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Upon hearing the unexpected remark, Archduke Richard turned towards the young Marquis Spencer.
The young Marquis smiled innocently.
“Then I'll take the carriage.
Is that okay?”
“As you wish.”
His voice sounded a little shaky.
“Then, excuse me, ma’am.”
After the Archduke's reply, the young Marquis quickly climbed into the carriage in which I was planning to ride.
The journey to the Grace Kingdom was very long.
Suddenly, as we were sitting alone with the young Marquis, at first we talked about different things.
“Young Marquis, where should I invest to make a profit?”
“Huh?”
“Tell me some profitable business secrets.”
The young Marquis found my question amusing, and kept laughing.
When I looked at him annoyed by his laughter, he seemed to come to his senses and give me some important advice.
But because they were all just theoretical answers, like 'If you want to get into a prestigious university, just focus on Korean, English, and math, and excel in your classes,' my desire quickly faded.
Finally, to pass the time, I leafed through the pile of books the young Marquis had brought.
“⟨Seduction of my friend’s wife⟩, ⟨Forbidden love in the carriage⟩.
Oh.”
I sighed as I looked at the book list full of sentimental romance novels.
Then the young Marquis Spencer looked up from his book, rested his chin on his hand, and inclined his head to look at me.
“You don't like romance novels?”
“Yes.
Because love does not feed you.”
I wasn't interested in love stories that didn't even cover the bills.
After saying that indifferently, I returned my attention to the pile of books.
The young Marquis laughed again.
I was wondering what was so funny, before he added.
“Then take a look at this book.
The paintings up for auction start at over 500 million gold.
“Masters of world art...”
He recommended a book full of paintings of all kinds of artwork.
While I was browsing it, I admired the paintings in it.
Rumble!
The carriage stopped suddenly, shaking.
Her weight suddenly shifted towards the young Marquis Spencer.
“Ah!”
“Are you okay, ma'am?”
I lost my balance for a moment and staggered, and the young Marquis quickly supported me.
“...!”
My eyes widened in amazement at the strong muscles of his arms supporting my body.
He said he preferred carriages to horseback riding, and that he liked romance novels, so I assumed he would be weird.
But what was strange was that the young Marquis's body was muscular and well-built.
“Oh, thank you.”
Feeling a little embarrassed, I avoided the Marquis's gaze and tried to gently push his arm away from me.
Suddenly, the carriage door opened with a loud noise.
“...!”
It was Archduke Richard who opened the door and appeared.
He stood still, staring unblinkingly at me and the Marquis, who were awkwardly next to each other.
“Hmm…this…”
I stuttered for a moment, as if I had been caught doing something wrong.
'Should I say it was a misunderstanding?
No, but he caught me from falling, didn't he?'
I could have dusted off the accident, told him the truth, and said that he helped me up when the car suddenly stopped.
For some reason, my mind became blank and confused.
After all, we weren't even a couple.
“The carriage stopped suddenly, and your wife almost fell.
Thank God I helped her up.
Is something going on outside?”
In the end, it was Marquis Spencer who answered for me.
“……”
Archduke Richard remained silent, frowning.
The young Marquis, disappointed, looked out and nodded.
“Oh, the road is bumpy, so I guess they're removing obstacles.
Is that why you came?”
“No, I have another job.”
Only then did the Archduke answer in a deadpan voice.
His eyes fell on the books that had fallen to the ground as a result of the cart's collision a moment ago, and then his eyes trembled violently.
I asked the Archduke cautiously.
“So what to do...?”
“I'll be riding the wagon from now on.”
“…..?”
I blinked blankly at the unexpected words.
At the same time, Archduke Richard burst into the carriage.
The massive body of the Archduke pushed the Marquis, sitting across from me, suddenly into a corner.
"Yes!"
The Archduke ignored the Marquis' sharp groan.
He quickly sat down in front of me, arms folded.
“Let's go then.”
At his command, as if nothing had happened, the carriage started moving again.
“Your Excellency!
What would you do if you left your horse like this?”
Somehow, I thought I heard Victor's voice, like he was screaming, from outside.
But the clatter of the carriage wheels made it difficult to hear what he was saying.
∗∗∗
We had set off early, but it was getting dark by the time we crossed the border of the Kingdom of Grace.
As a result, we were very tired when we checked into our booked hotel.
The joy of lying down did not last long, but we found ourselves in an embarrassing situation.
After our group's rooms were distributed, we realized that Archduke Richard and I would be sharing a room.
The pretext for this trip was a 'honeymoon', and for a newly married couple to request separate rooms on their honeymoon is frowned upon.
Rumors will spread like wildfire.
“Your room is here.”
The elegant manager led us forward.
The Archduke and I followed him, puzzled.
“See you tomorrow morning...”
After five steps, Marquis Spencer left, with a slight smile on his face, saying only a short greeting before heading to his room.
“Call me anytime, ma'am!”
At the twelfth step, the maid bent down and turned the door handle.
"Good night!"
Finally, we said goodbye to Victor, his damaged and injured body, with a big smile.
For some reason, he said he was tired midway, having to drive two horses at once.
Still loyal to the Archduke, he winked and gave a thumbs-up of his happiness and support.
Finally, our assigned room was opened, and the manager pointed it out with a proud face.
“This is the most beautiful room in our hotel.
The rooms are fully booked today, but we reserved this room especially for you, the newlyweds.”
“...!”
I stared at the bedroom, its beauty almost exaggerated.
The canopy over the bed was made of a strange-colored mesh, and the bright white comforter was decorated with a large heart drawn with rose petals.
“Do you like it?
Sir Genoa requested this service since his reservation.
The bathroom is also equipped with the same service.”
The manager looked at us with a red face, as if he was waiting for a compliment.
It was the same expression on Victor's face when we said goodbye a while ago.
After a moment, the manager, who had not received the compliment he had hoped for, returned with a frowning expression.
Finally, we were left in the room alone.
“Do you want to take a shower first?”
I looked away from the bathtub filled with bubbles and flowers, smiling awkwardly.
Perhaps because of the many candles decorating the room, the Archduke's face turned red with embarrassment.
“No...I don't need to shower!”
Suddenly, the Archduke shouted, quickly opened the door and left.
“You're dirtier than I thought...”
I scratched my cheek, remembering how he'd been avoiding showering lately.
Anyway, that was good for me.
I can shower comfortably while he's gone.
“Ah, this is refreshing.”
After my bath, I felt very refreshed.
The Archduke has not returned yet.
I stared for a while, examining the large bed in the middle.
“I think I'll have to sleep on the floor.”
I have been a lawyer with this service mindset since my past life.
However, the customer always comes first.
So, it's about 'customer first' rather than 'ladies first'.
With an indifferent expression, I brushed the rose petals off the bed.
Then I neatly placed the extra blanket prepared in the guest room on the floor.
Just as I was about to throw my exhausted body at her.
“...!”
My eyes met those of the Archduke as he opened the door and entered.
His hair was completely wet, as if he had just taken a shower somewhere.
I looked at him and gave him a salesman smile.
“I was about to fall asleep anyway.
Your Excellency, please use the bed.”
"What…?"
The Archduke's eyebrows twitched, then narrowed.
I thought I could see smoke rising from his body.
“Ha...really...”
He touched his forehead with a serious expression and looked at me with a complicated look.
“However, I am not so impudent as to let a woman sleep on the floor.
You are the one who will use the bed.”
The Archduke spoke briefly, approached me with difficulty and snatched the cover from my hand.
Then he lay on the ground carelessly.
"Huh?
That's not true!"
I let out an involuntary scream of terror.
I couldn't sleep comfortably on the bed while letting my client, the source of my money, sleep on the floor.
“Just sleep on the bed!”
“I understand that you want to sacrifice yourself for me, but you can't sleep on the floor.”
My eyebrows frowned upon hearing his response.
It wasn't worth a word of sacrifice.
However, I couldn't let him sleep on the floor, so I offered him a compromise.
“So, why don’t we sleep in bed together?”
“...!”
The Archduke's hand holding the blanket trembled.
He hesitantly pulled it over his body.
“You... are seeking this...”
“…..?”
What on earth am I seeking?
I frowned slightly, as if evaluating his words, and the crumpled edge of the blanket in his hands caught my attention.
I raised my palms in agreement.
“If you mean the blanket, Archduke, I have a quilt.”
“……”
The Archduke remained silent, still looking disapproving.
“If you continue like this, I will sleep on the floor too.”
I finally collapsed next to the Archduke, who refused to move.
After a moment, I heard a deep sigh.
Finally, the Archduke, seemingly determined, sat up suddenly.
"Okay.
If that's what you want, you're in for it, I guess."
“…..?”
What?
At his words, I sat still on the soft carpet, raising my head slightly to look at the Archduke.
His lips were tightly pressed together, his face almost serious.
Klan-!
"What do you do …?"
I opened my eyes wide and stared at the Archduke.
Before I knew it, he was undoing his belt and pulling it down.