Rey watched Luana, finding the newly started embroidery being held tightly by the woman.

"What are you doing?"


Luana bowed her head, gently lifting her embroidery.

"I'm making handkerchiefs," she answered honestly. "My time will be wasted if I don't do something."

Mare, noticing the situation, chose to back away slowly, disappearing behind the door. Leaving the two masters free to chat in the large living room.


Rey cleared his throat softly, before he stepped up to take a seat in front of Luana. Luana's eyes followed the nobleman's movements and placed the embroidery on the glass table.

"Why are you home so early today?" Luana asked originally.


Because Rey usually returned after dark, so they could count on their fingers the number of times they met even though they shared the same room.

Rey unbuttoned his jacket, shaking it out to relieve the tightness.

"My work is piling up," the nobleman said as he leaned back in the chair. "That's why I came home early, as well as to check what you were doing during my absence."

Luana blinked twice, returning Rey's gaze to her. Then Rey's gaze shifted to the table, as if he was underestimating what Luana was doing.

"And apparently you spend your time embroidering? Am I not mistaken?"

"There's nothing wrong with embroidery," Luana defended herself. "The 24 hours I have a day can't be spent sleeping and eating. Helping in the kitchen isn't allowed either, let alone holding a broom handle. So, this is what I do."

Rey still maintained a flat expression on his face. Because Luana did not act like other nobles, who were used to enjoying life with extravagance.

In this day and age, what young woman would really shut herself up in the house? Luana didn't even whine about asking for a debit card, and she didn't protest about what was in the large residence.

"Why are you doing this?" Rey frowned. The question sounded rhetorical, but he really just wanted to know.

This time it was Luana who corrected her sitting position, before speaking up to answer.

"Doing what?" she asked, not understanding. "Can't I embroider? Am I also not allowed to draw or read books?"

For most of her life, the last seven days had been the days when Luana felt free with the time given to her by the universe. She was free to read books, ranging from history books to romance novels that were neatly arranged in the mansion's library.

Rey seemed to chuckle softly. Still trying to guess where this conversation was going, the man massaged his temples.

"Why didn't you ask me for money?" Rey asked again. "You didn't ask for anything, you didn't ask anything. You don't attend gatherings, and you don't spend money. Is this the kind of life you've been living, Luana?"

Luana didn't know why Rey seemed bothered by that, because she was really enjoying this little time. But he had come out of nowhere and lectured her on the useful activities she was doing.

"Be like a great lady!" continued Rey with the volume turned up, before Luana could reply. "You are Mrs. Luiec, so act like any other noble!"

The man's bead twisted perfectly, as it was now Luana who was clenching her lips tightly. Looking at Rey with a confused feeling, she didn't know what to say.

"I won't," Luana finally spoke up after a few seconds of silence. Finding Rey still darting glances at her, the woman continued.

"I'm not a big mistress," she said in a half-whisper. She did not want their conversation to be overheard by others.

"I like this. I like to embroider, I like to draw, I like to read books. There's no need to be someone else, if that's not me."

Saying everything clearly, Luana had to hold back the rumbling in her chest. She was upset because Rey suddenly corrected her choice of activities, especially for no apparent reason.

"And I don't need your money either," Luana continued with a fiery bead. "I'm not going anywhere, I'll just stay quiet and obedient in here."

Rey still chose to remain silent, as Luana now shifted her body to get closer to the man. Cutting the remaining distance, Luana moved her face closer.

"I won't give you any trouble either, so you just have to do what you're supposed to do, Mr. Rey," she said in a half-whisper.

Rey reflexively raised his head, further narrowing the distance between his face and Luana's. He didn't want to admit it, but there was an invisible streak that Rey felt at this moment.

"Find your fiancé as soon as possible," Luana said again, not yet changing position. "How are you looking for her? Are you actually looking for her or not, anyway?"

Luana planned to return to her seat, but this time Rey had already acted faster. Holding both of Luana's hands, the man reflexively made Luana fall on his lap.

Without missing a beat, Luana landed right on Rey's neatly arranged thighs. The man's hand grabbed Luana's waist, making Luana widen her bead in shock.

Several servants who wanted to pass by chose to turn around, even Mare asked that several access doors to the living room be temporarily closed.

Because one big thing was happening there.

"Mr. Rey, what are you--"

"Just a moment," Rey cut in quickly.

Luana froze, with a heartbeat she could not control. Being this close to Rey made it difficult for her to breathe, not because of the lack of oxygen but because her blood was pumping beyond the normal rhythm.

Luana clearly smelled Rey's distinctive perfume, which just burst into her senses.

Clenching her lips as tightly as possible, Luana tried to control herself. Until now she felt something pressed against her hand, which turned out to be the head of the heir.

"Sir, you're not--"

"I'm so sleepy," Rey cut off Luana's sentence at just the right moment.

Leaning his head against Luana's hand, Rey let the dominating sleepiness take over the consciousness that was about to fly.

"Just a moment, Luana," Rey whispered again, almost inaudibly. "I want to sleep for a while, because that job has been making it hard for me to fall asleep for the past few days."

Luana was still trying to catch her breath when she realized Rey's arms around her waist were slowly loosening.

In the large and quiet living room, Luana was on Rey's lap. Becoming a backrest for the nobleman who seemed to be slowly falling asleep, Luana moved very slowly.

Opening one arm wide, she now unconsciously let Rey rest on her right breast. The man's head drooped limply, as his breathing began to sound regular.

Biting her lower lip hesitantly, Luana swallowed hard.

One hand unconsciously returned the embrace, wrapping around Rey's sturdy back to give it a gentle stroke.

Luana didn't know what demons had visited her that afternoon, as she now whispered very softly.

"Sleep well," she whispered. "You don't have to work too hard, because I won't spend your money. Never."