Chapter 9: Employer Miss Asks for More Money
After the party ended, Lena and Reid took the carriage back to the Noval family mansion.
The carriage moved slowly through the night, the sound of the wheels rolling over the cobblestone road resembling a lullaby sung by a mother.
Lena leaned against the soft velvet seat, her silver-gray skirt unfurled, shimmering with a pearl-like luster under the moonlight.
Her delicate chin tilted slightly downwards, and long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks.
Reid stared at the woman beside him who was sound asleep, almost unable to connect her with the sharp-tongued officer from the salon earlier.
At this moment, Lena had shed all her defenses, her silver hair spilling onto Reid’s shoulder, her breathing light.
Her slender fingers unconsciously gripped Reid’s sleeve, like a child afraid of being abandoned.
Nevertheless, it must be said that Lena’s performance at the gathering had indeed amazed everyone.
Although everyone sympathized with Lena’s plight, the younger generation of the upper class in Gran City generally did not have high hopes for her as a candidate.
After all, Lena had neither roots nor qualifications in Gran City.
Compared to the other competitors, who were almost old enough to be her parents solely based on age, Lena had almost no advantage.
Under such circumstances, the wisest choice would be to pick the strongest candidate among the others to join forces with.
Or simply to remain neutral throughout.
That way, no matter who eventually ascended to power, at least her normal life would remain unaffected.
But Lena chose the most foolish option by directly participating in the competition for the heir.
Not to mention that Lena’s hopes of succeeding were slim, what if she failed…
The power of the duke was not something a mere officer could bear.
It is precisely for this reason that in the casual conversations of the noble salon, Lena was labeled “the silly girl of the duke’s family.”
But today, Lena’s performance completely cleared her of this title.
After the gathering, rather than maintaining the deliberate coldness of the beginning, many nobles took the initiative to pay their respects to Lena, including several influential families in Gran City.
Lena and Reid were exhausted from handling the attention, which was why their carriage ride back to their residence was so late.
As the carriage hit a bump, Lena’s body leaned slightly.
Reid instinctively reached out to wrap his arm around her shoulder but froze at the moment of contact.
Was this guy’s shoulder really so thin?
Through the thin fabric, Reid could even feel the slightly slender outline of Lena’s bones.
“Mm…”
Lena murmured in her sleep, instinctively shifting closer to the warm source.
Her forehead rested against Reid’s neck, her warm breath brushing against his collarbone.
When the carriage finally stopped at the entrance of the Noval mansion, Reid hesitated.
Should he wake her up?
Just as Reid was in a dilemma, Lena suddenly opened her eyes.
Her blue-gray eyes still held sleepiness but cleared almost instantly.
After a brief pause, Lena suddenly realized she had been sleeping against Reid’s shoulder the whole way.
“Did I fall asleep?”
Lena’s voice was a bit hoarse as she hurriedly propped herself up, her silver hair sliding off Reid’s shoulder.
Lena quickly fixed her disheveled garments, her ears slightly reddened.
“I was just taking a little nap, my dear employer,” Reid said, retracting his hand that was still hovering in the air, with a light chuckle, “but that’s not included in the service.”
“Extra money is required.”
—————–
At midnight, the Noval mansion was left with only the library still lit.
Reid complained as he reluctantly followed the guidance of The Book of Etiquette concerning tea-drinking manners.
“Employer Miss,” Reid stretched out his tone, deliberately placing the teaspoon the wrong way, “I remember I said extra money, not extra hours.”
“We still have a lot of work to do.”
Lena rubbed her tired eyes; her silver hair had already come loose from its neat bun, strands falling at her smooth neck.
“Lift your elbows a little higher,” Lena’s voice carried a fatigued rasp, “a gentleman should…”
Before she could finish her sentence, Lena let out a small yawn herself.
Reid couldn’t help but chuckle, loosening the tightly knotted bowtie that would have certainly drawn Lena’s reprimand three hours ago.
But now, she only cast a lazy glance at him, too tired to even scold him.
“Let’s take a break.”
Reid suggested, gently tapping on the open book of etiquette, pointing at the illustration of the drowsy old earl.
“Even the author of this book is dozing off.”
Lena’s lips curled up slightly; this unrefined joke would have definitely earned her reprimand during the day.
But at this moment, she simply gathered her scattered silver hair, her blue-gray eyes softened under the light.
“Reid,” Lena suddenly spoke, “according to etiquette… how should a gentleman pursue the lady he admires?”
Reid reflexively sat up straight:
“First, he should request a visit through a formal letter, bringing appropriate gifts, in the presence of the lady’s elder…”
“No,” Lena interrupted, her fingertip absently tracing the edge of her teacup, “not what the book says, but you…”
“If it were you, what would you do?”
The library fell silent, the only sound being the crackling of the candle flame.
As soon as the words escaped her lips, Lena regretted it.
Why did I ask such a question?
Though fatigue may cloud her judgment, the leather and cedar scent of Reid lingered in her nose.
Yes, it’s all Reid’s fault!
The culprit, Reid, watched the candlelight cast shadows on Lena’s eyelashes, his back to the fireplace, making it hard for her to see his expression.
“I would…”
Reid paused and suddenly reached out to tuck a loose strand of hair behind Lena’s ear.
“I would tell her that her curls are more dazzling than any noble lady’s jewelry.”
“Too frivolous!”
Lena frowned in disdain, swatting Reid’s hand away, though feeling a wave of inexplicable thrill inside.
Lena looked at the mysterious man before her and felt her previously steadfast judgment begin to waver.
This man was always like this, at times a perfect gentleman, at others revealing a rogue’s charm.
Making it impossible for Lena to discern which was the real him.
“And then,” Reid’s tone suddenly turned serious, “I would intentionally make small mistakes to give her a chance to correct me.”
“After all, nothing is more delightful than watching a proud lady worry about me.”
Under the candlelight, Lena’s ears tinged pink.
“This… this is completely against the etiquette norms!”
Lena tried to maintain a strict tone, but could not hide the tremor in her voice.
“I’m just giving you a pop quiz; you failed this time!”
“Next time you say something like that, be careful or I’ll deduct your wages!”
Lena threatened Reid with all her might, though the threat sounded entirely powerless.
Reid chuckled and bowed, finishing tonight’s lesson with a proper gentleman’s gesture:
“But this is my heartfelt sentiment, my dear employer.”
