Luana nodded faintly, with a smile still perched on her face.

"It's me, sir."


Luana clearly caught the annoyed expression on her husband's face, though it seemed Rey was now trying to keep a straight face in front of the woman.

"Why did you come? Weren't you in the garden?"

Luana was taken aback for a few seconds, not expecting Rey to know her morning routine that she usually spent in the park.


So far she had never told the nobleman about it, but surely Rey knew the ins and outs and what was going on in the mansion.

"Ah, I haven't been there yet," Luana replied. "I was about to eat some toast, but someone shouted so loudly that I couldn't help but postpone my delicious breakfast."


Rey's eyeballs widened slowly, followed by the rubbing of the man's hand on the back of his neck.

Ah, he had almost forgotten that he was no longer alone in the mansion. The fact that Luana heard him shouting must have startled the woman, and now Rey began to feel guilty.

"Ah, that...," Rey hung up his sentence. "Were you surprised?"

Luana reflexively shook her head, even though it meant she had lied a little this morning. Of course she was surprised, as were all the servants who heard the scream earlier.

"Markus told me everything," Luana said after five seconds of silence.

"He's incompetent at his job!" Rey scolded just as Luana mentioned Markus' name.

For some reason, Rey suddenly felt anger take over again, considering the bad thing that happened to his shirt today.

He should have been ready for that all-important conference, but look at him now not even dressed properly!

"That's why I came, sir," Luana said slowly, occasionally checking the gleam in her husband's eyes. "To bring you a shirt you can wear."

Rey shook his head hard, turning around to face Luana again.

"I don't wear hand-stitched shirts, Luana," Rey explained flatly. "They're looking for an equivalent, though it does make me so angry to have to wait."

Luana could be heard sighing. Something that made Rey suddenly freeze, now focusing all his attention on his tiny wife back there.

"Even if it's my stitches?" asked Luana with her voice lowered.

It might take a little drama to overcome Rey's anger this morning, perhaps.

"Even if my fingers have to hurt because I insisted on re-stitching this button?" Luana continued.

Yiha! The drama begins.

Suddenly Rey turned his body with a single jerk, facing Luana who had put on a face full of sadness.

"Are you hurt?" The man inched closer.

Grabbing Luana's hand that was still clutching the shirt, Rey seemed to examine the woman's fingers.

"Which one?" she murmured as she searched. "Where did you get hurt?"

Luana almost smiled widely, but she quickly held it in.

"No, it's fine." Luana hurriedly withdrew her hand from Rey's grasp. "I don't feel it anymore."

Rey hardened his jaw just like that.

"Oh my God, Luana!" Rey exclaimed impatiently. "Why did you go to all that trouble and get yourself hurt, huh?"

Luana pursed her lips tightly when Rey raised the tone of his voice, but the woman was not at all frightened because the voice contained an exaggerated tone of worry.

"Because I thought you were going to wear it for me," Luana whispered dramatically. "But that's fine if you don't want to wear it."

Like most women, the 'cranky' move would probably work.

Just as Luana was about to retreat backwards to leave, Rey was already holding her up. His breath was ragged from worrying about his wife.

"Come here," Rey pleaded. "Come here, Luana."

Luana went into surrender mode as Rey pulled her into a hug and landed a peck on the top of her head.

"I'm sorry, okay?" Rey whispered softly. "I should be thanking you for doing that for me, not raising my voice like I did earlier."

Luana smiled happily.

Markus and the young maid were saved today.

It was the least she could do, for weaklings who depended on the generosity of nobles.

"It's okay," Luana cooed. "Now are you going to wear it?"

Rey unraveled the warm embrace, but still held Luana's body with both of his stretched arms.

"I will," he replied with a smile that began to grace his face. "If you sew it, then I'll wear it."

Luana smiled back and thrust the shirt at her husband.

"Thank you, sir."

But instead of accepting the offer, Rey lowered his body to be at Luana's height.

"Put it on me then," Rey pleaded half-heartedly. What a mode!

Stretching both hands, he prepared to become a boy who would be dressed now.

Luana had to laugh, really happy to see how the handsome face had now changed to its usual look.

That annoyance, perhaps, had completely evaporated.

"Okay."

Luana accepted her husband's request, now putting the shirt on to cover Rey's firm body. As if trained to do so, the two of them laughed at each other.

Rey did not let the distance stretch, as Luana now placed a finger right on the top button of the man's shirt.

"Do you want me to button it too?"

"Hm mh."

Luana's hand moved in a very gentle motion, as she buttoned the shirt to the bottom button.

Wiping the soft fabric now, Luana let Rey button the base of her own sleeve.

"This is what you fixed earlier?" asked Rey as he looked at Luana closely.

Mrs. Lueic nodded with a bright smile. "Not so neat, but it fits well."

Rey agreed with that, because the button was indeed well-fixed. For whatever reason, the nobleman had been living like he was not himself, as he had let Luana in and changed his habits one by one.

Her presence was enough to make Rey live life differently, and he liked that now.

"It's done." Luana rubbed Rey's chest to make sure the shirt was well worn. "You can go to the conference right now, sir."

Luana's beaming smile seemed to brighten Rey's previously resentful heart, when now the man had released all the anger that had been held back.

"All humans can make mistakes, Mr. Rey," Luana said again. "So does that new servant, and I hope you take back your words about firing her. She really needs a job, from kind-hearted people like you."

Rey didn't usually like being ordered around, but Luana's words sounded so good. Could it be that love had indeed taken over consciousness?

Rey was still silent, but Luana had already continued.

"I know you're generous," she praised. "I'll take care of that for you, so you just need to focus on your work, okay?"

It took two seconds before Rey moved closer to steal a peck on Luana's cheek.

A peck that made Luana blush just like a flower meeting a bee (what the hell is this, lol).

"That's my answer," Rey replied looking happy. "Thank you, Luana. You saved my day."

Luana was certainly happy to do that, because she was risking the continued employment of several people.

She knew what it was like to be in the new maid's shoes, and she really wanted to help. Think of it, as a favor among the outcasts.

"Now get ready, sir," Luana said as she took a step back. "I'm going downstairs to continue my delayed breakfast."

Rey complied again, but he had already pulled Luana to silence her lips. A sweet, morning-opening peck would probably make his day better, and he had been tempted by those pink lips ever since.

"Eat well," Rey ordered after releasing the tug. "I have to go, Luana."

Luana nodded, then turned around to step away from Rey's position. Her stomach was rumbling again, and she couldn't delay any longer.

The sound of the door closing became the final backsound, just before the sound of Rey's cell phone now filled the room.

Sculpting himself once more in front of the mirror not far from his previous position, Rey made sure that he was perfect for today's conference.

Jovi's name on the screen made him swipe the phone briefly, then activated the loudspeaker mode to be on the line.

"Yes, Jovi."

"Sir." Jovi's voice sounded a little different that morning.

"Speak."

Rey's focus fell on his lips that looked half-wet, as the man tugged at the corners of his lips for a faint smile.

The scent of Luana's body was still faintly present, with his wet lips having just crushed hers.

"I'm sorry, Master." Jovi made another sound.

It was heavier this time, as he continued his sentence two seconds later.

"Miss Beatrice has already left for Munich, via a flight two hours ago."