Chapter 43

After dining at the mansion every day, the two had dinner at a restaurant today for a change.

The entire place was reserved, so there were no other guests. The polite waiters began bringing out the dishes one by one.

“Why rent the whole place? There are things we should show people.”

“It’s almost the first time we’ve dined out together.”

“You indulge in luxury in the strangest places. You don’t spend lavishly elsewhere.”

“Is this the first time you’re nagging?”

“Nagging?”

“Roche said to be careful from the moment a wife starts nagging.”

“Pfft.”

Imagining how Roche would have said it, Harriet couldn’t help but laugh.

“Even Roche, who cherishes his wife as if she would fly away or sink into the ground, talks like that.”

“That’s their way of showing affection, I suppose.”

Lennox shrugged and cut his steak into bite-sized pieces before swapping plates with her.

His naturally elegant manners made Harriet quietly watch him.

“I really can’t believe it.”

“What is?”

“That you’ve never had a woman.”

“Didn’t we already talk about this topic once?”

“I’m not trying to pick a fight; I’m just really amazed.”

Picking up her fork, Harriet started on her steak. As soon as she bit into it, the right amount of juice spread fragrantly in her mouth.

“You’re wearing the ring today?”

Lennox, watching her enjoy her meal, suddenly asked.

Harriet, feeling awkward, nodded.

“…I thought it would be good to wear it publicly.”

It was none other than the ring the late Duke had given to the Duchess.

“You said it was burdensome before.”

“That was then, and this is now.”

Feeling embarrassed, Harriet glanced away and offered him a piece of steak with her fork.

“Eat and just be quiet.”

“We’re acting like a loving couple.”

She subtly signaled to the waiter approaching. Smiling as if playing along, Lennox obediently accepted the meat she offered.

“How is the family business going?”

“There are no issues since the Queen officially granted me the dukedom, but there are some problems with the business side.”

It was the position of a Duke in the kingdom. Normally, the process would involve kneeling before the Queen with dozens of witnesses to inherit the title, but at the request of the parties involved, the ceremony was conducted in a simple manner without the Queen’s presence.

Harriet remembered the look in Earl Eiden’s eyes as he watched his nephew receive the Duke’s coronet. At first glance, it seemed emotionless, but there was a subtle anger beneath, a chilling gaze.

“Earl Eiden doesn’t seem like an easy opponent.”

“That’s right. He’s started to consolidate the shareholders of the company, gaining votes. Over the past four years while I was studying abroad, as Father became bedridden, he began to take over one by one. That’s probably why they trust and rely on him more.”

“After all… you’re really young to handle and shoulder so many things.”

While comforting Lennox, Harriet somewhat understood the shareholders who sided with Eiden. To the elderly shareholders with gray hair, it was natural to choose the seasoned Earl Eiden over the youthful Lennox, who had just returned from studying abroad.

“…Age and ability don’t always correlate.”

Lennox, smiling bitterly, poured wine into her glass. The wine shimmered with a red glow as it filled the glass.

“The only way is to excel at the tasks given to me and prove my abilities. That’s the only way to surpass my uncle, who has worked longer and before me.”

“…It probably won’t be easy.”

Taking the wine bottle, Harriet naturally poured wine into Lennox’s glass.

“But I have to handle it.”

Lennox, speaking plainly, tilted his half-filled wine glass.

“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”

“To help…”

Lennox quietly murmured, his eyes subtly trailing down her neck and below.

Harriet, glaring at his mischievous gaze, warned him.

“Within acceptable limits.”

“Of course.”

Lennox, chuckling softly at her wary look, nodded.

“My uncle has a stable family. He’s on good terms with my aunt, and they have three children. That might be why the shareholders rate him highly.”

“…Are you asking me to have a child?”

“Cough.”

Half-joking, half-serious, Lennox nearly spat out his wine.

“Are you okay?”

After coughing a few times, Lennox spoke.

“You’re making jokes like that now.”

“Did you think you were the only one who could?”

“Not exactly… but it’s better not to make such jokes often.”

“Why?”

“If it becomes serious, who knows what I’ll do.”

Lennox, wiping his mouth with a napkin, gazed at her intently. Avoiding his suggestive gaze, Harriet shrugged.

“If it becomes serious, what will you do? If you become like that… I’ll run away.”

“You can’t run away.”

“I will.”

“You can’t.”

His words were full of laughter, but his gaze was as sharp as a predator’s.

“Because I won’t let you.”

It wasn’t a joke; it was a sincere statement. Harriet felt like she might hiccup in surprise and held her breath. Seeing this, Lennox quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, let’s go out on dates like this more often. We need to show how strong and sincere our relationship is.”

“…Alright.”

It wasn’t a bad idea for her either. Improving their image might even have a positive effect on the department store’s sales.

She continued the meal, trying to convince herself that was all there was to it.

From the entrance, she heard the voice of the manager, who seemed to be in a difficult situation.

“I’m sorry. We’re fully booked today.”

“Oh… I see.”

The man’s voice, tinged with disappointment, sounded familiar, and Harriet turned her head quickly. Her eyes widened.

“…Eugene?”

The man turned his head toward her at the sound of his name being called.

“Miss Harriet…?”

Eugene, blinking as if equally surprised, then looked at the person sitting across from her with disbelief.

“Lennox?”

They weren’t the only ones surprised. Lennox, looking back and forth between Harriet and Eugene, stood up.

“It’s been a while, Eugene.”

“Why are you here…?”

“I was having dinner with my wife.”

“Oh…”

Eugene’s face darkened as if he remembered.

“Right. You mentioned you got married. I received the invitation but couldn’t attend. I had a scheduled appointment.”

“It’s fine.”

“I’ll visit when I have time, then…”

“Join us for dinner.”

Eugene, who had been about to leave quietly, stopped in his tracks.

“If you don’t have urgent matters.”

Lennox added, requesting the manager to set up an additional seat.

“I didn’t know you two knew each other…”

“We go way back. All the way to childhood. Even longer than Aaron.”

Harriet’s eyes widened in curiosity as she looked at Eugene.

“Did you go to school together?”

“Yes. I was born into a poor family but was fortunate enough to have wealthy relatives. We met at a school I entered with their help.”

“Oh, I see.”

As Harriet nodded, the relationship between the two, which seemed unlikely to have any connection, became somewhat clear.

“But how did you become friends?”

“Lennox saved me when I was being bullied.”

Eugene looked at his friend with a bitter smile.

“You’re exaggerating. I just said something because I didn’t like what I saw while passing by.”

“Most people would have just passed by.”

“I didn’t want to.”

It was a very Lennox-like statement. Harriet chuckled and listened to their conversation.

“Gradually, we became friends, and I received a lot of help. I studied with a scholarship from the Diorne Foundation and even went abroad.”

“So you became a doctor. That’s impressive.”

Harriet praised Eugene with genuine admiration. Eugene, feeling embarrassed, scratched the back of his head and waved his hand.

“It’s not impressive. The impressive one is this guy. He was always at the top of his class, never missing first place in any subject.”

“Let’s stop talking about that.”

Lennox, feeling embarrassed, interrupted his friend’s words and looked back and forth between the two.

“Now it’s my turn, isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

“How did you two meet?”

“…Well.”

Harriet, who was about to answer, fell silent.

It was strange. Her lips wouldn’t move. Just a while ago, she would have said they met at a social club without a second thought, but now, strangely, no words came out. It felt like someone was gripping her throat.

Eugene, reading Harriet’s expression, answered instead.

“We met by chance on the street. Miss Harriet… I mean, the Duchess seemed to be feeling dizzy and was sitting on a bench. As a doctor, I couldn’t just pass by.”

“…Ah.”

It was a plausible story for something made up on the spot. Lennox, seeming convinced, turned to Harriet.

“You felt dizzy?”

“Well, occasionally…”

Harriet trailed off, lifting her wine glass again. As she was about to take a sip, her hand was caught.

“Stop drinking. You’ve already had three glasses.”

“It’s my choice.”

Harriet, speaking with a slightly raised voice in front of Eugene, glanced at Lennox. Lennox, furrowing his brows as if handling a mischievous child, suddenly asked.

“Do you know your drinking habits?”

“M-my drinking habits?”

Startled by the sudden question, Harriet stammered.

“Do I have drinking habits?”

“Yes. They’re quite severe. Not something you can show others.”

“…”

Hearing something she’d never been told before, Harriet put down her glass.

In the meantime, an attendant, who had been standing at a distance, approached Lennox.

“Your Grace, I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

Turning his head, Lennox stood up with a serious expression.

“Excuse me for a moment. It seems I need to discuss something privately.”

Seeing his expression, Harriet nodded, sensing it was not a situation to follow.

“Alright, go ahead.”