“THESE documents outline each orphanage’s status. I don’t think there’s any issue prioritizing the ones that have requested building repairs due to deterioration.”
Budget passed the papers to Fiona and explained the areas to be fixed in detail.
“Um.”
“Are you wondering about the highway infrastructure? Though it will be a long battle, prospects are looking good for expanding the roads around vital towns and cities near the royal capital.”
Management presented new documents to Fiona and discussed with Budget how to manage the craftsmen’s time and resources.
“Um, no, that’s not what I meant… It’s this situation.”
“What do you mean?”
They both looked inquiringly at Fiona, who held the various materials in her hands. More accurately speaking, Fiona sat on Linus’ lap as he stroked her hair. Budget and Management exchanged glances, then cocked their heads, puzzled.
“Isn’t this the same as usual?”
“What?! I-I mean, yes, he does kiss my hair and hands, but he’s never held me like this until now?!”
The first time he’d embraced her had been on the carriage ride that day, and for whatever reason, he hadn’t stopped doing it ever since. She most definitely thought it strange, but no matter how much she begged him to stop, he would dismiss her objections with a smile, so she desperately needed a third party’s opinion to determine if she was the one in the wrong. Management had been kind enough to tell her that gentlemen didn’t touch women’s hair in public, which was why Fiona hoped the other woman would advise Linus that the current situation was unacceptable.
“Since you two will soon be engaged, that much should be fine… I think.”
“You think?”
So, was it fine for them to be this intimate or not?! Especially when their engagement hadn’t even been decided yet.
“Lady Saint, until now, you were neither engaged to His Highness nor were you lovers, correct?”
“That’s correct.”
When she answered without hesitation, Linus snorted with laughter inexplicably behind her.
“Then, all that sexual harass… No, flirting… Er, your closeness as friends? In any case, your engagement means His Highness’ behavior now is understandable.”
“Well, I don’t understand it.”
“I believe that is something for you two to solve together.”
Management said those words brusquely, and Fiona realized she wasn’t wrong. Though her pleas to Linus had fallen on his seemingly deaf ears, she mustn’t give up on finding a solution through mutual discussion.
“Um, Your Highness.”
“Yes, Fiona?”
He peered at her from behind, his lips within touching distance of her ear. Blindingly dazzling as he was on the outside, Linus had a beautiful voice, too, and now her ear shrieked in delight. Fiona unconsciously shivered from the combined sensation of his breath and hair tickling her cheek.
“I can’t read documents like this. Please release me.”
She could not concentrate on anything held as she was on his lap. And considering his fatigue, it would be better to have him put her down for good anyway.
“Then how about we do this?”
As soon as he spoke, the arms wrapped around her waist moved, and her vision shook. By the time it settled again, she found herself sitting sideways on his lap and looking into his indigo eyes narrowed in amusement.
“That’s not what I meant. And this makes it even harder to go through the documents.”
“Gracious…is that what you’re concerned about?”
Management murmured something, and Budget nodded in response. See? Even from an outsider’s perspective, this position was not suited to reading papers.
“You want me to put you down?”
Fiona nodded forcefully, and Linus cast his eyes down sadly. When he looked at her like that with his beautiful face, it made her feel like she was at fault, and she wanted him to stop.
“As you wish, Fiona. I guess I have no choice.”
With that, he lifted her up easily and set her down on the sofa. As she reflected on the pleasure of having her posterior seated on furniture instead of him, Linus moved to sit next to her and began petting her hair.
Him touching her hair shouldn’t have been a problem because it was business as usual. Or so she’d thought. But Linus’ face was close. Far too close. If she turned her head to the side, all she would see was him, beaming relentlessly. So it was no wonder she felt bothered.
“Your Highness, please don’t stare at me so.”
“Why?”
“I can’t focus when all I keep thinking about is you watching me.”
Until now, he had sat next to her countless times to toy with her hair, but his face had never been this close. She could not fathom why he’d become so much more intimate.
“Fascinating. So you’re thinking about me, huh, Fiona?”
“Huh? Well, yes, of course, given the circumstances.”
Who wouldn’t be when a beautiful face watched one from literally right by one’s side?
“That makes me happy. Ridiculously happy.”
Linus gave her a soft kiss on the cheek with a heart-melting smile, and Fiona automatically pulled back, putting some distance between them.
“Your Highness…you’re acting sort of strange.”
“Am I?”
“‘Am I?’ he says. You truly don’t think so?”
When he asked her with a grin, she almost deluded herself into thinking she was in the wrong. Almost. Because she knew she could not lose this battle.
However, Budget and Management were staring at Fiona in exasperation.
“Respectfully, we are not getting involved in your tiff.”
“It’ll be fine. They’ve always been like that anyway.”
Their dismissive attitudes made Fiona wonder if she was the odd one out. Her frown deepened alongside her confusion. Watching her, Linus reached out and gently stroked her head.
“Well, I should have expected as much in the beginning. Slow and steady, hm?”
Fiona had no idea what exactly was supposed to be slow and steady, but he seemed to be in a good mood.
“Don’t forget, the ball is tomorrow. I’ve made arrangements for your dress to be ready on time.”
“A dress?”
She knew a ball dictated formalwear, yet as a commoner, the world of high society was unknown to her. Of course, she had no experience with such glamorous attire, so she was a bit nervous.
“Fear not, I know it will look lovely on you. How can it not when you’re so charming, Fiona?”
“And might I ask where you borrowed it from?”
“Borrow? The ball is your unveiling as a saint and the crown prince’s fiancée. Naturally, I had it tailored.”
“Which means it won’t be inexpensive, yes?”
Fiona’s brown eyes glittered. She didn’t know how much it cost to tailor a dress, but she was sure it was expensive because even readymade clothes weren’t cheap. As the Saint of Cost Performance, waste bothered her.
“The dress falls outside the scope of cost-effectiveness. It’s a necessary expense. After all, I’m the authority when it comes to social functions like balls and such, right?”
“Well, I suppose, since I’m not familiar with that side of life.”
She didn’t even know what a normal ball entailed, so it was hard to determine what was and wasn’t necessary, which was why she deferred to Linus’ opinions on the matter. Even so, Fiona could not accept the idea of money being spent on a dress for her.
“Everything related to your outfit I paid for out of my own funds. I didn’t burden the national coffers, so relax.”
“But that just means the burden was put on you, Your Highness.”
“I enjoy dressing up my adorable Fiona. Not to mention, I’m thrilled to introduce you as my fiancée in public. Though, because you’re adorable, a part of me doesn’t want to show you off to others… I guess I don’t have a choice since you’re a saint, too.”
Why wouldn’t the blasted man remember that their engagement was still only under consideration and not finalized? On top of that, she only understood half of what he said, so she wished he’d speak clearly for once.
“I knew it. Something is off with you, isn’t there?”
Fiona looked to Budget and Management for validation, but neither lifted their gazes from the documents.
“Respectfully, I reiterate that we are not getting involved in your tiff.”
“You’ll be fine. You’ve always been like that anyway.”
Would she? Had they? Her head cocked in confusion; she snuck a glance to the side and was met with Linus’ beautiful, smiling face.
“I’d say she’s less the Saint of Cost Performance and more the Saint of Impregnable Fortresses.”
“And he’s the crown prince who’s begun to launch a full-scale assault to break through said fortress with his arsenal…”
“What was that? I’m not sure I heard you.”
The two government officials whispering to each other jerked and straightened at Linus’ casual remark.
“We just thought you two make such a lovely couple!”
“Ah, I see. That makes me happy. Doesn’t that make you happy too, Fiona?”
Although the three of them smiled, something felt off about the varying degrees of warmth. There was definitely something strange afoot. Yet if asked what, she wouldn’t know how to answer.
“Right then, as reluctant as I am to part with my beloved, duty calls. Fiona, I’ll be picking you up tomorrow, so wait for me, hm?”
“Yes, understo—”
Before she even finished, Linus kissed her softly on the cheek. He was so close she could touch him. Ensnared by his eyes, she only stared at him in surprise, unable to move a muscle.
“See you soon.”
He smiled at her, and this time, kissed her on the forehead before exiting the office.
While Fiona blinked rapidly, Budget and Management covered their mouths as if desperately holding something back. She honestly wondered what in the world had happened to Linus. Yes, he had taken every opportunity to kiss her hair until now, but without warning, he had expanded the targets of his lips. Not to mention how awfully close he liked to get now. Perhaps his recent strange behavior coincided with the talk of their engagement. Nevertheless, she felt restless and troubled. He had always been by her side, so she really shouldn’t have been bothered by him… And yet.
Curiously, her heart both raced frantically and floated dreamily. Fiona sighed quietly, even as she felt lost at sea by the mix of emotions.