Apparently, I’m a Poisonous Woman Who Sells One-Night Dreams, but I Ended Up Awakening a Hero’s Devoted Love - Chapter 1.16

“Could it be that you’re bored, Lord Jerf?”

Bothered by Jerf’s gaze as he sat slanted in his chair with his elbows on the desk, Mariadoll put down her paintbrush. The location was Mariadoll’s private room on the second floor of the gallery. About twenty days had passed since returning from the Mantel Bishop’s place.

“I suppose you could say I’m bored. The education officers are busy during the three months from spring to early summer when new recruits join. After that, the recruits are assigned to various units and only have basic training a few times a month.”

Jerf, who had injured his leg, was in a position where he could have retired.

The one who kept him in the instructor role was the Third Prince, His Highness Frederick, who had been friends with him since childhood and now commanded all knight units.

Coming from the Stanley ducal house, Jerf could manage perfectly well even without a knight’s income.

Jerf had considered retiring, but it seemed his resignation had been rejected.

“Even so, if you come here almost every day like this, I can’t make progress with my brush.”

What she was currently painting was the second piece commissioned by the Haren Marquis. Though she told Jerf the brush wasn’t moving well, in reality, she was in excellent form and it was almost finished.

“Yet it looks like it’s already done to me.”

“…Well, when I feel like I’m being watched, I somehow can’t slack off, you could say.”

Normally she would take breaks for tea or go out for walks to change her mood, but somehow it felt awkward. Having no choice but to continue painting, she ended up absorbed in it, and as a result, the painting turned out better than usual.

(Somehow, I feel like I’ve overcome one barrier.)

There had been several moments when she was so focused, she couldn’t even hear the sounds around her.

That state didn’t last for hours, but she couldn’t help feeling her skills had improved dramatically compared to before.

That said, such concentrated states didn’t last all day.

The moment her concentration broke, she became aware of Jerf’s gaze.

(Now that I think of it, Father used to paint forgetting to eat or sleep. Back then, even if you called out to him right behind him, he wouldn’t notice.)

I suppose that’s what genius is like.

Jerf came dragging his leg.

Suddenly, his face appeared right beside her ear as he peered in, and Mariadoll froze stiff.

(Too close, too close! If I move even a little, I might touch that overly perfect face and I can’t move a muscle!!)

“I have no artistic sense myself, but the paintings Mariadoll creates are warm and gentle.”

“That’s because the memories make them that way.”

What she was currently painting was a family portrait commissioned by the Haren Marquis.

It seemed to be from when the Haren young lady, who had spilled wine on Mariadoll, was about five years old.

“No, no, you need painting technique too. By the way, can we talk about the territory matters?”

“Yes. I’m sorry for leaving the territory work entirely to you, Lord Jerf. Thanks to that, I’ve been able to focus on my painting.”

Standing up as if to avoid Jerf who was still by her ear, she went to the desk where Jerf had been sitting earlier and picked up the documents. Jerf immediately peered at the documents after her. Still close.

“Regarding the food shortage, I decided to distribute from the Stanley ducal house’s reserves. The required amount per person is this, the number of residents is this, and the period is set from late autumn to spring for now.”

Jerf pointed at the numbers. The figure obtained through multiplication was much larger than what Mariadoll had expected.

“Are you providing this much support?”

“I’m using the same calculation method we use when poor harvests occur in the Stanley duchy. Some fine-tuning is needed, but this should be mostly sufficient. As for the locations for building embankments, Legacy showed me around a week ago and we narrowed down several candidates.”

Taking the map handed to her with a “Here,” Mariadoll looked through it and let out an admiring sigh.

“How impressive. I had inspected several times myself and was considering these areas as candidates. To pinpoint them in just one inspection…”

“We had floods in my territory the year before last, you see. I sent the map to the engineer who helped us back then. He said he’d come take a look soon.”

He works fast.

Even considering that he has money and connections, things were progressing at a speed beyond her expectations.

“Thank you.”

“No need for thanks. I told you it was an advance investment. By the way, are you still painting?”

The painting Jerf pointed at looked almost finished.

“I’ll stop here for today. If I keep facing it continuously, I won’t know where to make corrections anymore. I’ll look at it again tomorrow and make adjustments if needed.”

“I see. I’ve been waiting for you to say that. Well then, let’s go out.”

“Eh, you’ve been waiting…? And where are we going?”

She had been painting until just moments ago. Her hands were covered in paint, and for all she knew, there might even be paint on her face. Though she was wearing an apron, her clothes were old ones that could get dirty.

“Let’s keep the destination a surprise.”

“Lord Jerf, women need time to prepare, and that changes depending on TPO. If you don’t tell me, I’ll get on the carriage just like this, you know?”

“Mariadoll is lovely no matter what she wears.”

His chuckling figure was clearly teasing her.

Mariadoll glared at him sharply before pushing that broad back and shooing him out of the room.

“I’ll change into clothes suitable for going out in thirty minutes, so until then, please talk with Legacy in the gallery downstairs.”

“Okay, okay. So, no need to push so har—”

SLAM!

With a loud noise, the door closed behind Jerf.

Scratching his forehead while wondering if he’d gone a bit too far, Jerf descended the familiar dimly lit staircase. Noticing how unusually cheerful his own footsteps sounded, he couldn’t help but wryly smile.

Next time will be their first date.