"Don't you think it's useless to deny it now?"
Chalice said curtly, her tone tinged with frost. She knows she's not that knowledgeable when it comes to matters of this world. But heck, she was not foolish to be underestimated so much.
She heard Luke clear his throat before answering in his deep voice, calm and gentle as a lake.
"My lady is quite clever."
Chalice relaxed and smiled pleasantly at his admittance. While she languidly took her seat, her pointed gaze stayed on Luke's person. He had exceeded Chalice's expectations. This man had become far too removed from the boy she had in her memories. She had previously seen him merely as the silent and timid younger brother of Lucy.
Looking at him now however, Luke had no trace of timidity in him at all. His form, though gentle-looking, exuded an air of sharpness. There was also this inexplicable enigma in his eyes. Chalice felt that Luke is not as simple as he looks. What simple man could manage a fief? Not to mention, that the said man is an orphan who had no concrete form of education.
"You patronize me."
She muttered, her smile lingering. Chalice then put her hands together in her lap before turning serious.
"I have a request to make, Luke."
The man looked at her silently, as if beckoning her to go on talking.
"As I have said, I'm a novice to the matters of the fief. I admit that. It is impossible to clap with one hand. Similarly, it is impossible for me to do this by myself. You have been administering the territory for a long time now. Therefore, I would like to ask you for guidance. Will you be mine, Luke?"
Ah, she couldn't help it. Chalice had this undeniable impulse to tease. She deliberately phrased her question ambiguously. When she saw him stiffen up once again and his ears suspiciously reddening, Chalice figured it was time to stop.
"Will you be my right-hand man?"
She continued as clarification. Chalice chuckled internally when she saw Luke's unreadable expression. It was only after a long pause that the man seemed to have recovered. His answer completely surprising her.
"I am already yours, my lady. I am at your disposal."
Chalice's heartbeat quickened as she met his darkened eyes. Those icy blue glinted with an unknown emotion. She couldn't help but gulp. This guy really isn't simple. He actually reciprocated her teasing except he did it with a straight face. The gentleness he exuded insinuated obscurity. Chalice collected herself, a wicked smile forming in her lips.
"Well, that's reassuring. I will still say this though Luke, you are not allowed to betray me. You, Levi, and Lucy. My unquestionable trust will only be given to the three of you. Once you do, I will personally cut you down even if I die in the process."
Conviction and ruthlessness pervaded Chalice's voice. Her stare further proving her point.
Luke went down on one knee, putting his palm in his heart.
"I swear to Yeshua's name that I will never betrat you, my lady. I swear to you my fealty, my identity, and my entire being. If I break my oath, I shall never enter paradise."
Chalice nodded.
"Good."
Outwardly Chalice had kept her composed demeanor. But in reality, her head was spinning as she recounted Luke's oath. It was heart-rending having a devastatingly handsome guy go on one knee, and practically vowing to give his whole being to you, okay? It was already an achievement for her to be able to be this calm.
In order to salvage her poor sanity, Chalice diverted the situation and went down to business.
"Then first of all, please have someone send me the account books. I would like to read the reports on the territory's income and expenditures for the past few years. Shameful as it is, I currently have little knowledge on the present state of the duchy. Nor do I have an inkling as to how it is managed all these years. Therefore, could you please give me maybe a couple of weeks to adjust? I especially need to read those reports and possibly arrange an inspection of the territory."
"Certainly, my lady. However, if you're going to do an inspection I'm afraid it will take a little over a week to make the necessary preparations."
"I understand. I won't be taking long in perusing those reports anyway. The couple of weeks I'm asking would be enough time. Besides, I intend to do the inspection incognito. I plan to take only you and Levi with me."
"My Lady, are you sure that the three of us are enough? Even if it's incognito, going around the entire territory would at most take three months. And that's only visiting the significant cities. I'm afraid given the conditions, having only two of us would compromise your safety- if not your health."
Chalice smiled at Luke's words. His worry was not unfounded. After all, she is a duke's daughter. A pampered princess. But then, that was the old Chalice. The her now is very confident of her outdoor survival skills. And she was pretty sure, her safety is at the least of concerns. However, it was a given that Luke and Levi were not aware of that.
"Alright, then you can choose two more people to go with us. I trust you'd pick the appropriate people."
"Understood, my lady."
After settling down the preliminaries, Chalice allowed herself to finally take a rest.