If You're Being Held Hostage, Wiggle the Carrot! - Chapter 30
“Um, what is it?” he asked, puzzled, not really sure what part to fix.
Ruby realized she was being a bit of a nuisance, but at this point, she might as well deal with it.
“There’s a section here, Article VII, that requires complete protection from spiritual beings around the clock.”
“Why is that? Surely not?” Ivan asked, narrowing his eyes, thinking she was trying to cut back on the hours he’d been keeping because she didn’t like them.
“There’s really no need for that. Hmm, how about during the day, for starters?” Ivan said, his voice breaking as he thought about it.
“If I had to choose, I’d rather do it at night. I can’t attend to my duties if I’m troubled during the day.”
“Why would spiritual beings trouble you when I’m around?”
“…Then?”
His mood lifted from rock bottom at the hope that this might not be the demand he’d feared.
“It’s a bit of a hassle, but if you let me bury my aura before you go to the office, you’ll be fine without me for the rest of the day. Spirits’ energy is relatively weaker during the day compared to at night.”
“…Energy?”
“It’s not easy for me to keep it up 24 hours a day, and I get tired of being in the office.”
“…”
“I’ve read most of the books, so now I know quite a bit about the Negro territory. Well, perhaps even better than the average lord?”
“Maybe…”
“So I should probably take some time for myself now.”
“…I understand.”
All her words were valid. While he considered it a reasonable suggestion, there was a part of him that couldn’t hide his disappointment. In that case… He should probably request that they reduce the amount of dessert for teatime from now on. …Should he drink the tea alone too? That’s… a bit disappointing.
Ivan glanced momentarily at Liam standing nearby, his face filled with disappointment. He had explained everything to Liam in the early hours of the morning, while Ruby was still asleep. It was fortunate she was a heavy sleeper. Ivan often got up first to take care of things he couldn’t tell her about. There were certain matters he couldn’t reveal to an outsider.
It was then that Liam, who had been listening, euphemistically interjected with a wistful sigh.
“The head chef might feel disappointed.”
“…”
“He recently seemed to be deeply immersed in making desserts… He might even now be enjoying planning and creating desserts for the young lady.”
Ivan inwardly welcomed Liam’s input.
Despite spending just a week with her, the thought of being apart from Ruby already made him feel uneasy and melancholic. He realized how much he had relied on her. His mind flashed back to the countless nights he had endured without her. Having no one to talk to, no one to lean on—it apparently took a toll on him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt this complex mix of emotions.
“…Wouldn’t that be rather rude?” Ruby, who had been contemplating Liam’s words for a while, hesitated as she spoke. After a moment’s consideration, she nodded her head and continued speaking. “There’s nothing wrong with dessert, and we can’t afford to hassle the chef. So, how about this: we focus on our tasks and join for lunch and teatime together?”
“…That’s a good idea.”
“Then, please modify Article 7.”
“Liam.”
“Yes, my Lord.”
The contract clause was revised in front of Ruby. She nodded approvingly while thoroughly reviewing the contents. Initially, the detailed contract felt a bit overwhelming, but upon reflection, it seemed like it was for the best. As long as they could pinpoint the location of her tribe, the effort wouldn’t be in vain.
“Now, please sign here.”
“Yes.”
Ivan checked her round handwriting and smirked slightly. Her handwriting was quite similar to her demeanor. After signing the two copies of the contract, they each took one. Curious about the method Ruby mentioned, he asked immediately after finalizing the contract.
“Is it really alright to channel your energy?”
“Technically, it would be covering your yang energy and my yin energy.”
“…Yin?”
“Basically, Rabbit Tribe members have strong yin. However, our tribe’s aura is even stronger. That’s why we’ve put a slight seal on it. Isn’t it the same for the Duke?”
As Ruby spoke, she tapped the red earring hanging from her ear. Similarly, Ivan wore an earring made of black diamonds. Born with robust strength but possessing an overwhelming aura, he wore it as a form of protection—a kind of shield. Otherwise, the other Wolf Tribe members they lived with might feel oppressed by his aura and wouldn’t be able to approach him.
Seeing the earring on Ruby’s ear, he wondered if hers were also sealing stones, and indeed they were. He suddenly grew curious. How strong must an aura be to require wearing a sealed stone earring?
“Could you please stand up for a moment?”
Ivan, lost in thought, snapped back to attention at Ruby’s request. As he rose and stood in front of her, the sight of her pink rabbit ear came into view. Seeming to concentrate, he was momentarily distracted by the twitching ears and was soon startled by a soft touch on the inside of his wrist.
“W-What are you doing!”
