?”

“You’re not supposed to be in here!”

Emma suddenly shouted. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila wasn’t sure if she’d been caught in the act or if she really wasn’t supposed to be here in the first place, but she didn’t care. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Why?”

She knew how to keep the servants quiet.

“Because only a single person can enter the official Montefeltra Castle!”

“So, are you all from the Montefeltra family?”

Lila asked in disbelief. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Emma and the three maids beside her were puzzled as they looked at the freckled, yet strangely unable to take their eyes off Lila. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Surely they had thought her a beggar when they first saw her, but something about her was different now.

Lila laughed at their attitude. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. It’s funny how people didn’t recognize the other parts of her that had changed, just because she didn’t remove her freckles. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Connor, for one. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. As well as all the servants she passed. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“No, but that’s okay because we’re here to organize the place.”

It wasn’t until much later that Emma spoke up with an answer. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila didn’t seem interested in the answer, nodding curtly and gesturing around the room. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“So this is all organized, then? Hmm…”

“Oh, anyway, this place is forbidden to you, so please leave quickly, you’re only making trouble for us!”

Lila smirked and cocked her head at Emma, who hurriedly chimed in.

“Getting in trouble with who?”

“By the Duke, of course…”

Lila said, cutting Emma off.

“No way, the Duke would never do that to Lila!”

Lila smiled like a beloved woman and gave a short click of her tongue.

Emma pursed her lips, unable to think of anything else to say in response.

Rather embarrassed by their less than enthusiastic reaction, Lila wiped the lovelorn expression off her face and straightened.

“Then why aren’t you cleaning up, leaving the door wide open in such an important place with no care.”

“That’s because she was being naughty…”

Emma replied, glaring at Jessie, who was sprawled on the floor. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. But Lila didn’t seem interested in her words, feigning surprise at Jessie’s red, swollen cheek. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Did you hurt yourself cleaning up, what’s wrong with your face?”

Emma opened her mouth to say something, stunned by what she had just done, but Lila didn’t give her a chance.

“You don’t think there’s been an intruder in the greenhouse, do you?”

Emma and the other handmaidens jumped as Lila, who had been watching Jessie’s face intently, spoke.

“Who would come into the Duke of Montefeltra’s house to do such a thing, for God’s sake!”

“Then what’s with her face?”

Lila asked, pointing her finger precisely at Jessie’s red cheeks. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. In unison, Emma and the other maids began to give Jessie a questioning glance. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

“Duchess, I accidentally fell and hurt myself, so please refrain from making such dangerous remarks.”

“Really?”

“Yes, my lady.”

Blood trickled down Jessie’s cheek from the slap. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. Lila wiped at her face, which was red and bleeding from a popped pimple, then stood up, stretching her back. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

Then she turned to Emma.

“She’s hurt, so I’ll take her. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. You two finish what you’re doing.” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

At Emma’s look of displeasure at Lila’s words, she added,

“Oh, and I’ll talk to the Duke. read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there. I apologize for trespassing in the greenhouse, but now that I think about it, I think you were right, so please give me your names so I can ask the Duke to reward you for not trespassing in the greenhouse.” read only at salmonlatte . com. This annoying watermark is not there.

At Lila’s next words, the faces of the maids, except Jessie’s, turned rotten as if they had eaten something spoiled.