31 Nasty Rumor (1/2)
”TILLY, have you taken your medicine?”
”Uh-huh,” Tilly answered while fixing Kiho's tie. They were currently in her room because a while ago, he came to check if she drank her medicine. When she noticed that his tie wasn't tied properly, she fixed it for him. ”Did you get your lunch box?”
”Yes,” Kiho said. ”Thank you for preparing the menu for my everyday lunch.”
She smiled at him. ”You're welcome.”
It had been a week since she moved into Kiho's residence.
Ever since then, she had been taking bridal lessons every single day. Those lessons included stitching, dancing, flower arrangement, and organizing tea parties. Since she was already a high-ranking noble who received education since childhood, she didn't need to take etiquette classes.
During her free time, she would design jewelries for her upcoming store. And about the interior for the store itself…
”Kiho, do you have a scheduled plan for you next day-off?” Tilly asked after she was done fixing the captain's tie.
Kiho thanked her before he answered her question. ”No. Do you want to go somewhere?”
”Not really. I'd like to ask for your help,” she said. ”I'm going to open up a new jewelry store soon. I know that you're busy but if you have spare time, would like help me design the store? I already hired an architect but I would need help for interior designing. And if you know a place where we can buy high-quality materials, I can also use some suggestions.”
His eyes sparkled in delight. ”Of course, I'd love to help. I know a thing or two about interior designing.”
She knew that very well. In her past life, Kiho would redecorate some of the extra rooms in their mansion whenever he had free time. He would even create furniture if he couldn't find a particular design that he was looking for.
Before, she thought his love for interior designing and furniture making were useless skills. But now, she'd love to work with him and that talent of his.
”Great,” she said with a smile. ”Then, should we also visit the building on your day-off? The architect was almost done with the blueprint.” It was the same architect who designed most of her father's stores. He modeled her new building from the previous store that their family built so he finished up with the design pretty fast. ”I heard that they will start the construction tomorrow.”
The construction of buildings in this world was faster compared to the construction in the modern world. If the modern world used equipments to build, in this empire, they used magic. It was pretty amazing to watch.
”Then, let's go out on my day-off,” Kiho said, his usual monotonous voice sounding a little bit livelier now. ”We can also go shopping if you want.”
She smiled and nodded at his suggestion. ”Sure, let's do that.”
Last week, they shopped clothes and toys for Flint and Julian. They sent the children's stuff to the Fire Wielder Guild. Would it be weird if she bought clothes for the kids again?
Let's write them a letter first.
”Ah, right,” the captain said as if he remembered something. ”Are you going to the royal palace later?”
She almost scowled at the reminder.
[Right, Princess Nia sent me another invitation for a tea party a few days ago.]
But this time, she wasn't the only person invited. The tea party was for the young ladies from the houses belonging to the Royal Faction.
”Yes, I'll be attending the Her Royal Highness's tea party,” she said. ”Why do you ask?”
”Can I pick you up after the party?” he asked and for some reason, he looked excited. ”I'd be going to the royal palace to report to His Majesty later. I was thinking that it would be nice if we go home together.”
”Oh, I like that,” she said with a smile. ”I'll send you a message once the tea party starts to wrap-up.”
”Understood.
”Wait,” she said, then made him sit on the bed. ”I'll show you the necklace I'll wear later. See if it looks good on me.”
”I'm not an expert on that field but I'll try to give a sensible remark.”
She just laughed at that. ”Don't look,” she told him while she was walking towards the vanity.
Kiho, as cute as he was, closed his eyes.
[Gosh, he's so adorable!]
She sat in front of the mirror and quickly put on the two necklaces that she prepared last night. First, she wore the dangling necklace that had a tear-shaped pendant. Then, she wore a short pearl necklace– a dainty chain with three tiny pearls– like a choker.
After she was done, she stood in front of Kiho.
”Baby, you may open your eyes now,” she told him. When he opened her eyes, she pointed at her neck. ”How do these necklaces look on me?”
”Your neck is pretty,” Kiho said out of the blue while looking intently at her neck.
That made her blush.
”Baby, focus on my necklaces,” she lightly complained.
”They look pretty,” he said, then he looked up at her face with shining eyes. ”Baby, are those the necklaces I got for you from Pillas?”
”I'm glad you noticed,” she said while gently touching the pearls. ”I kind of changed them a bit to look like this. The pendants I chose are smaller compared to the jewelries I used to wear. Are they noticeable?”
”The tiny pendants made them look dainty,” the captain said. ”And your neck is pretty so anything you wear on them will look pretty as well.”
She couldn't help but smile at that. ”Thank you, baby,” she said. Then, she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. After that, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. ”Thank you also for the necklaces. They inspired me to make my new collection.”
”You're welcome, baby. I'm glad to be of help,” he said, then he gazed down at her neck with hungry eyes while his hand was sliding up and down her waist. ”May I…?”
Tilly giggled because she knew what he wanted to do. ”Go ahead.”
And Kiho started to give her open mouth kisses on the neck.
[Good morning to me.]
***