THM 10

Chapter 10

“Miss Prim.”

His sharp gaze slowly climbed back up to my face. Then his low voice brushed against my ears with a languid tone.

“The amount of work is determined by me, the employer. It should be specified in the contract.”

How presumptuous. That was what Duke Schultz was implying.

“But—”

“Are you asking me to resolve it?”

As I was about to make an excuse, he asked back. It didn’t seem like he intended to reprimand me for my rudeness.

“Yes, I am.”

“……”

“In a practical sense.”

I politely clasped my hands together and continued, paying extra attention to my tone.

“As I said before, I would like to take on more work. Preferably something physical.”

Duke Schultz tapped his interlaced fingers with a troubled expression. He let out a short sigh instead of speaking, his brows furrowing deeper.

His voice followed, almost like a sigh.

“But what can I do? The documents that come into the estate vary each time, and all duties have already been distributed. The only vacant role is that of the lady of the house.”

“Then I could take on that role—”

“It seems you’re not bothered by being called presumptuous.”

Ah. Realizing my mistake, I shut my mouth.

Duke Schultz leaned forward slightly, a faint smile on his lips.

Unable to withstand the tension, I averted my gaze from his deepened eyes and took a breath.

“You said you prefer physical work.”

I lowered my eyes to the floor and nodded slowly.

“Would anything be acceptable?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And do you know what kind of work I might assign?”

At the obvious implication in his words, I unconsciously raised my head and frowned.

Duke Schultz felt different from when I met him outside. Sharper, more refined… and somehow more—

His transparent blue eyes curved slightly.

“I don’t think you’re someone who would cross the line, Your Grace. Especially since you were close with my father…”

Before I could finish, an utterly absurd question came back.

“How about getting married?”

I fell silent for a moment, unable to understand what he meant.

The tension in the room sank heavily. I barely managed to speak.

“What are you saying…?”

“You wouldn’t be called presumptuous, and the servants’ attitudes toward you would change.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand. Does marriage change something? Do married people get assigned more work…?”

“Who knows.”

For some reason, Duke Schultz looked amused.

“Then, I’m sorry, but I don’t have a lover. And my father hasn’t even been gone that long, so something like that…”

“That works out well. I was just about to propose that you marry me.”

“Exactly. The person I’d marry would have to be— Your Grace… pardon?”

The absurdity of his response loosened my formal demeanor.

I blinked stiffly.

When I looked at him with disbelief, he answered as if it were nothing.

“I’m proposing to you, Miss Prim.”

His tone was dry, as if discussing something mundane.

And his expression—

Was this some kind of aristocratic joke? It wasn’t funny at all.

Still, since he was my employer, I forced a smile. The corners of my mouth trembled awkwardly as I spoke.

“…You must have been very close with my father. To feel comfortable enough to joke with me like this.”

It was my way of telling him not to make such rude jokes again.

“It’s an honor, Your Grace.”

Holding up my skirt with one hand, I bent my knees in a curtsey. I wasn’t sure it was perfect, but it was at least proper enough for nobility.

His previously impassive expression tightened slightly.

“If my response was rude, I apologize. My father taught me to be respectful to superiors, but never servile or easy to take advantage of.”

Kindness for kindness, rudeness for rudeness.

No matter how high their status, I had that right.

Duke Schultz stared at me for a long moment. It was almost embarrassing.

Then his sharp voice returned.

“I don’t think we’re close enough to exchange jokes.”

“…Pardon?”

Then why are you proposing to someone you’re not close with?

I barely swallowed the words rising in my throat.

“I’m serious, Miss Prim. It would be best for you to marry me.”

As he said, his expression was completely serious.

That only made it more absurd.

“I don’t believe it’s proper to decide something as important as marriage on your own.”

In other words—why are you confusing someone who has no intention of agreeing, based solely on your own decision?

Naturally, this was my first time seeing Johannes Schultz again since meeting him outside. We had no real connection…

My life wasn’t so romantic that I could believe he had fallen in love with me at first sight.

What is he plotting?

I met his unfathomable blue gaze.

“Is this proposal also related to the Schultz family’s reputation in Müssen?”

If not, then there was only one conclusion I could draw—and it wasn’t a good one.

“Even so, I refuse.”

He didn’t seem surprised. He must have expected my rejection.

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“No.”

It was obvious.

I knew well that some high-ranking noblemen lived indulgent and debauched lives.

Not in the sense of going to taverns, but in wanting “pure” women.

They would take in impoverished common women, feed them, give them a life of comfort—in exchange for pleasure.

And once they were no longer useful, they discarded them.

But proposing marriage outright? That was strange…

I didn’t know why marriage suddenly came up, but perhaps it was some new trend.

I straightened my posture even more and continued calmly, hiding my emotions.

“And if you brought me in as a servant with this intention from the start… then I will resign.”

There was no need to apologize.

‘It’s not like I did anything wrong. If anything, my only mistake was being naive.’

Excessive kindness always had an ulterior motive. It was my fault for believing him when he said he owed my father.

“It’s not that I didn’t have such intentions. You came to me, and I simply thought the timing was right.”

“The timing?”

“You want suitable work, and the only thing left is the lady’s duties.”

I was speechless for a moment.

“You’re not saying that’s why you proposed to me, are you?”

“Of course not.”

His answer was simple.

“Then may I ask your reason? Surely it’s not the cliché of falling in love at first sight—”

“Miss Prim, I told you it’s not a joke.”

“Then why—!”

“I am proposing a deal to you.”

His eyes deepened. I let out a hollow laugh.

He spoke so casually about something so absurd—to someone who struggled just to live day by day.

Even a passing dog would scoff at this.

“I believe a deal can only exist between equals.”

He had much to offer me, but I had nothing to give in return. I was merely a servant employed by Duke Schultz.

Even now, I was living off his money.

So what could I possibly—

His low voice interrupted my thoughts.

“I told you before, I’m not someone who values the process.”

That’s why he had bluntly asked me to work for the Schultz household.

“I’m someone who gets what I want, one way or another. That’s why I made the proposal without unnecessary explanation.”

Because it will go the way you want anyway.

That was why he didn’t bother explaining. But I wouldn’t ask either—I had no intention of accepting.

“If that made you uncomfortable, I apologize. If you need an explanation, I’ll gladly provide one.”

I looked at him with calm eyes.

Even now, his eyes were deep and beautiful. Some people called Johannes Schultz the jewel of the Baltz Sea.

It suited him perfectly.

With a bitter smile, I replied,

“No, there’s no need to explain. Even if I hear your reason, it’s clear that I will refuse.”

For a brief moment, the faint curve of his lips stiffened.

But only for an instant. He soon returned to his rigid expression and looked away from me.

“I have no intention of forcing you.”

But deep down, I already knew—

that in the end, it would come to that anyway.