For Sale: Male Lead, Obsession Included - Chapter 11
Ugh.
My entire body felt stiff from yesterday’s physical exertion.
I glanced up at the blue sky of dawn and then down at Declan’s sleeping face.
‘Since there’s only one bed, I told him to sleep next to me.’
Declan had fallen asleep in an uncomfortable position, sitting on the floor and lying on the bed.
Watching his peaceful, childlike sleeping face for a moment, I quietly got up.
I didn’t want to wake him, so I moved carefully, but my nightgown got caught on something.
Following the pull, I saw Declan’s hand tightly gripping the hem of my nightgown.
‘Is this a habit… He really is like a child.’
Gently, I lifted Declan’s fingers one by one to free the fabric. Despite my efforts to be as careful as possible not to wake him,
‘Ah, I woke him up.’
Declan’s red eyes were half-open.
“Sorry. I need to go wash up.”
I tried to explain awkwardly, imagining how startling it must be to wake up with someone holding your hand.
Declan, still half-asleep, stared blankly at his fingers.
‘Is he sleep-talking?’
Just as I relaxed and exhaled slowly, thinking he might be sleep-talking,
“Don’t go…”
Declan’s quiet voice, quivering with unshed tears, echoed.
I found myself holding my breath again.
The tears welling up at the bridge of his nose were heart-wrenching.
Gripping my finger as if it were a lifeline, he pleaded for me not to leave, looking so pitiable that it made my heart ache.
‘What kind of dream is he having?’
Was he dreaming of his parents, who he had separated from?
Fearing I might disturb his dream, I had to sit there for a long time with him holding my finger.
Since he was asleep and wouldn’t remember, I figured it was okay to show this small kindness.
***
The office was bustling with preparations for a guest. I cleared away all the papers and documents littering the desk and aired the room until it was time for the guest to arrive.
Of course, I did all the cleaning myself.
Waiting in the now-spotless office with a pounding heart, I finally received word that the guest had arrived.
‘Ribolto, head of the Golem Trading Company.’
I brightened, recalling the information about the head of the trading company who would soon arrive.
He was a remarkable talent, expected to run a notable trading company and bank in the empire within a few years.
Described as a person with thin-rimmed glasses, cold silver hair, and a nervous disposition.
‘Oh. I’m looking forward to this.’
It seemed too fortuitous that the first place he chose to establish trade within the empire was this margrave household.
I aimed to make a good impression on him now.
Soon, I planned to escape this household and move to the capital, and having a connection in advance could only be beneficial.
The margrave, my father, repeatedly emphasized that we must not make any mistakes since the prestigious Golem Trading Company was using our family as a foothold to enter the Lubrun Empire.
Always having earned money through illegal means, this was a rare legal opportunity for him, so it was no wonder he was restless like a dog needing to relieve itself.
The margrave repeatedly stressed to Viscount Bilgor, who would discuss business with Ribolto, that securing a contract with the Golem Trading Company was crucial.
Viscount Bilgor nodded continuously in agreement, and finally, Ribolto appeared.
Just like his neat writing in the documents, Ribolto’s attire and gait were impeccable and precise.
Even his swaying silver hair fell perfectly under his chin.
“Welcome, Guildmaster.”
My father, with a smile that didn’t suit him, led Ribolto into the reception room next to the office, hidden by a long curtain.
I perked up my ears, focusing on their conversation.
“That’s not it…”
Contrary to the smooth initial atmosphere, the mood quickly turned cold as they discussed the contract details. Viscount Bilgor had gotten several pieces of information about the Golem Trading Company wrong.
“Did you even bother to research my trading company?”
Eventually, sharp words spilled from Ribolto’s mouth.
“Ah, yes. Of course. I wrote this proposal myself…”
“If you wrote this proposal, you should certainly know more about my trading company.”
I could hear Viscount Bilgor wiping his cold sweat from here. Though I couldn’t see through the curtain, I imagined he was probably darting his eyes around to avoid my father’s fierce glare.
“Ahem. Guildmaster, it seems the Viscount is unusually nervous today.”
I heard the clear sound of tea being poured, presumably by my father himself.
I inwardly sneered at them, hoping Ribolto would get even angrier.
‘Why?’
Because it would make my value shine all the more.
I was the one who wrote ‘that proposal’ which lured Ribolto here, not the clueless Viscount Bilgor.
