Cecilia met his gaze, noticing the peculiar expression on his face.

“Why?”

“It seems only something like golden wool is enough to please you. Everything else falls short.”

“When did I ever say it fell short?”

Russell stared at Cecilia for a moment before nodding.

“True, you didn’t.”

Cecilia felt mildly annoyed.

It sounded like he was saying, ‘I think so, but since you don’t, let’s leave it at that.’

“Perhaps…”

“Perhaps what?”

“You’re hesitating to give it because you’re reluctant to part with it?”

Russell scoffed.

“What do you take me for?”

“You won’t take it back later, will you?”

“Of course not.”

Looking back at the wool, Cecilia’s mood brightened again.

‘I should make a coat, not a cloak. I wonder if there’s a skilled tailor in the castle. I’ll have to ask the butler.’

She instructed the maids to take the wool to the sitting room.

Though the box was large due to the wool’s bulk, it was light enough for two maids to carry.

As the maids left the storage room with the box, Cecilia turned to Benjamine.

“Nanny, go with them and make sure it’s stored properly.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Benjamine hesitated before asking,

“And you, Miss?”

“I’ll come later. I have something to discuss with the lord.”

“…Yes, Miss.”

Benjamine bowed reluctantly, looking like someone forced to leave, and exited the storage room.

Out in the hallway, she paused, glanced back at the closed door, and then took a few steps before turning again.

Finally, she sighed deeply.

The situation had left her shaken.

Since when had the Miss and the Lord grown so close?

‘This isn’t good.’

The grand duke’s parting words echoed in her ears:

 

⌜ Your job is to make sure Cecilia doesn’t grow close to the Lord of Lagos. ⌟

 

‘But what… What can I do?’

Benjamine felt conflicted. It was beyond her control.

Since arriving at Lagos Castle, she had spent much less time with Cecilia.

She wasn’t responsible for meal preparations or minor errands anymore.

‘These days, the Miss’s mood doesn’t even fluctuate.’

Benjamine’s skill at catering to Cecilia’s whims was now almost unnecessary.

She trudged along, her footsteps heavy, as though weights had been tied to her ankles.

Watching Benjamine leave, Cecilia allowed a small smile to play at the corners of her lips.

‘She’s starting to listen to me bit by bit.’

If it were her nanny of old, she wouldn’t have left so easily.

She would’ve stubbornly insisted on staying by her Miss’s side.

Cecilia felt a subtle line beginning to form between herself and Benjamine.

The nanny must have sensed it too.

‘Maintaining that boundary is crucial.’

Benjamine shouldn’t feel abandoned.

The line had to be just clear enough for her to take hints but not to feel discarded.

Turning back to Russell, Cecilia said,

“I have a favor to ask.”

“Hm? Ah, go on.”

She frowned and looked around.

“Not here. The smell is overpowering. If we stay any longer, I’ll get a headache.”

“A headache?”

His serious tone startled Cecilia.

“I’m not in pain right now.”

Russell swiftly opened the storage room door wide.

He resolved never to bring her here again.

The memory of his late mother’s pale, sickly face flashed through his mind.

The two of them moved to Russell’s sitting room.

The maids inside were just finishing their cleaning, and after serving tea, they left.

Sitting across from Russell on the sofa, Cecilia felt strange.

It felt different from her previous visit.

Now, she became aware of being alone with him in the room.

In situations like this, light, meaningless conversation usually served to break the ice.

But Cecilia, despite knowing it was impolite, got straight to the point.

“I need green gardenia berries.”

“How many?”

She expected him to first ask, ‘Why?’

“…I’m not sure yet. I don’t know how much I’ll need.”

After signing a consultation contract with the Ewen Merchant Guild, Cecilia had spent days admiring her gold coins, polishing them until they gleamed.

The sight made her want more of those glittering treasures.

She suddenly wondered if the paste, which had been effective for reducing swelling, could be developed into a cosmetic product and sold through the Ewen Guild.