Chapter – 10
The moment I felt that mood, I took out a pen and paper just like I had done at home.
“To Dylan Banker.
Thank you, I received your letter well.
I’m glad to hear you’re doing well.
Even if you’re busy, please take care of your health.
Ah, just in case.
I have absolutely no intention of returning to the knight order, so if His Highness the Crown Prince brings it up, please stop it on your side.
I won’t forget your help.
However, in case of emergency, I’m willing to mobilize the guild alliance.
Then, good work.
H. LV”
Then I summoned a messenger bird with mana, opened the window, and quickly sent the letter.
Even after spending a large sum to install a communication device in the representative office, I still couldn’t even use it.
But who was Kailus? The true mastermind among masterminds!
He might even track things down to the last speck of dust. So even if it was annoying, I had no choice but to endure it.
Only after the blue light disappeared completely did I look away.
Good. Anything that looked troublesome had to be blocked at the root.
I was already busy running away—there was no time to get caught up in other problems.
Since I had already cried in front of Dylan Banker once, begging him for help when I tried to quit the knight order, I was sure he would help again just from this letter.
Sorry, but it couldn’t be helped.
Knock knock.
“Representative. It’s Nizela.”
While I was airing out the room, I heard Nizela’s voice from outside the door.
“Oh—yes, come in.”
I waved my hand to clear away the remaining smoke smell, then quickly sat down and shuffled papers like I was busy.
Nizela entered without closing the door.
“A new employee came for the interview.”
“Oh, they’re here already?”
“Yes, representative.”
Noah had said in the morning that he found someone to help me and told me to take a look. It seemed they had already arrived.
I knew very well that Nizela and everyone else were Noah’s people.
But so far, all of them had been elite-level, sharp workers, so I decided to accept it for now.
I had no intention of raising suspicion anyway.
I had hired employees before I met Noah too.
Even after meeting him, I had hired people on my own.
But every single one of them had been useless, and one even stole from the safe when I was away. I had to deal with them harshly.
He had approached me from the beginning just to target the safe.
“…Maybe I’m bad at judging people.”
“Pardon? Representative, I’m sorry. I think I misheard you.”
Still looking at the documents, I waved my hand.
“No, I was just talking to myself. Let them in.”
Soon I heard movement, and someone entered.
“Welcome. You want to work here?”
I asked while flipping through papers.
I didn’t bother acting friendly.
They were only here by order, not because they truly wanted to work anyway.
I nodded without really looking at them, already thinking I’d just give them simple tasks.
“Hello, my name is Ginger Perian.”
The woman who introduced herself as Ginger Perian began listing her strengths and giving a proper self-introduction.
That name felt familiar.
Perian… Perian…
“Perian?”
“P-please take care of me… Huh?”
The woman who had been bowing repeatedly froze awkwardly at my question.
I raised my head sharply.
A woman with neat white hair tied back, not a single stray strand, came into view.
Her double eyelids were deep, and her dark green eyes made her look lively even when she was still.
While I stared at her unusual appearance, she bowed again with her hands together.
“Yes, I’m Ginger Perian. Please take care of me!”
“……”
I stood up immediately.
I walked around the desk and approached her to get a closer look.
Is she really Ginger Perian?
Why is she here?
Wasn’t she supposed to be working in the capital’s gladiator arena and later become Lily Dayworth’s subordinate?
As I got closer, Ginger Perian blinked her green eyes.
She was tall—really tall.
Probably around 175 cm.
Ginger Perian.
Unlike Hazel Love, who leaves early due to overwork, she appears from the middle of the story.
She has more importance than Hazel Love, with more detailed background and unique traits. But unfortunately, she eventually dies while dealing with the final villain.
The reason I remembered her more clearly was because Lily Dayworth personally took her in. She handled dirty work without complaint, always got things done, and was obsessed with money.
In other words, she was a total “anime type” character.
If it involves money, she’ll do anything.
She already loved money, but there was a reason she became even more obsessed.
She fell in love with a male slave gladiator while working in the arena to earn money.
She wanted to free him and be together.
But because he was strong and highly valued in betting matches, freeing him required a huge amount of money.
So she worked desperately to gain Kailus’s attention and even went as far as kidnapping Lily Dayworth.
But Lily Dayworth was the female lead.
With protagonist privilege, Lily easily convinced Ginger Perian.
After hearing her circumstances, Lily boldly decided to help her.
The male lead Jade also helped free Ginger’s lover.
After that, Ginger became Lily’s ally.
She was later labeled a traitor by Kailus’s subordinates and faced danger, but she still survived.
Even though her ending was death, that was her story.
So why was she here in the capital?
At this point in time, she should’ve been deeply involved with her gladiator lover.
Did things change because Kailus left the capital mid-story?
In the original, she followed orders exactly.
Ginger Perian could handle everything from small errands to sword work, and she also had some knowledge of herbs.
Honestly… she was very tempting talent.
If the heroine could do it, why couldn’t I?
She was going to betray Kailus anyway.
And since I knew how she died, I could help her avoid that fate if she worked for me.
While I stared at her, Ginger Perian’s pale face turned slightly red.
Ah, I was staring too much.
“Ah, sorry. You said you can start working today?”
“Yes, representative! Please just tell me what to do!”
“Alright. For now, Nizela will teach you. It won’t be anything difficult, so don’t worry. Let’s do well together.”
I smiled and held out my hand.
Ginger Perian hesitantly took it.
She looked very shy and nervous.
But I knew her real personality—she could swear very harshly and was quite rough.
It seemed she was hiding it on purpose.
Well, as long as she worked well, that was enough.
I’d recruit her properly soon.
I smiled again and shook her hand.
“Is there a lot of work?”
Noah came to the bedroom while I was reviewing a few documents.
He sat beside me and gently massaged my neck and shoulders.
Warmth spread through my skin, loosening my stiff muscles.
Now that I knew all of this kindness was just acting, I even started thinking of using him back.
And strangely, it made me feel more relaxed.
“A little. Just checking some things. I’ll finish soon. Now that we have a new employee, things will get easier after training.”
“That’s good to hear.”
Noah smiled and moved closer to the middle of the bed.
As I checked the final financial report Nizela prepared, Noah lifted the blanket.
“Hazel, your foot.”
“Huh?”
Before I could react, he grabbed my foot.
“Ah—no, I’m fine.”
I tried to pull it back shyly, but Noah smiled and held it more gently.
“We’re married. Why be shy?”
He held my feet with both hands, warm and firm, and my toes curled slightly.
From my feet up to my knees, his hands moved steadily—firm yet gentle.
Is Kailus someone who would use any means necessary for his goals?
Really impossible to read.
I thought I should at least keep him mentally off balance. Busy people tend to miss small things.
“……”
While I watched him massage my feet, Noah let out a small laugh.
“Hazel, your gaze is a bit too intense.”
His hands became even softer.
I narrowed my eyes.
“I wasn’t! I was just looking normally.”
“Lies.”
“I’m not lying.”
“I like it when Hazel wants me.”
Even while saying that, he continued massaging.
“…Noah, listen.”
“Yes, tell me.”
“I’ve been thinking lately.”
“What about? Tell me, my wife.”
Noah asked gently, completely unaware of what I was about to say.
“I think I want to expand the business.”
“Expand?”
“Yes. It’s good now, but Perarium has limits with requests. I think we should open branches in other regions. We also hired new staff, so it’s the perfect timing.”
“Other regions…”
Noah seemed to think about it.
Sorry. I was also making this up on the spot.
“I’d like your help. Will you do it?”
He had promised at our marriage that he would grant anything I wanted.
And since his goal was close, he would agree anyway.
“If Hazel wants it, anything. But won’t it be difficult? You’re already busy.”
“It’s fine. I have you, Noah. I want to become a great wife for you!”
Noah’s lips curled slightly.
“If that’s what my wife wants, I’ll look into it.”
He kissed my knee lightly.
“Thank you, Noah!”
Hurry up and get busy. I need time to run away.
Just the thought made me almost laugh.
At first, it was only betrayal and despair.
Heh.
“Then I’ll start looking into it seriously.”
“…Huh?”
“The time you have now belongs to me.”
In an instant, his hand pulled my waist and I was laid down.
He smiled as if he had been waiting for this.
Damn it. I let my guard down.
