Chapter 20: This is what you asked for, Miss Veronica.
The next morning, in the Library of Noval Mansion.
It was time for Lena’s routine etiquette class, and Reid had arrived early in the library, sitting at the desk and flipping through The Book of Etiquette, the feather pen in his hand occasionally falling on the notebook.
It’s rare for a worker to come to the workplace early for no reason; it’s considered good if they can just arrive on time.
But regardless of effort, at least one has to put on a show of being diligent in front of the employer—
Part of it was for this reason, and the other part was indeed because the content of The Book of Etiquette was too obscure.
Even with accelerated thinking, it was still hard to keep up with Lena’s pace without a little advance preparation.
At this thought, Reid’s feather pen suddenly paused.
How much effort did that guy back then spend to master this?
The sound of the door hinge turning came ten minutes later than Reid expected.
Is Lena late?
Given Lena’s meticulous nature, the probability of such a thing happening is infinitely close to zero.
But that was fine; it was just the right opportunity to give Miss Employer a little pressure.
Due to Miss Employer’s arrangements, my work stress has been increasing lately.
Working overtime to study The Book of Etiquette is one thing, but mainly it’s because of Veronica…
Even Reid had to admit that Veronica was indeed a very charming lady.
To remain calm in front of such a beauty as Veronica requires more energy than Reid initially anticipated.
“Good morning, Mr. Reid~”
The voice that sounded by the door was not the expected cool tone but rather sweet like honey.
Reid looked up; Veronica’s platinum hair was completely free today, cascading over her bare shoulders.
Sunlight filtered through her thin morning dress, outlining her graceful silhouette.
Veronica had made a special design for her appearance this morning, yet Reid showed no sign of distraction.
Reid squinted slightly.
How could Veronica be here?
Veronica seemed to see through Reid’s confusion and proactively answered, “Sister Lena had urgent military matters and has already left the mansion.”
“How unfortunate, Mr. Reid.”
Veronica took out a brass key and inserted it into the lock with the back of her hand.
She deliberately slowed down the rotation, allowing the “click” sound of metal rubbing to resonate clearly in the quiet library.
The door was locked.
“Don’t be so nervous, Mr. Reid~”
Veronica’s tone was like melting cotton candy as she slowly withdrew the key and hung it around her porcelain white neck.
Then she suddenly released her hand, letting the key fall into the lace folds of her chest with a dull “thud”—
Just like when selecting a watermelon at a fruit stand, a ripe watermelon thumped when tapped.
Veronica stepped closer to Reid, her fingertips trailing over the gilded spines of books on the shelf:
Finally, her fingertip landed on The Book of Etiquette in front of Reid, her nail pressing down on the line that read “Do not be alone with the opposite sex.”
A strand of hair fell onto Reid’s notebook, carrying a faint floral scent like morning dew.
As Veronica leaned over, the shadow at her collarbone formed an enticing curve.
“Sister Lena is really strict,” her warm breath brushed Reid’s ear, “Mr. Reid, I happen to know a more… efficient way to learn.”
Reid looked up, realizing Veronica had somehow already perched on the edge of the desk.
Her ample backside spread slightly on the hard desktop, and the hem of her skirt rose from the motion, revealing an ankle adorned with a pearl anklet—
Just like the one Reid caught beneath the breakfast table that day.
“Look—”
Veronica suddenly hooked the fallen feather pen with her toes, causing the ruffled edge of her skirt to bloom like petals, revealing the deepest center of the flower.
“This pen…”
The feather pen slid along her calf’s curve, clamped by her knee.
As Veronica leaned over to reach it, a flash of silver glimmered in the falling neckline—
That vanished key was lying in an unspeakable place.
“Compared to dull texts…” Veronica’s fingertip brushed just below her collarbone, that damned little mole flickering in the valley, “isn’t practice a better teacher?”
“Since we can’t get out now anyway, Mr. Reid, why don’t we do something we love?”
The sunlight suddenly became scorching, illuminating Veronica’s platinum hair to the point of translucence.
“Don’t worry, whatever happens inside, those outside won’t hear it.”
Veronica was indeed stating a fact.
The library in Noval Mansion could be considered the most soundproof place in the entire house, even better than the main bedroom where Lena and Reid were.
The reason was simple; libraries were usually the places where the master of the house met important guests.
After all, it didn’t matter if lovers’ sweet nothings were overheard, but the details of family collaborations needed to be kept strictly confidential.
This was one of the reasons Lena chose to conduct her etiquette class in the library.
“More than that, Miss Veronica, it seems you’ve lost something?”
Even though Veronica had maximized her charm, Reid remained unfazed.
A playful smile curled at the corner of Reid’s mouth, a key lying unknowingly in his open palm.
Veronica’s eyes widened slightly, a glimmer of surprise flashing in her blue gaze.
When?
She instinctively touched her neckline—
That brass key was indeed missing, leaving only a small patch of cool skin beneath.
Though she felt sorry for Mr. Reid, now that it had come to this.
The task her mother entrusted to her absolutely could not fail!
“Mr. Reid is really…” Veronica’s voice suddenly softened, “so unromantic.”
Veronica leaned forward, her platinum hair cascading like a waterfall onto Reid’s wrist.
Sunlight filtered through the gaps in her hair, casting tiny specks of light in Reid’s palm, that key shimmering softly.
“Give it back to me~”
Veronica suddenly grasped Reid’s wrist, her fingertips gently stroking the vein.
Her lips slightly pursed like a child asking for candy.
Noticing Reid’s indifference, a hint of grievance suddenly touched Veronica’s expression:
“Is this how you treat a lady’s sincere heart?” Veronica’s eyes reddened slightly, “I clearly… tried so hard…”
“Ah la, look over there!”
The earlier grievance seemed to be an act; Veronica pivoted her words and suddenly pointed outside while throwing herself into Reid’s waiting palm.
This motion swept Veronica’s hair across Reid’s nose, the floral scent enveloping him.
But Reid merely raised his hand slightly, causing Veronica to miss her target.
“Bang!”
“Uh…”
Veronica’s knee bumped against the edge of the desk, and she leaned over onto the tabletop, the strap of her morning dress slipping down an inch, revealing her rounded shoulder.
“You’re bullying me…”
Her voice muffled in her arms, carrying a nasal tone. But the corners of her lips, hidden under her long hair, secretly curled up, while her other hand stealthily reached for Reid’s palm—
“Got you—eh?”
How could there be no key’s feel in that palm?
Hearing Reid’s Adam’s apple move, Veronica looked up, only to see the shape of the key protruding beneath his skin for a moment and then disappearing with his swallow.
“You ate the key?”
Veronica froze in place, momentarily forgetting to use honorifics.
The sunlight suddenly became blinding, making even Reid’s slow motion of unbuttoning his bow tie seem dangerous in Veronica’s eyes.
Although this was precisely her intent, and her actions to tempt Reid had led to today’s outcome, but—
As Reid loosened the first button of his shirt, his voice was not loud, but it made Veronica’s eardrums ache.
“This is what you asked for, Miss Veronica.”
