Merry Christmas to all my readers! To celebrate, I’m treating you to extra chapter updates. Please enjoy this special release of four bonus chapters! °˖✧◝(⁰▿⁰)◜✧˖°

(Lurelia’s Christmas Bonus – Update 2/4 🎉)

♡ To all readers who purchased these chapters before Christmas: I can’t express this enough – Thank you for your support. (*ˊᗜˋ*)/ᵗᑋᵃᐢᵏ ᵞᵒᵘ*

“Huu……”

While Merrien was hesitating with a sigh, the butler quickly read the letter she had written.

Then he exchanged a pleased look with Ariel and nodded.

The two smiled at each other slyly.

Merrien, oblivious to everything, folded the letter with concern.

‘…I’m sorry, but I’ve never actually met Forcite.’

The childhood friend was truly just a setting in the novel, and she had never met Forcite in person since possessing Merrien.

They had only exchanged letters.

She didn’t even have Merrien’s previous memories.

‘He did meet the female lead… Though I should have died before that.’

She felt an inexplicable guilt. Still, she firmly put the letter in the envelope.

‘I can’t die just to set up the male and female lead.’

I want to live too. I was dragged into this novel without my consent…!

Now annoyed, Merrien forcefully stuffed the letter that wouldn’t go in properly.

‘Whatever, I gave a hint. Be happy with the person by your side.’

While handing the letter back to the butler, she went ‘Ah, right’ and whispered in his ear.

“Butler, there are many rusty faucets in the large bathroom. About six of them?”

The butler flinched slightly, just enough for only Merrien to notice.

“Though some are still fine. The floor is quite slippery too, someone could fall and get hurt.”

“…I’ll check and have them fixed soon. Would Volume 2 of [The Saint’s Secret Hobby] be sufficient?”

“Perfect.”

The two finished their secretive conversation swiftly and skillfully like long-time partners.

Ariel tried to listen in on what they were discussing, but couldn’t hear anything from the two who were playing innocent.

***

“Alex, what are you looking for?”

“Ah, Master.”

In the late dawn, the butler who was secretly pulling out a book from the library quickly bowed his head at the voice from behind.

Though he tried to act natural, the book had already fallen to the floor.

When Ariel lightly waved his hand, the book instantly settled in his palm.

As if he had expected this, he casually flipped through the pages.

“Let’s see, Volume 2 of The Saint’s Secret Hobby.”

“…I’ve developed my own secret hobby, that’s all.”

“You were going to give it to Merri, weren’t you?”

“How did you know?”

“If you were going to confess right away, why hide it?”

“I apologize.”

Ariel lost interest in the butler’s expressionless apology and closed the book, placing it on the desk.

“The greenhouse garden, and the large bathroom too. You agreed to keep the reconstruction secret in exchange for bringing her books.”

“You knew everything?”

“Of course. I even orchestrated The Duke’s Secret Circumstances delivered.”

Ariel tapped the book’s cover and smirked. The butler’s mouth gaped open as if finally reaching a deep understanding.

“How did she react?”

Silver hair particularly radiant in the moonlight. And playful blue eyes filled with madness.

The butler knew that his master’s eyes particularly gleamed like this whenever asking questions about Merrien.

“She was very pleased. Though she pretends otherwise, she seems to like obsessive men.”

“Good. Then…”

Bang-!

Ariel summoned several books onto the desk.

“Deliver these too. While pretending not to know it’s from me.”

The butler approached and examined the books Ariel had brought.

“… How to Survive Without Getting Bitten by a Mad Dog. Understood, Master.”

The intention was all too obvious. However, faced with such brazen eyes, the butler found himself speechless and could only bow his head.

***

Knock knock-.

 A knocking sound echoed through Merrien’s room during breakfast.

“Saint, it’s the butler. May I enter?”

It was unprecedented for the butler, who usually visited precisely at Ariel’s healing time, to come this early.

Moreover, his excited voice could be felt through the door, making Merrien answer with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, come in.”

As if only waiting for her answer, the butler entered the room and shouted before even closing the door.

“The greenhouse garden reconstruction is complete!”

Seeing his face eager for praise, Merrien finally realized he was actually around her age.

“Oh, really? We can go see it today then.”

She matched his enthusiasm in response.

As if that wasn’t his only purpose for visiting, the butler continued to stay in place.

And when Merrien, who had finished breakfast earlier than usual, was about to head to Ariel’s room.

“Ahem, ahem. Saint.”

“Yes?”

Only after confirming all maids had left did the butler secretly hand something over.

It was what appeared to be at least five books, their origin unknown.

“W-what is this? Why so many?”

While a flustered Merrien stumbled over her words, they were all placed on her desk.

“The Saint’s Secret Hobby Volume 2 I mentioned and…”

That wasn’t all.

While Merrien’s eyes rolled examining the books, the butler showed other books with a solemn expression.

“The series How to Survive Without Getting Bitten by a Mad Dog. I hear it’s the most popular recently.”

“……”

Merrien unconsciously felt saliva rolling down her throat.

Now seeming quite proud, the butler adjusted his monocle and struck a dignified pose.

“Thank you so much, butler!”

“Not at all. I look forward to our continued relationship, Saint.”

…This guy, we’re best friends starting today.

Merrien felt her nose bridge tingle.

***

After Ariel’s healing was complete, Merrien casually spoke as if the greenhouse garden had always been fine.

Not knowing that he already knew everything.

“Ariel. Want to go to the greenhouse garden?”

“A date?”

“Oh, y-yes. That.”

She could now easily brush off his flirtatious remarks that came at any time.

Ariel pretended to be sulky since she no longer held onto his collar thanks to his advanced healing, but Merrien paid no mind.

Before opening the greenhouse garden door, the butler spoke while watching Merrien’s reaction.

“We planted the flowers you recommended, Saint. I hope you’ll like them.”

The butler opened the greenhouse garden door with trembling hands.

And what unfolded before their eyes was a splendid garden, as if the devastated sight of just bare soil from a month ago had been a lie.

‘…Yes, this is it!’

Merrien kept her mouth tightly shut, unable to even exclaim in admiration while secretly checking Ariel’s expression.

‘This is what I imagined the Duke’s greenhouse garden would be like. They did so well when I just mentioned it!’

She wanted to applaud.

They had arranged it so perfectly even though she had only suggested flower types.

Neither too much nor too little.

Merrien’s lips naturally curved upward at the garden arranged by colors.

“Merri. Are these the flowers you recommended?”

Unlike Merrien who stood still upon entering the garden, Ariel was already touching the flowers.

Only then did Merrien return to reality from her dreamlike trance.

“Ah, yes. Many people gave flowers as offerings to the temple.”

They should have given food instead.

“I chose mostly the ones I thought were pretty.”

“Yes, they’re beautiful. From here, there’s Gladiolus, Dahlia, Digitalis.”

“…Huh?”

Merrien was momentarily speechless at Ariel casually listing flower names.

Since when was he knowledgeable about flowers? That couldn’t be right.

He was the one who ordered the garden destroyed because he hated black roses.

“They’re the flowers You used in my necklace.”

Ah, Merrien let out a short sigh.

Ariel’s fingers gently stroking the flowers somehow seemed unfamiliar. His downcast eyelashes were deep and thick as he concentrated.

“…You knew the flower names?”

“Of course.”

Merrien’s gaze slowly moved downward. Ariel’s cheeks were flushed.

‘Looking at him like this, he seems like an innocent child who knows nothing of the world.’

She thought that briefly before feeling embarrassed by herself.

Ariel was far too big for that. Though she often forgot because he was a patient, he was quite tall and large in build.

Ariel suddenly turned around.

“Why don’t you make me necklaces anymore?”

“Uh, what?”

I thought he’d keep looking at the flowers!

Merrien, who had been examining Ariel, nearly jumped in surprise at his sudden movement.

Fortunately, she maintained her composure and answered calmly.

“Because you’re not Whitey anymore?”

“Woof woof.”

“……”

That doesn’t make you a puppy, sir.