Chapter 15 (1/2)

Chapter 15

“…”

“…”

An awkward stillness subsided.

Anriche glanced at Alexei’s eyes. He put down the pen, which he was busily fiddling with, and fixed his gaze at her. Meanwhile, Anriche opened her eyes wide.

‘…Ah.’

It was because she discovered the dark shadows underneath the eyes as though it was drawn with a fine brush. Looking at it, she realized it had been a long time since she had met Alexei in the townhouse.

‘It seems like he’s very busy, seeing that he looks so exhausted.’

Anriche opened her mouth without knowing it.

“You look tired.”

Oops.

The moment those words were uttered, Anriche bit the tip of her though slightly. She meant to only think about it in her head, though the words just popped out of her mouth unknowingly.

Alexei looked a little surprised by what she said.

“Are you worried about me right now?”

“Yes? Yes, what… Should I not worry?”

Anriche shrugged her shoulders. She didn’t say anything she shouldn’t say, so why did he say that?

In short, Alexei and she are a legal couple. So, when a wife sees her husband’s fatigue, is it not natural to worry?

Meanwhile, Alexei, who heard Anriche’s nonchalant answer, was in considerable shock.

‘Is that person really Anriche?’

Anriche, whom Alexei knew, was a woman who would never say, ‘You look tired.’ She didn’t even care about other people’s moods or physical condition since she was someone who was only interested in herself…

“Yesterday, I heard that you left the office late because of a lot of work.”

She said in a strange way. Alexei was confused, and her words were blurred.

“Oh, yeah…”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

By then, Alexei, who had finally come to his senses, politely rejected her offer.

“It’s all right. Thank you for your concern.”

“Oh, yes. Then, please feel free to let me know if you ever need my help.”

And, silence.

‘No, is the duke not uncomfortable with this quietness? Is it only me that feels this way?!’ Anriche simmered her insides and spoke again to try and get rid of the awkward silence.

“Oh, I brought Liliana.”

“I already heard it from the butler.”

“…Ah, I see.”

Silence, again.

She doesn’t know how many silences this is. Anriche did not have the energy to overcome this awkwardness anymore. Gradually, she took a deep sigh and raised her body from the seat.

“Well, I’ll head out now.”

“Are you leaving?”

“Yes, you’re busy working. I shouldn’t get in the way.”

‘What…did she say just now?’ Alexei doubted his ears. Anriche is caring about him. Is the sun rising from the west today?

Grasping the doorknob, she glanced back.

“Oh, duke.”

“What?”

“It’s good to work hard, but it’s important to take a break as well.”

Anriche, who said so, pointed to the cookie and tea she had brought with her glances.

“Make sure to eat the cookies because you need some sugar when you are working.”

“Ah, okay. I see.”

“Well then.”

She bowed her head and gently closed the door.

Click. As soon as the figure of Anriche disappeared from his sight, he quickly rose up from his chair. Standing in front of the table, Alexei glances down at the cookies she had brought with her.

It was a chocolate cookie with various nuts.

‘Was I too cold?’

Blue eyes sank deeply. Looking at it now, it was true that she had been doing a great job as the mistress recently.

Had it not been for her, Liliana would have continued to live while getting abused at the Londini Orphanage. In addition, the words ‘I need more money’ or ‘I don’t care’ did not come out from her mouth either.

‘She seriously, with pure intention, brought me cookies.’

If so, then…

“…I should have said thank you.”

Through his lips, a mumble mixed with a brief sigh flowed. Alexei picked up a cookie.

The cookies that crumble in his mouth were very tasty.

***