Chapter 34
He took Aniella to a residence he owned while she was asleep. Fast asleep, she had no idea her body was floating in the air and slept soundly.
After laying Aniella on the floor, he suddenly felt the room was too barren. Surrounded by dull gray walls and devoid of furniture, the room looked more like a prison than a bedroom.
“It really doesn’t suit her.”
First, he laid down a plush carpet on the floor. He hung white chiffon curtains on the windows and covered the plain walls with white wallpaper. It was much better than before, but something was still missing.
He added a small table and two chairs. He brought in a spacious bed, picked her up, and moved her onto it. He even added a canopy to the ceiling, which made it look quite decent. The comfortable temporary shelter bed was complete. Feeling satisfied, Paiki let her sleep some more.
The satisfaction didn’t last long. By the next morning, he regretted the impulsive act he had committed the night before.
Why did he bring her here? What did he want to tell her? Just imagining explaining everything in detail was already exhausting. Ultimately, he wondered what business it was of his whether Marius’s assistant died of overwork or not.
Should he just make the excuse that he brought her because she fell asleep without making a sound?
He was inclined to do just that because it was bothersome, but seeing Aniella still fast asleep changed his mind.
“It’s not rare for temporary protection to last just one day.”
He suddenly remembered stories about people growing attached during temporary protection and ending up keeping the person or animal for good. Surely he wouldn’t be like that? Paiki erased the possibility of growing attached to her from his mind.
I won’t keep her for long. At most, two months. That should be enough for her to realize how comfortable a life free from difficult, parentless struggles can be. A body accustomed to laziness would refuse to sacrifice for family.
“I want to conduct a study on making you lazy.”
Hiding his true intentions, Paiki smiled brightly and proposed to her.
Aniella wiped the drool from the corner of her mouth and got up, her hair disheveled. Looking outside, it was sunny, as if the thunder that had been crashing down threatening to destroy the mansion yesterday was a lie.
“Did I feel better after having a nightmare? I wonder if it was a nightmare as terrifying as his appearance?”
Remembering last night’s events, she snorted derisively. As Aniella got out of bed, stretched comfortably, and headed for the table, she stopped short upon seeing the man sitting there.
“Were you hoping I had a nightmare?”
Paiki smiled a bright smile. Caught off guard by the unexpected situation, Aniella couldn’t react. She was flustered by his sudden appearance, and on top of that, she’d been caught complaining about him.
“No, that’s not what I meant…”
How should she smooth this over? Aniella’s mind raced, searching for an excuse.
Paiki crossed his arms, stared at her with dissatisfaction, and let out a small sigh.
“Your method of comforting people is quite unique.”
The corner of Paiki’s mouth lifted slightly. Aniella thought he was mocking her, and regret washed over her belatedly.
How did she ever get the idea to read a fairy tale to a grown man, and one she could hardly call an acquaintance at that? She had been foolish.
“Your Grace, about last night, I was…”
“It helped me calm down. I never got to thank you.”
Aniella, who had been groaning and unable to meet his eyes, lifted her head. She never expected to hear a word of thanks from his mouth. Her expression visibly brightened with anticipation and joy.
“Did something happen?”
Encouraged that he had taken her meddling from last night positively, she gathered the courage to ask. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to see anyone else for the two months she’d be staying here, so wouldn’t it be good to get along?
“There were people who ruined my plans. Thanks to them, things became troublesome. Very.”
“What kind of people would ruin Your Grace’s plans?”
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