Rublion fidgeted with his little finger and carefully opened his mouth.
“But, Duke. Isn’t it because the lady is in a situation where she can’t spend lavishly even if she wants to?”
Askal looked at the young boy with his chin resting on the back of his hand.
“As you’ve probably already investigated, the Baron Deli family isn’t that wealthy. So I think we can’t judge the lady’s spending habits right away.”
Askal was about to nod in agreement, but stopped. However, Rublion already noticed that he had agreed.
“Give me five million tiga. I’ll show you exactly what the lady’s spending habits are like.”
“Rublion, I don’t care what that lady’s spending habits are like.”
“Really? Why?”
The child’s two eyes shook violently in shock.
“Because it’s you who likes the lady, not me.”
“Is it because the lady isn’t pretty?”
Askal frowned deeply.
“It’s getting late. Early to bed, early to rise.”
“It’s true. It’s because the lady isn’t pretty.”
Rublion jumped off the sofa and slumped his shoulders. Then he turned around with a dejected face.
“There’s nothing I can do about that…”
Watching the child mumble to himself, Askal sighed and said,
“I don’t judge people by their appearance. So don’t misunderstand on your own.”
Askal got up from his desk and strode over. Then he knelt down on one knee and met Rublion’s eyes.
“And the lady is closer to cute than pretty.”
The child’s eyebrows twitched.
“Anyway, if you like the lady, I’ll hire her as a tutor or nanny. I’ll give you everything you need.”
“Then give me five million tiga. What I need right now is to check the lady’s spending habits.”
The child’s golden eyes sparkled brightly.
“The lady you personally admitted is cute might have spending habits to your liking too, Duke.”
“When did I admit…”
“Good night!”
Rublion turned around and left abruptly. Left alone on the office floor, Askal felt a throbbing in one side of his head as he got up.
* * *
“Lady, I received an assignment from the Duke.”
That’s what the little one said as soon as he entered the office.
“An assignment?”
The little one ran to the sofa that had become his designated seat. Then, after gulping down a glass of milk Anna gave him, he pulled out an envelope from his jacket pocket.
A moment later, what came out clutched in his small hand was a check for five million tiga.
“He told me to find a way to spend this check within two days.”
“That’s the assignment?”
“Yes.”
Giving such a large sum to a ten-year-old child and telling him to spend it all in two days? Is this the ducal family’s education method?
“He said it would be difficult alone. So I’m allowed to ask an adult for help.”
“Is that so? That’s convenient then.”
I showed the little one a newspaper article clipping.
“In an hour, this lady will visit the office. She matches the conditions you requested for a mother.”
“…There was someone who matched?”
“Yes, and there are more. But today, just this lady.”
I stroked the wide-eyed little one’s head and said,
“I hope you like her.”
* * *
A lady with long brown hair neatly tied up visited the office. Guided by Anna, she entered the consulting room and, upon seeing Rublion already there, gave him a warm smile.
“Welcome. We’ve been waiting for you.”
I greeted her cheerfully and guided her to sit opposite the little one. A sweet scent wafted from her clean yet not excessive yellow dress.
“Now, this is the young master who is our client, and this is Miss Olive, who runs a big business in Lyubga.”
I introduced them, alternating between the two.
“Nice to meet you, little young master.”
Olive offered a handshake. The little one looked at me once and then grinned. Then he shook her hand and greeted her.
“Hello, elder sister!”
His tone, higher pitched than usual, stuck in my ear. Maybe this person would be just right for the little one?
“Please talk to each other. I’ll be outside for a moment.”
I stood up, feeling pleased as I watched the little one smiling brightly.
I thought that perhaps the request might end quickly.
* * *
As soon as Schmidt left, Rublion completely changed his expression. Then he looked at the woman sitting in front of him.
She looked kind, but was subtly only smiling with her mouth.
“Hey, what’s your name?”
“We’re not close enough for me to tell you my name yet.”
Rublion answered Olive’s question indifferently.
“Well, that’s fine. I’ll get to know it gradually. You definitely don’t have any other siblings, right?”
“No.”
Olive finally seemed to relax her posture.
“What does your father do?”
“He’s in business.”
“What kind of business?”
“Many different things.”
“What’s the biggest among them?”
Rublion tilted his head askew. Then he answered in a different voice from before.
“Why are you curious about that? My father’s business has nothing to do with being my mother.”
When Rublion refused to answer, Olive showed her displeasure.
“If you don’t want to answer, then don’t.”
“Okay.”
She clicked her tongue. Then she put down her teacup roughly.
“Then can I ask questions now?”
Olive crossed her arms without answering. Her impression had completely changed from when they first met.
“Elder sister, you seem more interested in my father’s business than becoming a mother, right?”
“Yes, at least I need to know how much your father earns, whether I become a mother or a nanny.”
Olive, who had been leaning back on the sofa, sat up straight and continued speaking.
“It’s about an unmarried woman marrying a widower with a child, so I need to know the conditions, right? To be honest, your father might be a man with an unclean private life.”
Rublion’s expression darkened. But Olive paid no attention.
“So tell me, what business does your father do?”
“Do you really want to know?”
“Yes.”
Olive urged, wiggling her fingers.
“My father runs the Artenbach Bank and Art Museum. He has hot springs and hotels in the tourist district and does a little trade. And he also sells trophies obtained from the annual beast subjugation.”
“Kid, I don’t know what you’ve heard from where, but the Artenbach Bank and Art Museum are operated by the ducal family…”
Olive’s mouth gaped open as she was speaking in disbelief. Looking again, an unusual aura emanated from his black hair and golden eyes.
“…No way.”
All traces of a smile disappeared from Rublion. Olive realized her mistake and bit her lip tightly.
“I didn’t expect to meet the heir of the ducal family here. I couldn’t recognize you because I’ve never seen you at an official event.”
As the debut of imperial nobles in high society takes place around the age of 18, Rublion, who was only ten years old, had never appeared at official events. That’s why Olive, like Schmidt, couldn’t recognize Rublion.
Olive rose from her seat with an elegant movement. Then she curtsied slightly.
“You understand that the questions I asked… were for future reference, right?”
Rublion didn’t answer. He only recalled Schmidt’s words that one should be careful of people whose attitude changes depending on family and wealth.
“Yes, I understand completely.”
Olive smiled brightly. Then she came over and sat next to Rublion.
And with the eyes of the most affectionate mother in the world, she said,
“I don’t know why you’re looking for a mother in such a small office, but I’ll do everything you’ve wanted to do together.”
Rublion looked at Olive, who was holding his hand affectionately. Then, smiling just like her, he said.
* * *
“I’m leaving right now!”
That’s what Olive said as she came out, her face pale white, as if fleeing. Anna and I, not knowing what had happened, could only watch her disappear without even looking back.
“What could have happened?”
Momentarily taken aback, I immediately went into the consulting room.
“Lady.”
The little one was frowning deeply, with thick tears falling drop by drop. My heart sank.
“Why are you crying? What happened!”
“I just… don’t want to look for someone to be my mother anymore.”
The little one wiped his tears with his sleeve. Anger welled up suddenly. I should have stayed inside with them.
I pulled out some tissues and handed them to the little one. Then I squatted down on the floor and said,
“I was thoughtless. I should have stayed with you.”
“Huuuung…”
The little one’s small shoulders shook. I wanted to grab Olive right away and ask what on earth she said to make the child cry like this.
“Just cry for now. When you feel like talking after you’re done crying, tell me then.”
“Lady… sniff.”
“Yes, I’m here.”
Without thinking, I hugged the little one tightly.
The child, overcome with emotion, buried his face in my shoulder and cried loudly.
* * *
After laying down the little one who had fallen asleep with puffy eyes, I came out and started a serious meeting. Even though the only attendees were Anna and me.
“I’ll go to Lyubga and ask what happened.”
Anna raised her hand and said. I told her to go right now and handed her a few bills to use for transportation.
Left alone at the reception desk, I pondered over the little one’s words that he didn’t want to find a mother anymore.
‘What on earth did he hear…’
I didn’t expect it to go wrong like this from the start. My disappointment was greater than expected because I had chosen a candidate after considering their reputation and character based on my own standards.
The little one wanted to avoid revealing that he was from the ducal family. So I had only hinted to Olive that he was a child from a noble family and that his father was in business.
“Lady.”
“You’re awake already?”
He hadn’t even slept for an hour. I took the hand of the little one trying to come out of the consulting room and went back inside together.
“Do you want some water?”
The little one nodded in response. A corner of my heart ached.
“Are you feeling better?”
“Yes, I’m okay now. But I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“She said that conditions are important because it’s a widower with a child, is being a widower bad?”
“…Did that person say that earlier?”
“Yes.”
I almost swore out loud. I felt pathetic for having expectations that the request would end quickly after bringing in such a person.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
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