“Shite, look at this. It’s blue ink made from lapis lazuli, along with a metal nib specially crafted by a master artisan. I heard some good things had come in, so I went to take a look, and you immediately came to mind. You like keeping records, after all.”
No one disliked receiving gifts.
Especially when it was an affordable gift chosen specifically according to the recipient’s tastes. It was bound to soften even the most firmly closed heart.
Shite couldn’t possibly be any different.
I would ease the tension first, then slowly figure out why he was tormenting me.
Come on, be touched already. Hurry!
Shite examined the gift. His expression briefly showed surprise before he smiled.
“Oh my. I’ve actually stopped keeping records lately. I suppose you didn’t know. You really have so little interest in me. As expected, divorce—”
“No! You’ll use them eventually if you have them. That’s why I bought them. Of course I knew you had stopped keeping records.”
I didn’t.
“If you insist, I suppose I’ll accept them.”
How annoying.
But I couldn’t give up my inheritance over this.
There was nothing in this world that money couldn’t solve. If there was something money couldn’t solve, it was simply because you hadn’t spent enough of it.
So you’re saying you won’t open your mouth for something as trivial as ink and a pen?
Then I needed to prepare something Shite couldn’t refuse.
“Shite. You don’t seem to be able to concentrate on your research these days, so I bought a building nearby that would make a good laboratory.”
It was a building.
An entire building.
And it was located in a secluded area where he could conduct his research in peace.
Who in the world would refuse if their wife offered to buy them a house?
No one. Absolutely no one.
“Take the key already. My arm is going to fall off.”
And, as a bonus, I hoped he would spend a little less time at home. Then he wouldn’t keep clinging to me and driving me crazy by asking for a divorce!
I confidently held out the key, but Shite merely stared down at it.
“No need. Going back and forth to the laboratory every time would be inconvenient.”
Wasn’t he basically asking me to buy him a carriage now?
I knew this would happen, so I had already prepared for it.
I took Shite to the stables and showed him the luxurious carriage I had carefully selected and purchased.
Now was about the time he should be getting touched.
I looked at Shite expectantly.
But his expression was strangely ambiguous. It looked as though he was trying to suppress a smile—or perhaps enjoying himself.
Had he finally taken a liking to my gift?
“I’m hurt.”
“What? Why?”
“I had no idea you wanted to get rid of me this badly, Madam. You even bought me a house just to tell me to leave.”
“No, this is supposed to be a laboratory…!”
I was so dumbfounded that my breath caught in my throat.
Perhaps my voice had been too loud, because the stablemaster and servants were glancing this way.
In the end, I shut my mouth.
I clenched my fists and trembled with frustration when Shite approached me as though he’d been waiting for this exact moment.
“Since you’re sending me away anyway, why don’t you take care of the paperwork too, Madam?”
Aaagh! How annoying!
“You—!”
I barely managed to suppress my rising voice and whispered,
“What on earth is the problem?!”
“The problem is that you won’t divorce me.”
“…Don’t be like that. Look at all this. Every one of these gifts contains my sincerity and heartfelt feelings. Why don’t you accept them first and then slowly reconsider our relationship?”
“Gifts containing your sincerity and heartfelt feelings… They’re bribes with an intention and a purpose, aren’t they?”
This wasn’t going to work.
If I stayed here any longer, I felt like I was going to grab Shite by the collar and shake him!
I abruptly turned around.
First, I needed to cool my head and think of another gift. What could possibly tempt Shite?
As I pondered, I heard footsteps following me.
“If you’re planning to win me over with material things, you should give up.”
I stopped walking for a moment and turned to look at him.
Shite’s eyes still held that incredibly irritating look.
He clearly thought I was nothing more than a spoiled, shallow young lady who tried to solve everything with money.
My insides were boiling, but I forced the corners of my mouth upward into a smile.
“We’ll see about that.”
I wasn’t wrong.
More time passed, and eventually, I learned the truth.
Shite was an absolutely impossible man!
I gave him all sorts of gifts, but he didn’t even bat an eye.
Instead, every time I gave him something, he used the gift as an excuse to get under my skin by asking me to divorce him.
In the end, I was the one who became exhausted and gave up.
Better to just avoid him.
I hid myself in the greenhouse from the very morning.
I had planned to have a peaceful meal by myself, but…
Beyond the glass walls of the greenhouse, I spotted a familiar silhouette.
Why is that man wandering around here at this hour?
I could see Shite’s silhouette in the distance.
After everything he’d put me through, I recognized him instantly despite the considerable distance.
I stared at him with a thoroughly fed-up expression, but for some reason, his silhouette seemed to be getting closer and closer.
I realized it a moment too late.
If he finds me, there goes my peaceful breakfast!
Hide.
The moment I made up my mind, I jumped to my feet.
I was still holding a cup of hot tea, but I had no time to put it down or clear it away.
Because even now, Shite was getting closer to the greenhouse!
I hurriedly moved away from the table, and Cindy followed after me, asking worriedly,
“Madam, what’s wrong?”
In my desperation, I gave the maids an order without explaining anything.
“Everyone, grab something and hide!”
The maids looked bewildered, but they nevertheless grabbed tablecloths, utensils, plates, and whatever else they could carry before hiding themselves.
Just as I crouched down behind a thick tree trunk, the greenhouse door opened.
Step.
Step.
Slow but heavy footsteps wandered around the greenhouse for quite some time.
If he’d seen that no one was here, he should have simply left. Why was he walking around like that?
Afraid that he might find us, I curled myself up even tighter.
Then, somewhere nearby, I heard a short sound.
“Mmph!”
Mmph?
Without thinking, I almost stuck my head out to see what was happening. I barely managed to stop myself and strained my ears instead.
Did someone get caught?
My body itched with curiosity. I was wiggling only my toes when I heard another small sound.
Tap.
It sounded like the snap of a stem being broken.
Soon afterward, the sound of dress shoes tapping against the floor could be heard again as he continued walking around.
This time, I occasionally heard muffled little chuckles mixed in with the footsteps.
What on earth is going on?!
Should I check or not?
While I was debating, I lost track of his footsteps.
By the time I realized it, I couldn’t hear them anymore.
Did he leave? Or did he decide to stay?
I couldn’t figure out what was happening.
Unable to suppress my curiosity any longer, I cautiously stood up and turned around to check what Shite was doing.
“Whoa.”
“Eek!”
I jumped in surprise.
At the same time, the teacup I was holding flew up and slipped from my grasp.
Before it could hit the floor, Shite instantly reached out his hand.
The teacup landed neatly in his palm, and hot tea spilled over the edge.
His pale hand immediately turned red.
“Oh my goodness! Are you all right? Put the cup down quickly!”
The moment Shite set the teacup down, I pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his hand.
“Oh no. What should we do? You aren’t badly hurt, are you? Someone, go get some clean, cool water! Honestly, why do you keep startling people like that?”
I moved toward the table while continuously scolding him and fussing over him.
Soon, a maid brought over a basin filled with cold water.
Without hesitation, I put his hand into the water.
“I had no choice. If I hadn’t caught it, you would have been hurt.”
He did it for me?
Really?
I looked at Shite in surprise.
His eyes weren’t filled with concern.
At the same time, one of the maids let out a small gasp of admiration.
“Oh my!”
He said that because other people were watching.
I almost got touched for nothing.
Of course.
Even if he hadn’t caught the teacup, I would have been fine.
My dress had plenty of undergarments beneath it, and the skirt had several layers.
Naturally, it had been a sudden situation, and if someone truly cared about me, their hand would have moved before they even had time to think.
But this was Shite.
There was no way someone who was obsessed with getting a divorce would have done this because he cared about me.
“Thank goodness the tea had cooled down somewhat. What would you have done if it had still been hot?”
Shite merely shrugged at my scolding.
He was irritating, but when I saw his reddened and swollen hand, my heart softened again.
“Keep it in there for an hour.”
“An hour? You must really want to keep me away from you.”
“You need to leave it submerged that long so the heat can dissipate.”
Actually, twenty minutes would have been enough.
But if I wanted to escape from Shite and enjoy a peaceful breakfast, I needed about an hour.
Shite paid little attention to what I said and slowly moved his hand through the water, creating ripples.
“Madam. Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Forgetting something? What?”
“Perhaps a word of thanks?”
“I’m the one treating you, though. Shouldn’t I be the one receiving thanks?”
I answered a little petulantly without thinking, then noticed the gazes around us and cleared my throat.
“One hour. Stay here quietly.”
I need to get away quickly.
I was just about to leave when he caught my wrist.
“Wait a moment, Madam.”
The moment I turned around, Shite pulled me toward him.
The distance between us disappeared in an instant.
Our knees were close enough to touch.
