Chapter 35
Nox was genuinely shocked. How could someone so small and delicate be the same age as him? Honestly, if he was being generous, he would have guessed she had just completed her coming-of-age ceremony, maybe eighteen at most.
Of course, he didn’t think she was lying, but it was so hard to believe that he stared at her insistently, to the point of being rude.
Unlike humans, feline werebeasts had vertically elongated pupils, so if he kept staring, it created a strange sense of discomfort. Feeling burdened by his gaze, Sia spoke up first.
“…I’m really not that short, you know?”
“Did I say my thoughts out loud?”
“It was very clear, actually.”
“…Forgive my rudeness, Sia.”
Nox apologized first. She didn’t seem to be in a good mood. But he couldn’t hold back his laughter. Her sulky expression was just too cute.
“Why are you laughing? You think I’m lying, don’t you?”
“Ahem. That’s not it.”
“Look, see for yourself. Lord Nox, you’re just too tall, it’s not that I’m short.”
Nox stiffened in surprise when Sia suddenly came closer. She stood so near that they almost touched, then raised her hand above her head to measure herself against him.
“See? My head still reaches a bit higher than the middle of your chest, Lord Nox.”
“…You’re right.”
“For a woman, I’m really not short at all. Remember that.”
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“Well, it’s not that serious…”
Looking up at him as he nodded with such a serious expression, Sia blushed and turned her head away. Even though they’d worked at close quarters before, they’d never been this physically close, so she was secretly a bit flustered.
And on top of that, this man actually smelled really good.
It was even the woody scent she liked…
Maybe he used perfume because he was a duke? She decided she’d have to ask him about it sometime, and then started walking again.
When they reached the storeroom, she went inside and found a new quill. This storeroom only stored office supplies, so it had everything from paper to sealing wax.
Nox, who had come into the storeroom with her, looked around and then casually asked,
“Is there anything you need?”
He wanted to give Sia a present. He’d been thinking about it for a while, but hadn’t known what to give, so he’d put it off. Now that they were here, he thought he might as well find out her tastes, but it was a shame that everything here was just office supplies. Still, Nox knew that even things like paper and pens were expensive for commoners, so he wanted to give her something—anything.
“I don’t particularly need anything…”
Since it was for use at the ducal estate, the quality was very high. But for Sia, who was used to modern supplies, it all seemed pretty much the same.
She recalled when Cedric had been organizing the accounts a few days ago. Having worked as a bookkeeper in a company, she’d been quite surprised by the ledgers. They’re so old-fashioned.
“Hmm, I know it can’t be helped, but still…”
She knew she couldn’t use Excel here, but at least they could keep records in tables, couldn’t they?
Instead of pushing her, Nox simply watched as Sia lapsed into thought again. The storeroom had no windows, but there were magical lamps installed. Under the soft magical light, her small face looked strangely enchanting, and Nox’s heart pounded in his chest.
He remembered the first time he’d lain with her on the bed in his animal form. Everything had been so overwhelming that day that he hadn’t been able to process it properly, but he remembered very clearly how hard his heart had been pounding then, too.
“…Then, could I just have a set of paper, a pen, and some ink?”
Since she’d ended up working here, she decided it would be nice if she could at least be a little helpful.
“Take as much as you need.”
“What if I use up all the paper in the storeroom?”
“Then I’ll just buy more, won’t I?”
“…That’s true.”
A duke really is born with a golden spoon. She already knew it, but Nox’s response confirmed it all over again. Quickly, Sia gathered her share of paper, pens, and ink.
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