Chapter 7 (1/2)

Chapter 7

“F*ck. What does this house look like?”

Eric kicked the trash at his feet.

“You’re my assistant, but why didn’t you keep this place clean?”

“Pardon?”

Daniel asked back, his expression clearly saying that what Eric said was absurd.

“But it was Your Excellency who said that you don’t want any maids here?”

“That doesn’t mean I want this place to be a trash dump!”

“Why are you angry all of a sudden?”

Daniel rubbed the back of his neck.

“Yes, well… I’ll call someone over tomorrow.”

“Bring a lady-in-waiting for my wife.”

“A lady-in-waiting? Not a maid?”

But the Madam won’t stay here for long.

She would stay here for a day or two at most, but did he just say that a lady-in-waiting who’s difficult to hire must come here at once?

Daniel inwardly swore.

“Did you forget who my wife is?”

Eric said this firmly.

“She’s an esteemed daughter of a Duke. She’s not someone who’s rolling on the floor like us. If you give her someone incompetent, she’ll be very offended.”

“No, but… From what I’ve observed of the Madam, I don’t think she’ll be offended…”

Daniel continued to talk even as he tried to gauge Eric’s mood.

“I think she’s a good person, unlike what the servants are saying.”

Eric’s temples were twitching as though he was very displeased.

Daniel didn’t know what Eric was upset about, but his face was distorted anyway.

The aide backed down cautiously.

At times like this, there was a real possibility that Eric’s fuse would explode.

“…Alright.”

After being silent for so long, Eric said this.

“A good person.”

Ah yes, Daniel himself was also such a good person to have stayed here this long even though he was going crazy.

Eric turned his gaze to the aide and glared at him as though he could read his thoughts.

“But Your Excellency, you know how harsh it would be to leave for the estate on this cold day.”

He knew.

Having a life of just rolling over the floor, he knew.

His first memory was opening his eyes at a dilapidated orphanage. He had no money and he starved for days on end while suffering from the harsh cold of the north. Because of that, his foot had to be amputated and now he was only wearing a prosthetic leg, so… he knew.

But she didn’t know that.

There was never a day in her life that she suffered from not having money. She had never lived under such pitiful circumstances. Her lifestyle was an aristocrat’s, so… she would never know.

She didn’t know any of it, that’s why she would only be hurt from whatever he said.

Damn it.

Eric let out a long sigh as he loosened his necktie. He stared towards the direction where Chloe was staying.

“Anyway, get a lady-in-waiting today so that someone can serve Chloe as soon as she wakes up tomorrow.”

“You’re making me do something ridiculous again. How can I get one within the day? …Yes, alright. I’ll do my best. Please stop glaring at me as if you want to rip me to shreds.”

Daniel immediately backed down again and just accepted it.

“Great. Then, the Second Prince is coming tomorrow as well. It’ll be good to have someone take care of the Madam while the Prince is… Your Excellency?”

After talking to himself for a long time, Daniel turned to Eric, who now had a blank expression on his face.

“What is it, sire? Did you forget?”

Eric covered his mouth with a clenched fist, his eyes visibly quivering as he was lost in thought.

Haa. At a loss, Daniel sighed.

“No matter how much you despise His Highness, isn’t this too much? He’s still a prince. He’s our biggest customer, sire!”

“I only forgot because I had a lot of work to do. And since I remembered now, isn’t it fine?”

Eric loosened his cuffs roughly and rolled up his sleeves, thick veins visible on his muscular arms.

“Wake Chloe up early tomorrow morning and ask her to leave.”

“Pardon?”

“Don’t let her run into the Prince.”

“Huh?”

Daniel was puzzled, but Eric didn’t explain any further. He passed by Eric and walked away.

“No, sire, the Madam is still in an amicable relationship with the Royal family, right? Wouldn’t it be better if the Madam is there, too? Sire? Sire!”

Daniel chased after Eric’s back as he shouted.

“Your Excellency! Please explain at least!”

Eric had no choice but to stay silent.

In fact, he couldn’t explain the strange unpleasantness that he was feeling.

‘Isn’t it fortunate that at least it’s not the Third Prince?’

The situation wasn’t exactly fortunate, but this was a good thing anyway.

“…I don’t want them to meet.”

He’d have to send Chloe back tomorrow right away. Eric was determined to make it so.

Chloe opened her eyes in the dark.

Was it because the sun would hide for too long during winter? Even though it was already morning, it was still dark outside.

“It’s cold.”

She talked to herself reflexively.

As always, only cold air would answer back.

That’s what she thought, but…

“Hm…?”

She didn’t feel the usual biting chill in the air.

Cautiously removing the blanket over her, she stretched out her arms.

‘It’s not cold.’