Chapter 50
Eyes Like Grape Candies
One by one, things that made the western Annex's yard look lived-in began to appear.
First, a new rocking chair arrived.
With a large parasol that had been stored in the warehouse for a long time and a small table placed next to it, a space was created where Klaud could relax comfortably alone.
"Are you the only one working in this Mansion?"
"Your Highness, even ten bodies wouldn't be enough to sweep, clean, and manage this vast Mansion. The poor servants can't possibly pay attention to this place."
"Why are you doing it, then?"
"...I told you, it's a gift for Your Highness. It's only natural for the giver to care."
"Everything here was originally mine. Can this really be called a gift?"
Hearing the sarcasm from behind, Yuan focused on her work, feeling like she was carving patience into her forehead.
Just don't say anything, don't say anything.
She had started this because she thought it would be nice to take a walk with Klaud around this western Annex.
Once he started coming outside, Klaud wouldn't leave this place as if he had no bedroom, and he kept picking on Yuan.
He didn't understand her desire to surprise him, and he kept asking similar questions as if he didn't want her to focus on the work she was still finishing.
Yuan, who was scrubbing away, imagining his shapely lips, turned to Klaud, who had suddenly become quiet.
His long, large body was sprawled in the rocking chair, basking in the sunlight that the parasol didn't block.
The slightly long golden hair under his reclined head sparkled.
If I could pluck those hairs and make thread to embroider, it would make such a pretty dress.
Would he get angry if I asked him to pluck some hair for embroidery?
She was chuckling to herself with strange thoughts when she felt a piercing gaze.
Eyes like grape candies were staring intently at her.
"What's so funny?"
"Your Highness's eyes are pretty."
Yuan barely managed to erase the smile on her lips as she answered. Klaud's displeased voice immediately returned.
"Is it funny that they're pretty?"
"I usually smile when I see something pretty. And Your Highness's eyes are just like, grape cand—"
Yuan's lips paused for a moment as she scrubbed away, trying to gloss over her words.
What would a man who didn't even flinch when praised for having eyes like the finest amethyst say if she said they were like grape candies? Are you going to say my eyes are like potatoes roasted in a fireplace?
Klaud was more than capable of retorting like that.
Yuan quickly shook her head. It was only natural that Klaud's gaze became sharper.
"Can, what?"
"I misspoke."
Please just let it go. Let it go.
-Scrub, scrub, scrub.-
Her hand scrubbing became faster.
Klaud seemed to be saying something.
Yuan focused on her work as if she couldn't hear him well.
Scrubbing was a busy task, so it was perfect for making excuses that she couldn't hear well.
And while she was doing that, the sunlight pouring down on Yuan lost its light.
Yuan was startled by the sudden large shadow and raised her head, which had been lowered.
The man who had trapped her in his shadow was staring down at her. Eyes like grape candies, without hostility or wariness.
As she met those two eyes that seemed like they would taste refreshing and sweet, Yuan took a step back while crouching.
"S-Suddenly—"
"Your forehead is red."
"It's because I'm in the sun."
"Stop it, now."
"If I just do this row, it'll be almost—"
"There's no rush. I've already seen it all."
The man with a calm face was unexpectedly stubborn.
He had been like this the whole time.
When Klaud first came to see this western Annex, he carefully examined the walls that had regained their red color, like a tenant looking at a house, and looked around the Annex fence that Yuan had decorated from time to time.
And only after a long time did he give a lackluster impression of 'not too bad,' and from the next day, he came around this area from the morning when Yuan started working, just loitering around.
Eventually, he had the large rocking chair and table that had been stuck in the warehouse moved - the already busy servants had to go back and forth to the distant warehouse several times because of that - and he lazed around like someone on a picnic at the zoo, watching Yuan and picking on her.
If that was all, she would have thought that having such a conversational partner was better than having none.
But right around noon, when the sunlight was strong, he would make all sorts of excuses to stop her from working.
"Get up."
Just like now.
It was just the beginning of spring, and it wasn't like she would get heatstroke from being in the sun. She didn't tan easily anyway, so there was little chance of her getting sunburned.
It was like an old nanny nagging her not to get tanned before sending a precious young lady off to get married.
Yuan looked regretfully at the works that would be perfect if she did just a little more and put away the brush she was holding.
"Uh-oh?"
She was about to get up with a 'heave-ho' sound when she felt a slip as her foot touched the muddy ground, which was slippery from the rain the day before.
Yuan was startled for a moment and staggered.
At that moment.
-Thud.-
A strong force grabbed her wrist and pulled her in.
Yuan was startled and widened her eyes.
Her cheeks, which had been exposed to the still cool air, touched a warm temperature.
It was Klaud's chest.
He had been dressing up a bit when he came outside, but why was he wearing the gown he always wore so casually today?
The scent of freshly laundered, clean laundry spread out and brushed against Yuan's nose.
And even the subtle herbal scent of the Cleaning Potion that Yuan had given to the laundry maids.
It was Yuan who pushed the other person away with a sound like a thwack!
"Isn't a thank you the first thing you should say?"
Klaud, who had paused, muttered somewhat sullenly.
Yuan thought it was fortunate that her ears were not visible because her hair was loosely tied.
It was clear that her ears were getting hot.
Yuan hugged the scent that seemed to be on her body tightly.
It felt too... strange that she smelled the same herbal scent as herself in his arms.
"What's wrong? Are you hurt?"
"Your Highness."
Yuan shook her slightly blank head and rummaged through her bosom to take out a small pouch.
She wanted to quickly change the subject.
Inside the pouch were flat, thumbnail-sized seeds.
"Marquis Lev sent these a while ago."
She added that they were a species similar to the vines that originally covered the exterior walls of the red brick Mansion.
Yuan took out a few seeds from the pouch and held them out to him.
The seeds, which had been soaked in warm water for about 2 hours in the morning, had swollen slightly and become heart-shaped.
As soon as Yuan saw the shape, her ears turned red again, and she stealthily clenched her fist to hide the seeds again.
"You're the one who makes medicine and studies."
So that was the reaction, asking why she was showing him this.
Yuan loosened her hair to hide her reddened ears as she replied.
"I'm going to plant them here, not make medicine."
Marquis Lev had recommended that the vines, which would climb up the wall and cover this Mansion, would have large heart-shaped leaves, so they would blend in well with the red bricks and be quite charming.
Yuan had originally intended to plant them alone, but she thought it would be meaningful to plant them with Klaud, so she handed him the seeds.
"Are you telling me to dig here?"
"...I'll do the digging, so Your Highness just has to place the seeds."
Her reddened ears instantly regained their color.
Yuan thought to herself, 'It's so hard to do anything together with this person-' and turned around towards the corner of the Annex that had regained its red color.
As Yuan dug into the ground with a trowel, thinking of Klaud, Klaud quietly curled up the corners of his lips and handed over the seeds.
Capital Cielo, 1st Prince Bolonico's Palace.
Marquis Compagni, who had entered the palace today, pushing through the long line of bribes, headed straight to the training ground.
There, Bolonico was tightly wrapped in protective gear and stabbing the air with a rapier, as if he had a sparring partner.
"Your Highness. Geret Pellieze's side has made a move."
As he rushed over and reported breathlessly, Bolonico took off his headgear and frowned.
"They seem to be using people to look around the Black Manor. Until now, there was only suspicion, but a bird witnessed quite a few people loitering around it."
"It's completely different from when we sent the eighth bride. What about the Mansion?"
"The Deposed Empress is tending to the Mansion."
"Is she trying to forget her situation that way? That's just what a noblewoman stuck in the countryside would do."
Bolonico elegantly held out his hand.
Marquis Compagni quickly took out a handkerchief from his bosom, but Bolonico didn't take it and just touched the handkerchief with his finger.
As Marquis Compagni approached and wiped the sweat from his forehead, Bolonico wiped the sword he had been swinging in the air with his handkerchief.
"Are they still on good terms? With that beastly husband?"
Bolonico chuckled, recalling Klaud, who had roared like a beast.
The Marquess, who had carefully wiped away his sweat, put the handkerchief away in his bosom and bowed sharply.
"Indeed, screams of pain-. After sleeping together, she groans until dawn and barely falls asleep."
"A painful night with a man who isn't even beautiful. Even if she is the 'Deposed' Empress, it's too pitiful as a member of the same imperial family. What a tearful responsibility."
A smile, completely different from tears, crept onto his white face.
"What about the Deposed Emperor?"
"Yes?"
"Does that Monster seem to have feelings for the woman?"
Marquis Compagni slowly recalled the report.
They spend more time together, but there doesn't seem to be any special contact.
Judging from his usual personality, it seems like he's keeping her in sight and watching her, just like when he sent the bride in the beginning...
"That can't be. Even though the Deposed Empress is beautiful, he doesn't seem to let his guard down. I've confirmed that he doesn't even glance at her when I visit from time to time."
"Poor thing. I'm sure my sister-in-law's heart is very, very weak. How difficult it must be for her."
Bolonico gathered his eyebrows with plenty of sympathy and whispered.
"If you think about it, I'm family too. I should help."
Bolonico recalled Yuan's white face, being harassed by the Emperor and terrified.
