Chapter 96

‘What?’

‘Now’s really a bad time… Natalianne’s gone and I’ve got this task that has to be finished by today.’

No. Demius’s eyes widened for a moment as he blurted out.

‘No. I’ll go too, I’ll do the work at dawn!’

‘No, you’re really busy and I don’t want to trouble you. I’ll be back quickly!’

‘…Ahem.’

What should I buy as a gift.

As she stepped out the door Melissa paused and remembered Demius with damp eyes for some reason and went into a little panic.

Actually Roro being the only one to accompany her today wasn’t her idea.

Natalianne suddenly said she had something to check at the Tower and left the castle with a box found in the garden and as soon as Shilen learned Natalianne had left he ran around the garden for some reason looking unusually upbeat.

‘They all seem so busy. Maybe something nice will cheer them up.’

Hmm—

Melissa rubbed her chin and thought hard.

First Shilen.

Lately whenever she visited he was always doing puzzle games and he’d already solved more than ten so he was doing ones he’d already done again.

‘A new puzzle would be perfect right?’

Then.

The discovery that there are puzzles you can solve without knowing letters felt like a small miracle.

Whoever first came up with that wonderful gift deserves thanks.

‘Next.’

Having solved her first dilemma Melissa turned to Natalianne’s gift.

Last time he seemed to love grilled veggie skewers but Chef Bamel could make those at the castle.

What else would be good.

‘Oh right.’

A light went on in Melissa’s head as she thought hard.

‘Natalianne loves stationery!’

Natalianne was famous at the Tower as a stationery addict and even though she was staying at Eisenhart Castle she’d brought over a hundred nibs with her.

‘I’ve seen her brag that the Tower has even more!’ Melissa clapped her hands at the memory.

Ink will be the gift.

Natalianne already owned over fifty kinds of ink but most of those came from around Nerencia Tower so ink that could only be found on the Eisenhart lands would be a special present.

With the second gift decided Melissa felt confident.

So what to get Demius for the third gift.

Hmm.

Hmmmm?

Melissa frowned all the way up to her nose as she worried.

Last time Mimi liked grilled meat skewers but that was something Bamel could make too.

And since she’d picked stationery and ink for Natalianne she wanted something concrete for Demius.

Something that doesn’t disappear if you eat it or use it.

Something special of all things.

‘Huh?’

While thinking Melissa’s eyes widened.

Something that doesn’t disappear.

Is there such a thing.

Her eyes rolled as she tilted her head in puzzlement.

And special.

She felt strange thinking of something ‘special’ different from what she’d pick for Shilen or Natalianne.

Melissa mulled the thought with a little confusion.

What’s different about Shilen, Natalianne and Demius.

Well…

‘Because he’s my husband?’

Thump.

Her cheeks flushed and her chest fluttered.

Feeling like she might sneeze she held her breath and tried to shake it off.

No, no.

We’re a contractual couple.

Only one year of a fake marriage.

So that can’t be a reason.

It’s just.

Just.

I just want to do this.

“…Huh?”

Spaced out Melissa covered her slightly pink cheeks and stared off into thought.

I don’t know.

For now decide the gifts.

But what does Demius like.

As she moved to the next worry Melissa’s mouth fell open.

‘How could I not know his tastes properly.’

Even thinking back to the Village at the Edge all she really knew was that he ran a flower shop he trained every dawn he sang like a canary he was healthy and handsome he’d returned home to find his brother his father died early he lived with his mother and his sister Natalianne and a distant cousin Shilen he was always busy and rarely had time to drop by a room.

‘What could he need.’

Hmm— Melissa puckered her brow and thought hard.

A transplanting trowel?

A sword?

No no.

Right now Mimi used pens more than trowels and plenty of swords would be far better gifts than anything she could give.

So what should she get…

The sudden problem left Melissa more confused than ever.

Wow.

‘Choosing gifts is such hard work.’

While fretting she idly toyed with her empty ring finger and then her eyes popped open.

“Ah.”

A ring.

Mimi didn’t have a ring on either.

When Melissa lost her ring Demius had taken his off as well saying a single ring on its own looked odd.

Every time she saw that empty finger her heart oddly fluttered.

‘…But.’

Melissa’s gaze drooped.

‘Can I dare give a ring.’

Once the one year contract ends they’ll part ways and she worried about burdening him.

Something that doesn’t disappear when eaten or used.

Something special among those.

A ring fit both conditions yet it felt like such a heavy thing to give.

She didn’t want to add pressure to this contract marriage…

As she fiddled with her ring finger the hem of her skirt tugged lightly.

“Hmm?”

She looked down without realizing it and a child was looking up at her with tears in their eyes.

Melissa hastily knelt to their level.

“Did you lose your mother?”

“No.”

The child shook their head.

“I lost my dog.”

“A dog?”

Startled Melissa asked and the child wiped their nose with their sleeve and nodded.

“Yes, find my dog for me.”

“All right. Wait a moment—”

Melissa turned to tell the guard who had been accompanying her but the child darted off first with a shout and disappeared between racks as tall as an adult.

“Hey, wait a moment—”

The little legs moved surprisingly fast and the child slipped out of sight between the shop displays.

Melissa, anxious, followed without telling the guard.

“Slow down so you won’t get hurt—”

She ran past the rack where the child had vanished and found a small back door open.

So they must have gone out here.

Melissa hurried through the doorway.

In the distance she saw the child’s tiny back.

“Let’s go together. It’s dangerous alone!”

Pad, pad.

Their footsteps echoed along the empty lane as they ran down the narrow alley.

* * *

A few minutes before Melissa left the hardware shop.

Roro had her hands shoved in her pockets and was strolling around the displays.

What the heck.

‘Getting this excited over a hardware shop.’

Roro snorted.

Weird person.

She glanced at Melissa with narrowed eyes as Melissa admired the goods.

Her castle was far grander with shiny things everywhere so seeing Melissa blush over shovels pickaxes rakes and swords was odd.

But when Melissa’s face suddenly grew serious Roro noticed a frown on her nose.

Hmm… she must be lost in her odd thoughts again.

‘Whatever.’

Roro puckered her lips and looked away.

Of course calling those ‘dumb tools’ didn’t mean she had no interest herself.

Once upon a time she would already be stuffing a few things into her pockets.

There were still a few items that kept catching her eye.

‘Not now.’

Roro blew a raspberry at the guards watching her.

Melissa’s guards were scanning the area with tense eyes and gave her a glance now and then.

Clearly watching her.

‘I’m not stealing. I’m not going to steal.’

Roro pulled her hands from her pockets and held them up as if to prove her innocence.

But who would believe a pickpocket.

Maybe the owner had told them to keep an eye on her.

Natalianne and Demius probably didn’t like her much.

‘Well.’

A kid who’d been roaming the back alleys suddenly moving into a proper house would annoy people.

Besides she clung to the person who wanted to be seen and liked.

So clinging to Melissa was the only way to survive.

Still she used casual language because Melissa hadn’t objected when she started using it recently.

Roro turned back to Melissa and a strange sound escaped her.

“…Huh?”