Chapter 16
“Ahem. How much is this?”
I had to make sure to keep enough money for the rent I planned to pay.
“You have good taste! The dark red ruby cufflinks you chose are one of a kind in the world!”
The merchant began to sell his wares.
I was sure I had seen a similar design in the neighboring shop, so what was he talking about?
“Ah. Maybe I misunderstood the meaning of ‘one of a kind.’ The shop next door was selling a similar design for 4 gold… That’s strange. I guess I should look around more before buying…”
“My lady?”
The merchant smiled sweetly and caught my attention.
“I forgot to mention something. These cufflinks are indeed precious items worth more than 10 gold. But since you are our 1000th customer today, I am willing to sell them to you for 3 gold.”
“Ah! I’m really lucky!”
Hey, you scammer.
Anyway, I was glad I could buy them cheaper than I expected. I hummed happily as the cufflinks were being wrapped. This would be the last gift.
Would Maynus like this?
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Maynus glared at Eden, who was awkwardly standing with his chest puffed out. What was he trying to say, lingering around so uncomfortably? If he had business, he should say it quickly and leave. The middle-aged butler was pretending to be cautious as he paced.
“What is it about?”
Finally, Maynus asked.
Eden smiled broadly. Actually, he had been waiting for Maynus to ask.
“Do you see this brooch here?”
Now that he mentioned it, a dazzling object was pinned to Eden’s chest. It was a brooch made of gold with a masculine design and small gems.
“Must be a gift from your wife.”
“No. This was given by Lady Veloce. She said it was to thank me.”
“…Is that so?”
Eden didn’t notice Maynus’s eyebrows twitching. Kahir Loterric reacted even more strongly.
“What about me?”
Kahir jumped up from his work and pointed at himself.
“Well… Sir Kahir, you’ve never met Lady Veloce, have you?”
Kahir sat back down with a disappointed look. As Eden said, Kahir handled all of Jeremias’s external affairs on behalf of Maynus. Since Maynus couldn’t go outside in winter, Kahir was rarely seen in the mansion during that season.
“Tch. Lady Veloce doesn’t seem to know how much I respect her.”
“You? I respect her more! You probably never even talked with Lady Veloce, but I do! I see her at least once a day. And I take care of Lady Veloce and Delerone’s daily lives!”
Eden retorted as if it was ridiculous.
Maynus watched the exchange between Eden and Kahir with a calm gaze.
‘Then what about me?’
Of course, Maynus wasn’t greedy for such gifts.
“Hm. Did others receive gifts too?”
“Yes! Yuz, Elsa, Jewel, the nanny, and even the head chef…”
“Enough!”
Maynus cut off Eden, who was counting the gift recipients on his fingers. Maynus cleared his throat.
“I should be going. You must be busy too.”
Eden opened his mouth, sensing something strange in Maynus’s sharp voice.
“Could it be… you haven’t received a gift yet?”
“…It doesn’t matter.”
Maynus answered coldly.
‘How much can a paycheck be…’
He felt sulky. Maynus quickly shook his head. Since when did he care about such trivial things? Maynus handed over some documents. Hearing the distinct sound, Kahir nudged Eden’s back and left the room.
“I’ve never seen that before.”
Kahir chuckled and pointed at the office where Maynus was.
“Don’t make so much noise!”
Maynus’s voice came from inside. Kahir shrugged and left with Eden.
“You seem back to normal.”
“Normal?”
“You used to be sharp when working. Your headaches were severe and got worse in cold weather. But since Lady Veloce and Delerone came, they’ve completely gone.”
“Really?”
Kahir smiled broadly.
He glanced toward Maynus’s office and chuckled.
“If that happened, you should have told me first! You pretended not to care, but you two were close?”
“No.”
Eden shook his head. The brooch on Eden’s chest sparkled brightly.
“Now it’s just… how do young people say it? ‘Something’ or ‘flirting’? Something like that.”
“How are you so sure?”
“He doesn’t get angry even in winter. Even at work. His headaches seem gone. So there must be something.”
Eden cautiously defined the relationship between Maynus and Veloce. Veloce was originally a stranger, so no one knew how she had changed, but Maynus’s change was obvious.
He used to be very sensitive to headaches that came every winter, but now he didn’t even mind the baby’s crying. He would have been irritable at work before.
“If there’s change, there must be something causing it.”
Eden nodded. Eden and Kahir exchanged glances and smiled.
“Well, soon the ducal family might welcome a duchess! That’s something to be happy about.”
Eden agreed. The servants focused their ears and eyes on Veloce and Maynus.
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No one understood why. Even Maynus couldn’t guess the reason for his feelings. Why did such a trivial gift bother him so much?
Maynus, who never thought about anything else while working, was lost in thought over the trivial topic of ‘gifts.’ He kept pondering why Veloce hadn’t given him a gift.
Why?
At first, Veloce was a headache to him. The rumors and commotions she caused tired Maynus. Just a few weeks ago, he was counting the days until she left.
But now… he was used to the chaos Veloce caused.
If he didn’t hear the baby cry occasionally, he would start to worry.
‘Since when did I…’
Maynus let out a hollow laugh. Without realizing it, he had abandoned his old life and adapted to a new one. In just about a month!
Maynus rubbed his face roughly.
In another way, Veloce was still a confusing presence to Maynus. Strange and fascinating. Maynus let out a faint sigh between his lips. His mind felt tangled and muddled.
‘All over a mere gift.’
That small gift, which others received but Maynus hadn’t.
Of course, if Veloce prepared gifts, she would have prepared one for Maynus too. There was no reason not to. But why hadn’t Maynus received anything yet? That question sparked a childish and unnecessary anxiety.
‘How childish…’
Maynus clicked his tongue softly. His head ached. The long-awaited headache returned, and he frowned.
“…Did you get a gift too?”
Maynus asked Marten. Marten, holding the report compiled by counselors and scholars on the applicants’ test results, tilted his head.
Kahir vigorously shook his hand only visible to Marten. Veloce hadn’t contacted Maynus yet. As evening approached, Eden anxiously checked on Veloce’s status, but she was just working as usual.
Now it seemed Maynus might really get nothing. But Marten didn’t seem to notice Kahir’s efforts.
“Lady Veloce?”
“Yes.”
“Oh! I received a fountain pen.”
At that answer, Kahir sighed. Maynus frowned and rubbed his forehead.
“…My head hurts.”
“You’re late this winter.”
Marten said with concern.
“You should take medicine.”
“Go get some medicine.”
“Me?”
Marten pointed to himself.
“No one here has received a gift, so it’s only right that you go.”
Marten glanced at Kahir.
‘Could it be…?’
Kahir nodded. Only then did Marten realize the situation. He laughed awkwardly and left the office.
