My Contract Husband Resembles the Male Protagonist - Chapter 38
Did Dale have something he hadn’t told me?
Or could it be…
My eyes widened in realization.
‘A fallen noble?’
It’s a possibility.
“Right. This sofa was also made by the most renowned craftsman in the area.”
I pressed down on the plush sofa with my hips.
For someone supposedly indifferent or uninterested in interior design, the inside of the house was neat and beautiful.
“Should I ask Dale about it?”
I gazed thoughtfully at Dale, who seemed like an angel in his sleep.
He appeared to be a man with a lot of history.
His early years as a mercenary, living alone in a house complete with a dressing room—all hinted at a complex past.
Dale was mysterious.
“Anyway, I’m holding onto Dale’s bank account now.”
When we started living together, Dale handed over his bank account to me.
To ensure he didn’t frivolously spend it on something strange, to prevent him from running away mid-contract, and to give me peace of mind.
It was sort of like proof of identity, he had said.
Meanwhile, Dale, whose eyes had been closed as he pretended to sleep, unbeknownst to Miss Enya, gently opened them and looked at her.
The sight of her small head moving was dreamlike, yet it left a bittersweet feeling in his heart. This unexpected period of time had stretched out longer than he thought.
“The accumulation of stress is causing physical pain now, not just internal distress. It’s having a very negative impact on your body, so please refrain from using scrolls for a while. Please.”
Dale felt an increasing fatigue and closed his eyes.
* * *
Three weeks had passed, and the herbs had grown significantly.
I looked over the well-tended herb garden.
‘Herbs grow better in slightly dry soil.’
I weeded out earthworms and watered the garden.
“Anne!”
In the distance, I saw Sophia running towards me.
“Anne, why are you so far away?”
Sophia arrived, panting heavily.
Her face was much brighter.
Over the three weeks, the territorial dispute between Grunwald and Kiedland had been properly resolved.
Kiedland returned to its previous size, and all the mines reverted to Grunwald’s possession.
The substantial compensation received from Kiedland significantly bolstered funds for the restoration of Grunwald’s domain, and the soil quality improved markedly.
‘I also cut ties with Hexagon.’
Without my direct involvement, the Emperor managed to uncover the connection between Kiedland and the House of Hexagon.
According to my informant, the Count of Kiedland had confessed to acquiring certain techniques from the Hexagon family, causing trouble for them as well.
Consequently, Kiedland found itself severed from its lifeline, Hexagon.
Sometimes, I felt like the Emperor knew exactly what I wanted.
‘It would have been a good partnership if we hadn’t been tangled up in marriage.’
What a pity, truly a pity.
“Anne, it’s lunchtime! Grandfather told me to bring you along. Let’s have lunch together. Come on!”
I followed Sophia into the castle.
After thoroughly dealing with the Kiedland domain, the financial situation in Grunwald had noticeably improved.
With the employment of about 30 new staff from outside, the Lord’s castle had transformed impressively, and the completion of the moat and castle gate refurbishments gave it a decent look.
While still not abundant, enough private soldiers were hired to form a mountain guard, easing the worries of the villagers.
“Please have a seat, Anne.”
“Welcome, Miss Anne.”
The Lord greeted me with a hearty laugh, showing his fully recovered state.
“You can just call me Anne, comfortably. And you may speak informally to me, too.”
“…..”
For a moment, the Lord’s face turned pale, seemingly struck by an inexplicable sense of betrayal.
“Hahaha… How could I possibly do that…”
