Now that she had secured maids, it was time to build the foundation for a life of ease.
Lisi asked Jamie to purchase every newspaper and magazine published within the count territory each day. She personally met the heads of several departments of the Green family and spent her time learning various matters. By the time she entered the bedroom, it was already quite late.
But Kay seemed even busier. He often came to the bedroom later than Lisi, left earlier, or did not come at all. As a result, they hardly had the chance to see each other.
"The Count must be very busy."
One day with pleasant weather, Lisi was resting briefly in the sitting room of her chamber when Krishina brought her herbal tea and spoke.
Since becoming a maid, Krishina had not had the opportunity to see Kay even once, and it seemed to trouble her.
"Of course he is. The Count has many plans and does not have time to worry about useless matters."
Lisi had said nothing, yet Gillette answered sharply.
Erwell, who had been standing quietly, frowned and slowly moved her hand toward the waist of her dress. When Krishina glared at her with a terrifying look, Erwell pursed her lips and withdrew her hand.
Even though there were only three maids, their relationship was not very good.
More precisely, Erwell and Krishina did not like Gillette.
Gillette behaved rudely in front of Lisi and constantly emphasized that she was the daughter of a noble family when speaking to Erwell and Krishina.
Krishina usually ignored Gillette’s rude behavior quietly, but every time it happened Erwell would frown and attempt to slip her hand somewhere inside her dress.
It looked as though she intended to take something out, and Lisi was extremely curious about what it might be.
But because Krishina glared at Erwell every time, Lisi had never once seen what Erwell was trying to draw.
"Come to think of it, Lady Iris. You are not wearing a wedding ring. Surely the Count did not even give you a ring?"
Gillette asked with an expression that seemed to say she was only innocently curious.
Lisi lowered her gaze to her hand.
She wore a bracelet that matched her dress, but no ring.
Until now she had never even thought about a wedding ring.
"Well, since it was a political marriage, I suppose such troublesome procedures were skipped. You did not even hold a wedding ceremony. Still, other people in political marriages at least hold a ceremony… The Count is truly too much. Even I feel upset."
Despite her words, Gillette looked pleased.
"Miss Gillette. You should be careful with your words in front of the Countess."
Krishina, who had been glaring at Erwell so that she would not move, finally spoke.
Gillette shot Krishina an incredulous look.
"Are you scolding me right now? Even if we are both maids, I am the daughter of Viscount Merdi."
Because Krishina was staring at Gillette, she failed to stop Erwell. For a moment Lisi glimpsed what Erwell had been about to pull from her waist.
It was something shining silver.
Before it could fully appear, a knock broke the tense atmosphere in the room.
"Lisi. May I come in?"
It was Kay.
Gillette, who still seemed unable to give up on him, quickly checked her clothing and fixed her hair.
Erwell and Krishina looked at her as though she were unbelievable.
"Come in."
With Lisi’s permission, Kay opened the door and entered.
He was dressed properly as though he had just returned from somewhere far away.
Wearing a white suit trimmed with gold, he looked beautiful like a divine being.
"Haa…"
Gillette unconsciously let out a sigh of admiration.
Only Krishina noticed Erwell pretending to gag.
While Krishina forced Erwell to correct her posture with a frightening glare, Kay approached Lisi with a cheerful expression.
"I finally had some time. Have you finished exploring the estate?"
"I have not seen everything yet."
"Good."
Kay extended his hand toward Lisi.
Lisi did not know what he meant and merely stared down at his large palm.
His fingers were long and thick at the joints, and calluses covered his palm from gripping a sword so often.
It was the first time Lisi had seen the hand of someone so skilled in combat, and she unconsciously admired it.
"Lisi?"
She looked up blankly at his call.
"What are you doing? Give me your hand."
Without thinking, she placed her hand on his palm.
He grinned.
"You give it just because I asked. You are like a well trained puppy, Lisi."
"And you are an ill mannered wolf."
At the quiet exchange between the two masters, the perceptive Krishina signaled to the other maids and attempted to leave the room.
But Gillette remained standing rigidly in place, glaring at Lisi and Kay.
Eventually Krishina grabbed the hem of Gillette’s dress and pulled her.
Gillette slapped her hand away irritably and left the room on her own.
Once the maids were gone, Kay took Lisi’s hand and helped her up from the sofa.
"It seems there is a maid who bares her teeth."
"You raised her badly."
"What a frightening accusation. The thing I hate most in the world is raising something, Lisi. I cannot even keep a single plant alive."
"According to Gillette, she attended to you."
"Attended to me? Ah…!"
Kay narrowed his eyes.
"Lisi, did you perhaps think Gillette helped me with my nights? Is that why you avoided me, pretending to be busy?"
"The first part is correct. The second part is wrong."
"Goodness, Lisi. What exactly do you think I am? Did you think just anyone could touch the body of Kayvrant Green?"
Lisi placed the hand not held by him against his chest and looked at him provocatively.
"It is quite easy to touch."
Kay lowered his head and gently bit her earlobe.
"You are not just anyone."
His breath slipped into her ear.
A strange tingling sensation spread from her ear down her spine and all the way to her toes.
When Lisi flinched, he chuckled softly.
Each breath tickled her ear, making it difficult for her to breathe.
Lisi believed she knew very well the secret acts between men and women.
Yet she could not understand why Kay’s small touch and faint breath kept making her tense.
Lisi stepped slightly away from him and looked up at him.
Without revealing the emotion she felt, she asked calmly,
"Then why did you allow Gillette to behave so freely?"
"The Merdi family is useful."
"Because they are merchants?"
"Yes."
"Discard them. They are useless."
"Very well."
Kay answered obediently without even asking how she knew.
Lisi stared at him for a moment before speaking.
"Your speech is becoming informal, Kay."
Kay burst into laughter.
"Ah, sorry, sorry. Sometimes I remember how you spoke to me informally before. Even now it is thrillingly attractive, Lisi."
"Is that a compliment?"
"Of course."
Kay led Lisi out into the corridor.
"Where are we going?"
"Since I finally have time, I will show you around the estate. I hear you have been learning various things about the Green family, but nothing is as accurate as seeing things with your own eyes."
+++
After showing her various places within the estate grounds, including the main house, annexes, and the knights’ quarters, the last place Kay brought her to was a black building.
A pitch black building that did not even have windows, resembling a warehouse.
There was only one door through which the building could be entered, a massive iron door that would be difficult to break.
As the building came into view, Kay spoke.
"From here on, you must step only where I step."
"Are there traps?"
"You are clever, Lisi."
Lisi followed carefully behind him, concentrating on stepping only where he stepped.
Kay turned back several times in case she might make a mistake.
Lisi kept her lips tightly closed in concentration, which looked adorable.
Recently he had been extremely busy, rushing about constantly.
Yet throughout all that time, Lisi had remained in his thoughts.
Kay hated wasting time.
But strangely, exchanging meaningless jokes with Lisi was enjoyable.
"From here you may move freely. Ah, just do not touch the door."
Kay said this in front of the building.
"What a frightening place."
"There is something precious inside. Excuse me for a moment."
Before Lisi could even blink, Kay transformed into a large wolf.
It had been a while since she had seen him in that form.
Without thinking, Lisi approached and stroked the bridge of his nose.
Soft fur brushed against her palm.
He tensed briefly when she touched him, but soon narrowed his eyes as if pleased.
"This is the first time anyone has stroked me while I look like this, Lisi."
"Is it unpleasant?"
"No. Continue."
Kay looked as though he might roll over and expose his belly.
Lisi found it both strange and cute that a wolf far larger than herself closed his eyes halfway and accepted her touch.
The gray fur above his eyes, like eyebrows, twitched adorably.
"Perhaps I should raise a puppy."
Kay’s eyes snapped open.
"Is one not enough?"
"You are too large."
"You will regret it."
The last time Kay had warned her she would regret something, she had ignored him and suffered for it.
So this time she did not dismiss it.
"Why would I regret it?"
"Because puppies are afraid of me. They wet themselves just being near me."
"Oh my…"
Kay lifted the corners of his mouth as if smiling, revealing his large sharp fangs.
Lisi fearlessly touched one of them.
"How frightening."
"That is not the expression of someone who is afraid, Lisi."
Kay suddenly opened his mouth and licked her palm.
Startled, Lisi withdrew her hand.
A rumbling sound emerged from the black wolf’s throat.
Perhaps he was laughing.
Kay turned away from her and walked to the door of the building.
Raising one massive forepaw, he inserted the sharp claws into four narrow slots in the door.
Clank.
The door opened.
"This door can only be opened with my claws."
While Kay returned to his original form and dressed himself, Lisi figured out what was inside the black building.
'This must be where the sacred relic is kept.'
+++
Alford glared at the Green Count Estate before him.
It had taken some time to prepare the clothing that would make him stand out the most, and to arrange various schemes.
During the entire preparation, he could hardly endure the thought that "his Iris" might be suffering terrible things at the hands of that ruffian Kayvrant.
In Alford’s mind, Iris was a pitiful and lovable woman who had been dragged away by the Count against her will and who longed for Alford.
Alford lifted his chin arrogantly and approached the guard at the main gate.
"Inform the Count that Alford of the Huchis family requests an audience with Kayvrant Green."