C45
The servants backed away, leaving Bianca and Zachary alone. Sweat trickled down Bianca's smooth chin.
Will the conversation be long enough to issue a firing order? Thinking of that, she felt a tingling sensation like a thorn going through her.
Bianca was still uncomfortable with Zachary. Standing in her direct gaze he felt like prey. It's probably because Zachary is watching her with an unusually sharp gaze. As if she was going to pierce her cheeks.
It was no different from the stuffed deer on display in the lobby.
Afraid that negative thoughts would begin to appear on her face, Bianca asked cheerfully, as if trying to change the mood.
-What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in the office.
"I was wondering if you were doing it right." Since you've started paying attention to the upkeep of the castle, I thought I'd take a look.
Bianca's face, which had been fighting to smile at Zachary's next words, hardened. Although he was busy, it was obvious why he had to take the time to visit Bianca. Then yes. A shadow fell across Bianca's face. A strange disappointment and frustration enveloped Bianca, even though she had never expected anything. Bianca asked sullenly.
"Did you come here because you were worried that I might do something?"
-Nope.
Zachary was startled to the point of jumping. The shadow on Bianca's face was also cast on his face. He hastily added as an excuse.
"I'm sure you'll do fine."
Bianca blinked at the unexpected words and looked at Zachary. It was the first positive response Bianca received.
Because every time she said she would do something, the people around her looked at her suspiciously, as if to see if Bianca could really do it or if she was up to something.
Understanding her reaction, Zachary's face turned blue as if he was strangled. No. That was Bianca's mistake. Zachary couldn't care less about his reaction. While Bianca was confused, Zachary returned to his original blank expression.
"That doesn't mean it's not a burden."
Zachary's face was rigid, and his mouth was as dry as his expression. Zachary was the only one who knew that. Realizing that he was making mistakes with his own words, Zachary tried to pronounce each word carefully. But every time he tried to be careful, his expression became more serious and that didn't work very well.
"I feel like it's the first time you've done something for me...
-Not for you. Of course, that's what I have to do.
Blanca smiled. "It's the first time I've done it for him," as if she had been negligent until now. Although it was true, Bianca's words, which felt like Zachary's words were sarcastic, sharpened.
But maybe it was too sharp.
Bianca, who belatedly realized her mistake, carefully watched Zachary's face.
He still had a hard look on his face.
Bianca sighed inside. Like Bianca, she tends to act however she pleases, not paying attention to others, her conversations with Zachary were never pleasant. Still, it was something she had to get used to.
“I am the hostess of Arno Castle. You don't want me to give you a successor, so I wanted to be of some help.
As soon as Bianca's words fell through, Zachary's eyes narrowed. After a moment of silence, he asked carefully.
"...Have you heard from Count Blanchefort?"
-… Of my father? Nope.
Unable to understand why her father's story suddenly came to light, Bianca frowned.
Do you think your father gave you some instructions? What does the Arno family want to swallow?
Count Blanchefort was a trusted father to Bianca, but to Zachary, he was just a not-too-close strategic ally.
In this world of in-laws, it wouldn't be surprising to be wary of a wife who had no idea what her parents were thinking. In fact, there was a case of a king who married a lord's daughter, gave birth to an heir, and killed the head of the family, thus eating up the territory and the family.
You know that…. But if she thinks she will betray him...
In an instant, a cold, hard corset made of iron squeezed her chest and took her breath away. Although she didn't even expect anything in the first place, what does this frustration mean?
“Otherwise, I can't understand why you're suddenly bringing up a successor story.
Zachary, unaware of Bianca's thoughts, muttered under his breath.
Vincent had already informed her that Bianca had not been in contact with the Blancheforts. Vincent wouldn't lie to her, so it must be true that Bianca didn't contact the Blancheforts. But if there had been a secret contact without Vincent's knowledge...
Thinking of that, Zachary smiled. If they had secretly contacted each other, there would be no way he would reply so obediently. He knew it was a useless question, but he couldn't understand his behavior, so he just asked in frustration.
When Bianca realized that Zachary wasn't suspicious of her, Bianca cleared up the misunderstanding, but the constricted breathing was still frustrating. She was tired of making excuses.
As she tried to bring up the answer that had been repeated over and over again, Bianca's face flushed as she realized the strangeness in Zachary's thoughtless words.
"Of course the time has come... By the way, wait a minute, you have something on your nose..."
"You mean no?"
Zachary's fingertips lightly touched the tip of Bianca's nose. The leathery feel of the gloves brushing the tip of her nose was strange. Bianca's eyes widened. And also Zachary.
Zachary, you must have acted without thinking and unconsciously, but the ripple effect was great. A moment of silence passed between the two, who were shocked as if they were on fire.
The first to come to was Zachary, who committed the crime. He changed his complexion by pretending to be calm, and continued speaking, as if he had never been embarrassed.
“It's funny to hear you talk about having a successor when you're surprised by even a small gesture like this.
“…That and this are different. This was just unexpected…. I can do better in bed.
-What do you know?
Bianca's pretentious attitude made Zachary laugh. Bianca's face reddened even more as she laughed out loud, since he was usually frank and didn't change her expression much.
“The way he touched her nose before, and the way he laughs at her now. He sees her completely as a girl."
Bianca pursed her lips. After dismissing her accidental contact with Zachary as rude behavior, she looked at Zachary.
She still felt warmth in her ears, but the point of her chin stiffly raised, her shoulders stretched proudly and gracefully, and her clear green eyes sparkling, were undisturbed.
Bianca raised the corners of her lips provocatively.
“A lot of this and that. I am the hostess of the Arno family, and of course I have learned about these things to give birth to the successor of the Arno family.
"Who taught you these things?"
“… the maids.
Bianca's voice trailed off at the end. Zachary realized that Bianca was lying, it was like finding her warhorse Noah among the horses scattered around the ranch on the Arno estate. In short, it was very easy.
The only servant close to Bianca was Jean, the nanny she had brought from her family.
Zachary also remembered Babysitter Jean. With her fine white hair, she wasn't particularly strict.
Although Zachary was Bianca's husband, she always looked at him with disgust and hid many things that she should have reported about Bianca.
It must have been because of her resentment and selfishness in not being able to recognize Zachary as Bianca's husband, even though she knew it was no good for Bianca.
Perhaps from the look on that nanny's face, young Bianca really hated Zachary.
When they were newlyweds, he could make her cry just by looking at her face, that said it all.
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