ITAYA 48

~Chapter 48~

I didn’t understand what Gwenndolyn meant. Why did she think I had to match my perfume to Baldwin’s taste?

Did she really believe that getting married meant I should change even my own preferences? Was that normal?

While I was thinking about this, Gwenndolyn left the office.

But Baldwin had never told me anything like that.

“She really meddles too much.”

I stuck out my tongue.

But I couldn’t waste time thinking about useless things. When I said there was a meeting in five minutes, I really meant it.

Today’s meeting was important: deciding where to open a new branch. Graham Bank currently had five branches, all in major cities. There were no branches in the South yet.

There was talk of building a new branch in Hertel. Thanks to the Constantine deal, we had enough resources for it.

My plan was to expand even further, starting with Hertel, and reach more places.

My goal was that, in ten years, you would see Graham Bank branches everywhere in Estus. You’d even be able to withdraw money from a city branch if you deposited it in the capital.

How nice would that be?

Right now, no bank in Estus could do that.

“President! Are you ready for the meeting? Your secretary says the room is all set up.”

“Ah, yes. I’m coming right now, Catherine.”

As soon as I thought of the meeting, I completely forgot about the rude visitors from earlier.

Anyway, there was no point trying to understand people like them. Their way of thinking and mine would always be different.

Let’s worry about tomorrow’s problems tomorrow.

Today, I had work to do.

* * *

Baldwin went to pick up Anais at Graham Bank because she was late coming home. Even after Baldwin got home, it was almost 9 p.m., and Anais still hadn’t returned.

He sent a messenger, and only got the answer that she’d be late today.

At dinner, Anais’s empty seat made Rosemarlin comment:

‘It seems the Duchess doesn’t know her place. Does she think she’s a commoner? What noblewoman works this late?’

It was the kind of thing only a lady who had an easy life would say.

Rosemarlin had completely forgotten her own past, sewing late into the night and living off what she earned in a day.

Baldwin didn’t bother to answer.

It wasn’t worth reacting to Rosemarlin’s words.

Baldwin respected Anais’s work.

She was a talented person. Even at the academy, she had stood out.

You could see her traces in the many papers Anais had written.

Anais’s intelligence and talent had blossomed after meeting Cesares Graham. Graham Bank was the best nest for her.

Baldwin thought what Anais did, and what she valued, was far nobler than people who spent all day gossiping at home.

The label of “noble” was too small to contain Anais.

Thirty minutes, an hour passed.

Even waiting for Anais felt worthwhile.

It was the first time in his life he’d felt like this. The coachman yawned, getting bored and sleepy.

Baldwin sat in the carriage reading while waiting for her. Coming out to meet her had been a sudden decision.

Baldwin had lived a long time without Anais.

But now, time without her was just too boring. He’d forgotten how to handle it.

So he came to meet her.

Almost 10 p.m. passed before he saw Anais finally coming out of the bank.

Anais walked out with her coworkers, a soft smile on her face, her cheeks round with happiness.

Baldwin closed his book.

Through the little square window, Anais looked so lively. Baldwin watched her with his chin in his hand.

Anais said goodbye to her coworkers, spotted the Constantine carriage, and came over with a surprised look.

“His Grace, the Duke, is inside.”

There were small whispers outside, quiet but just enough for Baldwin to hear if he tried.

“Did Baldwin really come himself? Did he wait long?”

“Just over an hour, Your Grace.”

There was some fumbling outside, then the door slowly opened, almost teasingly.

Anais peeked in with a nervous face.

“…Baldwin.”

When their eyes met, Anais sighed with relief.

“I was worried you’d be surprised. I’m glad we made eye contact right away.”

The slow door, the nervousness—it was all for Baldwin’s sake.

Baldwin liked how Anais cared for him so carefully. He felt special to her.

[I saw you coming out.]

Anais checked his handwriting under the streetlight and smiled brightly.

[Aren’t you tired?]

“A bit, but it was meaningful. Did you come to get me?”

[You were getting too late.]

“Today we decided to set up a branch in Hertel. Soon we’ll buy a building and start preparing. We’ve gathered enough money for it.”

Anais’s voice was excited. On the dark street, she sounded like a happy lark.

[Congratulations, Anna.]

Baldwin reached out his hand. Anais smiled and took it.

She got into the carriage. The darkness outside seemed to follow her inside.

When Baldwin closed the door, it was so dark they could barely see each other.

Anais sat and signaled the coachman, who started moving the carriage slowly.

It was so late, there was hardly anyone on the street. Only the sound of the horses’ hooves broke the silence.

Anais and Baldwin looked at each other in silence. The streetlights faintly revealed and then hid their faces as they passed.

Anais swallowed.

Sitting face-to-face, their knees touched. She was drawn in by Baldwin’s purple eyes. She couldn’t look away.

A soft tension filled the air between them.

Anais opened and closed her mouth several times, but it felt like nothing she said could break this tension.

Clunk.

The carriage shook as it hit a bump.

“Ah!”

Their legs, just barely touching, bumped together. Anais, stiff with tension, fell toward Baldwin.

She barely grabbed the wall to keep from falling off the seat.

“Uh…”

Before she could sit back up—

Clunk.
The carriage shook even harder.

“Sorry! It’s hard to see in the dark, Your Graces…!”

The coachman’s voice sounded far away as Anais fell between Baldwin’s legs.

She’d lost her balance and tumbled right off her seat.

Baldwin held his breath and tried not to make a sound. His dark eyes were on Anais.

Anais, hands on Baldwin’s thigh, slowly managed to lift her head.

“Oh! S-sorry!”

Anais hurriedly pulled away, the faint streetlight glowing on her face.

“It’s too dark, I’ll try to take a route with more lamps!”

The coachman’s voice faded again.

Baldwin watched Anais’s face, flushed from the embarrassment and friction.

He smiled with narrow eyes.

“I-I didn’t do it on purpose. I just… couldn’t keep my balance…”

Anais stumbled over her words.

Maybe if Anais had acted calm, Baldwin would have let it go too.

But her face only turned redder and redder.

Her heart-shaped lips shined. Anais tried to move away just as—

“Ah!”

Baldwin pulled Anais hard toward him.

He wanted to ask what she was thinking.

He wanted to ask why her face was so red.

He imagined that the more he asked, the redder her face would get.

His mouth stayed shut, out of habit, but he didn’t say a word.

Baldwin covered Anais in breathless kisses. Anais gasped for air under the endless kisses. Their bodies pressed together, faintly reflected in the window.

Baldwin touched Anais’s cheek.

‘Anna.’

Her name echoed in his mouth, slipping into his throat. Instead of whispering her name, he kissed her.