However, he couldn’t get rid of the girl Rubica was giving all her attention to. Rather, he was offering her a way to keep that girl next to her, and he pitied himself for that.

“It’s simple? How?”

“Do you want to know?”

“Yes.”

Rubica nodded hard and Edgar narrowed his eyes. It made Rubica get a cold feeling on her back, it couldn’t be something good.

“If you want to know…”

Edgar was going to demand a kiss in return, but he laughed hollowly at seeing Rubica so tense. He got this feeling that getting refused would destroy his pride beyond repair. He quickly changed his mind and made a demand that Rubica could accept.

“A hug.”

They had already agreed that much was okay. Edgar was a bit disappointed, but Rubica seemed to be hesitant to say okay to that.

“A hug…”

“Why, you don’t like it? Then I’ll keep my mouth shut. Let me give you an advice, Ms. Solana’s life will become very difficult from now on if you openly show that you care about her. People will get jealous of her and some will torment her until she delivers their requests to you.”

Edgar didn’t like that Rubica wasn’t easily accepting what he wanted and made Solana’s future look as miserable as possible. Rubica couldn’t hear more. She covered her ears and yelled, “Stop!”

When they first met, Edgar thought Rubica was like a rubber ball. A rubber ball that could bounce in any direction. But at least in certain circumstances, he could easily see where she would bounce to. At least her morality was crystal clear.

“Oh, I really have no choice.”

Now I can slowly stand up and hold her in my arms. Edgar pleasantly thought so and undid his crossed legs.

But then, Rubica abruptly got to her feet and came to Edgar. Her linen nightdress fluttered within the dim candlelight and each step showed her silhouette.

Edgar was surprised by her sudden action and froze on his chair. Rubica took a deep breath, stretched out her arms, and put them around his neck. Her soft skin touched Edgar. Under her clean linen nightdress was her unique scent mixed with perfume and the smell of her soap.

‘… she hugged me first.’

He had been wrong. He didn’t know to which direction the rubber ball would bounce. Each action of hers was beyond his expectation.

“Done, right?”

Rubica tried to pull herself away from Edgar after a time only long enough to have a cookie. Edgar couldn’t resist his impulse and hugged her waist tightly. Rubica was surprised. Although his arms were strong, he was tenderly embracing her. She could easily free herself from those arms only if she wanted. However, her legs didn’t move as if they were rooted on the floor. She had to try hard to calm down her fast-beating heart.

What was wrong with her?

‘Arman is the only man I love.’

She had married Edgar only because she had no choice. But then, why was her heart beating so fast?

‘It’s just because he’s handsome. I do love all pretty people.’

Edgar also knew Rubica was in love with another man. This dashing man could have as many women as he wanted. There was no way he would bother to love a girl who was in love with someone else. It was only out of mischief. Rubica managed to calm down and took two steps back. The hands that held her so strongly let her go so easily. Silence filled the room for a moment.

“That was too short to be a reward.”

The voice showed no emotion while Rubica’s body still had the warmth from the hug. She hid the shaking in her voice and said, “You didn’t talk about how long it should last.”

Edgar wanted to moan when seeing her dancing under the candlelight. He wanted to see her face better. He regretted putting candles instead of mana stone lamps in the bedroom. He shouldn’t have taken the advice that putting candles instead of bright lamps would be better for the mood. Now the mood didn’t matter. He wanted to see her cheeks. If they were even just a little red, he would become the happiest man in the world.

‘Wake up.’

He wanted to stretch out his hands and hold her in his arms again. He wanted to hear the sound of her breathing and beating heart. He wanted to stroke her silky hair. He also wanted to kiss her lips that he was missing so much as if they had always been his.

However, all of that was only part of Edgar’s impulse. Rubica didn’t love him. She didn’t want him. She often stared at him in a daze and looked embarrassed when their eyes met, but that was all. She didn’t like it when he held her hand without her permission, and when he did what others described to be manly, she would get mad.

She didn’t resist having contact with him only when they were doing a deal, and he couldn’t even make big requests. When he mentioned a kiss, she frowned as if she had never seen such a filthy bug before. She was the first to look at him that way.

He fought that strong impulse and patted the spot on the sofa right next to himself. Then, he tried to keep his arrogant expression and pointed at it with his chin. Thankfully, it worked. Rubica bit her lips, clearly not satisfied, but she sat down next to him. He had to try hard not to laugh each time her nightdress brushed his side.

“Then tell me that simple solution. If it’s not as good as you said, I will get back the hug I just gave you.”

You’ll get back the hug you gave me, does that mean I can hug you if I give you the wrong answer?

Edgar had to resist the urge to say that out loud. To him, it was a pleasant joke, but it was more than enough to make Rubica angry.

“Have Ms. Solana become your lady-in-waiting.”

Rubica widened her eyes. She blinked a few times and soon understood what Edgar was saying. She hadn’t even thought of that. Soon she smiled as bright as the sunshine of a spring day.

Yes, that smile. Edgar felt like he could do anything if he could just see the smile that brought a warm breeze to his wasteland heart. Even if he had to do something that would make his own heart ache, he would be given a sweeter joy at the end of it.

Edgar looked at her auburn eyes that sparkled with joy in the dim yellow lights of the candle and declared it to himself in his heart.

Her eyes were like jewels. No, they were jewels.

“Oh my, how could I not think of it myself?”

“It would be better for you to get yourself another lady-in-waiting. Ann has been working too much just by serving you alone.”

Rubica nodded widely.

“And it will also be of help to Ms. Solana’s family as she will be paid as my lady-in-waiting. Oh, but… what if she doesn’t want to work for me?”

Rubica suddenly became worried. She was the duchess, but she had nothing that was entirely hers.

She recalled the few relatives who had shown hostility toward her at the wedding feast. After what Shaynie had done, Elise might not like her. Plus, she had been among the Claymore’s relatives. Maybe she would be offended for being hired as her maid as she is a relative of the family.

“Rubica, you are Duchess Claymore. Not wanting to be your lady-in-waiting? What kind of nonsense is that?”

“But…”

“Countess Geor sent me a letter today to ask me to hire her fourth daughter as your lady-in-waiting. They are all after that position, although they are not showing it yet.”

“But I haven’t received any such letters…”

Of course. Ann had been keeping that letter instead of giving it to Rubica after discussing the matter with Edgar. He didn’t think Countess Geor had sent that letter out of goodwill.

They were just trying to control Rubica through her lady-in-waiting. Rubica, he knew she wasn’t someone who would mind being bullied or such schemes, but plots of aristocrats and policies could sometimes be dirtier than anyone’s imagination. Edgar worried bringing the lady of another great family as Rubica’s lady-in-waiting would only let others know of what was happening in the household. Then Rubica might suffer a lot.

In that sense, Ms. Solana was a nice option while also being a relative of Claymore. Although she had little blood from the family, she didn’t have anyone who would have her spy on Edgar and Rubica. It would be better than bringing someone in from a count’s family or marquis’ family.

“Ann must have felt she wouldn’t do well as your lady-in-waiting, so she left the letter out.”

“But then…”

Edgar’s additional explanation only made Rubica feel even worse. Edgar’s mood also plummeted along with hers. He couldn’t even guess what he had said that was making her so sad.

“Then?”

“Ms. Solana isn’t that good with manners. Mrs. Shaynie couldn’t have taught her worse, but she is great at math and ancient language! She’s also good at playing the piano…”

Rubica’s voice shrank. Manners were necessary for girls who wanted to become ladies-in-waiting. Edgar soon realized Rubica was worrying Ann might say no to hiring Ms. Solana. But actually, she was going to welcome it more than anyone else if Ms. Solana became Rubica’s lady-in-waiting. However, he didn’t tell that to Rubica.