Chapter 10 : An Offer That Shouldn’t Be Refused… Yet Is
Chapter 10
“Miss Prim.”
His sharp gaze slowly traveled back up to my face. A low, languid voice followed, brushing against my ear like a bored whisper.
“The workload is determined by the employer—meaning me. That must be stated in the contract.”
How arrogant. The Duke of Schultz was saying it in the most roundabout way possible.
“But I—”
“Are you asking me to resolve it for you?”
He cut me off before I could even begin defending myself. It didn’t seem like he was planning to scold me for my impertinence.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“……”
“I mean it—sincerely.”
I brought my hands together in a respectful gesture, and with extra care for my tone, I continued.
“As I’ve mentioned, I’d like to take on more duties. Preferably something that involves physical labor.”
The Duke flexed his interlaced fingers slightly, as if troubled. His brow furrowed further as he let out a short sigh—one that sounded like he’d grown tired of waiting.
Then came his voice, tinged with reluctant exasperation.
“Unfortunately, the documents arriving at the estate vary by the day, and all responsibilities have already been assigned. The only gap left is in the mistress’s duties.”
“Then I’ll do that work—”
“You really don’t seem to mind being called presumptuous, do you?”
Ah… I realized I’d crossed a line and immediately fell silent.
The Duke leaned forward slightly, a faint smile playing at the corner of his lips.
I turned my eyes away from his, now deeper and darker than before, and drew in a breath to suppress my tension.
“You said you preferred physical labor.”
I nodded slowly, my gaze lowered to the floor.
“Anything would be fine?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Even without knowing what I might assign you?”
There was something unmistakably suggestive in his words. I lifted my head unconsciously and furrowed my brows.
He felt different from when we had met outside the estate. Sharper, more refined… and somehow—
His clear blue eyes narrowed faintly.
“I don’t think you’re the kind of girl who doesn’t understand propriety, especially considering how close you claim to have been with your father.”
And before I could respond, he asked something so absurd it nearly made me laugh.
“What do you think about marriage?”
A heavy silence fell between us. I simply couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.
The atmosphere grew tense until I finally managed to open my mouth.
“Excuse me? What… do you mean by that?”
“You wouldn’t be called presumptuous, and the servants’ views of you would certainly change.”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand. Would marriage change something? Do you assign more tasks to married individuals or something?”
“Who knows?”
Why did he look so amused?
“In that case, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a partner. And my father hasn’t been gone that long, so something like that…”
“Perfect. I was just about to propose.”
“So… the person I’m supposed to marry is… you, Your Grace? I—What?”
His unexpected words shook the composure I had worked so hard to maintain.
I blinked hard, struggling to process what I’d just heard.
Staring at him in disbelief, I watched as he responded with a face so calm it might have been discussing the weather.
“I’m proposing to you, Miss Prim.”
Was this some kind of noble joke? Because it wasn’t funny in the slightest.
But since he was my employer, I forced a smile. The corners of my lips twitched uncontrollably.
“Clearly, you must’ve been close with my father—close enough to joke around like this with me so casually.”
It was my way of saying: don’t ever try this kind of humor with me again, no matter how you act with others.
“It’s an honor, Duke Schultz.”
I lifted my skirt slightly with one hand and bowed in a graceful curtsy. It might not have been perfect, but it was noble enough.
His previously rigid expression softened—just a little.
“If my response came off as rude, I apologize. My father taught me to be respectful to those above me, but never to appear servile or weak.”
Kindness for kindness, rudeness for rudeness.
No matter how high someone’s status, my father said I had every right to maintain my dignity.
The Duke stared at me for quite a while. So long, it became almost awkward.
Then, in a sharp tone, he spoke again.
“I don’t recall us being close enough to share jokes.”
“Um… what?”
If we weren’t close, then what was with the marriage proposal?
I nearly asked aloud—but swallowed the words at the last second.
“I’m serious, Miss Prim. I believe it would be best if we got married.”
And truly, there wasn’t the slightest hint of jest in his expression.
I was more bewildered than ever.
“Marriage is a significant matter. I don’t believe it’s something one should decide on alone.”
What I meant was—why are you making a decision of this magnitude by yourself and dragging someone into it who never asked?
This was the first time I had seen Duke Johannes Schultz since our encounter outside the estate. We hadn’t even interacted after that…
And it wasn’t like my life was so dazzling that he’d fall in love with me at first sight.
What is he after?
I stared straight into his unreadable blue eyes, trying to gauge what lay beneath them.
“Is this another one of those proposals meant to improve the Schultz family’s reputation in Müssen?”
If not, then I could only think of one reason. And it wasn’t a good one.
“Even if it is, I still refuse.”
He didn’t look surprised at all. Of course he’d expected me to reject it.
“Aren’t you curious to hear the reason?”
“No.”
It was obvious.
I knew full well that some high-ranking noblemen lived decadent, shameless lives.
I wasn’t referring to their visits to brothels. No—they wanted women who were pure.
They’d take in poor, innocent common girls, shower them with wealth and luxury in exchange for pleasure…
Then discard them once they were no longer useful.
But to jump straight to marriage? That was… strange.
I didn’t know why he suddenly brought it up, but perhaps it was a new trend.
I straightened my posture and masked my emotions as I replied:
“If this was your intention from the start when hiring me, then I resign—effective immediately.”
I didn’t even bother to apologize.
‘What did I do wrong? At worst, I was just naive.’
Yes. Excessive kindness always hides a motive. I was foolish to trust him just because he had once helped my father.
“I won’t deny the thought was there. But you came to me, and the timing seemed right.”
“Right? What do you mean?”
“You’re asking for an appropriate task. The only one left is the role of lady of the house.”
I was stunned into silence.
“Are you saying… that’s your reason for proposing?”
“Of course not.”
His response was cold and flat.
“Then may I ask why? Surely you don’t expect me to believe you fell in love at first sight.”
“Miss Prim, I thought I made it clear—I am not joking.”
“Then why…?!”
“Because I’m offering you a deal. A contract.”
His eyes grew deeper. I let out a dry laugh without meaning to.
A deal? He offered it so casually, as if people didn’t spend every day struggling just to survive.
Even a passing stray dog would scoff at that.
“I believe deals should be made between equals.”
He had much to offer. I had nothing. I was just a servant under his employment.
I was living off his money even now.
So what, exactly, could I possibly give him in return?
His quiet voice interrupted my thoughts.
“As I said before, I’m not someone who puts much value on process.”
That must be why he suddenly asked if I wanted to work for his household.
“I’m the type who gets what I want—and so I made the offer without any elaborate explanation.”
Because, in the end, it would go the way he wanted.
That’s why he didn’t bother explaining in detail. But I wouldn’t ask either. I had no intention of accepting in the first place.
“If this made you uncomfortable, I apologize. If an explanation is what you need, I’ll gladly provide it.”
I looked at him calmly.
His eyes… they were truly beautiful. It was no wonder some called Duke Johannes Schultz the jewel of Walzheim.
An exquisite title—and perfectly fitting.
I gave him a bitter smile.
“No, there’s no need to explain. Even if I heard your reason, the outcome wouldn’t change—I would still say no.”
For a fleeting moment, the faint curve at the edge of his lips stiffened.
But it passed quickly. He returned to his stern expression and looked away.
“I have no intention of forcing you either.”
But somehow… deep down, I already knew he eventually would.
