Chapter 78

A day had passed since the funeral, and I remained in my room, consumed by work. I had immersed myself in my responsibilities, even taking on additional tasks delegated to Elena, determined to keep my mind occupied.

As the hours ticked by, a faint scent of sweat and exhaustion began to emanate from my body, a reminder of my neglect for self-care. Realizing the need to rejuvenate both my mind and spirit, I resolved to take a long-awaited shower.

I carefully prepared the bath, ensuring the water was at the perfect temperature to soothe my weary muscles. With deliberate movements, I undressed, shedding the weight of the day along with my clothes. Stepping into the bath, I allowed myself to sink into the warm embrace of the water.

As the liquid caressed my skin, I closed my eyes, letting the worries and burdens of the world melt away. Each droplet cascading down my body washed away the physical and emotional residue that clung to me, revitalizing my senses.

The aroma of fragrant oils and scented soaps wafted through the air, creating an atmosphere of tranquility. The soft light filtering through the bathroom window danced on the surface of the water, casting ethereal reflections that seemed to mirror the peace I sought within.

With each passing moment, the tension in my muscles loosened, and the weight on my shoulders lightened. The rhythmic sound of water gently lapping against the sides of the tub provided a soothing backdrop to my thoughts.

As the steam enveloped the room, I could feel the stress of the past days dissipating, replaced by a sense of calm and clarity. The warmth of the water penetrated deep into my bones, thawing the residual chill that had settled within me.

Emerging from the bath, I donned fresh clothes and took a moment to fix my hair. The previous scent that clung to my body had dissipated completely, replaced by a subtle hint of the soap I had used during my bath.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts, and I welcomed Andrew into my room. "What do I owe the honor to?" I asked, a note of curiosity in my voice.

"You have a date with your fiancée in about ten minutes," Andrew replied, his armor shining in the light. His gaze scanned the room, landing on the scattered papers strewn across my desk. "You have Elena for this kind of work, you know."

I chuckled lightly, taking a moment to organize the papers. "I decided to work a bit more. I don't want to overwork you guys. I want you to stay nice and healthy, still working until you're 90," I jested, attempting to lighten the mood.

"At least your humor is back," Andrew remarked, joining me in gathering the papers. "We should get going."

"Very well, lead the way," I agreed, letting out a sigh as I placed the papers back on my desk.

As we strolled through the hallways, I initiated a conversation. "What approach do you think she will take?"

Andrew's face twisted with confusion, mirroring his voice. "Approach? What do you mean?"

"Yeah, do you think she will be all lovey-dovey or do you think she will try to use my mother's death to get closer to me?" I inquired, unsure of what to expect from a woman who had been forced into a marriage with a stranger like me. Love seemed like an impossible outcome.

"I think neither," Andrew replied with unwavering conviction. "You should give her a chance; who knows, you might find yourself liking her." His words carried a sense of hope, urging me to keep an open mind.

We reached the garden, where a maid and Lady Adeline Vigar sat peacefully, enjoying a cup of tea in the distance. Walking towards Adeline, Andrew followed closely behind, and we arrived at the small table where she was seated. Taking a seat, I smiled at her, and she stared back at me, creating a momentary silence where only the gentle sounds of the wind and birds filled the air.

"Lady Adeline, I hope you find the estate to your liking," I spoke, breaking the silence. "I know it may not be on the same level as the dukes, but I hope you don't mind."

Adeline responded with a smile as she took a sip of her tea. "The estate is fine, Lucas," she replied. "My father has spoken about you."

I couldn't hide my surprise at her lack of honorifics, but I quickly regained composure. "Good things, I hope," I responded.

"Very good things, Lucas," she smiled once more. "But I don't want to know about you solely through second-hand information. I want to know more about you firsthand, through my own ears and eyes." As she spoke, she reached out and touched my hand.

I thought to myself, 'Ah, the emotional approach.' Smiling, I placed my hand on hers. "You want to know more about dear old me?"

"Yes," she replied, clapping her hands once to summon the maid, who approached with a notebook and pencil. I was taken aback as Adeline prepared to write.

"You're going to write about my interests?" I asked, slightly baffled. But she responded matter-of-factly,

"Yes, how else would I get to know you? I need to know what you like, and you need to know what I like, so we can grow closer together and eventually have an heir."

"You are quite blunt, aren't you?" I chuckled, grabbing her notebook. "But you can stop forcing yourself." My voice turned serious as I looked at her with a cold gaze.

"I'm not forcing myself," she quickly replied, taking her notebook back. "When my father told me that he would force me to marry you, I didn't object, partly because you were good-looking, but also because I remembered you from that one promise you made to me."

"Promise? I don't remember any promises I made to you," I expressed my confusion. But she seemed serious, and her voice held no hint of falsehood.

"You promised to teach me ice magic when you visited Duke Vigar with your father," she explained, forming a flower on her hand and handing it to me. "Do you remember?"

I accepted the flower with a smile. "I do," I played with it before turning my gaze back to her. "So, me being handsome and this promise were enough for you to marry me?"

"For now, yes. But I hope in the future we will both work hard to make each other fall in love," she declared with determination, looking directly into my eyes. "I'm willing to put in the work. Are you?"

I laughed heartily, my laughter echoing throughout the garden, causing the birds to take flight. "Fine, I'll play your game," I said, looking at her with a smile. I was wrong about the emotional approach, but I couldn't help but wonder how long she could maintain this act.

"I enjoy nice and relaxing music," I shared as I began to walk away. But before I could get too far, I heard Adeline's voice from a distance.

"I like roses," her voice rang out loud and clear. With a smile on my face, I left, feeling that this little date was far better than I had envisioned