Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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The tea time was prepared in Dielo's office, or rather, our office.
This office had undergone many changes in the past few days.
First, the temperature was raised significantly for Dielo's healing, but as my office was moved right next to this room, the temperature returned to normal.
But when I returned after my break, a door had appeared between my office and his.
"What is this door?"
Dielo answered lightly to my question.
"I had it installed in case of an emergency. Is it perhaps, inconvenient?"
It wasn't inconvenient. Rather, it was easier to visit Dielo.
But at some point, Dielo had been subtly leaving that door open.
To the point where I could hear him receiving reports.
It also meant that he didn't mind me hearing the reports...
"Having the door open like this makes it feel like we're working together."
When I turned towards the door and said that subtly, Dielo's reply came from beyond the door.
"Perhaps that's why I'm able to concentrate better, Krua."
Contrary to what he said, his work efficiency was very low that day.
"The documents that the Argenta Lord hasn't approved yet..."
"Because the Argenta Lord hasn't dealt with the matter yet. I will inquire again."
And after hearing this about four times while working, I closed the magic door that was draining my work efficiency.
"...Krua?"
A flustered voice came from beyond the door, but I said firmly.
"No doing other things during work hours."
After a moment of silence, a reply came back.
"What about other thoughts?"
I wondered what he was talking about, but before I knew it, his voice was heard near the door.
"What if I keep thinking about Krua?"
I stared silently at him as he slightly opened the door and peeked out.
I wondered why this person was suddenly acting like this, and then I saw the knight standing behind him to give a report.
...Ah, acting.
I smiled brightly.
"That's not allowed either."
Then I gently pushed his head, sending him beyond the door, and closed the door.
"No thinking about me until work is done."
"Krua..."
Dielo whispered in an anguished voice, not even caring about the knight who was probably suffocating from the sweet, honey-like atmosphere of the Argenta Lord and his wife beyond the door.
But I didn't open the door.
Sweet couple acting is good, but we have to work!
We're Argentas who do what needs to be done!
Then, this morning, something happened.
—Thump!
The door that blocked the space between Dielo's and my office had fallen off, door frame and all.
"...Dielo?"
And it was Dielo who was holding that door.
He was holding the door that had fallen off with the hinges, holding the handle, and looking back at me with a troubled face.
"...The door broke."
It was obvious to anyone that it wasn't an accident. I looked at Dielo, who was shamelessly looking at me, and finally burst into laughter.
"Do you perhaps find it more comfortable to work in the same place?"
Dielo nodded cautiously at my words.
"Yes."
"I can't live with you, really."
Did he break the door because he was having trouble saying that?
The Dielo depicted in the original work and the actual Dielo were quite different, but seeing him like this, it seemed that the man in front of me was indeed Dielo Argenta.
[Dielo Argenta was cautious about even mentioning his requests to the person he loved.
Fearing that the other person would leave if his request was too much.]
Was it that difficult to say that he wanted to work together?
Anyway, we ended up merging our offices like that.
That was this morning.
"The office is a bit noisy."
I said, watching the maids moving the table behind me.
"No, it's alright."
Redius Argenta, who had been invited to the office for tea time, seemed a little embarrassed, but soon recovered his expression.
Since the move of my office was decided so suddenly, I wondered if we should have tea time somewhere else, but there was no suitable place.
Except for the servants' quarters, the rest of the space on the 4th floor was Dielo's and my personal space, which would be difficult for others to enter.
"As you know, this is Redius Argenta. My uncle and teacher."
Dielo introduced Redius as we sat down.
He uses honorifics in private.
I recalled the appearance of the two people I had seen on the battlefield and turned to look at Redius.
Redius, with his dark gray hair, and Dielo, with his jet-black hair, didn't seem to have anything in common at first glance.
But the closer I looked, the more I realized that their auras were identical.
"I am Redius Argenta, Madam. I am late in formally greeting you."
He stood up and greeted me politely. I nodded to indicate that he should sit down.
"It's been hectic."
He was late enough to be. As I accepted his greeting, Redius sat down with a more relaxed face.
"But I didn't expect the Argenta Lord to attend as well."
Then he turned to look at Dielo.
What is this about?
I saw Dielo pause very briefly as I lifted my teacup.
"The Argenta Lord and I have never had tea time together. At most, we've had meals—"
"Uncle."
Dielo stopped him with a troubled voice.
But Redius continued shamelessly.
"Isn't it the truth?"
Then Dielo smiled, looking even more troubled.
No, a person can not have tea time.
"Well, there are families that don't have tea time."
I tried to side with Dielo, but it was clear that Redius was more playful than I thought.
"We've only had three meals together since he was young."
That was a bit unexpected. I put down the teacup I was holding.
"Then what do you usually talk about?"
Usually, in noble families, talking means tea time or meals.
If you count drinking tea in the drawing room as tea time.
But there was no reason for two people who were related by blood to meet in the drawing room.
Redius smiled at my question.
"He just tells me to talk and leave."
I blinked at those words.
No food?
As far as I knew, in the Empire, calling someone to talk without even simple refreshments was very stingy unless it was a superior ordering a subordinate.
"You just say what you have to say?"
"Yes. There was hardly any opportunity to build affection."
"That's..."
Dielo waved his hand as if to say no.
But seeing that he couldn't say anything after that, it seemed to be true.
"That's unexpected. For someone with so much affection."
Redius looked at me at my words. I was about to say something at his strange expression.
Dielo turned the conversation smoothly.
"After my parents passed away, he took care of me like my parents, so I respect him."
Redius didn't object to those words.
He received Dielo's gaze and eventually raised both hands. As if to say he would stop the pranks.
Then he took the words.
"It's good for our couple too, since we don't have a son."
After that, Redius continued to speak comfortably.
Dielo also had a softer face than usual.
Of course, he was a gentle person usually, but if he was more business-like then, now he seemed really comfortable.
"To think I would have such a long private time with the Argenta Lord like this."
"Uncle."
"Please move me a little more."
Eventually, I said, watching the two people bickering (?) as they returned to the original topic.
"You really seem more comfortable in front of Sir Redius."
Dielo turned to look at me at my words.
"Did I?"
Unexpectedly, his eyes were a little wide.
Didn't he know?
After a moment of silence, he asked abruptly.
"Then, what about me in front of Krua?"
Dielo in front of me? I blinked and answered.
"Well, you're the kind Dielo Argenta."
"Only that?"
The answer came back immediately. Of course, it wasn't just that...
"Also, a little more, um..."
It's a bit embarrassing to say that in front of Redius.
Sweet... person.
I don't know why it's so hard to say, even though I know it's not a real relationship.
It's as if this relationship is real.
As if I'm truly feeling the emotions.
"I need to be a little more special to you."
Dielo smiled at that time.
He had subtly approached me and was caressing my fingertips.
Hotter than the teacup, that's what I thought.
"That's difficult."
The voice that said that was close. I paused.
Before I knew it, there were only Redius, Dielo, and me in the room.
I slyly pushed him away with my fingertips.
"Do you have to be like this even in front of Sir Redius?"
"What?"
"Well..."
As I was about to answer, I saw his eyes twinkling with a slightly blue light.
...There's still an aftereffect of the emotional outburst.
What is his true nature?
He must have become attached to me, since he keeps telling me not to leave, so does he become unable to hide his emotions?
I looked at him, then grabbed a cookie in front of me and held it out to him.
"Sweets are good for stability."
Then Dielo didn't take the cookie, but just ate it.
"?"
I paused for a moment.
Am I feeding this person now?
And this person readily bit into it?
It was something that could happen between a couple, and it was natural in front of others, but it was a strange thing in this personal space.
I was about to shake off the embarrassing feeling when.
Dielo, who was smiling with his eyes very close, grabbed my fingertips.
"It's delicious."
I don't like sweets, but it's strange.
He said that and ate the cookie.
