Chapter 23

On the fifteenth day of peace at the mansion, Arcitina finally visited the annex.

“I came for a cup of tea. Hope I’m not interrupting?”

It was late afternoon, just as the sun was sinking in the west. It was the perfect time for tea, and a long way for the head of the family to come just for a cup.

Arcitina wore a jacket that didn’t show off her figure, with sleek leather pants underneath. Her reddish-brown hair, reaching her waist, was meticulously braided and draped to the left.

Her surprise visit left them shocked for a moment, but Latrian, who had been reading, stood and smiled.

“Not at all.”

Once they sat, the maids prepared tea as if they’d been waiting. Arcitina nodded at Hailey, who’d given the order.

“Thank you.”

Hailey saw that Arcitina’s green eyes, feigning calm, were reading the atmosphere here. But as the heir’s aide, she skillfully pretended not to notice.

The scent of grass lingered quietly between the two.

“When will you go to Landhill? You saw Mother last time, but you haven’t seen Father since you returned.”

“I’m trying my best not to go.”

“Why? It’s not like Father says anything to you.”

“… Not saying anything is scarier, you know.”

Watching Latrian frown, Arcitina wrapped her hands around her teacup. Her passing tone matched the relaxed mood of teatime.

“You’ve been rather diligent lately.”

“I have to follow your wishes as the Head. There’s nothing more I can do.”

Arcitina’s eyes narrowed as she watched Latrian lift his teacup. She turned and faced Hailey.

“Hailey.”

“Yes?”

“What’s it like, living with my brother?”

What was this, all of a sudden?

Hailey swallowed dryly and stared at her superior. At that moment, Latrian also looked up. Their gazes met for an instant. That alone was enough for them to conspire.

Hailey took a deep breath, then sighed, sounding deflated.

“He’s got a worse personality than I expected.”

“Really?”

“I’m seriously considering asking for a raise.”

Arcitina’s eyes curved into crescents. Then—

“Ahahahahaha!”

Her laughter filled the parlor. After a good laugh, Arcitina snapped her fingers at Latrian.

“Then, can I officially leave the family head’s duties to you?”

“Anytime.”

As she walked to the door, she added as if remembering,

“Talk to Latrian about your raise, Hailey. The direct aide’s salary is up to the superior.”

As soon as the door closed, Latrian tapped Hailey on the head. Since Arcitina’s footsteps were still audible, he mouthed his words without speaking.

‘Well done.’

Latrian raised his other hand, and Hailey grinned and slapped his palm.

Before they could enjoy their pleasant start, a knock sounded.

Milo entered, staggering under a tower of documents. Behind him, two more aides followed, also carrying stacks of paperwork.

“Let’s brace ourselves for some hard work.”

Hailey’s eyes widened, but Latrian looked oddly pleased.

* * *

This lily, beautiful with its blend of white and purple and heady fragrance, was called the ‘Charlot Lily’.

Originally, this flower grew only in a warmer country than Mart, on the southernmost islands of the Wibad Sea—specifically, in the Kingdom of Serenade.

The one who made it possible for the flower to grow in Mart was the former head of the Akrender family.

He poured money and time into researching the Charlot Lily. After ten years, he developed a variety that could thrive in Mart—a feat that bordered on madness, beyond mere passion.

Some guessed his aim was to sell the flower at a high price, or to strengthen the alliance with the Kingdom of Serenade.

But Lloyd Akrender, former head of the Akrender family, cared nothing for those things. The merchant group, which had flourished from his ancestors and reached new heights in his time, was already ‘overflowing with wealth’, and the alliance he personally forged with Serenade was so strong it needed no further reinforcement.

The reason he cultivated a foreign flower in his homeland was for one person only.

In summer, the blooming lilies swayed in the breeze, wrapping the Landhill mansion in a deep floral scent.

Of course, the most commonly planted were the new varieties of Charlot Lily he’d developed himself.

He bent down to pick a lily. His graceful steps stopped in front of a woman seated in the shade of a tree.

Once, he had ruled everything in the Republic. If Mart ever revived its presidential system, everyone agreed the first president would be him, without question.

But now, he was simply a man deeply in love with his wife.

“Karinasian.”

At his quiet voice, the woman looked up. Her blue eyes smiled, and her long platinum hair fluttered brilliantly behind her. Like the rich scent of the flowers, her hair rippled in the breeze.

“Lloyd.”

Though the maids had prepared her seat with care, the hem of her dress was stained with grass.

Lloyd could easily imagine what she’d done while he was out. She must have walked the garden for a long time. She loved this garden, where the summer of her homeland seemed to have been transplanted.

Their passionate love had reached middle age, and the children born between them were grown. Yet Karinasian Akrender was still beautiful, and Lloyd Akrender was still captivating.

His sharp eyes softened.

“What are you looking at?”

“Want to guess?”

At his wife’s playful invitation, he lowered his gaze. As soon as he saw the familiar noble family crests, he sighed.

“Don’t tell me it’s marriage talk again?”

“Pretending otherwise, but yes, that’s what it is.”

Lloyd sat beside her, tidying the hem of her dress. The letters contained trivial gossip that Mart noblewomen exchanged. Each one held subtle hints and suggestions.

‘Your son would suit our family’, ‘I have a beautiful daughter I’d like to introduce’, or even ‘I have siblings, meet both and choose the one you like’—even Lloyd had to laugh at such suggestions.

But after a moment, he shook his head at the pile of letters in his wife’s hands. His handsome face took on a cold look of contempt.

“I drew a firm line, so now they’re bothering you instead. I’ll take care of it.”

“There’s no need. I understand why they do it.”

Karinasian smiled, stroking Lloyd’s cheek.

“They want a connection to the Akrender family, but Lloyd, you are intimidating.”

“Am I scary?”

“Not to me, but to everyone in Mart, yes.”

“That’s fine, as long as you’re okay.”

After a small laugh, Karinasian rested her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“Arcitina…”

She trailed off as she spoke her daughter’s name. Lloyd, who wrapped his arm around his wife’s shoulders, waited in silence until her heaviness faded.

“… Even if she says she’ll never marry, I’ll support her. But Latrian is different.”

She picked up one of the letters in her hand. If her earlier mood had been wistful sadness, now it was a troubled sigh.

“He’s so picky about people, he’ll never meet anyone on his own… Should I arrange a match?”

“Hm.”

“I was thinking of Merian Rodril from the Rodril family, but the youngest from the Port family, Evelyn Port, seems nice too. What do you think? She’s a lovely young lady.”

“Who knows.”

“Or Lady Elisia from Shannon? Even the Kingdom of Gordon suggested marrying a collateral princess. Latrian has a claim to the Serenade royal line, so marrying into royalty wouldn’t be so bad…”

“Karin.”

His deep green eyes filled with his wife’s face.

“You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

“… It’s not an early age.”

“Age isn’t the issue. The partner is.”

“When you married me, it wasn’t for me, was it?”

“That’s why I think meeting you as my arranged marriage partner was the greatest luck of my life.”

At the light kiss that landed on her lips, Karinasian’s eyes widened before she frowned.

“You can’t just get away with it like that.”

He was once the Former Head of the Mart high noble family, and also a former Queen’s confidant and strategist.

Karinasian knew better than anyone that behind his beautiful face lay a deep, dark abyss. He wasn’t showing that true nature now, but she was always aware of it.

Lloyd smiled brightly at his frowning wife.

“There’s something I wanted to tell you. About the aide you said you saw before, Latrian’s aide.”

The wind blew again, and Lloyd’s reddish-brown hair scattered in the air.