🌻 🌻 🌻
THE next morning, as the gentle morning rays shone upon us, we headed for a public office with the messenger from the royal castle in tow. We needed to officially file a request to take a glance at the list of citizens within the nation.
However, on our way there, shocking news awaited us. Our carriage had just rolled out of the hotel lot when a man rushed to our side, out of breath. Lucas had the coachman stop, and I noticed that the man who approached us was Jim, an employee of the Stock Trading Company. Sweat clung to his outfit, and his face had gone as white as a sheet.
“Mr. Stock! It’s an emergency!” Jim gasped between huffs. “Just this morning, our client suddenly…”
“Stopped trading with us?” Lucas asked calmly.
He stepped out of the carriage and tried to pry further details from Jim. The employee wiped his sweat with a heavy expression.
“I was chased away at the entrance,” Jim explained. “I managed to get some info from an apologetic staff member and was told that the Bearbrooks Trading Company pressured them to do so.”
“They’re continuing their harassment from yesterday,” Lucas said, pursing his lips.
“It’s not just yesterday. They’ve done quite a bit to harass you, so this is to be expected,” Leik said, popping out from his seat beside the coachman.
Despite an adorable tuft of dandelion decorating the butler’s hair, he looked quite serious. I stepped out of the carriage as well, assuming this discussion would take a while. Kiki quickly held a parasol over my head.
“What shall we do?” Jim asked Lucas. “We need this import route, or else we won’t be able to import our silk thread! Miss Coldola will be disappointed in me!”
“Ah, right,” Leik mused. “The manager of that factory was Coldola. And if memory serves, you were interested in her…”
“Aghhh! She’s gonna say that I’m unreliable again!”
“Isn’t that a splendid reward?”
“I’m not like you! We have different tastes!”
Leik’s teasing took the tension out of the air, but this was still a precarious situation.
Lucas rubbed his chin and looked at the ground while his employees bickered. “I can probably smooth things out, but we’re short on time…” he mumbled.
“Lucas.” I stepped forward. “I shall search for your father. Why don’t you prioritize taking care of the Bearbrooks Trading Company?”
My husband fell silent as he pondered my words. After a beat, he finally nodded. He turned to his butler. “Leik, protect Iris for me.”
“Woof,” Leik replied with a nod.
“But who will guard you?” I inquired worriedly.
“Don’t worry, I can take care of myself. It’s dangerous to have Cano with you in this situation, but I know Leik will protect you at all costs.”
Leik barked happily, perhaps elated to hear his master’s rare words of praise. Lucas patted my head.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be all right,” Lucas reassured me. “And if worse comes to worst, I’ve got you.”
“Me?” I asked.
“As a former Karelia, I’m sure you can negotiate with not only those related to my company but even the king and the other Eizerian nobles, can’t you?”
“Lucas…”
He trusted me so much; he believed I could support him and lend my aid no matter what.
“I understand,” I said. “I pray that it won’t come to that. Don’t you worry about me. Give your all to take care of Bearbrooks.”
“I’m counting on you, darling,” Lucas said with a wink and a grin.
He proceeded to give out orders to Jim and Leik. Finally, he stroked my cheek and tilted his head to one side ever so slightly.
“Won’t you kiss me like last time?” he whispered.
I froze. It was embarrassing to do so in front of everyone, but when he acted so endearing, I couldn’t deny his request.
“Excuse me,” I said, standing as tall as I could to give him a light peck.
Lucas smiled happily at me. “I feel like I can buy an island now. Thanks.”
He waved goodbye and gallantly strode away with Jim in tow. Cano covered his mouth and turned to me with an explicable expression.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“When he shows off like that, I just…” Cano mumbled before he trailed off. “No, it’s nothing. Please excuse me.”
He hastily chased after his master without once turning back. I watched them all fade into the distance as I stood beside the carriage.
“I pray you all come back safely,” I said.
Upon saying my prayer, I switched gears and stood tall as I turned to Leik and Kiki.
“Now then,” I said. “Let’s continue searching for Lucas’s father, shall we?”
“Indeed,” Leik said.
“Let’s do our best, Lady Iris!” Kiki exclaimed.