Chapter 58

The carriage rattled as it sped along. On the way to the Ducal Mansion, Anton couldn’t contain his smile.

“Did you see that just now? Their eyes were intense. They were excited as soon as you finished speaking, Your Grace.”

“Yes. Naturally, they would be. They’ve finally been given a chance.”

Looking out the window, Lennox nodded.

The retainers had been stifled by the older elders, unable to fully express themselves. By gently encouraging and empowering them, they eagerly pledged their loyalty to him.

However, there were also some who were slightly shaken by the recent events. A few who hesitated and didn’t refute the elders’ loud voices were proof of that.

“It’s time to tighten the loosened reins, so it’s rather fortunate. It was something that would have been revealed eventually anyway.”

“Indeed. The timing was earlier than expected, but things are going as anticipated. An opportunity has come to us.”

When Eiden was desperate to dethrone the Duchess and pull him down somehow, that was the opportunity. The elders were also showing weaknesses that they would never have shown otherwise.

By stimulating the retainers, who wanted to achieve merit and rise to higher positions, and exploiting that gap, they could strike Eiden’s faction without so much as a drop of blood on their hands.

After a serious discussion, Anton got off near his residence. Left alone, Lennox put down the documents he had been reading as the carriage gradually slowed. As soon as he was informed that they had reached their destination, he opened the carriage door and stepped out.

“Welcome back.”

“Where is my wife?”

Handing his coat to the butler, Lennox looked around.

“She said she was resting today.”

Normally, she would have come to greet him, but she was nowhere to be seen. Curious, he looked around, and the butler quietly replied.

“She has been in the bedroom the whole time.”

“What about meals?”

“We served her, but she seemed to have no appetite, so we left it at the door.”

“So, she hasn’t eaten.”

“I’m sorry…”

Brushing past the flustered butler, Lennox quickly ascended the stairs to the bedroom.

The food was still placed outside the door. Lennox, biting his lip in frustration, knocked on the door.

“Coco.”

“…”

“May I come in?”

“…”

“My wife.”

Despite calling repeatedly, there was no response. A chill ran down his spine. Gripped by foreboding, Lennox turned the doorknob and stepped into the bedroom.

“Coco?”

The ominous feeling subsided as he saw the gentle curve on the bed, and he sighed with relief.

“Why haven’t you eaten…”

As he cautiously approached and pulled back the blanket, his calm expression wavered.

“Butler!”

“Sir!”

The butler, who had rushed over, froze at the sight of Lennox’s icy face.

“She’s gone.”

“Pardon…?”

“My wife is gone. Where did she go?”

“That… I didn’t expect her to be gone…”

The butler, at a loss for words, fidgeted anxiously. Lennox, raking his hair back roughly, changed his question.

“Did anyone visit while I was away?”

“Ah.”

Recalling something, the butler answered urgently.

“A lady claiming to be a friend of the Madam came by. She said she had something urgent to discuss.”

“Something urgent?”

“Yes. I couldn’t eavesdrop.”

“The name of the guest?”

“It was… Angela, I believe.”

Before the words were fully spoken, Lennox cursed under his breath and brushed past him. As he descended rapidly, the butler followed.

“Sir!”

He called out desperately, but the master did not look back. The butler, his legs giving way, sat down in a daze.

“Butler…?”

A servant who had witnessed the scene approached and helped him up.

“What happened? The master left with a frightening look…”

“I’m afraid I…”

The butler, closing his eyes tightly, muttered.

“May have awakened a sleeping lion.”

“Pardon?”

The servant tilted his head, unable to comprehend, but no answer came.

* * *

A few hours earlier.

“Coco.”

Harriet quietly watched her husband as he tucked her hair behind her ear.

“I’ve submitted correction articles to all the media, and no one will mention your name in this context again.”

“Yes.”

“Rumors last no more than two months, they say. They’ll soon be buried.”

“I know.”

“…Are you okay?”

Contrary to his expectations, Lennox’s face clouded at her calm demeanor. Harriet lifted the corners of her mouth.

“I’m surprised too, to be more okay than I thought. It’s like a bomb I’ve been anxiously holding onto finally exploded.”

“And you’re still so calm after it exploded?”

“It was bound to explode someday anyway. Besides.”

“Besides?”

Reaching out, Harriet placed her hand on Lennox’s cheek. Then she lifted herself on tiptoe and kissed his cheek briefly.

“It’s not that scary because I have a reliable ally by my side. Strangely enough.”

“…”

His golden eyes curved with affection. Harriet found her reflection in his gaze. Instead of worry or shock, her face was simply calm. She liked that about herself.

“Lennox?”

But no response came from him. As Harriet tilted her head in puzzlement, he grabbed her waist and hugged her tightly.

“I can’t breathe!”

“Coco…”

Lennox, exhaling a low sigh of relief, kissed her crown repeatedly, then lifted her flushed face with both hands. Smiling brightly, he whispered gently.

“We still have some time before we have to leave.”

“…And?”

Sensing something ominous, Harriet widened her eyes and pretended to look away. Mistaking her embarrassment for shyness, Lennox laughed more deeply. If possible, she was so cute he wanted to devour her.

“I think we can manage one round.”

“No!”

As his lips approached, Harriet turned her head away, desperately pushing against his firm chest. Lennox, kissing her cheek instead of her lips, lowered his head and kissed her neck.

“It tickles!”

Harriet, her face flushed, struggled. Lennox, lightly lifting her like a princess, carried her to the bed and laid her down.

“Are you embarrassed now? It’s not like it’s the first time.”

“It’s not that… Are you crazy? The sun is already high in the sky! What if someone knocks on the door…”

“Don’t worry. My people are very perceptive.”

Lennox, leaning over her, slowly untied his tie.

“Besides, this is the most certain solution, so they won’t interrupt.”

“Solution?”

“A child.”

Though it was just one syllable, the word flashed through Harriet’s mind like a law.

“A pregnant woman… cannot be divorced. A woman who has given birth cannot be divorced unless she commits an irreparable mistake…”

Lennox, stroking her black hair as if he found her admirable, crossed his arms and removed his shirt. Harriet’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to his exposed abs.

“Our child would look beautiful with blonde hair and golden eyes. Although black hair and gray eyes are nice too.”

“You seem a bit out of it… Ah…!”

It was the moment when she helplessly accepted him as his lips approached.

“Your Grace.”

Contrary to Lennox’s words, a knock was heard from outside the door. Lennox sighed irritably at the interruption and pulled back momentarily.

“I’ll be right out, so please wait.”

Harriet seized the opportunity and answered instead. Lennox looked at her with a resentful gaze.

“…Coco.”

“My father once told me something.”

Harriet, soothing him like a child, playfully ran her hand along his straight nose.

“If you keep running away from problems, you’ll never solve them. You have to face them.”

“…”

“I’ll handle things in my own way. So you do your best too. I won’t say thank you. We’re a couple, and we’re a team.”

Lennox looked down at his wife with unfamiliar eyes for a moment. It had been 15 years since he had known her from the age of 12. She was a woman he had watched over for almost his entire life, yet she felt a bit unfamiliar now.

“Lennox?”

“…I can’t win against you.”

When Harriet cautiously called her frozen husband, Lennox laughed with a sound of air escaping and obediently got off her.

“Still, don’t go to work today. The reporters will swarm like ants after seeing the article.”

“I know. I’ve already sent someone to let Yvonne handle the operations entirely. Even though she’s a secretary, she’s worked by my side for a long time, so she can handle it for a day or two.”

Nodding, Harriet followed Lennox off the bed and buttoned his disheveled shirt, finishing by tying his tie.

Lennox was captivated by her lowered eyelashes and her long, beautiful fingers.

“Then take care. Husband… Mm!”

Satisfied with the tie, Harriet was about to see him off when she was surprised by his lips pressing down on hers again. She stumbled back, but only a few steps, before she was laid back on the bed. As soon as her head touched the soft bedding, his tongue retreated from her mouth.

“Coco.”

Lennox licked his lips, glistening with saliva, and looked down at Harriet, who was lying beneath him with a slightly dazed expression.

“I wish I could make you small and carry you in my pocket.”

“…”

“Or maybe just your hair… Would it be better if I made a doll of you to carry around?”

“Stop!”

As she spoke, Harriet’s face turned redder, and she finally reached out to cover his lips with her hands.

“You… I know you’re a bit unhinged despite your normal appearance, but if you say any more, it’ll get scary, so stop… Kyaa!”

Lennox lightly grasped both her wrists with one hand and licked her palms with his tongue.

“Such a shame.”

Unlike her, who was stiff with shock, he got up lightly with a regretful face.

“Let’s postpone this until the evening.”

“…”

“See you this evening, then.”

Harriet, lying still like a puppet with its strings cut, nodded instead of answering. Satisfied, Lennox smiled and left the bedroom, leaving her behind.