The next day, Lucius is back in his office, doing his daily duties. Not much difference from before, only that there's an addition of me by the side. I am currently watching the silver-haired man, intently handling more of his endless paperworks. My mouth is also busy munching on some cookies I received this morning. A whole tray of chocolate chip cookies, packed carefully in a pouch, still crunchy every time I took a bite.
*I feel like I've forgotten something...* I pondered to myself, still staring at the back of his head.
Feeling my gaze, Lucius asked, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"I'm trying to recall something," I answered, fishing out another cookie.
He glances at the pouch of cookies I'm holding, asking yet again, "And where did you get those?"
"A young butler gave it to me," I answered, extending a gracious offer. "Want one?"
"….no thanks."
Lucius returned back to his work, tapping his foot under the table with a rather disapproving frown.
*…does he actually want one?"
I tried feeding him the cookie, wondering if he just didn't want to stain his hand. Apparently, he really disliked these cookies.
*Oh, well. Too bad for you, then. Anyway, let's get back to the previous issue. What was it that I've forgotten?*
Yesterday, after we returned from the imperial palace, Lucius let me off early, so I just went back to my room and slept. The journey tire me a bit so I slept all the way 'till morning. What was it? We went to the palace and I met with the princess. We had a nerve-wrecking tea time and talked about something. Something…
*The healing, you idiot!" Entity yelled in frustration.
"Ah, that's right!"
"Did you finally realised that the butler might fancy you?"
"Wait, what?"
Lucius raised up his face, gesturing at the pouch."The butler won't just randomly gift you cookies, would he?"
"Huh? I didn't think of it that way before," I raised an eyebrow before shrugging it off, "Maybe I don't look too bad, after all! Since a butler took a liking on me, hehe."
Lucius' disapproving gaze remains unmoving on him, as if permanently engraved there. Since I've caught his attention after hours, might as well use the chance to ask a few questions.
"Anyway," I cleared my throat, putting the cookies aside. "You've got that very great healing ability, don't you?"
Once the pouch is out of sight, his normal gaze returned. Lucius remained silent for a while before asking, "Is this about the princess?"
"Huh? You knew?"
"I was there. Have you forgotten?"
Processing his casual remarks, I can't help but stare at him in bewilderment. Of course I remember seeing him there but-
"But you were so far away, though?"
'Swordmasters gained inhumanely sharp senses. They can perceive sounds from miles away, achieving a feat that common people could only dream of,' a sentence from the novel popped into my head.
"Ah, yes. You've got that nice, sensitive hearing, don't you? Like a rabbit. Bet you'll be the white one with a pair of red eyes," I snorted.
"…and how should I take that?"
"Take it as a compliment, please. I've got called a donkey before, bunnies are far better in comparison."
Lucius raised an eyebrow, as if thinking over the peculiar response he got. Lightly shaking his head, Lucius sighed, "If that's what you say."
As he turned back to signing the documents, I shifted closer to him, wishing to persuade him over the aforementioned issue.
"So…," I dragged the word before getting to the point, "You're not going to help?"
Without any hesitations, he immediately rejected,"Not interested."
"Oh, come on!" I huffed. "It won't hurt to help a bit, right?"
Lucius continued to ignore my pleading, pretending to be immersed with his documents. I prodded him more onto it despite not receiving any positive responses. Being at lost of ideas, I clicked my tongue, making a 'You're so stingy' look.
"Move your face away," he sighs, lightly smacking my face with the documents in his hand.
"I'll let you cut my wage for the month!" I tried to bargain, pushing aside the papers.
"I don't need that little money."
*This damned rich bastard!* I grumbled inwardly.
After getting continuously pushed aside, I straightened by back, thinking of more ways to persuade him. The room turned silent, occasionally filled with the sound of rustling papers. Taking a whole ten minutes, I finally came to a conclusion.
*Hah, I knew it!*
I nodded to myself, throwing a glance at the subject of my mind.
*That there is no freakin' way to convince this damned bastard! Damnit!* My fists punched the air in frustration.
Indeed, what could I even offer to move the almighty Lucius Leonhart? To help the woman who confessed to him, no less. Of course, he doesn't want to!
*Tch, tch, how pathetic," entity mocked.
Not wanting to back down, I desperately continued to persuade him. "You really won't help?"
"No."
"Oh, come on!" Leaning onto his table, I clutched my hands together as if praying. "Please help her, O' great Marquess of Leonhart! This lowly knight of yours will be indebted to your favour!" I am practically begging.
As if the pleading affected him, Lucius finally showed his acknowledgment."….why are you helping her, Catherine?"
He set down his documents, finally looking back up at me. This is my chance to persuade him!
"Hm…first thing first is that I don't take her as a bad person," I said, taking notes of his attention before adding, "Also, knowing that someone is dying away just didn't sit well with me, especially without offering any help, don't you agree?"
"…"
*Oh, oh, did it work?* I got even more worked up when he seemed to be considering the issue.
"So? Will you help her, O' dazzling and handso—"
"Enough with that," he sighed, massaging his throbbing temple.
Seeing that he's actually contemplating, I beamed in anticipation, "Hehe, so?"
With a great reluctance, Lucius finally agreed."I'll look for a suitable time to go," he said.
"Great! I'll inform the princess!"
The talk went by even smoother than I thought! Of course, it took a lot of begging and all but it worked, nonetheless. I've sent a messenger to inform the princess about it right after that. She would be delighted, for sure!
"Now, we just have to wait for her response and the details of her story!"
Hearing that, Lucius looked at me in disbelief. "…you don't even know who we're helping?"
Avoiding his gaze, I answered in hesitation, "....a-ahaha, of course I do!"
Then again, I instinctively scratched my right ear. It just always got itchy at times like this, how frustrating!
Catching onto my lies, he shook his head again. "….aren't you putting your lord in danger?"
"Worry not, my Lord!" I said with great confidence. "If it's proven to be dangerous, I'll throw myself to save you!"
I have the plot armour and he, himself is extremely strong. We won't actually be in trouble, would we?
"You're being reckless," he sighed with a slight frown.
"Everyone got their flaws," I shrugged it off.
Soon, a reply from the princess came.